14 Game-Changing Kitchen Tools That Won’t Break the Bank
Some days, cooking healthy meals at home just feels like way too much work.
It can be tempting to skip all the chopping, slicing, dicing, baking, and boiling and just grab takeout instead. But having the right kitchen tools can make all the difference.
These game-changing kitchen gadgets can save time and make meal prep easier — and they may even inspire you to try some new recipes.
1. OXO Good Grips Avocado Slicer
File under “things you never knew you needed”: This kitchen gadget lets you quickly split open an avocado, scoop out the pit, and slice it into perfect sections.
2. AmazonBasics Immersion Hand Blender
We love a good superfood smoothie or protein shake — but we don’t love cleaning the blender afterwards.
This handheld immersion blender makes it easy to blend fruits and veggies for drinks, sauces, and soups — and the attachments are all dishwasher-safe.
(One caveat: When it comes to ice cubes, it doesn’t have the same pulverizing power as a full-size blender.)
3. Jenaluca Herb Scissors
Herbs can add flavor (and plenty of other healthy benefits) to your meals — and these five-blade herb scissors let you get through the chopping five times faster.
4. Food Hugger Set
These silicone “food huggers” help save your cut veggies and half-eaten cans of food from turning into mushy science experiments in the fridge (at least for a little while).
5. Kitchen IQ Edge Grip Knife Sharpener
Chopping veggies for meal prep goes so much faster when you’re using a properly sharpened knife, and this two-step sharpener will keep your blades up to the task. (Hubbard squash? Bring it on!)
6. Instant Pot Duo
There’s a reason people are so obsessed with this multi-use appliance.
The pressure-cooker function makes it easy to put together a healthy dinner in minutes — and it can also be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute pan, or warmer.
Best of all: only one pot to clean when you’re done!
7. Cuisinart Stuffed Burger Press
Whether you’re making turkey burgers, beef sliders, veggie burgers, or Beyond burgers, this handy, nonstick kitchen gadget creates perfect, restaurant-worthy patties.
8. Bear Paws Shredder Claws
Channel your inner Wolverine with BPA-free, dishwasher-safe “claws” that make it easier (and, let’s be honest, a lot more fun) to shred chicken, pork, or beef.
9. Kuchenprofi Stainless Steel Spaghetti Measure
You think you’ve got the right amount of dry spaghetti, but then you end up with enough leftovers to carb-load for an Ironman.
Take the guesswork out with this simple tool that measures out the perfect portion size of pasta every time.
10. Chef’n LooseLeaf Herb Stripper
This helpful gadget quickly strips kale, chard, oregano, and other leaves and herbs from their stems, so it’s easier to get more leafy greens into your diet.
11. Tear-Free Onion Goggles
Do these goggles look a little bit ridiculous? Sure — but the first time you dice an onion for your breakfast burrito without your eyes burning, you’ll be happy you have them in your kitchen drawer.
12. Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker
No need to juggle two skillets and a toaster to get a healthy breakfast sandwich — this non-stick sandwich maker cooks your bread, precooked meats, egg, cheese, and other fixings all at once.
13. Rubber Lid Inserts
You know when you prop open the lid of your pot to vent some steam, but it keeps sliding back into place and boiling over?
These tiny rubber people keep your lid in place — and, bonus, they’re adorable.
14. Craft Wok Stir Fry Pan
Sure, you can make some delicious and healthy Chinese recipes in a regular old frying pan.
But a wok is definitely the right tool for the job — it cooks evenly, and you can stir your veggies quickly and easily without worrying about spilling them all over the stovetop.