If you love to throw parties, you know how much planning goes into creating a great event. From seating and decorations to food and drinks, there’s so much to sort out! And that’s on top of the weeks of scheduling and coordinating that come with getting a crowd of people together in the same place at the same time. While you can’t always streamline the planning process, you can definitely set up your home with appliances for entertaining that make the day of the event easier.
Despite all the hassle, throwing events can be rewarding in a deep, community-focused way. There’s so much joy in hosting friends, seeing family, and creating moments. Keep reading to discover appliances that’ll make your life a little easier as a host.
Why the right appliances matter for entertaining
You absolutely do not need any specialized equipment to throw a great get together—but it can help. Small appliances add a bit of convenience to your events so you have more bandwidth to enjoy yourself while you host, and they’re a great way to enrich your party with something fun and exciting.
My tip for taking your party to the next level with a small appliance? Go for something novel. Let your home become that house in the neighbourhood; the one with the popcorn machine, or that really great soda recipe, or the super-cool ice cream bar. Create a little lore for your home and the community around you!
Slushie machines
Depending on where you grew up, you might call these something different. I’ve heard “slush machines,” “slushie machines,” “frozen drink makers,” and even proprietary eponyms like “ICEE machine” and “Slurpee machine.” In my house, we refer to the slush-maker by its brand name: the Ninja Slushi. (It’s a name that echoes down our hallowed halls at this point, and I’ve thrown more than one party that’s been centred around my slush of the day. You can read my full review of the Ninja Slushi here.)
Slushie machines are perfect for kids’ parties and adult cocktail nights. They’re surprisingly versatile, churning out sweet, fruity slushes in the summer and boozy, creamy indulgences in the winter. I love that they create drinks that feel special, delivering a cocktail-like novelty even for basic, zero-proof beverages.
My easiest slush recipe is a bottle of chilled mango juice. I’ll pop one or two bottles into my Ninja Slushi for everything from game nights to afternoon hangs. It’s a setup that feels special but takes next to no time to pull off. From creation to cleanup, I’m hands-on for maybe 8 minutes all-in. (I’ll even slush a mango juice for at-home fruity bubble tea.)
What to look for in a slushie machine
To pick the best slushie machine for hosting, look at the appliance’s capacity and ease of cleaning. Most slush machines take about the same amount of time to chill your drink, but their capacity can vary a lot!
My top pick for a slushie machine
Create slushies, milkshakes, frozen cocktails, and more in the Ninja Slushi.
Ice makers
Ice makers are super handy at event spaces without a built-in ice machine. That encompasses quite a few households: some without ice makers in the fridge; some that are looking to add one to the backyard, den, or home bar. Ice makers are a great option at any event where you’re going through a lot of ice, and they work very well if you’ll have power but might not have the ability to buy and bring a bag of ice. (They’re a good option, for instance, to bring glamping.)
What to consider about your ice maker
Ice machine devotees are, in my experience, hardcore fans of one and only one type of ice. Because of that, they’re one of the few small appliances that I would never buy as a gift. (Unless, of course, I already know the shape of ice the recipient loved and I was darn sure about it.)
In addition to checking your appliance’s capacity and creation speed, make sure to check its ice shape. From crescents to cubes, flakes, bullets, and the semi-revered nugget ice, there’s a big difference in experience for many drinkers!
My top pick for an ice maker
Keep drinks, snacks, and platters of food chilled with a dedicated ice maker.
Drink makers
“Drink makers” is a pretty wide term. There are so many different examples of drinks you can make and tools you can make them with, and all of them are great for entertaining in their own ways. Some examples of these are:
- Bar tools like wine openers and cocktail shakers
- Soda and sparkling water makers, which fizz water and other beverages
- Kegerators, which are like mini-fridges that chill and serve from kegs of draft beer
- Blenders — I think extra powerful blenders that can handle ice are best for entertaining, as you can use them to make smoothies, slushies, and more
- Drink storage that optimizes your beverages for consumption, like a wine fridge
There are also dedicated cocktail machines like the Bartesian Duet. These appliances are great for entertaining and they mix and measure your cocktails for you. For the most part, they need to be loaded with proprietary ingredients and can only mix one type of cocktail at a time.
What to consider when picking a drink maker
When picking a drink maker for a party, versatility is often key. Consider what you want the appliance for. Do you plan to make one drink repeatedly throughout the evening? Would you prefer to make a big batch of something and call it a day? Or will you need to make multiple drinks throughout the night (perhaps even having multiple themed drink stations)?
My top pick for a soda machine
Fizz a sparkling water base for bubbly cocktails, mocktails, and juice blends in a Sodastream.
Create a novel bar experience
Mix and blend to textbook perfection with a Bartesian cocktail machine.
Chill and store in multiple zones
A great wine fridge keeps your bottles at exactly the right temperature to open and serve.
Ice cream makers
Small appliances for hosting tend to centre around beverage makers—but there’s plenty of party-friendly appliances for snacking, too! A popular one is ice cream makers. Ideal for sundaes, build-your-own dessert bars, and after dinner snacking, ice cream makers typically fall into two categories. Pre-freeze ice cream makers like the need to be prepped in advance, but they produce results that can be eaten instantly. Compressor models make your ice cream fresh on the spot, but the results may need to go into the freezer to fully set before they can be enjoyed.
How to choose a great ice cream maker
Pre-freeze ice cream makers are a great option for hosting events. They’re a fun, interactive activity to tackle as a group and they’re ready to be served in minutes! Choose between traditional ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and (depending on the model of your ice cream maker) soft serve.
My top pick for an ice cream maker
Create hard ice cream and soft serve in one with the Ninja Creami Swirl. Perfect for sundae bars for all ages, this appliance is also great for making lactose-free or high-protein treats day to day!
Other fun party appliances
Keep the party going with snacks throughout the night—or afternoon, evening, or morning. (There’s nothing wrong with a bit of breakfast fondue on your day off!) Novelty appliances like popcorn makers are great for movie nights, binge sessions, and game days. The great thing about these single-job special appliances is that they often add to the decor and give your guests something to interact with. They can scoop up their old-timey air popped popcorn, dip fruit and dessert into a fondue set, or pass a sweet kebab through a chocolate fountain.
Other fun entertaining appliances include things that you can use in your daily routine, too, like novelty waffle makers or hot dog/sausage rollers.
My top pick for a novelty appliance
This popcorn maker is as fun as it is unique. It even comes with its own little wheelie cart!
How to choose the right entertaining appliance
I’m a big proponent of making sure every appliance you own serves a purpose. (Or multiple purposes, if you can swing it!) But in the world of hosting, there are so many different ways in which each small detail can enhance your and your guests’ experiences.
From cute, kitschy popcorn makers to “party blenders” that also make your morning smoothie, there’s a huge breadth of appliances that can help your party run smoothly. Consider factors like your budget, space, and individual needs when picking the perfect appliance to enhance your next event.
Finally, let your passions surprise you whenever you can. I never thought I’d let myself indulge in owning a slushie machine, but now my slushes are a huge focal point of my parties! I have friends who will text me weeks in advance with esoteric frozen beverage requests, and like any great party facet, it’s just one more opportunity to connect with my friends and family.
Shop small appliances online at Best Buy today, and make sure to read this post on the best small appliances for holiday entertaining for even more food inspiration. Your next gathering awaits!
