17 Single-Serving Cooking Appliances You Absolutely Need

The toaster that started it all — this compact machine literally makes one slice at a time. It has a single dial for operating and comes in four fun colors. It’s also great for toasting bagels (shown), cooking mini pizzas, and heating other tiny treats like muffins or scones. The included baking tray, oven rack, and crumb tray are all removable and dishwasher-safe.

Promising review: “Sister loves it as there is no counter space in her kitchen, it fits well, she says it is fast and perfect for quick breakfast for one person.” —Bonita Sova

Get it from Amazon for $21.99.

Measuring less than seven inches tall and high, this little kettle boils up to a half liter of water at a time, giving you just enough for one person. It has an auto shut-off feature for safety and the cord can wrap into the base, for easy storage. 

Promising review: “This is just right for making a cup of tea. It is small and doesn’t take up a lot of room, easy to use, and boils water fast. I use it every morning to heat water for tea.” —M

Get it from Amazon for $18.99.

Make 2-4 cups of rice, grains, beans, and other pressure-cooked foods with this darling compact cooker. It has a simple one-touch operating button and a warming mode to keep your rice fresh. The inner pot is removable and easy to clean and it comes in four fun colors with a spatula and water cup. 

Promising review: “It’s a small rice cooker. It’s simple and easy to use, and includes a guide for how much water to use for different types of rice in the instruction manual. The inside is non-stick (teflon?). It’s easy to clean, and you can remove the pot inside. It’s small, so it’s good if you’re just one person. I usually get one meal and some leftover rice. I used it to make rice for rice balls, too.” —H

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three colors).

Another tiny rice-cooking option, this fun cooker comes in eight colors on Amazon. It cooks two cups of rice, which is smaller than the average 5.5 cups in typical cookers. But it doesn’t just cook rice; you can also use it to make two cups of oatmeal, stew, soup, quinoa, or pasta. All you have to do is add water and your grain or food of choice, press the “cook” button, and it will be ready in less than 20 minutes.

Promising review: “This rice cooker is so cute. I bought this for my daughter. She only needed to make rice for one person. This rice cooker is perfect for that. It only makes two cups of cooked rice. The unit is very easy to clean, easy to use and easy to store. The rice cooker does not take up much room in the kitchen. My daughter really likes it and says that it works perfect. She says that it doesn’t boil over and make a mess. This was a hit!!” —grlgksrule

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+.

I use my NutriBullet’s single blender so much, it’s earned a spot on my counter. Which is great, because it’s a fun color and takes up very little space. (I have yellow, which I think they don’t sell anymore, but how cute is this green?) The blades themselves easily twist off and safely clean up in the dishwasher (as well as the included drinking vessels) and can whip up smoothies in less that 60 seconds. The two-cup set comes with two sippy lids (perfect for drinks on the go), two standard lip rings and two lip rings that transform your cup into a mug. 

Promising review: “It’s perfect for one person and comes with a sipping lid. I love it. So much better than using a huge blender and having to clean it.” —  kathytrosclair

Get it from Amazon for $100.31+ (available in 11 colors).

With over 80,000 5-star ratings the Magic Bullet is possibly one of the most highly-rated personal blenders on the market. This classic and compact blender comes with three various-sized blending containers with interchangeable lids so you can make smoothies, soups for lunch on the go, acai bowls, and more. The 250-watt high-torque base can power through ice or frozen fruits and the settings include whip, grind, mix, and blend. Plus, the cup components are all dishwasher-safe. 

Promising review: “This blender works and comes with a couple of different mixing cup options. It’s great for blending for one person and not as much clean-up as a full-size blender.” — Everything ATV UTV Reviews

Get it from Amazon for $39.98 (available in two colors).

This small food processor does a variety of tasks, from chopping vegetables to grinding cheese. It comes with a 24-ounce work bowl with a handle and has an auto-reversible smart blade.

Promising review: “I like that it’s three pieces. Great for clean up. I use mainly to make small batches of salsa. Does great job chopping into size with the tomatoes, cilantro, onion, jalapeno, green pepper. Me likes.” —Copsr303

Get it from Amazon for $42.80.

A single-person’s air fryer, this option from Black + Decker has two knobs for simple and easy instruction. It air fries, bakes, broils, toasts, and warms food in a straightforward and compact machine. For a size estimate, this baby can fit a 9-inch pizza, meaning it will keep you fed but still allow you ample counter space around it. 

Promising review: “I love this little toaster oven. It is a perfect size with my limited counter space, and makes just enough food for one person. I like that it heats up so quickly, it’s nice to not have to spend 20+ minutes preheating my entire full-size oven for a single meal or snack. Among other things, I’ve used it for reheating leftovers, baking cookies, and air frying some frozen foods. It has performed very well for all of these. I find 9” dinner plates will just fit inside, as well as 1/8th sheet pans. I keep the included pan as a drip/crumb catcher under the rack, and I thought it was a little small anyways, so I do recommend getting an additional 1/8 sheet pan for cooking on.” —Rachael Scott

Get it from Amazon for $39.96.

When cooking for one, air fryers can take up way too much counter space. Yet, this adorable one is specifically designed to be compact and best for small meals. It fits up to 1 1/2 pounds of food and has adjustable cooking controls suitable for whatever you’re making. It’s in the “bucket” shape, letting you easily pull the cooked food out with the safety handle. This comes in three colors. 

Promising review: “The price is right and the thing works like charm for some one living alone.” —Wakar

Get it from Amazon for $50.96+ (available in two colors).

Though she doesn’t reside by herself, I deem shopping writer Tessa Flores an honorary member of the Live Alone club, because she has such great recs for small gadgets and appliances. Most recently, she’s got us on to the the Wonder Oven from Our Place. 

It’s a stylish, compact electric oven that can air fry, bake, roast, toast, reheat, and broil. “It looks so good and is an appliance I actually enjoy displaying on my kitchen shelf,” she said. “It makes toast to perfection, crisps items perfectly on the air fryer setting and reheats leftovers incredibly fast. There’s literally no warm-up time compared to a traditional oven.” 

Get it from Amazon for $195 (available in three colors).

A bit of a wildcard, but if you love the crispy taste of grilled food but don’t want to cook outside for one — this indoor grill is the thing. It’s incredibly versatile with a 12-inch flat-top griddle, a grilling grate, an air crisper basket, and smart thermometer that takes the guesswork out of under or overcooking. If you’re looking for a workhorse that will earn its place on your counter — you found it. 

Promising review: “Your going to love it. Doesn’t heat up your kitchen. I cook everything on it. , backed potatoes, grilled squash, shrimp, hot dogs, pork chops. Easy cleaning. My friend got one also.” —Placeholder 

Get it from Amazon for $199.99.

Have you ever seen anything as cute as this tiny slow cooker? I think not. With a removable ceramic insert pot and heat-tempered glass lid (both dishwasher-safe), this mini slow cooker is straightforward and intuitive to use. Enjoy meats, rice meals, and more simply by flipping a switch. This comes in silver and white. 

Promising review: “Nice pot to use when a bigger one would be silly. Also nice for melted cheese dips at parties. My mom used to use one of these to make a Reuben dip that was awesome. I use it mostly to make spaghetti sauce from scratch. Really handy item.” —Terry Canaan

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

Hate ending up with old coffee in the pot? We got the fix. At just 4.5 inches wide, this small machine can fit almost anywhere, and makes just one cup at a time. By using K-cup pods, you never need to deal with wet beans or remember to buy coffee filters. The removable bottom allows you to fill 6- to 12-ounce cups and tumblers, and the secret storage compartment lets you keep nice new K-cup pods in the machine at all times so new ground beans are always in your reach. You can brew your drink strong or over ice if you prefer cold coffee. 

Promising review: “This coffee maker is the perfect size for me, being a single person. It makes one cup at a time quickly. I like the auto shut off and the appearance of the machine. Very pleased with my purchase.” —Pam Matthews

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in six colors).

While Breville espresso machines run the gambit in size, price and complexity, we like the Bambino model. It’s a smaller, compact machine made for making one to two shots, but also has a frother. It won’t take up your whole counter (and it’s a lot cheaper than the bigger models). If you like an espresso-based drink, this may be your machine. 

Promising review: “I love the small footprint, the three-second warmup, and the auto shut-off. It pulls a nice shot and makes perfect foam. Can’t imagine why I would need the more expensive version of this machine.” —Judy Rothmeyer

Get it from Amazon for $299.95.

Don’t be fooled by the size — this is no ordinary pot. It’s an electric, portable cooking machine that can sear, saute, fry, boil, and steam as long as it’s plugged in. It’s great for small kitchens, campers, people learning to cook, or anyone that likes a one-pot meal. 

Promising review: “Easy to use, easy to clean, AND it makes cooking extremely simple. I also find that I’m getting creative precisely because the pot is so accommodating.” —Etan N.

Get it from Target for $75 (originally $120; available in two colors).

With a 1-3 minute preheat time, this handy mini panini press can make delectable grilled cheese sammies, omelets, French toast, and even cookies. The safety handle stays cool while cooking, making it easy to open and close.  

Promising review: “Wanted a sandwich maker for one person. This is exactly what I wanted.” —nicole sol

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five colors).