Our top 10 kitchen tools, all under $15 on Amazon

Apart from essential kitchen tools such as chef's knives and roasting pans, there are many cooking items that can help you work more efficiently in the kitchen. Even novice cooks can hone their skills properly (and safely) if they have the right tools. Stocking your kitchen with cookware, tools, and appliances can easily cost thousands of dollars. But no matter how much you've been cooking, not every kitchen purchase has to be a splurge. That's where he comes in: all of his popular items are under $15.

We've tested thousands of products over the years to find the most important and best kitchen tools that combine performance and serious value. These kitchen tools cost less than $15 and I use them in my kitchen at home, and I recommend them for yours as well. Not to mention, with Mother's Day just a few weeks away, these tools make great gifts.

Top food and wine items under $15 on Amazon

• Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener, $13
• KitchenAid Bamboo Handle Scraper Spatula, $10
• Microplane Premium Zester, $15
• Zulay Kitchen 3-in-1 Manual Citrus Juicer Reamer Cup, $13
• OXO Good Grip Silicone Flexible Omelet Turner, $12 (originally $15)
• Winco Fish Spatula, $8
• FAAY Cheek Cooking Spoon, $12
• OXO Good Grip Meat Tenderizer, $12
• Sumo Ice Cream Scoop, $13
• ElitaPro Super Fast Double Frother Handheld Milk Frother, $9

Longzon 4-in-1 knife sharpener

Professional chefs know that keeping their knives sharp is essential for functionality and safety in the kitchen. This affordable knife sharpener from Longzon allows you to dull your knives whenever you need to, with multiple grit settings to get the perfect edge. I liked the durability and effectiveness of this sharpener. I noticed an improvement in the blade after just 5-10 pulls (I found it cut even better after 10-20 pulls). I also like that the scissors can also be sharpened, adding even more value to this already affordable model.

KitchenAid Bamboo Handle Scraper Spatula

For any avid baker, a silicone spatula is essential. Flexible head allows for easy mixing, scrubbing, and folding. Silicone's heat-resistant properties also make it perfect for cooking on the stovetop without damaging the surface of your favorite pots and pans. During testing, this attractive KitchenAid spatula easily scraped ingredients from the bowl, felt very light, and was easy to clean with a quick hand wash. The curved head struggled to get into corners, but we found it versatile and great value overall.

microplane premium zester

Microplane makes the gold standard in handheld zesters and graters. We used this lightweight tool to quickly remove the peel from citrus fruits, producing over 1 tablespoon of peel per orange without damaging the fruit. It's also great for hard cheeses, producing fine, fluffy shreds that melt into risotto and pasta. They last a long time (see our editor who has been using them for over 10 years), but to make them last longer, they come with a plastic cover to protect sharp teeth when stored in a drawer.

Zulay Kitchen 3-in-1 Manual Citrus Juicer Reamer Cup

It's easy to spend more money on a citrus juicer, but you don't have to. This model from Zulay does double duty with his two reamers: a 12-tooth reamer for lemons and limes, and a 3-tooth reamer for oranges, grapefruit, and other large citrus fruits. We tested this with several different citrus varieties and were able to produce large amounts of clear, flavorful juice with pulp, which we collected in the 17-ounce capacity cup below. It's perfect for small juice-making jobs like making cocktails and ceviche, and cleanup is basically hassle-free.

OXO Good Grip Silicone Flexible Omelet Turner

Especially for omelettes, the spatula you use to flip the eggs and get them into the ideal shape is important. This flexible egg turner from OXO has a silicone blade with an ultra-thin, slightly flexible edge that allows it to slide under the omelet without damaging the surface of the omelet. When we tested the best spatula for eggs, we were able to achieve the perfect crease, so we named it the best spatula for omelettes. The shape is also perfect for flipping fish fillets. It is highly heat resistant (up to 600°F) and is dishwasher safe.

Winco Fish Spatula

A fish spatula may seem too specialized for the average home cook, but this comfortable turner is a nice tool to have even if you don't use it for fish. When we tested the fish spatula, we found that the Winco's 3.25-inch wide blade provides enough surface area to easily flip burgers and pancakes, and its thinness allows it to glide through delicate fish fillets without tearing them apart. I love being able to do that. Although the handle is made of wood, the spatula is dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean.

FAAY Cheek Cooking Spoon

A wooden spoon is useful for sautéing, stirring sauces, and scraping fonds while deglazing the pot. We love this teak spoon because it's extremely durable and water-resistant, making it a tool that will last quite a while in the average kitchen. During testing, it was easy to crumble ground sausage and stir oatmeal. Also, since the bowl of this spoon is deep, it could also be used as a serving spoon. I could easily clean it by hand and then let it air dry. The manufacturer recommends oiling it occasionally to prevent cracking.

OXO Good Grip Meat Tenderizer

Meat tenderizers are useful for making veal scaloppini and schnitzel, and this product from OXO came out on top as the overall best in our tests. One side has a smooth surface to flatten the meat, the other side has a toothed surface to tenderize the meat, and a slight angle to the head. In our tests, it was able to quickly flatten pork cutlets and chicken breasts, but if you use too much force, it's easy to apply too much force and tear the meat. I was also able to turn graham crackers into crumbs with just a few shakes. The non-slip grip prevents it from flying off your hands, and it's dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

sumo ice cream scoop

A sturdy scoop is a must-have for any ice cream or sorbet loving household, especially when the warmer months bring more opportunities to enjoy frozen desserts. This ice cream scoop ranked higher than other ice cream scoops due to its durable stainless steel construction and sharp tip that allows you to take every last piece out of the tub. The only downside we found during testing is that extremely cold ice cream tends to stick to metal, so you might have to remove it from the scooper.

ElitaPro Super Fast Double Frother Handheld Milk Frother

You can't make latte or cappuccino at home without foam milk. ElitaPro's battery-powered handheld milk frother features a double frother head and a comfortable silicone grip. In our tests, whole milk produced a thick foam and oat milk produced a silky foam. He was also good at mixing matcha and hot chocolate. To clean, simply spin in soapy water, briefly rinse, spin again and dry. Comes with an extra whisk attachment for eggs and a stainless steel stand for storage.