You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to get a top-rated small appliance at a good price. Some of the best performers in Consumer Reports' tests cost $110 or much less including a hand mixer and a coffeemaker for $40 each. Of course, if you want to spend more, we also test small appliances with big price tags. Here are five good buys and five splurges that were impressive in Consumer Reports' small appliance tests.
A good buy. Cuisinart Power Advantage HM-50, $40
Cuisinart’s 5-speed hand mixer had no trouble powering through stiff cookie dough in our hand mixer tests and it was very quick at whipping. We also like the well-priced mixer’s wire beaters, which are easier to clean than the traditional center-post variety. But this mixer is louder than other hand mixer top picks.
Splurge: KitchenAid KHM926, $100
The $100 KitchenAid costs more than many other hand mixers, but it performed very well in our tests, combining very good mixing and whipping time. It also scored points for versatility, thanks to its dough hooks, whisk attachment, and liquid blender rod, which is designed to blend soups, smoothies, and more. On the downside, this mixer is noisier than other recommended models.
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CR Best Buy: Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT, $40
This 12-cup Mr. Coffee is among the best all-around drip coffeemakers in our tests. It brewed at industry-recommended guidelines of 195° F or more, maintained for five or six minutes. Setup, operation, and cleanup were fairly easy, and we found its carafe easy to use. (A thermal carafe is available separately.) And among attractions for the bargain price are a water filter, special cleaning cycle, and two-hour auto-shutoff.
Splurge: Cuisinart Crystal SCC-1000 Limited Edition Perfec Temp, $200
This Cuisinart drip coffeemaker is gussied up with Swarovski elements for a jeweled look, but it was a gem in our coffeemaker Ratings as well. First, it's the only model that can brew a full 14 cups. And while it's expensive, it had top-notch brew performance matched by a carafe we found easy to hold and pour from. It's also programmable, with both a small-batch setting and brew-strength control.
A good buy. Black + Decker Fusion Blade Digital BL1820SG-P, $50
This 6-cup blender performed very well overall, was a champ at making icy drinks and very good at purees. It's not the quietest we've tested and fell short of our top blender picks but costs hundreds less so is worth a look.
Splurge. Blendtec Designer 725, $650
Part of the trend of high-end, high-priced blenders, the Blendtec Designer 725 was superb in our icy drinks tests, which means it’s a good choice for smoothie lovers. It also aced our puree and durability tests although, like the Ninja, it was only so-so for noise.
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A good buy: Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G110P, $110
Devotees of the original version of this Panasonic toaster oven were happy to see this relaunched version. It looks fairly basic from the outside, but its quartz and ceramic heating elements cook more efficiently than conventional coil-heated ovens and don’t require any time for preheating.
Splurge: Breville Smart Oven BOV800XL, $250
This Breville toaster oven is one of the higher-priced models in our toaster oven Ratings, but its top performance and sleek, sturdy design might justify the cost. It was very good at baking and broiling, and it can accommodate a 4-pound chicken. It was excellent at toasting full batches and successive batches and very good at toasting just one slice.
CR Best Buy: Rowenta Effective Comfort DW2070, $50
The least expensive Rowenta steam iron we tested was also the best. In our steam iron tests, it was excellent overall and delivered superb ironing and lots of steam. The steam surge button provides a burst of steam when trying to remove stubborn wrinkles and the vertical steam feature lets you remove wrinkles from hanging garments and drapes. The sole plate is stainless steel and the ready light indicates the iron is hot enough to use. There's a self-clean feature and auto-shutoff.
Splurge: Rowenta Steamforce DW9280, $140
This top-rated steam iron was excellent overall and provides lots of steam. It has a stainless steel soleplate. Features include steam surge, which offers a burst of steam to help remove stubborn wrinkles, vertical steam for drapes and hanging garments, and auto-shutoff, a safety feature that powers the iron down when left stationary for a short time. A ready light indicates the iron is up to temperature.
—Mary H.J. Farrell (@mhjfarrell on Twitter)
Holiday Planning & Shopping Guide
Check Consumer Reports' 2015 Holiday Guide for our picks of the best gifts, details on the latest deals, time-saving tips, and much more. And see our countdown calendar for top gift ideas for everyone on your list.
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