Useful Kitchen Gadgets Every Home Cook Needs in 2024
Do you collect useful kitchen gadgets or unnecessary ones? Here are the most helpful kitchen gadgets home cooks enjoy that make life a little easier and keep your kitchen decluttered and organized.
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What is a Kitchen Gadget
When discussing useful kitchen gadgets, it’s not just about the small, most essential tools that can be neatly tucked away in a drawer. Kitchen gadgets include various tools and utensils to make cooking and food preparation more convenient and enjoyable.
Having a small kitchen with little storage, we needed to narrow things down. This includes essential items and kitchen gadgets. Wouldn’t you know that our kitchen drawer was full of unnecessary tools, so was it time to declutter!
It is surprising how many small kitchen gadgets we have tried and collected. From specialized cooking tools to high-quality knives and innovative pots and pans, these gadgets are tailored to meet home cooks and professional chefs’ diverse needs.
This post shares useful kitchen gadgets.
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Most Useful Kitchen Gadgets and Essentials
If you not quite ready to tackle your gadget organization just yet because the whole thought of it sounds overwhelming, you should start by reading my article, the best tips to declutter and organize your home.
This article teaches you tips to achieve an organized home quickly without a professional organizer. Each house has specific needs depending on your lifestyle. Following my system will help you narrow down exactly which of the best organization products you need for each room of the house.
Are you ready to narrow down the choices of kitchen gadgets for your apartment or home?
Gadgets for Prep Work
These kitchen tools are an absolute game changer for meal prep. They allow you to save time and effort and are essential for making the cooking experience smoother and more enjoyable.
Garlic Presses
This is one of my most useful kitchen gadgets because I had an accident cutting garlic with a knife, so I highly recommend you have a garlic press to mince your garlic.
Garlic is a common ingredient in many recipes; and as you probably know fresh garlic is much better than preserved when cooking.
Box Grater
We like this cheese grater, even though it doesn’t fit in our gadget drawer. We prefer this heavy-duty one for when recipes call for blocks of cheese.
It can grate cheese, vegetables, ginger, and more and can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. We put it in our dishwasher 2-3 times a week and have had it for a few years.
Lemon Zester and Hand Grater
I tried multiple products when zesting, but a handheld zester does the trick. It can also be used as a grater for cheese and vegetables.
A kitchen gadget for adding parmesan or zesting lemon is a must-have. We have this exact zester, and it’s fantastic!
Vegetable Peeler
A stainless steel vegetable peeler is an essential tool in any kitchen, and this is my personal favorite.
The shape of this peeler makes peeling vegetables quick and easy.
Cutting Boards
I have so many cutting boards because I love the look of cutting boards in kitchen design.
It is essential to have different materials, sizes, and options for food use. For example, I use one board for meat and one for vegetables.
Salad Spinner
I love a good salad spinner, but my husband would disagree that it is useful.
Washing and spinning lettuce and leafy greens removes most of the water from the produce, making it crisper rather than soggy. This is only my opinion, and the OXO one is my number one pick.
Dry Measuring Cups and Spoons
Everyday stainless steel measuring cups & spoons are great for cooking and baking recipes.
I have both silver and gold measuring cups and spoons, so it is a matter of preference and which one you like the best.
Can Opener
There are many options for can openers in the market. However, we prefer to keep it simple.
A basic can opener is a useful kitchen gadget that takes up minimal space and can be easily stored in our gadget drawer.
Wine Opener
A wine opener is a helpful kitchen gadget. This steel opener is similar to ours.
A straightforward opener is the best choice when uncorking a bottle of wine. There’s no need for a fancy, elaborate tool when a basic one can do the job just as effectively.
Meat Tenderizer
We use a meat tenderizer on chicken, pork, and beef, depending on the cut. It is effective and helps with protein digestion.
The meat tenderizer is very similar to ours, and we have had ours for over 10 years, so they last a long time.
Knives
You should always have a selection of high-quality knives, and including a paring knife in that collection is essential.
Prepping food requires the use of a knife daily. You can keep them in a drawer or on the kitchen counters for ease of use.
All-Purpose Shears
I recommend purchasing a quality pair if your knife set does not include all-purpose shears.
These scissors are used daily to cut home-grown fresh herbs and green onions, open food packages, and more.
Best Kitchen Essentials
These kitchen tools are essential for simple cooking and are used regularly. Whether you consider them gadgets or not, they certainly get the job done.
Cooking Tongs
Tongs are an essential tool for cooking. Personally, I find tongs with a silicone grip to be much more manageable and convenient.
It’s helpful to have large and small cooking tongs for different tasks, whether tossing a salad or flipping meat on the BBQ. We have this exact pair, and they are great!
Wooden Spoon
I love a good set of wooden spoons as kitchen accessories.
They look great on display in a pretty canister and can be used when cooking, mixing, or baking. These are great options if you are in the market for one (or a few!).
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
This is my go-to when making soups or stews on the stovetop. I also like to use a cast iron dutch oven for a simmer pot recipe, which makes your home smell amazing.
The best part is that it is easy to clean. The Amazon version is a bit less expensive but has worked just as well as other brands we had.
Sheet Pan
Sheet pans are a must in any kitchen, whether you use them for baking or making your favorite sheet pan dinner recipe.
I love the OXO pans for their durability, nonstick option, and aesthetic look. These are my go-to favorites.
Lemon Squeezer
I know many new citrus models exist, but I prefer an old-fashioned glass juicer.
I find it easier to use a lemon juicer rather than squeezing by hand. Lemon juice is called for in many recipes, so this gadget makes cooking easier.
Pizza Cutter
If you like homemade pizzas, a pizza cutter will get plenty of use.
And, if you get creative, you can also use it to cut other recipes. Our pizza cutter has years of use as we make homemade pizza at least once a month.
Knife Sharpener
Using this is like nails on a chalkboard, but it is one of our kitchen gadget staples.
You can’t cook with a dull knife, so keeping a knife sharpener handy is a great way to ensure your knife set is always sharp and ready to go.
Frying Pan
We did a full review on our favorite nonstick skillet. These frying pans are our absolute favorite; Sensarte has so many options for sizes and a couple of colors.
If you are looking for a good frying pan, this could be it. Check out my article: Sensarte Review: A Safe and Durable Frying Pan.
Meat Thermometer
I didn’t know how much we needed a meat thermometer until my husband bought this one.
Cooking meats, liquids, and other foods to the correct temperature, whether baking, barbequing, or roasting in the oven, is essential.
Turkey Baster
We don’t use this gadget daily but enjoy having a turkey baster when roasting turkey or chicken.
We just upgraded our 20-year-old baster to this one, which can last a long time. Basting keeps the meat moist and juicy and cools down the turkey so the meat can cook evenly.
Citrus Peeler
You may think this is silly, but I have used this Tupperware citrus peeler for over 25 years.
I struggle with peeling citrus fruits, but this kitchen gadget is useful! I highly recommend it.
Small Appliances
Small appliances can be consider useful kitchen gadgets and these are some of my favorites from our kitchen.
Air Fryer
If I could pick a kitchen gadget that is worth buying, it would be an air fryer. This is our home’s most useful kitchen tool, saving us so much time when cooking our meals.
From fish to french fries to chicken and potoates, we love how quick and crisp the food is without all the added calories
Crock Pot
Although I use this less than other small appliances, I still enjoy some slow cooker recipes, including my sister’s chili recipe.
My recommendation with a slow cooker is to ensure the glass top locks down, which is great when heading to a potluck.
Hand Mixer
After I received a stand mixer as a gift, I was surprised at how much I still use a hand mixer.
This product will last for years and years (mine is over 30 years old), and you will use it more than you think.
Food Processor
Although not necessary, it is a helpful kitchen gadget to have around.
A food processor makes cutting and mixing a whole lot easier for those who make their own salad dressing, canned items, and other products that need to be chopped and mixed.
Blender
Our Ninga blender set is ten years old, and I still use it in the morning, mainly to make smoothies.
I rarely use the larger container, but I always use the smoothie cups. It’s a great kitchen gadget to add if you are a smoothie lover like me.
Most Used Kitchen Gadgets
- Box Grater or Cheese Grater
- Vegetable Peeler
- Cutting Board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Can Opener
- Knife Set
- Paring knife
- Sheet Pan
- Frying Pan
- Wooden Spoons
Useful Kitchen Gadgets
If you enjoy creating an efficient and well-organized kitchen, consider decluttering and streamlining your collection of kitchen gadgets.
I’m looking forward to hearing about your preferences and recommendations for useful kitchen gadgets. Feel free to leave a comment with your suggestions!
Related Posts
- Discover Durability & Quality with Sensarte Cookware Review
- How to Organize Spices in a Drawer Step-by-Step Guide
- 50 Best Home Organizing and Storage Products
Hey there, I’m Cheryl
I’m a proud mom, wife, business professional, and Maritimer who loves decorating and organization. From daily essentials to interior design, join me as I share my next project, plan, or tutorial. Using simple planning and organization strategies, I love to help folks like you bring more beauty and harmony into your lives and living spaces.
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