Having the right tools in the kitchen can make all the difference when it comes to effortless and efficient cooking. That said, most of us only have a certain amount of drawer space to dedicate to the cause. If you are looking for the best small kitchen gadgets worth the space they take up, here’s my list.
Kitchen gadgets vs. small appliances
Before we jump into the best kitchen gadgets, let’s define what they are first. Kitchen gadgets are fun and convenient items that none of us need, but many want. They make everyday cooking tasks faster. These are things you see on TikTok and think, “hey I could really use that!”
Small appliances are things like electric kettles and even air fryers. If you’re looking for those types of suggestions, I can give those to you, too.
Garlic press
Garlic is a mainstay in almost any recipe worth its weight. Certainly, you can use a chef’s knife to chop or mash garlic cloves finely, but if you’re looking for speed and a way to avoid your fingers smelling like garlic for days, the press is an incredible convenience that will come in handy. Plus, we’ve found the flavor to be more pronounced coming from a press rather than a fine chop, which can make all the difference in your favorite pasta dish.
Scraper & chopper
Think of this kitchen gadget as the jack of all trades. This tool can do a ton of work, from picking up chopped vegetables on the cutting board and transferring them to the pan to separating sections of dough when baking. If you’re into sourdough bread making, you know the importance of having this item in your drawer.
Cherry pitter
This is the tool you don’t need until you do, like when you make a sour cherry crisp from scratch for 10 people. This cherry pitter is a necessity for those recipes and guaranteed you’ll find more uses for it.
Handheld frother
If you’re a coffee lover and want to make fancy foams at home, a battery-powered handheld frother is the way to go. These impressive little gadgets can whip up milk in seconds to give you a barista-quality concoction right in your kitchen. It’s great for both cold foam and hot foam.
Funnel
Have you ever tried to refill your spice jars from a bulk bag and ended up with a mess all over the counter? Or worse, pour liquid from a bowl without a pouring spout into a smaller container? An inexpensive kitchen funnel is the answer to both those nightmares, and you’ll wonder how and why you ever lived without it once you realize the convenience of this small kitchen gadget. I love this collapsable one to minimize the space it takes up.
Digital meat thermometer
If you’ve ever read a good meat recipe, the directions will tell you to cook until a temperature, not an amount of minutes. This is because each oven and cut of meat is different, and there’s no way you can guarantee consistent results without measuring internal temperature. I’d go so far as to say meat thermometers are not even a convenient wish list item; they’re a must-have for anyone serious about cooking their meat properly.
“I use a meat thermometer to cook meat perfectly and safely every time. Using one ensures that the meat hits the exact level of doneness I’m looking for, whether it be for medium-rare steaks or fully cooked poultry or pork, without drying out.”
— Sara Nelson, Real Balanced
Cookie scoop
Sure, you can use a tablespoon and try to roll the dough into a perfect ball using your hands, but who wants to deal with the time and mess? Cookie scoops ensure all your cookies are the same size, and you get that great mounded height to each one. Plus, there are many uses for a cookie scoop beyond baking. It’s perfect for making meatballs, too.
Citrus juicer
I’ll admit, I held out on this one for a long time, thinking I didn’t need it. That was until I got so fed up with picking lemon seeds out of the fresh juice I was squeezing and caved. This inexpensive citrus juicer makes a world of difference for your patience when it comes to anything using fresh lemons or limes. It’s a true godsend for homemade lemonade.
Salad spinner
As the largest kitchen gadget on the list, I had to think long and hard about its worthiness since it’s a bit of a space hog. However, once you’ve lived with the convenience of a salad spinner, you’ll wonder how you ever managed before. It quickly cleans any greens and especially shines with ones like escarole that hold a ton of dirt in their leaves. Every time I use it to make this Utica greens recipe, I see a garden’s worth of dirt at the bottom of the spinner, which reaffirms its place in the kitchen.
Mandoline
Here’s a kitchen gadget worth having, but don’t waste your money on the expensive ones. For some strange reason, mandoline slicers can cost as much as $75 and higher. I suppose they may be a bit sturdier than the $15 handheld plastic ones, but this is one time when it doesn’t pay to invest in quality. Mandoline slicers make quick work of anything you want thinly sliced, whether it be potatoes to make chips, cabbage for coleslaw or onions to caramelize. They work just as well at the lesser price point as they do at the higher one.
Y peeler
Y peelers are great because they clean much more easily than traditional peelers. They’re also suitable for righties and lefties, making quick work of any potato or vegetable peeling. This gadget is a game-changer if you’re still using a knife for peeling.
Microplane
The microplane may seem redundant if you have a box grater or a regular handheld cheese grater. However, once you’ve zested a lemon, grated fresh nutmeg or finely grated parmesan on a microplane, you’ll realize it’s worth the narrow space it takes up in your kitchen drawer.
Melon baller
The melon baller may look like another unitasker not worth having, but it’s quite the workhorse. Its uses go far beyond just melons and extend to many other fruits, such as making those perfect dragon fruit balls you see in fancy smoothie bowls. You can also use it on many vegetables like soft-fleshed zucchini, and it works excellently for coring apples, pears and more. Most melon ballers come with two size options, making them a versatile addition to your kitchen.
Pizza Cutter Rocker
If you have pizza even once a month, this pizza cutter rocker is well worth it. It’s also great for cutting quesadillas, sandwiches, cake, and more.
Clip on Strainer
I have quite a few strainers that I’ve collected over the years, but nothing saves space and is as versatile as this clip on strainer. It has truly become my favorite strainer and one of my favorite gadgets. I love it when steaming vegetables, making pasta, or even draining the fat off of cooked meat.
Final thoughts
No one has unlimited space for every small kitchen gadget on the market. With the right ones in your arsenal, however, your time in the kitchen can be maximized to the fullest, and you might even have a bit more fun.
Gina Matsoukas is the writer, photographer and recipe creator of Running to the Kitchen. Focusing on healthy, seasonal, whole-food recipes, her work has been featured in various online and print publications including Food Network, Prevention Magazine and Women’s Health. Gina lives in central New York, where she enjoys an active outdoor life.
This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
15 Kitchen Gadgets that Earn their Drawer Space
These kitchen gadgets are must have essentials for any home cook!
Easy to Squeeze and Clean, Rust Proof & Dishwasher Safe
Great for cutting dough, sectioning crusts, scraping baking sheets, chopping veggies and more
Stainless steel blade includes quarter inch markings for easy measuring
Soft, comfortable non slip handle
Tall enough to keep hands away from food
Dishwasher safe
Stainless steel blade features 1" markings for precise measuring
Generous cup holds Bing, Rainier and other large cherries
Recessed design also allows you to pit smaller cherries
Removable splatter shield protects work area and clothing from cherry juice
Pitter locks closed for safe storage
Also accommodates many varieties of olives
Handheld Foam Maker for Lattes - Whisk Drink Mixer for Coffee, Mini Foamer for Cappuccino, Frappe, Matcha, Hot Chocolate & Coffee Creamer
FOOD GRADE SILICONE: The kitchen funnel is made by soft and flexible silicone, BPA Free, heat resistant -40°F to 392°F, No need to worry that the funnel may damage the health of your families.
EASY TO CLEAN: These funnels are convenient for anyone in the family to use, they are very easy to clean, just simple wash with warm water and add little soap, or put them in the dishwasher.
SPACE SAVER IN KITCHEN: Silicone folding funnel, it can be easily hang on the wall or neatly put away in a drawer to save effective space in the kitchen.
WIDE APPLICATION: The kitchen funnel can transfer liquids, fine powder, small particles etc., and the kitchen funnel is suitable for almost any containers.
Backlit, Waterproof Kitchen Food BBQ Grill Smoker Oil Fry Candy Instant Read
Soft, comfortable, spring-loaded handle absorbs pressure for a simple squeeze
Wiper cleanly ejects even sticky dough, creating uniform cookies that will bake evenly
40 portioners holds 1.5 tablespoons of dough
Yields 2-3/4” diameter cookies
Dishwasher safe
Handheld Lemon Juicer Squeezer - Easy to Use Citrus Juicer - Manual Press for Extracting the Most Juice Possible
Quickly and effectively clean your fruits and veggies
Adjustable for slices in 3 thicknesses
Window shows slices below
Slice directly onto plate, on a cutting board or hook over a bowl
Non-slip handle, knob and foot
Dishwasher safe
Sharp, hardened stainless steel blade easily peels cucumbers, apples and more
Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle cushions hand during repetitive peeling motion
Built-in potato eyer
Removable cover protects blade
Ultra Sharp Made in USA blades: Microplane uses photo-etched technology to make ultra sharp grating blades right here in America! BPA free plastic handle.
Zest Citrus: The blade is designed with a specific tooth set that takes the flavorful rind directly off the citrus fruit, while leaving behind the bitter white pith. Zest adds flavor to vinaigrettes, stir fries, salads, and baked goods!
Grate Cheese: Grate parmesan into fluffy mounds that melt quickly and look beautiful when treating yourself of family to rustic bowls of pasta. Sprinkle fresh parmesan over eggs, salads, or any dish for a burst of flavor.
Surgical Grade Stainless Steel: this material stays rust-free and maintains sharpness over time. True stainless steel is magnetic, so this item can be hung on your magnetic knife strip.
Dishwasher Safe: The tool is easy to clean, simply rinse immediately after use. Use a kitchen brush on the underside of the blade to clean out tough to reach particles. The zester/grater can also be placed in the dishwasher.
Durable, double-sided stainless steel scoops are perfect for fruit and veggie prep
Small-sized scoop (1-in/25.4 mm diameter) is ideal for use with strawberries, pears, tomatoes and scooping the seeds out of vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, summer and winter squash
The big scoop (1.25-in/31.75mm diameter) is great for fruit salad, drop cookies and scooping ice cream
Edges are sharp enough to scoop fruit but safe to touch
Separates fruit without piercing skin and cleanly removes seeds
Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle
Dishwasher safe
with Wooden Handles & Protective Cover, 14" Sharp Stainless Steel Pizza Slicer Wheel, Big Pizza Knife Cutters for Kitchen Tool (14inch)
for All Pots and Pans, Pasta Strainer Clip on Food Strainer for Meat Vegetables Fruit Silicone Kitchen Colander