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. A nonstick microwave pasta cooker for the need-it-now noodle lover. This easy-to-use container cooks and drains so you get perfect al dente pasta every time without waiting for the water to boil or getting several dishes involved.
Read our Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker review!
Promising review: "One of those 'why didn't I think of this?' kind of things. It makes cooking pasta so easy and foolproof! No trying to bend/break pasta to get it to fit into a round pan. The instructions tell you exactly how long to microwave it for the different size proportions." —EQUUS
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
2. A versatile chop, slice, and dice unit so you can drastically *cut* down on food prep and cleanup time with interchangeable blades that can each be popped into the dishwasher. Never chop an onion by hand ever again? Yes, please!!
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 $29.99 (available in four colors).
3. A handy Thaw Claw that'll keep your dinner plans on track even when you inevitably forget to take the meat out of the freezer. This suction device keeps frozen food submerged for faster thawing without you needing to hang around to drown your chicken thighs.
Thaw Claw is a small startup behind this kitchen tool, designed to solve a seemingly universal household woe.
Promising review: "I am a stickler for properly defrosting meat after working in food service for years and this makes that process super easy and surprisingly quick! I've even convinced my father — a retired rocket scientist — that this is the best way to defrost." —Sarah
Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in four colors).
4. A Dracula garlic crusher because it's obnoxiously cute and can mince several cloves at once with a simple twist of his head. Now you can quickly prep garlicky goodness that'll keep the vampires at bay. Well, all of them except this one!
This little bloodsucker is 100% food-safe, BPA-free, and dishwasher-safe!
Promising review: "I was getting very tired of the garlic presses that turn garlic into a mush and require incredible force to mash the clove into unrecognizable oblivion. This is far easier and turns the garlic into pieces rather than mush." —C. Pearlman
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
5. A set of toss-and-chop salad tongs if you're not a fan of big, leafy salads but cannot fathom taking the time to chop everything into the itty-bitty pieces you prefer. Fortunately, these do-it-all salad scissors make quick work of everything from lettuce to veggies to meats.
6. A compact Dash rapid egg cooker to make your morning egg prep 1,000x easier. Get boiled, poached, or scrambled eggs in just a couple of minutes with the push of a button.
This cooker includes the base, clear lid, measuring cup, poaching tray, omelet bowl, boiling tray, and a handy little recipe book!
Promising review: "Where has this gadget been all my life?! I love to cook but I always find boiling water for eggs to be annoying. It's very easy to use and the eggs come out perfect! You just pick how you want to make your eggs, fill the cup with water to the appropriate line, pierce the egg, cover it, and turn on. All in all, it's a great product and I’m happy with this purchase." —Death2Barbie
In need of an egg cooker deep dive? Check out our Dash Egg Cooker review.
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in seven colors).
7. A dishwasher-safe nylon chopper for when you finally accept that spatulas kind of suck at breaking up ground meat. This will get the job done faster, dividing food into consistently sized, smaller chunks for more even cooking. Try it out on cooked potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and juice concentrate, while you're at it.
The tool is safe to use with nonstick cookware and you can throw it in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Promising review: "The chopper breaks up ground beef, turkey, etc., much more efficiently than can be done with a spatula or turner. I don't normally purchase incredibly specialized utensils if I can get by without them, however, I think this chopper is worth the money because it saves time and makes cooking easier. The nylon material is heat-resistant and seems durable, but the packaging still directs not to leave on a hot surface when not in use." —Karen
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three colors).
8. A hassle-free compact air fryer with an auto-shutoff feature so you can easily whip up your own oilless fried food (brb dreaming about fried pickles) in a fraction of the time with a fraction of the usual mess.
Promising review: "YOU NEED IT FOR YOUR DORM ROOM!!! I got this as a gift, and I am sad I didn’t think about this my freshman year. I legit can cook anything and it is so easy to use. For the price I paid, I would say this product is my most prized possession. All of my friends use it because it’s so convenient since I eat a lot of pizza rolls and chicken nuggets. It’s super easy to clean and cooks everything super fast." —Maria
Get it from Amazon for $43.35+ (available in four colors).
9. And a quick reference magnetic air fryer cheat sheet if you're tired of researching cook times on your phone when your stomach is growling and all you want is to be eating your Trader Joe's potstickers.
The set comes with two different-sized magnets.
Promising review: "I thought it over a few times then I bought these so I could have a quick reference handy for those times I wanted to make something in my air fryer, which is quite a bit. What surprised me is how often I refer to it. I just throw something in my air fryer and glance at the section that lists the item I’m cooking. Press a few buttons on my fryer and I’m in business. No more having to search on my phone with wet fingers. A frivolous buy that turned out to be worthwhile." —PickyExtra
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two colors and in a Spanish-language edition).
10. A Shark Tank-approved Souper Cubes freezer tray that'll fit a serving (1 cup) of soup or sauce per cube so you can freeze then reheat leftovers when you need a quick bite instead of waiting around to defrost an entire big container.
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. This tray has fill lines on the side of the compartments for half and full cups.
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 1/2-cup and 1-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. I purchased this and a cheaper version from another manufacturer at the same time but returned the other product. This one is definitely worth the added cost." —Kate
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in three colors).
Check out my colleague's Souper Cubes review!
11. A dishwasher-safe microwave bacon cooker because the threat of mess too often keeps you from indulging in your favorite meaty treat. Quit dodging grease bombs and pop up to nine strips of bacon in the microwave for fast, convenient cooking.
12. A super-convenient tofu press if you're tired of spending more time tending to your tofu than you do your cat. This multilayer system does all the work in the fridge without you needing to periodically come back and increase the pressure.
Plus, all the water collects at the bottom, so there's no mess and no need for paper towels.
Promising review: "I've been eating tofu quite often. What I needed was a way to improve the texture. Even the 'extra firm' was too mushy. I searched through the many types of tofu presses and found this one. I like that there are only three parts, and everything is easy to clean. The tofu comes out perfect every time and doesn't take long at all. By the next day, it's ready to use. Even a few hours will do the trick!" —Margaret B.
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
13. A spoon/colander combo to dramatically simplify the draining process. Now you can fish food straight from the pot without heading to the sink for a face full of steam while you pour it over a strainer.
It's heat resistant up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit and is 100% dishwasher safe!
Promising review: "This pooper scooper-looking strainer has become one of the most-used gadgets in the kitchen. I didn’t like wire strainers because they were so hard to clean. This is super easy. And really good at picking food when I deep fry in the wok. I also use it for straining leftover soup when I’m done eating, so I don’t clog up the sink drain. And super easy to clean." —oel
Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in two colors).
14. Or a silicone clip-on strainer for popping on just about any size pot or pan to drain water, grease, or any other mystery food goo without getting one of those impossible-to-clean colanders involved.
BuzzFeed editor Abby Kass is a massive fan:
"I recently picked one of these up, and it is such a game changer. I have hated using a colander so much. It's so bulky, hard to use, and takes SO much time to clean. This solves all those problems. I've clipped it on various pots and pans, and it fits every single one. It makes it ridiculously easy to strain the water out of the pasta and even the excess fat from ground beef. I'm throwing my old colander away because it will never be used now that I have this genius tool!"
Get it from Amazon for $11.49+ (available in six colors).
15. An investment-worthy MicrowavaBowl because the microwave is supposed to be your one-way ticket to a quick and easy meal, but things start to feel a lot less quick when you're stirring every 30 seconds to prevent cold spots. That's why this dishwasher-safe bowl has an elevated center to quickly and evenly distribute heat every time.
Promising review: "These bowls are high quality and very convenient. They heat up food very quickly and evenly, therefore saving you valuable time and energy. Its ability to heat the food and not the bowl itself is very valuable to me. Prior to this purchase, I would have to use a hot bowl holder to avoid burning my fingers. The size of the bowls is perfect for the dishwasher, making them easy to clean and use. These bowls are sold at a reasonable price for what they have to offer. I would highly recommend them to friends and family!" —Alana
Get two from Amazon for $34.99.
16. An all-in-one breakfast sandwich maker so you can simultaneously toast bread, cook an egg, warm precooked meat, and melt cheese, culminating in one delicious, handheld meal you'd normally have to spend too much money for at the drive-thru.
Promising review: "Usually, I avoid kitchen appliances that serve only one purpose. This breakfast sandwich maker is the exception to my rule. It's easy to use and the resulting breakfast sandwiches, which can be customized, are delicious. They are much tastier than any breakfast sandwich I've eaten in a fast-food restaurant. I received this appliance as a Christmas gift. I later ordered one to give as a wedding gift. You will not be disappointed with this purchase. Your taste buds will thank you." —Baird-Greene
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in black and red).
17. A collapsible silicone steamer bowl that makes adding a portion of steamed veggies to any meal faster than you ever thought possible. All you have to do is fill it with food, add a little water, cover with the lid, and pop it in the microwave. When you're done, toss it in the dishwasher for effortless cleanup.
Promising review: "I love this steamer. I recently started a low-carb diet, which means eating more fresh vegetables. I use this daily and it does an excellent job. It doesn't burn your hands taking it out of the microwave and is super easy to clean. Definitely going to order some as gifts." —JRS
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and in four colors).
18. A futuristic StirMate automatic stirrer if you've ever wished you could grow an extra hand. This gadget is the next best thing, mounting onto almost any pot for a hands-free way to stir your dish while you get started on the next step.
The device self-adjusts to fit pots from 6–12 inches in diameter and 3–9 inches in depth. The motor will stir for up to 13 hours per charge and then takes just 30 minutes to recharge.
Promising review: "Not only does this save me a ton of time running back and forth to the kitchen to stir pots of long-simmering meals like chili, but it also allows me to cook much faster as I can run the heat higher since it's continually stirring and I don't have to worry about scorching. I was concerned if it would be strong enough to stir some of the thicker things, like chili, but it doesn't seem to slow it down at all. For folks who cook a lot, this would be a tremendous timesaver and I'd have one in every pot I had going." —Ryan
Get it from Amazon for $73.65.
19. A one-handed salad spinner because you already made the decision to have a salad and now you have to wait for your lettuce to dry?! Ridiculous. Treat yourself to this whirly, twirly tool and enjoy your greens the way that Mother Nature intended — with no wait time and a satisfying crunch!
Promising review: "I would literally eat semi-wet lettuce because I could never get my salad completely dry after washing. This makes me want to make salad all the time now. Being able to have completely dry lettuce and your salad not being ruined by extra bits of water is top tier." —Aliyma Lewis
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
20. An EveryPlate meal subscription to cut down on the time spent meal planning and grocery shopping in one go by delivering all the pre-portioned ingredients necessary to prepare well-balanced meals that can be ready to eat in around 30 minutes.
Planning meals and going to the grocery store is the actual bane of my existence. The fact that EveryPlate sends me everything I need at a very affordable price is such a weight lifted off my shoulders! I've been using the service fairly regularly for over three years and its helped me learn new cooking techniques, order less takeout, and reduce food waste, because I don't get saddled with a whole bundle of green onions just for one lousy recipe. And lately, it's been a really easy way to eat more creative meat-free meals, because of their increasing (and delicious) vegetarian options.
Sign up for EveryPlate for $4.99/serving.
21. An all-in-one pancake batter dispenser with a blender ball inside for making it easy to mix, pour, and store batter all in one easy-to-manage receptacle. More pancakes *and* fewer dishes? Dreams really do come true.
Promising review: "I was a little hesitant to buy this as an addition to my camping supplies. I thought who really needs a pancake batter mixer? How hard is it to mix up some batter in a bowl and ladle it? After using this, I was extremely happy I spent the money and purchased it. It makes mixing the batter super easy and the control it offers when pouring the batter is exceptional. Get one!" —Monkey's Mom
Get it from Amazon for $13+ (available in white and mint).
22. A pair of meat shredder claws because they look like a fun Wolverine toy, but are actually incredibly effective at shredding meat lickety-split. One session with these and you'll scoff at the thought of poking at a pork shoulder with two forks ever again.
Promising review: "I used these to shred chicken for Thanksgiving and was so excited when I realized how effective these were. They were easy to hold and I didn't have to wait until the chicken was cooled. It made quick work of a usually tedious chore." —Bonnie Maxfield
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in four colors).
23. A set of modular sheet pan dividers so you can quit fussing over DIY tin foil partitions. These nonstick trays make it easy to separate food by cook time, so you can easily remove sections when they're done and avoid over- or undercooking any part of your meal.
Promising review: "Brilliant. 100,000% Recommend them! It lets me separate veggies by how long they take to cook so they are all ready at the same time and nothing is over/undercooked. I love these cheat sheets. They are a great tool for my kitchen." —yule
Get a set of four from Amazon for $29.99 (lids available for purchase separately).
24. A two-pack of Dan-O's seasoning that'll take the time-consuming guesswork out of flavoring your favorite dishes. These all-purpose spice blends are no less versatile than your standard salt and pepper, but unlike other spice blends are low-sodium and free of any gluten, carbs, or sugars.
Dan-O's is a small biz that launched in 2017 and gained popularity on TikTok during the pandemic.
Promising review: "I became interested in this product while watching TikToks. I have been adding it to so many things. I use it in spaghetti and on fish, and one of my favorites is to add it to popcorn. My husband had to ask why my popcorn smelled like steak. I love the fact that it is low sodium as well. I am not a fan of extra salt and most foods already have plenty of salt but need some seasoning. This should be your go-to seasoning." —Heartcri
Get a pack of two (one original, one spicy) from Amazon for $13.99.
25. A pair of heavy-duty kitchen herb shears because fresh herbs taste great, but cutting them takes a lot of *thyme*. Speed things up with these five-blade shears and an included cover that doubles as a comb to remove clinging herbs.
These shears are also dishwasher safe for even easier cleanup.
Promising review: "These things are a lifesaver. My wife always complained about having to chop herbs...I found these on Amazon and decided to give them a chance. I can't say enough good things about them. Easy to clean (the protective cap can be used to scrape leftover herbs out of the scissors) and seem like they will last a while. Do yourself a favor and purchase these now." —Robb Fladry
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three colors).
26. A non-slip box grater with a built-in container if you've lost too many pieces of precious shredded cheese to the floor. This updated design measures food and keeps it contained, which feels like the way it should've been all along tbh.
It also comes with three interchangeable grating surfaces, a peeler, and the option to add a garlic crusher.
Promising review: "What an incredible product...truly! The concept is simple but this item puts it all together seamlessly — with bonus implements! Sturdy, compact, easy to use, clean, and store. What more could any cook want? The cutting area is safely designed with different shredding sizes possible. Bonus items are well constructed with blades and handles of noteworthy quality. Impressive package deal. Well priced. Very pleased!" —Krow
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
27. A two-tier stackable steamer to cook an entire multi-part meal simultaneously so you can go about tackling other to-dos while your veggies and protein cook practically on their own.
The steamer is designed with an automatic shutoff to help prevent any accidents or ruined food. It also comes with a steaming guide for guess-free cooking.
Promising review: "Simple, easy to use, and — most importantly — easy to clean. The steamer does what is intended: steam vegetables to the right consistency. I have had it for about a month, and there are no problems. I’d buy it again." —Eric34219
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
28. A pack of nonstick, reusable toaster bags for the grilled cheese lover who's too lazy to actually ever make one (you have to get out the pan, and it's a whole thing). With these, you can make toasted sandwiches of all kinds right in the toaster without clogging it up with crumbs and melted cheese.
Not just for sandwiches, these bags can be used in the toaster, microwave, oven, or on a grill to heat up pizza, burgers, pastries, and so much more! When you're done, just wash them in warm soapy water or in the dishwasher. They're designed to last through 50–100 uses.
Promising review: "At home, we use two different toasters since our son has a gluten sensitivity. Since we didn’t feel like traveling with the GF toaster for the holidays, we got these toaster bags. Not only did they toast a bagel nicely, but they also brought some really odd looks from people at the hotel breakfast bar which is one of my fortés in life. They wash up nice, and we’ve gotten a few uses out of the first bag so far." —Gene
Get a set of four from Amazon for $4.79.
29. A powerful immersion blender so you can skip that part of the soup- and sauce-making process where you make a mess transferring your cooktop creation into the blender. Now you can save time and puree away right in the pot!
This multi-purpose blender comes with a whisk and milk frother attachments.
Promising review: "Love this immersion blender! Perfect for blending soups without having to dish it out into my high-speed blender and risk getting burned. I also used it to make the smoothest crepe batter I've ever made — no lumps and that, of course, made my family thrilled! If you're looking for an easy, powerful immersion blender, look for further!" —Alisa Black
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
30. Some Shark Tank-approved "everything" sauces that'll pack a whole lot of flavor into any dish with one quick addition. Use it as a dipping sauce or glaze on your favorite meats and veggies with the knowledge that each sauce is gluten-free, contains no high-fructose corn syrup, and has 4x less sodium compared to other sauces.
Sienna Sauce was started by then-14-year-old Tyla-Simone Crayton after her favorite wing place shut down and she asked her mom if they could recreate the sauce. Together they created something even better, an everything sauce that won the favor of the Sharks in season 12 of Shark Tank.
Promising review: "Saw this first on Shark Tank so I thought I would give it a try. I figured if nothing else, at least I would be helping a young entrepreneur. I ordered the sauce and the delivery was very fast. I received a three-pack of different flavors. I tried one and found it to be awesome so I tested each of the others and they were the same. I am now a devoted consumer of these sauces. This young lady has hit a home run with this product!" —Navys-Top9
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $29.85.
31. Or a bestselling sauce sampler because it IS possible to make restaurant-quality meals at-home in under 30 minutes. Each packet combines all the sauces, aromatics, and seasonings you need to cook a variety of Asian dishes, and recipes are provided — just add your own protein and veggies!
Omsom is an Asian woman-owned small biz selling preservative- and artificial flavoring-free sauces from regions all across Asia to help up your cooking game with very little effort involved.
The sauce bundle includes: one East Asian Sampler with Japanese Yuzu Miso Glaze, Korean Spicy Bulgogi, and Chinese Spicy Mala Sauce. One Southeast Asian Omsom Sampler with Vietnamese Lemongrass BBQ, Thai Larb, and Filipino Sisig for a total of 12 sauce starters that serve two to three.
Keep these sauces stocked in your pantry, and you'll always have a quick and easy dinner option that you can really get excited about. The recipes they provide really couldn't be simpler to shop for/follow and I've yet to make one that wasn't an absolute ~delight~ to put in my mouth. If you're sensitive to spice, I would be mindful of their chili pepper ratings before buying, but if you have a pretty average spice tolerance none of their meals should give you any trouble.
Get it from Omsom for $59.
32. A magnetic digital meat thermometer with a built-in temp chart to instantly tell whether your meat is cooked through. With this around, there's no need to poke and prod your chicken breast wondering if it's going to give you food poisoning!
It'll auto shut off when you close the probe so you don't have to worry about draining the battery unintentionally. On that note, it comes with a battery plus a spare!
Promising review: "This works great. Very accurate and quick read. The numbers are large so I don't even need my readers to see it. The magnet is a great feature, I have it stuck to my fridge for easy access. I also like that it has the recommended temps for each meat and doneness right on the front." —Lisa G
Get it from Amazon for $12.69+ (available in three colors).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.