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27 Kitchen Products You'll Use All The Time Even If You're Not Exactly A Culinary Genius
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We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. Including a solid $20 chef’s knife you’ll come to rely on. Fullstar is a small business established in 2017 that specializes in kitchen gadgets. Check out a TikTok of their veggie chopper in action. Promising review: "I was skeptical at first, 'til I opened the box and found a very sturdy, very well-built kitchen tool inside. I read the pamphlet that comes with it, and it explained all I needed to know when first using it. And, it was very easy to use. I bought it for a specific recipe I was going to make, and it called for lots of chopped onions and potatoes. It went through them like a champ and did exactly what I wanted. A very good deal and a good product. Would buy it again." —W.L. Shute Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in six colors). Promising review: "This set is a total game-changer in my kitchen! It’s super versatile and makes meal prep so much easier. The strainer works perfectly, and the bowl is great for mixing or serving. I also love the added measuring spoons — such a handy bonus! Plus, the rotatable design is a brilliant touch. It’s sturdy, easy to clean, and looks great on my countertop. Highly recommend!" —Angie Sutil Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in eight colors). Promising review: "Every couple of years, my wife needs new baking sheets, except for these. So when another set from a famous TV chef with the initials R. R. wore out, I suggested getting more USA pans. In the picture, the ones on the right were bought in 2013. Eleven years later, they're definitely seasoned from use, but they're just as sturdy as when they were new. I expect that when this new set on the left is 11 years old, we'll still be using the older ones. It's a shame that not everything is built like these things are. Even at a higher price, I'd still buy this brand, knowing how many years I'll get out of them." —D. Sabo Get it from Amazon for $19.57+ (available individually or in a set of two). Promising review: "I waited to write a review until I'd actually tested the pan and after using it for 2 months, I can honestly say that it is amazing! It's the best cookware product that I've ever used, as it heats up evenly and cleans so easily (even the bottom of the pan still looks new). I am currently looking at other Goodful products to replace my other pots, so YES, I'd highly recommend this product!" —Johnny O Get it from Amazon for $45.10+ (available in five colors). Check out a TikTok of the double-sided cutting board in action. Promising review: "This cutting board is perfect! One side is for meat, the other for fruits and vegetables. There is no need for two separate boards. It's very stylish, made of sturdy materials, and easy to clean. It's so pretty, I just leave it on the counter, but it does have a handle for hanging." —Jowana Lamb Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes). Promising review: "This is so well engineered. There are rubber stoppers on the bottom so it does not move — even when pushed — and there is a carved-out place holder for the mats, which is genius. They also stay put. The perfect size. And the storage compartment for the six mats is brilliant. No more trying to work with two or three cutting boards or having to scrub between items. If you like to cook and have a small kitchen or know someone who does, this checks all the boxes." —Maximillian Havre Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in three finishes). It also doubles as a strainer, and you can use the holes in the lid to portion out long pastas. Promising review: "I bought this microwave pasta cooker at a time when I did not have a stove. Even though I have a stove now, I still use this cooker for dinner for myself sometimes because it works so well and quickly! There are lines to indicate how much water to put in the cooker versus the amount of pasta you intend to cook. The pasta comes out very soft and perfectly cooked when the instructions are followed. When the pasta is done, the lid is used to drain the water from the cooker, and it works very well. Pasta is the only thing I have cooked in this product, but there are a lot of other things you can cook in it. I highly recommend this to any college student or adult who needs a fast microwave pasta cooker!" —Kelsi Promising review: "I absolutely love these oven mitts! It's one of those kitchen items that are a MUST, but always put off purchasing. I had a criterion of what I wanted in mitts and found them. The mitts do everything they say they do, and that's keeping my hands and arms safe. I highly recommend them." —Amazon Customer Get them from Amazon for $16.99 (available in 13 colors). Each air fryer comes with the "PowerPod," two containers (a 4-quart and a 6-quart), and lids. The PowerPod has auto-shutoff and four modes: Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Recrisp. The "feet" are heat-safe, so you can prop it on any surface without worrying! Promising review: "I got my Ninja Crisper today and reheated some stuffed bread with feta cheese and spinach, and it did a wonderful job. It was like it just came out of the oven the first time. Nice and crispy outside, but the inside heated just right. I love that the bottom glass can be covered with the lid that comes with it. They come with a metal plate you can put in the glass bottom part, and it actually fits into the lid, so it doesn't get lost. The glass makes a difference in the taste, too. It is a great product and well worth it." —Jennifer Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (available in seven colors). Promising review: "Wow! I am so impressed with this air fryer (and I’m a perfectionist!). Right out of the box, I noticed the build quality. It was sturdy with a stylish, clean finish. The controls are top-mounted (ergonomic), and the LED panel is easy to see and operate. The fryer drawer closes with a firm, positive snap. And the size is perfect when counter space is limited. During operation, it is very quiet while the outside body (front, sides, top) gets warm but not hot. I threw a handful of frozen french fries in the basket, set it to 390 degrees for 13 minutes, and hit the start button. Delicious! Nice, crispy, even finish. Clean-up was easy and fast. Just put the drawer in the sink, fill it with soapy water, let it soak, and rinse. This size should easily work for one or two people. You won’t be disappointed!" —Dave Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in five colors and three sizes). The set comes with two different-sized magnets. See it in action on TikTok. Promising review: "I thought it over a few times, and then I bought these so I could have a quick reference handy for those times I wanted to make something in my air fryer, which is quite a bit. What surprised me is how often I refer to it. I just throw something in my air fryer, glance at the section that lists the item I’m cooking. Press a few buttons on my fryer, and I’m in business. No more having to search on my phone with wet fingers. A frivolous buy that turned out to be worthwhile." —PickyExtra Get it from Amazon for $7.87+ (available in two colors). What's included: 8-inch fry pan, 10-inch fry pan, 2-quart saucepan with lid, 4.5-quart stockpot with lid, 4-quart sauté pan with lid, ladle, slotted spatula, and four pan protectors. Promising review: "LOVE these new pans!!! Nothing sticks to them, but we still add a little oil when cooking eggs. Cleans so easily. Just rinse and wipe with a towel. The wooden handles are a nice feature and do not get hot at all! The glass, see-through lids make checking on what's cooking easy." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in seven colors and in sets with an egg pan). Promising review: "I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook — she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively — but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer — Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and months later still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor." —L Promising review: "I got so tired of measuring spoons either getting lost in my drawer or having to deal with ones on rings. These are fantastic. The magnet holds them together well, and I love that each ‘spoon’ is actually two (each end is a different shape, too)." —Alicia S. Get the set from Amazon for $9.92+ (available in four color combinations). Promising review: "I first ran across the Chopula at a little kitchen store in North Carolina. I was so impressed with all the ways it can be used, I came back to Amazon and ordered another for myself and one each for my kids. I really do love how easy it is to get underneath fried eggs to flip them with this gadget. I had other spatulas, but they always seemed too thick, or they were metal, and I couldn't use them on my nonstick pans. I find myself using it instead of a wooden spoon for a lot of things I stir on the stovetop. You can chop pounds of ground beef with the side of it, too. Nice product for sure!" —Lois Thurston Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in eight colors). Promising review: "This cover is surprisingly well-made; no doubt will be buying another for gifting. It keeps the microwave spotless. I was skeptical at first, but believe me, you will not be disappointed. Compared to other covers, this one is among the best I have seen." —arturo j. Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in four colors and sizes). Prep'd, the small biz that created these handy dividers, was founded in 2015 by two industrial engineers who believed cooking should be simple, easy, and ultimately fun. Promising review: "These are great for so many reasons. We're in a mixed gluten household (one person has celiac and is diabetic, but we are not all doing a gluten-free diet). We can portion control for carb counting and separate out gluten-free vs. non-gluten-free on one pan. Plus, cleanup is just throwing in the dishwasher!" —J Fans Get a set of four from Amazon for $34.99. Promising reviews: "Aside from a paring knife and a filet knife, this is the ONLY knife I own. I've used it just about every day for the last two months, and only now does it seem to be losing its edge. Since I primarily cook from scratch, I've put it through quite a bit! It's survived pounds upon pounds of potatoes, onions, garlic, a few acorn squash, and carving a whole chicken. I'd say it's a sound investment for the price." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $16.87 (available in several sizes/types). Promising review: "I hate getting the big colander out all the time when I'm just cooking a small pot of pasta or something that needs to be drained. This clips on the side of the pot and definitely stays in place. I was a little skeptical at first, but it works very well. It's a great purchase for the price. I use mine so many times a week, and I bought one for my daughter, and she loves it, too. Would definitely buy it again." —Denise Chamberlain Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors). Promising review: "These baking mats are absolutely fantastic. The quality is superb, and SUCH a good price. I use them for just about everything I put in the oven. From oven pizzas to cookies, you name it! I also love that besides food sliding easily off the nonstick surface, they help protect all my baking sheets and such. It’s also super handy to just throw them in the top shelf of the dishwasher or even just wipe them clean. Update: I’ve had these mats and used them almost daily for nearly a year now. They still look brand new, and I have had no problems with staining, melting, or wear. These things are fantastic and have paid for themselves many times over." —Jezzhani Get it from Amazon for $11.49+ (available in packs of two, three, or four). Promising review: "Le Creuset? Don't know her. I have always wanted one of these enamel-covered cast-iron beauties, but even from the outlet stores, they were expensive. I saw this guy after finding a stew recipe that went from stove to oven, and I got it. I am DELIGHTED with this purchase! I've cooked in it several times, including a chili recipe tonight that had to reduce by half. It left a ridiculous ring on the inside, and that sucker wiped right out. I haven't burned or scorched any of my foods, and it's pretty, too!" —HerRoyalHighness Get a 6-quart Dutch oven from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two other sizes and 11 total colors). The utensils can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees F up to 446 degrees F. Each set includes 24 tools and a holder. Promising review: "I don't normally write reviews, but I went out of my way to share this! I love these; they are super cute and really nice to cook with! I went through and threw away all of my plastic spoons and spatulas after using these. I'm definitely a fan!" —Patricia B. Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in eight color combos). The nifty tool can also be used to cook corn on the cob or revive old tortillas and bread. Promising review: "My husband bought this for us one day, and I was skeptical at first, but when I actually tried it myself, I loved it! It only takes me a few minutes to cook potatoes! And in the microwave... not in the conventional oven, where it will take me like 45 minutes to cook them!" —David Hemphill BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord loves this gadget: "I 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." Promising review: "Was skeptical at first when this arrived, but this is literally the best spiralizer ever. Took me 30 seconds to do one zucchini and 30 seconds to clean." —Sarah Brown Here's what my BF colleague Sally Elshorafa has to say: "There is no kitchen tool I use more than this — egg shells and chopped fruit in the mornings, diced and minced veggies throughout the day, and even food scraps when I'm cleaning as I cook. The side walls mean you can scoop large portions of stuff without it falling off the sides, which is great when you're cooking a big meal. I also use this for clean-up, which has dramatically cut down on the time it takes to finish the job. ALSO, I've had this for maybe three years, and it looks as good and works as great as the very first time I used it." Promising review: "I bought a set of these years ago (about 10 years ago) for myself and my mother-in-law. Mine are still going strong, but she managed to wear hers out, so I ordered her another set. When my dad saw them, he wanted a pair. They both have arthritis in their hands and have tremendous difficulty opening jars and bottles. These grippers allow them to get a strong enough grip to open all kinds of jars and bottles. The different shapes work great for different types of containers — the flat ones work well for just about anything with a lid; the cone-shaped one is great for water bottles, salad dressing, etc. I would highly recommend it for anyone with arthritis or a weak grip." —MGS Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.95. Promising review: "They're great (I've used them on a chuck roast and chicken so far) and pretty fun to use. They make quick work of needing to shred whatever you need shredded." —CoyKoiCourtney BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Chelsea Stuart is a Market Editor on the BuzzFeed Shopping team who covers a little bit of everything, including home decor, travel, fashion, skincare, and pet products. When she's not working on BF content, she's hanging out with her bonded cats, marathoning reality TV, and making her next travel plans. Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.