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1. An air fryer so you can get crispy, delicious food fast — without ducking from oil splatter. You can get that fried food taste without deep frying a thing. And, if you're in a crunch for time, you can heat up leftovers! They'll taste so fresh, no one will know. 🤫
Here's what BuzzFeed food writer Hannah Loewentheil has to say about it:
"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, reheat, 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 for 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 $79.95+ (available in six styles and five sizes).
Check out the full review, plus some air fryer recipe suggestions for more!
2. Plus, a pack of disposable air fryer paper liners if you need to use your air fryer to make different things for dinner. You won't have to clean it out to move on to the next dish — just take this out, toss, and replace it with another.
Promising review: "If you have an air fryer, you know the pain of cleaning it. I saw these liners on TikTok. I use them every time I use my air fryer. You can place the meal on the parchment paper and drop it in and lift it out of the basket without having the basket messy. It also keeps juice from fish or meat in the parchment, so that the meat does not get dry." —Tone Iverson
Get a 50-pack from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in three styles, two sizes, and in various multipacks).
3. A microwave pasta cooker so you can make pasta in minutes without having to babysit a pot of boiling water. You no longer have to worry about your pot overflowing or constantly checking to see if your noodles are ~perfect~.
Promising review: "One of those 'why didn't I think of this?' kind of things. It makes cooking pasta so easy and foolproof! No trying to bend/break pasta to get it to fit into a round pan. The instructions tell you exactly how long to microwave it for the different size proportions." —EQUUS
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
4. A split-decision pie pan because if your fam has different preferences, you can make two different desserts, quiches, or meat pies at once! This pan has two divided sections so you can make two totally different things at the same time.
The pan is made of heavyweight aluminized steel, which allows for strong heat conduction and even baking. It also features nonstick coating for easy release. It's safe in temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's dishwasher-safe!
Promising review: "I love cherry and he loves apple, but to make two pies would be such a waste since it's just the two of us at home, and buying store-bought pie just isn't the same. This was the perfect solution. I LOVE IT!" —Sherry S.
Get it from Amazon for $19.88.
5. Or a trio pan if you have family members who are vegetarian and some who are not. You'll be able to make up to three types of lasagna at once so everyone can get what they love for dinner. Plus, this can also be used to make bread, cakes, frittatas and more.
Promising reviews: "I absolutely love this pan! Made lasagna in it for the first time last night, and it came out beautifully. The rows are the exact length and width of a standard lasagna noodle and it was so much easier than building a large lasagna pan. Because it is nonstick, the lasagna came out of the pan beautifully, and because the pan is deeper than a standard lasagna pan I was able to do more layers which helped hold the lasagna together better when served. I would highly recommend this pan to anyone, and I just ordered another one!" —Jeanne M. Barnhart
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
6. Plus, a nonstick sectioned skillet for your stovetop to make multiple things at once with way less cleaning up to do later. I mean... where has this pan been all my life?!
This features five compartments, only requires one burner, and is stain-resistant, PFOA-free, and oven and dishwasher safe.
Promising review: "I am so in love with this pan. I can cook several things at once for breakfast even if I use it to cook my fajitas and the other compartments for what I like with the fajitas. I put mine in the dishwasher and was a little scared but it cleaned it without any scratches or rust." —Shawnie Fennell
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
7. Nonstick toaster bags that'll allow you to make the easiest grilled cheese sandwiches ever. No need to whip out a pan, grab a spatula, or light the stove. Just pop your cheese sammy in one of these reusable bags and put it in the toaster. Lazy? Maybe. Genius? Definitely.
Promising review: "I bought this for my elderly mom who loves grilled cheese sandwiches. I was skeptical that this bag on the toaster would work but it did! The only thing I would suggest is after you toast the sandwich, let it sit for a few minutes so the cheese melts better. I prepared it and gave it to her straight away. Bread was toasted on the outside. Cleanup was easy. All in all impressive!" —Christopher Carnrick at Pirate Palms
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $8.79+ (also available in a six-pack).
8. Or a microwave-friendly panini press, because sandwiches are your best bet when you need a fast and delicious dinner — but make it fancy! You can use this device to make your sandwiches crispy with a grilled effect. Plus, it can also be used to make toasted burgers, sausages, and paninis.
The panini press is hot coming out of the microwave, so make sure to wear mitts or gloves! It's also dishwasher-safe!
Promising reviews: “I am very impressed with this sandwich maker. The directions are easy to understand and cleaning it is effortless. I made grilled cheese and it looked like it came from a restaurant!” —Jeff and Derrick
Get it from Amazon for $32.99.
9. A handheld garlic press so you can mince and crush garlic in a flash. It also comes with a garlic peeler and scraper so you'll be totally ready if a vampire arrives for dinner.
10. And an herb stripper, because I looooove cilantro but I do not enjoy removing the leaves from the stems. I mean who has the patience? Clearly, not me. This genius tool will remove bitter stems quickly so you can avoid the frustrating task of stripping herbs.
Shop Collin Garrity is a small biz that specializes in wooden crafts, accessories, decor, and kitchen tools.
Promising reviews: "Beautiful, beautiful work! I am so excited to finally have a herb stripper and one that is handmade! Fast shipping and the seller included a nice card with directions on how to use/wash the stripper as well as a beautiful postcard print. Thank you!" —Alex Saul
"This is laser cut so I did a bit of sanding just to round the edges but the construction and quality is excellent! I just used it today on some tarragon and I was so happy for the amount is saved my hands!" —Kat
Get it from Shop Collin Garrity on Etsy for $16 (available in three finishes).
11. A two-tier food steamer so you to cook multiple things at once. You can steam veggies and make fish or meat at the same time. This can also make rice and boiled eggs! The best part? you don't have to monitor a pot to get dinner on the table. All you have to do is use the guide to figure out the right setting for whatever you are making, and it'll automatically turn off when it's done.
Promising review: "Great investment, especially for people with a busy lifestyle — set it and forget it. I love this steamer. It's easy to use, it holds a lot, and the food taste way better. I just introduced it to three of my family members and they are ready to order." —Sheryl
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
12. A microwave bacon cooker, because who said bacon was only for breakfast? You can make delicious slices without a pan, in just minutes!
Microwave time is just 1 minute per slice! The tray catches all the grease, and it's dishwasher safe!
Promising review: "This is the best little gadget I have tried in a long time. I lay a paper towel on top and fold to drape over the edges to catch the splatters, program for one minute per slice of bacon, and that is it. If you have a full rack, 12 slices, you will take the rack out, remove the ones that are done, put back in, cook for additional one minutes until all are to your satisfaction. You can put the gadget into the dishwasher or wash in good soapy water and have it ready for the next use." —G. Carver
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
13. A two-pack of TikTok-famous Dan-O's seasoning that are low in sodium but full of flavor. If you don't want to spend time thinking about various seasoning combos, this takes all the guess work out for you. You can add this to everything from fish to meats and even veggies. These all natural seasonings are made with dried herbs, citrus, and granulated onion and garlic for more delish dishes.
Promising review: "I saw this seasoning on TikTok (like most of you probably have), I didn’t believe the hype at first. I got the two pack to try. This stuff is amazing!! I love it! It is so good on everything! Can’t believe that it is low sodium because it doesn’t taste like it. I like to add the spicy Dan-O’s to a pizza with pineapple and bacon on it, turns it up to 11!!! I will be ordering more as soon as the stuff I have runs out, for sure!!" —Mike
Get a pack of two (one original, one spicy) from Amazon for $13.98 (also available in a four-pack).
14. A set of silicone baking trays so you can divide different dishes and ingredients on a baking sheet. Instead of having to cook things separately, this will allow you to make various foods at once and keep them from spilling over on each other. And these can be used in your oven or air fryer.
BTW: These are dishwasher safe!
Promising review: "The quality is great. And it's very practical, especially when a lot of food needs to be prepared, things can be separated well during cooking. Cleaning is also very easy. LOVE it." —Matthew
Get a set of five for $16.99 (also available in a set of nine).
15. The Thaw Claw that will help you when you're in rush to make dinner but you forgot to take your meat out of the freezer. This will help thaw it in under a half an hour or so. Just attach it to the bottom of your sink, fill the sink with water, and this will keep meat submerged so it'll be ready faster.
Thaw Claw is a Black-owned small biz that's been featured on Shark Tank, HSN, and Good Morning America! For more deets, check out our as-seen-on TV kitchen products write-up.
Promising review: "At first this looked gimmicky, but I saw a need for something like this. I use vacuum bags to freeze my meat and with our schedules, thawing out our meal for that evening often includes placing the frozen block in water to thaw in a reasonable time. Without this item, I was left to put a heavy pot or iron skillet on top to keep it in submerged to speed the thawing process. This device, with its suction base and spread design, keeps the food item under its fingers to allow the thawing process to complete in less than half the time by just putting it in the water. And before you object, 'that’s not safe, the temperature will rise too much and promote bacteria growth' — I have ServSafe certs. I know my time and temp levels and those are in no way even close to approaching the danger zone unless you leave it for hours before cooking. I recommend this item for anyone, but especially anyone who has time constraints for evening dinner prep or any other time for that matter." —mudhen7
Learn more about safe food thawing methods here.
Get it from Amazon for $17.95.
16. A microwave rice and quinoa cooker so you can get dinner on the table within minutes! Plus, this bowl is designed to prevent water from overflowing, it doubles as a serving bowl, and it's disherwasher safe.
Promising review: "We love this rice maker! Prep time in just minutes. This has saved us so much time, especially when we need dinner done quickly! The rice comes out fully cooked. In the beginning, it may take a few tries, since all microwaves are different, (setting at 800) as recommended, you'll eventually know what amount of rice goes with what amount of water, etc. I add salt to taste and a teaspoon of olive oil, and it comes out delish! When done, just turn it over on your serving plate or just serve it directly from the container. Afterward, just pop it in the dishwasher, no hard rice scraping to do. Highly recommend!" —Ani
Get it from Amazon for $27.95.
17. A versatile chopping device if a recipe calls for a bunch of chopped ingredients, so you don't have to abort mission. If you get frustrated by the time-consuming task of dicing onions and other foods, this will ~cut~ prep time in half.
This set comes with eight interchangeable blades for slicing, julienne, grating, and shredding. It also includes two blade holders, a cleaning fork, and a safety holder to protect your fingers.
Promising review: "Such a great product! I used to spend anywhere from 5–15 minutes cutting veggies and now it literally takes seconds! Cuts down on my prep time significantly and doesn’t make cooking a chore anymore!" —Britney
Get it from Amazon for $19.86+ (available in three blade options).
Your fam eating dinner in no time flat because of the microwave pasta cooker:
