Juicers and Personal Blenders
Between the rise of cleanse diets and the April 2013 release of Gwyneth Paltrow's clean-eating cookbook,
It's All Good, juicers are one of this year's most sought-after appliances. New, used or refurbished, the highest demand is for Norwalk models. "It seems to be the Cadillac of juicers," says eBay Dean of Education Jim Griffith. Bids for Norwalk's styles range anywhere from $493 to $2,795. Along with juicers, single-serving blenders (like the Magic Bullet) make up six of the top 10 bestsellers in Amazon's Kitchen Small Appliances category.
Michael Graves for Target Kitchen Gadgets
From 1999 to 2012, designer Michael Graves crafted functional-meets-modern kitchenware for the company and attracted a cult following in the process. Almost any item can be sold for a profit, says Griffith, but the white Pop Art Toaster—in great condition—is worth about $200, roughly eight times what it originally sold for.
Fondue Sets
The hit of the '70s houseparty is making a comeback. Blame it on chocolate fountains—the now-ubiquitous sign of a good time at weddings, proms and baby showers is inspiring people to crave chocolate-dipped treats at home, Griffith says. New and vintage sets are equally popular, though you can usually resell old avocado green, cinnamon red and harvest gold models for more, since they can double as retro display pieces. Basic fondue kits typically go for $10 to $30.
Espresso Machines
If eBay sales are an indication, our love-bordering-on-addiction to coffee remains strong. Espresso machines are one of the most-sold (and listed) kitchen items on the site, and like juicers and fondue kits, new and used ones are both bid on. Top brands like Jura, Phillips, La Spaziale and Breville tend to retain their value best, and used models in good condition can go for 50 percent or more of the original cost, Griffith says.
IKEA Butcher Blocks
Butcher-block countertops are one of
Apartment Therapy's top kitchen design trends for 2013, and IKEA's oak version has attracted its own fan following. In late March 2013, however, the company discontinued its 39-inch style, according to
IKEAFans.com, leaving some searching for unused or leftover pieces. Requests to buy, sell or trade the wooden countertops—and any other IKEA products—are posted on the site's message boards. In one post, a kitchen island topper went for $200.
KitchenAid Mixers—in This Color
Despite the more than 30 paint and finish options for the
KitchenAid stand mixer, the most popular color to resell is also the most commonplace: classic white. Yes, the color that's regularly on sale for $150 to $199 (compared to $300-plus for the limited-edition shades). Yup, the one color just about every retailer offers in stock. Why? "It goes with everything," Griffith says. Even refurbished models regularly sell for $100 or more.
Enameled Iron Pots, Pans and Casserole Dishes
Blue usually sells better than other colors—people just prefer it," says Tom Baker of Dig Antiques. It's in even higher demand when the particular shade is hard to find: Le Creuset discontinued its Azure Blue enameled cookware, and those looking to complete their collections are willing to pay extra. A 3-quart covered casserole dish in the deep sapphire color recently sold on the site for $195, while a similar style sells for $100 on LeCreuset.com.
Metal Cookie Cutters
Whether they're your grandmother's hand-me-downs or an impulse buy from Martha Stewart's
Martha by Mail catalog, cookie cutters can be worth far more than you originally paid for them. Collectors often look for three things: size (extra-large and extra-small being more coveted), color (the darker the tin, the older it is) and shape (forest animals are popular, though the most sought-after cutter is the "Heart in Hand," a hand with a heart outline either in the palm or sprouting from the thumb, Baker says). Most
antique cookie cutters start at $20 to $25 apiece, though a mint-condition "Heart in Hand" that's several decades old can sell for up to $1,500.
Martha's four-piece sets can fetch up to $300—such as the copper "Blooming Flower" or "Victorian Glass Ornament" styles—particularly if they're still in the box.
Cast Iron Skillets
This is one kitchen item that's more valuable the longer it's been used, as long as it's rust-free. Check the bottom of the skillet before selling—if it is marked "Griswold," it could be worth several times what you originally paid for it, Baker says. "Griswold has a huge following," he explains. "There are conventions just for the brand."
Preserve Jars
Move over, Mason jars. Classic pieces of folk art—stoneware containers used to pickle and preserve vegetables have been gaining in popularity. You'll be able to tell them apart from more modern, mass-produced jars by their hand-painted cobalt-blue stripe, which typically only goes halfway around. The more bands the piece has, the more valuable it is, Baker says. Each piece can go for $150 to $500.
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