We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. An electric air fryer letting you whip up all of your favorite fried delights, from chicken nuggets to french fries, while using far less oil — and all you have to do is press a button. It's almost like having McDonald's at home, minus sitting in the long drive-thru line.
This air fryer heats instantly so you don't have to worry about preheating. It also features a digital display to choose from eight preset cooking options, a nonstick and easy-to-clean removable basket, and powerful air circulation for even cooking.
Promising review: "I never write reviews, so if I’m writing this, you know it’s good. This little air fryer is perfect and my saving grace when I’m working 12-hour shifts. Being stuck at work but still able to cook yourself something instead of ordering out is a blessing. It’s small so it’s out of the way, but large enough that you can have enough food to share or have two helpings for yourself. Absolutely fantastic, and for the price you can’t beat it. Super easy to clean, store, and use." —Kristen
Get it from Amazon for $59.87+ (available in three sizes and four colors).
2. Plus, a magnetic air fryer cheat sheet so you don't have to dig through drawers or search the internet for the different cook times. Just glance at the side of your fridge to have all your questions answered — like how long it takes to achieve perfectly crisp Brussels sprouts.
Promising review: "Bought an air fryer several months ago which I haven't used a whole lot because it came with only a few recipes but not enough info on other items to cook. The Lotteli cheat sheet gives you cooking times and temperatures for a lot of your common everyday foods in a magnetized easy-to-read, two-sheet combo that fills in where air fryer pamphlet that came with the unit leaves out. I also bought an air fryer cookbook but this only comes with specific recipes, whereas the cheat sheet fills in the void for quick basic needs. Very happy with this purchase! 😁" —B. Frank Smith
Get it from Amazon for $7.45+ (available in two colors).
3. A reviewer-beloved veggie chopper for perfectly diced onions, carrots, and celery in a matter of seconds. TBH ingredient prep is like 60% of the battle, so this will help you knock out the hard part.
Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action.
Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper, which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in four colors and four sizes).
4. A Dash rapid egg cooker if you're tired of playing the guessing game of whether or not the yolks are fully cooked. This little gadget can make hard-boiled eggs for a quick snack, soft-boiled eggs for your breakfast toast, or even poached eggs for your fancy brunch.
Promising review: "I bought this egg cooker for the first time a year and a half ago, and it is awesome. I hate having a single-purpose appliance in my kitchen, but this is worth it. Making hard-boiled eggs was always hit or miss for me, even if it was timed perfectly. (I admit I forgot about the eggs more than once!) This cooker makes PERFECT eggs every single time, to the exact hardness I desire with no green ring on the yolk. Even better, the shell slides off without taking half the egg white with it! My favorite use is to pop some eggs in when I get home and prep a salad. By the time the salad is ready, the eggs are done. I can even leave the kitchen and still hear when they are done because of the buzzer." —A. M. Hinshaw
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in six colors).
5. A truly nonstick silicone baking mat that doesn't require any oil and is super easy to clean, so you can finally ditch the parchment paper and aluminum foil (your wallet will thank you). It's perfect for baking, cooking, and some reviewers even use it to make candy!
Promising review: "I use these mats several times a day. They make cleanup super easy, which is really important in my hectic life. They wipe off easily with just water." —Tasia Lung
Get a set of two from Amazon for $15.64.
6. A dishwasher-safe silicone soup cubes tray ideal for freezing soup, chili, broth, or even herb starters that can be used in various other recipes (or just saved for later when you've prepped a little too much).
Each tray has four fill lines — 1/2 cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, and 250 mL — which is ideal for people who like to portion their food.
Souper Cubes is a family-run small business with a passion for better frozen meal prep and food waste reduction! Plus, their products are BPA-free and dishwasher safe.
Promising review: "LOVE LOVE LOVE. My freezer is so much more organized now. Gone are the days of having to defrost an entire bag of chicken broth for one cup for a recipe. I now have perfectly portioned half-cup and one-cup blocks ready to go. They fit easily in freezer bags, take up less space, and make me incredibly happy. There was a lot of attention to detail put into the design and I particularly appreciate the wire inside the rim that holds everything steady — no more worrying about spilling all the liquid on the way to the freezer. Just a fantastic product all around." —Kate
Get it from Amazon for $19.92 (available in four colors, including a two-pack).
7. A popular microwave pasta cooker for the days when you’re exhausted after work and craving comfort food, but the thought of boiling water for pasta feels like a marathon. Just throw in some water and pasta, tap those microwave buttons, and bam — you’ve got yourself a steaming bowl of noodles.
And the best part? You can strain it in the same container, no extra dishes required!
Promising review: "I don't want to get all gushy over a pasta maker, but man...I really love this gizmo! I try to limit my monthly food expenditures and the Fasta Pasta helps me work in at least one inexpensive pasta meal every week. If not more. First of all, I like spaghetti — either with normal Prego-type sauce or sometimes just with butter and Romano cheese sprinkled on. But I'm lazy and impatient and don't like things that take a long time to make, with a bunch of steps, and a big clean up afterwards. The Fasta Pasta is perfect for me. I get the exact amount of correctly-measured spaghetti; it's faster than boiling water in a big pot then having to watch and stir the pasta; the pasta comes out perfectly cooked every time; and the cleanup is a snap. No big pot; no colander; no spaghetti fork to lift out the pasta. Just the easy to clean Fasta Pasta, and a pot to heat up the sauce. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!" —Smilin Sam
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
8. Plus, a rapid veggie steamer to help you conjure up some easy side dishes while using only your microwave. Think: chopped veggies, shrimp, and DUMPLINGS (the best food in the world).
Rapid Brands is a Shark Tank–featured small business that specializes in BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, microwaveable kitchenwares. Check out more rapid microwave cookers on their Amazon storefront!
Promising review: "Great purchase!!! I’ve been able to steam a whole squash, whole zucchini, handful of cauliflower, broccoli, and it comes out perfect in 3–4 minutes! It makes cooking and eating healthier so quick and easy." —Ashley
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
9. An under-cabinet lid opener because we’re all strong and independent until it comes to opening a doggone jar. With this, you can bust open those jars of pickles, pasta sauce, and jam faster than you can say, "Easy peasy lemon squeezy."
EZ Off Store is the small business that created this genius product. This little gadget can not only open jars, but also other hard lids (like on plastic bottles). Just put it in the corner and twist for easy opening.
Promising review: "I have tried a million different tools and gadgets for help in opening jars of all sizes, and each one had its own issues! Finally, someone has invented the perfect jar opener that is simple and requires no space in your kitchen drawers or counters. There was one person who suggested placing the opener with the sharp end of the 'V' closest to you and with it placed in the front, in the right corner under your cabinet. I followed those directions and it works perfectly and easily." —cat lover
Get it from Amazon for $11.25.
10. The stunning Always Pan from Our Place if you’re tired of using several dishes just to make one single meal. This nifty pan is designed to handle all your cooking needs, including braising, searing, steaming, straining, sautéing, frying, boiling, serving, and storing. (Whew!) Not only is it functional, but it's also lightweight, compact, AND comes in a variety of colors.
It comes with a beechwood spatula, custom stainless-steel steamer basket, modular lid, and of course, the pan.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Melanie Aman swears by hers: "It's a beautiful sage color that isn't an eyesore on my stovetop. I also really love the steamer basket, which is great for frozen dumplings, and the nesting spatula. No more sauce and grease dripping from the spoon all over the counter!" (Psst — check out our full Always Pan review for more deets on why we love it!)
Promising review: "I recently bought this non-stick pan, and I am blown away by how easy it makes cooking. Nothing sticks to it! Cleaning up is a breeze, and it cooks everything evenly. It's my new go-to for everything. The quality is top-notch, and it looks sleek in my kitchen. It's sturdy and well-made." —HN
Get it from Amazon for $120+ (available in six colors and three sizes).
11. A meat cooking temperature magnet that'll spare you from the chaos of googling "What's the temp for rare beef?" in the middle of prepping dinner. This little magnet sticks right on your fridge so you can reference those important cooking temps for fish, chicken, and more at a glance.
Moonshine and Glitter is a small, North Carolina -based Etsy shop that makes handmade signs and home decor.
Promising review: "I live this, very helpful and looks awesome on my fridge. Shipping was relatively quick considering the holiday. Practical and looks great. Got the 10- inch and it's perfect size." —Alaina Sofia
Get it from Moonshine and Glitter on Etsy for $8+ (available in four sizes).
12. Along with an instant-read long probe meat thermometer ensuring your meat turns out perfectly without needing to slice it open a dozen times. No more guessing if your chicken is still a health hazard or if your steak is still mooing.
Promising review: "A great thermometer. I can even see ambient temperature with it. The sharp point goes in easily and seeing the accurate temp fast can't be beat. You can even clip it to your shirt and with the ring I actually have it hanging in a conspicuous place in my kitchen so I don't have to keep diving into the utensil drawer. It sure exceeded my expectations." —B.C. Poppe
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
13. A set of low-sodium TikTok-famous Dan-O's seasoning with the perfect blend of spice to jazz up whatever you're about to reluctantly cook with minimal effort. It's a one-and-done secret ingredient you can use on chicken, fish, vegetables...really anything.
Dan O's seasoning is a small business established in 2017 that gained popularity after taking to TikTok during the pandemic, where the company now has 1.5 million followers with plenty of droolworthy food content.
Promising review: "The best seasoning I've ever had. I literally put it on everything. I love to cook and I put this on just about anything I grill or make on the stove too. Amazing stuff, and the guy who created this seems like a hell of a dude. Has a fun YouTube channel and his personality is real solid. He's passionate about his product and I bought some and it did not disappoint." —Kevin L. Kemper
Get a pack of two (one original, one spicy) from Amazon for $13.99 (also available in a larger size).
14. A weekly meal planner you can use to streamline grocery shopping, slash bills, and save a ton of time. It's like having a culinary wingman, especially for those days when you just can't deal with the mental gymnastics of meal planning.
The notepad — from woman-owned small biz Bloom Daily Planners — features one side for your meal plan and another side that's a perforated "shopping list" you can tear off and take with you!
Promising review: "I love this meal planner! I have found it very useful. I usually use a grocery list app but have wanted to use paper lately, so this is perfect for meal planning, and has a paper list." —Veronica
Get it from Amazon for $5.95 (available in five styles).
15. A trio lasagna pan if you're a "crispy edge piece over the center" type of person. This is also perf if you're cooking for people with different dietary needs or taste preferences. You can adjust the recipe for each section to keep everyone happy (and to mix up your leftovers)!
FYI, you can totally use these for brownies, blondies, and bread too.
Promising review: "As someone who has a child (now a teenager) who will not eat any form of cheese, this pan is amazing! I typically avoid making any food that has cheese mixed into it but now I can make him a section without cheese and the rest of us our regular cheesy goodness. Another benefit to this pan is how well the portions slice. One cut with the spatula gives you a perfectly formed square. Each section makes four regular sized portions for our family." —TRU
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
16. A two-stage knife-sharpener ready to sharpen all of your dull kitchen knives so you won't have to struggle with the already tedious task of slicing and dicing your ingredients (or keep going out to buy new knives).
Promising review: "Wow, this little gadget is pretty amazing! I have some old (expensive) nonserrated knives that are supposed to never need sharpening but unfortunately, lost their sharp edge long ago. I saw this gadget and decided to try it. I set the bottom of this gadget on the edge of the counter and ran one of the knives through the side labeled 'Coarse' about 10 times, then ran it through the side labeled 'Fine' another 8–10 times. Bingo! The knife was transformed back to its former high-dollar cutlery glory. I could hardly believe how effectively it had sharpened the knife, which I had been ready to throw away a week before. I've been happily sharpening all our knives and trying to add up in my head how much money I've saved by NOT having to buy another set of expensive knives. I don't know where else you can spend $6 and get this return for the money. Great score!" —Schelly L. Wagoner
Read our KitchenIQ knife sharpener review for more deets.
Get it from Amazon for $7.81+ (available in four colors).
17. A chic freezer storage chart you can frame and use as your go-to guide for all things freeze-worthy. No more frantic Google searches on whether that cheesecake can survive the icy depths of your freezer without turning into a science experiment.
Alchera Designs is a Germany-based Etsy shop established in 2015 that specializes in organizational and decorative printables.
Promising review: "We purchased these for a birthday gift for our chef friend and had them printed on matte poster, they looked amazing, he loved them so much. Thank you so much for the awesome designs!" —Sarah
Get it from Alchera Designs on Etsy for $5.90.
18. A magnetic hanging utensil set to save you time from rummaging through kitchen drawers trying to find that elusive spoon. It comes with a slotted spatula, spaghetti server, slotted spoon, solid spoon, and a ladle, all ingeniously designed to nestle together in a neat, space-saving display.
BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord owns a set: "Someone gifted me one of these many moons ago, and the utensils have held up for over four years! They're still as perfectly magnetized and functional as they were when they first arrived, and I barely ever notice them even though my counter space is approximately that of a lunch tray. (Wish I were kidding!!!)"
Promising review: "We travel full-time and move every three months so everything has to be compact and packable. These replaced five other kitchen utensils that did not nest in each other. They sit on the counter ready to use. They are sturdy and have been used in nonstick ceramic and cast-iron pans. Very happy with this set." —Justice Talbot
Get a set from Amazon for $34.99 (available in three color varieties).
19. A snap-on pasta strainer capable of fitting any pot or pan in your cabinet to drain water, grease, and whatever else without losing half your perfectly cooked food to the sink gods as an unintentional offering.
Promising review: "I've owned this for about six months, and I couldn't imagine cooking without it. I hate strainers. They are bulky and fill up the dishwasher, I'm lazy, whatever. This strainer is a lifesaver. Clip it on your pan, strain, and voila! And it is so easy to clean. A little hot water and it's good to go for the next round. I highly recommend this gadget, it will retire your current strainer." —Viola Evens
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in six colors).
20. A rice cooker because there's nothing worse than trying to achieve that perfect rice texture and ending up with a sticky mess (or rice so hard it could chip a tooth). This gizmo cooks your rice to perfection every single time, and it does it all within minutes.
Plus, it's got this genius switch that flips off automatically when your rice is ready, and it comes with a warming feature, so you can always have your rice just right.
Promising review: "I love this product. I've made so many different rices in it. The only thing I suggest is when making rice that might end up sitting in the pot for a while, put some olive oil on the bottom as the rice tends to stick if it's sitting on the 'warm' setting for too long, or add some extra water. The rice cooker is wonderful though. It's a real time-saver." —Michelle
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three sizes).
21. A garlic rocker to seamlessly mince garlic, because you love the taste but dread the prep. It provides a generously sized smashing area to handle even the plumpest of cloves, and the ergonomic handle fits your grip just right. Plus, it’s sharp enough to get the job done but won't have you worrying about nicking your fingers.
22. An indoor smokeless grill perfect for those who consider cooking more of a must-do than a want-to. It allows you to conjure up succulent, chargrilled delights right in your kitchen. No smoke, no fuss, and definitely no nosy neighbors getting a whiff of what's cooking — or, worse, setting off the fire alarm and turning dinner into a literal hot mess.
This grill comes with two removable grill and griddle plates, which can be used for grilling sandwiches, frying eggs, grilling steaks, pancakes, and so so SO much more.
Promising review: "This is one of my best Amazon purchases. We’ve had the indoor grill about four months and we use it daily. It works great. When grilling indoors, the fan keeps cooking smells low. The grill is easy to clean and easy to reassemble. Steaks. Bacon. Scrambled eggs. French toast. Veggies. A really great addition to the kitchen. Highly recommend."—Katherine
Get it from Amazon for $127.78 (available in four colors and two styles).
23. A hands-free pot stirrer because the last thing you want to do after a long day is stand over a pot stirring soup for what feels like an eternity. It's like having your own personal sous chef, allowing you to sit down and kick your feet up for a bit.
24. A frying pan splatter screen to keep those pesky oil splatters in check so you can focus on frying up a storm. It’s like a shield of armor if you're a reluctant cook who's just trying to make a meal without turning the kitchen into a warzone.
Promising review: "Excellent product! It's actually a bit heavier than I thought it would be, not cheaply built. It sure is a lot better than our older screen. We have a glass-top stove, and this screen has tremendously cut down on the splatter from frying foods. Sure makes cleanup easier!" —Jeff Ryan
Get it from Amazon for $9.49+ (available in four sizes).
25. An herb stripper that'll handle the tedious task of stripping leaves off rosemary, kale, and everything in between. You won't believe how much time you'll save, time that could be better spent on, well, literally anything else you *actually* enjoy doing.
Promising review: "This is one of those random kitchen gadgets that you would never even think about existing but it's brilliant! We grew kale in our garden this fall and I was spending way too much time cutting the leaves off the stems, then I stumbled across this tool being suggested on a blog. I immediately ordered one and was very impressed! It saves me so much time stripping those leaves. I also use it for rosemary, oregano and other herbs. It really has come in handy way more than I would have thought, especially since we have a garden and I have lots of fresh leafy veggies and herbs!" —Elaine S.
Get it from Amazon for $6.95+ (available in two sizes).
26. A pair of cut-resistant gloves because cooking already feels like a chore, and the last thing you need is a collection of accidental nicks and cuts turning your fingers into a patchwork of bandages. With these gloves, you can chop, slice, and dice with confidence, knowing your hands are safe.
Promising review: "I bought the gloves because I had two nasty cuts in quick succession from a cheese grater. Anyone who has had injuries to their fingers knows how difficult it is to continue to do everyday activities and meal preparation while still protecting your wound. I received the gloves quickly after my order and pressed them into use immediately that evening. I am most impressed. My fingers/hands were protected from my very sharp grater and knife while I prepared dinner. I bought two pairs, one to keep and one to give as a gift. I am now going to buy a third pair in a larger size for a friend who also likes to cook but suffers from occasional run-ins with mandolines, graters, and knives. Great product!" —O'Hare
Psst — check out BuzzFeed's NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves review for more deets.
Get it from Amazon for $13.49 (available in sizes S–XL, two colors, and a reinforced style).
27. A color-coded Cuisinart knife set so you'll instinctively reach for the right blade for the job, almost like it’s second nature. No more second-guessing if you’re using the meat or vegetable knife — it’s all laid out in a rainbow of functionality.
It includes a chef's knife, paring knife, bread knife, slicing knife, utility knife, and santoku knife. Psst — the knives don't come with this holder, but you can snag an easy-to-install magnetic bar for knives on Amazon if you want to display them like this reviewer did! (And why wouldn't you, when they're this pretty?)
Promising review: "This is my best buy of the month, and best knife buy of the year. Yeah, I've had sharper, better quality knives in the past, but for hundreds of dollars more. For basic kitchen use, this is the set to buy. I like that they're colorful, because I've already been able to familiarize myself with which knife is which color and what I need to use them for. I haven't had to sharpen them yet and I've been using them pretty steadily for about a month. The blade cases they come with are extremely handy. I like that I don't have to use a knife block. These fit nicely in my drawer. At this price, they are worth every penny. I wouldn't have a problem spending $40–$50 for these knives." —GWP
Get a set of six knives with covers from Amazon for $16.98.
28. A prep-and-pour cutting board letting you chop up veggies and meats, then slide all that goodness directly into your pot or pan. It’ll make sure no little bits and pieces make a break for the floor (where they'll instantly be claimed by your furry vacuum cleaner on legs).
Promising review: "This cutting board is amazing! After chopping your veggies, this board makes transferring them into a pan, pot, or mixing bowl extremely easy and efficient. Just pick up the board using the handle, and the cutting boards transforms into a funnel to effortlessly drop the contents of the cutting board into a pan. It's great and we love it!" —Tiffany J
Get it from Sur La Table for $19.95.
You barely holding on by a thread before discovering these products:
