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    34 Products That’ll Solve So Many Annoying Things About Cooking

    Cooking doesn't have to feel like a chore. At least, not with these nifty products as your sous-chef.

    1. A butter bell — this makes butter so soft, rich, and spreadable you're gonna think it's the best thing since sliced bread. Avoid those dreaded bread holes when trying to put impossible-to-spread refrigerated butter on toast. You *know* your toddler won't eat it if there are any imperfections. 

    reviewer's butter bell on kitchen counter
    better bell with lid cup filled with butter and bottom half full of water

    Promising review: "This looks great on the counter and works well! It makes butter easy to spread and stays fresh with natural water seal. I should have bought one of these years ago!" —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $28.95 (available in 14 colors).

    2. A silicone grease container for folks who would love to start putting their bacon grease to good use. This has a strainer to make sure no bacon bits get left behind. Just toss it in the freezer and you'll have smooth, delectable drippings for your next cooking endeavor (or a mess-free trashing system if bacon grease isn't your thing). 

    Oil being poured strained into the red silicon bacon pin sitting next to the matching silicone lid shaped like a pig's head
    A hand scooping frozen grease out of the bacon pin with a knife
    Amazon

    This reusable, silicone design is safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, resists stains and odors, and holds one cup of cooled grease.

    Promising review: "This came exactly as described. It's worth every penny! It’s compact, fits right in your refrigerator without taking up too much space, is easy to clean, and adorable!" —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes).

    3. A set of three fermentation lids with clear, step-by-step instructions so you don't have to be intimidated by this classic cooking process. Homemade pickled vegetables and kimchi are coming your way! 

    the fermentation lid kit
    three different sized jars with different vegetables being fermented in them

    Promising review: "I am a first time fermenter and was very pleased with this kit. I made dill pickles and some mixed veggies (cauliflower, carrots, onions, and green beans). They all turned out yummy. I used half-gallon jars and the glass weights, and didn't have any mold problems! I was not prepared for the smells though. Love this product as it makes it so easy to get some tasty probiotics into your gut." —Claudia Turner

    Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

    4. A pair of bear claws that'll make shredding pork, roast, and chicken a cinch. 

    person holding claw tools while shredding chicken
    Amazon

    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 $20.49+ (available in two styles).

    5. A Kochblume spill stopper to keep meals from boiling over onto the stove by trapping excess foam and liquid. No more tossing a wooden spoon over your pasta hoping it keeps the bubbles at bay! 

    The spill stopper in red on top of a pot on a stove with water boiling inside, illustrating that it will not boil over
    Amazon

    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).

    6. A pickle keeper and juice strainer — tip this over like an hourglass and you can grab pickles, cherries, or olives *without* the juice making a mess. 

    pickles and juice in a container
    The container flipped so the juice is only at at bottom

    Promising review: "I love pickles and olives but hate the mess and pain of pickle/olive brine. I've been known to just drain it out of a jar immediately, even if that means having to throw away the pickles or olives sooner. I randomly discovered these containers from some online article, and knew right away I would be getting one. I now have two but plan on buying more. They're just great. The only thing is, you need to be 100% sure you've got the lids on completely or you will have a disaster on your hands. Check and double check each time you are securing them. The tongs are useful just to have around for anything, too." —Nick

    Get it from Amazon for $12.95 (also available with add-ons). 

    7. A genius tofu press that'll efficiently drain tofu to get the perfect texture and taste, mess not included.

    Tofu being pressed inside plastic container
    TofuBud

    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 licketty 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

    Get it from Amazon for $26.95.

    8. An herb stripper to easily separate each herb from its stem. You won't be-leaf how much time this saves! 

    Reviewer stripping herbs over pot of sauce
    Bowl of produce stripped with tool on top

    Promising Review: "This is sturdy and easy to use. It's worth the money." —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $9.32.

    9. A pack of cheese storage paper can keep your cheese fresh far longer than wrapping it in plastic wrap. (Cheese is alive — it needs to breathe!)

    Cheese covered up with paper before being placed in the fridge
    Amazon

    The paper recreates the environment cheese is aged in by breathing just the right amount and maintaining perfect humidity.

    Promising review: "Before I bought this cheese paper I would do the cheese search in the refrigerator. After buying cheeses, opening them, and then rewrapping them in heaven knows what (namely plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and plastic containers), it was always the same result: moldy cheese. This box contains the paper in sheets plus some stickers that you can write on with the name of the cheese and the date it was wrapped or even sell by date. There are also pictures of a sheep, cow, and goat so the source can be identified by circling or checking one of them! What I also like is that the cheeses can be rewrapped after use and amazingly the stickers still stick! The paper can also be cut to size to wrap smaller cheeses. So far I have noted that the cheeses have stayed fresh with not a trace of mold. I highly recommend this product to all cheese lovers!" —Prairie Woman

    Get a pack of 15 sheets from Amazon for $15 (also available in larger packs).

    10. A silicone bread maker, an inexpensive option that'll help you ~rise~ to the occasion whenever you want to bake a perfect loaf of bread. The partially closed design allows steam to circulate to keep your bread from drying out, while the openings on the side help heat disperse evenly, creating a golden crust.

    Person pulling dough with maker opened like a bowl
    Bread makers folded closed, with three loaves cooking in oven
    Amazon

    This is both microwave- and dishwasher safe. It's capable of withstanding temperatures up to 428 degrees.

    Promising review: "I love this. It's very easy to use and to clean. I have been trying to make fresh bread every week and this is much easier than using my Dutch oven. I have been trying different recipes with this bread maker and so far all have come out great!" —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $27.83.

    11. An adjustable rolling pin — this hits the exact width you need your baked goods rolled out at. This thing works so well it'd be worth spending some serious ~dough~ on. Fortunately, the thrifty price is just as sweet as the desserts you're gonna make with it.

    Closeup of edge with five width-changing attachments
    Person rolling dough
    Amazon

    Promising Review: "Can I just say where have you been all my life? I ordered this specifically so I could use to make sugar cookies. It made my cookies go so much faster for a change! I used to get out a ruler trying to figure out if I had the right thickness or if the dough was rolled even enough (which I never did get right in the past). This roller allowed to me quickly and easily roll the whole batch of sugar cookies without getting frustrated! Super easy to use and clean up was also a snap. Would recommend this to any baker out there!" —LAD

    Get it from Amazon for $21.10+ (available in two colors).

    12. A pack of colorful reusable baking cups for home chefs who want waste-free treats that still look good enough to gobble up.

    Person peeling back cupcake cover showing flexibility and reusability
    Amazon

    This 12-pack of food-grade silicone cups are safe to use in the freezer, microwave, and oven. They can handle temperatures of up to 500 degrees and come in pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

    Promising review: "These little thingies are perfect! I made some muffins with them and they came out incredibly easily with no residue on the cups at all. I didn't have to use grease or anything. The colors are bright and fun, and they you plenty of each color. These are slightly smaller than a regular cupcake pan/liner, which is actually perfect for my purposes. As others have mentioned, the cups are a bit on the flimsy side, so make sure they're on a baking sheet before you fill them because they can be difficult to transport once full." —kapplejack

    Get 12 from Amazon for $7.59.

    13. A spoon holder so keeping your counters clean while cooking is super simple! Now that you'll have a clean stirring solution, the only question will be witch brew should you make next?? 

    clip on spoon rest holder that looks like witch riding broomstick
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok and just had to get it. It arrived very fast and looks adorable! I have a gas stove with grates, so there is no room for a spoon rest. This takes care of that hassle!" —A Power Mama

    Get it from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in three colors and two styles).

    14. Or a spoon stand for keeping both your stirring spoon and the lid of your pot upright and nearby, preventing you from making a mess on your counter by simply laying them down. 

    Lid and wooden spoon placed on holder
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I personally always hate it when you pull off the lid of something and the lid is leaking water everywhere while being super hot. With my new solid-surface counters, I definitely don't want to set the lid on there and ruin them and putting it on the stovetop is either annoying due to the water mess or impossible if you are using the whole stove. This was made for the fussy new-home person like me. I can now set the lid down down safely and not worry about where all that hot water is going." —Susan

    Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

    15. A nifty strainer that'll save all the storage space a traditional colander takes up *and* make straining a far simpler situation. 

    The strainer attached to a pot, which allows the water to drain while keeping pasta in place
    Amazon

    It's made of flexible silicone and designed to fit most pots and pans.

    Promising review: "This product has changed the straining game in the kitchen. Gone are the days of one pot for cooking, one for straining, and another for mixing whatever you just cooked and strained for consumption. This attaches very easily to any pot via the clips, although it does require some effort to properly lodge into place. It functions as advertised with no issues. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to purchase and I will buy another one as needed for my kitchen." —Jacob K.

    Get it from Amazon for $12.49+ (available in four colors).

    16. An inconspicuous jar opener, because you're not gonna let arthritis, or poor upper body strength, get in the way of your pasta sauce and pickles.

    Promising review: "I bought this last year and have used it many times on many different lids, even use it to open gallon milk jugs when those pesky plastic attachments just won't seem to give. I haven't found anything I try that it won't open for me. No more banging on the counter, just hold it under my cabinet and slid it in the V-shaped opening, give it a little twist to open, hardly any effort at all. It was easy to attach under the cabinet, I put mine so the wide opening faces forward. I personally think every house should have one of these." —Addie

    Get It from Amazon for $14.99.

    17. A garlic rocker sure to, ahem, rock your world. This tool is way easier than a traditional garlic press. 

    closeup of hand holding the tool
    reviewer's garlic press filled with minced garlic

    I cook with a shocking amount of garlic and I always hated dealing with my old garlic press. This one-piece solution is SO much better than the old school tool! You simply place your peeled garlic under and rock at an angle, it minces just the same. This also comes with a (TBH very cute) scraper *and* a silicone sleeve that'll help you peel your cloves in an instant.

    Promising review: "I like garlic very much, so I use this garlic press every day. It works very well, is easy to use, and easy to clean. Compared with the garlic press I used before, this is more labor-saving and comfortable." —Jessica

    Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in two colors).

    18. A set of stove counter gap covers so you can save that insufferable space from the slips and spills that leave stray crumbs on your floor...forever. 

    Reviewer photo of gap covers installed on sides of stove
    Reviewer closeup photo of gap cover installed on side of stove

    Promising review: "I ordered these silicone gap covers to keep debris from falling in between our kitchen appliances and the counters. The thing that sold me was when I read a review on here that stated that they were able to use it for the gap between the stove and fridge. I have the same setup in my apartment. Countertop on one side of the stove and fridge on the other. The silicone sticks very well to the fridge, stove, and counter. It doesn’t move around very easily, which is a good thing. Just make sure you place it with the wider side of the strip towards the counter as shown in the picture." —Kevin B.

    Get two from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

    19. hanging garbage bag holder for easily disposing of your scraps without a trek to the trash can every single step of the recipe. 

    The holder with a plastic bag attached, which is hung up on an under-sink cabinet door
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I love this product because I'm always chopping vegetables and cutting up meat. I would be making several trips to the trash. Now I'm able to make meal prep quicker, easier, and cleaner! A good way to use up some of those plastic bags from the grocery store, too!" —Ellen Holcomb

    Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

    20. A 10-piece set of glass food storage containers to keep your leftovers and prepped fresh without stinkin' up your fridge. These are stain-resistant, microwave-safe, and oven-safe up to 450 degrees. Bless.

    overhead shot of different sized glass food storage containers with food inside
    Target

    You'll get two 1.3-cup containers, two 4.7-cup containers, and one 8-cup glass container, all with air-tight and leak-proof lids.

    Promising review: "I absolutely love these containers. Their rectangular shape makes them perfect for storage and travel-friendly. They are the perfect size for storing leftovers that I can either take for lunch the next day or warm up and split between me and my husband. I love how well the lid seals, so I have no worry about it spilling everywhere. Overall, these have become my new favorite containers. I would definitely recommend." —jodim1

    Get it from Target for $55.99.

    21. A handy Souper Cubes freezer tray that'll make freezing things like soup and sauces ~souper~ easy. With this you'll be able to heat up a perfect portion without waiting on an entire pot to boil. That's right, Virgos. We found a way to organize soup!

    The five-compartment teal container that looks like a large ice cube tray, with a perfectly rectangular block of frozen soup next to it
    A reviewer's trays full of stew, one with the lid on and one with it off

    This is BPA-free and dishwasher safe!

    Promising review: "LOVE LOVE LOVE. My freezer is so much more organized now. Gone are the days of having to defrost an entire bag of chicken broth for one cup for a recipe. I now have perfectly portioned half-cup and one-cup blocks ready to go. They fit easily in freezer bags, take up less space, and make me incredibly happy. There was a lot of attention to detail put into the design and I particularly appreciate the wire inside the rim that holds everything steady — no more worrying about spilling all the liquid on the way to the freezer. Just a fantastic product all around. I purchased this and a cheaper version from another manufacturer at the same time, but returned the other product. This one is definitely worth the added cost." —Kate

    Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

    22. A roll of machine washable reusable bamboo towels that'll be so easy to use you won't feel like you've gotta throw in the towel on your eco-friendly goals. Avoiding wasting money on wasteful products will be easier than you think!

    Watermelon being held up by towel while under running water
    Person throwing towel into the wash
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I use a shameful amount of paper towels and these make feel so much less wasteful! I mostly use them to cover my cat’s food while I microwave it since I don’t want it splattering all over the microwave. These work great for that. I have a tiny little bin on my kitchen counter that I put the used ones in and then transfer it to the laundry bin when full." —CH

    Get them from Amazon for $9.99.

    23. A Dash rapid egg cooker sure to guarantee you never have to ~scramble~ to find a good Sunday brunch spot ever again — your kitchen table is gonna be the best spot in town.

    egg cooker filled with eggs and deviled eggs around it
    Amazon

    It can make hard-boiled eggs, soft-boiled eggs, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, and individual omelets. 

    Promising review: "I bought this egg cooker for the first time a year and a half ago, and it is awesome. I hate having a single-purpose appliance in my kitchen, but this is worth it. Making hard-boiled eggs was always hit or miss for me, even if it was timed perfectly. (I admit I forgot about the eggs more than once!) This cooker makes PERFECT eggs every single time, to the exact hardness I desire with no green ring on the yolk. Even better, the shell slides off without taking half the egg white with it! My favorite use is to pop some eggs in when I get home and prep a salad. By the time the salad is ready, the eggs are done. I can even leave the kitchen and still hear when they are done because of the buzzer. I've purchased five more of them for family for Christmas this year and can't wait to get everyone on board the Dash Go Egg Cooker train!" —A. M. Hinshaw

    Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in eight colors).

    24. An adjustable cake leveler that'll help with what feels like an impossible task – evenly cutting into a baked cake. If you've tried this with a knife before and ended up with nothing but crumbles, you deserve this. 

    gif of cake being sliced with tool
    reviewer's cake with four layers of cake with frosting between them

    If you'd like to make a checkerboard cake – you need this piece! 

    Promising review: "I was scared to work with layer cakes before because I fail miserably in leveling cakes. Ruler and knife just do not work for me! I can't do it! I decided to give this a try and, boy, I feel like I am an expert cake maker. It's so easy to use and it works perfectly. So far I have tried it on white almond sour cream cake and it has done great. I was able to do a checkerboard cake and I couldn't imagine pulling it off before. Can't wait to make more fabulous cakes! If you suck at leveling cakes, do not hesitate to get this tool! I promise you are going to love it!'' —E. Champion

    Get it from Amazon for $8.39.

    25. A collapsible cooling rack so you can have the proper setup when your cookie cravings are greater than your counter space.

    several loaves of bread cooling on four tiered stacked rack
    reviewer image with dozens of cookies cooling on rack

    Promising review: "This is easy to set up, sturdy, and saves counter space! I'm so happy with this purchase." —Sun Family

    Get it from Amazon for $29.69+ (available in two styles).

    26. A bag re-sealer I'd personally buy for the looks alone (it's basically a tiny hair straightener! CUTE!), for anyone who would love the chance to reseal their snacks and keep them feelin' fresh.

    reviewer using the device to re-seal chip bag
    reviewer image of bag sealer outside of packaging

    Promising review: "Just got this cool new gadget! So sick of never having a clip for the million bags of chips I open daily. This sealer worked great. Heated up in, like, 40 seconds and sealed this chip bag in seconds, and now, I don't have to find a clip! I'm sure the chips will stay fresh much longer, too, since it's sealed like I just bought it! Would recommend!" —Stacy0814

    Get it from Amazon for $9.77 (available in three colors).

    27. A tomato knife to make chopping up this pesky piece of produce tomat-oh so easy!

    Serrated knife beside chopped cherry tomatoes
    Gif of my hands cutting a cherry tomato into tiny slices
    Amazon, Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed

    Promising review: "I love this knife! I stumbled upon a description when I was shopping for a sushi knife. It was so cheap, I decided to take a chance. Wow. It is such a great little knife. Yes, it works perfectly on soft tomatoes. But, to be honest, I use it for many other fruits and vegetables. It is amazingly sharp, the serrated edge is very effective, and it has a great feel in my hand." —Jane S. 

    Get it from Amazon for $15.60.

    28. A cutting board prep station for slicing, dicing, and storing your meal prepped masterpieces all at once. 

    a person chopping watermelon on the board
    sliced fruits in the containers

    Promising review: "I purchased this product because I do a lot of food prep and have challenges placing prepared cuttings into containers. This unique cutting board allows me to cut various foods and slide them through an opening directly into a sealable plastic container. the time savings and organization allows for faster prep time. The bamboo board works well for this purpose." —N Hara

    Get it from Amazon for $65.95+ (available in two styles).

    29. A pair of herb scissors sure to ~cut~ your prep time in half when chopping things like cilantro, parsley, and dill. 

    closeup of multi-blade scissors cutting herbs over soup
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I like to grow herbs and use them in salads, soups, and many other recipes. I received these as a birthday gift and can't believe how fast and easy it is to cut up cilantro, basil, parsley, lovage, etc. My husband tried them today too for the first time while making guacamole, and found that slicing the cilantro went very quickly. The storage case-cleaner is very efficiently designed too. I ordered four of these sets to give as gifts." —Lucille P. Nawara

    Get them from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three colors). 

    30. A darling pig egg yolk separator for when your recipe calls for separated eggs and you don't want your meal to turn into slop.

    A pig-shaped silicone suction tool pulling up an egg yolk from a bowl
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I love this. It's fast, simple, easy to use, and easy to clean. This is definitely better than the wire holder I have been using!" —meissler

    Get it from Amazon for $13.90 (available in three styles).

    31. A rice cooker is gonna take the guesswork out of making the perfect bowl of rice. It's time to finally make the crispy rice sushi bites TikTok keeps talking about!

    product shot of the cooker, lid, spoon, measuring tool, and uncooked rice in a jar
    reviewer's rice cooker cooking with the lid on

    Promising review: "I love this product. I've made so many different rices in it. The only thing I suggest is when making rice that might end up sitting in the pot for a while, put some olive oil on the bottom as the rice tends to stick if it's sitting on the 'warm' setting for too long, or add some extra water. The rice cooker is wonderful though. It's a real time-saver." —Michelle

    Get it from Amazon for $19.59+ (available in three sizes).

    32. A 10-piece mixing bowl set you can use as mixing bowls, serving dishes, leftover containers, and the family popcorn bowls. I own these and have told my whole family to get them. You all were next on my list! Get them.

    Five bowls of different sizes, each with a lid
    My own mixing bowl with prepped ingredients in front of a cookbook
    Amazon, Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed

    I bought these bowls after a coworker found them (oh yeah, I'm totally a sucker for BuzzFeed shopping posts) and I can't help but rave about them! They all nest easily, which makes storing simple in my tiny Brooklyn kitchen, and the lids are a major bonus for storing leftovers. They're also practically indestructible – my cat has knocked these off the counter as a set and individually (he's a monster) and they've held up great!

    Get it from Amazon for $38.33 (available in two styles).

    33. An immersion blender, because cold soup season is almost here and I plan on eating gazpacho...daily. What do I not plan on doing? Cleaning a blender daily. Grab this and you too can have delicious chilled soup without the extra dishes!

    Handheld blender beside tomato paste
    Amazon

    This blender includes a whisk and milk frothing attachment.

    Promising review: "In looking for a new hand blender I felt fortunate to find this. At 500 watts, this one is more powerful than most, the steel feels substantial, and the attachments are very easy to change. I am impressed with how fast it is and cleanup is super easy. This one is perfect for my needs, no frills, just a very sleek tool for a serious cook!" —farm folk

    Get it from Amazon for $19.75.

    34. And finally, a Wilton 55-piece cake tips set to make desserts so mind bogglingly lovely your friends won't know whether to eat it...or frame it.

    reviewer succulent cake
    reviewer floral cupcakes

    Promising review: "We used these for the first time to decorate cookies. They worked great and everyone enjoyed decorating. Normally we run out of steam decorating our sugar cookies but this year we all hung in until the end. Great results and lots of options. I am a novice and I made great cookies." —smit10

    Get it from Amazon for $35.99.

    IRL footage of my cooking coming out of the oven before getting these products: