The modern kitchen has come a long way since our grandmothers' day. In the 1950s, kitchen appliances were a status symbol and were just becoming readily available to the average home cook. Having a blender or toaster was common enough, but other appliances were considered a splurge and not necessary to being a good home cook. Your grandmother likely still made a lot of her own bread and she kneaded it by hand, on her kitchen counter. Today, times have changed, and even the sparsest kitchen has basic tools to accommodate home cooking. Here are some of the most essential for modern cooks.

Stand Mixer

The stand mixer has been an icon of modern cooking technology since our grandmothers' day. However, it wasn't until several decades later that prices came down and they began to be a common wedding gift for new couples. The stand mixer is an amazing kitchen appliance that really does it all. Of course, basic mixing tasks are a cinch for this tool. From whipping perfect meringue to kneading bread dough, the attachments allow a full range of tasks to be accomplished. In addition, modern mixers are expandable. With the right additional tool, modern cooks can grate, slice, grind and even make pasta on their stand mixer.

Blender

Even though this is a tool that even grandma was familiar with, the blender is still quite useful in modern kitchens. This appliance is most often used for things like mixing drinks and making smoothies. However, it is also great for pureeing and making sauces. Blenders vary quite a bit in quality, so read reviews and check features before buying. Surprisingly, you don't have to spend a lot to get a good quality blender. Some of the highest rated models sell for under one hundred dollars.

Microwave

Almost no modern kitchen is without the presence of the quick-cooking microwave oven. This appliance was largely perfected in the 1980s, and by the 1990s, they were in almost every kitchen in the country. As home cooks became more familiar with this appliance, methods and cooking utensils were developed that allowed the cook to use it to its fullest potential. In addition, the convection microwave oven was introduced, which offered the ability to cook more like a conventional oven, but much faster. Still, many home cooks still use this indispensable appliance mostly for reheating food, thawing, or simple tasks like popping popcorn.

Food Processor

The last appliance that is found in most home kitchens is a food processor. This multi-purpose tool is the multi-tasker of the kitchen crew. Food processors can be used in place of several other kitchen appliances, including the stand mixer and BLENDER. However, each has its own place in the kitchen roundup. The food processor is the king of chopping, grating, and blending more solid ingredients. Tasks that would throw a blender don't faze the food processor. Some people have even been known to mix bread dough via the food processor, though the stand mixer probably does a better job of this task. Read your manual and experiment with your food processor for best results.