31 Kitchen Tools So Useful You’ll Wonder How You Ever Survived Without Them
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Owning a tofu press is extremely useful – and it makes you feel *pretty* put together. Can confirm.
Posted 10 hours ago
by Mallory Mower BuzzFeed BuzzFeed Staff
I have been a BuzzFeed Shopping writer since 2017, with a focus on unique, practical products, up-to-date parenting finds, and up-and-coming home decor.
Amazon
Promising review: "This scale with a built-in cup is the best thing for my baking tools. No more whipping out 1,000,000 cups. Also, [rather than] always trying to figure out grams or cups, now I just press a button, and it tells me. I love this." —Corin lonigro
Get it from Amazon for $19.98 (available in two colors).
TofuBud
BTW locals, TofuBud is a small biz based in San Francisco!
Promising review: "I was resistant to getting a tofu press. Another kitchen gadget! But this little guy does not disappoint. It saves time and is clean, fast, and easy. I thought I would want something made of wood or metal — but really this is just the thing. It’s cute, rinses out licketty split, and gets the job done without messing up towels or having to boil off extra water. My countertop stays clean. I’ve been a vegetarian all my life and this little gadget is already indispensable." —Maria Lewis
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
www.amazon.com, Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed
The set has a 10.5-inch fry pan, a 3-quart sauce pan and lid, a 4.5-quart sauté pan and a lid, a 6.5-quart Dutch oven and a lid, and storage for the pans and lids.
The video above is me doing my darndest to find something this cookware can't do by *caramelizing heavy cream* aaand guess what? It was flawless! These refuse to let anything stick to them or gunk them up. I use them heavily, every single day, and they continue to outdo themselves. Also, the storage system deserves its own highlight. I have nearly no counter space, and these pans aren't small, but the clever cubby/hanging canvas pot holder makes it possible to tuck this entire set into a teeny tiny corner beside my stove. I'm not a good enough person to deserve this kitchen set. I really, really recommend it.
Promising review: "I absolutely love my Caraway cookware! They are so easy to clean and the magnetic organizers are great for easy storage in kitchen cabinets. I love the hanging lid holder as it saves space and is super convenient (and renter-friendly with the adhesive hooks). The only thing I would mention is that they are not super lightweight. Otherwise, they are superb quality, nontoxic, nonstick, and beautiful!" —Rachel
Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $445+ (available in eight colors and two set sizes).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. This requires very little effort to cut through the food, and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $23.73 (available in five styles and three colors).
Amazon
Promising review: "Wow, wow, wow, I have no words to describe how great this product is. I'm a mom with a large family who cooks and bakes all the time, and there is never a time that something doesn't spill over, even when standing and watching the pot. With this, life has just gotten easy. I think I'm throwing out all my pot covers after using this." —Rackel
Get it from Amazon for $24 (available in three colors).
Promising review: "The color is perfect, and my first slices of toast were too. It’s easy to adjust. I used the included guide with pictures to adjust the knob based on how dark I like my toast. It was exactly how I like it. My old toaster was basically giving me warm bread. Not this little baby. I’m so happy I found it, and that I didn’t wait to buy it." —Shytel
Get it from Amazon for $43.99 (available in eight colors and a four-slice version).
Promising review: "I bought this because I have the outlandish idea that my refrigerator will look just like those on TikTok, but I am pleasantly surprised to find that it keeps my cold cuts fresher for much longer than expected. It's large enough to hold a pound or more of cold cuts or cheese, which is a bonus. The sealing technology is superb and strong. At one point, I almost could not open the container due to the seal being so airtight. Not only does this product look good in my fridge, but it is saving me money, so definitely a win-win for me." —IrishEyes
Get the split version from Amazon for $11.72 (available in three styles and a set).
I bought this after seeing it in a coworker's BuzzFeed article (you better believe I trust a BF review!) aaand it is witchcraft. I recommended it to my grandmother after using it. You don't know Nene, but if you did, you'd know recommending a kitchen tool to the *elite* chef in my family is a BIG deal. I bought it as a time-saver. I tossed an entire boiled chicken breast into this thing, twisted it twice, and it was perfectly shredded. I recommended it because I think it's a massively useful tool for folks with limited mobility or frustrating arthritis. This one's worth the cupboard space, folks!
Promising review: "This product is amazing. I used it for my chicken and dumplings recipe. I figured it was another one of those 'too good to be true' items, but this does everything it says it does. I literally shredded two large chicken breasts in seconds, yes SECONDS!! I wish I had taken a video, but I didn’t. It didn’t move/slip from the counter, and it was perfection! Wow, just Wow!" —Ruthie V
Get it from Amazon for $14.44+ (available in 13 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The set includes a 6” chef knife, 5.5" Santoku knife, 6" bread knife, 4.5" utility knife, and a 3.5" paring knife.
Promising review: "These are so pretty and functional. The packaging was beautiful. Truly timeless appearance. I picked the blush pink set. I love that the knives are of good quality and easy to use. Space-saving, which I love. I hated getting rid of the box; that’s how pretty it was. It was blush pink and had such a pretty interior. The knives are thick and very sharp. I love that they are very practical and functional while having a beautiful appearance all at the same time. Definitely worth the price. Really worth it." —Shan
Get it from Amazon for $199 (available in three colors).
Amazon
This also comes with a five-year warranty. If you want a long-lasting option that also LOOKS lovely, you can't top this. There are so many colors to choose from, you're sure to find the one that makes you smile the most when you greet it in the morning.
Promising review: "I thought I made a decent cup of pour-over coffee. I thought so until I had my first cup from this machine! It’s incredibly smooth and delicious. I don’t have time for manual pour-over in the morning, but I didn’t want cheap drip coffee. This maker fits the bill! So quick and easy to use. The price was my holdout for a while, but I’m so glad I bit the bullet and bought it. I’m the only coffee drinker in my house, and I make just one cup per day. Very happy with it!" —Lindsey Stout
Get it from Amazon for $302+ (available in 23 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
You can buy an additional set of discs to make angel hair, pappardelle, tagliatelle, and lasagna.
Promising review: "This is one of the best inventions ever!! My family loves pasta so we decided to try this out. 1) it is SO easy to use, my toddler can do it (with our supervision) 2) it is very easy to clean and assemble 3) I feel so much better after eating the pasta that we make verses the pasta that we buy from the store 4) the taste is fresh and so good! I highly recommend this!! We went with the smaller version since there are only 4 of us and that has been perfect for our family and great for storage as we don't have a lot of extra storage space. Stop thinking about it and JUST BUY IT!!" —Tiffany
Get it from Amazon for $229.99.
Amazon
Promising review: "So I was skeptical, but I bought it because I thought it was cool to have the veggie/herb stripper and its width. What I didn't consider was the angle of it, that it's not just a straight cutter. I love to cook on my cast iron skillets and it has been AMAZING scraping while I cook with my Oxo skillet spatula. It's super easy to hold, and I'm able to scrape up hashbrowns (this morning) with ease with the angle. I've also chopped onions and nuts on the cutting board when I got lazy with the knife. I don't know about you, but I get slippery lizard fingers in the kitchen. I like the feel of the textured wood that doesn't slip out of my hand, not the cold, slick metal." —I Sing to Yahuah
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two colors).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
It comes with the air fryer, one 6-quart glass container, one 2.5-quart glass container, a removable base, two crisper plates, two storage lids, and a chef-inspired recipe book.
Promising review: "This Ninja Crispi Pro blew me away. I’ve owned a lot of kitchen gadgets over the years, but this one instantly became a top-tier favorite. It’s powerful, it’s simple, and everything about it just works. The controls are easy to understand, the performance is consistent, and the food comes out perfect every single time — crispy where it should be crispy, juicy where it should be juicy. I use it for quick meals, full dinners, reheats…everything. It saves time, keeps the kitchen clean, and honestly makes cooking fun again. I’m extremely satisfied with this purchase. If you’re thinking about getting one, don’t hesitate. It’s absolutely worth it." —Darnell
Get it from Amazon for $299 (available in three colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I like to grow herbs and use them in salads, soups, and many other recipes. I received these as a birthday gift and can't believe how fast and easy it is to cut up cilantro, basil, parsley, lovage, etc. My husband tried them today, too, for the first time while making guacamole, and found that slicing the cilantro went very quickly. The storage case is very efficiently designed, too. I ordered four of these sets to give as gifts." —Lucille P. Nawara
Get them from Amazon for $11.19+ (available in two colors).
Promising review: "I used to have a big KitchenAid version and actually prefer this one! It's much smaller and takes up less space, super powerful, easy to use and clean, and GORGEOUS. The vintage look can't be found anywhere else." —Vanessa
Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in five colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I have been using Vitamix for years, and I love how powerful it is to create a smoother texture of my juice. However, my Vitamix is old, and it’s time for a new one. A brand new Vitamix is super expensive, so I started searching for alternatives. A friend introduced this brand to me, and I just want to give it a try. Surprisingly, this one is as powerful as the Vitamix." —Yu-chieh Ying
Get it from Amazon for $54.98+ (available in four colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This digital meat thermometer is the best I've ever had. I own others, but they are either too bulky to fit in the drawer or too hard to read. This one is small and lightweight; it's easy to pull out the probe, and the temperature is very easy to read. I purchased several as stocking stuffers for Christmas – just three months away! I highly recommend getting several with the holidays coming up. They make a gift that will be appreciated for its size and ease of use, but, most importantly, it will be a gift that gets used instead of put away in the closet." —Kat29
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This is easy to use and now that I’ve had it for a few weeks, I don’t know how I have lived without it. Makes draining anything in water so much easier! Highly recommend." —Melissa L.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 16 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This blender includes a whisk and milk frothing attachment.
Promising review: "In looking for a new hand blender, I felt fortunate to find this. At 500 watts, this one is more powerful than most; the steel feels substantial, and the attachments are very easy to change. I am impressed with how fast it is, and the cleanup is super easy. This one is perfect for my needs, no frills, just a very sleek tool for a serious cook!" —farm folk
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in three styles).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
If you'd like to make a checkerboard cake – you need this piece!
Promising review: "I was scared to work with layer cakes before because I fail miserably in leveling cakes. Ruler and knife just do not work for me! I can't do it! I decided to give this a try and, boy, I feel like I am an expert cake maker. It's so easy to use and it works perfectly. So far I have tried it on white almond sour cream cake and it has done great. I was able to do a checkerboard cake and I couldn't imagine pulling it off before. Can't wait to make more fabulous cakes! If you suck at leveling cakes, do not hesitate to get this tool! I promise you are going to love it!'' —E. Champion
Get it from Amazon for $18.83.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
PS: You can also use it for ginger!
Promising review: "I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook — she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively — but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer — Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and months later still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor." —L
Get it from Amazon for $10.38+ (available in three styles).
Amazon, Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed
Promising review: "I love this knife! I stumbled upon a description when I was shopping for a sushi knife. It was so cheap, I decided to take a chance. Wow. It is such a great little knife. Yes, it works perfectly on soft tomatoes. But, to be honest, I use it for many other fruits and vegetables. It is amazingly sharp, the serrated edge is very effective, and it has a great feel in my hand." —Jane S.
Get it from Amazon for $17.15 (available in two colors).
Promising review: "I love avocados, but hardly ever buy them because they're so inconvenient to deal with. This tool ABSOLUTELY changes that. I knew I was getting something that would make it a little easier to pit and slice my avocado, but I had no idea HOW MUCH EASIER it would be. This thing is amazing!" —Edianter
Get it from Amazon for $11.97.
Amazon
And if you want some gorgeous leoparding on your crust, then you've gotta invest in a pizza oven. Worth it.
Promising review: "This stone is awesome. It's not thin like most, and it didn't take long at all for the natural seasoning of the stone. I have used my stone several times now to make my naan bread, and it turns out awesome every time. I would recommend this to anyone searching for quality. The price is great." —Julia A. Crawforth
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in two shapes).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "I love this knife. You couldn't design a better knife for peanut butter if you tried. I bought a less expensive one but returned it because the design was poor. There's no substitution for this quality product. Spend a couple dollars more, and get the best." —Beck
"You can use it for many things. It is strong and can get things out of deep blenders, like a Vitamix. You could even use it to spread icing on a cake! Best of all, it is perfect for stirring those large nut butter containers you get from the warehouse stores." —Neaner
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in two colors and multipacks).
Promising review: "Great addition to my kitchen essentials. Its durability is impressive, and it is straightforward to use. What makes it a keeper is how easy it is to clean. The quality is top-notch, and it's definitely worth the price. It stores butter well and fits perfectly in my fridge. Plus, the color adds a nice touch to my kitchen decor. Overall, it's a fantastic kitchen gadget." —Tiffany Mueller
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
Amazon
Promising review: "OMG, this is a must-have. I can't believe it took me this long to get a Zojirushi. We use it almost daily for steel-cut oats, for which it is perfect. We've also started really getting into bowls for dinner, so we use them 2–3 times a week to make barley, millet, basmati brown rice with saffron, or quinoa. We've mostly used the porridge, brown rice, regular, and occasionally quick settings, but we might play with more. The bowl has a great non-stick coating. I can't recommend it enough." —Mira Krishnan
Get it from Amazon for $229.95+ (available in two sizes and two colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "Cool gadget. This thing is a game-changer. I hate peeling apples, and this is just perfect." —Joslyn Jonhson
"If you have to peel potatoes, you need this. It takes half the time and saves your hands the work. I would not want to be without it. I gave it as a gift and told my friends about it. Making a holiday meal, this is a must-have. You will be so impressed and happy to have it. Don’t pass it by." —cardmaker
Get it from Amazon for $32.99.
Promising review: "These are a game changer! I have some heavy appliances like my espresso machine and reverse osmosis filter that I hate to pull out to fill with water. These tiny sliders have been incredible! Immediately better, and so far (about three months in), no issues at all. Still gliding!" —sara
Get a set of 24 from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in various sizes and quantities).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I can’t say enough wonderful things about these handy little bug catchers! They are simple to use, cheap to refill, and catch a ton of small bugs and flies. I have eight of them now, all around my house! It’s a little gross how many tiny flying insects are around…but it makes me feel a lot better now that I have these!" —Chris H.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.97 (available in multiple pack sizes).
Melissa & Doug
This 29-piece set includes an ice cream counter, press-and-release scooper, eight different ice cream flavors, six toppings, a menu card, play money, tongs, a cone, two cups, two spoons, *and* two redeemable coins for a scoop of Van Leeuwen ice cream for folks who live by one of their shops — darling!
If you're as big a fan of Van Leeuwen as my family, be sure to add the Pint Packto your play!
Promising review: "This Van Leeuwen Scoop Shop with the Pint Pack is such a cute and fun toy set! The colors are bright and eye-catching, and it looks just like a mini ice cream shop setup. My child loved pretending to scoop and serve ice cream, and it kept her entertained while encouraging imaginative play. The pieces feel well-made, and I love that it’s a Melissa & Doug product because their toys usually hold up nicely. It’s perfect for pretend play, learning, and even practicing sharing and taking turns. Such a sweet little set for any kid who loves ice cream or playing shop!" —Toni P.
Get it from Melissa & Doug for $64.99 — you can find their classic version on Amazon here and check out their landing page for more products here.
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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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