Premium countertop appliances
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Premium countertop appliances are the tools you'll touch every day: a stand mixer for bread and baking, a high-performance blender and a smart countertop oven that can stand in for a second oven. Unlike built-ins, you buy them online and can take them with you when you move. The models we cover list from about $400 to about $1,300.
The short answer: for bread, the Ankarsrum Assistent Original (about $749.95) is the specialist, with a 7-liter bowl, an 11 lb dough capacity and a 7-year limited warranty. The KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift (about $649.99) is the better all-rounder. For blending, the Vitamix Ascent X5 (about $749.95) and Blendtec Professional 800 (about $799.95) both carry 10-year warranties; Blendtec's sound enclosure makes it the pick for open kitchens. For a smart countertop oven, the Anova Precision Oven 2.0 (about $1,299 regular price) is the only one on our list with steam.
All comparisons use published specs and list prices. Our ratings are editorial estimates, not lab results. Retail sale prices change often, so check the current price before you buy.
Every model we review (8)
| Countertop appliance | Width | Type | List price | Full warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer | - | Stand mixer | $750 | - |
| Anova Precision Oven 2.0 | 22.9″ | Countertop oven | $1,299 | 2-yr full |
| Blendtec Professional 800 with WildSide+ Jar | - | Blender | $800 | - |
| Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro | - | Countertop oven | $400 | - |
| Breville the Bakery Chef Stand Mixer | - | Stand mixer | $450 | 2-yr full |
| Breville the Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro | 21.5″ | Countertop oven | $500 | - |
| KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer | - | Stand mixer | $650 | - |
| Vitamix Ascent X5 | - | Blender | $750 | - |
List prices when last checked; configurations, finishes and panels change the price. Click a column to sort.
Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer
Ankarsrum · Countertop appliance · Stand mixer
- $750 MSRP
- Electric
- Bowl (qt): 7.3
- Watts: 600
The Ankarsrum Assistent Original (AKM 6230) is the best stand mixer here for serious bread bakers. Instead of a beater spinning in a fixed bowl, the 7-liter (7.3-quart) stainless bowl rotates against a dough roller and scraper, driven by a 600-watt motor with 12 speeds. It's rated for 11 lb of dough and 1.5 liters of liquid, and it's made in Sweden. Abt lists it at about $749.95 in White Gloss, with a 7-year limited warranty. Choose it for bread; choose KitchenAid if you want familiarity and attachments.
Anova Precision Oven 2.0
Anova · Countertop appliance · Countertop oven
- $1,299 MSRP
- 22.9″ wide
- Electric
- 2-yr full warranty
- Capacity (cu ft): 1.2
- Watts: 1,800
The Anova Precision Oven 2.0 is the countertop combi-steam oven for cooks who want steam and sous vide without a built-in steam oven. It controls humidity from 0 to 100%, runs sous vide and dry sous vide modes, and adds air fry, proof, dehydrate and steam bake. On paper it has 1.2 cu. ft. (38 L), 12 modes, a 10-cup water tank, a food probe, 1,800 watts and a 482°F maximum. Anova lists it at about $1,299 regular price. It's the most capable countertop oven here, and the most demanding.
Blendtec Professional 800 with WildSide+ Jar
Blendtec · Countertop appliance · Blender
- $800 MSRP
- Electric
- Watts: 1,800
The Blendtec Professional 800 is the blender to buy if noise and batch size matter most. It has an 1,800-watt motor, a 90 oz WildSide+ jar and a sealed sound enclosure that surrounds the jar while it runs. Six programs cover batters, mixed drinks, smoothies, frozen treats, whole juice and hot soup, with an 11-speed touch slider plus Pulse. It's Blendtec's current flagship and carries a 10-year warranty. Blendtec lists it at about $799.95. Choose it for quiet and capacity; choose Vitamix for more programs.
Breville the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
Breville · Countertop appliance · Countertop oven
- $400 MSRP
- Electric
- Capacity (cu ft): 1
- Watts: 1,800
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900) is the best value among premium countertop ovens. It uses Element IQ to steer six independent quartz elements, adds super convection and PID temperature control, and offers 13 functions including air fry, dehydrate, slow cook and proof. By the specs it has 1 cu. ft. of space and 1,800 watts, enough for a 13-inch pizza, a 14-lb turkey or a 9x13 pan. Breville lists it at about $399.95 regular price. One flag: AJ Madison lists it as no longer available, though breville.com is selling it.
Breville the Bakery Chef Stand Mixer
Breville · Countertop appliance · Stand mixer
- $450 MSRP
- Electric
- 2-yr full warranty
- Bowl (qt): 5
- Watts: 550
The Breville Bakery Chef (BEM825) is a smart, compact stand mixer for everyday bakers, but check availability first. AJ Madison and Best Buy list it as no longer available, though breville.com still sells it at about $449.95. On paper it has a 550-watt motor, 12 speeds, a 5-quart glass bowl plus a 4-quart stainless bowl, and a built-in timer with auto-stop. It suits cakes, cookies and modest bread batches in a smaller kitchen. Heavy bread bakers should look at the Ankarsrum or KitchenAid 7-quart.
Breville the Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro
Breville · Countertop appliance · Countertop oven
- $500 MSRP
- 21.5″ wide
- Electric
- Capacity (cu ft): 0.9
- Watts: 1,800
The Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV950) is the connected version of Breville's popular countertop oven. It adds Joule Autopilot, which runs guided multi-step recipes from the app, push notifications and Alexa and Google Assistant voice control. By the specs it has 13 presets plus 3 app-only modes, 1,800 watts and 0.9 cu. ft., enough for a 13-inch pizza, nine slices of toast, a 14-lb turkey or a 9x13 pan. Breville lists it at about $499.95. Buy it if you'll use the app; otherwise the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro costs less.
KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer
KitchenAid · Countertop appliance · Stand mixer
- $650 MSRP
- Electric
- Bowl (qt): 7
- Watts: 500
The KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift (KSM70) is the biggest, strongest KitchenAid you can buy, and the safest choice for most home bakers. It has a 7-quart bowl, a 500-watt motor, 11 speeds including a 1/2 speed, and KitchenAid rates it for 13 dozen cookies or 8.75 lb of bread dough. It also keeps the attachment hub that makes KitchenAid so versatile. AJ Madison lists an MSRP of about $649.99. It's the right pick for family baking; dedicated bread bakers should also look at the Ankarsrum.
Vitamix Ascent X5
Vitamix · Countertop appliance · Blender
- $750 MSRP
- Electric
- Watts: 1,500
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is Vitamix's top Ascent blender, and the best choice here for most households that blend daily. It pairs a 2.2-horsepower, 1,500-watt motor with a 48 oz jar, 10 programs and a touch interface with a digital timer. SELF-DETECT recognizes the container you attach, and an automatic self-cleaning cycle handles the jar. It's made in Cleveland, Ohio, and carries a 10-year limited warranty. Vitamix lists it at about $749.95 regular price. Pick it for versatility and finish; pick Blendtec for quieter, larger batches.
How to choose premium countertop appliances
Stand mixers: bowl-lift or rotating bowl?
Choose by what you bake. If you make heavy bread doughs and big batches, the Ankarsrum's rotating-bowl design, 600 W motor and 11 lb dough capacity are built for it. It looks and works differently from a classic mixer, so expect a learning curve.
If you bake a bit of everything, the KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift lists 11 speeds, an 8.75 lb bread dough capacity and an attachment hub that runs pasta rollers and grinders. The Breville Bakery Chef (about $449.95) is the compact choice with a timer and two bowls, but some retailers now list it as no longer available, so check stock. See the best stand mixers for bread and Ankarsrum vs KitchenAid.
Blenders: power, jar size and noise
Both blenders are well past what most kitchens need for smoothies, so decide on jar size, programs and noise. The Vitamix Ascent X5 has a 48 oz jar, 10 programs and SELF-DETECT container recognition. The Blendtec Professional 800 has a 90 oz jar, 1,800 W and a sealed sound enclosure. Pick Vitamix for its program variety and container system, Blendtec if noise in an open-plan kitchen matters. Read Vitamix vs Blendtec for the full breakdown.
Smart countertop ovens: steam or no steam?
The Anova Precision Oven 2.0 is a countertop combi oven: 1.2 cu ft, steam with humidity control, sous vide modes and a food probe. It's the closest thing to a built-in steam oven that plugs into an outlet, but some app features need a subscription. The Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro (about $499.95) adds app-guided cooking and voice control without steam, and the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (about $399.95) is the non-connected value pick. See the best smart countertop ovens.
Where they fit in a luxury kitchen
Plan an appliance garage or a pantry counter with outlets so these machines don't clutter your main work surface. Heavy mixers are easier to live with if they stay on the counter, so give them a permanent spot. And if a built-in steam oven isn't in the budget, a countertop combi oven is a smart stopgap. Compare it with built-ins in our best wall ovens and steam ovens.
Building a morning station too? Our coffee hub covers espresso machines and built-in coffee systems.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best stand mixer for bread?
For frequent, heavy bread baking, the Ankarsrum Assistent Original stands out on paper, with a 7-liter bowl, an 11 lb dough capacity and a 7-year limited warranty, at about $749.95. If you bake cakes and cookies as often as bread, the KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift is the more versatile choice at about $649.99, with an 8.75 lb bread dough rating.
Vitamix or Blendtec: which is better?
Both are excellent and both list 10-year warranties. Choose the Vitamix Ascent X5 if you want 10 programs, a 48 oz jar and container recognition. Choose the Blendtec Professional 800 if you want a bigger 90 oz jar and a sealed sound enclosure for a quieter open kitchen. Price is close: about $749.95 versus about $799.95.
Is a countertop steam oven worth it?
It's worth it if you want steam cooking, sous vide or better reheating but can't fit or afford a built-in steam oven. The Anova Precision Oven 2.0 lists 1.2 cu ft, humidity control and a food probe for about $1,299 regular price. It's bulky, weighing about 52 lb, so make sure you have a permanent counter spot for it.
Where should I buy premium countertop appliances?
These are bought online or in kitchen stores rather than through appliance dealers, and sale prices change often. Compare the brand's own site with major retailers, check that the seller is authorized so the warranty applies, and keep your receipt. Warranty terms vary widely, from 2 years on the Breville ovens to 10 years on both blenders, so check each brand's terms.