48 Kitchen Products People Said Helped Them Get Through 2020
From the coveted (and expected) Crock-Pot to a grill designed to fit in small spaces, you might find your first 2021 purchase in here.
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.
From scouring the web for reliable reviews, sending out an ask to our readers, *and* sourcing suggestions from BuzzFeed employees — I've done my homework on this one, you guys.
It's no secret that 2020 has been a rough one and has lead many of us into our kitchens to experiment and cope. Here are some helpful kitchen products that have helped us get through this year:
1. An 18-spice kit to *spice up your life* and ensure you'll be ready to take on any recipe that's thrown at you.
Buzzfeed editor Hannah Loewentheil swears by this set:
"Anyone who cooks knows that spices and seasonings are so important. But filling up a brand new spice drawer from scratch is overwhelming and can quickly get expensive. So when I stumbled upon Spicewalla's kitchen essentials spices and seasonings starter pack, I was intrigued. The adorably packaged, colorful set comes with 18 common spices and seasonings from rosemary and fennel seed to oregano and smoked paprika. It arrives in a single box filled with the different spices and seasonings, packaged in beautifully colored jars. Instead of hiding them in a drawer, I immediately wanted to showcase them. It just so happened the whole set fit like a glove on a shelf over my stove, and they give my kitchen a perfect pop of color. I can honestly say that this is one of the best products I've gotten for my new home. Of course, it's just as practical as it is cute. Whatever I'm cooking, any spices I need are right at my fingertips. There's turmeric, cumin, and coriander for curries, rosemary, crushed red pepper and oregano perfect for Italian dishes, and garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika for tacos or fajitas. This one set contains everything I need."
Get it from Amazon for $89.99.
2. A reusable product bag to help you cut some plastic out of your life *and* make you smile on your ventures to the grocery store.
BuzzFeed reader charcoalpoppies has said "goodbye" to plastic bags and now transports their produce with these:
"I use it now every time I go grocery shopping. They are durable and light, and I feel good because I am not using plastic. It's the perfect size for all my produce, from apples to Brussels sprouts. Plus the saying makes me laugh."
Get a set of six from Bold Faces for $25.
3. Environmentally friendly dishcloths made of cellulose and cotton you can use to clean your counters, stovetops, dishes, shower doors, and mirrors — and they come in fun designs!
Promising review: "These are awesome and I don’t know why I didn’t learn to use these in the kitchen and bathroom ages ago. They wipe down countertops, sinks, and everything, leaving hardly any water behind and pick up even the smallest of debris, lint etc. These are great quality." —Shopper56
Get a set of three from Amazon for $11.22+ (available in 12 styles).
4. A three-tiered cooling rack so you can make tons of snickerdoodles without fretting over not having enough counter space for them all to cool.
Promising review: "I really like the clever and functional design of this cooling rack, especially for limited counter space kitchens as mine. I use this for lightweight baked goods such as cookies and croissants. I have not tried it yet for heavier items such as pies, but for those, just attach the racks on both sides for support. What I love most is this rack folds up for storage — a clever space-saver when stored too. All around, great product design with good quality construction. Highly recommend for lightweight baked goods." —myreview
Get it from Amazon for $20.99.
5. Jeni's ice cream pick-your-own mix for when you've sadly failed to recreate the pasta recipe that you've seen all over TikTok and choose to eat ice cream for dinner instead. It's 2020, there are no rules (except to wear your mask, plz).
I recently had the pleasure of trying Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream for the first time and was blown away by how freakin' delicious it was. I personally like the dairy-free roasted peanut butter and strawberry jam pint (are you salivating yet?) but I don't doubt that every single concoction they've come up with will bring a smile to your face.
Mix and match four pints in "Jeni's Delivery Box" from Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream for $48+ (available in 20 flavors)
6. A Crock-Pot slow cooker for anyone who *has* been trying their hand at a ton of new home cooked meals and could probably use a break.
BuzzFeed writer Rachel Dunkel has been cookin' up a quarantine storm with her Crock-Pot:
"Kitchen gadgetry has come a long way. But when it comes to making immensely delicious, simple, comforting home-cooked meals, I don't think there's anything better than the Crock-Pot. Slow cooking is inarguably the best kind of cooking, BUT making time to dote on a bubbling dish on the stove all day is just...not it. The Crock-Pot allows you to dump in all of your ingredients in the morning, go about your business all day, and then sit down to the most amazing meal you've ever made eight hours later after barely lifting a finger.
^Take that pork, for example. In the morning, I threw a pork roast, garlic, onion, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, honey, ground ginger, gochugaru, and some stock in the Crock-Pot and eight hours later was greeted with tender, shreddy goodness. It's literally the easiest appliance in the universe to use. There are only three settings that you choose between with a dial. You definitely don't have to be a top chef to choose between High, Low, and Warm! I have a 6-quart Crock-Pot and we always have SO many leftovers. So all my meal planning-heads: This is a fantastic way to yield simple, delectable dishes for the week. And it may look difficult to clean, but think again! The stoneware insert and lid are dishwasher-safe, but even when I've lived in apartments without a dishwasher, I haven't had much trouble getting stuck-on food out of there. As for the shiny exterior, a simple wipe-down should suffice!"
Get it from Amazon for $39.61.
7. A mini fridge/freezer with a retro vibe you can use to secretly store all of your favorite drinks and snacks you don't want your other family members to find.
I have one of these adorable lil' fridges and it's as functional as it is cute! The freezer is DEEP — like fits-an-entire-ice-cream-cake deep. It's been great during quarantine in my apartment, as we've stocked up on more food/drinks than we typically used to. It's nice to have space for some extra treats without overflowing the full-sized fridge.
Promising review: "Great fridge! Looks good. Runs efficiently and mostly silent (just a slight hum when the compressor kicks in). I purchased this one because I wanted a small fridge without a can rack on the inside of the door. Without it, this fridge has tons of storage for lots of nonsoda can things! Freezer is also super roomy. This is a great product for anyone who wants a stylish appliance that works well and saves space." —REV
Get it from The Home Depot for $259.26 (available in three colors).
8. Delicious coffee beans from Kula, a company with a mission to reduce poverty in Rwanda.
BuzzFeed contributor rileyhumes's go-to coffee company has helped them feel good about their morning caffeine throughout 2020:
"The Kula Project is a non-profit working to deliver entrepreneurial resources and skills to female coffee growers in Rwanda. Kula packages and sells delicious coffee beans, and gives 100% of their profits back to the women that sourced them — helping to build brighter futures, families, and communities. They have also just released their new seasonal blend, 'Together,' just in time for the holidays. If you're on the hunt for the perfect holiday gift for friends, family, co-workers, or your office, Kula has a modest price point, fantastic flavor, and an amazing mission."
9. Poppi prebiotic soda, a must-have for anyone (like myself) who relishes flavorful drinks but is tired of sipping on sugary refreshments.
Guuuuys. I'm obsessed with these drinks. I tried them on a whim and now I can't get enough of them. I've always been a big soda fan (I don't drink alcohol — everyone who knows me knows my actual vices include ginger ale or Cherry Coke) so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about these prebiotic-infused beverages. And yet, after one sip, I was hooked! My favorite flavors are raspberry rose and strawberry lemonade (so refreshing). Even my husband, who hates anything carbonated, loves these drinks. In addition to their Instagram-able packaging, these babies are free of fat, gluten, GMOs *and* are vegan! While I *could* live without these, I don't want to!
Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $35.88 (available in eight flavors).
10. A milk frother that'll transform your hot chocolate into one out of a Hallmark Christmas movie scene. Delish.
I bought this recently and have been using it to make pumpkin spice tea lattes — I finally gave it a whirl to make some fancy, foamy milk in a hot chocolate and it certainly lived up to my expectations.
Promising review: "OMG, this milk frother makes my homemade latte taste like it was made by a barista. It was perfect. So perfect that I bought a second one for my brother who loves coffee to use. I've already recommended it to some coworkers. It has changed my coffee drinking life. This comes highly recommended." —Michelle Pirestani
Get it from Amazon for $12.72 (available in 17 colors).
11. Cake strips to pretty much guarantee each layer cooks at the same consistency, a must-have for anyone who has been trying to recreate extravagant cakes off of Food Network.
BuzzFeed contributor burkesavannah has upped their baking game with this product:
"Harley’s Cake Strips are AWESOME for moist and evenly baked cakes! The strips wrap around your cake pan while it bakes to create an insulation effect which helps all areas bake at the same rate. No domes, cracks, dry edges, raw middles, etc. Baking time increases since it bakes more slowly but it’s totally worth it!!! Experimented with the same batter at the same baking temperature — one photo shows a wonky cake with dark edges (didn’t use the strips) and the other photo shows a flat top cake with even color all around (used the strips). Totally works!"
Get a set of two from Amazon for $17.49.
12. An air fryer (from the makers of the INSTANT POT!!), perfect for anyone who hasn't always been a big fan of leftovers but wants to make the most of all their delicious homemade meals. Best of all? You can crisp up your fave foods without all that oil.
BuzzFeed editor Hannah Loewentheil finally caved and bought an air fryer while in quarantine, and she's glad she did:
"I'd been contemplating buying an air fryer for quite some time, but it wasn't until I found myself cooking every night with my family due to COVID-19 that I finally decided it was the right time to get one. Friends of mine were raving about their new Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer, so after reading similar feedback on Amazon, I decided it looked like a winner. And it happens to be made by the same company that makes the crowd-favorite Instant Pot. I figured I would be using this appliance primarily as air air fryer, but as an added bonus, it can also roast, broil, bake, re-heat, and dehydrate food.
I've had this air fryer for about three weeks now, and I can honestly say it's become the hero of my kitchen. It preheats quickly, it's large enough to a good amount of food at once, it's easy to clean, and it makes food taste crispy on the outside and moist on the inside without any oil. I've been using my air fryer to make vegetables just about every night and it makes them taste so good. If you're cooking for kids, picky eaters, or you just don't get so excited about eating vegetables, the air fryer could be perfect for you. If you like chicken, the air fryer might change your life, and I don't mean that to be dramatic. The air fryer produces restaurant-quality chicken that tastes absurdly decadent, except there's no oil involved in the cooking — just air. We also tried making sesame chicken in the air fryer using boneless skinless chicken thighs. The sesame chicken tasted almost identical to my favorite Chinese takeout, and it had nothing to do with my cooking skills. Thanks to the air fryer, the chicken gets so crispy. I couldn't believe I made this at home!!"
Get it from Amazon for $119.99.
Check out the full review, plus some air fryer recipe suggestions for more!
13. A mini baking sheet, perfect for anyone who is constantly making up meals for one and is tired of scrubbing an oversized pan for no reason whatsoever.
BuzzFeed reader omgitsaclaire said: "This is gonna sound weird, but a mini cookie sheet. As someone who lives alone and was doing a lot of cooking in single portions, I got sick of washing my normal sized baking tray over and over while only using one quarter of it. A mini baking tray (the kind that can go in a toaster oven) is the perfect size for a single piece of salmon or one serving of roasted veggies (or one serving of frozen mozzarella sticks or egg rolls or chicken nuggets, etc.). And it’s way easier to clean than the giant one because it fits in your sink more easily. I got mine at Aldi but Amazon has a lot of options."
Get a set of two from Amazon for $12.99.
14. A five-in-one wine aerator, stopper, pourer, filter, and re-corker that'll become your go-to housewarming gift because, honestly, no home should be without one.
Promising review: "YOU NEED THIS! I love this wine corker. These do exactly as they say they will. When I got mine, I immediately took one out, put it on a bottle of wine and purposefully turned it upside down, shook it and let it sit that way for 10 minutes. NO LEAKS! I was so happy...finally something to keep my wine from leaking. Not only did it not leak, but the aerator design allowed my wine to taste wonderful and stay fresh." —Mary B
Get it from Amazon for $8.53.
15. Rubbermaid FreshWorks storage containers with venting technology to help keep your produce fresher for longer — no more tossing soggy veggies into the trash after two days!
BuzzFeed editor Natalie Brown has always been telling our team to invest in these:
"The vents regulate the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide and keeps moisture away so your strawberries taste freshly picked days and days and days later. I recently got a couple of these and a bunch of basil and strawberries stayed fresh for SO LONG!!"
Promising review: "I read the reviews and thought I’d give these a try since they are easily half the price of the other ones I looked at that had to have the charcoal filters replaced periodically. These need no filter changes and oh-my-gosh, they work! I went on a 10-day trip to visit my mom and left my husband home with asparagus, strawberries, and spinach in the containers. He ate some of all of them, but there was plenty left when I got back and they were in perfect condition! I couldn’t believe it! These will save us a lot of money not throwing away food because we couldn’t get through it fast enough. (We shop at Costco and get large containers of produce.) These are TOTALLY worth getting and I will be getting a few more sizes. Excellent product!!!" —Elizabeth Walter
Check out our full review of these game-changing containers!
Get them from Amazon for $7.17+ each (available in six sizes and in sets of multiples).
16. An automatic pan stirrer with a timer, perfect for any aspiring chef who tends to get a little absent-minded while following a recipe.
Promising review: "My husband loves to cook. We have two very small children, so while his meals are mostly yummy, they are also sometimes burnt. :) This was perfect for him. He's able to turn it on, run into the next room to save the day with a plastic bag and a washcloth for whatever blowout-esque mess I'm dealing with, forget he's cooking, run back into the kitchen frantically when he remembers, and arrive only to find the meal practically cooking itself. Best. Gift. Ever." —Jake the ChefturnedDaddy
Get it from UncommonGoods for $25.
17. An OXO apple slicer and corer, so you can quickly create a healthy snack without being late to your Zoom meeting.
BuzzFeed writer Ali Faccenda has been using this to cut up her apples (which she eats with peanut butter, yum!). I've also used this after going apple picking — it helps me cut them up real quick before mixing them into an apple pie filling.
Promising review: "My husband laughed at this purchase questioning why we needed another gadget. Well, he ate his words the first time he tried it! This is the BEST gadget you never knew you needed. It perfectly cores and slices apples with a minimum of effort. It’s the most used gadget in our kitchen (we love apples). Highly recommend." —CT C
Get it from Amazon for $9.20.
18. A tried-and-true KitchenAid stand mixer you'll pat yourself on the back for investing in when you realize you'll be using it from 2020 and beyoooond — it's good for so many things you simply don't even need me to tell you about it.
BuzzFeed reader strangerthanitseems explained, "My KitchenAid stand mixer! I’ve used it at least twice a week, and it’s helped so much. Baking is so relaxing for me."
Promising review: "What I can say about this machine? Well my wife LOVES it. It makes cooking/baking a so much easier and faster. My wife makes a homemade pizza for the family every Saturday. She used to spend I would say at least 25-30 minutes mixing and kneading the dough. Now she just adds the ingredients into the bowl and turns it on. It does everything within a couple minutes. She does still do a small amount of kneading after it's completed by the machine, but it saves so much time!" —PE
Get it from Amazon for $499.99+ (available in 20 colors).
19. A magnetic paper towel holder that'll give you some much-needed extra counter space and a clever space to keep paper towels on hand to clean up your inevitable messes.
20. A cast iron tortilla press for incredibly easy and tasty two-ingredient deliciousness — no need to wait until Taco Tuesday.
Like many of you, I've been trying all kinds of new things while spending time social distancing over the last few weeks. The next challenge I decided to take on? Making homemade corn tortillas! Except, thanks to a handy lil' tortilla press from Verve Culture, it wasn't much of a challenge at all. This tortilla press is made in Mexico from old Singer sewing machines and other recycled irons! The cast iron should last you, basically, forever so it's definitely worth your money.
I'm not much of a chef (I bake *a little*), but since these taco-sized corn tortillas are only made of two ingredients I figured I could handle it. Seriously, you only need corn flour and water to form the dough. We used the Maseca brand of flour, which literally has the instructions on how to make tortillas on the bag. They came out *so* well I was beyond impressed with myself. We're going to use them throughout the week to make a variety of tacos (breakfast tacos, anyone?). They'll last up to a week if you seal them in a bag and toss 'em in the fridge.
Get the kit from Amazon for $45 — it comes with the press, a napkin to keep the tortillas warm, and a booklet with information on some history, directions for use, and recipes.
21. A pack of oven liners to protect the bottom of their oven from any overflow/oozing so you can continue to pretend you're competing on The Great British Baking Show worry-free.
Promising review: "I expected to be happy, but I'm thrilled! Each mat is pliable and fits the entire width of my standard oven. When the mat is against the back wall, it extends up to but not over the front lip of the floor. On first use, pizza cheese and sauce dripped onto the front edge of the mat and onto that uncovered lip. The baked-on cheese and sauce slid right off the mat! Effortlessly! After I cleaned up the lip, I layered a second mat to cover the lip. These mats are so great that I almost want food to drip on them so I can show off how wonderful they are." —Artset Outset
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $13.99.
22. A compact eight-in-one spiralizer that'll grate cheese, juice fruits, cut ribbon, and *so* much more. This lil' gadget really does it all.
BuzzFeed editor *and* zoodle-lover Emma Lord is obsessed with this gadget:
"I recently purchased this because it was my cheapest option for making zoodles, and also because my apartment is the size of a shoebox and there was no room for anything bigger. I LOVE how easy it is to swap out the caps to do other things, too — I've started grating my own cheeses and feel very fancy. But mostly I just love that it's very safe to use (it comes with a finger guard!), super easy to figure out, very compact, and even has measurements on the inside of the cup if you're ever portioning things out for a recipe."
Promising review: "LOVE THIS. I absolutely love this. So far I've used the thicker spiralizer, two of the grater things, and then the juicer. I love how easy this makes keeping everything together. And it's sharp so it actually cuts through things without you needing to work super hard to do it. The only thing I don't love is that the spiralizers are a bit hard to clean, but I guess that's with all of them? Not sure, this is the first I've owned. But, overall I'd recommend it :)" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.97.
23. A Hello Fresh subscription if you're having a hard time finding groceries, planning meals, learning how to cook, or are just in a "what's for dinner?" rut.
BuzzFeed editor Maitland Quitmeyer has been using Hello Fresh to get her healthy meal fixes:
"For me there are three great reasons to try a meal kit like Hello Fresh right now: 1. to reduce trips to the grocery store without having to forgo fresh produce, 2. to get out of the same-dinner ruts, especially when we're cooking at home more than ever, and 3. to learn new cooking skills in a basically foolproof setting.
Here's how it works: You can select from the four preferences: meat and veggie, veggies, low-calorie, and family-friendly. Recipes come portioned to two or four people (but I find the portions to be generous), and you can get either three or four recipes per week (for the two-person plan) or two or three recipes a week (for the four-person plan). And of course you can skip weeks, upgrade to ~premium~ recipes (think surf and turf) for an additional fee, or change the number of meals at any time. When your box arrives, you get everything you need to make the recipe, chilled to perfection, and portioned accordingly (you just need to provide pantry staples like butter, oil, salt and pepper).
And the instructions? Totally foolproof. My fave recipe so far exemplifies how helpful Hello Fresh is for trying out new recipes and techniques — say hello to my little friend, tempura shrimp. I have thought about making at-home tempura for like.....years, but it seemed like a lot of work, and I'd burn myself on the hot hot oil.
But this recipe took all the scariness out of it — turns out I *didn't* need a whole pot of oil to fry these bbs up, a shallow fry worked PERFECTLY. And when I feel done with Hello Fresh, when we're no longer social distancing from the grocery store and I feel like I've learned enough, I will 10000000000% make this again on my own. And I've been thinking about the sauce (an easy mix of mayo, Sriracha, and apricot jam) ever since, and will put it on just every single thing from here on out — including just a spoon. And the portions are IMO, very generous — I could not eat what they'd consider one portion in a single night, and the leftovers always reheated just as deliciously as they were the first night. And the best part = you can access their database of over 2,500 recipes even when you're not a subscriber, so you can just use it as a cookbook when you're done subscribing."
Get a meal subscription from Hello Fresh, starting at $7.49/serving.
24. A Nespresso machine everyone in your household will agree is a great investment once you all see how easy it is to make fancy espresso drinks from your own kitchen.
Promising review: "We just purchased the Nespresso Virtuo machine by DeLonghi with the frother. Did much research and looked at many reviews. This is the first time I’ve reviewed a product. Doing it because my wife and I totally love this machine, frother, and the results. Many people noted that the new vertuo pods are pricey. They are, but you won’t look back. Best. Coffee. Ever. Easiest system and well-made machine. We just returned from Sicily and this Nespresso combo offers a better cup of cappuccino every time. Also, the Virtuo lineup offers so many awesome coffee styles, and the pods are recyclable. Really. We love, love this. Our best purchase in years." —LB Wildcats
Get it from Amazon for $139.30.
25. Or a Nespresso Aeroccino milk frother for anyone who prefers to sip on something a bit more decadent after rolling out of bed.
BuzzFeed reader rosyrobinross said, "Nespresso machine with aeroccino. It was easy to make espresso drinks while working from home." And one of our writers, Ali Faccenda, seconds that and has been using it to make delicious drinks at home as well!
Promising review: "Bravo Nespresso! I can't rave enough about this item. The simplest and best milk frother I have aver seen. Our lattes and cappuccinos are simply fantastic now with the heated, frothed milk from this machine. I have an expensive Jura coffee maker and it does hot, frothed milk well but not as easy to use or as well frothed as this thing. I can make only the amount of milk I need with this, where I would have a big bulky stainless-steel canister on the counter all day for the Jura with milk I would never get to use so would throw away. Well worth the price if you like perfectly frothed milk. Simple to use too! One of the best items I have ever purchased!" —Customer
Get it from Amazon for $67.81 (available in two colors).
26. A bottle of Truff truffle-infused hot sauce you'll probably want to start planning your meals around — it's THAT good.
BuzzFeed Writer Hannah Loewentheil is a biiiiiig fan of this delicious sauce:
"There's one ingredient that makes even my most average home cooking taste amazing, and it's this TRUFF truffle-infused hot sauce. I first heard about TRUFF on a list of Oprah's favorite things, and I knew she would never lead me astray. So I quickly realized I needed TRUFF in my own kitchen.
There are three kids of TRUFF hot sauces: the classic black truffle sauce, a 'hotter' sauce, and the crown jewel, the creme de la creme, a white truffle hot sauce. Look, the white truffle–infused hot sauce quite literally tastes like heaven, but IMO, the classic black truffle hot sauce is the most versatile and a staple in my kitchen. And while at first $20+ seemed like an absurd price to pay for hot sauce, this stuff is worth the price tag. I mean...truffles. And here's the thing: I've tried plenty of truffle-infused hot sauces, olive oils, and what-nots in the past, but they often taste overpowering or low-quality. TRUFF hot sauces are the perfect balance of decadent truffle, heat, spice, and a tiny bit of sweetness. Now I'm completely and most likely irrevocably hooked to this liquid gold. I slather it on pretty much everything savory from eggs and tacos to sandwiches and fried rice. If you're looking for a way to add flavor to your home cooking or turn basic meals into pure extravagance, you should probably invest in a bottle of TRUFF."
Get Truff from Amazon: the black truffle hot sauce for $17.98, the "hotter" sauce for $17.98, and the white truffle hot sauce for $34.99.
27. Cut resistant gloves — a must-have for anyone who isn't super confident in their knife skills and would like to keep all of their digits.
You can even pop these in the washing machine for a thorough cleaning.
Promising review: "After my husband sliced his finger on our mandolin I decided to check out these gloves. We are both very impressed with how well they work. The company who sells these is also wonderful — they sent a follow-up email to ensure that we liked the gloves and would have replaced or refunded our money if we weren't happy. The only thing I was concerned about when I ordered the gloves was if I was buying the right size. My husband and I have different hand sizes, but the medium is working well for both of us. And knowing that they would send a different size free of charge was wonderful. Now we don't have to worry about slicing off our fingers!" —That Author Guy's Wife
Get them from Amazon for $11.50 (available in sizes S—XL).
28. An AeroGarden for your countertop so you can grow your own herbs to take your recipes to the next level — whether you have a green thumb or not.
Promising review: "I purchased this as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend's sister-in-law who lamented not having a green thumb. In the two months that the sis-in-law has had the AeroGarden, the growth has been tremendous. I'm constantly in awe when she sends me pics of the new growth." —Mary A. Walls
Get it from Amazon for $99.97.
29. A Magic Bullet blender you can count on to help you recreate the green juice or smoothies you used to pick up on your way to the office.
Promising review: "I use this almost every morning. This was my savior during the quarantine part of the pandemic when I was working from home. I was able to easily make smoothies for breakfast or a snack instead of eating junk. Blended quickly and easily, easy to clean, and came with so many cups and travel options I was able to continue my healthy habit when I went back to work!" —Marissa Vittorio
Get it from Amazon for $36.35.
30. A Mr. Coffee drip coffee machine that'll ensure a classic, delicious cup o' joe will always be within arm's reach.
BuzzFeed writer Rachel Dunkel has been *raving* about this coffee machine:
"I'll admit, I can be prone to coffee snobbery now and again. I have just about every appliance, tool, and gadget to make coffee this way and that, but there's one I always come back to — the Mr. Coffee. My dad has used a Mr. Coffee basically every morning since the beginning of time, so when I got my first apartment — finally free of the "no cooking appliances" rule ubiquitous to college dorm life — of COURSE I bought the cheapest 12-Cup Mr. Coffee drip pot I could find. That same pot has been with me ever since (for over six years!), quickly brewing up cup after steaming cup of coffee for my roommates, friends, and me, never failing to make my morning and little better. It has also survived many, many moves while packed in pretty precarious boxes. TL;DR: it's also durable.
If you've somehow never made drip coffee before, listen, it's really easy. Just pop in a filter, fill it with coffee, fill the machine with water, and flip the switch. Boom! You've got java. Most mornings, flipping literally one switch is all I feel capable of, and Mr. Coffee thinks that's just fine! Is it an artisanal cup of coffee? No. But is it delicious and plentiful and quick and easy? Heck yes. I fully support making a lil' pour-over as a treat, but for an everyday pot for yourself and every coffee drinker in the house? Unbeatable."
Get it from Amazon for $28.09 (also available in white).
31. A set of LED light saber chopsticks you'll probably misplace in your utensil drawer but then have the opportunity to exclaim "THESE are the ones I've been looking for!" once you've finally find them.
I know for a fact that BuzzFeed editor Emma Lord treats herself to sushi every Friday and takes her "treat yo' self" meal a step further by devouring it with these fun chopsticks.
Promising review: "I purchased these for a friend's birthday present (he is a sushi waiter) and these are flippin' AMAZING. I ordered two sets by mistake, but I am totally keeping the second pair for another gift (or for myself!). These are sure to be great conversation pieces and attention-getters. Way to go!" —T. Redwood
Get them in red and green from Amazon for $19.97.
32. A cookie scoop, so all of your precious balls of dough will come out *exactly* the same size and look simply stunning before everyone in the house gobbles 'em up.
I have one of these and it has been a game changer when making cookies. I love that each one comes out the same size, making it easier than ever to know precisely how many will fit on my baking sheet.
Promising review: "Why didn't I have one of these in my kitchen drawer before?! I bought the medium-sized scoop originally to make a large batch of cookies for Christmas, but today it came handy when I had leftover batter from my banana bread recipe and it made the perfect scoop to fill a regular-sized cupcake liner! Now I'm thinking about getting the small size for my mini-cupcakes! Super easy and they came out perfectly uniform and totally beats trying to use a spoon! Handles have a nice silicone grip too and help with hand fatigue. :-)" —Michi K
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in sizes S–L).
33. A SodaStream for endless sparkling water in case it's one of the things you used to have on-hand as your work day treat in the office and simply didn't want to give up.
BuzzFeed writer Abby Kass has been using hers non-stop, especially since transitioning to working from home:
"I got the SodaStream Fizzi last fall and started using it immediately. I like this version because it's manual, which means it doesn't require electricity, so it doesn't have to be plugged into the wall. It comes with the water maker, a 60-liter CO2 Cylinder, and a 1L slim carbonating bottle. Instead of having to buy cans or bottles of seltzer all the time, I can make it in seconds in my apartment and never run out. I also love how much better for the environment it is — I've reduced my plastic and aluminum consumption by a lot."
You can read her full review on the SodaStream here.
Get it from Amazon for $109.99.
34. A coffee and spice grinder you can use to make your morning cup o' joe that much easier to whip up (especially when you're still feeling super sleepy).
BuzzFeed editor Melanie Aman has been using this while in quarantine this year and is a fan!
Promising review: "Been using this for my morning French press beans, and it is so straightforward and easy to use to one's needs. I haven't done any super deep cleaning of it yet but the design makes me think that'll be easy — all the surfaces inside are easy to access and clean out as needed." —Erin B.
Get it from Sur La Table for $19.95.
35. A KitchenAid hand mixer that'll give your arm a break while you continue testing different cookie recipes for the holiday season.
BuzzFeed reader heyoitmeyo noted, "I got a KitchenAid hand mixer, mostly with the intention to make dalgona coffee when quarantine started (retail therapy lol). and then it became invaluable as I started cooking more comforting family recipes, especially casseroles!"
Get it from Target for $39.99 (available in red or ice blue) or KitchenAid for $39.99 (available in 13 colors)
36. A breakfast sandwich maker for those rainy Sunday mornings where all you want is a cure to your hangover but can't physically venture farther than the kitchen.
Promising review: "FAM. I need you to lissssssten. I would give this product 87 stars if I could. You'd think it would be one of those gimmicky kitchen appliances that barely even works. EXCEPT you're wrong. It's amazing. It's quick. Look. Lissssten. You put the ingredients in and about two minutes later your tummy is all like 'oh yesssss.' Basically. Just buy it. Purchase the sammich maker. You're welcome." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two colors).
37. Bantam Bagels' sample pack, a must-have for anyone who's a New York-transplant and forever missing the the taste of a classic bagel.
I recently tried out these as-seen-on-Shark Tank bagel bites (WFH snacks, a must) and they are absolutely delicious. Each flavor is unique and stuffed with a different kind of cream cheese (yum!). My personal favorite so far is the everything bagel stuffed with veggie cream cheese, but you might as well go all-out and treat yourself to as many flavors as you can. They really do taste like fresh NY bagels!
Get a sample pack from Bantam Bagels for $37.95.
38. A microwave popcorn maker that'll go perfectly with all the Netflix shows you've been bingeing — mmm think of how good your house will smell.
BuzzFeed writer Sam Wieder has been using this gadget to whip up one of her favorite snacks at home.
Promising review: "This worked really well, it popped all but a few kernels without burning any of the popcorn. I found that the time to pop was the same as what I use for the microwave popcorn packets, which is two minutes on our microwave. The popcorn tasted very good considering it had no oil, butter, or salt on it. I didn't think I would like it without butter but surprisingly it tasted good. I still like movie theater butter popcorn the best but probably not best to eat that all the time, this popcorn is healthier. I tried adding butter to a batch after it cooked and it didn't taste much better, not like the taste of the microwave packets." —Derek
Get it from Amazon for $15.90 (available in 21 colors).
39. An Always Pan, complete with a nonstick surface, a vented top, a mesh basket for steaming, and a high-quality spoon that hooks onto the handle — you'll basically only ever want to use this pan. My apologies to your current ones.
BuzzFeed editor Bek O'Connell loves her Our Place pan:
"I have and love this pan! It just feels really nice to hold. The nesting spoon is absolutely genius, everything cooks evenly, and food just glides right off with minimal effort. If you hate scrubbing, consider getting this! Also, Our Place was founded by Shiza Shahid, along with Amir Tehrani and Zach Rosner. She's a Pakistani social entrepreneur who also co-founded the nonprofit Malala Fund, which promotes education for young girls."
Get it from Our Place for $95 (available in four colors).
40. A floral tin recipe box from Rifle Paper Co. to help you *try* and break the habit of calling your mom to ask how long to bake the cookies for, since you'll be able to pull the instructions out as needed.
I have one of these and have surprised myself by actually using it over the years. Anytime my husband or I try making something new and it comes out good we write it down and add it to the box! This recipe tin comes 24 recipe cards and 12 recipe dividers. Also it's just super cute.
Promising review: "I ordered this for myself and absolutely love it. It’s even prettier in person! Larger than I expected too — it’s perfect! I’m going to order my mom one for her birthday." —MaddMom09
Get it from Amazon for $33+ (available in three styles).
41. A monthly beef subscription to keep your fridge stocked and your tummy full — what more could you ask for?
BuzzFeed contributor peterdeluca had nothing but good things to say about Vincent's Meat Market's subscription box:
"It is literally the best quality beef I have ever had!!!! WAY BETTER THAN BUTCHER BOX! The subscription comes with enough meat to stock up for a couple of weeks and its only $99!!! Who says quality, local beef needs to cost a poop-ton of money??"
Get it from Vincent's Beef Market for $99.99/month.
42. Or the Recipe Keeper app that'll condense all of your favorite recipes into one neat space you can access on your phone or tablet so you don't have to try and translate your grandma's script handwriting each time you want to make a cake.
BuzzFeed editor Kayla Suazo has been using this app and is a big fan:
"The Recipe Keeper app is literally life changing if you like to cook and use recipes you’ve found online. it consolidates it into one easy place. you can even create easy shopping lists too!!"
Get it for mobile, tablet, PC, or Mac for $5.99.
43. A drawer organizer to keep utensils in order so you won't find yourself fumbling through a disaster zone in an attempt to find a serving spoon.
BuzzFeed writer Chelsea Stuart has used this product to make her kitchen feel less chaotic, "Just got this and it has freed up SO much space in our cutlery drawer that we can now store teas, small Tupperware, etc. vs. before it was just a mess of utensils."
Promising review: "I don't have many drawers, and the silverware drawer seems like there should be so much more room....so I see these weird silverware trays. I figure, why not? I love them! I got two and put one on each side of the drawer. This allowed me to put random things in between them that I had a hard time finding a place for. I should probably mention that I have a service for 16, and it is REALLY, REALLY heavy Oneida flatware. I have a standard size drawer and even the height is fine. They also stay where the heck you put them, even with drawer liner and the way that my husband slams those drawers shut! All around a great purchase!" —Stephanie M. Campbell
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes and three colors).
44. A devilish gadget you can use to pull out pesky toaster trays or oven racks without burning your fingers.
I was given this as a stocking stuffer one year and surprisingly use it a lot! It latches onto any tray or dish and helps safely pull them closer so I don't have to reach deeply into a hot oven.
Promising review: "It is exactly as advertised. I have a double oven and find that sometimes there just isn't enough space between the rack and the coils and often burn myself trying to take things out (on the small oven part), this has greatly reduced my injury rate :)" —Megan
Get it from Amazon for $6.15.
45. An immersion blender that'll make recreating your favorite Panera soup a breeze this winter — broccoli cheddar in a bread bowl here we come!
BuzzFeed editor Kayla Boyd recently purchased this and can't wait to give it a whirl! I have a similar one and use it to remove any unwanted lumps and bumps from sauces and soups, but also to make Dalgona coffee!
Promising review: "Amazing blender! I've had other (cheap) models of immersion blenders. While they did what they were supposed to do, they did not have quality that this Mueller one has. I absolutely ADORE that the piece that does the work is all stainless, not cheap plastic. I use mine mostly for doing soups, and it does a wonderful job even on 'tough' kohlrabi. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a GOOD immersion blender!" —Judy D.
Get it from Amazon for $34.97.
46. An easy-to-make blueberry scone mix from Stonewall Kitchen that'll make any morning merry and bright.
Anything I've ever tried from Stonewall Kitchen has been *so* good. These blueberry scones are no exception.
Promising review: "So freakin' good. Very moist! As an experienced baker and foodie, I must recommend that you shred the butter into the mix so it's even and I substituted half-and-half instead of milk that instructions call for. Also drizzled a homemade vanilla cream cheese buttercream glaze on top, used my ceramic scone pan and...best scone I EVER had. Will purchase other flavors for upcoming ladies brunch and especially for holidays when family comes." —Vivian
Get it from Amazon for $10.95.
47. A bamboo burner cover to magically add an extra space for chopping up veggies in your too-small kitchen — it'll feel like you *poof* doubled your counter space!
BuzzFeed writer Jennifer Tonti credits this burner cover for helping her cook with ease:
"OK so I just bought this for my own tiny apartment (pictured above) and OMG you guys. Life = changed. Food = chopped. Counter space = doubled. I mean the math is all there."
Promising review: "This is so perfect for extra space. It covers the top of my apartment-sized stove so I can then use my stove space for my Instant Pot and food prep. The best space-saving and cosmetic thing I have ever gotten for this tiny apartment." —Talyn Amber Skye
Get it from Amazon for $26.75+ (available in seven styles and sizes).
48. And a outdoor grill designed for small spaces for anyone who has been wanting to cook their own pizza, whip up a juicy burger, or crisp-up some veggies.
BuzzFeed reader caitlinm4894d16d0 loves their City Grill:
"During the colder months of New England it’s not very appealing to grill outside, but with the City Grill I can just plug it in and use it on my kitchen counter! I can enjoy all my favorite barbecue foods all year round. It’s also great if you live in an apartment or condo where gas and charcoal grills are prohibited."
Get it from City Grill for $375.
Enjoying the meal you *actually* put a real effort into cooking at home like:
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.