There is nothing like a good kitchen gadget to spice up your cooking experience and make at-home meal prepping easier. Investing in high-quality, multi-function equipment can help both novice and advanced home chefs prepare delicious and nutritious meals with ease and efficiency. The best kitchen gadgets are sized to your needs, easy to clean, and fit within your budget.
No matter if you’re buying small gadgets like salad mixers to bigger ticket items like pressure cookers and blenders, you’ll want to make sure it’s durable, efficient, and high-quality. We researched various options with these features in mind.
Reviewed & Approved
If you’re looking for a durable, versatile, and easy to clean blender, you can’t go wrong with Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender. The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker 6 Quart is another versatile gadget that’s great for making food quickly and efficiently.
Here are the best kitchen gadgets on the market, according to a dietitian.
The Vitamix E310 is our top blender pick because it’s versatile, durable, and easy to clean. Programmed with 10 variable speeds, a pulse function, and durable stainless steel blades, this blender can shred leafy greens, purée soups, crush up tough ingredients for smoothies, and much more. The blades also generate high enough speeds to create friction heat that will warm up your cold ingredients in six minutes.
Best Blender
Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
Various speeds
Large container for batch recipes
Easy clean-up
More expensive
It has a 48-ounce container that’s great for making batches for small family dinners or meal prep. The container is also designed to fold the ingredients you’re blending back towards the blades. To clean, you simply drop in some dish soap and water and put on the blender’s highest speed.
Like all other Vitamix blenders, this blender is backed by a full warranty that allows you to get your blender serviced or repaired should anything go wrong. Although it is rather pricey, reviewers note that it’s built-to-last and well worth the investment.
Price at time of publication: $350
Size: 48-ounce container | Watts: 1400 | Dishwasher safe: Yes
More affordable, but still powerful, the Nutri Ninja Pro Blender is an excellent option for shoppers on a budget or for those with less countertop or storage space. This blender comes with two BPA-free, dishwasher-safe cups for blending and sipping on the go—an 18-ounce cup and a 24-ounce cup.
Best Blender Runner-Up
Ninja BN401 Nutri Blender Pro with Auto-iQ
Dishwasher-safe cups
More affordable, small blender
1,000-watt motor
Can be a bit loud
A smart choice for consumers that live alone or with one other person, this machine makes morning smoothies or juices easier than ever. The 1,000-watt motor has the power to crush through whole fruits, vegetables, and ice in seconds. In addition to smoothies and juices, shoppers can make delicious nut milk, sauces, dips, and even dough.
Price at time of publication: $100 in cloud silver, 1100 watts
Size: 18 and 24-ounce cups | Watts: 1000 | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Instant Pots are taking over kitchens around the country, and for good reason. These multi-function electric pressure cookers make cooking a variety of dishes fast and easy, and they are a great pick for novice and experienced cooks. The Instant Pot Duo multi-cooker combines seven appliances in one: a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute pan, yogurt maker, and warmer. Shoppers can choose from 3-, 6-, and 8-quart options, depending on household size and storage space.
Best Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
7-appliances in one
Different size options
Overheat protection
Less control over texture of food
For some, an electric pressure cooker might seem intimidating, but the 10-plus built-in safety features—including overheat protection, safety lock, and more—ensure safe pressure cooking. Clean up is easy as the stainless steel inner pot, lid, sealing ring, and steam rack are all dishwasher safe. Customers can make chilis, stews, soups, oatmeals, and yogurt, and even cook whole chickens with ease and efficiency.
Price at time of publication: $100 in style duo, 6 quarts
Size: 3-,6- and 8-quart options | Watts: 1000 | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Unless you have the knife skills of a top chef, chances are chopping vegetables can be a drag or intimidating. The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor makes food prep easy. Customers can use this gadget to chop herbs, grind hard cheese, emulsify salad dressing, puree baby food, and process vegetables for the base of a soup, or create tasty salsas and dips in a dishwasher-safe, 24-ounce work bowl.
Best Food Processor
Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor
Evenly cut ingredients
Small enough for kitchen counter
Only two functions - chop and grind
The mini-processor takes up minimum counter space and stores neatly on the countertop or in a cabinet. Love almond butter but hate the high price tags? One of our favorite things to use a food processor for is fresh, delicious nut butter at a fraction of the price.
Price at time of publication: $40 for 3 cup processor in white
Size: 3 cups | Watts: 250 | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Buying bunches of fresh lettuce and greens at the supermarket or farmer’s market is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than buying pre-washed greens, but washing and drying them on your own can be a drag. Enter the OXO Salad Spinner, a must-have for salad lovers, and for those who are looking to boost their homemade salad skills.
Best Salad Spinner
Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner
Dry salad greens with a simple press of the soft, non-slip knob. The non-slip base keeps the bowl steady on the countertop, and the updated built-in brake button stops the Salad Spinner for unloading. Great for those with minimal storage space, the basket doubles as a colander, and the bowl can be used for serving and storage. All parts are top-rack dishwasher safe and BPA-free.
Price at time of publication: $30 for large salad spinner
Size: 6.22 Quarts | Watts: N/A | Dishwasher safe: Yes
There are several reasons why someone might want to make their own salad dressing. Store-bought salad dressings and sauces can sometimes contain ingredients that you don’t care for or that you’d like to have control over. Or, they might skip ingredients that you really love and want in your dressing. Thanks to the OXO Salad Dressing Shaker, you may never spend money on a pre-made dressing again. Customers can add a range of ingredients, like oil, vinegar, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, onions and spices.
Best for Salad Dressing
OXO Good Grips Salad Dressing Shaker
Clear markings on side for measurements
Sealed for no spills
BPA-free
May be difficult to store in fridge due to height
Cup, milliliter, and ounce markings are printed on the sides for the easy measurement of ingredients, regardless of whether you are a beginner following a recipe or a pro writing down your own recipe for others to follow.
Once ingredients are added, the top screws tight and all you have to do is shake to quickly mix dressings with no spills. The Shaker is ideal for serving and it can then be used to store leftover dressing and sauce in the fridge. Made from Triton, the Shaker is dishwasher-safe, highly durable, BPA-free, and holds up to 1.5 cups of dressing.
Price at time of publication: $17 for salad dressing shaker in large
Size: 355 mL (1.5 cups) | Watts: N/A | Dishwasher safe: Yes
An air fryer, toaster, and convection oven all-in-one? Sign us up! This product is a bit large and on the pricier side, but it covers so many bases for every level of home chef and simplifies recreating your favorite restaurant meals.
Best Toaster Oven
Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Airfryer Toaster Oven
- Also includes air-fryer capability
- Easy turning dials
- Convenient window to see food cooking
When using the toaster oven feature, this appliance is big enough toast 6 slices of bread of a 12 inch pizza! Air frying, which uses powerful ultra-hot air, allows you to prepare delicious fried favorites—from wings to fritters to fries to shrimp—at home using less oil. And since toaster ovens stay on the countertop, this fryer doesn’t have to move back and forth, from cupboard to counter.
Price at time of publication: $230
Size: 0.6 cubic feet | Watts: 1800 | Dishwasher safe: No
The possibilities are endless when you have a quality, non-stick frypan in your kitchen. GreenPan makes affordable, non-toxic cookware using a ceramic non-stick coating called Thermolon, which does not require the use of toxic chemicals like PFOA or PFAS during the production process.
Best Frypan
GreenPan Lima Ceramic Nonstick 12-Inch Fry Pan
Non-stick, ceramic coating
Oven and broiler safe
Comes with a tempered glass lid
Not dishwasher safe
The Thermolon ceramic non-stick surface allows customers to use less oil or butter while still achieving excellent cooking results. Food releases quickly and easily—plus, cleanup is a breeze. Oven and broiler safe up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit you can whip up tasty shakshuka and perfectly cooked meats.
Price at time of publication: $47 for 12 inch frying pan skillet
Size: 5 Quarts | Watts: N/A | Dishwasher safe: No
You know those times when you use half of an onion for a salad or recipe and then have to save it, which usually means discarding single-use products like tinfoil or plastic wrap? Food Huggers makes this type of waste and hassle obsolete. Each set of Food Huggers comes with five “lids” that fit right over fruit or veggies and ensures an air-tight seal to keep foods fresh while eliminating unnecessary waste.
Best for Produce Storage
Food Huggers Fruit and Veggie Huggers
Hugs different shapes and sizes
Comes in a variety pack
BPA and plastic-free
Some foods may be too large even for the larger cover
These genius products are BPA- and plastic-free, as well as dishwasher-safe.
Price at time of publication: $17 for 5 pieces
Size: 3.5-10.5 cm | Watts: N/A | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Food storage is a must-have in any kitchen, and green, sustainable storage options like this one are all the rage (for good reason). If establishing a green kitchen is new for you, investing in Stasher Bags is a great place to start. Stasher bags are made from platinum silicone, which does not degrade over time. From the freezer to the microwave, to the oven and dishwasher, Stasher bags are made to last, each one keeping thousands of single-use plastics out of our oceans and landfills.
Best for Snack Storage
Stasher Reusable Silicone Bag
Free of BPA, BPS, lead, latex and pthalates
Comes in a variety of sizes
Can also be put in the freezer and microwave
May be difficult to wash crevices
These bags are completely free of BPA, BPS, lead, latex, and phthalates, and come in a variety of sizes, from half-gallon to snack size. Use the bags to freeze and store washed fruits and vegetables for healthy snack time anytime and on-the-go.
Price at time of publication: $13 for sandwich size
What Our Editors Say
“I use these bags to store everything from vitamins, my toothbrush and toothpaste, to snacks and pre-made meals. I appreciate that they’re freezer safe—helpful for meal prep—and varied sizes make it easy to keep belongings organized and separated when traveling. I can tell the quality and durability from the bags’ thickness, seals, and edges. My only note is that I wish they could be turned inside out for quicker drying.” —Tori Zhou, Associate Health Commerce Editor
Size: 28 fluid ounces | Watts: N/A | Dishwasher safe: Yes
You do not need to be a professional chef in order to benefit from a chef’s knife. A modern chef’s knife is a multi-purpose knife designed to perform well at many differing kitchen tasks, rather than excelling at any one in particular. It can be used for mincing, slicing, and chopping vegetables, slicing meat, and disjointing large cuts. This one is an affordable, highly rated knife that cuts with ease and efficiency.
Best All-Purpose Knife
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
- Stainless steel blade
- Nonslip handles
- National Sanitary Foundation approved
Unlike many other knives, this item is technically dishwasher-safe. However, remember that placing knives in the dishwasher may cause them to lose their sharpness quicker.
Price at time of publication: $55
Size: 8 inch blade | Watts: N/A | Dishwasher safe: Yes
Zesters might just be one of the most underrated kitchen gadgets. These small but mighty tools are excellent for breathing life into leftovers, brightening basic recipes, or adding oomph to your favorite weeknight meals.
Best Zester
Nspring Zester
Comes with a protective cover
Stainless steel blade
May be difficult to clean food residue
Use the zester grater for fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and herbs such as lemons, limes, parmesan, ginger, coconut, orange, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, and more. Rinse the grater zester under running water to clean immediately, or pop it in the dishwasher for a deeper clean.
Price at time of publication: $12 for narrow
Size: 12.7 inches | Watts: N/A | Dishwasher safe: No
The Cosori 5 quart air fryer is a best seller, as it comes with a big enough basket to cook for 1-4 people and isn’t as loud as other air fryers. It has 9 built in cooking functions and even includes a shake reminder. Air frying lets you cook crispy foods without the added oil and difficulty of frying at home. You can use 85% less oil and cut down on cook time by 20%!
Best Air Fryer
Cosori Pro LE 5-Quart Air Fryer
5 quarts
Sleek, compact design
Quick pre-heating
Chef certified cooking presets
May not be suitable for large amounts of food
Cleaning up is easy as the nonstick basket is dishwasher safe so you’ll be saving on cooking time as well as cleaning time. Plus, the sleek design makes this an appliance you’ll want to highlight on your kitchen counter.
Price at time of publication: $100
Size: 5 Quarts | Watts: 1500 | Dishwasher safe: Yes
What to Look for in a Kitchen Gadget
Size
Kitchen gadgets range from tiny items that fit into drawers to large appliances that take up a lot of counter space. When considering which kitchen gadgets are a necessity for you, assess your cabinet and storage spaces. Determine what you need and how well it will fit in the space you have. Many gadgets come in different sizes, as well. For example, you may decide that for your purposes you don’t need a 16-cup food processor, but the 8-cup works just fine.
Clean-Up
Whether you are an experienced cook spending a lot of time in the kitchen or an amateur trying to make more homemade meals, no one enjoys the clean-up part of cooking. Sometimes kitchen gadgets can be tedious to clean. The good news is that there are more options on the market that are dishwasher-safe or come apart into individual pieces for easier clean-up. This not only makes clean-up faster, but extends the life of your favorite gadgets.
Price
Consider your budget for kitchen gadgets. Prices can range quite significantly, but you can often buy high quality products without breaking the bank. Many stores have sales on kitchen gadgets, as well, so be sure to keep an eye out for those.
Why Trust Verywell Fit?
The products listed in this roundup are items that Sydney Greene, MS, RDN, as a dietitian and avid home cook, has in her own kitchen, as well as items that she would recommend to her clients, friends, and family. Each gadget has been vetted for quality, efficiency, and durability. She has also read through reviews and product comparisons to choose items that stood out for price and likability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kitchen gadgets are best stored in a cool, dry place in your kitchen. This may mean in your cabinets, storage closets, or on your kitchen counter away from heat or wet surfaces. Try placing smaller gadgets, like graters, microplanes, and can openers, in drawers, while bigger items like blenders, food processors, and stand mixers can live in your cabinets or on your kitchen counter.
It is important to read the instructions on your kitchen gadget to determine if it is dishwasher-safe. For anything that can go in the dishwasher, clean off extra bits of food and place in the dishwasher for the easiest cleaning method. For gadgets that are not dishwasher-safe, hand wash with soap and water.
