If you’re under the impression that cooking is hard, what if you tweaked your thinking and considered that all you need is the right equipment? Every chef has tools of the trade they rely on, whether it’s a good set of knives, immersion blender for whipping up homemade sauces or a quality food processor.
Set your kitchen up for cooking success with these 15 highly rated products you’ll find on Amazon. We scoured thousands of reviews to highlight only the very best products worth the money. Cooking is about to get a whole lot easier.
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The secret to getting fluffy rice similar to what your favorite restaurant serves is using a rice cooker instead of making your rice on the stove. This one is easy enough for even novice home cooks to use with just one button you need to press. It makes between two to six cups of rice — perfect for meal-prepping or families.
Promising review: “The best rice cooker I have ever used, this thing is amazing...no real bells and whistles, it just works, it’s easy! I put the rice in, add some water and swirl it around, turn the faucet on to strain out the starch, then pour out enough to the fill line. If I put two cups of rice in, there is literally a line that shows you where two cups of water should be. Then put the bowl in the cooker, put the lid on, and turn it on, it auto goes to the warm setting when it's done cooking! Super easy, best rice every time. Buy it and you won't regret it!” — Insertnamehere
Promising review:
“This is an extremely easy to use (just put lid on top and push down on lid) chopper and really packs a punch! It makes short work of chopping many things, makes amazing smoothies from frozen fruits, chops nuts, meats and way, way more. Cleans easily in the dishwasher or by hand. Very happy with this chopper (and I cook a lot). Takes up such a small space on the counter you can leave it out. I use mine at least three or four times a week.” — Andreabrand
Kitchen knife sets can get really pricey, but this under-$30 set has everything you need. There are 14 knives total, including a chef’s knife, steak knife and bread knife. It also comes with a sharpener.
Promising review: “My old knives were a popular brand and very expensive. They did not hold up after five years of home kitchen use. They literally fell apart…so…I began a search for a sharp, durable knife set that didn’t break my budget. The reviews on these knives seemed positive and the price was right so I decided to purchase them, not expecting anything great.
Well, these are seriously the best knives I’ve ever bought! They are seriously sharp! So sharp that you need to be very careful with them so you don’t cut yourself. I sliced a whole watermelon in under a minute with one very arthritic hand. They’re that sharp!
These knives are one solid piece so you know they will not fall apart at the handle. They’re also very lightweight. If you’re looking for sharp knives that actually cut, that will not fall apart or break your budget, these will be your new best friend in the kitchen. The knife holder is sturdy and attractive and the scissors are of good quality as well. It comes with a sharpener that fits into the knife holder so that is real handy as well, although I don’t see myself needing to sharpen these for quite some time. I am super impressed and happy with this purchase and I highly recommend them.” — Zippy
Promising review: “I can truly say the Instapot has revolutionized my cooking. We eat a lot of vegan, but cooking beans took hours, lots of attention and heated up the house (we don't have AC). Now I do them quickly, along with quinoa, brown rice, etc. I can set the pot on what I want, and if I don't get back to it immediately, it has a feature that keeps the contents warm. I truly didn't expect it to be so easy to use. Have now purchased two pots in order to get a second stainless steel insert. While I could have purchased the pot separately, I wanted a backup unit, just in case it was needed. Funny thing is, people were advising me to get an air fryer instead (they actually have Instapots that do air frying) and a pressure cooker. However, I'm perfectly happy with my 7 function pot and can do my rare air frying in our convection oven.” — Curious Cat
Crispy-yet-juicy chicken, French fries, falafel: You can make it all in practically no time using your air fryer. More than 10,000 people have bought this one in the last month alone and it has a high 4.8 star rating.
Promising review: “My old air fryer finally died and it was time for a new one. I checked reviews on several and landed on the Corsori. Had never heard of this brand. I absolutely love it! It’s slightly smaller than the one I had before but basically the same style, so it fits perfectly in the pantry in the same spot as my old one. I love that it is so easy to clean with the nonstick removable piece. It’s quiet. It has a digital display very easy to read and to use, basically. Looking forward to many air-fried meals in the coming years. By the way, it cooks salmon to perfection. My advice if you’re looking for an air fryer is to buy this brand.” — Jacqueline B
Chopping vegetables is such a time suck. This all-star food chopper will save you so much time when you’re cooking. It dices, slices, spiralizes and chops using its sharp, rust-resistant blades. Right now it’s half off, making it the perfect time to buy.
Promising review: “I’ve used this several times, it works very well. I like that it has two choices for dice size. I will say that extreme caution should be used when cleaning. The blades are razor sharp! The unit is sturdy, easy to assemble and clean.” — NH Kim
A meat thermometer makes sure the fish or meat you’re making is thoroughly cooked and safe enough to eat. This one has an easy-to-read digital display and is waterproof, so it can withstand the inevitable messiness that happens in the kitchen.
Promising review: “I don't know how I lived for so long without one of these. This one is exceptionally nice. Works perfectly. It makes cooking meat to the proper temperature so easy. No more dry overcooked meat. This is a must have. And the quality is excellent. The display is easy to read, even for a half blind guy like me. And a super price. If you've never had one, it's time you do. You'll be glad you bought this. I also like the magnet so I can hang it on the side of my refrigerator by the stove. Great product, thanks.” — Gary
Similar to chopping, peeling vegetables can take forever — unless you have a handy veggie peeler like this one. The handle is soft and made with a no-slip material. It’s also dishwasher safe. No wonder it has a high 4.8 star rating!
Promising review: “This is soooo...sharp. Comfortable to use. Does a great job on veggies. OXO is a great company, never have an issue with their products.” — Leonard Spanburgh
Promising review: “I replaced an old heavyweight set of nonstick pans. This set is perfect for me. Easy to use and handle. It cooks and heats evenly. I’m happy with my purchase. Thank you.” — Amazon Customer
Promising review: “This is a smart, sleek-looking scale and it feels solid and well made. It is easy to use, the display is very clear, wipes clean and the slim design makes it easy to use and store.” — H
Different dishes call for a variety of sizes in your cutting surface. This set of cutting boards — made from ultra-affordable bamboo — offers versatility in an economical package.
Promising review: “The different sizes are helpful for cutting anything imaginable. The color of the bamboo fit perfectly with my kitchen. I usually put a towel under the cutting board to avoid it slipping but other than that the quality of this product is amazing.” — Hong Nguyen
Mixing bowls are a must-have for both cooking and baking and you don’t need to drop a ton of money on them either. This set include every size you’ll ever need and each piece is dishwasher safe.
Promising review: “These mixing bowls look great and fit into each other to save room when storing. I love the range of bowl sizes to meet all my cooking needs. The bowls are the perfect weight so that it is easy to move them, clean them and, of course, cook with them! They look like bowls you would see in a professional kitchen.” — Lori B
A cast iron skillet offers a powerful, full-coverage heat that enhances nearly any dish. More than 102,000 people have bought and rated this one, with more than 98,000 giving it a perfect five-star rating.
Promising review: “It's a really good skillet for the price. It has excellent heat resistance and stability, so it will be used a lot. I have used many expensive products, but this product is easier to clean than anything else. It is not difficult to maintain, so if you have one at home, you can cook delicious dishes.” — CL
Promising review: “The OVENTE Electric Immersion Hand Blender is a fantastic addition to my kitchen. The 300-watt motor is powerful, and it quickly blends smoothies, purees baby food and soups to a smooth consistency. The two mixing speeds give great control and the stainless steel blades cut through ingredients effortlessly. Plus, the easy-grip handle makes it comfortable to use. Compact, efficient and stylish in red—this blender is a great buy!” — Chinara Jamalov
You won’t be able to cook much of anything without the right utensils. Customers love this set of 33 utensils because of the non-stick silicone material. They also look stylish enough to keep out on display.
Promising review: “I love it! The sturdy handles, the softness of the utensils to not scratch the pots and the variety of choices for all the dishes I make. The color is so subtle and warm. Very helpful to have right next to my stove in an elegant ceramic glass to keep it all together. I did replace the container with something slightly bigger. But I definitely recommended to get.” — Gin