Growing up, I never got to experience many home-cooked meals. My dad always took us out to eat every single night of the week and my mom cooked the same two meals over and over again until I quite literally couldn’t take it anymore. So needless to say, I did not grow up with a love of cooking. It wasn’t until I was quarantined at home that I learned to love it. Not only is it extremely rewarding, but it’s also oddly therapeutic.
But I know it’s not for everyone. As someone who is still learning to do it more often, I’m all about making my life as easy as possible when cooking. Whether that means fewer ingredients or tools that make my life easier, I’m all about as much help as I can get. If this sounds familiar, don’t fret. I’ve got you covered. I’ve rounded up 37 kitchen tools that will help you work smarter, not harder. And hey, they may even get you to enjoy cooking!
Make Delicious Ice With These Ice Cube Trays
There’s nothing better than the small hospital ice that you get at certain fast-food chains. It’s my absolute favorite–and with these ice trays, you can now make your own at home! The pack of two gives you 160 small cubes that are ideal for coffee, cocktails, water, and more.
Get To Baking With These Mixing Bowls
Everyone needs some good mixing bowls like these. This stainless steel pack of four comes with a range of sizes to add versatility and functionality to your kitchen. The plastic exterior also protects your hands from extreme temps.
Make Perfectly Cooked Poached Eggs With These Egg Cups
I always make my eggs scrambled. It’s my favorite way to eat them when paired with toast or a bagel. But as I’ve fallen in love with cooking, I’ve wanted to learn how to prepare them differently. So I was super excited to find these egg cups. All you have to do is fill them with your egg, drop them in boiling water, and cook for a few minutes. You’ll be left with perfectly cooked poached eggs.
These Wine Glasses Will Keep Your Drinks Cold
Picnic weather is upon us which means spending all the time outdoors. I love sitting outside with a cold beverage when the temps are nice, so you can bet that I’m going to get these wine glasses. Not only are they adorable, but they’re also made of stainless steel so they won’t break and they will keep your drinks chilled.
Make Meal Prepping Easy With These Containers
The only way I will ever eat healthy food is if I meal prep. So I use these containers on a weekly basis. The 6-pack is great to hold soups, salads, batched chicken, veggies, and more. And the best part is that they can be stored in the freezer and microwaves.
Make Adorably Shaped Breakfast With This Waffle Maker
Every Sunday morning, I make myself pancakes or waffles. It’s been a tradition for the past year and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. And of course, they’re even better when they’re adorably shaped like these. This waffle griddle makes 7 ridiculously cute cars, including trucks and race cars.
Use This Fondue Maker For Date Night
There’s nothing quite like fondue. Chocolate strawberries? Bread dipped in hot cheese? Yum. This fondue maker is the perfect kitchen addition for anyone who loves to host. Use it to melt chocolate for dipped pretzels, Oreos, cake pops, fruits, and more. Or stick to cheese for bread. You can’t go wrong.
Make A Fair Favorite With This Corn Dog Maker
Corn dogs are a fair favorite. But with this corn dog maker, you don’t have to go to the fair to enjoy one. You can make them in the comfort of your own home! Just pour the batter over your hot dogs and voila. It can also be used for cake pops.
Look Like A Pro With This Whipped Cream Dispenser
Wow your friends and family with your homemade desserts with this whipped cream dispenser. Everyone will think that you went to a bakery–that’s how pretty it’ll make your food. You can bet I’ll be using it for all birthday cakes in the foreseeable future.
Get Perfectly Cut Pizza With This Cutting Board
To get perfectly cut pizza or pie every single time, use this cutting board. It has eight grooves that give you eight beautiful slices, plus when you flip it over, it’s a flat surface that can be used as a serving tray for other goodies (like cake or a charcuterie board).
Keep Your Counters Clean With This Rolling Pin And Mat
If you love baking, you probably know the importance of a good rolling pin. Sure, you could use your hands but it doesn’t work as well. This rolling pin and mat help with that a ton. The mat itself has measurements on it, so you’ll get perfectly sized pastries. Plus, the stainless steel rolling pin glides across the dough easily.
Avoid Oil Burns With This Splatter Screen
I’ve burnt myself with spitting oil one too many times for my liking. So I decided to get this splatter screen. It helps you avoid splashing hot oil that can injure you, and it doubles as a strainer thanks to its small holes.
Make Your Own Guac Or Sauces With This Mortar And Pestle
There’s nothing I love more than chips and guac. Especially when it’s homemade. And with this mortar and pestle set, making your own has never been easier. Use it to mash your avocado or grind up herbs, spices, nuts, seeds, and more.
This Knife Block Fits In Your Kitchen Drawer
Sick of having a bulky knife block on the kitchen counter? Then you need this knife block. The bamboo block lies flat so you can store it in your drawer, saving your kitchen counter from the eyesore. It fits 16 knives so you’ll have plenty of room for your cutlery.
Stay Organized With This Shelf
Have a small kitchen and running out of room for you all of your pots, pans, and cooking utensils? Get this shelf! Use the top section for all of your pots and pans, and then hang your cook utensils on the included ten S-style hooks. It makes everything easily accessible.
This Collapsible Strainer Saves Space
If you find yourself constantly straining things (like pasta), then you need a good strainer. But if you have little space (like me), then you know this isn’t always the easiest kitchen gadget to have. With this strainer, you can solve this problem. With it, you can save space in your cabinets and drain your food with little to no effort.
Keep Your Food From Falling While You Grill With This Grill Topper
Prevent your food from falling through the grill with this grill topper. The carbon steel non-stick topper is great for veggies, seafood, stir fry, meat, and more. Not only will you get more evenly cooked food, but you won’t have to worry about losing half of it.
Season Your Chicken With This Steamer
To get the most flavorful meat, use this steamer. Fill the shallow shaft with beer, fruit, veggies, sauces, wine, and more to get juicy meat in a pinch. It will change the way you grill forever.
Upgrade Your Kitchen With This Knife Set
Want to make all of your slicing a little easier? Then get this knife set. The 19-piece set will slice easily through any meat, fish, or bread with ease. Throw away your old blunt knives and never look back.
These Containers Keep Your Food Fresh
To completely organize your home Marie Condo style and keep your food as fresh as possible, you need these storage containers. They’re perfect for dry goods including cereal, pasta, oats, grains, rice, etc. And because come in a variety of sizes, they’re easily stackable.
Recreate Bloomin’ Onions With This Onion Blossom Set
If you’ve been to Outback Steakhouse, then you’re probably familiar with a bloomin’ onion aka one of their most popular appetizers. Well, now you can make them at home with this onion blossom set. It has everything you need for breading and frying!
Make Your Salads In Seconds With This Salad Spinner
Trying to eat healthier but hate cooking? Then you need the salad spinner. While it may not look like much, it’s actually an innovative invention that gives you delicious salads. Add your salad ingredients and dressing then simply press the button on top and it will spin it all together!
Pretend You’re In Italy With This Pasta Maker
Stop buying store-bought pasta when you can make your own with this pasta maker. It prepares different widths of pasta, so you can make spaghetti, lasagna, linguini, and more. Pair it with some homemade sauce and you will never go to your favorite Italian restaurant ever again.
Easily Store These Measuring Cups
Stop eyeballing your recipes and make them precise with these measuring cups. The silicone is easy to clean, they collapse down so they save room in your drawers or cabinets, and they will last years.
Use These Cheese Knives While You Host Guests
There’s nothing I love more than making a delicious charcuterie board. But no board is complete without different cheese knives for your different cheeses. The 6-pack is made of stainless steel and has every kind of knife you could need for any kind of cheese under the sun.
Coffee Lovers Will Be Obsessed With This Espresso Maker
As someone who makes her own coffee at home, I can’t imagine what my life would be without my espresso maker. It produces 10 oz (6 espresso shots) worth of espresso, meaning you’ll have plenty to get you through the day. Simply add water and the coffee and you’re all set to go!
Channel Your Inner Barista With This Kettle
When it’s a little cooler outside or I’m feeling under the weather or stressed, I love starting my mornings with a hot cup of tea. And to make the perfect cup, you need a good kettle. This one has a built-in thermometer, so you know exactly how your drink is before you consume it, which means no more burnt coffee or too-hot-do-drink tea.
Get Your Pie Out Of The Oven Safely With This Pizza Paddle
Turn your home into a pizzeria with this pizza paddle. I love baking my pizzas directly on the shelf of my oven, but taking them out is always stressful. I’ve gotten close to burning myself quite a few times. With this paddle, you can take your pies out of the oven without hurting yourself or risking the chance of dropping them.
Peel, Slice, And Core With This Peeler And Corer
Potatoes are hands down, the best food there is. There’s no arguing with me on that. To prep your potatoes to make some of your favorite recipes, you need this peeler. It rotates, peeling the skin off as it goes, so you’re left with beautifully skinned potatoes. Oh, and I guess it works for apples too. But those aren’t as good–just saying.
Make Cannolis With This Pizzelle Maker
A pizzelle is a traditional Italian waffle cookie that can only be described as absolutely scrumptious. And with this maker, you can now bring the classic dessert to your home. Make the cookies and eat as is or form them to make cannolis.
This Meat Grinder Lets You Make Lots Of Different Foods
While you could buy already prepared sausages and ground meat, you could also make your own with this meat grinder. Use it for turkey, beef, pork, chicken, and more to make whatever kind of ground meat you could dream of.
Never Over Or Under Cook Food With This Thermometer
Cooking is all about timing. And if you are cooking meat, timing is extremely important. You don’t want to over or under cook it. This thermometer gives you a temp reading quickly (with high accuracy) in seconds, so you know exactly when your food is ready to be eaten without having to guess.
Protect Your Counters With These Cutting Boards
Cutting boards like this are another kitchen staple that every household needs. It saves your countertop from getting damaged, plus it prevents nice wooden ones from getting ruined easily. For under $5 per cutting board, you get high-quality cutting boards that will last through even the toughest jobs.
Enjoy Sweet Treats With This Krumkake Baker
Krumkake is very similar to pizzelles. These are just Norwegian waffle cookies rather than Italian cookies! And now you can make these at home too with this krumkake maker. Make cookies or roll them and fill them with your stuffing of choice.
Making Casseroles Is Extremely Easy With This Casserole Dish
Along with mixing bowls, kitchen utensils, and other miscellaneous kitchen items, baking dishes like these casserole dishes are a kitchen staple that I believe everyone should have. The two-piece set comes in two different sizes and can be used for casseroles, pasta, bread, meats, pound cakes, and more. Store them in the freezer before throwing them in the oven–either way, they can handle extreme temps.
Recreate Disney Churros With This Churro Maker
As someone who spent a lot of her childhood in Disneyland, churros are by far one of my favorite desserts. There’s something so nostalgic about them. Not to mention they’re just crispy and delicious. And with this churro maker, they’re super easy to make at home. Just be careful, you may become addicted.
This Baking Mat And Dough Scraper Is The Ultimate Baking Duo
There’s nothing that this dough scraper can’t do. Use it to portion doughs, smooth icing, slice veggies, or chop up herbs. No matter how you use it, the handy little gadget is less than $20 and comes with a baking mat that has measurements on it, so you can’t really go wrong