Countertop space is scarce, but so is trust — every “best of” list on the internet is monetized by the same links it’s recommending, which is exactly why so many of them read like nobody used the product. Here’s what we’d buy with our own money, in the three categories we said were worth it last time.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through the Amazon links in this post, at no extra cost to you.

Air fryers

Our pick: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart. Fits four chicken cutlets or two 15-ounce bags of frozen fries, has a 2-minute preheat, and the controls don’t require a manual. It’s the one that shows up on winner lists for a reason — nothing about it is exciting, which is the point. Check price on Amazon →

Update (Sept 11, 2026): This one is on sale right now — see this week’s deals.

Budget pick: Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze 6 Qt. Ceramic-coated basket, even cooking, simple digital controls. The tradeoff is real but small: it fits three cutlets where the Instant fits four. Check price on Amazon →

Electric kettles

Our pick: Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless. Boils in just over 3 minutes, holds temperature for 30 minutes once it hits your target, and has six preset temps in 5-degree increments — useful if you drink both green and black tea, not marketing filler. Check price on Amazon →

Budget pick: Mueller Living Electric Kettle. No keep-warm, but one-button operation and a borosilicate glass body that boils just as fast. If you make tea or pour-over once a day and don’t need presets, this is the sane choice. Check price on Amazon →

Kitchen scales

Our pick: OXO Good Grips 11 lb Food Scale with Pull-Out Display. The pull-out display means you can read the number with a large bowl on top — a problem every flush-mounted scale has and pretends it doesn’t. Removable platform, 1-gram precision. Check price on Amazon →

Budget pick: Ozeri Pronto. Same 1-gram precision and 11 lb capacity as scales four times the price. The platform doesn’t come off for cleaning and it feels flimsier, but the number it shows you is just as accurate. Check price on Amazon →

No sponsorships went into any of these picks — every product here was chosen on its own merits. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through the links above, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by Amazon and may change at any time.