What to Buy Food & Wine Faves The 10 Best High-Capacity Kitchen Appliances for Cooking and Entertaining No job is too big for our favorite large-capacity appliances, from air fryers and toaster ovens to coffee makers and more. By Nick DeSimone Published on January 30, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Food & Wine / Amazon Nothing is worse than cooking for a big family or hosting a holiday meal and realizing your equipment just isn’t up to the task. Sure, you could cook in batches, but who wants to host a dinner party where only half the guests get their silky, blended soup at a time? Choosing the right tool for the job can sometimes be difficult; you want an appliance that’s sizeable enough to handle a big batch, but you don’t want to sacrifice any functionality or quality. Luckily, we’ve tested some of the best appliances and found the machines in each category that are the perfect medley of high-capacity and stellar function. Air fry chicken wings for the big game, bake enough homemade bread for everyone to make a Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, brew a pot of coffee large enough for every guest to have a steaming cup after dinner, and more with our favorite high-capacity appliances. Our Top Picks Best Air Fryer: Instant Pot Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven at Amazon ($250) Jump to Review Best Coffee Maker: Cuisinart Programmable Coffee Maker at Amazon ($75) Jump to Review Best Slow Cooker: Crock-Pot Programmable Slow Cooker at Amazon ($89) Jump to Review Best Toaster Oven: Breville Smart Oven at Amazon ($270) Jump to Review Best Blender: Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender at Amazon ($480) Jump to Review Best Food Processor: Breville Food Processor at Amazon ($550) Jump to Review Best Ice Maker: GE Profile Countertop Nugget Ice Maker V2 at Amazon ($529) Jump to Review Best Coffee Grinder: Breville Grinder Pro at Amazon ($200) Jump to Review Best Electric Kettle: Mueller Premium Electric Kettle at Amazon ($35) Jump to Review Best Bread Maker: Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker at Amazon ($300) Jump to Review Best Air Fryer Instant Pot Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven Amazon View On Amazon $250 View On Walmart $250 View On Macy's $250 Pros This oven's consistent performance and super user-friendly design made it our favorite. Cons It may have to become a permanent fixture on your countertop because it’s a bit too large to be stored in a cabinet. This air fryer toaster oven is the best of the best, and it just so happens to be perfect for big families and cooking for crowds. During testing, we were blown away by its performance; it cooked large batches evenly and consistently without any hot or cold spots, which can be difficult for larger ovens. However, our favorite thing about this oven was its near-perfect, user-friendly design. The Instant Omni Plus is designed to be impossibly easy to use at each step of the way, from its touchscreen controls to its convenient preset settings. Whether you’re a seasoned air fryer user or just learning how to use an air fryer, this is the perfect oven if you’re looking for a large capacity. Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 14 inches | Capacity: 19 quarts Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey The Best Air Fryer Accessories to Make the Most Out of Your Air Fryer Best Coffee Maker Cuisinart Programmable Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon $75 View On Target $100 View On Williams-Sonoma $100 Pros We loved this coffee maker's customizable settings and easy programmability. Cons We didn’t love the lid design on the carafe of this machine. Coffee lovers rejoice! If you’ve ever found yourself staring longingly at the bottom of an empty coffee pot when just one more mug would’ve been nice, this is the machine for you. It’s one of our all-time favorite coffee makers for a reason, and it boasts a 14-cup capacity and other customizable settings like brew strength and temperature control for that perfect pot every time. If you’re not in the mood for a full 14-cup batch or are just having a cup alone, this machine can easily make small batches of just as high quality. During busy mornings, with a household all getting ready to go at once, you’ll love the 24-hour programmability, which will help ensure a smoother morning. Just be careful removing the lid on the carafe to fill it; it comes completely off, which we found to be jarring at first. Dimensions: 7.75 x 9 x 14 inches | Capacity: 14 cups Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Best Slow Cooker Crock-Pot Programmable Slow Cooker Amazon View On Amazon $89 View On Walmart $75 View On Wayfair $75 Pros We loved how easy and straightforward this cooker was to use and, of course, its extra large cooking crock. Cons We wish this slow cooker had a locking lid for easier travel. Slow cookers are the perfect tool to feed a crowd, and this Crock Pot is our favorite because its 8-quart size can hold enough food to feed six to ten people without breaking a sweat. If you’ve used a Crock Pot before, you know they’re reliable and consistent; this model is no exception. Beyond its ability to efficiently cater to crowds, we loved its straightforward control panel – who needs to fuss with a million buttons when taking on a big cooking project? So if you always bring everyone’s favorite chili to the potluck or meal prep all your favorite slow cooker recipes for a big family, this is the slow cooker for you. Though, if you plan to transport this cooker, just know it doesn’t have a locking lid, so it needs to be handled much more carefully. Dimensions: 9.5 x 15.4 x 15.3 inches | Capacity: 8 quarts Food & Wine / Meredith Butcher Food & Wine / Meredith Butcher Best Toaster Oven Breville Smart Oven Amazon View On Amazon $270 View On Williams-Sonoma $270 View On Sur La Table $270 Pros We were impressed by the versatility and range of this oven. Cons The comprehensive settings and modes are convenient for some but might be too convoluted for others. When it comes to an appliance that’s big enough to feed everyone, it needs to earn its spot taking up that precious counter space; no unitaskers deserve that coveted real estate. We love this toaster oven because the convection heat can replace many other countertop appliances. It can easily grill, toast, broil, and reheat, not to mention the specific settings for things like bagels, cookies, pizza, and more. This massive oven means no more cooking in small batches; you can even fit a 13-inch pizza or six slices of toast in the colossal chamber! However, if you’re looking for a simple, straightforward toaster oven, this model might have a few too many bells and whistles for you. Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 11 inches | Capacity: 29.5 quarts Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Best Blender Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender Amazon View On Amazon $480 View On Target $630 View On Williams-Sonoma $630 Pros The ultra-high-powered motor can blend virtually anything, and the many settings eliminate the need for other appliances. Cons While you do get what you pay for, this blender is definitely on the pricier side. When you think of a good quality, high-powered blender, Vitamix definitely comes to mind. The carafe on this model holds a whopping half gallon of liquid, perfect for blended soups at a dinner party or a morning smoothie for the whole family. Vitamix is a favorite among professional chefs, primarily for its high-powered motor, though that extra power does translate into a higher cost. Not only does this model have the capacity for any job, but things like smoothies with seeds or fibrous pieces of kale and chunky pureed soups are a thing of the past. The powerful motor paired with its high-capacity carafe also means this one appliance could replace your juicer, immersion blender, food processor, and more, making it the most versatile piece of equipment in your kitchen. Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 17.25 inches | Capacity: 2 quarts Food & Wine / Mary Lagroue Food & Wine / Mary Lagroue Food & Wine / Mary Lagroue Food & Wine / Mary Lagroue Food & Wine / Mary Lagroue Food & Wine / Mary Lagroue The 35 Best Kitchen Gifts for Every Type of Home Cook Best Food Processor Breville Food Processor Amazon View On Amazon $550 View On Williams-Sonoma $550 View On Walmart $550 Pros We loved all the attachments and settings on this processor and the consistent high-quality performance. Cons This food processor doesn’t include a grater attachment. This Breville 16-cup food processor can do it all. We loved the array of attachments for slicing, dicing, peeling, and more – goodbye hours of knife work! Beyond the standard start, stop, and pulse options, this food processor also includes a handy timer and 24 possible settings and combinations with the attachments, making the whole system convenient and easy to use. All those extras aren’t just for show either; when we tested this model, we were impressed with its consistent performance and even cuts with the disc attachments. However, we were disappointed that there was no grater included with such a comprehensive set of accessories. Still, this food processor is a must for any busy cook who likes to host and cook for a crowd and needs an all-in-one appliance. Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 18 inches | Capacity: 16 cups Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Ice Maker GE Profile Countertop Nugget Ice Maker V2 Amazon View On Amazon $529 View On Target $529 View On Williams-Sonoma $530 Pros This ice maker undeniably produces huge quantities of ice quickly and quietly. Cons It’s a big investment, and we wish it wasn’t quite so bulky. So you’re hosting a dinner party or a big holiday meal, and the unthinkable happens – you run out of ice. It happens to the best of us, but with this countertop ice maker, that won’t be you again. This GE Profile ice maker can produce a staggering 24 pounds of ice per day, and the ice it makes is perfectly crunchable nugget-style ice, ideal for cocktails, entertaining, or just a frosty glass of ice water. Just know that the machine and its additional refillable water tank have quite a large footprint, so if you want the extra high capacity, you’ll have to sacrifice some counter space. Of course, you can also purchase it without the extra tank if you like, but you’d also be sacrificing a lot of its convenience and functionality. Unlike commercial ice makers or the ones in fridge doors, this ice maker is super quiet; when we brought it home, we were surprised it wasn't much louder than a countertop coffee maker. Dimensions: 17.5 x 13.4 x 16.5 inches | Capacity: 3 pounds of finished ice Food & Wine / Joy Kim Food & Wine / Joy Kim Food & Wine / Joy Kim Food & Wine / Joy Kim Best Coffee Grinder Breville Grinder Pro Amazon View On Amazon $200 View On Williams-Sonoma $200 View On Breville.com Pros We loved this coffee grinder's smart features and unmatched precision. Cons Keeping this machine clean can be a challenge since there are lots of places for grounds to nestle in. Any serious coffee enthusiast knows that grinding whole-bean coffee fresh for every batch is really the only way to go. And if you’re serious about properly storing and treating your coffee beans for the best flavor, this Breville coffee grinder is the perfect addition to your setup. In our tests, it performed consistently and made a great cup every time, even after multiple trials. However, we did notice it accumulated grounds in all sorts of places. Its smart features make it ultra-precise and easy to use, even if you’re new to in-depth coffee preparation. We especially loved this grinder’s customizability. It’s easy to toggle between different levels of coarseness for various brew strengths and types, from espresso to French press to a standard countertop drip maker. Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 15.5 inches | Capacity: 1.1 pounds Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore The 35 Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers Best Electric Kettle Mueller Premium Electric Kettle Amazon View On Amazon $35 View On Walmart $35 View On Muellerdirect.com Pros The glass carafe makes it easy to monitor the water level, and the thoughtful features make it incredibly easy to use. Cons We wish there were more temperature control on this kettle. Most electric kettles are around one quart or a little more. This kettle, however, holds a massive two quarts of water. In terms of cups of tea, that’s a mammoth 8 cups in just one kettle. This kettle is for you if your household has multiple tea drinkers or instant ramen eaters. During testing, we loved its strong, borosilicate glass that is heavy-duty and allows you to easily see how much water is in the kettle. Plus, Mueller’s Premium Electric Kettle couldn’t be easier to use; it has a handy “on” light, automatically turns itself off when it’s empty, and has just one switch, so there aren’t a bunch of buttons to fuss with. However, if you like more precise temperature control, you might be disappointed with the simple off/on button. But for such a large carafe, we were impressed that this kettle took only 4 minutes to boil. Dimensions: 9.75 x 6.25 inches | Capacity: 2 quarts Food & Wine / Fred Hardy Food & Wine / Fred Hardy Food & Wine / Fred Hardy Food & Wine / Jennifer Causey Best Bread Maker Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker Williams Sonoma View On Amazon $300 View On Williams-Sonoma $300 View On Sur La Table $300 Pros This is the most versatile and comprehensive bread machine with seemingly infinite ways to customize recipes, and we also loved the consistent, high-quality flavor and texture. Cons While we loved the extremely thorough included instructions, it’s a lot of information, and getting used to this machine may take time. If you’re serious about making high-quality bread at home and are going to invest the time, you want to get the most yield for your effort, and this high-capacity bread maker from Breville is the perfect way to do that. This machine can produce loaves ranging from the standard 1-pound loaf all the way up to a massive family-size 2.5-pound loaf, perfect for large gatherings, busy families, or stocking the freezer. We were exceptionally delighted with the quality of the bread this machine produced; both the flavor and texture were perfect. And truly anyone can make a show-stopping loaf in this machine; it is intuitive and easy to use, with tons of customizable settings and a handy booklet with over 100 recipes. Still, the comprehensive nature of the included booklet and settings can be daunting at first, and it may take some practice to get the hang of it. Dimensions: 9.6 x 16.4 x 13.3 inches | Capacity: up to 2.5-pound loaves Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Food & Wine / Will Dickey Our Expertise Nick DeSimone is a cook and food writer with nearly a decade of experience. They have worked at an array of restaurants ranging from vegan fast casual to upscale fine dining. In their career as a writer, they’ve written for Food and Wine, Allrecipes EatingWell, Spruce Eats, The Kitchn, VegNews, USA Today, and more. All of our picks were tested by our Food & Wine testers. Each product is put through standardized tests by dedicated testers obsessed with the details and minutiae of what makes an appliance truly exceptional. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit