I’d like to formally welcome you to the Kitchen Gadgets Anonymous support group, a gathering of those of us who can’t stop scoping out gadgets and then buying a few more than we really need. (Thanks, FOMO!) If I had a dollar for every kitchen gadget I see and go, “Oh, I need that,” I’d probably have enough dollars to hire a private chef and never cook again. And, this is perfectly timed, because I just off-loaded some things I don’t use … which means I have more room to buy stuff. <Insert evil laugh>
All of these gadgets fall under the category of, “So Useful You’ll Regret Not Buying Them,” but what you deem useful will depend on what type of cooking or baking you do. Love making macarons or uniformly-shaped treats for the holidays? Find yourself taking your lunch on the go? Enjoy breakfast but don’t have a lot of time? I’ve got all these scenarios and more covered with the finds below.
Cast Off
Cast iron cooking is the only way to go, in my not-at-all professional opinion. These skillets don’t have the coating issue that traditional pans have, and this set includes skillets in three sizes from six- to 10-inches. If you don’t know anything about cast iron, these have been pre-seasoned but you’ll want a good oil to continue that pivotal seasoning component of cooking with these types of pans.
Secret Stash-er
While we’re talking about reusable kitchen gadgets, get a load of these reusable storage bags that are great for everything from packing lunch to steaming veggies in the microwave. This set includes sandwich-, snack- and pocket-sized bags, all equipped with Pinch-Loc technology to keep freshness sealed in. These are super versatile, too, with uses that range from the freezer to the oven to the dishwasher.
You’ll Welcome This Mat
If you want Instagram-worthy macarons, this two-pack of baking mats delivers every time. An Amazon Basics product, these non-stick silicone mats have a macaron template with 30 halves per sheet. You won’t need oil, cooking sprays, or parchment paper and these are oven-safe up to 480 degrees. Wash them easily after use with simple soap and water. The macaron lovers in your life will stare at you in awe.
No Weigh
A good kitchen scale comes in handier than you might imagine, giving you the ability to weigh everything from meat and veggies to hair dye. (Ahem, I know the latter from personal experience.) This one has five units of measurement and a decent eight-inch by six-inch size as well as a tare function and precise weight to a single gram.
Wood You Like New Utensils?
Bamboo utensils are some of my favorites to cook with due to their strong, durable design and non-stick surface that makes them easy to clean. Bamboo utensils don’t absorb odors or stains like some utensils and this five-piece set has everything you need including slotted, solid, and turner spatulas, spoons, and even a “spoon fork.” This set even comes with a matching holder.
Fill Your Cup
You’ll never go back to spray or disposable cups for your muffins, cupcakes, and other snacks once you try these silicone baking cups that come in a set of 12 rainbow colors. Made from food-grade material, these cups are stain- and odor-resistant and require no spray (which is full of chemicals anyway). Food releases effortlessly, you can use them from freezer to oven, and you’ll save a ton not buying throwaway liners.
Living My Best Barista Life With This Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker
My jaw dropped when I saw this home nitro cold brew coffee maker. It’s the perfect storage size and comes with everything I need to make a smooth, frothy cold brew in my own home. I mean, I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this, but it’s even better than Starbucks! This 64oz keg is so easy to use and pours a fresh glass every time. My friends love it too.
Lunch Hour
The struggle for just the right on-the-go salad container has been solved because this Bentgo stackable lunch container is the one. It’s extra-large for starters, which is important for lettuce-encroaching masterpieces, at a generous 54 ounces, and has a four-compartment tray plus a leakproof container that’s perfect for salad dressing. All of it snaps together simply with locking clips to ensure freshness and no spills.
A Monster Mash-er
This might be the weirdest looking tool on this list but it’s also one of the handiest. I first discovered this pinwheel-bladed gadget from Pampered Chef but it’s more expensive and decidedly harder to get your hands on than this $10 version from Amazon. Use it to mash, chop, stir, and even dice ground beef. It can withstand temps up to 450 degrees and the angled blades will scrap the sides of your bowls clean.
Shear Joy
Kitchen shears are worth their weight in gold but be prepared to yell, “Don’t cut your box/mail/tape/etc. with my kitchen shears!” because it will definitely happen. This version is from cooking guru KitchenAid and comes with a protective sheath to safeguard the blades when not in use. Speaking of the blades, they’re stainless steel and have micro serrations for better cutting performance.
Eggs In A Dash
If there’s one gadget on this list I would marry, it’s this Dash rapid egg cooker, which looks like it only cranks out hardboiled eggs but, in fact, can do scrambled or poached eggs as well as omelets. It doesn’t get any simpler in the morning than throwing eggs in this while you dry your hair. The auto-shut-off feature keeps eggs from overcooking.
Pantry Perfectors
There’s a pretty serious love affair between myself and plastic storage containers going on. Whether they’re for the pantry, the closet, or the bathroom, I love ’em all. This particular set includes 14 airtight containers designed for the pantry, with sizes that hold everything from pasta noodles to beans to cereal and more. You’ll get the containers, lids, labels, a marker, and spoons with your purchase.
Open Up
The best kitchen purchase I’ve made over the past year is this electric can opener, which has saved my hands more times than I can count. This is battery-operated with a compact, ergonomic design and works on both small and large cans with just the push of a button. The patented blade cuts along the side of the lid without touching the food or leaving sharp, ragged edges.
A Matter Of Time
If you do much cooking, you already know that a good timer (or 12) is critical. This digital timer is easy to use (just rotate it to set the time), is quiet, has adjustable volume, and boasts a large, ultra-clear display so your food is perfect every time. Choose from three sound settings and use it as both a countdown clock and a stopwatch, counting both up from zero and down from 99 minutes.
You Want A Pizza Me?
Despite not eating a lot of pizza, I have a pretty nice pizza cutter but it is bulky and heavy. This compact cutter has an ergonomic handle and a super sharp blade and the whole thing fits neatly in the palm of your hand. (It also won’t take up a bunch of space in a drawer.) Add the blade guard to keep your cutter stored away securely when not in use.
Steak Your Claim
Good quality steak knives are a must and you need to put down those dull, hand-me-down knives you got from your grandma. Especially when this set is so inexpensive at less than $30. This set of six looks sleek, too, in all black with high-quality stainless steel blades. A non-stick coating makes for easy slicing of steak, poultry, and more.
In A Pinch
I have a pretty good idea of what you’re thinking: What on earth do you do with bowls this small? These multi-use small bowls, or “pinch bowls” as they’re called, are the ideal vessel for prepping and sorting ingredients or for serving alongside a plate that requires a sauce, dip, or other condiments. Brightly colored in the “canyon set” pictured, you’ll turn to these stoneware bowls for a variety of occasions.
Keep It Under Wraps
You’ll be the envy of all your kitchen-loving friends with this wrap holder and dispenser that has three slots for foil, wax paper, cling wrap, and more. This bamboo box is compatible with most wraps and has 21 label stickers included so you can identify the contents of each slot. A built-in slide cutter is genius for delivering a clean cut without having to remove it from the kitchen drawer it’s stored in.
This Bowl Cover Is A Kitchen Aid Match Made In Heaven
I had no idea such a thing existed and now I am telling everyone about it. This splatter cover snaps perfectly onto my Kitchen Aid 4.5 mixing bowl. It keeps the mess inside while mixing and has multiple access points. I can pour the mix through a small opening or cover only half of the bowl, and can even use it as a sealed storage container!
Flash In The Pan
Never move a half-dozen pans again in order to get to the one you need, thanks to this pan organizer rack that works as well on a countertop as it does inside a cabinet. This storage rack can be used vertically or horizontally and either freestanding or mounted with the included screws. While it can accommodate up to five pans, it’s also great for organizing lids.
Triplet Trivets
I’m surprisingly picky about pot holders. They can’t be too small, too large, too fabric-y, or too plastic-y. Just like Goldilocks in the story of the three bears, this set of three is just right. Made of 100 percent cotton thread weave, each of these is seven inches in diameter and heat-resistant so you can transfer pans quickly from the oven to the trivet. I love this blue set, which reminds me of the coast.
The Spice Of Life
Let’s go old school with a revolving tower of spices that are right at your fingertips when you need them. This set offers two-tiered storage and a revolving design that can be spun to the right spice in a second. A convenient carrying handle makes it easy to store in a cabinet and then move closer during cooking. This comes with pre-filled spice jars and free refills for up to five years.
Bed And Breakfast
Who said breakfast had to be time-consuming? This breakfast sandwich maker is an all-in-one solution that’ll save you a ton of time. (Use it for lunch or dinner, too.) In just four easy steps, you can have a completely customized sandwich with your choice of bread (or not), cheese, eggs, meats, and more. All of the surfaces of this machine are covered in a nonstick coating and you can access more than 25 recipes right on the manufacturer’s website.
Vampire Slayer
If this garlic gadget doesn’t make you smile, you have no funny bone whatsoever. This vampire-themed kitchen tool is a garlic crusher, mincer, and herb grinder all in one. Cleverly named “Gracula,” this is made from sturdy plastic that’ll help you sink your teeth into garlicky meals. This is a manual tool technically designed for garlic but with uses that go far beyond that alone.
Try To Blend In
I looked at a lot of kitchen gadgets while creating this piece. I put some in the “yes” pile, some in the “no” pile, and some in the “maybe” pile. This multipurpose hand blender was easily in the “yes” pile because it’s so versatile, serving as an immersion blender, a traditional blender with a whisk attachment, and a milk frother in one. It comes with nine speeds and has a copper motor designed to last three times longer than competing models.
Our Daily Bread-er
If you’ve ever attempted to bread anything, you know the absolute mess it makes in your kitchen. Not only does it dirty a zillion dishes but it goes all over everything. This Better Breader batter bowl (say that five times fast) is a complete breading station in one apparatus — minus the mess. Bread and season meat, vegetables, and more with no extra dishes to wash.
The Fish Flipper
Cooking fish can be tricky because certain types are so fragile that you can tear them apart with a simple flip. This slotted fish spatula is just flexible enough to slide under the most delicate of ingredients but sturdy enough to lift heavier foods with ease. That’s right! It’s more than just for fish. You can literally use it for all your cooking projects. Choose from plain stainless steel or grab the one with the silicone edge.
Rack ‘Em Up
About the time that I realized I had a tumbler and water bottle addiction, I also realized I had nowhere to put anything new. This two-pack of plastic organizer racks is an organizer’s dream come true with three slots on each for your favorite cups and bottles. Stacked or not, you can also use these organizers for champagne and wine bottles, baby bottles, soda bottles, and more.
Down The Drain
Colanders are tricky. Some of them are too small to tackle the job, some of them are too big to store and yet others are too flimsy or too narrow. This multipurpose colander suffers from none of those issues, being easy to use and versatile, including stretching over your sink, being held in your hands, or sitting on the counter as a basket. Evenly spaced holes stop food from falling through and the bottom is raised to keep water from backing up into your food.
Magnetic Personality
You need knives, right? But, maybe you don’t have the space to properly store them. This magnetic knife holder has room for five to six knives comfortably on 10 inches of surface space that keeps things handy and frees up counter and drawer space. The super strong magnet will grip your knives tightly and is both corrosion- and heat-resistant. The modern design is sleek with elegant, satin-finished stainless steel.
Better Than A Knuckle Sandwich
Do you have picky eaters in your house? This sandwich cutter/sealer removes the crusts from sandwiches and delivers tiny treats in heart, house, and star shapes. Made from safe, high-quality plastic, this is dishwasher-safe and will make your kid the coolest in school when they turn up at the lunch table with their sammie. (Heck, you might even be able to talk them into helping pack lunches with this thing.)
The Board Chef
Cutting boards are versatile, especially when they come in multiple sizes, are reversible, have built-in juice grooves, and have a convenient handle. This set includes three generously sized boards with durable rubber borders that make them slip-resistant. Juice grooves keep the mess off of your countertop and the reversible design means you can safely prepare multiple ingredients without any gross cross-contamination.
Popcorn And A Movie
Popcorn is one of my favorite foods on the planet and just because I don’t go to the movies constantly doesn’t mean I don’t have my ways to get it. This microwave popper is made of temperature-safe borosilicate glass and no oil or butter is needed (but it’s wanted, amirite?). The dual-function lid is a great place to melt butter if you’re going to use it because of course you are.
Open Wide
There are wine drinkers and then there are serious wine drinkers and only the latter invest in something as efficient as a cordless electric bottle opener. Get that cork out in seconds and open up to 30 bottles on a single charge with a simple push-button start and a foil cutter for easily removing seals. The soft-grip handle is comfortable and the whole thing has a sleek, sophisticated presentation.
Save Your Sauces
Have condiments, will travel? Sometimes you just need your favorite sauce or dip handy. For me, it’s low-calorie, low-carb salad dressing; for you, it might be hot sauce, mustard, or even ketchup. (McDonald’s is stingy with those packets.) This set of six small, reusable containers has limitless uses beyond condiments including transporting pills or packing small lunchbox treats. Each container comes with its own lid.
Bite The Bullet
I love big blenders and I cannot lie but small blenders — including this personal, portable blender — has their benefits. Powerful and compact, it’s the perfect tool for shakes and smoothies on the go or mixing up homemade baby food at home. Blend right in the jar and then fit it with the drinking lid for the ultimate convenience. One-touch blending is great for quick tasks.
Cue The Confetti
Repeat after me: You do not need to pay a ridiculous amount of money to Starbucks for its confetti cups. This set of color-changing cups is just $12 for a six-pack, which includes lids and straws. Iced beverages cue the color change and color-coordinated lids and straws make it look like you have your life together. This is a great eco-friendly option compared to disposable choices.
Seal The Deal
Do you have people who live in your house who refuse to properly close a bag of chips or cereal? I totally get it. These mini bag sealers let you re-use your food’s original packaging to keep things fresher longer. This gadget fits in the palm of your hand and both heat seals and cuts the plastic bags you’re trying to save. After using, attach the hook and it’ll power down automatically.
Coffee Carousel
If you’re like me, you can’t decide on just one type of coffee. You need all the coffee. This carousel coffee pod holder puts all of your favorites at your fingertips in a chic, convenient design. Available in sizes from 24 to 40 pods, this carousel is compatible with K-Cups. Give it a quick spin to find your favorite brew.