22 Kitchen Gadgets People Are Swearing By In Quarantine
Everything you need to make your cold brew, Sno Cone, and french fry dreams come true.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A small crushed ice machine with a *ton* of useful purposes — people mention using it for homemade Sno Cones, Frappuccinos, or even just a fix for anyone who loves crushed ice from the gas station or fast food restaurants they might not to get to very often now.
Promising review: "I really like crushed (read: Sonic) ice, but I've not been getting soft drinks there since the pandemic started up. So, I decided to try this. For the price, I was surprised how good this gadget is. My half moon ice cubes from my ice maker fit well, I can do about eight cubes at a time. The cranking is not hard, just make sure it's on a surface that the rubber feet can grip. I like the ice texture." —CJG
Get it from Amazon for $20.98.
2. A tiny milk frother to sub out your beloved Starbucks lattes, so everything you drink will still taste like it was lovingly handcrafted by a barista.
It's also teensy for storing and cleans with a quick stream of hot running water, and works on cold *and* hot beverages.
Promising review: "This is seriously my best quarantine purchase and I have made a lot! No need for Starbucks anymore. My craving has been fulfilled. I make at least one fancy drink every morning. To make the cold foam similar to Starbucks salted honey you use a little milk (I use almond), a sprinkle of salt, and some honey then use the frother. It makes so much from a small amount and the taste is delicious!! This will be your new morning best friend. I am so happy!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.95 (available in 10 colors).
3. An electric wine opener, because TBH, nobody has time to lament a cork getting stuck in their bottle and Google a bunch of hacks to fix it anymore. This rechargeable bb will safely pop it open in six seconds without any of the hassle.
Promising review: "I bought this for my mother, who has limited mobility and has been isolated due to the quarantine. The first time she used it she texted me with so much enthusiasm because of its ease-of-use. The next time I got to see her she couldn’t wait to show me how easy it was. Now I’m ordering one for myself as well!" —Stormy Dee
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
4. A mini fridge that may truly be the MVP of quarantine whether you're working from home or in the office — reviewers mention using it to stash their lunches out of communal fridges, to adapt to new WFH situations, and just generally have a convenient, portable way to keep drinks and snacks cold in new situations.
You can charge this using an adaptor in your car or a regular outlet, and if you unplug it and take it on the go, items will stay cold for several hours as long as you don't open the door.
Promising review: "I bought this refrigerator because I recently started working from home because of the COVID-19 quarantine. When I’m working during the day, I have to keep myself locked up in the spare bedroom so my toddler doesn’t realize I’m home. Otherwise, she would be trying to come see me all day. **Disclaimer: I don’t just lock my toddler out and leave her alone, there’s someone here taking care of her! Anyway, since I can’t really leave the bedroom, this fridge has been great to keep some drinks cold while I’m working. I put them in already cold and they hold the temperature as long as they are in the fridge." —Aratay
Get it from Amazon for $45.99+ (available in four colors).
5. A compact vacuum-sealing FoodSaver for anyone who finds themselves cooking at home in much larger batches in quarantine, and wants a safe, efficient way to store the leftovers against freezer burn, mold, or that general "blechh" taste of something that has lived in the freezer too long.
This vacuum sealer can keep leftovers fresh for weeks, and allows you to freeze meat for up to three years. It works on both "wet" and "dry" foods, with a drip tray catching any overflow as it seals. Each vacuum comes complete with a heat seal roll, 3-quart heat seal bags, 2-gallon heat seal bags, and an accessory hose for sealing, so you'll be raring to go.
Promising review: "My sister got one of these as a gift and told me about it. She said it was great so I got one as well for food saving during COVID-19. I have to say this thing is a lifesaver and works amazingly. It takes up very little space and works with other plastic rolls that are inexpensive on Amazon. Love it." —Fraiz
Get it from Amazon for $79.99.
6. A mini waffle maker versatile enough to do way more than its main job — if you're waffling on the waffles, you can also use it for hash browns, paninis, biscuits, and even (gasp) PIZZA. If you can dream it, you can mini waffle it.
Promising review: "I am not a good cook, I’ll admit. I’m one of those 'burn a salad' kind of girls. In quarantine I’ve decided to expand my horizons and try new ways to make food. Outside of my air fryer this is the best product I own. One can figure out how to work it with no instructions (ask me how I know) and it cooks waffles PERFECTLY every time. I was so thrilled with the way my food came out I tried it again to ensure it wasn’t a fluke and guess what — it's not! At the price point I know what all my family and friends are getting for Christmas! Easy to use and clean and store. I would recommend this to everyone." —Danielle
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in red and nine other non-heart-shaped colors).
7. A sleek electric kettle for anybody who finds themselves guzzling tea or eating pasta and oatmeal in quarantine like it's their job.
Promising review: "I've been wanting an electric kettle for a while but had always just pushed it off until this quarantine. I must say, I'm SO IMPRESSED!!!!! The water heats up in mere minutes, boiling and perfect for anything you'd need hot water for. I cannot recommend this product enough — definitely worth the purchase." —Mel
Get it from Amazon for $25.97.
8. A cold brew coffee maker so gloriously easy to use that all you have to do is stick your favorite ground coffee in the filter, seal the airtight lid on top, and pop it in the fridge overnight. Boom, four cups of cold brew.
Promising review: "I love cold brew and iced coffee beverages. I cut back on caffeine when I found out I was pregnant, so I'm happy to be able to make my own decaf cold brew at home. I purchased this right before we went on lockdown with COVID-19, and I have gotten so much use out of it while in quarantine. I'm very happy with this purchase." —Alayne
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
9. An air fryer that can cook so many different dishes using the power of rapid air technology that it'll spoil you for other methods of cooking forever. Perfectly crisped french fries, veggies, and chicken wings in less than 20 minutes — no oil required. Dinner just got lit 🔥.
I got the smaller version of this air fryer (available on Amazon for $49) and I feel like a princess now because I roast tomatoes in it for a quick 10 minutes with my eggs every morning and it makes me feel like I'm eating hotel room service. I also use it for crispy Brussels sprouts, Hasselback potatoes, baked apples with cinnamon, and even once put orange rings covered in olive oil in there and it was basically Christmas in my mouth.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this air fryer. It's easy to use and clean. We use it almost daily for french fries, chicken nuggets and strips. It makes the taste of frozen food taste more like fast food. It also cooks faster than baking in the oven. With us safe at home due to COVID-19, it's made meal time more fun." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in four colors).
10. A rapid egg cooker so you can cook a week's worth of breakfast eggs in a matter of minutes, whether you want a good old-fashioned hard boil or like 'em a little runnier.
I've owned one of these babies and have faithfully used it every week for upward of two years, and especially love it during quarantine — it simplifies breakfast because I know no matter what weird assortment of groceries I'm working with, there are precooked eggs to add some protein to it (I like mine medium-boiled 🍳). Some reviews note that the alarm on it is a little loud, but the new models have significantly decreased the volume and sing a little song instead!
Promising review: "Best quarantine purchase yet! This little guy is so cute and handy! I just tested three eggs in case they didn’t turn out, and they were perfect!! I was all prepared to be blasted out of my house for the buzzer at the end (according to other reviews), but it wasn’t bad at all. It literally plays a little song. So cute!" —Austin Klimek
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five colors).
11. A collapsible microwave popcorn maker that doubles as a serving bowl, so you can make yourself popcorn so warm and salty that your Friday movie nights will feel like you're smack dab in the middle of a theater.
All you have to do is add generic kernels + whatever oils or butters you feel in your heart, and you'll be raring to go.
Promising review: "Looks weird, feels even weirder. But can it make popcorn? Oh, my, YES! With everyone hunkering in place because of COVID-19, we really need home movie night — complete with popcorn and refreshments! And this little popcorn maker helps to make it so very pleasant." —Edward S.
Psst — if you're looking for way to add some pizzazz to your snack, check out BuzzFeed's ideas for flavoring popcorn!
Get it from Amazon for $15.90 (available in 16 other colors).
12. A gorgeous 1.5-quart Dutch oven designed to stand the test of time and the test of you channeling your inner Ina Garten. Luckily, this bb can stand up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit of heat on the stove or the oven.
The enameled cast-iron is designed for heat retention for perfect, evenly-cooked braises, sautés, and bakes. It also has some big Le Creuset energy, but with a much more reasonable price tag — this size typically runs in the $170 range.
Promising review: "I've been searching for a larger enamel dutch oven for quite some time but was always hesitant to invest in a really expensive one. I pulled the trigger on this purchase and I am so happy I did! I have had it less than a week and used it more times than I can count...especially because of the quarantine. ALWAYS COOKING! BUY THIS POT! The price is amazing for the product you receive." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $53.99 (available in five sizes and ten colors).
13. An avocado slicer that'll more than earn its keep, especially since "meatless Mondays" and "wheatless Wednesdays" are making us more creative with our quarantine cooking.
This three-in-one tool can split an avocado with its pointy tip, remove the pit with its center, and make perfectly even slices with the bottom — a much safer alternative to using a regular knife and potential falling prey to the dreaded "avocado hand."
Promising review: "I'm a millennial and can't live without my avocado toast a few times weekly. Thank goodness for this little gadget that is literally getting me through this quarantine. #bravocado!" —Alissa Nemnich
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
14. A produce-saver storage container designed to keep your fruits and veggies fresh way longer, so you can finally stop surrendering to the race against time when your produce goes bad faster than you can finish it.
Promising review: "I've been using this container for a number of months and decided it's finally time to write a review. We eat a lot of broccoli and I used to find myself running to the grocery store every few days to get another head of broccoli. With the safer-at-home guidelines in place I've had to reduce my grocery store visits to once every seven to 10 days. I am sure glad I have this container because I can put two, sometimes three, heads of broccoli inside and they last the entire time between shopping trips. Previously they wouldn't last that long." —Amazon Customer
Read BuzzFeed's review of these "miracle" produce containers for more deets.
Get it from Amazon for $17.84 (available in various sizes and sets).1
15. A breakfast sandwich maker that may be small but can cook an egg, toast bread, warm precooked meat, and melt cheese into the perfect sammie all at once. Dunkin' whomst??
Promising review: "I bought the double size cause even though the cycle is only about five minutes, it is good to have two finished by then. It works well and is easy to clean. I'm careful to cut the cheese and meat to a proper size so there is very little mess. I have not needed to run the parts through the dishwasher yet. We use it fairly often now with the virus keeping us at home and it works well." —Mr. Wayne S. Mergott Jr.
Get it from Amazon for $28.71.
16. A personal-sized NutriBullet to make you the master of your own smoothie destiny — its powerful motor can blend nuts, berries, and spinach alike, so you can get that fancy Whole Foods vibe right from your own kitchen counter.
Psst — you can drink right out of the blending cup, which is also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup!
Promising review: "Best product I have purchased during COVID-19! I use it for smoothies. Last week I chopped broccoli for broccoli chips with it. Does everything a processor does but smaller." —Shopping Diva
*Another* promising review: "LOVE IT!! I've been making smoothies in quarantine and it's a perfect way to get your serving of fruits and vegetables." —Danielle
Get it from Amazon for $49.88.
17. A reliable single-serve coffee maker that won't take up much room in your kitchen, but will take up a whole lotta room in your caffeine-loving heart.
You can use this with K-cups or normal ground coffee, and even select the strength of the coffee. It also comes with auto-shutoff and self-cleaning abilities, so you can play barista without half the hassle.
Promising review: "This is my first coffee machine bought for myself during the lockdown. This is a cool one, which brews quickly under five mins and easy to clean. I used it with the Dunkin Donuts ground coffee and it tastes as good as brought from a Dunkin coffee shop. Good thing is, it can be used with K-cup pods as well, but I have yet to use with K-cup pods." —Dinesh
Get it from Amazon for $58.59.
18. An ice pop mold complete with a funnel, 50 sticks, and 50 bags so you can make your own personalized ice pops and take them with you on the go for all your summer picnics.
Promising review: "My grandkids eat Popsicles everyday and with the 2020 pandemic I did not want to go to the store every couple of days for popsicles so I got these. They are just so easy to use. They clean easy they freeze solid and evenly and I only wish that they came with plastic reusable sticks. But I'll still give it five stars because I'm so impressed with how well and how fast and how even they freeze. It was such a nice surprise to have the individual bags so that I could keep making them. And a booklet of recipes was nice too. Good price." —Penta
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
19. A pineapple cutter that will peel, core, and slice up your fruit in a matter of seconds, so you can stop ~pining~ for your pineapple and start adding it to your dishes for an unexpected tangy twist.
Promising review: "We can buy pre-sliced pineapple from our grocery store, but in these days of Covid, knowing no one is breathing on my food, well, it's reassuring. Very easy to use. Just cut the top off the pineapple, center the slicer and twist the slicer it pulls itself down through the meat of the pineapple leaving the center (pulpier) core and outside shell. Couple of minutes and it's done!" —Ron M.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
20. A veggie spiralizer and chopper with five different thickness settings, so you can make your meals all the more colorful (or just find an excuse to say the word "zoodle" more often).
You can use this on veggies like carrots, zucchini, squash, beets, cucumbers, and even — gasp! — potatoes. Shoestring fry bliss.
Promising review: "With the quarantine restrictions and cancellations of fairs and carnivals, thought I’d miss cactus taters this year. Not now! I made them today and they were perfect. Very versatile machine and a great buy!" —DKP
Get it from Amazon for $26.85.
21. A French press coffee maker that will look so chic on your counter and make brews so rich and delicious that you can close your eyes and pretend your kitchen is actually a swanky hotel.
Psst — this French press is made with heat resistant glass and stainless steel, and comes with a lifetime guarantee. If anything happens to it, the company will send you a new one for free.
Promising review: "Will make you a French Press user for life. I got hooked on French Press at the beginning of my COVID lock-in. My regular drip coffee maker was hit and miss and it seemed wasteful to make a big pot for just me. Although K-cups are practical for the office, at home I want a better tasting coffee." —A. Sardo
Get it from Amazon for $21.20.
22. A powerful, compact electric coffee and spice grinder you can use to ground your own coffee beans at home. I am warning you right now, though, that the smell is so amazing that it will ruin you for other smells forever.
Promising review: "With COVID-19 we are no longer able to grind our coffee at the store. So we needed to get our own grinder. I have had it for about two weeks. I have been nothing but happy with this grinder! I chose it because it comes with two stainless-steel cups so I can do my coffee and spices in separate ones. It came fast with all parts. The seller has been extremely responsive to any questions and even offered an extended warranty. We use it for an Aeropress and love the coffee it makes. Really I don't have anything but amazing things to say about this grinder and the entire experience." —F. Firestone
Get it from Amazon for $43.50.
Getting jazzed about your fancy new kitchen gadgets like:
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.