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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.
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Promising review: "This thing really works great. Takes only seconds to tenderize any kind of meat. I've used on pork, beef, and chicken and the results are these meats cook and taste so much better after being tenderized with this. Many people ask about dishwasher-safe. I have used it for a while and always put it in the dishwasher and it's fine. It's plastic and stainless-steel so I don't think the dishwasher can hurt it." —5280
Get it from Amazon for $19.89 (available in four styles for different meats).
Promising review: "Really well made product. It is sturdy and works great, I foresee this lasting for quite some time. It is very easy to use and can make stuffed burgers as well as regular burgers. I also bought the paper sheets recommended because then I can buy ground beef on sale and shape and freeze my own hamburger patties. It saves quite a bit of money to do it this way as opposed to buying already made ground beef patties, not to mention the taste is sooooo much better!" —deborah
Get it from Amazon for $10.86.
Wanda's Cooking is a Black-owned and woman-owned business helmed by chef Wanda Blake.
Get it from Wanda's Cooking for $10 (also available in four other styles).
Check out my colleague's Instant Pot Air Fryer review and I can basically guarantee you'll want one before you even finish the article.
Promising review: "After listening to dozens of clients and friends talk about their air fryers, I decided it was time to bite the bullet so to speak. Consumer Reports' rave reviews led me to the Instant Vortex Plus. I LOVE LOVE LOVE ❤️ IT! Everything seems to taste better cooked in an air fryer. Even salmon is more moist and flavorful. Plus food cooks more quickly than traditional oven or fryer methods. The Vortex is large capacity so it’s easy to cook two or more types of food at the same time. Do it...you won’t regret it!" —Rosanne Heideman
Get it from Amazon for $119.95.
Promising review: "So glad that I came across these very handy sheets. I love having this information handy and easy to use. The magnetic sheets are strong and stay in place well, even with the fridge door opening and closing a lot. It's handy having them right in view for quick reference. It helps us to use the air fryer more, as it's easy to glance over and time things correctly. I like that it is a dark color so it doesn't get messy as easily, and it has all the things we are most likely to use the air fryer for. The envelope the magnetic sheets come in is cute and would make a nice gift, perhaps in a basket or bag of related items. Happy to have these!" —Small~Town~Girl
Get them from Amazon for $11.45 (also available in white).
Promising review: "Use often. Works well. Love that I can quickly chop up vegetables to same size so they cook more evenly. Especially love if I’m doing a lot of onions for food prep. Note: does not work on tomatoes for those wondering. I give a quick rinse with hot water to clean up and air dry." —Lte
Get it from Amazon for $23.97.
My colleague swears by this simple mixture of sea salt, onion, and garlic. Check out her Everything But The Bagel Seasoning review for more deets.
Promising review: "Wow! Buy this. Just stop reading reviews and buy it now. Makes any dish better. I bought this over a week ago and have since used it on avocado toast, roasted veggies, crisped chickpeas, potato soup, grilled fish...just about everything!!! So delicious and no chemicals — just pure seasoning. I give 6 stars!" —agora1031
Get it from Amazon for $6.49.
This do-it-all kitchen appliance is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker and warmer.
Promising review: "This has seriously been a lifesaver!! I love all the different options and that you can cook things that would generally take lots of preparation and time very quickly. One of my favorite things to make in this is FROZEN CHICKEN! Yup! No need to defrost for hours. Just dump in some chicken breasts with flavoring of your choice (salsa, BBQ sauce, etc) and turn it on. Cooks in about 15 minutes depending on your chicken size. Then you just shred and eat :) It's also very easy to make soups and stews and a quick baked potato in 15 minutes too! It's also super easy to clean and the variety of different buttons makes it easy to cater the cooking as you need it." —Fahmida Ali
Get the six-quart version from Amazon for $89 (also available in three- and eight-quart sizes).
Promising review: "I love guacamole, but I'm the only person in my house that will eat it. Making guacamole for one is a waste of time, but making a standard recipe always ended up being a waste of guacamole. Enter the GuacLock. This DISHWASHER-SAFE (!!!!) kitchen gadget truly delivers! To be honest, I was skeptical and didn't expect much. I made guacamole three days ago and have enjoyed it every night since. No gross brown color. No off taste. On day three it was just as fresh as the day it was made. I've shared this product on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat; I feel like all of my friends need to know about this one. If you're actually reading reviews and trying to decide whether or not to add this to your cart. Stop. Just do it! You won't regret this purchase." —Allison Horis
Get it from Amazon for $18.10.
Promising review: "I’ve owned mine for over three years now and use it regularly at home. The knife is more than sharp enough to cut an avocado in half quickly and easily but not sharp enough to cut skin. I’ve let my 10-year-old granddaughter use it all the time since she was 7. Pitting couldn't be easier or safer: three slightly rounded, blunted, recessed blades grab the pit, and the finger hole allows you to push it out easily. My blades are still fine after three-plus years. Then in one fast easy motion I have seven even slices of avocado ready for my sandwich or salad. I didn’t even need to scrape it out with a spoon." —Tony C
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
Z&Z is a family-owned small biz that specializes in mouthwatering spices.
Promising review: "This za'atar is the best quality I have found. I've also found that the balance of sumac and thyme to be just right. This instantly spices up my boring meal prep food and I put it on my chicken, meats, salads, yogurt, or just in olive oil — basically it makes everything taste so much better. I highly recommend it!" —TC
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes).
Promising review: "This thing is the bomb.com Seriously, buy one. You won't regret it. Works the first time and every time after that. I was slightly concerned when I first got it out the package. The lines that tell you how hard or soft the egg will be cooked were really hard to see. Nothing like the videos I had seen. Never fear, toss it in the pot of water and voila! Easy to see the lines!" —gunmetalgreen
Get it from Amazon for $7.35.
Promising review: "I wanted a garlic press that would help make using fresh garlic less of a hassle and this one fits the bill. I love to cook and want my garlic ready quickly. This instrument is heavy and does the job fast without much muscle. It's easy to clean as well and pops right into the dishwasher. Perfect!" —Laurie
Get it from Amazon for $16.95.
Food Crayon is a small business started by Nadia Lahrichi. All crayons are made vegan (with the exception of the Honey & Mustard flavor), gluten-free, preservative-free, and made in Montreal.
Get it from Food Crayon on Etsy for $30.08.
You'll want to pick up a knife sharpener too if you don't have one already.
Promising review: "I decided to get another knife as a spare. Realized I've owned this one for 10 years. Still works great! I sharpen and hone it regularly. Hand wash or top shelf of the dishwasher. I'm sure it'll last another 10 years." —Danielle
Get it from Amazon for $44.
P.S. This won as our budget pick for the best chef's knife.
A Dozen Cousins is a Black-owned business founded by Ibraheem Basir and inspired by his the Creole, Caribbean, and Latin American flavors he ate growing up. The variety pack comes with Cuban Black Beans, Mexican Cowboy Pinto Beans, and Trini Chickpea Curry, Creole Red Beans, Refried Black Beans, and Classic Refried Pinto Beans.
Promising review: "Canned beans from my local supermarket are always a disappointment so I stopped getting them. I don't have time to cook beans myself but A Dozen Cousins beans are fresh and taste terrific. I am trying to eat healthier and these are a great way to do that. I've been trying to avoid packaged, processed foods but the natural ingredients make these different. I can feel good about eating them. The beans are whole and not mashed-up like in cans. All of the varieties are seasoned well and versatile. I've had them on their own, in salads and in wrap sandwiches. I'm really happy to have found these and hope they continue to add new flavors and products. Do yourself a favor and order some. You won't regret it." —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $24.99.
My coworker Marquaysa Battle has taste-tested these beans and swears by 'em! Check out her A Dozen Cousins review for her thoughts.
EssieSpice is a Black-owned spice biz started by Essie Bartels and inspired by watching her mother cook when Essie was a little girl in Ghana.
Get it from EssieSpice for $10.
Marie Kennedy's eponymous brand specializes in small batch timeless pottery that Kennedy makes in their own backyard.
Promising review: "This is a high quality hydrating stone that is sturdy and durable. It is as beautiful as it is functional; the extra cost for the artwork is well worth the difference from a similar generic product." —Lucas Lorditch
Get it from Marie Kennedy Pottery on Etsy for $14.
Promising review: "This is such a game changer! It is easy to reference, and I love that it is magnetic. I stuck mine onto my fridge so it's readily accessible. If anyone else bakes like I do, I hate getting unnecessary cups/teaspoons dirty and this allows me to use the same cup for all my ingredients by seeing the conversion!" —Jessica
Get it from Amazon for $7.87.
These reusable bags are good for 50 to 100 washes and can hold pizza, chicken nuggets, and pastries. Plus they help prevent contamination if someone in the house can't eat gluten.
Promising review: "Who can say no to a mess-free toasted panini in under four minutes? Or frozen chicken nuggets or fish sticks... The sky is the limit with what you can fit into each of these toaster-safe bags. This is a late-night grilled cheese made in two minutes from heaven!!!" —Corey Guy Tremblay
Get a set of four from Amazon for $7.99.
Here's a two-pack of adhesive magnetic strips if you want the same look as the reviewer above!
Promising review: "I was debating between this and a different brand that I have liked in the past. I'm glad I took the gamble on this one! It's really nice to have the 1/8 teaspoon! They fit nicely into our spice jars (standard grocery store spices), and they seem durable — my toddler was banging one on the counter quite forcefully and it shows no sign of denting or bending! Best of all, the magnetic strip in the middle sticks to our magnetic knife bar, so they are always handy when we need them! No more digging through the drawer!!!" —Amazon Customer
Get a set of eight spoons from Amazon for $14.97 (also available in a multicolor style).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.