Cooking is much more enjoyable when you have the right tools. I think it's the small gadgets that elevate my cooking experience. Whether you are shopping for a home cook, a busy parent, or your own kitchen, these are the kinds of practical finds that...
If chopping onions and vegetables is the part of cooking you dread, this could save you a lot of time. Everything falls into the container, which also means fewer pieces of onion ending up all over the counter.
Fullstar Pro Vegetable Chopper & Spiralizer
A small upgrade that can make an ordinary cup of coffee feel a little more special. It can froth milk for coffee, mix matcha, and help blend powdered drinks without pulling out a larger appliance.
Zulay Kitchen Milk Frother AA Batteries Included
This little waffle maker is especially cute for families with children because it makes perfectly sized waffles without taking up much space. You can also use it for hash browns, quesadillas, and other quick snacks.
Dash Mini Waffle Maker, 4-Inch, Red
A sturdy pair of kitchen scissors is one of those things you do not realize you need until you finally have one. These can handle herbs, food packaging, meat, vegetables, and all the random cutting jobs that come up while cooking.
KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears, 8.72 Inch
This takes the guesswork out of making eggs, especially on busy mornings. It can cook several eggs at once and is useful for breakfast, lunchboxes, salads, and weekly meal prep.
Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, 7 Hard Boiled Eggs, Black
A good can opener is not the most exciting thing to buy, but a bad one will annoy you every single time. This one has comfortable handles, a large turning knob, and a built-in bottle opener.
KitchenAid Classic Can & Bottle Opener Black
This is such a smart way to freeze soup, broth, sauces, and leftovers in portions you can actually use. Instead of thawing an entire container, you can take out exactly what you need.
Souper Cubes 1 Cup Silicone Freezer Mold Aqua
The magnets keep these measuring spoons neatly together, but you can still grab one without wrestling with a ring. The narrow ends are also much easier to fit inside spice jars.
Spring Chef Stainless Steel Magnetic Measuring Spoons Set of 8
This clips directly onto the pot so you can drain pasta or vegetables without transferring everything into a separate colander. It is especially helpful if you have limited cabinet space or simply want fewer dishes to wash.
Kitchen Gizmo Snap N' Strain Silicone Strainer
No more cutting into the chicken several times to figure out if it is done. A quick temperature check can help prevent undercooked food and keep you from cooking the meat until it is dry.
TempPro TempSwift 1 Sec Instant Read Thermometer
This gets the juice out without sending seeds into your food or leaving your hands covered in citrus. It is useful for everything from marinades and salad dressings to lemonade and cocktails.
Zulay Metal 2-In-1 Manual Lemon Squeezer
A sharp peeler can make preparing potatoes and vegetables noticeably faster. The comfortable handle is also helpful when you have a large amount of food to prep for a family meal.
OXO Good Grips Y-Peeler, Sharp Stainless Steel
This one tool opens the avocado, removes the pit, and creates even slices. It is simple, but it can make avocado toast, salads, and guacamole prep much less messy.
OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer Tool
This is handy for dividing dough, chopping firm vegetables, transferring ingredients, and scraping bits of dough or flour from the counter. Bakers will probably reach for it constantly, but it is useful well beyond baking.
OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Scraper & Chopper
Fresh popcorn makes an ordinary movie night feel more fun. This lets you pop kernels in the microwave and add your own butter or seasonings without relying on individual microwave bags.