Moving to a new home can be a daunting process and it can take some time to figure out what you have and what you need. Some people focus on cool kitchen gadgets that won't be used much, like electric can openers and an egg maker. But a manual can opener works fine and you can cook eggs in a pot of boiling water. In this article, we look at five small kitchen appliances that will improve your daily life.

1. Hand blender
This is a smaller hand blender that you can easily move around the house or outdoors if you wish. It has a long handle with a sharp blade on the business end that is partially covered for your protection. The blade can be removed for cleaning and the partial cover will prevent most food splatters. When cooking vegetables or stock on the stove, simply add the immersion blender to the pot and puree it to make the perfect soup. This is a great little device for making your favorite sauces too.

2. Coffee grinder
If you don't drink coffee, you can skip this little machine, but for many of us it would be hard to start the day without our morning Joe. Buying whole coffee beans and grinding them at home is a great way to get the most flavor and aroma from your coffee. A fresh grind every morning ensures that you never drink instant coffee again. Even a more expensive coffee grinder is affordable and reliable, making the purchase a breeze.

3. A slow cooker
The technology used in the crock-pot and other types of slow cookers has improved significantly in recent years. Many people have been reluctant to use these devices, but when you start using one, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. The recipes require a little advance preparation and they can be a bit complicated. But once you've set up the slow cooker, you can turn it on and leave it on while you go about your day. When you return, the meal is warm and ready to eat after a short heating phase. These appliances consume very little power and the slow cooking process preserves the health and taste of the food.

4. Hand chopper
Let's face it, most of us miss the impressive knife skills that chefs use on our favorite cooking shows. Practice and a sharp knife help, but in the meantime, how do you get the fine chops you need for your vegetables? This is a job for a hand chopper who can quickly chop onions and mince garlic. When vegetables such as carrots and onions are cut in a uniform manner, they are easier to incorporate into a recipe and shorten cooking times. There are many hand choppers on the market and they vary greatly in quality, so it is important to do some research and read reviews.

5. Food processor
Many modern food processors are truly multifunctional machines that can serve as bread makers and perform a wide range of tasks. If you want to make your own dough, sauces, dressings and nuts, you can't go wrong with this device. The best thing about a good model is that it is modular in nature and you don't have to learn every feature at once. If you get a good model, it usually comes with a recipe book and some tips and tricks to get you started.