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1. A Breville smart toaster oven which, I can say from personal experience, bakes, roasts, and toasts just as well as a full-size oven. If you're craving homemade cookies in July but don't want to feel like a sweaty mess after one batch, this bb's got you covered.
Just know that this heats up in no time and works like an absolute ~charm~. I was on Thanksgiving hosting duty last year, which I was looking forward to — until my oven decided to completely break down the week leading up to the holiday 🙃 LUCKILY, my mother-in-law let me borrow her Breville toaster oven, which we were able to bake every side and dessert in — essentially, everything but the turkey (which she ended up cooking) had a turn in this thing. And, not only were we able to cook everything on our original menu, nothing was lost in terms of flavor or texture, and you'd never know we hadn't used a full-sized oven. In fact, the apple pie I baked in it (pictured) might've been the best I've ever made! If there was anything I was most thankful for that year, it was this miracle machine. P.S. While it heats up super quickly, the warmth stays contained to the inside rather than making your whole kitchen feel like a furnace.
Promising review: "This oven is life changing! Everything bakes so evenly. I use this more than our primary oven." —Eric Sales
Get it from Amazon for $269.95.
2. A revolutionary watermelon slicer that'll have perfectly cubed watermelon ready in less time than it takes for your oven to preheat. When a watermelon and feta salad seems more feasible than making lasagna for dinner (literally all summer long), this bb will be your best friend.
Promising review: "This tool is so handy!! I hate cutting watermelon and this is so fast and easy to use and easy to wash. I cut a watermelon in less than five minutes. It cuts yellow watermelon, too!!! The included baller is great for the small leftover, hard-to-reach places." —Andrea Draine
Get it from Amazon for $12.37.
3. And, an easy-to-use corer for anyone who plans on swapping apple pie with fruit salad this summer and would appreciate a hand with the prep work.
It's so much more efficient than using a knife, and once you've removed the core, the blades open up for simple disposal.
Promising review: "This thing is great. Very sturdy. Works amazingly well. I bought this because I had 1 1/2 bushels of apples I needed to core to make apple butter. Did the job in no time at all with this gadget. Much less waste than cutting around the core and in 99+% of the apples it removed the entire core and seeds without me having to do touch-ups with a paring knife. I highly recommend this tool and will be buying more of them to give as gifts for friends who enjoy the culinary arts." —James Miller
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 18 colors).
4. An 11-in-1 Instant Pot with a special air fryer lid, which will replace pretty much all of your other kitchen appliances — and best of all, you'll be able to enjoy a warm meal without so much as turning on a burner.
It's got air frying, roasting, baking, dehydrating, pressure cooking, slow cooking — takes breath — steaming, sautéeing, sterilizing, warming, rice cooking, and yogurt making functions!
Promising review: "This has changed my life! The air fryer is SO MUCH more efficient than my old air fryer. I was able to get rid of my rice cooker, crock pot, and air fryer. The Sous Vide mode is a game changer in making perfect medium rare meats. You can throw meat in there frozen and it comes out super tender and never dry. Just BUY IT!!!!" —susie v clewellclancy
Promising review: "What else can you say about this product? It will replace three appliances that I use on a regular basis — rice cooker, air fryer, and pressure cooker. That's important to me because at this point kitchen space is at a premium. The packaging is great, the instructions are very clear and well written and it works very well. The first use was to make chicken bone broth using the pressure cooker feature. It worked flawlessly. Two-hour cook time. It takes 10 minutes prep, 30 minutes to cool off. Three hours later I had homemade bone broth in the refrigerator. And the whole house didn't smell for 24 hours like it would with an open pot method. Anyway, the instant pot is a huge kitchen innovation IMO. Just get one, and use it." —Josh Brainard
Get it from Amazon for $149+ (available in two sizes and styles).
5. A Cuisinart digital steamer for preparing perfectly tender vegetables, seafood, chicken, and grains. But the best part? No waiting around in your hot kitchen for water to simmer!
Just fill the tank with water, set the timer, and you're good to go! Plus, reviewers say most ingredients can be cooked in a matter of minutes, so it's wayyy quicker than roasting.
Promising review: "There is simply nothing to dislike about this steamer. It exceeded my expectations. I had a $30+ steamer for five years and loved the concept of cooking, but the plastic trays were flimsy and awkward to handle. The design concept on this unit is superb and the removable fill tank and feature which delivers steam from the top of the container works great. I would highly recommend this unit. It is pricey but is well worth it." —John Daniel
Get it from Amazon for $159.95.
6. A compact Weber grill you should start thinking of as your oven's seasonal replacement, since you'll be able to cook up alll of the meats, veggies, and seafood without subjecting yourself to a stifling kitchen. Not only will it make your patio your new favorite place to be, it'll also fill the space with such wonderful aromas, the neighbors will start inviting themselves over.
I grew up eating food my dad cooked on his Weber grill, and you really can't beat the flavor you get from using charcoal. Plus, it's the perfect size for making a good deal of food without taking up too much space.
Promising review: "Affordable and reliable. Perfect for our backyard. We prefer charcoal to gas, and we've cooked about everything under the sun on this bad boy. Easy to assemble. Easy to clean. Exactly what we wanted." —Marci Manley
Get it from Amazon for $139+ (available with or without a cover).
7. Or, a Cuisinart Griddler that'll give you that nice char you crave from a grill, even if you don't have the outdoor space for one. Unlike an oven, it won't make your whole house feel like you're in a hot yoga studio, and you can keep those grill marks going once cold weather rolls around!
Promising review: "Besides a good chef, this machine has been the most used and most beloved instrument in my kitchen! From grilling to toasting and everything in between. The addition of reversible griddle irons and the flat laying top handle has been a major boost to the utility of this product. Additionally, having the grease catcher as an internal bucket (and a much larger one at that) makes clean up much easier. I use this product literally every week and have no complaints. Great for cooking quickly and healthily. Buy this now! It will change your life!" —AddieO
Get it from Amazon for $99.95.
8. And, a bottle of Lillie's of Charleston mustard barbecue sauce to save you the trouble of making a topping for your ribs from scratch. No one has to know you didn't spend hours stirring a pot over a hot stove.
Lillie's of Charleston is a Black- and family-owned small biz based in South Carolina that, lucky for us, bottles and sells their award-winning sauces and spice mixes that were inspired by Sunday dinners at Aunt Lillie's house.
Promising review: "I grew up in Charleston, SC and this is by far the most authentic South Carolina Mustard BBQ I’ve been able to find. I highly recommend. A true taste of home delivered to my door in Phoenix!" —Jenna Bowen
Get it from Lillie's of Charleston on Amazon for $10.98 (available in hot or mild).
9. A Vitamix blender for blitzing up smoothies, gazpacho, and any other refreshing concoctions you can whip up with cold ingredients. Get ready to enjoy the ~silkiest~ soups and sauces with the push of a button.
Plus, if you're sick of chomping down on a piece of ice your current blender isn't quiiite strong enough to crush, get one of these bad boys and see why it's considered the absolute best.
Promising review: "Simply put: this blender is astounding. I've now owned it for a month and it gets used almost every day in my house! We make smoothies, chili pastes, cornmeals, frozen cocktails, soups — it does everything. We have effectively retired our Bullet blender and our immersion blender, nothing gets near the same level of smoothness. I was initially, slightly concerned that the volume would be too small, but I have yet to encounter any problems. Worst case, I do stuff in batches, but, this blender is so fast, it really doesn't matter. If you're a serious cook or chef in your home kitchen, you want this by your side for creamy soups and sauces." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $349.95 (available in three colors).
10. Or, if you're short on cabinet space, a lovely compact blender you'll want to keep on display 24/7. It's also powerful enough to blitz up ice so finely, it'll keep the "smooth" in your morning smoothie.
P.S. The blending bowl also doubles as a portable thermos, and comes with a screw-on drinking lid and carry cap!
Promising review: "There are so many things to love about this blender! Its sleek design, quiet motor and overall look makes you proud to place it on your kitchen countertop. The most impressive part of the Beast is its blending power. The 1-minute interval program is the perfect length of time to ensure all of your ingredients are fully blended. No need to shake the bottle or re-blend multiple times! Each time I've used the Beast I've gotten smooth, creamy smoothies that taste amazing. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for the perfect blender!" —Allison K.
Get it from Amazon for $155 (available in three colors).
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Maitland Quitmeyer swears by this thing — read her full review of the Beast Blender!
11. A cute as a button mini waffle maker, which heats up in moments without making your house feel like something out of Dune. Perfect for mornings when you want to start the day with something sweet but baked French toast is simply out of the question.
Try your hand at unconventional waffles via the included recipe book, and take comfort in the fact that the nonstick cooking surface cleans like a dream.
Promising review: "I’ve NEVER wanted a waffle maker. This has changed my life. I always buy the frozen waffles and put them in the toaster oven and was Happy with this. Then I randomly bought this and it is amazing!!!!!! The waffles are the same size as the frozen waffles and easy to make with a mix. It heats quickly, cooks evenly, and is easy to wipe down. Plus it’s tiny so it stores well. Quick tip: spray it down with Pam or something similar just in case. Also, BUY IT!" —rooks1101
Get it from Amazon for $12.64+ (available in 20 designs).
12. An AeroGarden Harvest so you can grow — and pick! — fresh herbs right on your counter, no soil required. Fresh herbs add instant flavor without having to cook a thing, so this will come in handy when it's time to garnish all of your cold potato and pasta salads.
Plus, reviewers say it's foolproof, so even if you're lacking a green thumb, you'll delight in seeing your herbs sprout up! It includes basil, curly parsley, dill, thyme, Thai basil, and mint seeds, along with a bottle of all natural plant nutrients.
Check out former BuzzFeed Shopping writer Yi Yang's AeroGarden review for more info!
Promising review: "This was worth every penny and then some. Easy to set up, spectacular results! Every one of the seed pods germinated, growth was quite astonishing, first flower popped out about 45 days from set up. My garden is now covered in healthy vegetation and copious blooms. Can't ask for more! But I may have to buy more, LOL!" —D.L. Sniderman
Get it from Amazon for $120+ (available in two colors).
13. And to make prepping all of those fresh herbs a bit easier, a nifty herb leaf remover that separates the leaves from the stem in one fell swoop. No more picking each leaf off individually, and no more unpleasant stems sneaking their way into your food!
Mud Pottery Studios is a small business based in Mendocino, California that makes small clay trinkets and accessories for the kitchen and home.
Promising review: "This is a great addition to my kitchen. Well-made and good looking. I've been using it for cilantro and am very happy with it." —rohshambo
Get it from Mud Pottery Studios on Etsy for $18.50 (available in seven colors).
14. A Zojirushi rice cooker so you'll be able to make perfectly cooked, restaurant-quality grains at home, no sweat (literally and figuratively). Standing over a pot on the stovetop in the summer isn't only unpleasant, but this is also more likely to yield less consistent results!
This is considered by many to be the Rolls-Royce of rice cookers, hence its splurgier price tag, but once you see all of the different preparations it's capable of, you'll be a believer: think sushi rice, long grains, short grains, and even steel-cut oats. Plus, it'll keep your rice warm even after it's cooked!
Promising review: If you eat a lot of rice, a Zojirushi rice cooker is absolutely worth the cost. I thought my $10 standard rice cooker from Kohl’s did a pretty good job. That is, until I tasted the rice that the Zojirushi makes. Every grain of rice in the cooker is perfect and uniformly cooked throughout. No slightly overcooked rice on the bottom, no more undercooked or overcooked rice. I can set the timer before work and come home to perfect rice at night. This particular unit is small and meant for a two- or three-person family. I really had no idea how much better rice could be until I started using this thing. Beware, however: good rice takes time to cook. You’ll need to start your rice an hour or more before you need it to be ready. Some modes take a very long time, such as the GABA mode, which takes 3.5 hours. There is a 'quick' mode which cooks white rice in about a half an hour, but I don’t use that one because I want my rice to taste as good as possible. Overall I am very happy with the Zojirushi. The little songs it plays are fun. The manual is well written and easy to understand. The unit feels extremely high quality and well designed throughout." —CDandEB
Get it from Amazon for $157.99.
15. A fun sushi making kit for anyone who loves a cooking project, but would rather not break a sweat this summer. With this, you can enjoy your favorite raw meal right at home, and you'll feel so accomplished when you make your first roll.
It comes with two rolling mats, a rice spreader, rice paddle, and five pairs of chopsticks, along with a downloadable recipe guide!
Promising review: "I got this kit on a whim, basically I just wanted to try to make sushi for the first time. For the price you can't really go wrong! The mats were great and the everything else included was helpful. It comes with an online guide which is nice, but you can also go online and find a ton of videos on how to roll sushi. I've made about four rolls over the course of two nights and am really satisfied. Making rolls is a breeze and fun! A great starter kit for anyone interested in trying this out." —J. Leaver
Get it from Amazon for $10.99.
16. A marshmallow roasting set, because sometimes the best desserts require zero baking at all. And what better way to have a Hot Girl Summer than consuming copious amounts of s'mores?
These fold up to be nice and compact, but extend when you need them so the only thing that gets burnt is the marshmallow. Plus, you can get them engraved if you like!
Donebetter is based in Dennis Port, Massachusetts and specializes in all sorts of personalized gifts, from wooden cutting boards to leather wallets.
Promising review: "These were the perfect gift for my sisters family who love to make s'mores over their fire pit! The packaging is amazing and the quality is wonderful for gift giving. Perfect!" —Kaitlin Mercurio
Promising review: "Absolutely love that these are so long and have blunt ends! The other ones we had were so sharp I was always worried about the kids impaling themselves!" —Laura
Get it from Donebetter on Etsy for $29.95+ (available in two sizes, engraved or not, and in 19 font options).
17. A six-tray dehydrator to make allll the dried fruit and jerky you can eat without turning your kitchen into a full-blown sauna. And not only that, it also works way faster than using a full-size oven to make your own dried snacks.
You can also use it to dry herbs, make fruit leather, and even whip up homemade dog treats! Simply place the food on the BPA-free trays, set the time and temperature, and let it do its magic.
Promising review: "This was packaged exceptionally well, and the first few batches I have run through have been a joy. I used to use one of those old Nesco models that was honestly a pain, but the way everything connects and the crystal-clear plastic walls of the trays are a huge improvement. You can't do much better without doubling your price point." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $68.97+ (available in black or white).
18. A sleek stainless steel microwave, because the only thing that should be getting heated is your food, not your entire first floor. It'll look great on your counter, and if you want hot food fast, look no further.
Psst: This one comes with a child safety lock!
Promising review: "This microwave looks sleek and it is so quiet you can’t even hear when it is in use! Easy to clean and doesn’t make a sound! What more could you ask for in a microwave? Definitely purchase!" —Melissa
Get it from Amazon for $99.99+ (available in two sizes).
19. And, a nonstick microwave pasta cooker for nights when you want spaghetti for dinner but the thought of standing over a pot of boiling water seems like cruel and unusual punishment.
Promising review: "I love pasta, but I hate *making* pasta. Too many pots, pans, strainer, cleanup, etc. Forget it. And after a long day at work when I am craving pasta, all I want to do is eat right away. This pasta cooker cooked pasta better than I have ever cooked pasta in my life. I am Italian, so as you can imagine I have eaten (and made myself) a LOT of pasta. This product is a game changer. It was extremely easy to use, cooked quickly, and it came out PERFECTLY. Not over cooked, a little al dente, but not firm. Perfection. Now I have no excuse not to cook pasta for myself (and my husband) practically every day. BUY THIS. It will change your life." —Hope Lanza
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
20. And! A microwave popcorn maker that'll keep you from having to deal with the stove when it feels like it's 9,000 degrees in your house. Your popcorn will taste way better than the bagged stuff, and you can use any kernels you'd like!
Promising review: "This has changed my life. Instead of hauling out and warming up the air popper (which took forever and shot kernels across the room), I use this ingenious contraption and have popcorn in about three minutes. And this thing almost never leaves kernels un-popped. It's easy to clean too. I've bought it as a gift since purchasing for myself. Highly recommend." —fox1at
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in 22 colors).
21. A lovely wooden bowl for serving up the billions of salads you'll be eating on days when assembling meal is far more appealing than cooking one. And once the temperatures drop, it'll also make a beautiful piece of kitchen decor.
Promising review: "A beautiful bowl! Give it as a gift or keep it for yourself. It can be used as your countertop veggie/fruit bowl or as your salad bowl. It's VERY well made and simply gorgeous! I plan on taking care of the wood so that it stays in the family for years." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
22. And, Brightland olive oils and vinegars, because all of those salads I see in your near future deserve a delicious, flavor-packed dressing. Quality matters when you're looking to enhance uncooked ingredients, and one bite will make you wonder how you ever tolerated the generic stuff.
Yes, they're splurgier than that grocery store oil you're used to, but you'll taste the difference. Plus, those striking bottles will look fantastic on your counter. This set comes with Brightland's bestselling Awake and Alive olive oils, as well as their champagne vinegar and balsamic vinegar, making it a great introduction to the brand.
Brightland is a WOC-owned small business that sources olives from a family-run farm in California.
Promising review: "So flavorful, beautiful packaging, and wonderful gifts for anybody! I love Brightland olive oils and these are just so fun to have on your kitchen counter. Love cooking with these and makes me want to experiment more with different recipes!" —Julia
Get an assortment of two oils and two vinegars from Brightland for $112 (originally $118).
23. A tabletop pizza oven for anyone who wants to take their outdoor cooking to the next level (and avoid having to crank their regular oven up to its highest setting). Plus, watching the pizzas puff up in real time is downright therapeutic.
Just add your wood pellets to the hopper, preheat for about 18 minutes, and you'll be on your way to homemade pies in no time (the pizza itself can take as little as 90 seconds to cook!). Plus, it weighs just 25 pounds and has foldable legs for easy storage.
Promising review: "Have wanted to get a wood-fired pizza oven for a while. This is a great starter. It's a small unit, easy to put together and move. If you're familiar with charcoal or pellet cooking you'll find this easy to use and maintain. The first pizza we made came out perfect and we haven't had trouble yet!" —MK
Get it from Amazon for $219.99.
24. A handmade serving bowl duo that'll come in handy when the temps are so brutal, nothing but a chip 'n dip situation for dinner will do. You have my full encouragement and support on this one.
It's handmade by potter Steven Nedza in Watkinsville, Georgia!
Promising review: "Lovely piece of pottery. I believe this is an extremely versatile serving bowl, from chips/dips/salsa/guac to shrimp and cocktail sauce to fruit and fruit dips." —cdlpittsburgh
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $75.
25. And, an Oxo 3-in-1 avocado tool for splitting, pitting, and slicing all of the avocados you'll be using for homemade guac, which absolutely counts as a heatwave-appropriate meal.
Promising review: "I love avocados, but hardly ever buy them because they're so inconvenient to deal with. This tool ABSOLUTELY changes that. I knew I was getting something that would make it a little easier to pit and slice my avocado, but I had no idea HOW MUCH EASIER it would be. This thing is amazing!" —Edianter
Get it from Amazon for $11.89.
26. A rapid egg cooker that'll serve up perfectly hard-boiled, soft-boiled, poached, and scrambled eggs, along with omelets! Stovetop? I don't know her.
Promising review: "This little egg cooker has changed my life. I love eating healthy hard-boiled eggs but hated the time and effort it took to cook the eggs and cook them well. In the past it was a 'hit or miss' ordeal — sometime over-cooked or under-cooked. No more!! With the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker I get perfect hard boiled eggs every time and the shells nearly fall off. I could not be happier with this product. It makes the perfect hard-boiled eggs nearly 'set and forget.' I even love, and laugh at, the 'wrath of a 1,000 demons buzzer.' You can't miss it no matter where you are in the house! Don't think more about it...just buy one!!" —FRANK H DRIES III
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in six colors).
Check out our deep dive into the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker.
27. A Cuisinart ice cream maker, which, let's face it, will likely become your most used kitchen appliance once you realize how easy it is to make fro-yo and sorbet. Just because you don't feel like baking doesn't mean you can't enjoy a homemade treat, and this will have dessert on your table in as little as 20 minutes!
It includes a replacement lid, 2-quart double insulated freezer bowl, paddle, and a recipe book.
Promising review: "Got one for me, for my sister, and my parents, and we all love it! It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and best of all it makes some amazing ice cream. For best results on the consistency of your ice cream I recommend not filling it to full capacity. I always go 1.75 quarts, since some ingredients make the ice cream expand and spill over the edge. I also freeze the container a day prior to using it. I wouldn’t attempt to make more than one batch in one day, the container needs to be as cold as possible." —Beatriz
Get it from Amazon for $94.99+ (available in three colors).
28. Or, a silicone ice pop mold you can fill with everything from fruit purees to yogurt and stash in the freezer so you'll always have a refreshing snack on hand. Plus, the flexible design means your treats will *pop* right out.
Promising review: "These are great! We used to use rigid plastic molds, but it was always difficult to remove the frozen ice pop. Because these are flexible, you can easily push up from the bottom to dislodge your frozen treat!" —Bob B
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes and six colors).
29. A wooden charcuterie board, because it's perfectly acceptable to make a meal out of cheese and meat when just the thought of cooking makes you break into a sweat.
It's got shallow spaces for holding small snacks like nuts, and even comes with a built-in accessories drawer filled with four mini serving tools.
Promising review: "This cheese board is amazing quality for an affordable price. I love that there is even a small drawer for knives! Great product for romantic picnics." —Leah Lyons
Get it from Amazon for $32.97+ (available with or without bowls).
30. And finally, a popular and inexpensive cold brew maker (40,000+ 5-star ratings!) for anyone who would rather bypass the process of boiling water altogether. With this, you just add ground coffee, cold water, refrigerate, and done!
Promising review: "Um this has changed my life. I love cold brew so much but was sick of spending so much at cafes or going to Target every week to pick up Chameleon cold brew concentrate (which is my favorite store bought brand). I bought this and have been brewing Stone Street course ground cold brew blend per the instructions. It is perfect! Tastes just like the ones I buy for $5-plus elsewhere and I get the added benefit of full customization in terms of strength/how concentrated. The jug is easy to clean, easy to use, and shatter-proof. Would recommend :)" —KC
Get it from Amazon for $24.31+ (available in two sizes and three colors).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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