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1. A reviewer-beloved veggie chopper can make onion tears and food prep mess a thing of the past! This way, you can actually pull off that Pinterest recipe you've been meaning to make instead of paying Uber Eats $30 for Taco Bell. (Sometimes that's worth it, though.)
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 $29.98.
2. A clip-on strainer will work on a variety of pots and pans because sometimes you just wanna make some noods but don't wanna lose any to the kitchen sink. This is also so much easier to wash than a regular colander.
My colleaugue Abby Kass has and loves this: "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's fit 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!"
Promising review: "Love, love, love this pasta strainer!!! My husband and I hate cleaning out the strainer, so I ordered this to make life easier. OMG, does it make life easier!!! If this ever breaks, I’ll be ordering another! It’s very sturdy and easy to use. Absolutely love it!" —ShylohsRedShadow
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in five colors).
3. A U-shaped shelf organizer to help you eye all those spices and seasonings you got pumped about in the aisle at Trader Joe's so you can finally put 'em to good use.
You can get several if needed, arranging them side by side if your shelf is wide enough, or stacking them if you have a tall cabinet.
Promising review: "Product is perfect for what I need it to do. Fits just right, is more than sturdy enough, and has made my absolutely nightmarish spice cabinet look awesome. No more duplicate spices going bad in the back of the cabinet! It’s not at all difficult to assemble. Watch the assembly videos (they’re short) before you start opening the parts bags. Otherwise, it’s easy to get intimidated by all of the extra pieces." —Congaree
Get it from Amazon for $33.98.
4. Or a magnetic stove shelf that's the perfect amount of room to keep your most used spices and encourage you to use all them.
StoveShelf is a small business and these shelves are built to last a lifetime.
Promising review: "This is an excellent buy. The shelf helped me declutter my cabinet and it is an awesome storage space for my more-often-used spices. It is sturdy, easily installed, and attractive. I recommend this shelf." —Pamella R.
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in six styles and three sizes).
5. And if you need some help filling that up, a Just Spices starter set with eight blends will go a long way in jazzing up. your at-home meals. It comes with a free spice guide to give you ALL kinds of ideas. For a starter, the Avocado Topping will transform a quick n dirty avocado toast or grain bowl situation. Because I can't be the only one who's exited out of a recipe I googled because it has eight spices in it that I don't currently own.
The set comes with the following spice blends: Chicken Allrounder; BBQ Allrounder; Vegetable Allrounder; Italian Allrounder; Avocado Topping; Casserole Allrounder; Stir Fry; Mexican Allrounder.
Get it from Just Spices for $54.99.
6. A Bluapple produce extender you'll def wanna re-up after you see what it can do in a mere three months. Time to actually get through all your fresh produce before it goes bad!
This absorbs ethylene gas that would otherwise ripen your fruits and vegetables. It's safe to put in the fridge or even in a fruit bowl. Each packet lasts three months.
Promising review: "These REALLY work! We have to move them away from our fresh fruit so it would ripen! My produce is lasting at least three times as long without spoilage. This is a great product, and I have already bought many as gifts. They don't seem to work on tomatoes, but they are great with bananas, apples, kiwi, pears, grapes, plums, peaches, lettuces, mushrooms, and many more fruits and vegetables." —Jacki
"This has literally made my produce last longer! I love this. I will definitely be buying again." —Lavone
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
7. An ~spooky~ garlic chopper inspired by Dracula will not only give you a chuckle but also help prep one of the most important ingredients. Yes, garlic bread can make an excellent WFH lunch. Go for it!
You can also use it to chop nuts, fruits, and veggies!
Promising review: "I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook — she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively — but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer. Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and months later still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. I'm pretty sure she likes it better than other gifts I've gotten her, which were more expensive/thought-out, and I'm fairly certain it's what took me from 'good friend' to 'best friend,' but it be that way sometimes. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor." —L
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
8. An Instant Pot 7-in-1 multicooker you'll be so sad you were sleeping on this whole time once you realize that this could be the biggest lazy-enabler in your kitchen since pizza delivery. And that's a good thing! (Yes, I believe even Martha uses one secretly.)
It's used as a rice cooker, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker, and warmer. Pinterest has been all about the Instant Pot for a few years and you should really hop on this bandwagon. Just check out our full review of the Instant Pot and Instant Pot recipes that'll basically cook themselves. I bought the 10-in-1 IP for my mom for Christmas and she's been using it for a main or a side dish about every other day. She loves it!
Promising review: "There are so many people who say they can't cook, but I swear I'm on a whole new level of not being able to cook. This little appliance helps expand our menu and I have learned to do so much with it. I will sum it up in a nutshell: I love how easy it is and how everything I throw in it comes out done. No stirring and not many messy dishes. I still don't love it for meats (which I don't eat much of anyway), but I think that's just a matter of needing to experiment more with them. I seriously can't believe how many foods can be cooked in here!" —Aundrea
Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in 3-, 6-, or 8-quart sizes).
9. And some slow cooker liners to make cleanup a total cinch. Sometimes a super-easy cleanup can help motivate yourself to cook (or maybe that's just me).
I use these and they're THE BEST.
Get a box of six liners from Amazon for $3.18.
10. A crab spoon rest to lend you a claw when you don't wanna keep your spoon in your stew as it cooks, but you also don't want to rest it on your counter where you'll have to clean up afterward. We love a useful, fun kitchen tool!
11. A Momofuku ramen noodles variety pack as a quick 'n' easy meal for when all you wanna do is open a packet, boil some water, and then chow down. This is one of my favorite lazy meals and I'll keep buying these as long as they keep making them.
I tried out these noodles as part of the Ultimate Variety Pack and haven't looked back since. I want to ALWAYS have these in my kitchen cabinets. Yes, they're THAT good. I'm very lazy and have spent way too much money on takeout in my life, so I'm forever looking for a solution to help me get takeout-worthy food at home for the least amount of effort. These totally fit the bill. I also like to toss chopped scallions on top. I'll even even mix in sautéed veggies and chicken to help bulk up the dish...or just use up the stuff that I have that I know I need to eat. I adore them so much that I even bought my brother a big bundle of them for Christmas and he was VERY excited when he opened it because Momofuku and David Chang's amazing reputation precede them.
Get a 15-pack from Amazon for $48 (includes 5 servings each of 3 varieties) or get a 20-pack from Momofuku for $52 (includes 5 each of 3 varieties and three jars of chili crunch). Also check out some new noodle flavors, Sweet & Spicy Noodles and Sweet Chili Noodles.
12. A rapid defrosting tray so you won't have to put off cooking because your meat is still frozen. Put down the pizza place phone number and get back to your we-have-food-at-home plans.
Promising review: "I was a little concerned this was going to be one of those gifts that were hyped up but it’s not. It’s not going to thaw a huge chunk of meat in an hour but I have thawed a chunk of chicken in a few hours. The product itself isn’t very thick which I like as it doesn’t take up a lot of space for storage. It doesn’t warm up, but pulls the cold from the meat, which makes the product thaw (like putting meat in cold water to thaw it faster and not cook it)." —Savannah A.
Get it from Amazon for $18.88.
13. A manual food chopper for quick work of herbs, fruits, veggies, and ice in case your knife skills could use some practice or you just wanna make food prep a lil' more fun.
It's also dishwasher safe (top rack only!) so cleanup is super simple.
Promising review: "This is great for cutting lots of veggies super fast. All you have to do is roughly chop down your veggies, toss them in, and give it four to five pulls for perfectly diced chunks for salsa or toppings on eggs or tacos. It comes with a handy cover too so all you have to do is rinse the blade and toss the container in the fridge or cooler." —Kevin B.
Get it from Amazon for $14.71+ (also available in green).
14. A dishwasher magnet so you don't have to question everyone in the household about if the fish turner you wanna use for cooking dinner that's in the dishwasher is actually clean or not.
Promising review: "I got this because my mother has dementia and she kept putting away dirty dishes 🤦🏽♀️. And believe it or not, she has actually been using it and it definitely has been working! So I highly suggest buying this for parents or someone you know who has a similar problem!" —Raquel
Get it from Amazon for $6.92 (also available in black).
Also check out a version that's completely silver without the red or green for $19.95.
15. A trio lasagna pan so everyone in the fam will get their own fave version of lasagna for dinner without *too* much fuss or cooking way too much of the veggie option and then have to see the leftovers in your freezer for the next few months.
FYI, you can use these for brownies, blondies, and bread too. This is also great for making several kinds of lasagna at once if you and other fam members have different preferences!
Promising review: "I loved everything about this pan. It's versatile. I can put three different cake mixes in each well, or meat loaves, etc. I really love this pan! A very happy customer." —Lisa F.
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
16. A electric air fryer with tons of onion rings and other scrumptious possibilities that'll have you looking at every piece of food you have in the house differently instead of putting on shoes to go through the drive-thru.
Promising review: "Once I started using this, I couldn't stop! I love it so much! It really does get things crispy! I have cooked chicken wings, tacos, zucchini fries, bacon, and more in it, and everything comes out great! You do have to play around with the temp and timing of stuff but once you get the hang of it, it's easy peasy! The digital buttons make it easy and it's nice to have different options instead of just off/on like with some fryers. And it actually isn't too heavy so I can move it on and off my counter easy, too. I think it's a great way to crisp food without turning on my hot oven in the summer! Would definitely recommend!" —willmatic84
Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in three sizes and four colors).
17. Plus, a magnetic air fryer cheat sheet so you can merely glance at it as a kitchen helper instead of scrolling through your Pinterest board for that ONE recipe.
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 the 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 $7.99 (available in two colors).
18. A rapid egg cooker to get your favorite breakfast or salad topping *just* how you like it, rather than tossing improperly cooked eggs (for the millionth time). Turns out that the thing you really needed to amp up your at-home lunch salads was hard-boiled eggs.
Promising review: "If hard-boiled eggs are at all a part of your life, this device will change everything. Reclaim lost hours, catch up on missed TV, reconnect with old friends and family. Anything is possible with the free time you'll find at your disposal as you drop six eggs into this beast, press a button, and then walk away. What will you do? High-intensity exercise? Model building? Learn a second language? I hear your concern. 'What if I become so engrossed in my newfound love of taxonomy that I forget about my eggs?' Fear not, efficient chef. Like the horn of Gabriel himself, the unmistakable tone of this technological marvel could rouse the dead and bring you running to your fresh-and-ready ova's side. The Dash Go Rapid Egg Cooker is what mankind has been working toward since the first roundish stone was shaped into a wheel. Witness the apex of human innovation! Did not love the poaching tray." —J. Mercer Crenshaw
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in eight colors). Also check out the double-decker version.
19. A silicone baking mat might just become your sheet pan's BFF because this'll replace a roll (and then some) of aluminum foil used as a pan lining. I own these mats and have used them for basically every single thing that you could bake in an oven, whether that's roasted veggies, salmon, or really anything from the frozen-food aisle.
Promising review: "I use these mats many 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 $19.96.
20. Plus, a set of nonstick, heat-safe sheet pan dividers that'll act like little trays to contain various veggies that cook at different time intervals all on the same pan so there's WAY less coordination.
Prepd is a small biz specializing in this product. Check out a TikTok of the nonstick sheet pan dividers in action.
Promising review: "Brilliant. 100,000% recommend them! They let me separate veggies by how long they take to cook so they are all ready at the same time and nothing is over- or 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+ (available in two colors).
21. An instant-read meat thermometer to help you FINALLY cook the perfect steak for a gourmet-tasting meal that you're not paying someone else to make. OR just not give your family food poisoning again from undercooked meat!
Promising review: "Couldn't be easier to use, really. I tested it with ice water and boiling water, and it seems to be pretty accurate. I've already cooked some steaks using it and they came out perfect. Plan to use it a lot with my smoker and expect good results there too. I love that it has the magnets so I can stick on the fridge, the grill, or the smoker, and it's always handy. And you really can't beat the price at under $10!" —FCC
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
22. Some jarred truffle-infused pasta sauce for quite possibly the fanciest take on an easy, reliable pantry meal.
The Pomodoro sauce is hearty without any spice. And the Arrabbiata sauce delivers the heat. I've tried both of these flavors of Truff pasta sauce and they are SO good. It likely goes without saying but if you don't like truffles, you won't like this. It is VERY truffle-y. I'm also a big fan of the Truff hot sauce from the same brand. Most of the time I make a meal of whatever pasta and jarred sauce I happen to have as a last resort, but I look forward to eating pasta with this delish sauce — even if it's just noodles and sauce with not even a sprinkle of Parm to dress it up! It'll cost ya more than Prego or other store-bought sauces. But it's worth it as a treat!
Get two jars from Amazon for $29.99.
23. A mini steamer can help you whip up some easy meal sides in the microwave for when you're like, "I need some veggies," but really don't need to spend $20 on a fancy "bowl" meal.
Promising review: "It works great so far. I just tried it to cook some fresh broccoli, carrots, and snow peas. It cooked them in fewer than four minutes. They turned out great!" —Camilla Rogers
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
24. Or a two-tier stackable steamer with way more space in case you want someone else to care after your cooking duties while you do important things, like scroll through Pedro Pascal videos on TikTok.
Promising review: "I love this steamer. I work full time and have recently joined Weight Watchers. I can make a meal in 15–20 minutes. It’s easy to use and easy to clean." —Marissa D.
Get it from Amazon for $32.81.
25. An under-cabinet lid opener will pop open that jar of pasta sauce in a jiffy. Everyone can use this but reviewers with limited dexterity especially find it helpful!
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. I have already placed an order for another one for a gift or my sister." —cat lover
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
26. A colander spoon to let you scoop food straight out of the pot for a speed trip to Flavortown. Plus, it'll be much easier to handwash than a regular old colander.
It's made from toughened nylon and is suitable for use on nonstick cookware. It's resistant to temps of up to 392 degrees F and it's dishwasher safe!
Promising review: "I've owned this for just over a month and I don't know how I lived without it! From spooning potatoes into boiling water without a mess to draining a full can of beans and far, far beyond, this scoop is a must-have in the kitchen. I find myself reaching for it every day. It has easily replaced the other spoons/scoops that I would usually use. You cannot go wrong with this purchase!" —Jill Clement
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in three colors).
27. The Omsom Bundle is really just fancy talk for flavorful Asian dish starters (aka the sauces, aromatics, and seasonings) to keep stashed in your pantry for heavy lifting. Each comes with recipes you can easily follow. Just add protein and veggies!
Cofounders and sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham started Omsom after stints at startups and in consulting. As the kids of Vietnamese refugees, they were inspired by all the from-scratch Viet dinners they watched their mom cook growing up. With Omsom, they aim to bring lots of flavor to your pantry with their pantry starters that'll help you make some amaaaazing Asian dishes. Each starter serves two to three people. (Fantastic news for lazy people like me who buy a spice once and then let it expire.)
This bundle will give you some major kick for your buck. It includes the entire Omsom collection of six cuisines with 12 starters total, including one Southeast Asian Omsom Sampler with Vietnamese, Thai, and Filipino starters and one East Asian Omsom Sampler with Japanese, Korean, and Chinese starters.
Promising review: "Delicious and easy dinner. I love the flavors because they are nostalgic and delicious and make mealtime a breeze with my kids." —Suzanne R.
Get it from Omsom for $59.
28. Pre-made simmer sauces that'll really zhuzh up that plain chicken breast you have thawing in the sink. Seriously, just dump that sauce on it once it's cooked in the pan! (Psst, they're also keto- and Paleo-friendly but IMO don't taste like it.)
I've tried nearly all of these sauces and can vouch that they dress up all kinds of stuff. If you're craving some takeout food you're too lazy to replicate at home, some of these (especially the Thai Coconut Sauce that's shown here) will help you get some of that taste without buying a million ingredients.
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $15 (available in a variety of combos).
29. An excellent chef's knife can help you cut up those whole ingredients with finesse so that's one less thing you've gotta worry about. ICYMI, cutting with dull knives is extremely dangerous!
Promising review: "I was a butcher for years and always used good knives for my work. Now, I love to cook but can't afford pricey knives. I saw the other reviews here and was very skeptical. After using this knife for two months as my main kitchen knife, I couldn't be any more impressed with it. I use and abuse it, throw it in the dishwasher, and use it and abuse it again, and it keeps coming back for more. I use it on bone-in meats, veggies, tomatoes...whatever, and it retains its edge and still looks brand-new. I haven't had to sharpen it at all yet and it is still razor-sharp. I highly recommend it." —HSHS Dad
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
30. A two-pack of TikTok-famous Dan-O's seasoning that'll be a low-sodium kick for grilling that's made from dried herbs, citrus, and granulated onion and garlic. Go ahead. Let this do the heavy lifting when it comes to seasoning.
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 over 4 million followers with plenty of droolworthy food content.
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, 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.
31. A Blue Apron subscription because having someone do your grocery shopping and telling you what to fix can be a good thing.
Subscribe to a single-serving plan from Blue Apron for $9.99+ a week. Also be sure to check out the Prepared & Ready options if you'd like some microwaveable choices.
32. A fish turner can help you FINALLY make a decent salmon filet at home that still looks presentable. It'll also be clutch for flipping pancakes and transferring hot gooey cookies from the baking sheet. (I use mine ALL the time on everything from roasted salmon to quesadillas to grilled cheese sandwiches.)
Promising review: "This is my go-to turner when I'm cooking for anything — not just fish. I'm pretty particular about turners, which sounds odd, but if they aren't thin enough at the edge, it's hard to get them under the food. Metal is important so it's not floppy, and the length is great because it can hold larger pieces of food. Worth it." —Mary Schumann
33. A set of fridge organizers that'll make your fridge look SO much nicer. But more importantly, they will help you corral ingredients so you don't realize you bought doubles. What a way to get excited about those gorgeous veggies you picked up at the farmers market before they go bad.
Promising review: "My daughter wanted to organize the fridge after watching a series of TikTok videos! These were exactly what she wanted! Download TikTok for your kids and maybe they will want to help organize too!" —Timothy C.
Get a set of eight bins from Amazon for $20.79 (available in 2 sizes and in sets of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 14).
34. A bottle of Mike's Hot Honey because sometimes dinner is lackluster leftovers or a frozen pizza you unearthed from the back of your freezer. When that's the case, this hot honey will truly transform your meal with a mere drizzle.
I've used this stuff and it is FANTASTIC. Just don't let them pour it in their morning tea! It's not that kind of honey.
Get it from Amazon for $0.57.
35. A set of squeezable instant pancakes. Just add water to the bottle and then squirt out the batter onto the pan or waffle maker. Picture this: Future You having to wash far fewer dishes.
Happy Grub is a family-owned, US-based small business specializing in products to bring families together in the kitchen.
Promising review: "I love these pancakes and their ease with no messes! Just add water, shake and squeeze! Organic ingredients too! The kids love making shapes! Also perfect to bring camping!!" —KJ
Get a set of two from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five flavor combinations and in four-packs).
36. A Hungryroot grocery delivery with 10-minute recipes tailored to your dietary needs/wants because you've been meaning to do so more research into buys that don't have artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. But that sounds like a whole lotta work and your belly is eating your backbone.
Lots of people use this service to do ALL of their groceries, while others use it to take care of a lot of their weekly grocery haul. Food options vary week by week but you can expect the likes of Banza pasta, a rainbow veggie mix, an ancient grain pancake mix, cauliflower linguine, the Beyond Burger, spinach feta turkey patties, a lemon artichoke quinoa cup, and more. I've tried out a shipment of it and really dug the almond chickpea cookie dough, spicy refried red beans, hot smoked roasted salmon, and superfood salad.
Check out pricing and take a quiz for a delivery suggestion at Hungryroot here.
37. *Reusable* toaster bags to help you achieve peak sandwich at home without firing up the stovetop *or* catching your toaster on fire! Gotta love a hot sandwich for dinner!
These are also a fan favorite for families with members who have celiac disease or other food sensitivities.
Promising review: "Unless you are a 'foodie' and need to grill your sandwiches, this bag is a great way to get a warm sandwich. And if you have cheese on it, the cheese will melt. Just make your sandwich and put it in the bag. Put the bag in your toaster and you have a great sandwich! It's so easy and when I am done, I just rinse the bag under the faucet. Great for kids who love grilled cheese without the fuss of 'grilling'!" —joycetv
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $8.99.
38. And a microwavable panini press that'll give you those desired grill marks that just seem to make any old sandwich taste SO much better. With this, you can make your own paninis, grilled cheeses, and even meats with *just* a microwave. Reviewers also praise its abilities for zhuzhing up leftovers.
39. A dishwasher-safe silicone soup cube tray that can hold one cup of delicious hot entrees like soup/chili/stew/sauce per cube so you can make a big batch, freeze, and then simply heat up later when you don't wanna fix anything and would rather just pick up something at Panera.
It also comes with a lid so you can easily stack them and four fill lines (½ cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, 250 mL).
Promising review: "I'm extremely happy with my Souper Cubes! I cook chili and soup, and always make too much. Having the ability to freeze serving-size portions is perfect. Saves time and food quality by not having to thaw it all each time I want another serving. High quality and since it's silicone and not rigid plastic, it won't crack in the freezer. Highly recommend!" —Alexander S. Waterman
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
40. A jar of chili crisp from Fly By Jing to add a tingly kick to dumplings, noodles, meat, veggies, whatever you've got at home ready to be whipped up. You can even put it on ice cream! This'll become your fave new condiment ASAP.
Fly By Jing is Asian woman owned and sells sauces, oils, and dumplings!
Promising review: "Absolutely love this stuff. I put it on everything. Amazing flavor, not too spicy. Definitely more tingle than heat so you can absolutely use it with other chili oils without getting to hot. Great stuff. Would 100% recommend." —Jarrett
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
41. A Rapid Ramen Cooker that'll transform a brick of noods into the base for a delish meal in just three minutes in the microwave! 'Tis time to put that ramen you've been hoarding the pantry to tasty use.
Promising review: "God's ramen cooker. This thing may seem like just an ordinary Tupperware, but I assure you it will blow that thin plastic garbage out of the water. It retains heat amazingly and does not bend or falter under extreme temperatures. I'm a college student and I have never felt such joy from making ramen in my small dorm microwave, for a 900-watt I recommend five minutes. Buy this product if you live and breathe air, because it is beautiful." —Theron
Get it from Amazon for $10.99 (available in 15 color options).
42. A Dash mini rice cooker can easily make a hearty and filling side to go with that last piece of salmon or chicken you have in the fridge. But! It can also whip up oatmeal, stew, soup, quinoa, rice, and pasta. So that opens up all sorts of easy meal possibilities. Plus, it's small enough that you'll definitely find room for it on your kitchen counter.
Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter for her dorm at college. She loves making flavored rice and warming up soups and things. She likes it so well that she brings it home from college with her on breaks. It is especially nice that it has a removable pot, which makes it so much easier to clean or keep leftovers in. Would definitely buy again, don't waste your money on a slightly cheaper one that does not have a removable pot." —midohtree
Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in eight colors).
43. Plus a bottle of Bachan The Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce that'll make that plain white rice you've been ignoring in your cabinet taste AMAZING. (Trust me, I've used this very simple equation for a delish, quick meal side.) It's a combo of soy sauce, cane sugur, mirin, tomato, green onion, sea salt, organic rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and toasted sesame oil.
Bachan is a Japanese-owned small business that makes this savory Japanese barbecue sauce. The name means "granny" in Japanese and founder, Justin Gill, incorporates the values and traditions his bachan passed down to him and hopes to continue them with his own family and in his business.
Promising review: "Alright, I get that this sauce is a little pricey, but it seriously packs some incredible flavor. I use this sauce as a binder for salmon. Apply a coat to both sides, season it, and then smoke it. I’m tellin' ya... it’s perfect." —Mark
Get a 17 oz. bottle from Amazon for $7.98.
44. A versatile waffle maker as a quick and easy base for your breakfast-for-dinner. Breakfast for dinner is amazing. Don't discount it!
45. A variety pack of Goodles — which is really just some *really* scrumptious boxed mac 'n' cheese made with REAL cheese. It also has some extra stuff in it like protein and prebiotics in case that's of interest. I've tried all the flavors and, tbh, they're so good for a boxed food that I couldn't care less about the extra stuff!
Like I said up there ^, I've tried all these varieties. My fave is the Mover & Shaker that's a mac 'n' cheese version of cacio e pepe (my fave kind of pasta). They're all super tasty and you can tell that they're more elevated than your standard boxed stuff. When it comes to pasta, normally I'm of the opinion that the cheesier, the better. And these pass that standard! Like, if I'm gonna eat a meal that's supposed to taste like cheese, it needs to taste like cheese. And these do — probably because these are made with *actual* cheese. That is unless you're trying out the vegan option that's made with cashew nut milk.
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $21.99. Not that you can also score them for a bit cheaper than this variety pack by the box from Target for $2.99–$3.99 each: Shella Good (aged white cheddar and shells), Cheddy Mac (creamy cheddar and macaroni), Twist My Parm (asiago and parmesan with spirals), Mover & Shaker (cacio e pepe-inspired), and Vegan is Believin' (plant-based white cheddar with spirals).
46. A three-pack of Velveeta cheese sauce you can simply pour in a bowl, microwave, and then dump over pasta or just use as a dip for some good old tortillas. These'll come in handy when it's a Wednesday night and you barely want to lift a finger to feed yourself.
Promising review: "These have been great to use. Cooking for just one person isn't the easiest thing for me, but these portions have been great when I want mac 'n' cheese, nachos, or a small smothered burrito for one. I'm sure when it's camping time these will make it into my camping stash." —M. Cheatham
Get them from Amazon for $3.28.
47. A six-pack of microwaveable peacadillo in salsa verde taco filling to help you craft a burrito bowl or Taco Tuesday worth writing home about for criminally easy. This stuff is SO GOOD and I'm a dang carnivore. And it's vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free!
SOMOS is a Mexican-founded brand that specializes in flavor-packed plant-based entrees with the convenience of microwave pouches.
I've tried EVERYTHING in the SOMOS line after I was sent samples at launch. And then after I went through the samples, I bought a bunch of the product with my own money. Twice! And writing this reminds me that I need to do another order. This stuff is so so so good. And truly is just as easy as microwaving the pouch. I find that for me, I can do half a pouch of an entree and then half a pouch of a side (like cilantro lime white rice or Mexican brown rice) in a bowl, then top it off with a little bit of hot sauce (it's already quite flavorful!) and some green onions. Bam, there's your filling meal.
Promising review: "My husband is a carnivore and he was obsessed with this plant-based alternative. I am so happy to have found a healthy taco filling. It was also was delicious as a side dish!" —LEM2011
Get them from Amazon for $36.95.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.