We hear about lots of kitchen gadgets, from 'saw on TV' products to recommendations from your favorite food bloggers. Some items will be completely thrown away, but other times you'll end up with cooking supplies you love so much that you can't imagine life without them. Sometimes it's as simple as an easy way to cut vegetables, and other times it's something that revolutionizes the way we cook together.
At Reviewed, we have pretty high standards (and opinions) for products, so when we find something that really blows our mind, we have to tell everyone. I went around the office asking co-workers about kitchen items they couldn't live without, and I'm sure you won't either after purchasing them.
1. Convenient size blender for smoothies etc.
Credit: Nutribullet
“Not to be dramatic, but I couldn't imagine life without the NutriBullet. I started making smoothies thanks to this easy-to-use blender, and now I literally use it to make breakfast every day. It's on my kitchen counter. It's small enough to fit, so it's super easy to clean, and you can even take the blending cup home if you're in a hurry.
It's not the most powerful blender on the market, but it still blends frozen bananas and kale every morning, so it's all I really need. Plus, you can use this to mix up sauces without having to get out your big food processor. ”- Courtney Campbell, Staff Writer — E-Commerce (That’s Me!)
Get NutriBullet Pro for $79.99 on Amazon
2. How to feel stylish with coffee
Credit: Bodum
“I'm a big fan of French press. It's so easy and intuitive for a cooking beginner like me who loves coffee but hates spending money on a cup of coffee every morning!” – Melissa Rorech, Video Producer/Editor
Get the Bodum Brazilian French Press Coffee Maker on Amazon for $16.98
3. The easiest way to make rice
Credit: Imusa USA
“I love my electric rice cooker and rarely cook dinner without using it. Cooking rice in a regular pot gives many people despair. The ideal ratio of rice and water It's difficult to make, and it's annoying to have to scrape off the burnt skin on the bottom of the pot after cooking rice for too long.But with a rice cooker, you'll always have perfect rice ready to eat. Keep it warm until just before cooking so it doesn't burn.
I found a giant rice cooker at a local Chinese restaurant that made really delicious rice, and immediately bought a smaller one. I didn't spend much money and I know there are better models on the market, but my cute little rice cooker brings me joy and gives me perfectly cooked rice every night. Masu. ”- Cindy Bailen, Senior Staff Writer
Get the Imusa USA Electric Nonstick Rice Cooker on Amazon for $17.33
4. Professional knife
Credit: Reviewed / Lindsay D. Mattison
“My cooking has changed forever since the day I started using the Mac Professional Series 8” Chef's Knife, which happens to be one of Reviewed's favorite chef's knives. Technically speaking, it's my boyfriend's It was a gift from one of my friends because we live together.'' I cook a lot more and use it almost every day.
Up until now, I had only used German-made knives, so I couldn't match the thinness and precision of these Japanese-made blades. It took me a while to get used to it, but now I can slice and dice with much more confidence than before. ”- Cassidy Olsen, Staff Writer
Get the Mac Professional Series 8-Inch Chef Knife on Amazon for $144.95
5. How to make a dinner that will change your life
Credit: Instant Pot
“This isn't surprising, but I literally can't imagine life without my Instant Pot. It's a lot more versatile than you think. When I first got it, all I could do was make soup. I thought it would just be stews, but soup is definitely my favorite type of food, so that's great. But after about 10 minutes of browsing Instant Pot recipes on Pinterest, I was blown away by the amount of choices. I was overwhelmed.
I think my favorite feature is that you can use frozen chicken to cook a complete meal in less than an hour and it comes out perfectly. “Dump” recipes are also great. On busy nights, you can do only minimal prep work and let his IP do the rest. All in all, I use my pressure cooker at least 3-4 times each week and have never had to turn the oven on during the hot summer months. ”- Samantha Gordon, Editor-in-Chief – E-Commerce
Buy the Instant Pot DUO60 6-Quart 7-in-1 on Amazon for $84.99
6. What's probably in your pocket?
Credit: Reviewed / Michael Desjardin
“A bit unconventional, but my favorite cooking device is my iPhone. I use it to look up recipes, find ingredient substitutions, and call for help. Its app allows me to order takeout. Seriously, though, the timer and alarm feature on my iPhone is super handy too (although now that I have an Echo Spot, I can just say, “Alexa, set a timer for 10 minutes”). Now it's a little easier to yell “Set it to!”). ”- Alicia Cypress, Editor-in-Chief
Get the Apple iPhone 8 Plus on Amazon for $830
7. Mandolin to quickly slice vegetables
Credit: Swissmar Borner
“I use this mandolin a lot, and it also has the advantage of being even more self-contained than other mandolins. All the blades are housed in a large container that keeps the mandolin safe from accidentally slipping out. It has a latch and the whole thing can be propped up against a wall or hung on a nail. It's very close to a winner in our test, but not exactly.” – Andrew Winson, Data Specialist
Get the Swissmar Borner V-1001 V-Slicer Plus Mandoline on Amazon for $49.99
Credit: Toastmaster
“One of my favorite things to have in the kitchen is an electric grill that I can use to cook just about anything. If you're trying to grill hamburgers or hot dogs, but it's raining, a griddle can make a very similar grill. If I'm making a lot of eggs, bacon, or pancakes that are too big for the skillet, I use a griddle. It's incredibly easy to clean, just wash it with water. Plus, it'll make you feel like a chef working over a big griddle in a diner.” Connor Fourie, Editorial Coordinator
Get the Toastmaster Griddle on Amazon for $25.04
9. The salad spinner you've needed for years.
Credit: OXO
“I love chef's knives and cast iron pots more than anything, but a dark horse candidate for favorite kitchen gadget might be the OXO Good Grip Salad Spinner. I know, I know — less exciting. Not a reaction, but if I could go almost 30 years of my life without a salad spinner, I'm sure there are others like me. If you're one of them, this Investing in boring and unflashy kitchen essentials is not a good idea.
The OXO model that I call mine is one of the best-reviewed spinners on Amazon, and after using it, it's easy to see why. The pump mechanism and braking system are responsive, sturdy, and easy to use with one hand. No more fighting with grainy vegetables and squishy grains. Gone are the days of needlessly covering spinach with paper towels. I became a parent. I love boring old salad spinners. ”- Michael Desjardin, Senior Staff Writer
Buy the OXO Good Grip Salad Spinner on Amazon for $29.95
10. Gadgets that boil water
Credit: Hamilton Beach
“An electric kettle is indispensable to me. Not only do I quickly heat up water for things like tea, but I also use it for cooking, so I can add even more boiling water to an already hot pot without lowering the temperature. I should add: My wife and I use it every day. It's a no-name brand I bought on Amazon for $15 and it's still going strong 2 years later. I have a Cuisinart model that a friend has. I used it and liked everything about it except the price tag.” – Michael Shepard, Logistics Coordinator
Get Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle on Amazon $25.19
Prices are accurate at the time of publication, but may change over time.
