I'm a pro baker: This $14 countertop slider makes hauling out my appliances a snap

Back when I worked as a professional baker, my arms were in the best shape of their lives. Turns out kneading dough and lifting 50-pound bags of flour all week works wonders for your muscles. Of course, that was several years ago, and my biceps are a bit weaker these days. That makes hauling out my hefty stand mixer feel like a workout; at least, it did, until I started using an appliance slider. These kitchen game-changers make moving everything from mixers to air fryers a cinch, and you won't find me lifting my KitchenAid by hand ever again.

Okay, you will have to hoist your mixer onto the tray, but once that's done? It'll be smooth sailing, I mean, sliding. This one's made of bamboo, one of my favorite plastic alternatives, and has four sliding feet on the bottom, rather than wheels. This makes it feel more stable, and while things can get a little shaky while my mixer is tackling a particularly thick batch of cookie dough, I never have to worry about it falling off the edge of the counter.

My mixer is, admittedly, a little big for the size I have (the slider was a gift from my mom, who just guessed which size to buy). That said, I haven't felt the need to exchange it because it still functions beautifully; the base of my mixer extends beyond the slider a just bit. Now, instead of shimmying my appliance out of the corner, I can pull it towards me with little effort, which also helps spare my countertop from scratches. Overall, I couldn't be happier that this simple yet effective gizmo has made its way into my kitchen — sometimes, it's the smallest things that have the most impact.

If my review isn't enough to convince you that this gadget belongs on your counter, here's what some of its 1,700-plus Amazon admirers are saying.

"My heavy stand mixer glides so easily with this mat," wrote one satisfied slider. "I was skeptical when I purchased [it], but it sure lives up to its description. No more straining to lift and move my mixer. Now I can slide with one finger. And it looks good on my counter."

"I had a different slider [with] wheels on my KitchenAid for years," shared a convert. "When one wheel would break off, it was unbalanced. This wooden base slides so well and also doesn’t break apart or lose pieces. It’s so easy to wipe down."

"I have been using my KitchenAid mixer a lot more lately, and noticed I was scratching my counters, so in came this baby!" exclaimed an ex-etcher. "I love it! My mixer fits right on top as advertised. Smooth scooting it across the counter."

While reviews for this gadget are overwhelmingly positive, a few buyers did have notes. "If using the mixer at high speed while on [the] slider, it may walk a little," heeded one. "Seemed to be okay at lower speeds."

"Be careful if you're kneading dough with it — it'll start to move a tiny bit over time," echoed a final fan. "I just nudge it back into place every minute or so, to make sure it doesn't move too far. Can't believe I lived without this for so long!"

Psst — here are some other options:

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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.