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    35 Kitchen Products You Need To Make This The Most Delicious Era Of Your Life

    The way this instant frozen fruit soft serve maker is about to make you the most popular place on the *block* this summer.

    1. A Yonanas fruit soft-serve maker that magics any frozen fruit into an ice cream or sorbet texture so you can have a yummy frozen treat made to your *precise* favorite fruit combos. A lot of folks with dietary restrictions swear by this to get their ice cream kicks! 

    The black device on a table with sorbet in a bowl under it
    A close up of a reviewer's yellow and red sorbet

    Promising review: "I saw one of these in action at a friend's house like five years ago and thought it was just a made up memory, because making ice cream out of solely frozen fruit seems wild. But when I saw a TikTok about it I immediately went to Amazon and bought it. Literally this was the BEST decision of my life. I cannot believe still how amazing this thing is! It makes the creamiest, best tasting fruit ice cream ever. It’s easy to take apart and clean, and super easy to use." —DMCKAY

    Get it from Amazon for $39.98 (available in five colors). 

    2. A cult-favorite ~secret~ popcorn salt anyone in the movie theater industry will tell you is a perfect copycat for that oh-so-savory buttery goodness you love to inhale before the previews begin. Not to be dramatic about popcorn on main, but this stuff is game changing.

    A carton of Flavacol salt
    Reviewer image of buttery popcorn
    Emma Lord/BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com

    Our family unearthed this because beloved To All The Boys I've Loved Before author Jenny Han mentioned that it was her secret to delicious popcorn, and it may have just wrecked me for other at-home popcorn for the rest of my life. It genuinely tastes just as salty and buttery and savory as fresh movie theater popcorn. I inhaled it so fast that every single one of my organs lit up in mild alarm.

    Promising review: "I am a person who will make myself sick eating buckets of popcorn (I have no self control). This has by far been my favorite 'TikTok made me buy' item. My at-home popcorn is now my favorite thing to make and I don't need to go the theater for popcorn. Very much worth the purchase and this will last me such a long time." —S Martinez

    Get it from Amazon for $9.60 (available in two other flavors).

    3. An egg bite maker so you can flex on Starbucks and Costco and all the other places where you're paying top dollar for fresh or frozen egg bites by — gasp?? — customizing and making your own for cheap. Bonus: you can take the silicone molds off of it and use it as a regular grill for sandwiches! 

    Psst — a lot of folks also use these for pancake and protein pancake bites! 

    Promising review: "I bought this in hopes to make egg bites similar to Starbucks and I have not been disappointed. I chose this one after reading reviews on the smaller four-bite size. I have used it multiple times and have had excellent results each time. I followed the recipe in the booklet and used a tip from another reviewer that suggested to triple the cottage cheese amount. It’s very easy to use and clean." —April124

    Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors). 

    4. A reviewer-beloved veggie chopper to make you feel like a golden god in your kitchen — this gadget lets you julienne, chop, spiralize, and slice vegetables in an instant and has a built-in storage container to hold the chopped veggies so you can pour them into a pan or dish without any mess. 

    Reviewer putting a potato on a flip top lid cutter and bringing the lid down to chop it into pieces
    Model pressing down on top to cut an onion

    Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action. 

    Fullstar is a small business established in 2017 that specializes in kitchen gadgets. 

    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 $23.99 (available in three colors). 

    5. A two-pack of TikTok-famous Dan-O's seasoning, a low-sodium, hecka-flavorful option for summer grilling made with dried herbs, citrus, and granulated onion and garlic that reviewers love to jazz up everything from fish to beef to eggs to veggies.

    two jars of spices
    the seasoning on a steak

    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 1.5 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 $13.98.

    6. A mini donut maker to keep anyone with a sweet tooth occupied — truly, can you think of anything in this universe more delicious than a warm homemade donut?? I'll wait.

    donut maker with room for seven cookied mini donuts
    Assorted mini donuts

    The donuts cook within minutes, have an auto shutoff to stop them from overheating, and come with a recipe book that even includes gluten-free and Paleo-friendly options. Bonus? You don't even need to figure out how to make donuts — this machine will take store bought brownie, muffin, and cake mix just fine.

    Promising review: "I cannot say enough about the Dash Mini Donut Maker. It is so much fun to use and make donuts at home. Rather than going to the local chain donut restaurant, you can make your own specialty donuts at home. It is very easy to use and cleans up quickly. My children love to decorate the donuts after they are cooked. It's a fun family activity and the donuts taste great! Also, it comes with a neat design and stands out among my other boring looking kitchen cooking appliances. If you like donuts, this product is for you." —JoshH

    Get it from Amazon for $29.04+ (available in two sizes).

    7. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking, a classic cookbook so trusted and time-honored that it's now in its 30th anniversary edition. This features beloved standard and unique twists to Italian recipes designed for any reader to enjoy, whether they're a cooking newbie living alone or a seasoned chef feeding a full family. This book is truly an investment both in learning new cooking skills *and* delighting your palate for years to come. 

    The yellow cover of the book
    A reviewer's plated meatball dish

    Promising review: "Twenty-six years ago I bought a tiny paperback for my mother called Classic Italian Cooking. I recently retrieved the book from her things hoping to use it, but alas, the spine was broken and pages were missing. Obviously the book has seen good use. So I thought to replace it with a new copy, only to learn it is out of print. So I looked a little further and discovered Essentials Of Classic Italian Cooking. I fear it will, in time, suffer the same fate the original did. This book has only been with me a couple of weeks, but already I have made six of the recipes and have dozens of others I want to try. I own a copy of The Silver Spoon, but this book surpasses it in every way. Hazan doesn't just give you recipes — she gives us the spirit of Italian cooking. She shows us how to love the ingredients we are using and teaches us how to understand that putting them together as she does, we don't create a 'dish,' but rather, something we have put a bit of ourselves into, to share with those we care about. This is probably the best book we will ever have on Italian cooking. It sits on my shelf right next to The Joy Of Cooking. Don't buy this book, treasure it. It's that good." —Laura Anne Scaife

    Get it from Amazon for $29.30

    8. A Potato Express, because I think if we're all being honest with ourselves, the older we get, the more we crave a weeknight at home with Netflix in our eyes and a warm potato in our laps. This cooks up to *four* potatoes flawlessly in mere minutes so you don't have to wait to go to clown town with cheese and other fixings. 

    Promising review: "Baked potatoes couldn't be easier or quicker. These work just as advertised. We have found that with larger potatoes, you may have to double your time, but 8–10 minutes compared to an hour or more in the toaster oven can't be beat!" —Don Juan

    Get it from Amazon for $8.96

    9. A jar of chili onion crisp basically designed to be lawlessly spread on any and everything — reviewers are obsessed with this blend of savory, crunchy, and spicy flavors that add the perfect umami heat to everything from noodles to tacos to ice cream. 

    reviewer holding jar of chili crisp
    reviewer dribbling the sauce over dumplings

    Fly By Jing is an Asian woman-owned business that specializes in sauces, dumplings, and spices.

    Check out  TikTok of the chili crisp in action. 

    Here's what BuzzFeeder Britt Ross says about this chili crisp: "Ever since my sister introduced me to this life-changing condiment, I've slathered it on pretty much everything I could think of — from roasted vegetables and noodles to seafood and popcorn. It's got a kick, yes, and while I'm a big fan of spicy food, the thing I love most about this chili crisp is that it also has great flavor that doesn't get overpowered by the heat, which happens with so many other spicy sauces. That deep savory flavor comes from ingredients like fermented black bean, shallots, mushroom powder, ginger, and seaweed, so it's no wonder it's become my go-to pantry staple when I want to zhuzh up my dinner. PS: Some people even swear by it as an ice cream topping!" 

    Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two sizes). 

    10. A teensy mini waffle maker that will churn out adorably sized, perfectly cooked-through waffles in mere minutes. Psst — 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: "Saw it on TikTok and had to get it! I love waffles but I don't always remember to buy them so I love being able to make them super easily with this mini waffle maker. It's so easy and convenient for me because I didn't want anything that would take up too much time and space. It's perfect. I also used the waffle recipe provided by Dash and its great!" —Ken

    Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 23 colors).

    11. A stuffed waffle maker to introduce you to the infinite glory of stuffing food into a pillowy warm carb — I'm talking jam, cheesy eggs, meats, NUTELLA (!!), pie filling, peanut butter, the whole nine yards. I'm truly shaking thinking about amassing this kind of breakfast power. 

    The waffle maker with a waffle cooking in it
    A waffle stuffed with Nutella

    Promising review: "I bought this after I saw a video on TikTok, so I had an idea about the yummy waffles I could make. First waffles were stuffed with apple pie filling. Second ones scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese. Just amazing!!! The only way you could make this better is to send a chef!! I definitely recommend watching a video on TikTok or YouTube to inspire you before you start!!" —Adirondackdarling

    Get it from Amazon for $54.49

    12. A simple silicone bread maker that proves you don't need any expensive equipment or complicated instructions to make delicious bread at home — in fact, you can mix the ingredients right into the silicone maker and pop it right into the oven.

    raw bread dough in a black silicone folded holder
    A freshly baked loaf of bread

    Promising review: "This mixing bowl invention is genius. Bread making always makes such a mess, but with the Lekue Silicone Bread Maker, I can mix, proof, and bake all in one bowl. It was a big advantage for proofing wetter dough like crusty artisan or sourdough because transferring that wetter dough out of the proofing container without degassing it was always a challenge. Being able to do everything in one container is extremely helpful. Also, by having the Lekue wrap around the bread during baking helps to trap some steam for those desirable holes in artisan bread." —Keek

    Get it from Amazon for $27.83.

    13. A bottle of Mike's Hot Honey, a miracle condiment you can add to any boring "blah" meal you're making at home to instantly make it taste like the nectar of the gods.

    A reviewer drizzling hot honey on pizza
    Reviewer drizzling it on cornbread

    TBH, this stuff can be slathered on anything, but pro tip while you're here: Drizzle it on grilled cheese.

    Promising review: "This is now a staple for my kitchen. How I cooked without it before, I'll never know. Makes the best vinaigrette ever and quick pan sauces for pork; plus, it adds unexpected zip to dozens of dishes. Does it come in gallons? Have given it as hostess gifts several times, and everyone gets hooked." —Martha Ronemus

    Check out BuzzFeed's review of Mike's Hot Honey for more info!

    Get it from Amazon for $13.49.


    14. A stuffed-patty mold to elevator your burger game like WHOA. These are specially designed to hold the contents of the patty in place so you can truly go to clown town experimenting with the inside of your burgers, whether you're stuffing them with cheese, veggies, or — dare I suggest!! — Ritz crackers??

    A burger cut in half so the stuffed middle of the patty is visible next to the stuffed patty mold
    Amazon

    Promising review: "This actually works, and you can fill with a lot of stuffing (which surprised me). The device is very well designed and easy to use once you figure out which part is which. I was very surprised at the size of the indentation for filling. I put in: a slice and a half of cooked bacon, some sliced peppers, and small chunks of cheddar cheese. DELICIOUS! No leakage on my George Foreman grill. Worked great. They are big burgers, so you might end up sharing. Enjoy! It's a great tool at a great price. You can make pizza burgers, Mexican burgers, whatever you can imagine." —BarbZ

    Get it from Amazon for $11.58.

    15. A see-through toaster so you can watch your toast get to your *precise* level of preferred toastiness and finally have the kind of breakfast you deserve. TBH, cancel my Netflix account, this is my new TV.

    White toaster with glass at sides to show the bread inside
    a chart showing
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I LOVE THIS TOASTER! It makes great toast. I can’t believe that I’ve gotten so excited over a toaster. I haven’t been able to find a durable, reasonably priced toaster that could accommodate long slices or bagels, etc. Additionally, I have had to be gluten free for the last 10 years and gluten-free bread has to be carefully toasted in order to be good. All the toasters I have ever owned had those fragile, thin wires that heat up and glow to toast the bread. And when they broke, which they inevitably did, the bread toasted unevenly. THIS TOASTER has unique coils in the bottom, so that you would expect unevenly toasted bread. BUT NO! It’s the most perfectly toasted bread I’ve had in 30 years." —Byron Trist

    Get it from Amazon for $43.40 (available in five colors).

    16. A mushroom growing kit that grows right there in the packaging, so you can add some sweet, sweet umami flavors to new dishes by sautéing, roasting, or air frying them up.

    A box with mushrooms growing out of the side
    Reviewer image of mushrooms cooking in a pan

    Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food.

    Psst — if you have not put mushrooms in your air fryer, my friend, you have not yet lived the full human experience. Also this growing kit comes with some recipes to get you started!

    Promising review: "This product has been so much fun to watch! I followed the directions, exactly as written, and the mushrooms began growing within 3–4 days. I will say that I did soak them for close to 10 hours before putting them back in the box to grow and I believe this helped a ton. I also kept the box inside by a window with the blinds closed in order for them to get indirect sunlight. The mushrooms grew tremendously for almost a week before they started to shrink so I clipped them to cook with and they were DELICIOUS! This was such a fun product and process to watch. I am now in the process of trying to get a second batch of shrooms from the same box. Fingers crossed!" —Steph A

    Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three varieties). 

    17. A microwave pasta maker so you can enjoy the glory of your favorite carbohydrate by literally just pressing a button on the microwave and walking away, so you don't have to hover over a boiling pot listening to a podcast just to get your noodles on.

    A rectangular transparent holder for pasta with water in it getting set and strained out
    Amazon

    Promising review: "This is a fantastic product. I’ve been cooking for more than 50 years. Pasta has always been a simple go-to dinner for me. Tending to the boiling pot of pasta was just part of the process. I’ve been getting tired of cooking as I’ve aged. This simple little microwave pasta cooker has simplified cooking so much more than I could have imagined. Seems silly, but it’s kinda like a little miracle. No more toting a heavy pot to the stove. No more pouring pasta and boiling water into a colander. It’s simple, lightweight, and foolproof. You’ll never regret buying this. I suggest buying the larger size to have more portion options." —Winky

    Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

    18. A jar of za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend of thyme, toasted sesame seeds, and sumac that you'll find yourself sprinkling on just about every meal your whip up to add a little extra savory, spicy depth to it.

    Reviewer photo of the jar, which is about the size of their hand
    Photo of the sauce on baguette slices

    Promising review: "This za'atar is the best quality I have found. I've also found that the balance of sumac and thyme to be just right. This instantly spices up my boring meal prep food and I put it on my chicken, meats, salads, yogurt, or just in olive oil — basically it makes everything taste so much better. I highly recommend it!" —TC

    Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in two sizes).

    19. A breakfast sandwich maker that simultaneously cooks an egg, toasts bread, warms precooked meat, and melts cheese into the perfect sammie in less than five minutes. Dunkin' whomst??? 

    The sandwich maker
    reviewer holding egg sandwich

    Promising review: "Single best appliance I own. My boyfriend sent me this sort of as a joke; we both thought it was both ridiculous and brilliant to have a McMuffin maker in your house. And then I tried cooking with it for the first time. Holy crap, it's AMAZING. I ended up using frozen waffles for the bread; you have to trim them just a tad, but they are the perfect amount of crispy. I love experimenting with this, and have built some truly amazing sandwiches. Waffles, eggs, avocado, Swiss, and ham. Waffles, egg, corn salsa, jack cheese. If you can fit it into the rounds, you can make a sandwich with it. The panel under the egg slides out easily and cleanly when the egg is cooked (I find four minutes is perfect for cooked eggs with runny yolks), and the whole middle section can simply be tossed in the dishwasher." —Elizabeth Joy Weaver

    Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in five colors).

    20. A magnetic air fryer cheat sheet so you can finally experiment with juuuuust the right amount of reckless abandon, while knowing everything you stick in there will still come out safe to eat. 

    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 air fryer pamphlet that came with the unit leaves out. I also bought an air fryer cook book 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 $9.75 (available in two colors). 

    21. A bottle of avocado hot sauce to both delight and emotionally confuse your tastebuds with the combo of creamy avo + HEAT so delicious you'll be like, "Welp, time to open my own taco truck."

    Avocado hot sauce drenched on a sandwich
    Amazon

    The question is less what can you put it on and more what *can't* you put it on. Reviewers mention salads, burritos, eggs, burgers, sandwiches, and steak.

    Promising review: "Please start keeping this in stock! I'm stockpiling when you do carry it — just in case! So good. Favorable and just a mild level of hot, it's really good on anything that needs a little something — eggs, beans, rice, etc. Not a 'hot sauce' as much as a flavor enhancer. And, name aside, not really avocado in flavor; the avocado base just provides a little creamier, smoother, richer base for the spiciness. I can see people who don't like avocados still liking this sauce." —Jennifer

    Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three flavors).

    22. A bottle of truffle seasoning that honestly has become one of my only personality traits, to the point where I'm just like, begging you to try it. I should gatekeep this stuff so I can have it all to myself but it is such a delicious and satisfying and ridiculously affordable alternative to real truffles that I'm throwing the gates WIDE OPEN. 

    BuzzFeed editor holding a bottle of truffle seasoning
    Reviewer image of sunny side up eggs with seasoning on them
    Emma Lord/BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com

    *wheezes in truffle* Okay, I bought this on a whim because there's a sushi place down the street from me that makes truffle avocado sushi rolls and I was like, I need these in my life, but I also need money to live. I decided to DIY it with a regular $4 avocado roll and this seasoning and the umami bliss of it all basically exploded my brain. Since then I've tried it on eggs, on burritos, on potatoes, on chocolate mug cakes, pretty much every sweet and savory thing I can think of. The best part is you really get an excellent bang for your buck — it's so flavorful that the first bottle lasted me for nearly a year of using it two or three meals a week for sushi, eggs, and baked potatoes. 

    Promising review: "Yes, I'm a truffle lover to begin with. And, of course, only a truffle is a truffle. But I gotta tell ya this delectable heaven-sent powder is one heck of a more versatile option. Utterly AMAZING on popcorn, in eggs, added to soups and sauces to layer flavors, veggies, PASTA...the list is endless (I think the only thing I haven't tried was sprinkling it on ice cream...although LOL). It is a bit salty, so I advise testing the waters first. But I just ordered my ninth and tenth bottle of the Truffle Zest." —Greengirl

    Get it from Amazon for $13.99.

    23. A pack of "Miracle Berry" tablets to go on a wild adventure with your taste buds — these temporarily make sour flavors (think: lemon, grapefruit) taste sweet, and make the flavors of your food *pop* in general. (A lot of reviewers with a dulled sense of taste from conditions also swear by these as flavor enhancers!) 

    The flavor enhancement is most noticeable on sharper and vinegar-based foods, like tomato sauces, dressings, and cheddar cheeses. The effects last up to an hour, and also increase saliva production for easier swallowing. 

    Promising review: "Don't hesitate to buy. I saw these on TikTok and wanted to try them. They’re awesome and make everything taste sweet." —Amazon Customer

    Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $15.99

    24. A bottle of gourmet Monin rose-flavored syrup for the sophisticated spring palate — reviewers love using this light, elegant flavoring in everything from cocktails to coffee to soda to macarons to jams. 🌹 

    pink rose-flavored syrup in a bottle
    reviewer garnishing a rose latte  with the syrup in it

    Promising review: "Lovely delicate flavor for teas and mocktails, cocktails. I buy this often for evening relaxing in rooibos or rose hibiscus teas. Delightful on our beverage bar." —Lady Pink Petals

    Get it from Amazon for $17.87

    25. An unofficial Disney Parks cookbook so you live your best Mickey Pretzel life without it costing an arm and a mouse ear to book plane flights and park tickets.

    Promising review: "Beautiful hardcover cookbook with so many yummy Disney recipes from the parks! There is lots of Disney foodie history in it, plus recipes that look easy to follow with high quality ingredients. There are fun maps of each of the parks inside where the food is located from, which makes it fun. As an avid Disney fan I have never seen a cookbook like this." —Nicole

    Get it from Amazon for $11.99

    26. A rapid mac and cheese cooker for the microwave, because the last thing you want to do when you need a cozy meal is wait a bajillion years at the stove. This gizmo creates perfectly gooey cooked mac and cheese in five minutes flat, with instructions so easy you could make it in your sleep. (Nap & Cheese, anyone??) 

    Rapid Brands is a Shark Tank-featured small business that specializes in BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, microwaveable kitchenwares. Check out more rapid microwave cookers on their Amazon storefront! 

    Check out a TikTok of the rapid mac cooker in action. 

    Psst — people also use this to rapid cook their ramen! 

    Promising review: "I owned one of these a few years back and decided to buy one again for my husband to try. (He's an avid ramen eater.) He was definitely skeptical at first but now it's his favorite kitchen item! 😂 I highly suggest this to anyone who wants noodles done fast! It does its job and the container stays cool enough to not hurt you when removed from the microwave. Every kitchen should have one of these for lazy days!" —Parker Rease

    Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in five colors). 

    27. A game-changing medium roast whole bean coffee blend with rich, creamy toffee notes and a zing of lemon to give you just the right amount of "!!" in the morning without sacrificing on depth and flavor.

    Blk & Bold Coffee is a Black-owned business established by childhood friends that specializes in speciality coffee and tea, with an emphasis on community impact. They pledge 5% of their profits to initiatives that support workforce development, sustain youth programming, and eliminating youth homelessness.

    Promising review: "Must-have coffee. Ever since I’ve had these coffee beans I haven’t been able to like other coffee beans I’ve purchased. It’s my favorite. I’m onto my third bag now. I love using it for pumpkin spiced lattes. I just make a double shot espresso with these beans, mix it with Torani Pumpkin sauce, add ice and cream and I'm done. Soo good." —Christina

    Get a 12-ounce bag from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four blends).

    28. A delicious ground habaneros powder for any dish that could use a kick of smoky spiciness to bring out the depth of other flavors — reviewers swear by this for everything from soup to shakshuka to ramen to scrambled eggs. 

    Iya Foods is a Black woman-owned small business that specializes in sustainably produced African spices, powders, and baking mixes, and uses a portion of profits to support an orphanage in Nigeria. 

    Promising review: "You see 'habaneros' and expect a punch in the mouth. This is not that. It's a fragrant, almost fruity pepper that elevates shakshuka to a whole new level. I add a pinch of it into all sorts of different dishes instead of black pepper. You wouldn't know the difference if I didn't tell you what it was, except that the food just tastes better. A little goes a long way, so the pouch has lasted us for several months already. I am going to buy more soon, and will try some of this lady's other spices when I do." —Shayla Williams

    Get it from Amazon for $10.45.

    29. An herb savor pod designed to *triple* the life and ensure the tastiness of your fresh herbs (you know, the ones that started wilting like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree two days after you bought them). 

    Promising review: "I use fresh herbs all the time. Too often they go bad before I finish them. I’ve tried multiple things to try to help them last longer to no avail. I bought fresh basil a week and a half ago. I immediately used a bit, then put them in this handy-dandy container. I changed the water once. Last night, I decided to make a little fresh pesto with the basil I had left. It was in perfect condition, and the pesto was amazing! Every kitchen needs at least one or two in it. I’m buying them for my daughter-in-law who also uses a lot of fresh herbs. She’s the gadget queen, so I know she’s going to love them." —Treese

    Get it from Amazon for $13.41 (or a set of three for $34.50). 

    30. A microwaveable panini press here to prove that not all culinary heroes wear capes — if you don't have access to a toaster, stove, or grill, you can still make crispy paninis, grilled cheeses, and meats right in the microwave, no muss, no fuss. People in RVs and dorms especially swear by this (and reviewers love it for crisping up reheated leftovers!). 

    The panini press open with sausages inside
    A toasted sandwich

    Promising reviews: “My granddaughter loves this. She cannot have a toaster in her college dorm, but this lets her make toast, heat bagels, make grilled cheese sandwiches, etc., in her microwave.” —Carolynn

    Get it from Amazon for $32.99.

    31. A variety pack of grain pilaf mixes in flavors so delicious that you'll be mixing and matching them with all your favorite foods in no time. Bonus for any efficient meal preppers out there: it cooks in five minutes!

    Yolélé is a Black-owned, New York-based business established in 2017 that connects smallholder farmers in West Africa with local and global markets, and specializes in products inspired by traditional West African dishes. 

    The three flavors include Afro-Funk (dawadawa and herbs), Jollof (tomato and bell pepper, and Yassa! (onion, lime, and chili). 

    Promising review: "We ordered the variety pack and love all of them! This stuff is seriously good, and so quick and easy to make. Excellent quick and healthy meal...just throw in some chopped veggies and meat/tofu, and dinner is done in minutes. It’s also good cold, as a salad. Will definitely make this a staple in our house." —Kate in the Northwest 

    Get three-pack variety pack from Amazon for $18.95

    32. microwave rapid brownie maker, because the only thing better than homemade brownies is homemade brownies in less than four minutes. All you need is half a box of any regular grocery store mix plus the ingredients, and this gizmo will have you on your way to Brownie City in no time. 

    Portioned plastic pan with spots for oil, egg, and brownie mix
    Reviewer image of cooked brownie in white square shaped silicone container

    Rapid Brands is a Shark Tank-featured small business that specializes in BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, microwaveable kitchenwares. Check out more rapid microwave cookers on their Amazon storefront! 

    Psst — people swear by this for dorms, studio apartments, and for safer, easier baking with kids! 

    Promising review: "Love this. Brownies come out very moist. Makes a half of a 13x9 inch brownie mix at a time. This is great for us because we don't have to search for measuring cups and mixing bowls; everything you need but the ingredients are included. The brownies come out moist and chewy and the 'pan' is very easy to clean. I like that I can make half a batch at a time, and what can be wrong with brownies in three and a half minutes?" —Jqbuckley

    Get it from Amazon for $6.75.

    33. A Dash mini maker with so much fast cooking potential that your tastebuds will *sing* — reviewers use this for anything from whipping up eggs to grilled cheese to pancakes to cookies. People who live alone or in small kitchens swear by this as a fast, easy cooking hack. 

    a chocolate chip pancake being cooked inside the mini maker
    a breakfast sandwich with egg cooked inside the mini maker

    Promising review: "This is the perfect easy breakfast sandwich maker. It cooks the egg perfectly (I used jumbo eggs, and it worked perfectly just like regular eggs). It’s honestly one of my personal favorite appliances. I just had a baby, and having something I can crack an egg into and let it sit to cook without having to flip and it’s done within five minutes is honestly a lifesaver, and it cleans super easy! 10/10 I love this thing; it's just like my George Foreman!" —Emily

    Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in six colors). 

    34. A tin of cocktail sugar or salt for the rims of your at-home cocktails that come in so many inventive flavors you might just call the Food Network to get your own bartending show.

    A whiskey glass with a sugar rim
    Reviewer with cocktail salt around a margarita
    Emma Lord/BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com

    I started putting this on my end-of-the-week whiskey drink during the panini (quarantine made me go full Mad Men, who knew!!) and it is SO darn satisfying. I tried the citrus petals version, and it's got a light lemon, faint floral, and vaguely minty taste with its sweetness that just makes the whole experience a delight and a half. The container it comes in is actually quite wide, so what we did was pour lemon juice on the top half to prep the rim, and a bit of sugar in the bottom half to coat it. In other news, I am officially too fancy to exist.

    Promising review: "Since COVID-19 I have become my own bartender. Taco Tuesdays and margaritas! The lime comes through so well with this salt. I use it for Bloody Marys as well. It is thick and chunky so its a learning curve to get the right amount of salt on. Don't press down too hard if you don't like a lot of salt. I do like extra salt but my husband said it was a little much for him, so I have mastered just a light salt for him." —cobrajet427

    Get it from Amazon for $9.68 (available in nine flavors).

    35. A wine aerator so effective at its flavor enhancing job that your two-buck Chuck will be like, "Please, call me Charles."

    person pouring wine into glass using aerator
    Amazon

    Promising review: "These wine aerators are FABULOUS! I do wine demos for different wineries and I don't always have time to let a bottle of wine breathe properly before a demo starts. They greatly enhance the flavor and it makes all the difference in the world. My sales numbers increased greatly. And you can't beat the price!" —AshBash

    Get a set of two from Amazon for $13.95

    Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.