As someone who tests cookware for a living and has a degree from the French Culinary Institute, I've amassed a pretty impressive collection (if I do say so myself) of the best kitchen gadgets. These items help things run more smoothly when I'm trying to get a meal on the table, and while many come from our testing, some are picks I've heard about from pros like Ina Garten, Marcus Samuelsson, and Giada de Laurentiis. Yet others are editor favorites I know and love.
Whether you're a weeknight cooking warrior or prefer baking for a holiday feast, tools that streamline prep work will make spending time in your kitchen more efficient and, yes, more fun! Most importantly, these items have been rigorously tested, are expert-approved or are Yahoo editor favorites, which means they won't fail you after a week or two. Here's what has earned a place on my countertops and in my cabinets.
Best kitchen gadgets of 2026
This GIR spatula is the ideal tool for folding ingredients into cake batter, scraping batter into baking dishes, scrambling eggs and more. You can throw it in the dishwasher, but it also comes clean with a soapy sponge in seconds.
In an interview with USA Today , cooking queen Giada de Laurentiis called this spatula one of her favorite kitchen products, going so far as to say she "can't live without" it. It's made of a single piece of silicone, which both my colleague (and former pro baker) Britt Ross and I prefer over spatulas with separate handles and blades. This version is more durable and easier to clean.
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If you're looking to enter the world of burr coffee grinders , this is an excellent first foray. It's one of the easiest to use, and it's reasonably priced. The 18 grind settings are nice to have — but more importantly, the grinds are fairly even. The grinder produces coffee fine enough for espresso , coarse enough for a French press , and everything in between.
The shape is slightly bulky, but I appreciate that there's a space to store the cord underneath the bottom. As for cleaning, the hopper and the grind canister are dishwasher-safe (plus this model comes with a combination coffee scoop/brush tool for cleaning debris from the burr grinder mechanism), so it's easy.
This set of carbon-steel Y-peelers is a boon for any kitchen drawer. They're versatile (use them on vegetables, fruit and zest, and for cheese and chocolate shavings) and while they should only be hand-washed, it's not a heavy lift.
When you realize that one of your favorite kitchen gadgets is also beloved by the Barefoot Contessa herself, it's a satisfying moment. Ina Garten relies on Kuhn Rikon peelers for everyday use, which is why she put them on her preferred equipment list . Mine never seem to dull, and I can always find their brightly colored handles in a utensil drawer that's a sea of silver and black stuff.
This nifty gizmo features layers of hot plates stacked on top of each other — essentially mini pans designed to perfectly cook each component. It's a snap to use, which was a relief to Executive Commerce Editor, Nicole Sforza, who admits, "I was used to spending a lot of time crafting breakfast sandwiches. But after using this device once, I was hooked."
It perfectly cooked every element of the sandwich — even the egg! The ham was smoky and warm, the cheese was perfectly melted, and the egg was the ideal level of gooeyness. Plus, the English muffin didn't get soggy.
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At $125, this gadget is pricey, but it truly is a top-of-the-line meat thermometer . It takes readings in one second, it has no buttons to fuss with, its backlit display rotates so you can always read it easily, and, most importantly, it's accurate.
The massive temperature range (-58 to 572°F) ensures you can use it with any cooking method. If you're the type who fires up your grill every night as soon as the temperature hits 60° or you're simply obsessed with making sure you're not undercooking or overcooking food, this is the thermometer for you.
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You could spend upwards of $50 on a milk frother, but why bother when this Yahoo editor favorite is an impressive powerhouse that works quickly?The triple whisk is extremely effective, and trust me, once you froth milk for your morning coffee in less than a minute with this gizmo, you'll never go back to regular milk again. In addition to its barista duties, it also helps blend protein or supplement powders into drinks.
A handy stand allows you to store the small frother upright on your counter (by your coffee maker , of course). To clean it, run the whisk under hot water while briefly turning it on.
These chef-approved, durable stainless steel scissors have so many uses! Pull them out to cut chicken into cubes, snip herbs, make a chopped salad, peel shrimp and even slice pizza .
Chef Andrew Zimmern loves his shears. "In my humble opinion, few items can be as useful as a good pair of kitchen shears," he shared . "They're more than just a pair of scissors you keep in your kitchen. They're a versatile tool you can look to for precise, easy cuts. Skipping on the cutting board also means less dishes to wash; simply snip your ingredients over a bowl or dish and you're good to go." KitchenAid says you can toss these shears in the dishwasher, but if you can help it, handwashing will help prevent the blades from dulling.
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I had high expectations of this $50 garlic press, and I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint. Though it's hefty, weighing 10.6 ounces, it was easy to hold. And sure, it looks a bit like a torture device, but it's a breeze to squeeze. The resulting garlic is nicely minced — neither too fine nor too coarse. This tool gets the most out of each clove of garlic.
The hopper was large enough for at least two to three cloves, and it was pretty easy to pluck out the remaining garlic after pressing. I tried both peeled and unpeeled cloves, and though the press was more challenging with unpeeled cloves, it still worked. This press doesn't come with a garlic peeler or cleaning tool, but you don't need one. I cleaned it under running water pretty easily, but it is also dishwasher-safe.
Sur La Table
This gizmo with a soft handle has a razor-sharp grater that delivers small, fine, fluffy shreds of ingredients. You can use a Microplane to zest lemons and limes, grate Parmesan cheese and garlic cloves, make chocolate shavings and more.
Food Network star Guy Fieri told Yahoo that he wants everyone to experiment more in the kitchen, and a Microplane is an easy way to start. "Lemon zest? Oh man, it's incredible. It's the oil and essence of citrus without having that heavy play. It's the real, truthful tone of the lemon," he said. He also loves this tool for cheese. "Hit your pecorino with the Microplane to make it delicate," he said.
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The pepper mill features a clear, removable plastic tray at the bottom to catch anything you grind, ensuring no mess and minimal waste. I like keeping mine next to the stove for easy access.
Do you know who else uses this small-but-mighty gadget? None other than Garten , who features it on her preferred equipment list , as well as Jacques Torres , master chocolatier and head judge on Netflix's Nailed It! Torres considers it a great mill for ingredients beyond pepper, like cocoa nibs and spices up to the size of a coffee bean.
A turntable can help maximize space in cabinets, the refrigerator and on shelves because they put every item within sight and reach. Plastic is perfect for behind doors; if you're looking for something that will go on your countertops, wood or bamboo lazy Susans look more polished.
In our guide to the best kitchen cabinet organizers , Marlena Masitto, owner of Philly Neat Freaks , said she prefers a clear lazy Susan like this one from iDesign. "It helps with visibility for bottles and small jars, especially. Plastic ones are easier to clean, and I like a bit of a lip so things don’t fly off."
I don't buy into the whole waffle-versus-pancake-versus-French-toast debate — gimme all of the above. Of course, satisfying those nook-and-cranny cravings requires special machinery, and, in my opinion, a waffle iron is well worth the space it takes up if you make these breakfast treats often enough.
Even if you don't have a sprawling kitchen, there are compact models like this No. 1 bestseller that make storage a snap. It's under 3 inches tall, so you can just stash it in a drawer.
Leave it to Oxo to put a solid grip on this chef-approved tool, making it easier to flip, turn and transfer any dish. A fish spatula is a thin, flexible metal spatula for delicate foods. But it's handy for more than its name suggests: You can also use it to flip eggs, lift cookies, flip burgers or simply transfer food from pans to a plate.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson shared with Oxo that the humble fish spatula is a staple at his restaurants and in his home. The beveled edges and slim stainless steel head make it easy to slip under fish to flip or transfer it in one piece.
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Need to quickly cool off a drink? This retro-cute countertop ice maker produces ice in mere minutes. Senior Commerce Editor Rory Halperin praised its easy-to-understand LED control panel, which has buttons for small or large cubes and indicates when you need to add water or if the ice basket is full and needs to be emptied.
She said it was so quiet she forgot it was even on. "The only time it makes any noise is when the ice is finished and about to dispense into the ice basket — but it's still very quiet." The gadget's cube design looks sleek, plus it comes in fun colors like pink and aqua, perfect for summer parties. At under $100, it's a great appliance to keep around if you've got the storage space.
Here's a tip for when holiday cookie season rolls around from Ross: Using one of these to portion out your dough helps ensure your cookies are a similar size, which not only makes them look more uniform, but it'll also allow them to finish baking at the same time.
If you wanted to get more use out of this tool, you could use it to scoop meatballs, small portions of ice cream or make little melon balls (fancy!). Thankfully, this gadget is dishwasher-safe, so you don't have to think about lingering smells from savory or sweet foods.
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It's Garten's favorite sharpener , and after testing knife sharpeners , I can see why. It has three sharpening sections and utilizes abrasives made of diamond (the hardest material on Earth — it can sharpen anything). One section is for Western knives, one is for Eastern (Japanese) knives and one is for polishing/honing all knives.
While it comes at a hefty price, you'll have a knife that's as close to new as you can get without taking it to a professional in under five minutes. It's about as foolproof as it gets.
If you tend to put a pot of rice on the stove and get distracted by another task or a text (just me?), you need one of these classic timers. Or three. Having a physical timer to set and listen for is more tangible than yet another notification emanating from your phone.
And guess who agrees? Ina: "I have lots of timers," she told NYT Cooking . "I don't want to put something in the oven to forget about it, which I can do." Very fair! Amazon shoppers say this affordable option is easy to use and incredibly accurate.
This kitchen wizard can handle anything from pureeing soup to emulsifying vinaigrette. What you can expect from this immersion blender is a rubber-coated, grippy handle that tapers nicely, making it comfortable to hold while pressing the power buttons. It's not too heavy or loud, and its attachments click into place and release easily.
The stainless steel blade purees, pulverizes and emulsifies anything it encounters with minimal splattering. You can use it for smoothies, whipped cream, mayonnaise, pesto and baby food. Cleaning the blending wand, whisk attachment and plastic beaker is a no-brainer, as all are dishwasher-safe; you can wipe the handle with a damp cloth. Plus, there's a three-year warranty for peace of mind.
Unlike standard dough flatteners, Garten finds this one — with a classic French handle-less design and tapered edges — easier to use with more precision and control ... and so does Ross.
In her book Barefoot Contessa: How Easy Is That? , Garten says, "I prefer a French rolling pin because I can really feel the dough while I'm rolling it out." Ross agrees; when you use a rolling pin with handles, you're (literally) more removed from the roller itself, which can make it more difficult to gauge things like the thickness of your dough.
Ross and I also feel strongly about this smart squeezer: "I don't know about you, but I certainly don't have the arm strength to squeeze every last drop of juice out of a lemon. Having one of these presses really ups my yield when I'm extracting juice to make salad dressing, lemon curd, marinades and more," she says.
This particular option has a nifty feature: Instead of sporting drainage holes, it has a collection cup to store the freshly squeezed juice, with a spout that allows you to pour however much you need. A strainer layer also traps the seeds, because you don't want those sneaking their way into your pasta al limone.
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida is passionate about his morning cuppa, and that includes the mug itself. "Ember is the self-heating mug that made me fall in love with self-heating mugs. It was among the first, and it's arguably the best," says Broida. This app-controlled mug links to your phone via Bluetooth; an eponymous app lets you dial the heat setting anywhere from 120°F to 145°F. You'll get an alert when it hits that ideal temperature, nice if you want to go do something else for a few minutes until your latte is juuuust right.
Here's what Broida loves most about the Ember: "I don't have to turn it on. Once I pour a liquid in, it immediately starts heating. When the drink is gone, it turns off. Sounds like a trivial thing, but it's great not having to futz with a power button or temperature settings. I don't really even have to use the app after the first time; once I've set my preferred temp, it's "locked in" until I change it."
Bakers know the many uses for an offset spatula like this one — it's thin, flexible and has a rounded tip. I use it to release cakes from molds and baking pans, and it helps smooth frosting onto cakes and cupcakes or even cream cheese onto bagels. Because it's offset, you can maneuver it into tight spaces that you can't access with a simple butter knife.
"This tool is cheap and has sooo many functions! I absolutely love this tool and typically reach for it every time for spreads, flipping small things, jars, etc. So much better than a butter knife," confirmed a five-star fan .
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This stainless steel ice cream scoop with a rubber handle made easy work of piercing hard-frozen pints of ice cream with its pointier scoop head. This shape also gets into the corners of a round container better than some others we tried.
The Sumo is made of stainless steel and rubber and is dishwasher-safe. It's also ... cute, thanks to the colorful handle (which comes in purple, red and turquoise in addition to blue). While not a must, it's always nice to have a single-use tool that sparks joy in the kitchen.
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If you want the control and quiet of a manual can opener , plus cushioned handles, this Oxo model is the answer. I'm already a fan of the brand, and as my colleague Sneior Home Writer Kristin Granero , who tested these gadgets, explained, "It was incredibly effective and comfy to use. It took seven cranks of the knob to open small cans, eight to open medium cans and 13 to open large ones — in each case, the fewest cranks of any manual can opener I tested."
This workhorse never went off course. There's also a bottle opener located under the knob for added function.
"I've always felt that cherry pits were appropriately named, since removing them is, well, the pits. And while I love cherry-based treats — pies, jams, sauces — I never enjoyed making them until I started using this little contraption," says Ross. "All you do is place your cherry beneath the stainless steel rod, press down and the pit will shoot down a little chute." Now you won't have to slice each cherry in half and pick out the pits by hand, which slows down the process, gets on your nerves and makes a mess.
While Ross hasn't done a personal tally, the manufacturer claims you can de-pit 100 cherries in three minutes with this No. 1 bestseller, and she believes it. Oh, and it's not exactly a single-use item, since you can also use it to pit olives.
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With just two buttons and an offset display, the Escali Primo is one of the simplest and easiest kitchen scales I tested. The two rubber buttons are smooth, the platform is large enough for most bowls to rest on, and the auto-off feature stays on for four minutes, allowing you time to grab ingredients or attend to other tasks and come back to the scale without losing your place.
Food Network personality and pastry chef Zac Young says, "The Escali Primo has been my go-to since I was in culinary school. It's super affordable, reliable and comes in a delicious assortment of colors."
Earning high marks for accuracy and sold at a solid mid-range price, this scale is my recommendation for most folks. It's low-profile, so it stores easily, and I found it to be the easiest scale to keep clean due to its smooth plastic surfaces. All you need is a damp paper towel to wipe away spills.
A strainer is another pasta-making essential, and this clip-in version from Kitchen Gizmo couldn't be more convenient: There's no need to transfer the pasta to another bowl, and its compact size makes it easy to store.
"Where has this been all my life?" questioned one reviewer . "Such a simple little thing that works so well and makes my life a lot easier. I love this strainer. It fits all my pots perfectly, holds tight, no lost pasta." For a fancier pasta pot and strainer, this 4-piece set from Cuisinart is also worth a look.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
