Quick Answer:
Which Appliance Features Are Actually Worth Paying For?
The appliance features worth paying extra for are the ones that make everyday tasks easier and fit the way you actually use your appliances. According to Tom Marso, co-manager of the appliance department at Mahlander’s Appliance & Lighting, features worth considering include flexible refrigerator drawers, built-in air fry, convection or air-fry microwaves, smart dishwasher connectivity, automatic detergent dispensing in washers and steam settings in dryers.
The best choice depends on your household, cooking habits and daily routine. Before paying more for any appliance feature, ask yourself one question: Will I actually use it?
In This Article:
- Is a Flexible Refrigerator Drawer Worth It?
- Is Air Fry in a Range Worth It?
- Is a Convection or Air-Fry Microwave Worth It?
- Are Smart Dishwasher Features Actually Useful?
- Is Automatic Detergent Dispensing Worth It?
- Is a Steam Dryer Worth the Extra Cost?
- Which Appliance Features Are Worth Paying For?
Shopping for new appliances can get overwhelming fast. Refrigerators, ranges, microwaves, dishwashers, washers and dryers come with more features than ever before. Some can make everyday life noticeably easier. Others may sound impressive but might not be worth the extra cost for the way you live.
So, which appliance features are actually worth paying for?
We asked Tom Marso, co-manager of the appliance department at Mahlander’s and part of the team for more than 30 years, which features customers are looking for right now and which ones he thinks are worth considering.
Here are six features that stood out.
Is a Flexible Refrigerator Drawer Worth It?
For Tom, the answer starts with what customers are asking for.
“The main thing people are coming in asking for is that extra drawer,” he says.
You’ve probably seen it on newer French-door refrigerators: an additional drawer between the main refrigerator compartment and the freezer. Depending on the model, the drawer may offer adjustable temperature settings so it can be used for beverages, snacks, deli items, wine or other foods.
Why is it useful? Flexibility.
A dedicated drawer can keep frequently used items easily accessible, create a convenient beverage zone when you’re entertaining, or simply give you another way to organize a busy refrigerator.
Worth considering if: You entertain frequently, have a busy household or love the idea of having a dedicated space for drinks, snacks or other frequently used foods.
Is Air Fry in a Range Worth It?
If a countertop air fryer has taken up permanent residence in your kitchen, this feature might be especially appealing.
Many newer ranges include an air-fry cooking mode, giving you another way to get crispy results without adding another appliance to your countertop.
And according to Tom, customers are actively looking for it.
He recently worked with two customers shopping for a new gas range. Their priority? They didn’t care what it looked like, but it had to have air fry.
That is a pretty strong endorsement of just how important the feature has become to some shoppers.
Built-in air fry can also help reclaim valuable counter space, especially if you already use a standalone air fryer regularly.
And when we asked Tom which appliance feature he personally would be happiest to pay extra for, he didn’t hesitate.
“The air fry.”
Worth considering if: Your countertop air fryer gets frequent use, you want to free up counter space or you’d simply like more cooking options built into your range.
Is a Convection or Air-Fry Microwave Worth It?
Your microwave doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to reheating leftovers and popping popcorn.
When we asked Tom about microwave features worth considering, he pointed to models that include convection cooking or air fry.
“A lot of people don’t realize that microwave convection ovens can actually bake,” he says.
Convection microwaves circulate hot air around food, allowing some models to bake, roast and brown in addition to performing traditional microwave tasks. Some newer models add air-fry capability as well.
Think of the possibilities when your main oven is full during a holiday meal, you’re cooking for a crowd or you simply don’t want to turn on the full-size oven for something small.
There may be a little learning curve as you figure out the different cooking modes, but the payoff can be another surprisingly versatile cooking appliance in a space you were already using for a microwave.
Worth considering if: You have limited oven space, entertain frequently or want your microwave to do much more than reheat and defrost.
Is Automatic Detergent Dispensing Worth It?
Some of the best appliance features aren’t particularly flashy.
For washers, Tom points to automatic detergent dispensing as one that can make laundry easier.
Instead of measuring detergent every time you start a load, you fill a reservoir and the washing machine automatically dispenses the appropriate amount.
That’s convenient, but there can be another advantage: helping prevent detergent overuse.
Tom says automatic dispensing can help cut down on “the smell and the stink” and the buildup that can develop inside a washing machine.
If your personal laundry philosophy has historically been a little detergent is good, so a little more must be better, this may be a particularly useful feature.
Worth considering if: You do a lot of laundry, like the convenience of eliminating another step or have a tendency to be a little generous with the detergent.
Are Smart Dishwasher Features Useful?
“Smart” gets attached to nearly everything these days, and while smart features can make cooking, cleanup and hosting easier, not every connected feature is going to matter to every homeowner.
With dishwashers, however, Tom says connectivity is something shoppers are increasingly considering.
The question he hears is: “Are they connectable?”
Depending on the model, a connected dishwasher may allow you to check cycle status, receive notifications, schedule a cycle or control certain functions remotely through an app.
And there are times when that can be genuinely useful.
Maybe you head out of town for the weekend and realize later that nobody started the full dishwasher before you left. Or perhaps you want to schedule the cycle so it finishes closer to the time you arrive home.
The real value isn’t simply being able to say your dishwasher connects to your phone. It’s whether that connection gives you useful control over an appliance you rely on every day.
Worth considering if: You travel frequently, have a busy or unpredictable schedule or appreciate being able to monitor and manage your home from your phone.
Is a Steam Dryer Worth the Extra Cost?
For dryers, Tom recommends taking a look at steam capability.
Steam cycles can help de-wrinkle and refresh clothing, which can come in handy when something has been sitting in the dryer too long or needs a quick refresh before you wear it.
It doesn’t replace washing when clothes actually need to be cleaned, of course. But for lightly wrinkled dry garments, a steam setting can save you from running another complete laundry cycle or reaching for the iron.
It’s the kind of feature that may not sound essential in the showroom, but could become one you use regularly once you have it.
Worth considering if: You regularly deal with wrinkled clothes, want a quick way to refresh garments or would happily spend less time ironing.
So, Which Appliance Features Are Worth Paying For?
The answer depends less on which appliance has the longest list of features and more on how you actually live.
If you already use a countertop air fryer several times a week, having air fry built into your range could be a worthwhile upgrade. A busy family might love the organization of a flexible refrigerator drawer or the convenience of automatic detergent dispensing. Someone who travels frequently may get more value from connected appliances.
Before you shop, think about the appliances you have now.
- What do you love about them?
- What frustrates you?
- What do you wish they did differently?
Those answers can be much more useful than simply looking for the model with the most features. (Planning a larger kitchen update? Read more about why a dream kitchen starts with smart appliance choices.)
And if you’re not sure which upgrades are worth the investment, ask someone who works with appliances every day.
Stop by Mahlander’s Appliance & Lighting in Sioux Falls and talk with Tom and the rest of our appliance team. They can help you compare options, understand what today’s appliance features actually do and find the ones that make sense for your home, lifestyle and budget.
Because the best appliance feature isn’t necessarily the newest or fanciest one.
It’s the one you’ll actually use.
