We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A pepper corer if you want a handy tool that'll make it quick, easy, and mess-free to remove the stem, seeds, and core from your pep.
Promising review: "I love eating raw bell peppers, and this handy gadget has been a real time-saver. Removes the core to make slicing up peppers much more efficient. Two thumbs up for this ingenious kitchen gadget." —I love Amazon
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
2. A genius tofu press — stop fussing with towels and heavy objects trying to get *all* the liquid out of your tofu. This makes the process much faster, simpler, and less messy — resulting in the perfect taste and texture!
BTW locals, TofuBud is a small biz based in San Fransisco!
Promising review: "I was resistant to getting a tofu press. Another kitchen gadget! But this little guy does not disappoint. It saves time and is clean, fast, and easy. I thought I would want something made of wood or metal — but really this is just the thing. It’s cute, rinses out lickety-split, and gets the job done without messing up towels or having to boil off extra water. My countertop stays clean. I’ve been a vegetarian all my life and this little gadget is already indispensable." —Maria Lewis
3. A versatile chop, slice, and dice unit here to simplify your meal prepping! Forget chopping your veggies one by one and having to clean a cutting board when you can just toss 'em in this device! And when you're done, just pop out the interchangeable blades and throw 'em in the dishwasher!
Fullstar is a small business established in 2017 that specializes in kitchen gadgets.
Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action.
Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. 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 styles and colors).
4. A Souper Cube so you can store soup or sauce in convenient single-serving portions that make it easy to defrost *only* the amount you need! Each tray has four spaces that fit one cup of liquid each. Now when you don't feel like making an entire meal from scratch, you can say "WAIT — we have soup!"
Souper Cubes is a US-based small business that specializes in bake-and-freeze storage products.
Promising review: "So happy that I found these. I’m the only one in my household who enjoys soup year-round. Have you ever tried to make homemade soup for one? I say it’s impossible! But no longer. I can brew up the stock pot with bone broth or my favorite home soup. Fill up my Souper Cubes, freeze, pop out, store my goodies in a freezer bag, and I’m ready for the next batch!" —Debbie R. Texas
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (also available as a pack of two)
5. Dan-O's seasoning — if you're looking for a simple way to level up your home-cooked dishes, add this delicious blend of natural sea salt, citrus, dried herbs, granulated onion, and garlic to give your taste buds a gift they'll appreciate. Plus, it has low sodium, zero carbs, and is all natural and gluten-free!
Dan-O's seasoning is a small business adored across TikTok for cooking tips and recipe ideas. Check out their full selection of seasoning, including original and spicy varieties, here.
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 (also available as a pack of four).
6. A microwave pasta maker with a built-in strainer that lets you make perfect al dente pasta...IN THE MICROWAVE. Just insert noodles and water, stick it in the microwave, and you'll have delicious pasta in minutes. No mess or sticking!
It even has handy serving size holes on top so you can ensure that you're putting the right amount of noodles inside!
Promising review: "This little thing is great. I wish I'd bought it sooner. It's a very simple container with draining and measuring holes (for long pasta) in the lid. The container itself isn't anything special. Honestly, the part that makes it REALLY worth buying is the little instruction card. It accurately shows you how long to cook many different kinds of pasta, how much water to add, etc. It takes out all the guesswork, which saves SO much time. Every kind of pasta I've tried so far has come out perfectly al dente by strictly following the instructions." —T. B. H.
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
7. A set of reusable toaster oven bags for when you're craving grilled cheese, pizza, chicken nuggets, and lots of other foods, but can't imagine turning on the stove or dirtying a pan. Now you can toast your entire meal at once in a matter of minutes!
Reviewers say these are also great for anyone with a gluten allergy who needs to keep their bread separate in the toaster.
Promising review: "TikTok made me buy this!! I do not regret it. :) Great purchase for the grilled cheese lovers. It's easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to store. Highly recommend." —Gloria Nunez
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99 (also available in a 6- and 10-pack).
8. A clip-on silicone colander that'll take the ~strain~ out of straining noodles. It's flexible, cleans up easy, and can be attached to cookware of almost any size!
Here's why BuzzFeed market editor Abby Kass loves this:
"I recently picked one of these up, and it is such a game changer. I have hated using a colander so much. It's so bulky, hard to use, and takes SO much time to clean. This solves all those problems. I've clipped it on various pots and pans, and it's fit every single one. It makes it ridiculously easy to strain the water out of the pasta and even the excess fat from ground beef. I'm throwing my old colander away because it will never be used now that I have this genius tool!"
Promising review: "Love, love, love this pasta strainer!!! My husband and I hate cleaning out the strainer, so I ordered this to make life easier. OMG, does it make life easier!!! If this ever breaks, I’ll be ordering another! It’s very sturdy and easy to use. Absolutely love it!" —Freyja
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in five colors).
9. An egg bite maker if you want a quick and easy snack... without overpaying at Starbucks and Costco! You can even take the silicone molds out and use it as a grill for sandwiches and other foods!
A lot of people 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 $34.99+ (available in three colors).
10. A splatter guard — it'll help protect you from sizzling oil splashes that would just love to hop on out of the pan and land on your bare skin. Plus, now you won't have to give your entire stove a deep clean every time you fry up some dinner.
Frywall is a New York-based small business that specializes in protective kitchen accessories.
Promising review: "I was frying chicken with lard, and I put too much in the frying pan. A few minutes after putting the chicken in, the lard began to bubble up, and if I hadn't had the Frywall in place, it would have spilled all over my stove. The Frywall creates a seal around my frying pan, stopping spillovers. Splatters don't escape, it's easy to work around it (turning my chicken over), and when I'm done, I just throw it in the dishwasher. If you do any frying at all, you want the Frywall. Helpful." —Carl G Brown
Get it from Amazon for $21.95 (available in four colors).
11. An authentic Japanese barbecue sauce inspired by the sauce the founder's grandmother used to make. Drizzle this on almost any dish that's lacking in flavor to turn a dull home-cooked meal instantly into something that tastes like it came from a restaurant!
Bachan's is an Asian and Japanese-owned small business founded by Justin Gill, who dreamed of turning his family's sauce into a business ever since he was a kid. Their sauce is proudly cold-filled, vegan, small-batch, non-GMO, BPA-free, and preservative-free, while remaining true to the recipe his family used to make over the holidays, inspired by their grandmother Judy Yokoyama.
I love this sauce! It's the perfect mix of savory, sweet, and spicy, and I've found that it works beautifully whether you're cooking with it or just using it as a last minute topping or dipping sauce.
Promising review: "“It's so good! My kids love it. Makes an easy marinade or sauce on meat, stir-fries, or anything. Super versatile. I have tried all the sauces, and they are all fantastic.” —David Lam
Get it from Bachan's for $10.99.
12. A breakfast sandwich maker that can SIMULTANEOUSLY cook an egg, toast bread, warm precooked meat, and melt cheese into the perfect sandwich in five minutes or less if you wanna feel like somebody *else* made your morning meal.
All removable parts are dishwasher safe so cleanup is easy!
Promising review: "If you are looking for an easy way to make a breakfast sandwich, look no further. I wish I knew this product existed years ago! The bread comes out toasted, the meat was warm, the egg was cooked perfectly, and the unit was super easy to clean. I couldn’t be happier with how well this bad boy performed from start to finish. All I used was butter to prep the hot surfaces. After, I used a wet paper towel on the nonstick surfaces, and voila! A clean unit ready for another run. I LOVE this sandwich maker!!!" —Merc
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in two colors).
13. A nonstick, food-safe baking mat because cooking in the oven is even *easier* if you can avoid having to scrape a baking pan clean after.
Promising review: "I use these mats multiple times a day. They make cleanup super easy, which is really important in my hectic life. They wipe off easily with just water." —Tasia Lung
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.60+ (available in two styles and larger packs).
14. And some reusable air fryer liners so you can air fry to your heart's content without having to spend time cleaning afterward since it's dishwasher-safe!
Promising review: "I absolutely love these liners. I love the fact that you get three in the package so you don’t have to immediately wash the one you’re using before you reuse it. You can just simply use one of the other two. This was a brilliant idea." —Roxanne C
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $10.17+ (available in six sizes, three shapes, and three colors).
15. A rapid egg cooker that'll make it much faster and easier to prepare a delicious and nutritious breakfast! This impressive lil' device can make hard-boiled, soft-boiled, poached, and scrambled eggs in just minutes! It can even make an omelet if you wanna feel fancy without the extra effort.
See it in action on TikTok here!
Promising review: "If you are on the fence about getting one of these, GET ONE. It really is as easy as it sounds to have a perfectly cooked egg, no guesswork. Soft-boiled eggs took me about 11 minutes to make. Just have an ice bath ready next to the cooker, and let the eggs sit for a minute or two in there...peels come right off :) Makes healthy eating a breeze in the morning! Where has this been all my life!??!?" —rebecca
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in eight colors).
16. A delicious gift box of organic spices and seasonings ideal for grilling if you wanna seriously up your BBQ game without adding more steps to the cooking process.
You can choose from a variety of combos, from special sea salts to BBQ flavors. They're from a small, family-owned business based in Jacksonville, Florida, that donates a meal to a child in need for each box sold!
Promising review: "The packaging was awesome! When you looked at the little glass jars, you expected there to be really great product on the inside — not some cheap spices you could buy at any local store — and that’s exactly what we got! I bought these at the Father’s Day gift for my dad who is an avid griller and smoker. All of the spices had a unique flavor that was very robust and distinct. I would definitely recommend this." —Stephanie Brosch
Get a box of five from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 12 flavor combinations).
17. A vegetable brush so you can skip the task of peeling potatoes and other veggies and simply clean them instead — which is much faster and easier thanks to this tool!
Promising review: "I’m delighted with this brush. With the rise of popularity of sweet potato dishes, I didn’t want to lose nutrition by tossing the skins. The amount of dirt this removes from the surface actually surprised me. The grip is comfortable. Go ahead! Grab the brush and eat those skins!" —Jennifer Guerrero
Get it from Amazon for $7.95.
18. A jar of Matiz Sofrito that's great for making a next-level paella, but is also a fantastic sauce for meats, fish, pasta, eggs, and more! This sofrito is made from a family recipe using tomatoes that are slow-roasted in olive oil for over three hours, giving your dishes a rich, fresh flavor without having to spend a bunch of time in the kitchen.
Matiz works with the small family producer Estilo Kiki in Valencia, Spain, to produce this handmade sofrito.
Promising review: "Usually I make my own sofrito, but I was wondering if I could save time without compromising flavor. This is an awesome alternative! Delicious and expeditious." —Dot A
Get a 12.3 oz jar from Amazon for $11.99.
19. A set of Anyday microwaveable cooking bowls designed to make fast and delicious meals from scratch — in the microwave! The silicone-rimmed glass lid keeps the steam in the dish to ensure evenly cooked food, and you can use the same bowls to serve your meal as well as store and reheat the leftovers! If you love the sound of less dirty dishes and low-effort yet tasty meals, these are worth the investment!
What's included: Large deep dish, large shallow dish, medium deep dish, medium shallow dish, and two small dishes.
Anyday is a small, modern cookware brand from Steph Chen. If you need some inspiration, check out Anyday's dish ideas which include recipes from the likes of David Chang and Joshua McFadden!
Promising review: "Giving five stars does not do this dish justice; it needs five billion stars! This has to be the BEST product I have ever purchased in my life. Since I do not have access to a stove or oven, these dishes have allowed me to 'cook' chicken, salmon, tilapia, shrimp, pork chops, and vegetables with just a microwave! Genius!! Thank you Anyday for this beautiful ray of sunshine you have bestowed upon my life." —SR
Get it from Anyday for $170 (originally $200; available in three colors).
20. A pair of bear claws that make it so much easier to shred meats. Hate getting your fingers covered in greasy rotisserie chicken? Use these instead!
Promising review: "Just yesterday, I was using these claws to turn a roast I was browning, and I declared my undying love for them. Then I remembered I haven't yet written a review for them. They seriously have changed my life as far as cooking meat. Flipping a chicken, or a goose, or a duck, turning a roast, transferring a roast from the rack onto the board for cutting, holding the meat steady while cutting — the claws do it all. They are like salad hands for your meat. Buy them and see your life change too!" —Anonymous
Get them from Amazon for $20.99 (available in two styles).
21. A set of magnetic air fryer cheat sheets to take the guesswork out of using your favorite kitchen appliance and easily avoid winding up with over- and under-cooked food.
Promising review: "Bought an air fryer several months ago, which I haven't used a whole lot because it came with only a few recipes but not enough info on other items to cook. The Lotteli cheat sheet gives you cooking times and temperatures for a lot of your common everyday foods in a magnetized easy-to-read, two-sheet combo that fills in where the air fryer pamphlet that came with the unit leaves out. I also bought an air fryer cookbook, but this only comes with specific recipes, whereas the cheat sheet fills in the void for quick basic needs. Very happy with this purchase! 😁" —B. Frank Smith
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in two colors).
22. A Masala Trio containing three savory masalas that are the base of many South Asian dishes so you can expand the flavor profile of your home cooking without ~expanding~ the amount of time it takes to cook mouthwatering meals at home.
Diaspora Co. is a a queer, woman of color-owned business supporting sustainable spice agriculture and direct trade. Founder and CEO Sana Javeri Kadri grew up in postcolonial Mumbai, and was inspired to grow a radically new and truly equitable spice trade to push a broken system into an equal exchange — while producing truly delicious spice blends!
Get it from Diaspora Co for $45.
23. Home Chef, which is the perfect thing to take the stress out of meal time. Just pick and customize your meals for the week, and pre-portioned ingredients will be delivered right to your door with easy-to-follow step by step recipes! Plus, they offer everything from five-minute to 30+ minute meals to accommodate your ever-fluctuating schedule.
Meal types offered: Gluten-free, dairy-free, meatless, calorie-conscious, and carb-conscious meals.
What does it include? Portioned and labeled ingredients, and instructions for your choice of meals that take 30 minutes or 15 minutes to cook. Oven-ready meals that simply need to be popped into the oven are also available!
Promising review: "Excellent flavors, easy to make, and a good variety of meals that arrive fresh and correctly prepared every time. Couldn't be more pleased. Has saved me time and money during the busy weekdays!" —Jessica
Get it from Home Chef starting at $8.99/serving.
24. Or a Blue Apron subscription — they'll send you fresh ingredients from farmers pre-portioned for specific dishes, plus easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions so you can get perfect results every time, *without* the hassle of grocery shopping, measuring ingredients, and hunting down recipes.
Meal types offered: Vegetarian, diabetes-friendly recipes, and family-style meals.
What does it include? Fresh measured ingredients from family-run farms, measured spices, and recyclable packaging.
Get it from Blue Apron: a two-serving plan starting at $12.49/serving or a four-serving plan starting at $9.99/serving.
25. A Kochblume spill stopper to avoid a mess if your pot boils over. It traps excess foam and liquid so they don't spill all over your stove. No more hovering anxiously in the kitchen while waiting for your water to boil (and say goodbye to having a huge mess to clean up all because you BRIEFLY turned your head).
Promising review: "Wow wow wow, I have no words to describe how great this product is. I'm a mom with a large family who cooks and bakes all the time, and there is never a time that something doesn't spill over even when standing and watching the pot. With this, life has just gotten easy. I think I'm throwing out all my pot covers after using this."—Rackel
Get it from Amazon for $20+ (available in three colors).
26. An automatic pan stirrer for anyone who tends to forget to continuously stir certain ingredients and always ends up with clumpy results. It even has a built-in timer, so you can let it take over at the stove while you bask in the glory of your newfound free time.
Promising review: "Honestly, I laughed at myself for buying this. I stopped laughing the first time I used it! What a help! It freed me up to do other things while it stirred the sauce that needed constant attention. Bought another one! Not laughing now!" —Luvdvm
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $25+ (battery-powered and rechargeable versions available).
27. An Instant Pot to make your friends and family think you're a brilliant cook, when really you just followed a few simple directions and let this useful device do the rest. You won't believe how quick and simple it is to make dishes that actually taste incredible using this appliance that's a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté-r, yogurt maker, and warmer all in one!
It can prepare food up to 70% faster than other methods. It can keep food warm automatically for up to 10 hours, and there are three temperatures for sautéing and slow cooking. The inner cooking pot, lid, and steam rack are dishwasher-safe! Check out our Instant Pot review for more deets!
Promising review: "This is quite possibly the coolest, most versatile kitchen gadget I’ve ever owned. I love it so much that I’ve purchased two more for friends and relatives. What can it do? I think the real question is 'What can’t it do?' I truly believe you could replace every cooking appliance (including your oven and stove top) and do EVERYTHING in the Instant Pot.
I purchased two sizes for my own use: the three quart (which is my almost-every-day workhorse for two-person dishes) and the eight quart (which I bring out to handle my dinner party dishes). Everything I’ve tried has been fabulous. In the realm of kitchen appliances, there is no better investment than the Instant Pot. Highly recommended!!!" —Stereoman
Get it from Amazon for $59.95+ (available in three sizes and styles).
28. A jar of Sichuan Chili Crisp from Fly By Jing you'll wanna use on EVERYTHING. Seriously. It's hot and tingly without being overwhelmingly spicy, and its bold flavor is so delicious, you won't be able to get enough. This sauce is mind blowing on everything from noodles and eggs, to pizza and even ice cream! *Plus*, it's vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, and made without preservatives or artificial flavors. Achieving flavor perfection at home just got a whoooole lot easier.
Jing Gao, the founder and CEO of Fly By Jing, is a chef, entrepreneur, and a globally-renowned expert on Chinese cuisine. While the flavors are inspired by her hometown of Chengdu, Jing's recipes are deeply personal and offer a unique taste you won't find anywhere else.
I got this sauce as a gift, and I have been obsessed ever since I tried it. It combines the most prized Sichuan peppercorns with fragrant dried chilies, fermented black beans, garlic, shallots and more for a numbing, umami-rich flavor that has enhanced truly everything I've tried it on — without overpowering the other flavors. I've been struggling to find the right sauce to take my home-cooked dishes to the next level, and let me tell you, this is it! Plus, the packaging is super cute and thoughtful, and mine even came with a beautiful little zine that includes a breakdown of the ingredients, some amazing recipe ideas, and more!
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available as a pack of two) or a pack of two from Fly By Jing for $34.
29. A food thermometer so you can stop wasting time hemming and hawing over whether or not your chicken is cooked enough, and quit losing precious juice from your steaks every time you cut them open to check on the middle. Just stick this lil' guy in and get an instant temperature reading!
Get it from our Goodful shop for $19.99.
30. An oil mister because no one feels like ending up with messy, greasy hands every time they dress a salad or do a little cooking.
Promising review: "This is a great item for lightly spraying salads, roasting vegetables, or adding some oil to a prepared plate of pasta. Avoids using more oil than necessary, so that’s savings right there. I also use it to put a light coating of oil on all my cast-iron cookware to prevent rust. Best of all, it looks great on the dinner table. It has lots of uses, which really makes it an asset in the kitchen. It seems that it should last a while, so I think it is worth the few bucks spent." —Clancy
Get it from Amazon for $11.39 (also available as a set of two).
31. And finally, a fiery larb starter pack from Omsom to add spicy, sweet, salty, tart, and subtly nutty Southeast Asian flavors — based on the traditional Laos-born dish, Thai larb — to any meal! The blend of Red Boat fish sauce, lime juice, cane sugar, thai dried chili flakes, and toasted rice powder are sure to bring something special to a variety of dishes without adding more work on your part!
Promising review: "Great larb at home! The kit was super easy and yummy!!! Really authentic! I like it kind of spicy so I added a little Thai roasted chili paste! Will order these again!!!" —DEIRDRE E.
Get a three-pack from Omsom for $13.
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.