Can a product—or two or, you know, 22—really be all it takes to get you smiling while standing over the stove? Maybe, maybe not, but if anything’s going to get you excited about spending time in the kitchen again, it may as well be these game-changing gadgets that are both fascinating and fun. Check out 22 of the best kitchen gadgets. As always, the prices listed may fluctuate over time.
22 Best Kitchen Gadgets
StirMate Smart Pot Stirrer
Now, this is something out of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! The StirMate Smart Pot Stirrer may seem like magic, but it’s really just an expedient little gadget that uses a clamp mechanism and an electrical charger to grant you the gift of hands-free stirring. Stir soups, stews, sauces, risottos—you name it—all while standing a few feet away. Check Instagram, read Harry Potter books 1 through 7, play a quick game of chess (we’re exaggerating here) without having to worry about your meal burning or the pot scorching. After all, the StirMate Smart Pot Stirrer, which uses a quiet, but high-powered torque motor to stir with max speeds, frequently sweeps the bottom of the saucepan in order to get a good, well-mixed stir. Genius!
Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener
Five Two Over-the-Sink Drying Rack
This is one of those “I wish I thought of that” kind of products. The Five Two Over-the-Sink Drying Rack sure makes a lot of sense—after all, why did we ever situate drying racks over the counter on top of a dishrag rather than over the sink itself? Duh! The rack conveniently fits right over the sink and is available in three colors—Peppercorn, Smoked Salt or Slate Blue. It’s made of silicone-coated stainless steel, so it’s sturdy yet can roll out for use and up for storage. Another standout feature is the built-in utensils caddy that keeps things organized and, of course, prevents smaller items from falling back into the sudsy sink. With 4.8 stars and several hundred ratings on Food52.com, it’s clear users think it’s brilliant, too. One reviewer wrote, “Just what I needed for my new sink. It’s great for cleaning veggies and drying small items. Things I use frequently often sit on it over the course of the day, like a paring knife.”
Buy at Food52 for $45.
Dash Rapid Egg Cooker
Lomi By Pela
What if we told you food isn’t garbage and shouldn’t be thrown in the trash? Because most food items—eggshells, produce peels and cores, even animal products and byproducts—are considered organic matter and can break down naturally (or compost) over time even given the right conditions. The Lomi provides exactly that. This is a countertop composter that cuts down on the decomposition time by a lot, and everything from food to yard waste can be put into this little machine (made by Pela, the first-ever compostable phone case company). In as little as 4 hours, the contents are magically transformed into compost. One Pela.com reviewer wrote, “As someone who lives in a condo, Lomi is an absolute revolution for me. I can’t wait to get rid of my green bin!” The best part? Once your waste has been made into dirt, it can go just about anywhere: into the soil of your indoor plants, the garden, green bin or even the trash.
Preorder at Pela for $499.
Always Pan
Can a pan go viral, like, in a good way? It’s probably one of the few good things to come out of the year 2020, but the answer is yes, a multifunctional saucepan-skillet known as the Always Pan and made by Los Angeles–based company Our Place—can go viral. Amateur cooks everywhere became obsessed with the pan after learning that it’s not only chic in style, but it also has the flexibility and range to replace eight different cookware items: a steamer and strainer, sauté pan, saucepan, saucier, skillet, fry pan, nonstick pan and spoon rest. With other cool features—like two pour spouts and a stay-cool knob and main handle—the Always Pan has (understandably) amassed a bit of a cult-like following. In fact, on its website, the pan has 18,314 reviews and a near-perfect five-star rating. One OurPlace.com reviewer even wrote, “Omg I love this pan system…. It makes cooking fun and inventive. I can make everything from stir fry to traditional Mexican meals to breakfast. I can’t get enough of this set. I have the pan, bamboo steamer and talking trio platter.”
Buy at Our Place for $145.
Chef’n Citrus Juicer
Skip the convoluted juicers that turn fruit juicing into a lengthy, drawn-out process. The Chef’n Citrus Juicer is a simple tool that—depending on the size you choose—can squeeze out the juice of either lemons and limes or oranges. It’s easy to use—simply put the desired fruit inside the tool, cut side down and squeeze—and it even filters out all the unnecessary pulp and seeds you wouldn’t want to drink. Whether you’re juicing a lime for a recipe or making a pitcher of lemonade (that will mean the squeezing, what, 12 lemons?), the Chef’n Citrus Juicer is a must-have kitchen item.
Buy at Food52, from $27.99.
Kitchen Gizmo Snap N Strain Strainer
The Spatty
FinaMill Spice Grinder Set
It’s time to spice things up in the kitchen! FinaMill is an award-winning, battery operated spice grinder that comes with three quick-change spice pods and a stackable tray for easy storage. With interchangeable, BPA-free pods, which discourage flavor contamination, and the ability to grind everything from peppercorns, salt, dried minced garlic, dried chopped onion, dried rosemary to flax, mustard, sesame or grape seeds, the FinaMill Spice Grinder Set is like a coffee machine for your spices. It also comes with a two-year warranty as well as an adjustment knob for personalizing the desired coarseness of your spice.
Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner
Nobody actually enjoys cleaning the microwave, and unless you scrub it somewhat frequently, chances are the spurts and splatters only add up (and worse, congeal) over time. But save yourself the time, effort and pain of wiping down the microwave because the Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner does the job for you. Just rip off Mama’s head and fill her body with vinegar, then water (there are fill lines and complete instructions, of course). Screw Mama’s head back on and let her sit in the microwave for 7 minutes, during which the vinegar mixture will leak out from the gadget’s many mist holes, creating a kind of convenient steam clean. What’s easier than that?!
Buy at The Container Store for $9.99.
Hurom HP Slow Juicer
If a handheld juicer isn’t your cup of OJ, the Hurom HP Slow Juicer takes the effort out of juicing and does 90 percent of the work for you. Featuring a 43-revolutions-per-minute speed meant to mimic the motion of hand-squeezing juice, the Hurom HP Slow Juicer is both agile and versatile, working wonders on fruits, cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, soybeans and even tofu. So why hand-squeeze or -extract when the Hurom HP Slow Juicer can save you the time and the effort?
Buy at Hurom for $379.
Stojo 36-Ounce Bowl
Surely you’ve heard of Stojo before—the collapsible, stackable silicone cup company that’s been making headlines for both its convenience and inherent sustainability. But it’s not just a reusable cup company. The Stojo 36-Ounce Bowl borrows the same collapsible technology from the brand’s original counterpart, making it super easy to store and transport and take on the go. Spill- and leak-proof, reusable and made with LFGB certified silicone, this holds up to 36 ounces, so you never have to deal with a bulky bowl on your lunch break ever again.
Buy at Stojo for $20.
iKanzi Meat Thermometer
Frywall 10-Inch Splatter Guard
The Frywall 10-inch Splatter Guard…well, guards you (and the rest of your kitchen) from splatter while cooking. This Shark Tank invention is better than a standard splatter screen because while it blocks fine oil mist and other potential splashes from hitting your skin, your tile or your stove top, there’s no closure at the top of the silicone tent. That leaves plenty of room for steam to escape while still mitigating your risk of cooking time spillover. Not to mention, it’s easy to store when it’s not in use since it rolls up into a small envelope-like sleeve. It solves a problem without creating another problem, and that makes it one of the best kitchen gadgets.
Buy at Sur la Table for $13.99.
Chef’n Garlic Chopper
OK, we admit it—some single-use kitchen gadgets are pretty cheesy. But though the Chef’n Garlic Chopper may have one use only, its single use is quite effective and therefore, quite remarkable. Mess-free and easy to maneuver, the Chef’n Garlic Chopper preps garlic easily. Peel garlic, stuff them in the chopper, then roll the gadget back and forth a few times. (The more you roll, the finer a mince you accomplish.) It’s also dishwasher safe, and the blades themselves are removable, so in terms of usefulness, you’ll never take another knife to a clove ever again in favor of this ergonomic chopper.
Buy at The Container Store for $14.99.
Mueller Austria Pro-Series Multi Chopper and Slicer
Grease Bags
As seen on Shark Tank, Grease Bags are a biodegradable, eco-friendly solution to the age-old question, What the heck do I do with my grease after cooking? (Or after pouring it off with the Kitchen Gizmo Snap N Strain Strainer?) No, don’t pour it don’t the drain and definitely don’t pour it outside. This plant-based bag, designed to hold cooled-down oil after cooking, is landfill friendly, promises no leaks and can fit up to 32 ounces of liquid before it’s composted. Like the bag itself, the grease will then biodegrade over time. Your pipes and the environment will thank you!
Akinly Refrigerator Mats
Oxo Good Grips Hand-Held Spiralizer
Spiralizing is all the rage right now, and if you can’t get behind the ones with the giant, arduous cranks, the Oxo Good Grips Hand-Held Spiralizer might just be your way into the trend. With a two-piece design and dishwasher-safe material, this hand-held spiralizer literally puts the fate of your meal in your own hands. It can spiralize everything from zucchini and cucumbers to potatoes and beets, and even comes with a nonslip food holder, for proper grip, and a recipe booklet.
Buy at The Container Store for $16.99.
Cup Board Pro Cutting and Carving Board
Another hot Shark Tank product, the Cup Board Pro Cutting and Carving Board, well, just makes sense! After all, not only is it environmentally friendly and sustainably made, but it’s also reversible and features a tray that hangs over the counter’s edge to catch and contain scraps. Isn’t that the most obvious thing in the world? A cutting board with a compartment to catch the scraps? You go, Cup Board Pro Cutting and Carving Board! It’s also dishwasher-safe and features a flatter area without grooves that’s ideal for chopping, slicing and mincing.
Buy at Williams Sonoma for $69.95.
Vehhe Oil Sprayer
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