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1. A stainless-steel 5-quart wok that'll make prepping large meals and one-pot recipes an easy breezy task.
This wok features ergonomic handles and a "stay cool" long handle (because burning your hands while cooking = extremely uncool). This is also oven-safe in temps of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, so it's perfect for those "transfer from stove to oven" recipes you have saved!
"This is such a great piece of cookware. As I transition from my College Cookware — yeah, like the pots and pans I've been using since college living — I've noticed the difference in investing in good quality kitchenware. You get that with 360 Cookware. This stainless steel wok has become my trusty companion when cooking up yummy dinners — and it's large enough to ensure I will have leftovers for the next day. It's been perfect for my new WFH/eat every meal at home lifestyle I've grown accustomed to the past year." —Kayla Suazo
Get it from 360 Cookware for $289.
2. A lovely French butter crock to ensure you always have fresh, soft, and easily spreadable butter on-hand at all times. Plus, this baby makes for a cute but simple piece of kitchen decor.
This is food-, dishwasher-, and microwave-safe! CPClayArt is a small business based in Weston, Florida that sells wonderful ceramic home goods.
"I'd go so far as to say I'm a butter fangirl, so of course I want nothing but the best for my favorite dairy. This butter crock isn't just gorgeous, it keeps butter unbelievably fresh at room-temperature. Now you're guaranteed to always have some softened butter around so you don't have to do the trying-to-spread-cold-butter-on-bread-and-failing tango. Just put some butter in the top portion, a little water in the bottom portion and put them together to make a perfect seal. This baby also just looks fantastic on my countertop. Love a functional piece of art!" —Rachel Dunkel
Get it from CPClayArt on Etsy for $37 (currently only available in green).
3. A rapid egg cooker that'll prepare your favorite style of the yummy breakfast food EGGtra quick — hard/medium/soft boiled, poached, scrambled, omelet — breakfast for every meal, anyone?
It also features an auto-shutoff function! It can boil up to six eggs at a time, poach up to two eggs at a time, or make an omelet! There's a poaching tray, omelet tray, a six-egg holder tray, a measuring cup, a recipe book, and access to a recipe database. All nonelectric parts are dishwasher-safe! To learn more about this EGGcellent product, check out our write-up of the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker!
I love cooking, I really do, but there are two very inconvenient times that my cooking laziness strikes, and that is first thing in the morning when I wake up, and at the end of the day when it's time for dinner. Thankfully, in the morning, I now have this rapid egg cooker which allows me to make soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or an omelet, all without having to stand over the stove.
It's also a great way to whip up a high protein snack during the day when you're busy with work, school, or just in the middle of a very important Netflix binge. The egg maker will let out a sound when your eggs are cooked, and then all you have to do is enjoy them!
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in eight colors).
4. A foolproof blender so you can whip up sauces, milkshakes, and smoothies (that are actually thick) without having to worry about taking up precious counter space. Plus, it looks pretty! Gotta love an aesthetic kitchen gadget.
Plus, the blending vessel can be used as a cup and comes with a lid perfect for bringing your frozen bev on-the-go!
"This thing *lives* on my counter, and I don't mind it taking up the (admittedly small) space at all, because it's that dang stylish — AND I use it truly allllllll the time! The controls are super intuitive for my pre-caffeine morning brain. When you twist the blender jar in, the yellow indicator light turns white, which indicates it's locked and ready to use. Just press to pulse, or press and hold for *just one second* to start a 60-second automatic blend. I like my smoothies tttthhiiiiiiicccckkkkk (when I go out for a smoothie, ordering extra thick is the way to go), and I've been able to make deliciously creamy, not juice-like smoothies EVERY DANG TIME. And cleanup is incredibly easy. Just rinse the blade base with soapy water (or a quick dish sponge scrub for stubborn ingredients), wipe down the blender base as needed, and alllll the other parts are dishwasher-safe. Style AND function? Dreams really do come true." —Maitland Quitmeyer
Get it from Amazon for $155 (available in two colors).
For more info, check out the rest of Maitland's review here.
5. A sturdy and reliable Mr. Coffee machine because in a world filled with so many elaborate coffee makers intended to turn your kitchen into a Starbucks, sometimes all you really want is to go back to the basics AKA a good ole' cup of joe.
However, IF you're on a mission to make the elaborate coffee drinks of your dreams, we get it. This post also includes options for cold brew, coffee pods, and espresso drinks galore, so keep on reading on!
"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. This machine has also survived many, many moves while packed in pretty precarious boxes, so I can say for certain it's durable." —Rachel Dunkel
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in two colors).
For more info, check out the rest of Rachel's review here.
6. An Always Pan — a multi-purpose piece of cookware with a cult following. Reviewers love this thing because food doesn't stick to it — that means you can spend more time eating and less time cleaning up. Not to mention, it's highly photoworthy and comes in super pretty colors.
This features a nontoxic, nonstick ceramic coating. Plus, it's dishwasher-safe! To learn more about this customer-favorite pan, check out our write-up of the Always Pan!
"This is basically the only pan I use anymore! It cooks everything evenly, cleans up like a dream, and of course, looks beautiful. My favorite feature is the little node on the handle that lets you hook on your spatula. IDK why, but finding a place for my cooking utensils is weirdly difficult so it's been really nice to just...not worry about it at all!" —Bek O'Connell
I joined the Always Pan game later than most of my colleagues mostly because I doubted how any piece of cookware could be THAT loved by so many people. I consider myself to be a good cook, but I have an intense fear of accidentally eating undercooked meat, so I often tend to overcook things like chicken to the point of burning the pan. This pan must be crafted with magic fairy dust because when I tell you nothing sticks to it, I truly mean NOTHING sticks to it. Long gone are the days of having to soak my pan before scrubbing away at the burnt bits like my life depends on it. Burnt food slides right off with the grace of a ballerina. This pan is worth ever penny and more.
Get it from Our Place for $145 (available in six colors).
7. A duo pot/pan set complete with a 7-quart stainless steel wok/stockpot hybrid, a 12-inch stainless steel skillet, and one lid that perfectly fits both pieces. If you're someone with a small kitchen, this is a great safe-spacing option because the pot, pan, and lid are stackable!
These pieces are oven-safe in temps of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and are dishwasher-safe!
"First off, this set is beautiful. It arrived in perfect condition. You can tell the pans are well-made based on the weight and seamless design. I love that the top fits on the pot and pan. Both products heated up food quickly and evenly. For reference, I have a gas stove. I like that the cookware doesn't have that weird nonstick coating but they are super easy to clean. All of my roommates have cooked in these, and none of us have *any* complaints. So far we've made meat sauce, risotto, and chicken. Based on my experience with these, I would definitely splurge on Proclamation Goods cookware in the future." —Christine Forbes
Get it from Proclamation Goods for $379.
8. An insulated water bottle that's ACTUALLY leak-proof (rather than just claiming it is and making you find out the hard way that it's not) and will keep your cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks hot for 14. Plus, it comes with a removable infuser for those who prefer their water to have some ~flavor.~
Welly is a small business that sells tumblers, travels, and more to help eliminate the use of single-use plastics. The brand's name is a tribute to the founder's mom, Elly, and they donate at least 1% of sales to clean water projects around the world.
"The year is 2014. I'm a freshman in college just entering the world of proper hydration. I went off to Ohio with some random water bottle and in the first couple of weeks of school had a tragic incident where this SUPPOSEDLY leakproof water bottle failed to, ya know, stop leaks and gave my backpack (and my laptop) a good soaking. So, don't be like 2014 me. Be like 2021 me, with a water bottle made by a socially conscious company that is pretty, DEFINITELY leakproof, and keeps water delightfully cold for hours. The wide mouth makes it easy to clean and I've definitely dropped this bottle more than once and it still looks perfect!" —Danielle Healy
Get it from Welly for $33 (available in 15 styles).
9. A compact eight-in-one spiralizer so you can make "veggie" versions of your fav pasta dishes. Zoodles ala vodka, here we come.
It does more than just spiralize veggies, tho! It also works as a juicer, a grater, a shredder, a ribbon cutter, and more. All you gotta do is switch out the blades!
"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." —Emma Lord
Get it from Amazon for $19.98.
10. A high-quality knife set for seamlessly cutting through a variety of foods with ease. These babies will seriously make you wonder how you ever settled for anything less when it comes to meal prep.
The three-piece set comes with a chef's knife, a serrated knife, and a paring knife. The five-piece set comes with all of those plus a santoku knife and a utility knife.
"I am (I mean, I WAS!) one of those late twenty-year-olds still using the knives I bought in college from Ikea. Religiously. I didn't know the good life. I didn't know the world in which a knife could cut through veggies, meats, and other foods like absolute butter. I had been relying on a trusty knife sharpener to keep my cheap knives as sharp as they could be, but they didn't even come close to the Misen knives. These puppies cut through anything. Am I scared I will slice my finger off? Of course. But better than fighting a potato with a dull knife... I've been using them about a month, through many uses (I cook A LOT!) and washes, and they've held up well — no rusting or dulling. I only hand wash them, but even through the many cleanings, they are still as pristine as the day I opened them. I promise you, these will literally change your cooking life!" —Kayla Suazo
Get them from Misen for $150/three-piece set or $250/five-piece set (available in four colors).
11. A coffee grinder that's truly worth its hefty price tag. Sure, you could buy one that's cheaper, but reviewers say you'll really get your money's worth with this baby. It'll grind your favorite beans effortlessly so you can spend less time making coffee and more time drinking it.
"I bought this for my BF a year or two ago and honestly, I think I'm the third wheel now. He uses it every morning and it's like a religious experience. He weighs his beans, pours them in, grinds, and still oohs and awws over his coffee. He is the literal human embodiment of those T-shirts that say 'Don't talk to me before I've had my morning coffee!' so I don't take his review lightly." —Chelsea Stuart
Get it from Amazon for $169.95 (available in two colors).
12. A roasting pan for a gadget that ensures your food is evenly cooked throughout because we all know how annoying it is to take roasted veggies out of the oven to find some are perfectly cooked while others are over- and undercooked.
"I'm not a chef by any means, so naturally I had my seasoned professional cook of a dad try this bad boy out for me. After whipping up some roasted veggies in it to go along with a steak dinner, we declared this roasting pan a winner. It's sturdy, everything cooked evenly, and will easily become a staple in the kitchen." —Heather Braga
Get it from 360 Cookware for $179.
13. A set of reusable silicone food storage bags and containers so you can wave adios to wasteful plastic alternatives.
This set comes with a small dish, medium dish, large dish, small cup, medium cup, large cup, sandwich bag, and snack bag.
"If you're looking for a set of reusable bags to reduce your waste, look no further. This set is just about perfect. The eight-piece full set comes with cups (with circular flat bottoms), dishes (with elongated flat bottoms) and bags (for easy taking to-go without taking up a bunch of room). They're airtight, and just EASY PEASY to use — aka I don't have to track down a matching lid. Half-eaten oranges, leftover crepe batter, granola, all live handily in these pretty lavender containers. The pointed sides make for effortless pouring — everything from shaking granola into my morning yogurt to dispensing thin crepe batter into a pan for a weekend breakfast.
They're dishwasher-safe (on the top AND bottom racks), freezer-safe, AND microwave safe, so you can truly say goodbye forever to disposable bags. They haven't retained any sorts of staining or smells and wash up beautifully. At just over $11 a pop when you break it down, they're not *cheap* but when you add up box after box after box of plastic bags, you'll make up for the cost in no time flat. I haven't been ~on the go~ much in the past year (🙃), but when I do I'll definitely use these to bring snacks to the office. And they come in pretty pastel colors that personally just make me happy to look at in my fridge." —Maitland Quitmeyer
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $89.99 (available in five colors, plus individually and in smaller sets).
14. A cocktail machine that'll turn your home into the best bar in town. All you have to do is insert a cocktail pod of your choice, fill a bottle with the liquor to match, choose your cocktail strength, push a button, and enjoy!
"When I first caught wind of the Bartesian premium cocktail machine, my first thought was does anyone actually need this gadget? But after trying it for myself, I can say the answer is a firm YES, and here's why. I love making cocktails at home, and while I'm no bartender, I feel very comfortable shaking a spicy margarita, stirring a negroni, or whipping up a Pisco sour. But making craft cocktails at home requires many (often expensive) ingredients, bar tools, time and effort. With the Bartesian though, you can make fancy drinks with the click of a button — literally. Once you turn the Bartesian on, it prompts you to insert a cocktail capsule. The smart gadget recognizes the cocktail you're trying to make and will ensure you've placed the proper spirit in the bottle (I know, it's mind-blowing). Next, it prompts you to choose your cocktail strength (there's even a mocktail option), and to place a glass with ice underneath the spout. Next, the Bartesian will start pouring your craft cocktail. The whole process takes about 20 seconds and it's all very exciting." —Hannah Loewentheil
Get it from Amazon for $369.99.
15. A personalized Disney Starbucks cup for the most cute and fun way to drink all of your fav cold beverages.
For The Love Of Pixie Dust is a woman-owned small business that sells super cute Disney-inspired merch and gifts!
"I have one of these cups (as seen above) and it makes me happy every day. The finished product is super cute and you will love that your name is spelled correctly for once. AND you can carry Disney magic around with you no matter where you go!" —Heather Braga
Get it from For The Love of Pixie Dust for $21.
16. A splurge-worthy cookware set that'll finally make your kitchen feels like it belongs to a real adult. We're talking non-stick pieces that won't get ruined when you've burned your food, pots and pans that are ~actually~ easy to clean, and storage to keep your new kitchenware tidy and organized in your cabinets.
This set comes with a 10.5 inch fry pan, a 3 quart sauce pan and lid, a 4.5 quart sauté pan and a lid, a 6.5 quart Dutch oven and a lid, and storage for the pans and lids. This cookware set is safe to use on induction, gas, and electric stovetops, is oven safe in temps of up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, made with non-toxic coating, and features non-stick ceramic an aluminum core, and stainless steel handles.
"These nonstick pans are unlike any cookware out there. Yeah yeah, I know, I am sure you've read something similar about some other pot — but when I say I think there was sorcery involved in creating these, I mean it! For starters, how dare they create a system with storage needs! in! mind! The set comes with a strong-as-heck lid organizer that sticks to the cabinet. There are three pockets for the accompanying lids that conveniently slide right in. Like, who knows what to do with lids?! They take up so much unnecessary space, but with the Caraway set, they can just hang out on the cabinet door. The set also includes four MAGNETIC pan racks that stick together and hold each pan up, keeping them safe from scratches. Amazing. These are the things that get my adult blood flowing.
Now...moving on to my favorite part of these bad boys. The ceramic coating is made with a nontoxic, mineral-based coating so your food doesn't soak up any toxins during cooking. Although, I am pretty sure it's actually made with magic, because literally nothing sticks to these pans. Really — I've cooked in these countless times, making a variety of different dishes, and no food has ever gotten stuck or burnt on.
I could go on and on about the wonders of this beautiful pan set, but I will just leave you with this: If you're in the market for a new set, consider Caraway. While it is on the pricier side, their high-quality, nontoxic pans and storage system make it worth every. single. penny." —Kayla Suazo
For more info, check out the rest of Kayla's review here.
Get it from Caraway for $395 (available in seven colors).
17. A cold brew coffee maker that'll have you powering through your day with a delicious iced coffee treat.
It yields about four servings of delicious coffee, features an airtight, leak-proof lid that helps to lock in freshness and flavor, a nonslip silicone handle, and fits in most refrigerator doors. Plus, it's dishwasher-safe and BPA-free. Need more convincing on this amazing coffeemaker? Check out our review of the fabulous Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker.
I'm one of those people who shamelessly drinks iced coffee when the temperature is single digits, the wind chill is in the negatives, and I can't feel my hands — it just tastes so much better than hot coffee, yet I was never able to make a good cup of iced coffee at home. I tried all sorts of coffee grounds, pods, creamers — I couldn't figure out the magic formula they used at my favorite coffee shops. I was tired of spending so much money on iced coffee, so I decided to try out this cold brew maker.
I'll admit, I went into it with low expectations, but I'd be lying if I said this isn't a complete game-changer. It's ridiculously easy to use and it makes an extremely good cup of iced coffee. Long gone are the days of sad attempts at iced coffee that involved me pouring hot coffee over ice and hoping for the best. I can literally taste the flavor notes listed in the description of the ground coffee bag thanks to this maker.
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three colors and two sizes).
18. A fancy schmancy pizza oven to take pizza nights with your loved ones to a whole new level of fun.
"My family and I used this pizza oven for the first time on Mother's Day and it was a huge hit! It gets *extremely* hot very quickly. We made four pizzas the first time we tried it and each one got better as we went — practice makes perfect! We picked up dough and cheese from our local supermarket and made our own sauce for a little extra homemade touch. Can't wait to use it again!" —Heather Braga
Get it from Williams Sonoma for $599.95.
19. An automatic spice grinder so you can grind up herbs and spices and season your food with just the simple push of a button. Yes, it's really that easy.
"I just got one of these snazzy kitchen gadgets, and now every time I use it I think to myself, 'How was I living life before this thing?!' It finely grinds salt down to that nice flaky texture, and then easy pops out the pod if I want to use pepper. I even got a different type of pod ideal for more oily spices (think mustard or flax seed). Now I am looking for reasons to use this thing... Salt on cake???" —Kayla Suazo
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in three colors, comes with grinder and three interchangeable pods).
20. An espresso machine that'll help you say goodbye to the days of waiting on the drive-through line for an overpriced coffee drink. Yes, this machine comes with a big price tag, but it'll pay for itself over time. You'll finally be making drinks you enjoy right from the comfort of home.
Let's just say you were buying speciality coffee drinks every. single. day. from a coffee shop for $2/cup (which, let's be real, you most likely spend more than that). In a matter of a year, you would be paying more for those coffee drinks (plus the price of gas to/from) than you would for this machine. So this is an investment that will definitely pay off in the long run.
"IMHO, the Breville Barista Express is phenomenal. I was a barista for a few years and I was used to working with a top-notch machine, and this is pretty darn close to being just as good. As someone who drinks lattes daily, I've saved SO much money by investing in this. I use these espresso beans from a small upstate New York business called SPoT Coffee and get delectably rich and smooth shots of espresso every time." —Brittany Gibson
Get it from Amazon for $599.95 (available in two colors).
21. A spaghetti measure to take the guesswork out of knowing exactly how much dry pasta you should cook. It really shouldn't have to be that hard.
Fabberforge is a small business based in Omaha, Nebraska that sells 3D printed home decor.
"Okay, so I'm definitely the kind of person to cook an entire box of pasta because they have no idea how much they should be making for one person. This measure has worked perfectly for me to figure out exactly how much I need to make for myself and my fiancé for dinner. No more wasted pasta!" —Stephanie Hope
Get it from Fabberforge on Etsy for $6 (available in 10 colors).
22. A four-piece silicone baking set that'll transform your kitchen into the best bakery in town in no time at all. You're gonna love these useful and gorgeous pieces so much, you simply won't ever want to stop whipping up breads, cakes, pastries, and so much more delicious goodness.
The set comes with a bench scraper, two offset spatulas, and a pastry brush.
"I've been a hobbyist baker for a while, so this isn't my first rodeo when it comes to testing baking tools, but these are each the Cadillac of their own tool category, and all for a wildly good price, if you ask me.
All of the tools feature silicone handles, so your hands won't slip and slide around even if they're covered in egg wash or butter (mmmmm butter). The offset spatulas are the perfect sizes for tasks large and small, and the ruler on the bench scraper is *chef's kiss* perfection. I reach for the brush, yes, for baking, but also any other kitchen tasks that require one. I've literally used this brush on chicken on the grill and it has survived.
These tools are workhorses. Some of the sturdiest I've ever used. Food52 easily could have made these ugly as sin and still had the best products on the market. But they made them absolutely gorgeous to boot! Even after relatively heavy use, the blue silicone looks clean and the gold accents look bright and shiny as ever. And that's after many a run through the dishwasher, because OH YEAH, they're dishwasher safe, too. Food52 you've done it again!" —Rachel Dunkel
Get it from Food52 for $49.
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