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38 Somewhat Mundane Things You Absolutely Should Have In Your Kitchen
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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. Even if these products are a little boring schmoring, you'll be singing their praises when your hands never reek of garlic *ever again* and your steak is always cooked to perfection *every time.* Promising review: "This chopper is amazing!! I love cooking, but used to absolutely HATE chopping onions... Until someone gave me this chopper! Now I simply have to quarter the onion, throw it in the chopper, pull the handle 10–15 times, and they're ready to use! No more teary eyes or spending a long time chopping onions. The cup is big enough to fit a whole onion... I think the capacity is three cups. There are tons of other uses to this as well... You can chop pretty much anything from herbs, veggies, and fruits, to making salsa and guacamole." —Valjulia Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors). You can even pop these in the washing machine for a thorough cleaning. Promising review: "I’m pretty rough on teflon gloves. Usually, they snare within a few days. I use these several times a day, every day. These gloves stand up like chain mail. A spot or two of food stains (which mostly washed off), but otherwise bulletproof." —Br Get them from Amazon for $7.97+ (available in sizes XS–XL, two colors, and two styles). The styles include an original and reinforced version. This includes a ventilated case for storage, and the peeler is dishwasher safe! Promising review: "OK, this is DEFINITELY not a gimmick! Follow the instructions, and this will save you time in the kitchen! Roll it with minimal pressure, and it works like a champ. It also rinses very easily and dries quickly. The case has holes on either end to ensure it dries completely in between uses when you toss it in a drawer. I will never hand/knife smash garlic and fight with those pesky skins sticking to everything ever again." —ThatKasper Promising review: "I like garlic very much, so I use this garlic press every day. It works very well, is easy to use, and easy to clean. Compared with the garlic press I used before, this is more labor-saving and comfortable." —Jessica Get it from Amazon for $10.52+ (available in two colors). Promising review: "I like to grow herbs and use them in salads, soups, and many other recipes. I received these as a birthday gift and can't believe how fast and easy it is to cut up cilantro, basil, parsley, lovage, etc. My husband tried them today, too, for the first time while making guacamole, and found that slicing the cilantro went very quickly. The storage case cleaner is very efficiently designed, too. I ordered four of these sets to give as gifts." —Lucille P. Nawara Get them from Amazon for $10.49+ (available in two colors). It's heat-resistant up to 600 degrees and designed with an ergonomic handle, a stiff nylon core, and a flexible, angled head for easy stirring. You can also get a blender spatula, a jar scraper, and assorted spoon sizes from the same link. Promising review: "This is a perfect mix between a spoon and a spatula. Perfect for pans that can’t tolerate metal utensils. You can scoop, move things around in the pan, and the end doesn’t bend everywhere. It’s also dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a snap. I would consider buying more because my other cookware just doesn’t compare! This will be my go-to from now on." —Katherine Barnes Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three colors). These are also safe to use in the freezer. Promising review: "I purchased these lids in error. I thought that I was ordering a different set of lids. When they arrived, I was disappointed that I had ordered the wrong ones, but I have to say, boy! Was I wrong! This was the best 'mistake' I made! They stretch and fit tightly on any container. I love the variety of the lid sizes, and they perform very well. I'm so glad I purchased these, even though it was in error." —shanry Get a seven-pack from Amazon for $15.99. It's made of flexible silicone and designed to fit most pots and pans. Promising review: "Years ago, I had a pot strainer that worked well. When it finally broke, I bought several newer versions, and NONE of them fit anything well. I ended up getting a large bowl-style strainer, which worked, but took up valuable cabinet space. This clip-on silicone strainer is amazing! It fits every pot in my cabinet, keeping food in and letting the water or grease out. Plus, it frees up valuable cabinet space. I highly recommend it!" —Hairballheaven Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in six colors and a two-pack). It's made from toughened nylon and is suitable for use on nonstick cookware. It's resistant to temps of up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, and it's dishwasher-safe! Promising review: "This is NOT some cheap-o plastic gadget. It is a very high-quality kitchen tool that I'm finding to be super handy. Saves me time and effort from digging out the big strainers and then having to clean them. This thing is well-engineered and made of some kind of lightweight, super-strong, boiling-water-proof stuff. Wife saw me with it, and now it's one of her favorite things to grab in the kitchen — washing mushrooms and small servings of veggies, straining pasta, scooping up poached eggs... Super handy thing to have around and built to last for years." —Jestyre Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two colors). Promising review: "This little bar of 'soap' does exactly what it is intended to do. Do you have a sponge or rag that has that...odor? Simply wash your hands under the sink with this little guy, and suddenly, your hands smell like hands again. I've used it after handling several smelly items that tend to make an odor stick to you. It's worked consistently every time." —Jeremy Get it from Amazon for $9.49 (also available in a mini size, a two-pack, and a multi-pack with standard and mini sizes). Promising review: "I love hard-boiled eggs for protein, especially when I’m on the go as a student/worker, but it’s hard to wait for the water to boil, then put in the eggs and get ready all at the same time. This cooker is amazing!! Saves me time, it’s quick, and I don’t have to watch it while it cooks — I can go get ready, and then I hear a loud buzzer notifying me when the eggs are done! (The buzzer is really loud; it sounds like a basketball game buzzer.) I was surprised how fast the eggs cooked." —Megan Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in seven colors). Read more in our Dash Egg Cooker deep dive. Promising review: "Excellent product! I have been struggling to find a good oil dispenser that's not too expensive and is easy to use. It is perfect for daily use, giving you an option to spray or pour oil efficiently. It also has a small filter at the bottom of the straw that prevents particles from entering and blocking the tube. A big plus: there is a separate hole for pouring the oil. Light-weighted, glass bottle with a black cap and a good grip. Approximately holds 500mL of oil. Would highly recommend." —ZAINAB Get it from Amazon for $7.98+ (available in 13 colors, two- and four-packs). Crack'em is veteran-owned and sells this genius little egg dish. Check out the egg cracker spoon rest on TikTok! Promising review: "I absolutely cannot believe I'm doing this. I got this because I am ALWAYS having to pick out the shell when I crack an egg, whether for breakfast or my baking. Since buying this, I have cracked dozens of eggs without ANY shells in them. To say I am happy is an understatement. If you don't have one, you should rush to get one. We are going to get them for wedding gifts when we know that the couple loves to do their own cooking. Kudos to whoever thought of this. It works perfectly, every time." —Edwin Myers Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five colors and a three-pack). Promising review: "I love this. It's fast, simple, easy to use, and easy to clean. This is definitely better than the wire holder I have been using!" —meissler Get it from Amazon for $14.90 (also available in two other animal styles). Promising review: "Bought these shredders to use to shred a pork shoulder, and it worked great. I used to shred by hand and would always struggle with burning my hands. These made shredding easy, and I just threw them in the dishwasher after for easy cleaning." —austin gross Get them from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five colors). Promising review: "The ChopStir breaks up ground beef, turkey, etc., much more efficiently than can be done with a spatula or turner. I don't normally purchase incredibly specialized utensils if I can get by without them; however, I think this chopper is worth the money because it saves time and makes cooking easier. The nylon material is heat-resistant and seems durable, but the packaging still directs not to leave it on a hot surface when not in use." —Karen Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three colors). It'll read you the temperature and deliver it right to your phone — and can withstand temps up to 527 degrees Fahrenheit. It works for meats cooked in the smoker, grill, rotisserie, oven, pan, and air fryer! Promising review: "The Meater works so well, you hardly have to do anything while you cook any sort of meat. Once it alerts you that the meat is ready, you remove it from any heat, and when the app says you’re ready to dig in, there’s no second-guessing whether or not your meat is fully cooked. No under/overcooking with this, it’s perfect EVERY time. Couldn’t be happier with this product and app." —Pam Walter Get it from Amazon for $99.95 (also available in a version with a plastic base). Souper Cubes is a US-based small business that specializes in bake-and-freeze storage products. Promising review: "LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. My freezer is so much more organized now. Gone are the days of having to defrost an entire bag of chicken broth for one cup for a recipe. I now have perfectly portioned 1/2-cup and 1-cup blocks ready to go. They fit easily in freezer bags, take up less space, and make me incredibly happy. There was a lot of attention to detail in the design, and I particularly appreciate the wire inside the rim that keeps everything steady — no more worrying about spilling all the liquid on the way to the freezer. Just a fantastic product all around. I purchased this and a cheaper version from another manufacturer at the same time, but returned the other product. This one is definitely worth the added cost." —Kate Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in five colors and a two-pack). Promising review: "This is so cute AND useful to hold your stirring spoons. With the claws being silicone, they can expand to hold different thicknesses of spoon handles. The lower body of the crab detaches, allowing you to use the bottom claws to hold cooking utensils, too! Love this kitchen tool!" —Catherine R. Yacola Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (available in two colors and other novelty styles). Psst... check out all of the reviewers' photos to see all the yummy meals you can make! Promising review: "This is quite possibly the coolest, most versatile kitchen gadget I’ve ever owned. I love it so much that I’ve purchased two more for friends and relatives. What can it do? I think the real question is 'What can’t it do?' I truly believe you could replace every cooking appliance (including your oven and stovetop) and do EVERYTHING in the Instant Pot. I purchased two sizes for my own use: the 3-quart (which is my almost-everyday workhorse for two-person dishes) and the 8-quart (which I bring out for my dinner-party dishes). Everything I’ve tried has been fabulous. In the realm of kitchen appliances, there is no better investment than the Instant Pot. Highly recommended!!!" —Stereoman Get it from Amazon for $89.99+ (available in two sizes). Promising review: "I wish I had bought one sooner! I love cooking in my new air fryer! It is perfect for my small family! Everything that I cook in here tastes delicious! The fryer is easy to use, easy to clean, makes very little noise, and comes with instructions and recipes!" —Nicole Dobynes Get it from Amazon for $84.99+ (available with or without windows and in two sizes). Promising review: "A 'salad spinner?' More like an 'EVERYTHING spinner!' I use this for many purposes, including cleaning my fruits and vegetables. What do I mean? I place any fruit that’ll fit inside and soak it with water and baking soda. Once done, I’ll remove the white piece and dump the yucky water. I’ll then put it back in the bowl and spin it dry. Doing this saves me SO much time than having to pat the fruits/veggies dry with paper towels or a towel itself. So it has several uses instead of just spinning salad." —Melina Sampaio Get it from Amazon for $27.95+ (available in two sizes and multi-packs). It's available as 2-in-1, 4-in-1, 7-in-1, 8-in-1, 9-in-1, and 14-in-1 styles that feature a different set of blades. Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper, which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food, and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in six styles and four colors). 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 and aluminum core, and stainless steel handles. Here's what former BuzzFeed Shopping editor Kayla Suazo has to say about it: "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." Get it from Amazon or Caraway for $445+ (available in eight colors and also in 16-, 24-, and 31-piece sets). It comes with a steamer basket, pouring spout, and a nesting spatula with a rest. You can even put it in the oven — talk about versatility! What makes the 2.0 version different? They've upgraded the nonstick to last 50% longer, and it's oven-safe to 450°! Our Place is a POC-owned business based in Los Angeles. All of their boxes are packaged with biodegradable and recyclable materials, and the Always Pan is made in a woman-owned factory in China. Promising review: "My Always Pan is going to be my new favorite cooking ware. Super versatile and absolutely beautiful. Love the functionality that it possesses and the range of versatility. Someone really thought about all the best ways to cook with this! Safe, easy to clean, and beautiful to look at! Makes you want to cook more delicious meals all day long! Shipping took a while because I preordered, but I was happy to wait!" —Celyn V. Get it from Our Place for $135 (available in six colors and also in mini and large sizes). Check out our Always Pan review from one of my BuzzFeed colleagues to learn more! This winds up and times up to 60 minutes, ending in a loud buzzer. Reviewers also use it to help time themselves with work tasks and studying. Promising review: "This is whimsical and fun, my kids love it. I tell them their dinner comes from a fairy mushroom forest. 😋 Works great, keeps my little monsters in line — 'Dad, the mushroom went off.' Love it." —Vik V Get it from Amazon for $8.39+ (available in three colors). FryAway is a small woman-founded business! Promising review: "This magic powder worked so much better than I expected! I was deep-frying in my enamel cast-iron pot one night, and when I was done, I poured the powder into the hot oil as instructed. The stuff dissolved right away, and I gave it a quick mix. I ended up putting the lid on and forgetting about it overnight. The next morning, it was a solid gel mass. I was expecting it to be the consistency of Jell-O, but it was actually surprisingly firm! I took a spatula and barely applied pressure to one side to loosen it, and the entire thing separated in one clean piece without any stray chunks of oil sticking to the pot. Couldn't have been easier! I have always avoided frying like the plague for the sole reason that I don't know what to do with the oil afterwards. Now I don't have to worry about that anymore!" —Sahara Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes and multi-packs). Promising review: "A friend gave me a Geometry kitchen towel, and now I am hooked! While they are more expensive than most kitchen towels, they are well worth it. They are very absorbent, yet dry quickly. They come in a variety of really pretty designs. I want to get rid of all my kitchen towels and replace them with Geometry!" —Joyce E. Bryan Get a two-pack from Amazon for $32 (available in 18 pattern combinations and also in various sizes and multi-packs). Promising review: "I bought this product because the needle in my Keurig 2.0 kept clogging, causing inconsistent brew and taste. These cleaning cups fixed both of my issues, and I especially liked that they were really quick and easy to use. I put the cleaning pod in and ran one cycle, then took the pod out and ran a rinse cycle to clean out any leftover grinds. FAST, EASY, and GREAT results… VERY HAPPY!!" —Corey West Get a box of six pods from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in boxes of 12 or 18 pods). Promising review: "I bought two of these because I have a disgusting amount of toddler/baby silverware along with regular silverware. Since I put these in, WOW does my drawer look organized and empty. I get compliments all the time." —Melanie slinger Get it from Amazon for $11.98+ (also available in two styles and two sizes). Promising review: "So glad that I came across these very handy sheets. I love having this information handy and easy to use. The magnetic sheets are strong and stay in place well, even with the fridge door opening and closing a lot. It's handy having them right in view for quick reference. It helps us to use the air fryer more, as it's easy to glance over and time things correctly. I like that it is a dark color, so it doesn't get messy as easily, and it has all the things we are most likely to use the air fryer for. The envelope the magnetic sheets come in is cute and would make a nice gift, perhaps in a basket or bag of related items. Happy to have these!" —Small~Town~Girl Get them from Amazon for $8.98+ (also available in a bundle with a pressure cooker version). Promising review: "Saw on TikTok (don’t judge) and automatically added to cart. So easy to use, takes probably a minute to fully bubble up and clean, and you’re left with a clean sink! I use it with other drain cleaning products, but would 100% recommend it for weekly maintenance." —Jessica House Get a four-pack from Amazon for $3.96 (also available in multi-packs). Promising review: "I rarely post reviews, but this stuff has completely changed our lives. Our dishwasher, utensils, plates, and glasses were covered with dry scale, and nothing we tried came close to helping. After using the tablets three times, our dishwasher looks like new, our glasses sparkle like fine china, and everything else looks fabulous. Highly recommend, worth every penny, best product BY FAR!!! One great advantage is that you can use it with your dishes. Some other products are used to clean the dishwasher, but not to clean dishes and glasses. Buy this, you will be blown away!!! It is astounding!" —Jenny Get a pack of six tablets from Amazon for $8.98 (also available in packs of 12 and multi-packs). Promising review: "I love this product because I'm always chopping vegetables and cutting up meat. I would be making several trips to the trash. Now I'm able to make meal prep quicker, easier, and cleaner! A good way to use up some of those plastic bags from the grocery store, too!" —Ellen Holcomb Promising review: "Though I admit to being a senior citizen, I don't think of myself as old by any means. I can still open a jar with no problem. I bought this for my father-in-law, and after we put it up, I fell in love with it and ordered one for myself. I put it under an overhead cabinet, and he slides a jar in with both hands, and the lid pops right off, no matter how hard it's stuck on. And no, I don't work for the company or own stock in it. It's just that with all the junk you can order off the internet, it's refreshing to get something that actually works exactly as advertised." —Ken Griffeth These are also dishwasher-, oven-, and microwave-safe! Promising review: "These containers are awesome. They are durable, easy to clean, and leak-proof. This has made my weekly prep so much easier and less stressful. I can grab my container from the fridge and head to work. I used to make my decision on my lunch that morning and then have to make it — this has been a time-saver prepping for the whole week. Plus, I love the container being glass — no buildup of stains, easy to clean, and I can see what is in it. I highly recommend it to anyone." —kimberly a hood Get a set of five from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in four sizes, with varied compartments, and in sets of four or eight). StoveShelf is a US-based small business that specializes in shelves for various sizes of stoves. Check out a TikTok of the StoveShelf in action! Promising review: "This is perfect, and I’m obsessed. Where has this contraption been all my life? We basically freed up the cabinet above the stove where we messily stored our spices/oils and such. Now, the things we use the most are right in front of us. And more things fit than expected! Like our olive oil dispenser, nonstick cooking spray, and a whole canister of sea salt. Also, it’s magnetic, so you literally just snap it onto your oven. This was the biggest bang for your buck sort of organization product I’ve gotten for my kitchen!" —Katie M Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three sizes and three finishes). *Especially* if there are certain ingredients you like to leave out on the counter (like coffee and sugar), this keeps them close at hand while maintaining a nice aesthetic! Promising review: "I recently upgraded my kitchen storage game with these fabulous glass containers with bamboo lids, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. These containers have not only elevated the aesthetics of my pantry but also contributed to my sustainability efforts. I am pleased with the quality and sturdiness of the glass, as well as the tightly sealed lids." —Caroline Get the seven-pack from Amazon for $29.99 (also available in a three-pack). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. 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. Rachelle Yang is a freelancer and former resident writer who has been writing for BuzzFeed shopping for over two years and who covers a wide range of topics, but especially loves writing about unique and quirky finds, beauty products, and trendy fashion pieces.