13 Kitchen Tools to Make Cooking Easier

Over the years, I’ve tried many kitchen gadgets and tools looking for ways to make dinner prep easier or quicker. Some have been awesome while others fell short. Here is a list of my favorites – in no particular order. Some, admittedly, are on the pricier side. But I think they’re totally worth the splurge. Many of these have lasted a really long time, too. 

#1 Sheet Pan 

These are so versatile. Bake, broil, and even roast! With all of the new sheet pan dinner recipes floating around, it’s worth investing in a few pans. I have racks that fit into mine, too. My favorite is Nordic Ware’s Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s half sheet pan. They’re the perfect size for home ovens. They’re durable and not too expensive – set of 2 for $24.99. 

#2 Garlic Peeler and Slicer

My favorite is from Pampered Chef. I was in the need of a new garlic press and instead, I decided to keep my old one (also Pampered Chef) that I bought 20+ years ago and grabbed up this little guy. Oh, how I love this set. I use the peeler more than the slicer, but they are both so simple to use and clean. And my sister just happens to be a Pampered Chef consultant … bonus! You can get this Garlic Peeler and Slicer set for $20.50. If it lasts as long as my garlic press has, it’s well worth the cost. 

#3 Mandolin 

There isn’t much better than a good quality chef’s knife. Except for a good quality mandolin. Mandolins make slicing larger quantities of produce go much faster. They’re also great for getting uniform slices of vegetables. They can be daunting, and I’ve sliced more than the vegetable in my life (that’s a whole other story), so my main concern is safety. One of my favorites is from Tupperware. It is one of the safest I’ve seen because of its ability to lock the blade when not in use. It also comes with a variety of blades which store on the underside of the mandolin so you don’t lose them in the kitchen drawer that holds everything. 

#4 Spider Strainer

You see them on TV cooking shows all the time and may have one, but it took me forever to actually buy one. Then I used it the first time and wondered why on Earth I waited so long to get a spider in my kitchen! These inexpensive tools are a helping hand when you need to drain something quickly to add to another pot – like pasta to sauce. They’re also handy when you need to get fried foods out of a fryer without a basket. 

#5 Electric Rice Cooker 

I’ve always used some sort of gadget to cook rice. An electric rice cooker frees up a spot on my stove. It also allows me to walk away from the cooking process so I can focus elsewhere – which is really what I appreciate. This Rival Electric Rice Cooker is a good value at $24.99 and it has a steamer basket to boot! Oh, and it’s red! 

#6 Electric Pressure Cooker 

My dad bought me my first electric pressure cooker from QVC over 10 years ago. I remember thinking “I’ll never use this”. Ha! I used it all the time. For everything. Last year, I decided to upgrade to a larger version and bought the 8-quart Instant Pot. I donated my first one to our local Elks lodge where it’s still kicking! I love my Instant Pot. It’s large and has a variety of functions like slow cooking and sauteeing that my old one didn’t. If you don’t need the big guy, you can get the mini. It’s very cute and holds 3 quarts. I use my Instant Pot to cook rice, now, too!  

#7 Slow Cooker 

I own seven slow cookers. They vary in size and shape as well as purpose. I often use several at a time when I’m in charge of family meals. I buy Rival and Crock-Pot brands. I’ve found these tend to last the longest for the money. You can pick up a little slow cooker for about $15 or you can spend $50 or more for programmable versions. I do love my programmable slow cooker – it’s over 15 years old! This cute dipper duo from Crock-Pot is a good deal at $49.99. The larger is 6 quarts and programmable. 

#8 Infrared Convection Oven 

I requested one of these NuWave ovens from Santa a couple of years ago – sort of on a whim. I had seen several commercials touting the ease and greatness. But, my neighbor had raved about hers to me one evening. So, why not, right? I have the NuWave Pro with the extender ring. It comes with two racks and is big enough for a small turkey. I’ve never roasted a turkey in it, but I have roasted a chicken or two. This version is $118.51 on Amazon right now. It was such a big hit that my mom and sister-in-law bought one shortly after mine arrived. I use it a lot for quick lunches, too, and to reheat things like chicken wings or french fries – it crisps up leftovers like no other tool I’ve ever used! 

#9 Immersion Blender 

My first immersion blender was courtesy of my husband’s kitchen … before he was my husband. He had one that my mother-in-law had given him. It was one of the first stick-blenders on the market. I still have it … it’s my back up! I purchased a cordless Cuisinart version several years ago. It came with several attachments and containers to use – but I never used them. So, when the motor on that one died, I decided to purchase this Chefman. It’s $24.95 on Amazon. I’ve had it a couple of years and couldn’t be happier. The steel blade section detaches for cleaning. It’s simple and serves its purpose. I mostly use it to puree soup or sauces right in the pan on the stove. 

#10 Personal Blender 

My first personal blender was actually one of the first that Ninja had on the market. It lasted forever but finally croaked about a month ago. I decided to switch to the NutriBullet Pro mostly because it claims to pulverize seeds and fruits skins – like blueberries. My Ninja didn’t do that very well and it was kind of annoying. I’ve only had this for a few weeks, but it’s working just fine. I use it for smoothies and blended coffee drinks. I’m sure I’ll whip up cold soups and salad dressings in it before too long, though. This retails for $79.99. You can, of course, get less expensive ones. I think the motor size is worth the extra dollars, though. 

#11 Food Processor 

I had a Kitchen Aid food processor for about 12 years. As all good things do, it croaked … sort of. The plastic started to crack and I wasn’t comfortable using it anymore. Something about bits of plastic showing up in my food that bothered me! It was so old that I couldn’t find replacement parts for it, either. So … I was off to find a new one that wouldn’t break the bank. I got lucky around Christmas a couple years ago and got this Cuisinart 11-cup food processor on an Amazon daily deal! It’s listed for $149.35 on Amazon now. It’s every bit as good as my Kitchen Aid was – I almost had a memorial service when that one left this house. I just loved it so much! My Cuisinart came with three discs for slicing and shredding, too. 

#12 Cookbook and iPad Holder 

I would not survive without my iPad holder. Okay, I probably would. But this holds my iPad and cookbooks … not at the same time. I bought it primarily so I could more safely use my iPad in the kitchen. This one from Norpro comes in right around $10.00.

#13 The Garbage Bowl 

When I first saw Rachael Ray use her garbage bowl on her TV show – oh so many years ago – I thought, “Geez, why didn’t I think of that?”. It’s such a simple kitchen tip and any bowl will do. But, I love melamine and love that this mimics the old Texas Ware speckled bowls, that I just bought one. I use if for “garbage” and many other things, too. It’s a sturdy melamine bowl with a rubber ring on its base to prevent it from slipping. For $12.00, I might buy this red one to go with my teal one! 

I’m sure I’m forgetting something! What are your favorite kitchen time and stress savers? Let me know in the comments … I’m always looking for new tools to try! 

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