The kitchen is one of the messiest places in my house – not because I like it that way, but because I’m super busy! You know how it is. Between meal prepping, feeding other family members and hosting, I feel like my sink is always full of dishes and my counter tops are covered in crumbs.
One week not so long ago, I left some reusable plastic bags out for too long in the sink and found some fruit flies had taken up residence inside. NOPE, I’m done. At that point, I decided I was ready to do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening again. No more procrastinating, no more unnecessary messes, no more grossness in my kitchen! I hopped on Amazon and hunted down all the mess-preventing, time-saving kitchen tools I could find.
Whether you’re a busy mom with many mouths to feed, a college student trying to create the least amount of dishes possible or a deal hunter looking for the ultimate multipurpose gadget, you could use a helping hand in the kitchen. These are the best, budget-friendly kitchen products I found in my search – I have a feeling you’ll want them as much as I do!
The ultimate multipurpose skillet
This fry pan is made with three interchangeable skillets, perfect for making omelets, personal pizzas, sandwiches and more!
Leave the grunt work to this veggie chopper
No more cuts or drippy cutting boards! I should have bought one of these years ago.
Multitaskers will love this digital timer
Complete with four timers and a white board, chefs can be sure to catch each course before it gets burnt or soggy with this cool gadget.
A power scrubber for those without dishwashers
Hand washing dishes is one of the chores I hate the most, but thankfully science has come to the rescue again with this electric scrubber. If your usual elbow grease isn’t enough, bust out this bad boy and the job will be done in no time. I definitely wish I had had one of these at my last apartment…
A microwave pasta cooker for your next quick meal
I’m done waiting 30 minutes for my spaghetti to boil! My hangriest moments happen while I’m waiting for pasta to hurry up and cook… so this has been a life-saver!
The best clean-dirty magnets for your dishwasher
Calling all Michael Scott fans – these magnets are for you! You’ve got to keep your clean dishes separate from your dirties, you might as well have fun with it.
Keep drinks fresh for later with this universal can lid
You started a soda, but you ran out of time to finish it before picking up the kids! Slap this lid on there and it’ll be good to go when you get back from soccer practice.
A smart thermometer for your next backyard barbecue
There’s smart tech for everything, including your barbecue setup! You can confidently leave the thermometers in your meat, walk away from the grill and get a push notification to your phone when it’s done. This is going to be a lifesaver for dads.
Strip herbs in one swipe with this leaf separator
This is a handy tool too keep around, especially for chefs. You don’t want smushed herbs distracting from your next presentation, do you? Here’s what reviewer dkp had to say about this product: “We grow numerous spices/herbs and have always had a hard time ‘processing’ them after they are harvested. But then we discovered this handy device and it certainly made the job a whole lot easier!”
If you struggle with tight lids, grab this bottle opener
I have to assume factory robots are to blame for sealing these lids so dang tight. The lids wont leak, sure, but how much grip strength is necessary for me to have a drink of water? This gadget offers a simple and helpful solution.
Prevent burns and cook top messes with this splatter screen
I had no idea splatter screens existed! I assumed burnt fingers and a messy floor were just a part of the oil frying experience. Sounds like we’re all moving up in the world.
Clean weird shaped bottles with this brush set
Those stainless steel straws, baby bottles and travel mugs aren’t going to clean themselves (unfortunately). Just soak and scrub with one of these brushes!
Get A Grip, Don’t Slip!
I’ll admit I don’t thoroughly clean spills the moment they hit my kitchen floor. Usually, it’s because I’m too busy, but sometimes it’s simply because I’m too lazy. But then I have to suffer the consequences because it’s much harder to remove stains after they’ve crusted and dried on my wooden floor. That’s why I keep these waterproof kneepads handy. I can scrub the stains without hurting my knees or slipping!
This tiny spatula will help you get the last dregs
Food is getting crazy expensive! Don’t let your extra peanut butter, yogurt or leftovers go to waste. Get every drop out of that bottle using this. Bonus: the cleaner your containers are, the more likely they are to actually get recycled.
Prevent microwave explosions with these splatter covers
Cleaning the microwave is a time consuming task that no one wants to do. No splatters = no cleaning, which is good by me.
Scrape price tags off with this Scrigit tool!
When you’ve got 30 jars to de-sticker, it’s good to have this tool around. Best of luck getting those price tags off without one…
Replace your glass or plastic mixing bowls with stainless steel bowls
No need to worry about where you’ll set your bowl or how you’re going to wash it – this bowl can go anywhere! Because they’re made with stainless steel, they are dishwasher and heat safe.
Tired of plastic spatulas melting? Try these silicone tongs!
Heat resistant up to 600 degrees, these silicone tongs are the ultimate multipurpose tool for cooking. Use them for barbecuing, making pasta or grabbing hot food out of the oven. The best part about silicone is it’s easy to clean. Unlike with your stainless steel grill accessories, baked-on sauce will actually come off the first time! Amazing right?
Open jars without help with this under cabinet opener
You only have so much time to prep dinner, and none of that time was set aside to wait for the strongest family member to appear. If you hate wasting time waiting on other people, get yourself one of these ASAP.
An all-in-one strainer and storage container for your bacon grease
This is a really great find! Because it’s stainless steel and includes its own strainer, you don’t have to wait until the bacon grease cools off all the way before pouring. Keeping bits of food out of the grease will also extend the lifespan of your grease so you can make delicious, bacony meals all year long!
The only mess-free way to bread your chicken or fish
Instead of carrying a drippy, egg covered chicken breast across counter to your breadcrumb bowl and into your frying pan, why not keep the messy ingredients all in one place?
Make the best authentic tomato bisque with this tomato strainer
It can be weird and messy cutting tomatoes. I somehow always end up squirting the center guts of it onto the floor. With this food press, you can easily get the puree texture you want without making a huge mess.
This cheese grater is greater than the rest
No cutting board required – how convenient is that? Just grate some cheese and throw the container into the fridge for later. Meal prep just got way easier.
Bulk peel your hard boiled eggs with this shell stripper
This is perfect for a quick breakfast, making deviled eggs for a party or meal prepping for the week ahead.
Core and peel your apples faster than ever with the Spiralizer
Soon you’ll be serving up fresh apple pies and mashed potatoes at record speeds with this tool!
Every coffee lover deserves a good coffee grinder
Just because you have time constraints doesn’t mean you should have to miss out on fresh coffee. Buy yourself this auto shut-off grinder and you’ll never have to settle for dry store-bought grounds again.
An adorable egg separator for bakers
I don’t know about you, but I’m not a professional and I have a hard time separating the yolk from the whites without breaking the yoke in the process. This daisy solves that problem for you and you don’t have to get your hands all sticky!
Keep your stove and counters clean with this spoon rest
I’m guilty of putting my dirty sauce spoons directly on the stove, but I know I really need to stop. I just make more of a mess for myself to clean up later, and I’m guessing it’s not very hygienic. These offer a great solution.
Make twice as many sandwiches at once with this dual sandwich maker
Sandwich makers are usually the thing we all pass around during the white elephant, but this one hits different. Get two and you can feed the whole family all at once!
Prevent smelly drains with this sink strainer
Usually only one side of the sink has a garbage disposal. You’re one piece of stray salmon away from long-term regret (I know from experience). Buy one of these and spare yourself the plumbing nightmare.
A creative microwave cleaner
This thing is hilarious, but effective! Reviewers are super happy with their purchase. This little angry mama steams your microwave so you can easily wipe away grime without intense scrubbing. All you need is vinegar and water!
Add this magnetic shelf to your stove top for more storage space
Stove cleanup just got a lot easier. Never lose cooking utensils or food to the depths again with this handy shelf!
Crisp up food quickly with this air fryer
Why spend all that energy and money heating up your oven (along with the rest of your apartment) when you could just use this little guy?
No more cuts or hand cramps with this electric can opener
This sure beats handheld can openers! It cuts off the whole top, instead of just the inside edge. It’s electric too, which makes opening quick and easy. Apparently the edges come out so smooth that you can’t even pop a balloon – talk about kitchen safety.
Thaw your meat seven times faster with the Thaw Claw
This may look like a weird dollar store gimmick, but it actually does work. Reviewer mudhen7 describes how it works: “This device with its suction base and spread design keeps the food item under its ‘fingers’ to allow the thawing process to complete in less than half the time by just laying it in the water. …I recommend this item for anyone but especially anyone that has time constraints for evening dinner prep or any other time for that matter.”
Play it safe with this under sink organizer
Nobody wants to hunt for the right cleaner as the stain is setting in. Worse yet, what if a bottle of bleach knocks over and floods your nice new cabinets?? No, thank you, I’ll be taking one of these organizers.
Keep sticky syrup and honey off the table with this no drip dispenser
Syrup stains are a nightmare to clean up once they’re dry, unless you can run super hot water over them constantly. As a pancake lover, I really need to buy one of these.
Never lose your oven mitts again with this utensil rack
I can never find my oven mitt when it’s actually time to take something out of the toaster oven! Grr! I need a storage option like this that will literally dangle it in front of my face.