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1. A veggie chopper so you can dice up an onion without fear of losing a digit. Yes, I've watched Gordon Ramsay YouTube explainers on how to do it with a knife, but there's a disconnect between my head and my hand, okay??
Fullstar is a small business established in 2017 that specializes in kitchen gadgets. Check out a TikTok of their veggie chopper in action.
Promising review: "I was skeptical at first till I opened the box and found a very sturdy, very well-built kitchen tool inside. I read the pamphlet it comes with, and it explained all I needed to know when first using it. And, it was very easy to use. I bought it for a specific recipe I was going to make, and it called for lots of chopped onions and potatoes. It went through them like a champ and did exactly what I wanted. A very good deal and a good product. Would buy it again." —W.L. Shute
Get a 4-in-one from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three colors and six cutter variations).
2. A Dracula garlic mincer because garlic powder simply doesn't compare to freshly minced garlic when you're whipping up an Italian feast.
PS: You can also use it for ginger!
Promising review: "I bought this because my last garlic mincer broke. I was skeptical on how well it would work, but it works 10 times better than my last one!! Amazing product, and it’s a bonus that it’s cute!" —Kelsey Lyman
Get it from Amazon for $17.95.
3. A nylon chopper perfect for breaking up ground meat, frozen veggies, eggs, and more. If you're a fan of tacos, Philly cheesesteaks, or smash burgers (~chef's kiss to Shake Shack~), this baby will come in clutch.
The tool is safe to use with nonstick cookware, and you can throw it in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Promising review: "I was skeptical about ordering this but am so happy I did! It is very sturdy and does a great job chopping up ground meat for chili, tacos, etc. Way better than using a wooden spoon or potato masher. Easy to clean and doesn't scratch your pan." —btp157
Get it from Amazon for $8.81+ (available in three colors).
4. An air fryer if you manage to under or over cook your entree every dang time you use your oven. If you thought these things were only for French fries or chicken nuggies, think again. You can crisp up fresh asparagus, cook salmon to flaky perfection, and even bake a GD lemon Bundt cake if you so wish!
Promising review: "I was an air fryer skeptic. I never thought I'd get an air fryer, but this little oven honestly cooks the best salmon we've ever eaten. We use it almost every day. It makes green beans into something so delicious, I will say I've eaten more green vegetables in the last few months than I have in my whole life. So tasty. Squash is incredible. Any fish, beef, and pork roast is amazing. Rotisserie chicken is incredible. Meats are so tender and juicy. Vegetables are crisp and delicious. We love this and use it almost every night." —Lucy
Get the 6-in-1 6-quart size from Amazon for $129.95 (also available in six styles and five other sizes).
5. A snap-on silicone strainer that easily attaches to the side of your pot so you don't have to make room in your sink for a colander and then inevitably splash yourself with ~boiling~ hot water when you haphazardly dump your cavatappi.
Promising review: "I hate getting the big colander out all the time when I'm just cooking a small pot of pasta or something that needs to be drained. This clips on the side of the pot and definitely stays in place. I was a little skeptical at first, but it works very well. It's a great purchase for the price. I use mine so many times a week, and I bought one for my daughter, and she loves it, too. Would definitely buy it again." —Denise Chamberlain
Get it from Amazon for $11.04+ (available in five colors).
6. A conveniently compact 8-in-1 spiralizer for spiralizing (duh), juicing, grating, shredding, and more. No need to search your kitchen for multiple gadgets when everything you need can be done with just one.
BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord loves this gadget:
"I purchased this because it was my cheapest option for making zoodles, and also because my apartment is the size of a shoebox, and there was no room for anything bigger. I LOVE how easy it is to swap out the caps to do other things, too — I've started grating my own cheeses and feel very fancy. But mostly, I just love that it's very safe to use (it comes with a finger guard!), super easy to figure out, very compact, and even has measurements on the inside of the cup if you're ever portioning things out for a recipe."
Promising review: "Was skeptical at first when this arrived, but this is literally the best spiralizer ever. Took me 30 seconds to do one zucchini and 30 seconds to clean." —Sarah Brown
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (also available in 4-in-1 or 6-in-one).
7. A dishwasher-safe silicone soup cube tray because you're a Soup Person through and through but you also live alone and can't possibly eat it all at once.
Souper Cubes is a small business!
Promising review: "I was skeptical at first, but this product is a game-changer. I filled mine with some homemade soup, and boyyyy did the frozen soup just glide right out! It was mess-free, and I love how you know the max slot is two cups. This makes it easy when deciding how much of your food you want to defrost. Also, they are sturdy! They do not collapse in the slightest when filled! #obsessed" —Steph
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $34.99 (available in four colors and two pack sizes).
8. A pancake batter bottle if you (or your partner or kiddos) go through hotcakes like nothin'. Now, you can make a whole stack in minutes.
The bottle isn't just for dispensing, either. It also has a whisk ball in the bottom so you can mix up your batter with just a few shakes.
Promising review: "I was skeptical about buying this. But, decided to give it a try. One of the best things ever! Read the directions first, and make sure lids are tight. Works great and no dripping! Great for cupcakes and pancake batter." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.37.
9. An aluminized steel sheet pan you can use to bake or roast basically anything you can imagine. Chefs swear by them not just for how evenly they cook, but how exceptionally easy they are to clean.
Promising review: "I am a very picky consumer, and I have to admit that this pan is like nothing I have ever used. I was extremely skeptical when I was told how well this pan performed. After using it a few times, I truly couldn't believe how well it worked. It is heavy enough to not feel flimsy, and the coating is a miracle. I baked some cookies, and they came loose so easily that it seemed like they were hovering on a cushion of air. The non-stick coating is so effective that I have only ever had to wipe it clean with a dry paper towel. I just wish they made a line of skillets." —dad4two
Get it from Amazon for $17.63+ (available in two sizes and as sets).
10. A breakfast sandwich maker that simultaneously cooks your egg, toasts your bread, warms precooked meat, and melts cheese so you can slap together the ultimate breakfast sammie without having to wait in line at Dunkin' and risk being 20 minutes late for work (...again).
Promising review: "I’ve been considering purchasing this for a couple years now but was skeptical if it would actually be worth it. It turned out to be more than worth it, and a staple to my morning routine. All of my sandwiches have come out hot and delicious, and has saved me a lot of time and money. If you’re considering it at all, just do it." —Kim Sewell
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in two colors).
11. Or a super easy-to-use egg bite maker so you can make lil' egg bebes that adhere to your keto/paleo/gluten free/vegetarian lifestyle and *don't* cost $9 (plus the gas to get you to the drive thru).
Psst — a lot of folks also use these for pancake and protein pancake bites, too!
Promising review: "I was skeptical when I first used this. I was totally shocked. It made the most delicious egg white bites ever! So easy to use, so quick, and so easy to clean. It didn't get too hot to the touch either. I love this." —Voltron2808
Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in three colors).
12. A biodegradeable bacon sponge on which you can drain grease from fried foods because you could not only clog your *own* drain if you dispose of it improperly, but your whole neighborhood sewer line as well.
FYI: The towel absorbs 10 (!) times its weight in grease and absorbs liquids 20 times faster than other fabrics. Plus, it comes from a woman-owned small business based in Denver, Colorado.
Promising review: "I was skeptical about the bacon sponge but tired of watching everyone use piles of paper towels to drain bacon. It's great at soaking up the grease, and then I just pop it in hot soapy water in the sink, let it soak a while, rinse it out and let it dry, and it's ready for the next batch. I like it so much that I'm getting a backup." —Sansa
Get it from Amazon Handmade for $14.99.
13. A 3-in-1 avocado slicer for those who still haven't gotten over their avo toast obsession. Pick up one of these gadgets — it'll split, pit, and slice your avocado — and you'll whip up a plate worth $15 or more at your favorite cafe.
Promising review: "This is a perfect little tool! I was skeptical about the ability of the plastic knife to cut through a tough avocado skin, but it does so easily. Same with the pit remover, since it's much smaller in diameter than the average avocado pit, but you just push down on the pit while twisting, and it works like a charm. And the scooper/slicer makes removing the flesh in perfect slices so easy! Leave it to Oxo — maker of the best kitchen gadgets!" —Nancy K. Farlow
Get it from Amazon for $11.95.
14. A Caraway cookware set that not only comes with every pot and pan one could need, but storage solutions in the form of magnetic racks and a canvas lid holder — bc let's be real, locating the pan you need/being able to put it away once you're done is half the cooking-at-home battle.
What's included: A fry pan, sauce pan with lid, sauté pan with lid, Dutch oven with lid, modular pan rack, and three-slot canvas lid holder.
Promising review: "Bought these at a recommendation of a friend. Was a little skeptical based on how expensive they were — but wow, they truly exceeded expectations. I think what makes these unique to all other cookware is the lid storage system. Seems like everything was really well thought out, while also not skimping on quality of the cookware. Lastly — the colors are great and inspire us to cook. I got the terracotta which I was nervous was going to be too pink but was gorgeous! A happy orange/pink that goes well in our new home. Happy to have this full set and not have to think about much else." —Mark Amdahl
Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $395+ (available in eight colors).
15. An automatic spice grinder so you can top off every dish with a bit of spice and in the most ✨extra✨ fashion imaginable.
BTW — this grinder is battery-operated, so make sure to get a few AA batteries, too!
Promising reviews: "I have a few spice grinders for Himalayan salt, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, etc., and they have begun to die, so I was looking for a replacement that wasn't quite so bulky. When I saw these, I was somewhat skeptical, but they are everything they were advertised to be! The ease with which you change the pods is fantastic, the process of adjusting the grind size is simple, and the space saving is substantial when you eliminate all of the individual grinders. Next for me is the stackable trays and a few more pods!" —Kerbking
Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in seven colors).
16. A versatile electric pasta maker if you watched Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy and are now determined to recreate the regional cuisine all on your own.
Promising review: "I admit I was both skeptical and hopeful when I got this inexpensive machine. I was afraid the texture of the pasta wouldn't be right or that it would be a nightmare to assemble or clean, but I was willing to give it a try. It works beautifully as long as you closely follow the well-written instructions. I've made penne, spaghetti, fettuccini, and they've all been very good. Each has its quirks, but you learn as you go, and each subsequent batch is better than the one that preceded it. I am really impressed by the quality of the pasta, ease of use, ease of assembly/disassembly, how easy it is to clean, and its storage footprint. Seriously, it's fun, and it makes awesome pasta in under 20 minutes. What's not to love?" —Nightfall
Get it from Amazon for $177.83+ (available in white and black).
17. A bench scraper that'll come in handy when you're prepping bread dough, gathering chopped onions to throw in a pan, or simply cleaning off your counter after trying your hand at a particularly messy recipe.
Promising review: “I recently bought this for my mom because she saw Rachael Ray using it on her cooking show. I was super skeptical but rarely say no to my mom for kitchen things. Once we got this, I was actually excited to use it, and boy did I enjoy it. I def did not realize how much I wanted/needed a product like this. I chop a lot of stuff, and then usually lift the chopping block up and slide it into the pan. Now, I do not have to do that, so many veggies fit right into this scoop, and the edges do not allow anything to fall out. Absolutely wonderful!" —Puja
Get it from Amazon for $9.70+ (available in six colors)
18. A Thaw Claw because being an adult with a 9-5 has made you realize why mom got SO mad when you forgot to take chicken out of the freezer after school.... (sorry, mom!). With this, you can weigh down your meat in the sink and thaw it out seven times faster than if you left it on the counter.
Promising review: "I bought this pretty skeptical but loved it so much I got another for my Mom! I've always thawed my meat in the sink and always had to put a pot with water on top to try to even it out, but this completely solves the problem and more." —Laura McKellow
Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in four colors).
19. A large 14-cup Cuisinart food processor you can use to whip up hummus, salsa, guac, or whatever other dip you're really into at the moment. The posibilities are endless!
If you're wondering whether it's worth shelling out money for this bad boy, keep in mind it has a whopping 14-cup capacity. It also comes with a standard stainless steel slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, a chopping/mixing blade, and a spatula. All included parts are dishwasher safe!
Promising review: "I was skeptical when we looked at this and ordered it. Felt like we were missing out by buying a processor that only had two function buttons, but it’s been a great device to use in the kitchen. The bowl and lid are really hard to lock into position. Took us a while to get them in there for the first use. This persists even now, but we’ve come to view that as a good thing that everything is holding well. Highly recommended and well-built. We make a lot of our own food from scratch in this thing, including butter and mayonnaise." —Groundhog
Get it from Amazon for $239.00+ (available in five sizes and 10 colors).
20. An oil mister so you can perfectly spritz all of your one-pan meals. This way, you don't have to toss everything by hand and get covered in hard-to-clean (not to mention expensive...) EVOO.
Promising review: "At first, I was skeptical since I was specifically looking for an oil sprayer that would spray evenly and not heavily. I was timid with the pump since I expected a lot to come out with every push, but it would spray in streams. Must have just been me, though, because my husband came in and just did one spray, and it was perfect. Turns out you have to do a full quick push all the way down to get a perfectly fanned out spray. Now that I know how to use it properly, it works like a charm! I use one for oil and one for vinegar." —Patty B
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four colors).
21. A wifi enabled Anova sous vide cooker to help you make restaurant-worthy meals with minimal effort. Like so minimal that you don't even have to be in the kitchen while your food is cooking!
The temperature range is 32–197 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooker can be controlled right from your phone, so you don't even have to stay in the kitchen while cooking. It also provides cooking notifications, and stays connected through Bluetooth from up to 30 feet away. Plus, you get access to over 1,000 recipes, so you'll have inspiration for yummy meals! Get the Anova app here.
Promising review: "I literally scoffed and rolled my eyes when my brother-in-law would talk about this thing. I thought it was unnecessary. A fad. Ridiculous. Boy, was I wrong!!! My husband bought this, and I was still skeptical. We eat a lot of wild game. It isn’t always the most tender, or it can be gamey. You cook it for a few hours with this, then toss it on the grill, and the meat falls apart and is full of flavor!!!" —Ashley
Get it from Amazon for $94.27 (also available with bluetooth-only connection).
22. A rapid egg cooker that's simple, quick, and consistent when it comes to making soft, medium, and hard-boiled eggs. Let's be real, if I had to go through the trouble of making them the old-fashioned way, I'd probably just pull out a Toaster Strudel instead.
The 1-pound appliance has room for six eggs and an auto-shutoff function which prevents overcooking.
Promising review: "I love this product. I had put off buying it for a while because I was honestly skeptical that this would work any better or be any more convenient than the traditional way of boiling/poaching eggs. However, I was stunned! I am typically absolutely terrible at peeling my eggs… I’m talking big chunks of egg coming off with the shell. I don’t know what it is about this product, but it makes it soo easy to peel off the shell nice and clean. So quick and convenient." —Harrison
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in seven colors).
Want to know a lil' more? Read through our full review of the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker.
23. A set of toaster oven bags if you're always craving a grilled cheese but don't want to pull out a pan. Just put together all your fixins, drop 'em in the bag, and let your toaster do the work for you.
You can also heat up pizza slices, chicken nuggets, and more with it, meaning you'll have dinner ready in a matter of minutes. Reviewers say these are also great for anyone with a gluten allergy who needs to keep their bread separate in the toaster. Check 'em out on TikTok here!
Promising review: "I must admit, I was skeptical. I purchased the bags because I loved the idea of not buttering the bread to make a grilled cheese the pan-fried way. I just tried the toasted cheese, and the cheese melted perfectly. Toast was a tad dryer from the pan-fried method, but I prefer it that way." —judester
Get them from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in packs of 4, 6, and 10).
24. Some FryAway — a magical substance you sprinkle on used oil to turn it into a solid so you can safely dispose of it. No clogging your whole neighborhood's pipes after chicken cutlet night!
PS: FryAway is a small biz, and they're part of 1% for the Planet. They donate 1% of revenue to charities focused on water conservation.
Promising review: "I was skeptical, but decided to give this product a whirl. I occasionally fry French fries in oil instead of the oven and never know what to do with the oil afterwards. This product is amazing! Just stir it in, wait, and toss the congealed oil into the trash. Done!" —Jeannette
Get it from FryAway on Amazon for $12.99 (available in two other variations).
25. A 3-in-1 Cuisinart burger press so you can craft a picture-perfect Juicy Lucy 🍔 (thanks for the education, Top Chef: Kentucky) right at home.
Promising review: "My husband bought this after he decided we would begin making our own hamburger patties. I have to admit, I was skeptical. But happy to say that we love this product and would recommend it to anyone who’s a party-making fan. We’ve used it twice now and gotten the perfect burger — in size and thickness." —Melissa Andrews
Get it from Amazon for $10.30+ (available in other styles and in combination sets).
26. A vented microwave food cover that'll prevent spills, splatters, and small explosions (it happens to the best of us). The BPA-free perforated lid allows steam to escape (AKA no gross sheen of condensation) and when you're done, it collapses down to less than an inch in height for easy storage.
Promising review: "This cover is surprisingly well-made; no doubt will be buying another for gifting. It keeps the microwave spotless. Was skeptical at first, but believe me, you will not be disappointed. Compared to other covers, this one is among the best I have seen." —arturo j.
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in three colors, three sizes, and as a set of three).
27. A microwave potato cooker because sometimes, you crave a loaded baked potato but simply don't have the patience to preheat your oven and then let it cook for 45 darn minutes! With this, you just pop it in the microwave, set it for three minutes, and — BOOM — finished potato.
The nifty tool can also be used to cook corn on the cob or revive old tortillas and bread.
Promising review: "Works great! At first I was skeptical, but after six minutes, I had four perfectly baked potatoes. I would definitely encourage others to buy." —Darlene Sonnier
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
28. A sandwich bag holder that's so dang handy, you'll wish you invented it. Keep this in your drawer and transferring food into sandwich bags will no longer result in a splattered mess.
Promising review: "I make a lot of freezer meals and marinate meats in freezer bags. I was a little skeptical when buying this product because I thought it might be a gimmick and I would rarely use it, but I wanted to try it out anyway. Boy was I wrong! I use them ALL the time! The 'arms' are adjustable so you can move them up and down for different size bags. I've used small sandwich bags to gallon freezer bags. The top of the bag slides nicely into the lip part and holds it securely. The base is very sturdy and sits nicely on the counter. It is a very convenient tool for meal prepping. I do not put mine in the dishwasher, but they clean up easily as well!" —Ashley Thompson
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.74 (also available in packs of 4, 6, and 12, and sold individually).
29. And a pair of pizza scissors so you can quickly cut the best slice (you know — the one with the bubble on the crust) before your roommates/siblings get to it first.
Promising review: "We make pizza at home all the time but would argue about who had to cut the pizza. We have tried several different wheels and the large rocking blade, too. The crusts were always difficult to slice and the cheese and toppings stuck to the wheel and slid out of place. Enter my Scizza — now I always want to cut the pizza! I was skeptical at first because I just didn't think it could be so easy to use but it really is. No more scratched pans, either. Get these and get rid of all those wheels." —Reviewing From Virginia
Get them from Amazon for $34.95 (available in two colors).
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.