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HuffPost
20 Aug 2024
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-kitchen-cooking-tools-reader-picks-ud_l_66be62dde4b032172d01ed4d
Amazon
Whether you love cooking or dread it, there’s no arguing with the fact that it can feel a bit arduous after a long day spent working and looking after your family. So when kitchen gadgets and devices come along that can help expedite the process and lighten your load, it’s worth a gander. I’m always on the lookout for tools that make life a little easier, and apparently, so are HuffPost readers.
Below, we’ve rounded up the kitchen and cooking tools that our audience is scooping up in droves, according to our data about reader purchases from our previous recommendations. This is a comprehensive list of must-have, reader-beloved items that you won’t want to miss. These include a cult-fave smoothie maker, a popular veggie chopper and more. Take a look and pick one up — your future self will thank you for easing the nightly cooking burden.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
1
Amazon
A veggie chopper that majorly cuts cooking prep time
Chopping veggies is often the most time-consuming part of active cooking. Not anymore with this gadget on hand! It can chop, dice and even spiralize whole veggies in mere seconds. Right now it’s almost half off, making it the best time to buy it. HuffPost readers cannot get enough of this chopper — it is a top-shopped item anytime it's featured in our coverage.
2
Amazon
An egg maker that’s a must-have for meal-prepping
Eggs are a gold mine of nutritional benefits, packed with protein, omega-3s and vitamin B. Their versatility (you can incorporate them into virtually any meal) makes them a meal-prepping favorite. This egg cooker hard-boils six at once. It can cook eggs in all sorts of other ways too, including scrambling, poaching and making individual omelets. You get to choose how runny or cooked you want your eggs too. HuffPost readers love the convenience of this little Dash gadget.
3
Amazon
A pair of bestselling kitchen shears from KitchenAid
These KitchenAid shears come in a variety of un-boring colors and are accompanied by a plastic sheath for safe storage. The stainless steel blades are micro-serrated for effective cutting, and reviewers say the ergonomic handles are easy on the hands (even arthritic ones). At around $9, they don't cost much more than a few pounds of chicken, and they’ve earned 4.8 stars across over 49,000 ratings on Amazon.
4
Target
A Ninja Foodi smoothie maker
Just like our readers, HuffPost Life and Shopping editorial director Kristen Aiken is devoted to her Ninja Foodi smoothie maker. She now prefers this model over her Vitamix, not just for smoothies but for frozen smoothie bowls, pesto and nut butter as well. "If you or someone you know is constantly complaining about cleaning a giant blender, or simply can’t manage to get the chunks out of smoothies, I highly recommend this one," she said. This small but mighty blender has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating at Amazon and more than 7,100 5-star reviews at Amazon. The set includes a 14-ounce smoothie bowl maker with built-in tamper that easily and efficiently powers through frozen ingredients, two 24-ounce nutrient extraction cups to blend smoothies (or other liquids) and three lids. The 1,200-peak-watt motor has suction cups at the bottom to firmly attach to your countertop and features six programs for one-touch blend, pulse, smoothies, extractions, bowls and spreads. Best of all, all the parts (aside from the motor) are dishwasher safe.
5
Amazon
A corn cob peeler
There are few kitchen tasks more daunting (and potentially dangerous) than trying to cut away corn kernels from the cob. This compact, Y-shaped peeler is made with Japanese stainless steel blades and an ergonomic handle to safely and swiftly peel away kernels so you can have fresh corn whenever you want. HuffPost readers flocked to it in previous coverage.
6
Amazon
An herb-stripper and chopper
HuffPost readers love this helpful tool, which makes the onerous task of plucking herb leaves from their stems into quick work. You simply feed your fresh herb through one of the nine various-sized holes. It's made from food-grade stainless steel and can be used for stripping things like kale, cilantro, thyme and rosemary. At the base of the tool, there's also a built-in blade meant to finely chop your fresh herbs so they're ready to be added to your dish.
7
Amazon
A Dash deluxe electric air fryer
When you crave a comforting crunch without the grease, an air fryer can be a handy kitchen helper. Robin Selden, managing partner and executive chef of Marcia Selden Catering, swears by her Dash deluxe electric air fryer. “I get crispiness with little to no fat, and all in just a matter of minutes,” she said. “I can throw an entire head of cauliflower or broccoli, or a whole bag of mini sweet colorful peppers, in it for a few minutes, and everything emerges with a delicious texture.”
One of her favorite air fryer appetizers starts with a can of chickpeas. “You end up with these crunchy little protein-packed bites that you can season with specialty salts or Tajin seasoning,” she said. Her children especially love her air fryer Buffalo cauliflower. “I lightly spray florets with oil, and once they’re crispy and golden brown, I toss them with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce,” she said. Like the egg cooker, HuffPost readers can't get enough of this Dash appliance.
One of her favorite air fryer appetizers starts with a can of chickpeas. “You end up with these crunchy little protein-packed bites that you can season with specialty salts or Tajin seasoning,” she said. Her children especially love her air fryer Buffalo cauliflower. “I lightly spray florets with oil, and once they’re crispy and golden brown, I toss them with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce,” she said. Like the egg cooker, HuffPost readers can't get enough of this Dash appliance.
8
Uncommon Goods
An automatic stirrer
Never break a butter sauce again or let a creamy purée go lumpy thanks to this automatic stirrer that continually mixes contents for you. The stirrer offers a timer function and multiple settings and is available in either a battery-powered or rechargeable option, which lasts up to nine hours per charge. It's a popular item that can be enjoyed for a long time and make life a bit easier.
9
Gir
A Gir silicone spoonula
A mashup between a spoon and a spatula is Gir's spoonula, a multipurpose tool you'll definitely want in your kitchen, according to chef Maya Ferrante.
"I love how sturdy this spatula is and its curved bowl design is great for scooping and can really hold up to heavier mixtures, sweet or savory. It's a go-to for batters, flipping, scooping, scraping, stirring sweet or savory dishes. An added bonus is it comes in so many beautiful colors!" she said.
This 11-inch spoonula comes in multiple vibrant colors, including red, slate blue, white, emerald green, navy blue, gray and light pink.
"I love how sturdy this spatula is and its curved bowl design is great for scooping and can really hold up to heavier mixtures, sweet or savory. It's a go-to for batters, flipping, scooping, scraping, stirring sweet or savory dishes. An added bonus is it comes in so many beautiful colors!" she said.
This 11-inch spoonula comes in multiple vibrant colors, including red, slate blue, white, emerald green, navy blue, gray and light pink.
10
Amazon
A bestselling Starfrit Rotato electric potato peeler
Are you in charge of making the potato salad or mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving every year? If so, you'll find plenty of work for this easy-to-use electric potato peeler that removes skin without wasting the parts you want to use. But it's not just for potatoes — you can use it to peel tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, onions and more.
"This little gadget is my favorite unconventional kitchen gadget. I use it for everything, to zest citrus in bulk, peel a bunch of potatoes of course, spiralizing semi-soft veggies, and it makes fruit peeling a breeze," New York-based chef Courtnee Futch told HuffPost.
"This little gadget is my favorite unconventional kitchen gadget. I use it for everything, to zest citrus in bulk, peel a bunch of potatoes of course, spiralizing semi-soft veggies, and it makes fruit peeling a breeze," New York-based chef Courtnee Futch told HuffPost.
11
Amazon
An olive oil sprayer for grilling, roasting, baking and salad-making
Having an olive oil sprayer makes it easy to cook with oil while ensuring you don’t overdo it. You can use this baby to spray your grill, a sheet tray full of veggies, your skillet or the top of a salad before you dig in. It reduces the spills and splatters that often happen in the kitchen, cutting down on cleanup time. It is a bestseller among HuffPost readers and will make life easier.
12
Amazon
A one-step pepper corer
Rather than having to wield a tiny paring knife to cut away a pepper's tricky membrane and core, you can use this tool to remove it all in one fell swoop. Compatible with a variety of peppers, it's made of stainless steel and BPA-free plastic and is safe to wash on the top rack of your dishwasher. It's a great option for people with dexterity limitations and is a top pick for HuffPost readers.
13
Amazon
A multifunctional jar and can opener
Perfect for opening soda bottles, stubborn jars and cans with pull tabs, this pair of tools helps facilitate a firm grip on objects, even if your hands and wrists aren't up to the tasks. The jar opener features four different-sized slip-resistant rings to work on various sizes of bottles or jars. HuffPost readers agree it's a must in everyone's kitchen.
14
Amazon
A rocking garlic crusher
By combining the force of your own weight with its rocking design, this ergonomic tool crushes cloves of garlic without you having to struggle with the squeeze designs of traditional garlic mincers that rely on hand strength. The backless and stainless steel construction make it easy to scoop out the crushed garlic, and it can be thrown in the dishwasher when it comes time for cleanup.
15
Amazon
An OXO Good Grips citrus squeezer
HuffPost readers agree that sometimes it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference. A simple metal lemon squeezer is a go-to tool for cookbook author and content creator Robin Asbell.
“I like to add fresh lemon juice to vinaigrettes, pastas and dips, because it gives every dish a jolt of tartness and vitamin C,” she said. “Having vitamin C added to greens makes their iron content more absorbable, so it’s a win-win of taste and nutrition. In the past, I used two tools — a lemon reamer and a strainer — but I upgraded to a lemon squeezer, which gets the job done in one step. I put the juiced lemon halves in a glass, add cold water and sip on fancy spa water as I cook.”
“I like to add fresh lemon juice to vinaigrettes, pastas and dips, because it gives every dish a jolt of tartness and vitamin C,” she said. “Having vitamin C added to greens makes their iron content more absorbable, so it’s a win-win of taste and nutrition. In the past, I used two tools — a lemon reamer and a strainer — but I upgraded to a lemon squeezer, which gets the job done in one step. I put the juiced lemon halves in a glass, add cold water and sip on fancy spa water as I cook.”
16
Amazon
A vacuum seal machine
This highly rated and well-reviewed compact vacuum sealer from Anova is popular among readers and HuffPost editors alike. In previous coverage, my colleague explained that her machine has completely lived up to the hype and been majorly handy, durable and — most importantly — time- and money-saving. This vacuum sealer has a vacuum-and-seal button that’s simple to use, a pulse vacuum button you can use with liquids or when you want to be careful not to crush soft items like fruit, and a seal-only button for making custom-sized bags or for use with the pulse function. It’s that easy and simple to use. Say goodbye to the days of freezer burn.
17
Amazon
A Chef'n PalmPeeler veggie peeler
HuffPost readers and professionals alike are big fans of this hand-held peeler. "This palm peeler is one of my favorite kitchen tools, and one I get asked about very frequently in my videos. The peeler is built for your hand and makes peeling vegetables extremely easy!" — Karen Rosenbloom, chef and content creator
18
Amazon
An Ideal Gangy can opener
You just might be surprised to find this old-school can opener is popular among HuffPost readers, but it's true!
"These Japanese can openers are one of the handiest tools to keep in the kitchen. As anyone who has tried to use a hand-held can opener in a professional kitchen knows, the traditional ones last about 3 hours before being broken. These can openers have no moving parts and are extremely durable. I make it a point to keep a few on-hand in every kitchen I occupy, and keep one at home as well. They also make great stocking stuffers for line cooks when the holidays come around!" — Alex Napolitano, executive chef at The Maker in Hudson, New York
"These Japanese can openers are one of the handiest tools to keep in the kitchen. As anyone who has tried to use a hand-held can opener in a professional kitchen knows, the traditional ones last about 3 hours before being broken. These can openers have no moving parts and are extremely durable. I make it a point to keep a few on-hand in every kitchen I occupy, and keep one at home as well. They also make great stocking stuffers for line cooks when the holidays come around!" — Alex Napolitano, executive chef at The Maker in Hudson, New York
19
Amazon
A Joie mini mandoline slicer
A mandoline slicer is an essential multifunctional tool to have in your kitchen, and Rasheeda Purdie, a New York-based chef and founder of Ramen by Ra, uses hers often. She suggested this mini mandoline slicer as it's easy to travel with.
"It gives you consistent slices and cuts. It works well with so many vegetables and fruit. There’s also the option to julienne items, too. I cook ramen a lot and a mandoline slicer always gives me the best size for my toppings and garnish. As great as this kitchen tool is, it’s also dangerous so please use carefully. Once you’re attached to this item, it will become your go-to tool in your chef kit," she said.
"It gives you consistent slices and cuts. It works well with so many vegetables and fruit. There’s also the option to julienne items, too. I cook ramen a lot and a mandoline slicer always gives me the best size for my toppings and garnish. As great as this kitchen tool is, it’s also dangerous so please use carefully. Once you’re attached to this item, it will become your go-to tool in your chef kit," she said.
20
Amazon
A set of Cuisinart mini spatulas
Sure, you have a few spatulas in your kitchen, but do you have HuffPost reader-loved mini spatulas? Liz Solomon Dwyer, founder of New York City-based King David Tacos, said Cuisinart's mini spatulas are a must-have in any kitchen for hard-to-reach pastes and sauces in small containers.
"A mini spatula (or spoonula, yes, it's a thing) is every kitchen's best friend, but especially at home. There are all sorts of small containers and cans that you just can't get inside with a full-size spatula," she said. "Food waste is the worst, and think of all the peanut butter, mayo and tomato paste (always tomato paste!) you could have saved from waste if you just had the right size spatula for the job! A small investment with huge returns, right here."
This set comes with three roughly 8-inch-long spatulas in pink, green and blue. There's one that's ideal for frosting cupcakes, one for scooping out of jars and one that's perfect for icing cookies.
"A mini spatula (or spoonula, yes, it's a thing) is every kitchen's best friend, but especially at home. There are all sorts of small containers and cans that you just can't get inside with a full-size spatula," she said. "Food waste is the worst, and think of all the peanut butter, mayo and tomato paste (always tomato paste!) you could have saved from waste if you just had the right size spatula for the job! A small investment with huge returns, right here."
This set comes with three roughly 8-inch-long spatulas in pink, green and blue. There's one that's ideal for frosting cupcakes, one for scooping out of jars and one that's perfect for icing cookies.
21
Walmart
A Veggetti spiralizer
If zoodles are on the menu for dinner this week, the Veggetti is a tool you'll definitely find handy. "You can pretty much spiralize any solid vegetable for a different shape or texture for a dish," said Philadelphia-based chef and activist Kurt Evans.
You can use it on zucchini, squash, carrots, cucumber or almost any other vegetable to create noodles. All you have to do is insert your veggie of choice and twist.
You can use it on zucchini, squash, carrots, cucumber or almost any other vegetable to create noodles. All you have to do is insert your veggie of choice and twist.
22
Pottery Barn
A sliding vertical spice rack that fits in tight spaces
Not necessarily a kitchen tool per se, but this is a rolling cart for storing your various cooking gadgets and more that HuffPost readers love. This slim cart can hold bottles of oil, seasonings and other cooking essentials, and it conveniently slides into narrow gaps in your pantry or kitchen. Available in both black and white, the three-shelf tower measures 32 inches tall and has a handle to easily slide the cart in and out.
23
Amazon
A Cuisinart mini food processor
This compact food processor by Cuisinart has 11,147 5-star reviews on Amazon, a three-cup capacity and a dishwasher-safe bowl. There are two powerful processing options (grind and chop), a reversible stainless steel blade and a recipe book for dish ideas. Find out why it's a HuffPost reader fave when you snag one for yourself.
24
Amazon
A compact air fryer
Air fryers can be a bit clunky and take up way too much counter space, but this HuffPost reader pick is specifically designed to be compact and best for small meals. It fits up to 1 1/2 pounds of food and has adjustable cooking controls suitable for whatever you're making.
25
Amazon
An electric hot pot
Don't have a stove? No problem. Your cooking needs will be met with this electric hot pot, in which you can sauté foods like steak, chicken, fried rice, noodles and eggs. It even comes with a silicone spatula and an egg rack. It holds up to 1.5 liters — a compact size for smaller spaces — and the nonstick liner inside makes cleanup simple. Color options are green and purple.
26
Amazon
A breakfast sandwich maker
There's no need for a griddle and pans. Making your bacon, egg and cheese in the morning will be a whole lot easier with this tiny sandwich maker. Simply build the layers of your desired sandwich on each level of the machine and in five minutes, breakfast is ready. It's even dishwasher-safe and has removable parts for hassle-free cleanup. It comes in black, coral, mint, silver and red.