31 Indispensable Kitchen Gadgets For More Cooking Fun

31 Indispensable Kitchen Gadgets
you absolutely need to have more cooking fun
in your home’s most-used room.
A new gadget spices it up when boredom sets in.

I’m not that person who has to have all the latest and greatest gadgets for the kitchen.

I have a few I’d never want to be without,

some that never make it out of the cupboard to see the light of day,

and some I’ve seen that I would love to try.

So that’s how we’ll stack this article up.

And then I’d love to hear which are your favorites, which you never use, and which you’re going to put on your wish list.

Top 10 Indispensable Kitchen Gadgets I can’t cook without

These are listed in the order of importance to me. Your list likely would have a different order, and that’s okay. As long as these gadgets are stashed somewhere in your kitchen, you’re okay.

Click on the titles to see where on Amazon you can get one. These are affiliate links, but in 6 months Amazon hasn’t paid me a dime. That’s okay. I like to look like I know what I’m doing. And besides, if we all have these things already, why would we go order another?

Enjoy.

1. Vidalia Onion Chopper

If you make salsa, spaghetti sauce from scratch, or chop green peppers and onions for all your favorite recipes, and you haven’t tried this chopper…

Well, all I can say is, head straight for your Amazon cart and put it in there.

Of course you’re going to lose the handy little cleaner comb sooner or later. I think I managed to keep mine a year or so. Anyway, you can order them separately. When you click on the link they’re sure to be right there if you lost yours.

There’s also a version of this chopper that has a handy-dandy pull down thingy that cleans out the grid in one swoop, instead of working at it with the little cleaner comb. Or a knife, as in my case, when you’ve lost your cleaner.

So if you don’t have a chopper yet, go for the Cadillac version.

2. Rada Kitchen Tools Set

I have all the pieces of this set, except the tomato slicer, because I was gifted a Princess House slicer. As for these Radas, one of these in this set I’ve been using ever since our wedding day! We got a set of three knives from a friend, and she engraved our names in the handles to personalize them (awesome gift, that). As soon as I lose one of these, I replace it.

If you don’t have your favorite knife brand yet, I highly recommend trying these. They are so worth their manageable price. This set is just over $50 now.

There’s a separate sharpener made specifically for these knives (and believe me, don’t use any other sharpener on them). This is also a must have. The knives stay sharp a long time, but when you start sharpening them, you’ll probably run them through the sharpener every time you do some serious cooking.

3. Mini Electric Chopper

In full disclosure here, I don’t currently have one of these in my kitchen. I used to, and put it to a lot of use. Both my daughter-in-laws use theirs practically every day. The brand isn’t important, just get the best you can afford.

These choppers handle 1 1/2 cups of food. I used mine to pulse nuts, make baby food, chop garlic and onion and more.

But lately I tend to use more non-electric gadgets, so when my mini chopper gave out I never replaced it. However, let me warn you. DO NOT buy one of those pull string choppers if you aren’t blessed with farmgirl hands. I got snookered into buying one at a home show, because it looked absolutely magical. Well, I tried my best to make use of it, and even kept it in my cabinets years after I gave up on it.

4. Garlic Press

Here again brand isn’t as important as getting the results you want. I have to admit I hadn’t seen the accompanying bud peeler sleeve. That’s got to make this tool even more valuable, because peeling garlic cloves is one of my pet peeves. I may or may not have just chopped the peel off in huge chunks in a hurry.

It you’ve ready past kitchen posts you know I’m not a gourmet cook, so for me to use garlic cloves instead of garlic powder is sort of major. Sometimes you just can’t get good enough results (salsa comes to mind) with powder. That’s when a press is a must. Unless patient chopping is therapy for you.

5. Ninja Smoothie Maker

When I looked for this item it appeared that Ninja had moved more toward the traditional blender style. I’m not sure why, because this machine works so great for making shakes and smoothies.

I haven’t used mine as much the last couple years as I did, but it’s so much fun to wow company with an orange Julius made with oranges from our own tree in winter. And mine has made so many ice cream shakes for a hot and weary man when he comes home from work in the summer.

6. Avocado Slicer and Masher

This isn’t the world’s highest ranking avocado tool, but it is the highest in my opinion. It works the way I need this tool to work, and it keeps my hands clean, which some of the others don’t.

You slice the avocado in half with your Rada paring knife, nudge the pit out with the tip of the knife, then slide the circle end of the avocado tool through each half of the avocado. The pulp is cleaned from the peel so easily, and at the same time is well on the way to being mashed. Give the circle a rinse, then go to work with the masher side, working the spices and other ingredients into your guacamole. Yum. Let’s make salsa and guac, shall we? Got chips? (My favorite brand is Cantina Thins by On The Border. Mmm.)

7. Wire Whisk Set

Are you fussy about your wire whisks? Me, too.

They have to have just the right number of wires. And if they have too many, like some you get from a restaurant supply store, they stay in the drawer.

Lately I’ve been using a silicone pastry brush, and I’m not sure I’m a believer, yet. It’s an excellent idea, but in my opinion, just doesn’t do quite the same job as a regular brush. Yeah, the kind that leaves bristles on your food sometimes. But, you know, maybe it’s the artist in me.

8. Cutting Mats

Cutting mats are another thing to fuss over.

I use the cheapest sets I can find, the bendable, cuttable, easily messed up kind. And then they go in the trash and I buy another set. Because having the right size for the job is amazing. And having clean looking cutting mats is important.

I leave a couple whole size, cut one in half, and one in quarters. Try it. You’ll be impressed.

9. Cheese Slicer

This cheese knife works so well to slice softer cheeses. It doesn’t crumble fresh cheese as well, and the slices slide off the blade. It’s so annoying to cut cheese with the wrong knife.

These are great for slicing hot brownies. But don’t cut them too hot, as I have melted a blade like this on the tip by cutting the brownies too soon.

10. Potato Masher

This masher is the best for those from scratch mashed potatoes. Strong and sturdy, you can get a good smash going.

Works nicely for refried beans and other smashable foods.

Kitchen Gadgets I have but could do without

until I can’t. They all have a valuable place, but seldom get used.

1. Apple Peeler

I used to buy apples in bulk in season and can or freeze apple pie filling. That’s when you want one of these.

One drawback, at least to the one I have, the apples have to be perfect grade A to do the best job cutting.

But yes, it’s definitely worth it. For the odd time.

2. Pancake Batter Mixer

Have it, hardly use it, but seems like it should be the best idea ever.

You won’t miss not having it, but if you do, can be useful.

This particular one opens at both ends, making it easy to clean. Maybe if mine did that I’d use it more.

3. Pampered Chef Whipped Creamer

Okay, so I have one of these in the cupboard.

It’s an amazing tool, having whipped cream whipped and ready to spray.

In theory.

But who uses so much whipped up cream that it pays to keep a supply in the fridge?

4. Strawberry Slicer

I don’t have this set, but the one I did have, I loved.

Someone else loved it, too, so I gave it away. Now I can’t find the exact replacement, but I think this one would fill the bill.

A seasonal item, but very useful.

5. Umbra 330065-744 Sinkin Drying Rack

I have an in sink drying rack, but I’m thinking of upgrading.

I couldn’t do without an in sink rack because I usually wash all our dishes by hand and the counter space around the sink is limited.

Kitchen Gadgets someone needs,

even if it’s not me.

1. Ringer Cleaner

I don’t use cast iron. Wish I could, but they’re not compatible with flat top stoves.

This one is on the list because I know my DIL would want one. She’s almost strictly a cast iron cook by now.

You know there’s no better fried potatoes than from a cast iron skillet.

2. Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven Airfryer

This one’s on my own wish list.

Cooking for 2, and often for 3, cranking up the big oven hardly makes sense.

Also considering the heat factor and use of electricity. Much smaller footprint than using the big stove.

3. Stainless Steel Over The Sink Collapsible Dish Rack

I can think of oodles of uses for a rack like this, beyond dishes.

Produce draining, hot pad stand in when you take a pot off the stove.

While making mashed potatoes, for example, the pot could rest on this rack while you go to work smashing them.

4. Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker

This one seems good in theory, but I wonder how much use it would actually get.

What do you think?

5. Baker’s Dusting Wand

I don’t dust powdered sugar very often,

but I’m thinking of those times when I’m making gravy and didn’t get enough cornstarch in. This would sprinkle the powder over the liquid without clumping as you stirred it in.