When you went to college you got a hotplate.  When you moved into your first apartment you got a toaster.  When you got married you got a juicer, a waffle maker, a blender, and the list goes on...  But what happened to those nifty kitchen gadgets and gizmos?  They're most likely buried deep in a kitchen cupboard, only taken out once every 4 or five years out of nostalgia. 

There's more to these small kitchen appliances than you might think, especially from an eco-friendly standpoint.  For example:

   1. Most small appliances are only plugged in when they're in use, meaning that they don't drain power all day while you're at work.

   2. Most are purpose-built to perform a specific task in the most efficient way possible, such as an indoor grill.

   3. Many small appliances are available in a variety of sizes so you can select one that best suits your needs.

I'm not saying all small appliances get an eco-friednly stamp of approval.  Some things to stay away from include:

   - Poor-quality, gimmicky items with an overabundance of plastic and fragile parts.  If you're going to use it, it needs to be able to handle some abuse.  Otherwise you're just contributing to your local landfill.

   - Items designed for purposes you do not have a regular need for.  For example, if you don't eat waffles a couple of times a week then you likely don't need a waffle iron in your kitchen.

In other words: stay away from cheap junk and only buy appliances you will actually use.  That said, there are three small appliances that have a place in every green kitchen regardless of the frequency of your waffle consumption.  Let's take a look at their eco-advantages.

Rice Cookers
Rice cookers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, with basic models costing as little as $6.00.  However, if you've got the cash you're better off opting for a model in the $50-$100 range.  (They do go up to $400, but you might want to be more responsible with your money.)  Rice cookers are available with induction heating or conventional electric heating, and better models will have a sealed, locking lid to help trap the heat energy and cook the rice more efficiently and evenly.  They're also available in a number of sizes.  If you're single or have a small family, it's likely not worth getting a giant rice cooker with a steam basket.  Opt for a small rice cooker with a sealing lid and you can cook this dietary staple more efficiently than on your stovetop.

Countertop Grills
George Foreman's name appears on the most popular style of indoor countertop grills on the market.  They're practical, efficient devices that are eco-friendly for a few reasons.  Foreman-style grills have two grilling surfaces to cooke both sides of food items at the same time, cutting cooking time in half.  They also heat the cooking surface directly, as opposed to your stovetop which must first heat an element and then a pan before transferring the remaining heat energy to your food.  Also, like rice cookers, countertop grills are available in a variety of sizes from personal to jumbo so you can select the size fo cooking applaicne that's right for your everyday needs.

Toaster Ovens
The full-sized oven in your kitchen is great for baking cakes, roasting turkeys, and grilling large pizzas.  But for smaller jobs there is really no need to heat an entire massive oven and that's where handy-dandy toaster ovens come in.  A toaster oven will reach baking temperature faster than your regular oven, and the much smaller heating elements inside draw far less power than the large ones in your main oven do.  These handy units can do everything your regular oven can do, just on a smaller scale.

Any more kitchen appliances that should be added to this list?  Post them in the comments!

» George Foreman Cooking (Official Site)