There’s no denying that Kmart has a vast range of budget-friendly buys, successfully winning the hearts of millions. Some of the Kmart Anko products are such gems that they’ve become tough competitors of big brands.

But while the budget retailer may seem like a dream come true for frugal shoppers, it’s bound to still have a few bad apples that are simply not worth the money.

A pair of CHOICE experts have put a list of Kmart Anko products to the test, dividing them into categories and proving which buys are the best and which ones to steer clear of.

• Heating and Cooling Appliances

1. Pedestal Fan: Is it worth it? YES!

Even though getting a hold of the futuristic bladeless fans sounds tempting, the downside is that they are unreasonably priced. If you’d much rather opt for a cheaper alternative, Kmart’s Pedestal Fan is the way to go.

The CHOICE experts tested two of Kmart's fans and gave it a thumbs up (especially for the price!). But they warned that the performance does vary depending on the model, so it’s best to do more research on reviews before popping one into your trolley.


‘Kmart's product range tends to change rapidly, especially with the seasons, so while we can't guarantee that every single fan Kmart sells will be a winner, we have been pleasantly surprised by the ones we have tested.’ they explained.


2. Heater: Is it worth it? Nope!

Don’t fret – Kmart heaters definitely won’t end up in flames… But they did rank the lowest in CHOICE’s previous safety test.

‘Some of the poorest performing electric heaters we've ever seen at CHOICE have come from Kmart,’ CHOICE’s director of testing and reviews, Matthew Steen said.

‘Being cheap doesn't have to mean poor performance, which we see time and again in many of our product reviews. It's disappointing that Kmart continues to deliver inferior products in this category. Several models from other brands cost only marginally more but score a lot better.’

In 2020, the experts stated that the $59 Anko DL03L convection heater received a rating of 45 per cent, making it the worst heater that they had tested since 2014. The more recent models including a small Kmart Anko Ceramic Fan Heater and a Digital Oil Heater didn’t impress them either.

• Laundry and Cleaning Appliances

1. Washing Machine - Is it worth it? Nope!

Kmart sells unbelievably priced washing machines that retail for under $500. While it sounds like the perfect home addition for those on a tight budget, especially considering the escalating cost of living, you’ll still be losing money in the long run from increased energy costs, its short lifespan, and huge water usage.

‘Kmart's 8-kilogram capacity top loader may be cheap to buy, but it wastes a huge amount of water when the normal cycle is used. This means it will likely cost you more in electricity bills than another model over its lifetime,’ one of the experts explained.


‘To be priced this low, it's likely also made with cheaper parts and materials, with less consideration for how easy it will be to repair or how long it should last.’


2. Iron - Is it worth it? YES!

Ironing is already a tough chore in itself, so it’s best to invest in a tool that will help you get the task over and done quickly.

Luckily, Kmart’s irons aced the test. Its irons won’t hurt your wallet or give you an unexpected arm workout as they buff the wrinkles out clothes smoothly. Their irons only cost between $15 to $45! Not bad, eh?


3. Vacuum Cleaner - Is it worth it? Nope!

Kmart Anko showcases a wide array of vacuum cleaners, including stick vacuums, upright bagged, and bagless varieties that will only set you back about $50 to $150.

But it seems that their vacuums are a wee bit too good to be true as well.

‘The upright bagged, and bagless models we most recently tested were among the lowest scoring when it comes to giving your carpet a thorough clean… And the stick vacuums didn't fare much better.’ the experts detailed.

• Kitchen Appliances

1. Fridge - Is it worth it? Nope!

One of the most important appliances to have at home is a fridge. It keeps our food fresh for longer and minimises waste. But the little issue is that fridges, more often than not, cost a fortune.

So when Kmart comes out with a 203L Top Mount Fridge-freezer for $429, it’s unsurprising for the budget retailer to gain a massive cult following as it does seem like a great bargain.

Although it’s undeniably cheaper than most, it’s sold for a low price for a reason. They are extremely small even for one or two-person households.


‘This fridge might be suited for a small studio apartment or office if you don't need to keep much in it at any one time, or as a small second fridge in the garage or granny flat,’ an expert explained.

In addition, you’ll also need to figure out how to bring it home yourself.

‘You'll need to pay about $50 for delivery in metro areas and $100 for regional (which is nearly a quarter of the cost of the fridge itself), and Kmart doesn't provide a delivery service that other white goods retailers do,’ the CHOICE experts added.


2. Air Fryer - Is it worth it? Nope!

Air fryers are all the hype lately and we completely understand why. It’s ideal for those who want to cut down their cooking time and it doesn’t require an excessive amount of grease to produce the same crispy results as a regular deep fryer would. Healthy and easy sounds like music to our ears.

Kmart’s $129 Twin Air Fryer has blown away shoppers, mainly because it’s significantly cheaper than big brands. Although CHOICE admitted that it’s one of the cheapest models that they tested, they only rated it a low 58 per cent.

‘Not only did it receive a low score in our testing, but the Kmart Anko air fryer is also fairly large and heavy, and not very easy to use,’ a kitchen expert said.


3. Rice Cooker - Is it worth it? YES!

If you’re a fan of incorporating rice into your meals, then you need to get your hands on Kmart’s $14 Rice Cooker. Though it’s not as fancy in comparison to other models, it definitely does the job!

‘It scored a solid 81 per cent overall in our tests, emphatically beating models costing many times more!’ the CHOICE experts gushed.


4. Microwave - Is it worth it? YES!

It can be a challenge looking for a bargain better than this. The Kmart Anko Microwave only costs $52 and it passed CHOICE’s test with flying colours. The experts hailed it as ‘excellent for cooking performance’ and gave it a perfect score for cooking vegetables and defrosting mince meat.


‘If you are looking for a basic compact microwave that reheats well and is great for cooking and defrosting, then the Anko 20-litre model is all you need,’ a kitchen expert shared but warned: ‘It is, however, only a 700W microwave, so reheating times will be a little slower than for a 900W or 1000W microwave.’

Another staff from CHOICE vouched for the budget appliance, adding: ‘It's an excellent frills-free model that we're delighted with.’


5. Kettle - Is it worth it? It depends…

None of the kettles that CHOICE tested scored higher than 72 per cent but considering the cheap price, they’re not too shabby either.

So if you’re on the lookout for a cheap and simple kettle, the ones from Kmart Anko won’t hurt!


6. Toasters - Is it worth it? Nope!

Even though the budget retailer’s toasters look promising, you’re better off buying a toaster that truly delivers.

‘Kmart's toasters don't quite hit the mark. They're undoubtedly cheap (the most expensive one we tested cost $42), but they're also pretty lacklustre.’ the experts stated.


7. Food processor - Is it worth it? YES!

Aspiring chefs know that food processors can make all the difference. So if you’ve been meaning to buy one for the longest time, you can’t go wrong with Kmart’s Anko Food Processor FP403. It retails for $75 and it definitely does the job!

‘The Kmart food processor is a very good performer that's great for chopping, slicing, mixing and emulsifying,’ a kitchen expert said.

‘It is a compact unit so it's easier to store, and all blades are stored in the unit. It is however relatively noisy in operation.’

But if $75 is still way beyond your budget, Kmart also sells a smaller model for $52. Although this time around, the kitchen staple didn’t make the best impression.


‘We've also tested a smaller Kmart Anko 1.2L food processor, which was the cheapest product in our test. Our experts weren't as impressed by this one, finding some functions frustrating to use, but at $52 it's a relatively cheap option if you're looking for a smaller unit.’ the experts added.


8. Digital Blender - Is it worth it? YES!

It may not be on the same level as other extravagant models on the market, but Kmart’s $41 Blender also aced the performance test, scoring a high 90 per cent. The $65 Kmart Anko Personal Blender also blew the experts away.

‘They held their own against big-name brands.’


9. Cookware - Is it worth it? YES!

Hopping on the list of winners is Kmart’s 24-centimetre frypan which retails for $18 along with Kmart's cast iron casserole pot for $30. The CHOICE experts claimed that they performed as well as other expensive brands.

However, they urged shoppers to be cautious about the cookware they are planning to buy, saying: ‘Don’t just pick up any old 24-centimetre frypan when you hit Kmart – the Kmart Anko 24-centimetre Aluminium 3 Layer Non-Stick Frypan ($14) failed to sizzle in our tests, scoring a lukewarm 54%.’


10. Pie Makers - Is it worth it? YES!

One of the most popular gems in Kmart is the Anko $39 Pie Maker – and it seems like the hype won’t die down any time soon as the kitchen experts also gave the item a huge thumbs up.

‘This is a fun little appliance (referring to the pie maker). It's easy to use and gives good results, cooking four pies fairly evenly to lightly golden in eight minutes.’

‘It takes five minutes to preheat, which is quicker than an oven, and once the pies are cooked, you can simply pop them out with a spatula.’


11. Slow Cookers - Is it worth it? YES!

Cooking doesn’t get any easier than with a slow cooker. A lot of us are fans of using it but if you haven’t got one yet, Kmart’s Slow Cookers also got the seal of approval from CHOICE experts.

‘They may lack the features of some more expensive brands like Sunbeam, Breville and Cuisinart, but Kmart's slow cookers perform quite well. And at $25 for the 3L, $24 for the 5L and $42 for the 6.5L digital slow cooker, those prices are hard to beat.’ they detailed.


And there you have it, shoppers! We hope that this provided some guidance for the next time you stop by your local Kmart.

What are your favourite tried-and-tested buys from Kmart Anko? Share them with us in the comments!

Learn more about which Kmart products are worth buying by watching the video below: