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39 Products That’ll Solve So Many Annoying Things About Cooking

1. A set of nine glass food storage containers (with vacuum-sealed lids) from Rubbermaid to keep your leftovers and prepped food fresh, organized, and surprisingly lovely. These have a modular design, meaning you can easily stack them and save a *ton* of space. They’re also stain-resistant, microwave-safe, and oven-safe up to 450 degrees. Hot.

You’ll get one 8-cup container, one 4.7-cup container, two 3.2-cup containers, two 2-cup containers, and three 1.3-cup containers – all with lids. These are dishwasher safe, just be sure to put the lids on the top rack.

After a decade of slowly accumulating mismatched food storage containers, I recently decided to completely switch over to Rubbermaid. I couldn’t be happier with their quality. Most of my food is stored in open shelving, and I got the Brilliance airtight storage containers to keep my heavy dry goods on the lighter side. I then got the Brilliance glass containers for leftovers and storing food in the fridge. If you’re looking to organize your kitchen, these should be the first thing on your list!

Promising review: “These are the best containers ever! I’m a personal cook, I both use these myself and recommend them to my clients. They’re great for transporting food. No leaks, easy to clean, and you can bake with them. I love them!” —Idalmiscooks4u

Get it from Amazon for $79.99 (available in multiple set sizes).

2. A set of stove counter gap covers so you can save that insufferable space from the slips and spills that leave stray crumbs on your floor…forever. 

Promising review:This worked perfectly to fill the gaps on either side of my stainless steel stove. The product has a protective film over it to protect the stainless steel from being scratched or damaged in transport. All you have to do is peel back the film which is basically a sticker once you’re ready to install. Works exactly as advertised (pictured above, right)!” —Sarah K.

Get it from Amazon for $11.95+ (available in three sizes and colors).

3. A silicone clip-on strainer that’s dishwasher safe, attaches to any size pot or pan, and is designed to save a bunch of space in your kitchen cupboards. 

Promising review: “This is easy to use and now that I’ve had it a few weeks, I don’t know how I have lived without. Makes draining anything in water so much easier! Highly recommend.” —Melissa L.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 10 colors). 

4. An herb keeper that’ll prevent your refrigerator from becoming a graveyard for well-intentioned grocery purchases. 

Promising review: “This product is designed to be perfect for its usage. Herbs stay fresh and visible. Plus, it is beautiful looking. So much better than using a drinking glass.” —zerg4

Get it from our Goodful line on Amazon for $17.28.

5. A modern knife block you can get in a breezy coastal green and treat your countertops to a surprisingly practical centerpiece. The five stainless steel knives are nestled in an ash wood block, helping them stay sharp and easily accessible. Whether you’re looking for your first set of knives or are a cooking pro in need of an upgrade, these can make all the difference in your kitchen.

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 $186+ (available in four colors).

6. A splurge-worthy 12-piece Caraway cookware set — nonstick cookware with minimalist silhouettes sure to complement any kitchen. These work with induction, gas, and electric stove tops, they’re all oven-safe up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, are made with a nontoxic coating, and feature nonstick ceramic with an aluminum core and stainless-steel handles. Whew! Sorry for all that; I really got Caraway’d away! 

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. 

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 it from Amazon for $395+ (available in eight colors).

7. Or a Nuwave Lux 13-piece set — all are lightweight with handles that stay cool while you cook. They are nonstick and work on all cooktops (including induction stoves).

This set has a 1.5 qt. saucepan with lid, 2 qt. saucepan with lid, 3 qt. saucepan with lid, 5 qt. stock pot with lid, 7.5 qt. steamer basket, 8 qt. stock pot with lid, 8” fry pan, and a 10” fry pan.

Promising review: “These are amazing. Well worth the price. They are enamel glazed and have not chipped, peeled, or been scratched. They heat evenly. No need for cooking spray when making eggs. I cannot express how satisfied I am with this purchase.” —ARH

Get it from Amazon for $299.99+ (available in nine colors and two styles).

8. A pair of bear claws that’ll make shredding pork, roast, and chicken a cinch. 

Amazon

Promising review: “Just yesterday, I was using these claws to turn a roast I was browning, and I declared my undying love for them. Then I remembered I haven’t yet written a review for them. They seriously have changed my life as far as cooking meat. Flipping a chicken or a goose or a duck, turning a roast, transferring a roast from the rack onto the board for cutting, holding the meat steady while cutting – the claws do it all. They are like salad hands for your meat. Buy them and see your life change, too!” —Anonymous

Get them from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four styles).

9. A cheerful fruit bowl with a spiffy secret — it’s also a colander — for keeping your produce on display. Fresh produce on the counter looks so lovely *and* reminds you to eat your rutabagas before they go bad.

Amazon

Promising review: “I LOVE the look of this fruit bowl. I also love that its pedestal minimizes the space it takes up on the counter. I wasn’t sure about whether I would like that it is plastic but now consider it a big plus. It keeps the bowl lightweight (but it is still sturdy) and makes it easy to clean. I highly recommend this fruit bowl. I couldn’t be more pleased with mine.” —Opinion o’Jen

Get it from Amazon for $19.98+ (available in four colors). 

10. A silicone grease container for folks who would love to start putting their bacon grease to good use. This has a strainer to make sure no bacon bits get left behind. Just toss it in the freezer and you’ll have smooth, delectable drippings for your next cooking endeavor (or a mess-free trashing system if bacon grease isn’t your thing). 

Amazon

This reusable, silicone design is safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, resists stains and odors, and holds one cup of cooled grease.

Promising review: “This came exactly as described. It’s worth every penny! It’s compact, fits right in your refrigerator without taking up too much space, is easy to clean, and adorable!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

11. A stuffed waffle maker — this applause-worthy appliance is designed with a deep, bowl-like griddle that allows you to cook the batter with fillings (we’re talking chocolate, fruit, cheese, meat…the works). Upgrade your morning routine from frozen waffles to a homemade meal that’ll look straight off a “best of” brunch menu. 

Promising review: “I bought this after I saw a video on TikTok, so I had an idea about the yummy waffles I could make. First waffles were stuffed with apple pie filling. Second ones scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese. Just amazing!!! The only way you could make this better is to send a chef!! I definitely recommend watching a video on TikTok or YouTube to inspire you before you start!!” —Adirondackdarling

Get it from Amazon for $49.99

12. A pack of colorful reusable baking cups for home chefs who want waste-free treats that still look good enough to gobble up.

Amazon

This 12-pack of food-grade silicone cups are safe to use in the freezer, microwave, and oven. They can handle temperatures of up to 500 degrees and come in pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

Promising review: “These little thingies are perfect! I made some muffins with them and they came out incredibly easily with no residue on the cups at all. I didn’t have to use grease or anything. The colors are bright and fun, and they you plenty of each color. These are slightly smaller than a regular cupcake pan/liner, which is actually perfect for my purposes. As others have mentioned, the cups are a bit on the flimsy side, so make sure they’re on a baking sheet before you fill them because they can be difficult to transport once full.” —kapplejack

Get 12 from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in two sizes).

13. A pickle keeper and juice strainer — tip this over like an hourglass and you can grab pickles, cherries, or olives *without* the juice making a mess. 

Promising review: “I love pickles and olives but hate the mess and pain of pickle/olive brine. I’ve been known to just drain it out of a jar immediately, even if that means having to throw away the pickles or olives sooner. I randomly discovered these containers from some online article, and knew right away I would be getting one. I now have two but plan on buying more. They’re just great. The only thing is, you need to be 100% sure you’ve got the lids on completely or you will have a disaster on your hands. Check and double check each time you are securing them. The tongs are useful just to have around for anything, too.” —Nick

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four styles). 

14. A spoon holder so keeping your counters clean while cooking is super simple! Now that you’ll have a clean stirring solution, the only question will be witch brew should you make next?? 

Amazon

Promising review: “I saw this on TikTok and just had to get it. It arrived very fast and looks adorable! I have a gas stove with grates, so there is no room for a spoon rest. This takes care of that hassle!” —A Power Mama

Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in two colors and three styles).

15. A silicone bread maker, an inexpensive option that’ll help you ~rise~ to the occasion whenever you want to bake a perfect loaf of bread. The partially closed design allows steam to circulate to keep your bread from drying out, while the openings on the side help heat disperse evenly, creating a golden crust.

Amazon

This is both microwave- and dishwasher safe. It’s capable of withstanding temperatures up to 428 degrees.

Promising review: “I love this. It’s very easy to use and to clean. I have been trying to make fresh bread every week and this is much easier than using my Dutch oven. I have been trying different recipes with this bread maker and so far all have come out great!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $26.37.

16. A butter bell — this makes butter so soft, rich, and spreadable you’re gonna think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Avoid those dreaded bread holes when trying to put impossible-to-spread refrigerated butter on toast. You *know* your toddler won’t eat it if there are any imperfections. 

Promising review: “This looks great on the counter and works well! It makes butter easy to spread and stays fresh with natural water seal. I should have bought one of these years ago!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $27.95+ (available in 13 colors).

17. Or a minimalist glass butter dish I am moments away from purchasing myself. The dish isn’t just lovely, it’s also airtight (to keep your butter fresh *and* spreadably soft) with an acacia wood base. Butter is the most beautiful ingredient there is, just ask your tastebuds. This container lets our favorite dairy product shine, whether out on the counter or inside your fridge.

Promising review: “I like the bamboo base, the glass top, and the way it all fits together. It’s easy to clean, beautiful to look at, and incredibly functional. I LOVE this butter dish.” —Robert

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two styles).

18. A pie bird — place this in the center of your unbaked pie and it can prevent the filling from boiling over while baking. The design helps distribute moisture throughout the dish to keep the bottom from getting soggy *and* it even helps up top by making sure the crust cooks evenly and doesn’t split! 

Amazon

This pie bird is safe for the freezer, microwave, oven, broiler, and dishwasher!

Promising review: “Amazing what difference this bird can make to your pie! I definitely made the best apple pie I’ve ever made with this little device. For the first time ever, my pie did not spill out juices onto the pan below or into the stove, and the crust was flaky and crisper than it has ever been. I really cannot speak highly enough of how well this pie bird worked. If you make pies, you need one of these!” —Happylakedreamer

Get it from Amazon for $15.95+ (available in five colors).

19. A Kochblume spill stopper to keep meals from boiling over onto the stove by trapping excess foam and liquid. No more tossing a wooden spoon over your pasta hoping it keeps the bubbles at bay! 

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).

20. A genius tofu press that’ll efficiently drain tofu to get the perfect texture and taste, mess not included.

TofuBud

BTW locals, TofuBud is a small biz based in San Fransisco!

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 $26.95.

21. An herb stripper to easily separate each herb from its stem. You won’t be-leaf how much time this saves! 

Promising Review: “This is sturdy and easy to use. It’s worth the money.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $7.95.

22. Or a spoon stand for keeping both your stirring spoon and the lid of your pot upright and nearby, preventing you from making a mess on your counter by simply laying them down. 

Amazon

Promising review: “I personally always hate it when you pull off the lid of something and the lid is leaking water everywhere while being super hot. With my new solid-surface counters, I definitely don’t want to set the lid on there and ruin them and putting it on the stovetop is either annoying due to the water mess or impossible if you are using the whole stove. This was made for the fussy new-home person like me. I can now set the lid down down safely and not worry about where all that hot water is going.” —Susan

Get it from Amazon for $7.19.

23. An inconspicuous jar opener, because you’re not gonna let arthritis, or poor upper body strength, get in the way of your pasta sauce and pickles.

Promising review: “I bought this last year and have used it many times on many different lids, even use it to open gallon milk jugs when those pesky plastic attachments just won’t seem to give. I haven’t found anything I try that it won’t open for me. No more banging on the counter, just hold it under my cabinet and slid it in the V-shaped opening, give it a little twist to open, hardly any effort at all. It was easy to attach under the cabinet, I put mine so the wide opening faces forward. I personally think every house should have one of these.” —Addie

Get It from Amazon for $15.99.

24. A garlic rocker sure to, ahem, rock your world. This tool is way easier than a traditional garlic press. 

I cook with a shocking amount of garlic and I always hated dealing with my old garlic press. This one-piece solution is SO much better than the old school tool! You simply place your peeled garlic under and rock at an angle, it minces just the same. This also comes with a (TBH very cute) scraper *and* a silicone sleeve that’ll help you peel your cloves in an instant.

Promising review: “I like garlic very much, so I use this garlic press every day. It works very well, is easy to use, and easy to clean. Compared with the garlic press I used before, this is more labor-saving and comfortable.” —Jessica

Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in two colors).

25. hanging garbage bag holder for easily disposing of your scraps without a trek to the trash can every single step of the recipe. 

Amazon

Promising review: “I love this product because I’m always chopping vegetables and cutting up meat. I would be making several trips to the trash. Now I’m able to make meal prep quicker, easier, and cleaner! A good way to use up some of those plastic bags from the grocery store, too!” —Ellen Holcomb

Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

26. A handy Souper Cubes freezer tray that’ll make freezing things like soup and sauces ~souper~ easy. With this you’ll be able to heat up a perfect portion without waiting on an entire pot to boil. That’s right, Virgos. We found a way to organize soup!

This is BPA-free and dishwasher safe!

Promising review: “LOVE LOVE LOVE. My freezer is so much more organized now. Gone are the days of having to defrost an entire bag of chicken broth for one cup for a recipe. I now have perfectly portioned half-cup and one-cup blocks ready to go. They fit easily in freezer bags, take up less space, and make me incredibly happy. There was a lot of attention to detail put into the design and I particularly appreciate the wire inside the rim that holds everything steady — no more worrying about spilling all the liquid on the way to the freezer. Just a fantastic product all around. I purchased this and a cheaper version from another manufacturer at the same time, but returned the other product. This one is definitely worth the added cost.” —Kate

Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in three colors).

27. A Dash rapid egg cooker sure to guarantee you never have to ~scramble~ to find a good Sunday brunch spot ever again — your kitchen table is gonna be the best spot in town.

It can make hard-boiled eggs, soft-boiled eggs, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, and individual omelets. 

Promising review: “I bought this egg cooker for the first time a year and a half ago, and it is awesome. I hate having a single-purpose appliance in my kitchen, but this is worth it. Making hard-boiled eggs was always hit or miss for me, even if it was timed perfectly. (I admit I forgot about the eggs more than once!) This cooker makes PERFECT eggs every single time, to the exact hardness I desire with no green ring on the yolk. Even better, the shell slides off without taking half the egg white with it! My favorite use is to pop some eggs in when I get home and prep a salad. By the time the salad is ready, the eggs are done. I can even leave the kitchen and still hear when they are done because of the buzzer. I’ve purchased five more of them for family for Christmas this year and can’t wait to get everyone on board the Dash Go Egg Cooker train!” —A. M. Hinshaw

Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in five colors).

28. A roll of machine washable reusable bamboo towels that’ll be so easy to use you won’t feel like you’ve gotta throw in the towel on your eco-friendly goals. Avoiding wasting money on wasteful products will be easier than you think!

Amazon

Promising review:I use a shameful amount of paper towels and these make feel so much less wasteful! I mostly use them to cover my cat’s food while I microwave it since I don’t want it splattering all over the microwave. These work great for that. I have a tiny little bin on my kitchen counter that I put the used ones in and then transfer it to the laundry bin when full.” —CH

Get them from Amazon for $9.99.

29. A collapsible cooling rack so you can have the proper setup when your cookie cravings are greater than your counter space.

Promising review: “This is easy to set up, sturdy, and saves counter space! I’m so happy with this purchase.” —Sun Family

Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in two styles).

30. An adjustable cake leveler that’ll help with what feels like an impossible task – evenly cutting into a baked cake. If you’ve tried this with a knife before and ended up with nothing but crumbles, you deserve this. 

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 $12.95.

31. A bag re-sealer I’d personally buy for the looks alone (it’s basically a tiny hair straightener! CUTE!), for anyone who would love the chance to reseal their snacks and keep them feelin’ fresh.

Promising review: “Just got this cool new gadget! So sick of never having a clip for the million bags of chips I open daily. This sealer worked great. Heated up in, like, 40 seconds and sealed this chip bag in seconds, and now, I don’t have to find a clip! I’m sure the chips will stay fresh much longer, too, since it’s sealed like I just bought it! Would recommend!” —Stacy0814

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

32. A 10-piece mixing bowl set you can use as mixing bowls, serving dishes, leftover containers, and the family popcorn bowls. I own these and have told my whole family to get them. You all were next on my list! Get them.

Amazon, Mallory Mower / BuzzFeed

I bought these bowls after a coworker found them (yeah, I’m a sucker for BuzzFeed shopping posts) and I can’t help but rave about them! They all nest easily, which makes storing simple in my tiny Brooklyn kitchen, and the lids are a major bonus for storing leftovers. They’re also practically indestructible – my cat has knocked these off the counter as a set and individually (he’s a monster) and they’ve held up great!

Get it from Amazon for $37.70+ (available in two styles).

33. Or a collection of ombre nesting bowls hue will wanna get in your life stat! These nonslip bowls are dishwasher safe, freezer safe, food safe, and BPA free. 

Promising review:I like the fact that these bowls are deep rather than wide so they don’t take up a lot of shelf space. The colors are beautiful. I threw all my old bowls with miss matched lids away!” —Lisa Jean

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in different set sizes and styles).

34. A cutting board prep station for slicing, dicing, and storing your meal prepped masterpieces all at once. 

Promising review: “I purchased this product because I do a lot of food prep and have challenges placing prepared cuttings into containers. This unique cutting board allows me to cut various foods and slide them through an opening directly into a sealable plastic container. the time savings and organization allows for faster prep time. The bamboo board works well for this purpose.” —N Hara

Get it from Amazon for $49.95+ (available in two styles).

35. A pair of herb scissors sure to ~cut~ your prep time in half when chopping things like cilantro, parsley, and dill. 

Amazon

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-cleaner is very efficiently designed too. I ordered four of these sets to give as gifts.” —Lucille P. Nawara

Get them from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three colors). 

36. A darling pig egg yolk separator for when your recipe calls for separated eggs and you don’t want your meal to turn into slop.

Promising review: “I love this. It’s fast, simple, easy to use, and easy to clean. This is definitely better than the wire holder I have been using!” —meissler

Get it from Amazon for $13.90 (available in three styles).

37. A rice cooker is gonna take the guesswork out of making the perfect bowl of rice. It’s time to finally make the crispy rice sushi bites TikTok keeps talking about!

Promising review: “I love this product. I’ve made so many different rices in it. The only thing I suggest is when making rice that might end up sitting in the pot for a while, put some olive oil on the bottom as the rice tends to stick if it’s sitting on the ‘warm’ setting for too long, or add some extra water. The rice cooker is wonderful though. It’s a real time-saver.” —Michelle

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes).

38. An immersion blender, because soup season is almost here and I plan on eating butternut squash soup…daily. What do I not plan on doing? Cleaning a blender daily. Grab this and you too can have delicious soup without the extra dishes!

Amazon

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 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 $19.99+ (available in three styles).

39. And finally, a Wilton 55-piece cake tips set to make desserts so mind bogglingly lovely your friends won’t know whether to eat it…or frame it.

Promising review: “We used these for the first time to decorate cookies. They worked great and everyone enjoyed decorating. Normally we run out of steam decorating our sugar cookies but this year we all hung in until the end. Great results and lots of options. I am a novice and I made great cookies.” —smit10

Get it from Amazon for $32.94 (also available in an eight-piece set).

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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