10 Kitchen Appliances Worth Buying for Your Home

5. Wet grinder / mixer-grinder — Authentic batter and spice prep for Indian cooking

For South Indian staples like idli and dosa batter, a wet grinder still offers a texture many cooks prefer over blenders. Wet grinders use stone or conical drums to gently grind soaked rice and lentils into smooth, aerated batter—a quality that translates into lighter idlis and crepes with a better crumb. Mixer-grinders are common in many Indian homes for everyday chutneys, spice pastes, and grinding masalas. Decide based on frequency: if you prepare batter regularly, a wet grinder is worth the space and investment. If you only need occasional chutney or masala grinding, a compact mixer-grinder or a small food processor may be enough. Also, think about noise and cleaning: wet grinders can be quieter and easier to clean if you pick models with detachable drums. For many households, the decision rests on how often you make batter and how important texture is to your cooking—if those dosas matter, a wet grinder can pay for itself in results.