The Best Breakfast Stations, According to Testing
These 3-in-1 meal makers are the compact solution to beating the morning rush.
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The first meal of the day is arguably the most chaotic, and if you’re in a small space like an apartment or a dorm, it’s even trickier because, well, where in the world are you going to store multiple appliances? Say hello to the breakfast station: an all-in-one appliance that can meet your breakfast-making needs. Depending on the model, breakfast stations can be equipped with a combo of morning-related appliances, including coffee makers, toasters and griddles.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we tested eight breakfast station models in our first side-by-side testing of the category. Our experts rated how easy it was to set up each station, the ease of cleaning and overall performance. We performed an average of three tests per breakfast station, which meant cooking more than two dozen eggs and toasting nearly 20 pieces of bread and even frying bacon, brewing coffee and even making a few breakfast sandwiches.
Our top picks:
Best Overall Breakfast Station
Nostalgia Retro 3-in-1 Family Size Electric Breakfast Station
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Read on to find out how we tested and what to look for when shopping for a breakfast station. In the market for other compact appliances? Check out our guide to the best mini fridges.
Pros
- Feels more durable than other models
- Versatile design
- Reusable coffee filter
- Fat does not pool on griddle
Cons
- Takes up more space than other breakfast stations
- Pricier than other models
The Nostalgia Retro 3-in-1 Family Size Electric Breakfast Station was the top-ranking breakfast station we tested. It gets extra points for its versatility — you can make coffee while browning bread or pastries in the toaster oven and frying bacon and eggs on the griddle. While this was the largest breakfast station we tested, it was also the most durable.
We loved that the griddle features grooves so grease doesn’t pool, allowing for eggs to get crispier than other models without this design element. This breakfast station also earned high marks for having multiple cooking modes, which makes it versatile. Added bonus: It comes with a reusable coffee filter, a baking tray for the toaster oven and a tempered glass lid to cover the griddle.
| Dimensions | 11.5" x 19.25" x 12" |
| Cooking options | Nonstick griddle; toaster oven |
| Coffee maker | Yes, with 3-cup capacity |
| Timer | Up to 30 minutes |
| Other features | Baking tray, tempered glass lid |
Pros
- Nonstick surface works well
- Small but mighty
Cons
- Timer is limited to 5 minutes
- Exterior gets very hot during operation
The GreenLife 3-in-1 Breakfast Station is small (it looks almost like a toy!) but mighty. Because of the station's petite size, bacon needs to be cut to fit on the surface, but it did crisp up nicely. And the griddle's nonstick properties exceeded our expectations as fried eggs were released smoothly. GreenLife claims the bread drawer can fit two slices, but we were only able to toast one at a time, so it took longer than anticipated to make a breakfast sandwich. (Together, the bacon and egg took only four minutes.)
This pick does have a few downsides: The cool-touch handles work well; however, the appliance itself registered a very hot 180°F during our testing. In addition, you cannot adjust the temperature, and the timer doesn’t go beyond five minutes.
| Dimensions | 12.3" x 8.3" x 6.4" |
| Cooking options | Nonstick griddle; toasting drawer |
| Coffee maker | No |
| Timer | Up to 5 minutes |
| Other features | Compact |
Pros
- Two-slot toaster
- Good results with boiled egg cooker
Cons
- Oil pools on the very small griddle
For evenly browned toast, look no further than the Nostalgia Classic Retro 3-in-1 Breakfast Station, which has a two-slot toaster design perfect for slices of bread, bagels or waffles. This breakfast station also features a multifunctional system that allows users to boil eggs or cook them on a griddle with breakfast meats. It even comes with a silicone ring so you can fry up tidy, sandwich-size eggs or make little pancakes. In our tests, we followed the manufacturer's instructions to cook medium-boiled eggs and were pleased with the perfectly jammy yolks.
A couple notes of caution: We don’t recommend using the highest setting for toast (unless burnt bread is your thing), and we suggest cooking only one strip of bacon at a time on the griddle, ideally cut in half or thirds, as this part of the appliance is extremely small and causes fat to pool, which in turn limits crispiness.
| Dimensions | 11.4" x 7.5" x 11.6" |
| Cooking options | Nonstick griddle; 2-slot toaster; boiled-egg cooker |
| Coffee maker | No |
| Timer | Up to 30 minutes |
| Other features | Silicone ring for making sandwich-size eggs or pancakes |
Pros
- Produces two nicely cooked breakfast sandwiches in about 4 minutes
- Built-in timer
- Removable parts are dishwasher safe
Cons
- Handle gets hot when operating
- Not all parts that get dirty are removable
If making breakfast sandwiches is your end game, the Hamilton Beach Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker with Timer is the answer. There aren’t as many cooking options compared to other models we tested, but users can make a delicious, low-effort breakfast sandwich.
It works like this: Place the bottom of an English muffin on the bottom of the cooking device, then layer it with cheese, veggies or pre-cooked breakfast meat; add an egg to the “egg plate” cooking surface and, finally, add the muffin top. Four minutes later, your sandwich (or sandwiches — it can make two at a time!) is ready. There’s a timer so you don’t forget there’s something cooking during the morning rush.
| Dimensions | 8" x 10.5" x 6" |
| Cooking options | 2 sets of round cooking surfaces for each portion of a breakfast sandwich |
| Coffee maker | No |
| Timer | Up to 5 minutes |
| Other features | Makes 2 sandwiches in less than 5 minutes; many parts are dishwasher safe |
Pros
- Turned out consistently nice medium-boiled eggs
- Seven browning levels on the toaster
Cons
- No griddle
While the West Bend 78500 2 Slice Breakfast Station doesn’t feature a griddle, it does have an impressive option for cooking eggs multiple ways. In our tests, we cooked medium-boiled eggs with consistently favorable results. It also comes with poaching cups, but while the eggs cooked nicely, they were difficult to remove.
The other side of the appliance is a toaster that includes seven browning levels. This breakfast station would be ideal for Airbnbs, giving guests a quick option to make toast and eggs at the same time.
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 10.5" x 7.75" |
| Cooking options | 2-slot toaster with seven browning levels; egg cooker for boiling, poaching and scrambling |
| Coffee maker | No |
| Timer | No |
| Other features | Poaching cups |
How we test breakfast stations
We tested eight breakfast station models. Our experts rated how easy each was to set up and clean, and we assessed the overall performance by cooking a breakfast that tested each available function.
If a model had a coffee maker, we brewed coffee. If there was a griddle, we fried eggs and bacon. To test toasters and toasters ovens, we toasted 19 pieces of bread to check for even heat distribution. Many models had egg steaming functions, so we medium-boiled and poached eggs, cutting them in half to see how evenly the whites and yolks cooked. We even tested some breakfast sandwich makers.
In addition, we evaluated the temperature of the appliances themselves to determine if they were too hot to touch without oven mitts, and we rated the intuitiveness of the control panels and the helpfulness of the instruction manuals.
What to look for when shopping for a breakfast station
✔️ Type: It’s important to decide what you want your breakfast station to accomplish. Would you like to brew coffee while you fry eggs and toast bread, or are you just looking to make a speedy breakfast sandwich? Once you have your a.m. wish list, it’ll be easier to narrow down your model.
✔️ Size and portability: Generally speaking, the more bells and whistles a breakfast station has, the larger it is. If you have the counter space and don’t mind leaving your appliance out 24/7, then consider a large, durable station. But if you’d rather pack it away after each use, there are more compact machines that will fit the bill. It’s also important to consider whether you’re making breakfast for yourself or an entire family.
✔️ Cleanability: The majority of the breakfast stations we tested needed to be wiped down, once cooled. However, if you want to make use of your dishwasher, look for one with removable, dishwasher-safe parts.
✔️ Design: If you’re keeping the breakfast station on your countertop, appearance is likely an important factor. Most of the breakfast stations we tested had a retro feel, with many coming in an aqua colorway.
Are breakfast stations worth it?
We found breakfast stations to be a convenient way to perform multiple kitchen tasks while taking up less space than multiple appliances. While they’re called “breakfast” stations, the appliances can also be used for snacks, lunches and dinner.
Overall, they offer a good value, but if you’re looking for high-quality cooking devices, you may want to look into standalone appliances, which generally deliver better durability and results.
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