43 Kitchen Products That'll Make You Think "Why Didn't I Buy This Years Ago"

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Not quite sure how you've lasted all this time without a handheld frother.

BuzzFeed Staff

Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping writer Taylor Steele has to say about the Always Pan: "As someone who neither enjoys cooking nor is particularly good at it, the Always Pan has made being in the kitchen feel like less of a chore. Having one pan that can do everything means I don't have to second-guess every cooking decision I make. I can boil and prepare pasta in it. And I can roast Brussels sprouts. And I can make the perfect fried egg. And I can steam dumplings. The best part is that everything slides so seamlessly out of the pan and onto the plate, which also makes clean up super fast and easy. Both the amateur (read: reluctant) cook and the more seasoned chef will enjoy creating fan favorites and new recipes in the Always Pan!"

And if you needed some more convincing, here's our review of the Always Pan, in which seven members of our team weigh in everything they love about it!

And...if you want some bonus points, mention to your loved one that Selena Gomez uses the cobalt blue pan on her cooking show!

Get it from Our Place for $145 (available in 12 colors).

BuzzFeed editor Hannah Loewentheil finally caved and bought an air fryer while in quarantine, and she's glad she did:

"I'd been contemplating buying an air fryer for quite some time, but it wasn't until I found myself cooking every night with my family due to COVID-19 that I finally decided it was the right time to get one. Friends of mine were raving about their new Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer, so after reading similar feedback on Amazon, I decided it looked like a winner. And it happens to be made by the same company that makes the crowd-favorite Instant Pot. I figured I would be using this appliance primarily as air air fryer, but as an added bonus, it can also roast, broil, bake, re-heat, and dehydrate food.

I've had this air fryer for about three weeks now, and I can honestly say it's become the hero of my kitchen. It preheats quickly, it's large enough to hold a good amount of food at once, it's easy to clean, and it makes food taste crispy on the outside and moist on the inside without any oil. I've been using my air fryer to make vegetables just about every night and it makes them taste so good. If you're cooking for kids, picky eaters, or you just don't get so excited about eating vegetables, the air fryer could be perfect for you. If you like chicken, the air fryer might change your life, and I don't mean that to be dramatic. The air fryer produces restaurant-quality chicken that tastes absurdly decadent, except there's no oil involved in the cooking — just air. We also tried making sesame chicken in the air fryer using boneless skinless chicken thighs. The sesame chicken tasted almost identical to my favorite Chinese takeout, and it had nothing to do with my cooking skills. Thanks to the air fryer, the chicken gets so crispy. I couldn't believe I made this at home!!"

Get it from Amazon for $99.99.

Check out the full review, plus some air fryer recipe suggestions for more!

I invested in one of these and I'm so glad I did — I use it to make lattes at home and have saved a lot of dollars without having to run out to Starbucks every morning (just...once a week or so instead hehe).

Promising review: "OMG, this milk frother makes my homemade latte taste like it was made by a barista. It was perfect. So perfect that I bought a second one for my brother who loves coffee to use. I've already recommended it to some coworkers. It has changed my coffee drinking life. This comes highly recommended." —Michelle Pirestani

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 17 colors).

I know for a fact that BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord treats herself to sushi every Friday and takes her "treat yo' self" meal a step further by devouring it with these fun chopsticks.

Promising review: "I purchased these for a friend's birthday present (he is a sushi waiter) and these are flippin' AMAZING. I ordered two sets by mistake, but I am totally keeping the second pair for another gift (or for myself!). These are sure to be great conversation pieces and attention-getters. Way to go!" —T. Redwood

Get them in red and green from Amazon for $19.97.

Promising review: "I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook — she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively — but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer — Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and months later still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. I'm pretty sure she likes it better than other gifts I've gotten her which were more expensive/thought out, and I'm fairly certain it's what took me from "good friend" to "best friend," but it be that way sometimes. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor." —L

Get it from Amazon for $24.95.

Check out a TikTok of the microwave bowl holders in action.

Bonus — the insulation of these also keeps cold food like ice cream colder for longer (and helps prevent your fingers from freezing!).

Promising review: "Buy these for yourself and everyone you know. They are soft and fit a variety of sizes of bowls to put under them in the microwave and eat from. My kids love them. We bought some to gift to other people too, and I will get some for my son to use at college. Made of a heavy terry cloth that can be thrown right in the washer when needed. We used towels before under our bowls, but these cradle the bowls so are easier to hold. We bought some bigger plate sizes too." —Heidi J.

Get a set of four from Amazon for $15.99 (available in five color combos).

I've introduced everyone in my life to this delectable condiment. Mike's Hot Honey is sweet with a kick of heat — you'll want to pour it over everything you eat. I personally love it on chicken cutlets and pepperoni pizza, but do with it what you will!

Promising review: "I tend to shy away from spicy foods, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to try a new condiment to liven up snacks and recipes with. I was afraid the spice would be overpowering, but it's actually quite mellow and smooth; just the right touch of heat. So far, I’ve enjoyed this on fruit salad (banana/strawberry/blueberry) with cottage cheese and drizzled on the original Chick-fil-A sandwich....so delicious!" —Sleeps in Rain

Get it from Amazon for $8.48.

Promising review: "Easy to use! Easy to clean! Superior to a press and easier to use! No need for hesitation! Go ahead and buy it! You won't be disappointed!" — T. Star

Get it from Amazon for $10.97+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "My husband loves to cook. We have two very small children, so while his meals are mostly yummy, they are also sometimes burnt. :) This was perfect for him. He's able to turn it on, run into the next room to save the day with a plastic bag and a washcloth for whatever blowout-esque mess I'm dealing with, forget he's cooking, run back into the kitchen frantically when he remembers, and arrive only to find the meal practically cooking itself. Best. Gift. Ever." —Jake the ChefturnedDaddy

Get it from UncommonGoods for $25.

BuzzFeed writer *and* zoodle-lover Emma Lord is obsessed with this gadget:

"I recently purchased this because it was my cheapest option for making zoodles, and also because my apartment is the size of a shoebox and there was no room for anything bigger. I LOVE how easy it is to swap out the caps to do other things, too — I've started grating my own cheeses and feel very fancy. But mostly I just love that it's very safe to use (it comes with a finger guard!), super easy to figure out, very compact, and even has measurements on the inside of the cup if you're ever portioning things out for a recipe."

Promising review: "LOVE THIS. I absolutely love this. So far I've used the thicker spiralizer, two of the grater things, and then the juicer. I love how easy this makes keeping everything together. And it's sharp so it actually cuts through things without you needing to work super hard to do it. The only thing I don't love is that the spiralizers are a bit hard to clean, but I guess that's with all of them? Not sure, this is the first I've owned. But, overall I'd recommend it :)" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.98.

When I was pregnant the only thing I could stomach in the morning were smoothies, so this lil' gadget became my partner-in-crime. It's the perfect size to blend a smoothie for one person and does so super quickly. I'd just toss in my ingredients, blend, twist the cup off the base, and stick a straw right into the cup. I loved that there was less to clean than if I had blended it in a full-size blender and poured it into another cup.

Promising review: "I use this almost every morning. This was my savior during the quarantine part of the pandemic when I was working from home. I was able to easily make smoothies for breakfast or a snack instead of eating junk. Blended quickly and easily, easy to clean, and came with so many cups and travel options I was able to continue my healthy habit when I went back to work!" —Marissa Vittorio

Get it from Amazon for $29.95.

Promising review: "This school year my babies asked me to pack their lunches. I needed something reliable and found these online and I am in love!! The portion sizes are small but big enough to fill the kids up. There are five different sized compartments so I get to get creative with the snack choices. It's super easy to clean and I don't worry at all about leaking. It's microwave and top shelf dishwasher safe. And the colors are so cute!! We plan on doing a video with these everyday to show what's for lunch that day and I’ve already been asked so many times about them." —Marsha

Get it from Amazon for $27.43 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "This was a gift for our 93-year-old mother to replace a vintage KitchenAid mixer that had come to the end of its life. We needed this smaller size to fit in a cupboard built specifically for the departed mixer, so it could not be over 13" tall, plus it could not be excessively heavy if mom was to lift and move it around. The mini was perfect and the handle on the mixing bowl also helps as we deal with some limitations caused by arthritis. 3.5 quarts is perfect for the type of baking she loves doing — totally sufficient for a large batch of cookies, a normal size cake, plenty of dough for rolls to serve at a family gathering (she's obviously not running a bakery) and there really is nothing mini about the mixer! After using the beaters and dough hook that are standard -- mom is ecstatic! She's back to baking and loves the upgrades that have occurred over the last 40 plus years." —peaceful1

Get it from Amazon for $329.95 (available in nine colors).

Each set comes with 13 professional chef knives, kitchen scissors, a peeler, a two-stage stage knife sharpener, and an acrylic knife stand.

Promising review: "I love these knives! I saw them on a TikTok and decided I had to have a set of black knives and they exceeded my expectations for sure. Super durable, and very sharp. And they aren't an eye sore in the kitchen." —Emily S.

Get it from Amazon for $64.99.

Promising review: "I know — it is a little strange to love a veggie brush but the bristles have just the right stiffness and 'give' to clean potatoes, carrots, parsnips, etc. I haven't used it on corn-on-the-cob yet but I think it will do quite well without damaging the kernels. (If not, I'll do a follow up on this review.) As with most OXO products, it is ergonomically designed and even fits in my smaller, chunky hands — so much so, I believe it would be good tool for arthritic cooks." —D. Lofthus

Get it from Amazon for $7.95.

Promising review: "As a working chef for over 30 years, I've gone through dozens of thermometers, and this one stands out. I actually purchased this by accident while buying several thermometers to try with the intent of buying a dozen for my crew. I was looking for thermometers that can be field-calibrated and as far as I can tell, this one can't. But I intend to buy more of these because they are accurate, easy to read, and just more pleasant to use. They are tough, and I love the ring on the end; I keep this one hanging on a hook near our ranges so I don't have to hunt it down. It does not ride easily in my chef's coat, but that is due to the longer probe. Which I LOVE. In two weeks I have used this one thermometer over 130 times, all with pleasure." —Cetaceous Dave

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "Definitely get one of these if you're thinking about it. I was skeptical, but it really works. I do a lot of cooking with garlic and onion and after one wash with this, my hands no longer smell like garlic or onions. Really worth having in the kitchen." —Nos

Get it from Amazon for $8.49.

Promising review: "This is a great item for lightly spraying salads, roasting vegetables, or adding some oil to a prepared plate of pasta. Avoids using more oil than necessary so that's a savings right there. I also use it to put a light coating of oil on all my cast-iron cookware to prevent rust. Best of all, it looks great on the dinner table. Lots of uses which really makes it an asset in the kitchen. It seems that it should last a while so I think it is worth the few bucks spent." —Clancy

Get it from Amazon for $10.99.

Promising review: "This is by far the best kitchen gadget I've ever owned. It actually makes me want to be in the kitchen (which is not my favorite place). It works exactly as described, is easy to clean, and is cute to boot. Just don't be tempted to stick this fish to yourself. I've had to explain to all my coworkers how I ended up with fish hickeys." —Siber

Get it from Amazon for $12.90 (available in three styles).

MudPotteryAndGlass is a small business based in Mendocino, California, that specializes in unique glass and ceramic gifts.

Promising review: "Thank you for the herb stripper. I used it to make my mother's recipe for parsley potatoes and it worked wonderfully. I will order again!" —Cynthia Huddleston

Get it from MudPotteryAndGlass on Etsy for $19.50 (available in nine colors).

I have this pizza oven and have been so impressed with it we also got it as a gift for my father-in-law! There's definitely a learning curve to making the pizza correctly (which mostly just involves figuring out how to ensure it slides off the peel and into the oven) but that's honestly half the fun! My husband and I used it just the other day and made delicious pizzas at home instead of ordering out for the umpteenth time.

Promising review: "The Ooni Koda 12 gas-fired pizza oven is fantastic. Like everything else, you'll need a little practice before you are making great pizzas but it will come. I've fired up my oven three times and made about 12 pizzas and each time the pizzas get better and better. Make sure you watch all the YouTube videos and their social media accounts to get the best tips on perfecting the craft quickly. I highly recommend this oven, but to make it work, you need to practice stretching the dough and launching your pizzas. You will need to purchase some additional accessories too. I recommend the wooden peel for launching your pizzas, the metal peel for turning your pizzas and removing them from the oven, and an infrared thermometer to check the temp of the pizza stone. What are you waiting for?" —Iamskibum

Get it from Amazon for $399.

Promising review: "I'm loving this little brush. I had purchased another dish brush a while back from the grocery store and the bristles were so stiff that it often splattered soap everywhere. This one isn't like that. The bristles are stiff, but soft enough that they tend to cling to what you're brushing, so they don't cause that splatter effect. I also like that you can open the whole thing up by taking its top off to refill it, giving you plenty of room to pour in the dish soap. The ability to easily remove and replace the brush is another very handy feature. Both are easy to do and it's well made, so they're not likely to come open or undone unexpectedly." —Elliria

Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

It heats up in 15 seconds and has a 40-ounce water tank so you don't have to fill it every morning.

Promising review: "I like iced coffee with high caffeine. This fits the bill perfectly and is a joy to use and drink. My Starbucks monthly bill has come down considerably after buying this unit, and I'm ready to hit the ground running that much sooner in the morning. I especially enjoy the self cleaning feature and the ability to run it for smaller or larger cup sizes. Truly a premium product." —David T.

Get it from Amazon for $177.95+ (available in three colors, plus in bundle options with the Aeroccino milk frother).

I have one of these and it has been a game changer when making cookies. I love that each one comes out the same size, making it easier than ever to know precisely how many will fit on my baking sheet.

Promising review: "Why didn't I have one of these in my kitchen drawer before?! I bought the medium-sized scoop originally to make a large batch of cookies for Christmas, but today it came handy when I had leftover batter from my banana bread recipe and it made the perfect scoop to fill a regular-sized cupcake liner! Now I'm thinking about getting the small size for my mini-cupcakes! Super easy and they came out perfectly uniform and totally beats trying to use a spoon! Handles have a nice silicone grip too and help with hand fatigue. :-)" —Michi K

Get it from Amazon for $16.95.

Using this lil' grill is so simple! Throw your meat on, close the top, and BOOM — dinner is served. I've been using one for years and it's wonderful for making grilled chicken, burgers, grilled veggies, and paninis.

Promising review: "Excellent addition to our kitchen. Good build quality, You can use this for a lot of different food but it is great for grilled cheese sandwiches. The griddle works well on pancakes and has plenty of heat to do the job. Easy and quick to clean." —Jazzperk

Get it from Amazon for $99.95.

Promising review: "This is a perfect size for a small counter. It stores both blades and the cord wraps nicely. It is large enough to chop a large onion. It has a variable speed which is great for controlling particle size. It seems well-made, very little vibration and is very attractive." —D Powell

Get it from Amazon for $54.99+ (available in six styles).

Promising review: "Super easy to use, with easy to follow instructions. Also has an adjustable flame option. My creme brûlée came out to perfection!" —Sumithra Sriram

Get it from Amazon for $14.94.

Promising review: "Been using this for my morning French press beans, and it is so straightforward and easy to use to one's needs. I haven't done any super deep cleaning of it yet but the design makes me think that'll be easy — all the surfaces inside are easy to access and clean out as needed." —Erin B.

Get it from Sur La Table for $21.95.

Promising review: "Finally a kitchen utensil that saves time, mess, and frustration! I ordered this because my 10-year-old daughter loves to make pancakes but she also leaves an incredible mess. She also loves to make cupcakes and that's even a double mess. Upon receiving the batter dispenser, my daughter took it out of the package and started making pancakes right away without my instructions. She loved the ease to make the pancakes in the container and then one click on the pan with no mess." —Jim Hudson

Get it from Amazon for $23.99.

Promising review: "This item is amazing for both its safety features and ease of use. I am a bit of a kitchen klutz and feel completely at ease and fearless with this device. I made my own potato chips — I sliced with my Dash mandolin and cooked in my Dash air fryer. The tasted just like the ones i get from my favorite Portuguese restaurant but I’m hoping they are much healthier. I honestly think this is a must have for all at home chefs." —Dawn

Get it from Amazon for $34.98+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "FAM. I need you to lissssssten. I would give this product 87 stars if I could. You'd think it would be one of those gimmicky kitchen appliances that barely even works. EXCEPT you're wrong. It's amazing. It's quick. Look. Lissssten. You put the ingredients in and about two minutes later your tummy is all like 'oh yesssss.' Basically. Just buy it. Purchase the sammich maker. You're welcome." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Buying this knife sharpener has changed my life! I used to burn water, but now I'm on par with chefs like Gordon Ramsay! My knives are so sharp that I could cut off a finger and would not even notice. Paper thin tomatoes and onions for a tuna fish sandwich? Not a problem! Thank you KitchenIQ, my life will never be the same." —J.W.

Get it from Amazon for $7.98+ (available in three colors).

Check out our full review of the KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener.

Promising review: "One of those 'why didn't I think of this?' kind of things. It makes cooking pasta so easy and foolproof! No trying to bend/break pasta to get it to fit into a round pan. The instructions tell you exactly how long to microwave it for the different size proportions." —EQUUS

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

I bought this for myself and OMG. This thing REALLY works. Usually when my husband makes sauce from scratch I'm left with chunks of tomatoes throughout my sink and water that WILL NOT drain — that was until I bought the SinkShroom. My mom was so impressed she bought one, too. It's a serious game-changer.

Promising review: "I’ve been a fan of the SinkShroom and TubShroom, and this is the best product from the line so far. My kitchen sinks simply do not clog any more, so there's no more reaching into a bunch of water to unclog anything with my hand." —Brady Amerson

Get it from Amazon for $9.98.

One little machine that can whip up hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs, scrambled eggs and omelets? Sounds magical! And let me tell you — it is. Get one of these egg-cellent appliances ASAP.

Promising review: "This egg cooker is some sort of insane magic. It is brilliant...totally changed my life and is my new best friend in the kitchen. Super simple to use, instructions are extremely clear, with pictures and some recipes to get you going, and the different types of eggs you can cook with this is incredible: hard boiled, poached (!!!) and an omelet. We didn't even have to try it a few times to get it right — first time the eggs came out the most perfect I've ever cooked them and all I did was follow a few basic instruction steps, then walk away and listen for the buzzer. Even the buzzer at the end is more than a sound...it's music that my son and I dance to in the kitchen. I'm in heaven. All for such a low price. I can die happy now:)" —Amazon Customer

Check out our deep dive into the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker here.

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in eight colors).

Promising review: "For those not fully familiar with how it works, what it's accomplishing is trying to surround your liquid with as much ice-behind-metal as possible. So, it has a center chamber of ice behind the metal, then an outer chamber of ice. The inner chamber fits inside the outer with about a cup's worth of space that's between the inner and outer chamber. This exposes your liquid to the greatest surface area of super-cold metal that they can, and since your liquid is only touching metal, and not the ice itself, it doesn't matter the temperature of the liquid poured in. You can pour in boiling water and while it may end up melting a bunch of the ice behind the metal, none of that water will mix with your drink. So, whether you're chilling a wine, dropping hot coffee to cool it off, or just wanting to rapidly drop the temp of that fresh lemonade you made without making it watery, this will get that done." —P. Ericksen

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Promising review: "This is one of my favorite things I have purchased for our tiny apartment! It's a pretty good size cutting board and I can see it fitting over most sinks. I LOVE the bowl inside that can let wet ingredients drain liquid directly into the sink. It's seriously SO nice to have this when you're limited on counter space!" —Atara

Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Okay, this is the first review I’ve ever written because I just enjoyed this product so much! It's exactly as described in my opinion, really great for the price. Bought it for my boyfriend who has wanted one forever, it arrived the next day, we made fettuccine that night and it came out great! Highly recommended for those looking for a pasta maker who don't want to spend a fortune on brand name." —Holly B.

Get it from Amazon for $30.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "These liners are life-changing! I never thought I needed them until a friend raved about them. Clean up is so simple, no more melted cheese or sauces burnt to the bottom of my ovens. I love that I can cut them down to size to fit my toaster oven. My husband enjoys grilling with the liners now, he doesn't have to line the grill with aluminum foil which he found so annoying, deterring him from grilling. This product really has simplified my life in the kitchen and I love it." —Kindle Custommer

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $11.99.

Promising review: "If you are new to hot sauce in general, or looking for a safe thing to try or gift to an enthusiast in your life, give the original bottle a try. If you handle heat well and are looking to venture into flavor country, the Red Bottle is life changing. Truff is an experience that all hot sauce enthusiasts need to try at least once." —Spacemonkey

Get Truff from Amazon: the black truffle hot sauce for $14.98, the "hotter" sauce for $12.69, and the white truffle hot sauce for $26.99.

You can even pop these in the washing machine for a thorough cleaning.

Promising review: "Not sure how these gloves would work with a buzz saw, but wearing them has changed my life as an oyster shucker (which is why I bought them). Absolutely perfect! I can hold the oyster in my hand and go for it without fear of the shell slicing my hands. The knife has slipped a few times to stab me, and it stopped that as well. Super easy wash up as well." —Footsie

Get them from Amazon for $11.49 (available in sizes S—XL).

You can also use this to safely cut bagels and slices of meats that you're trying to cut through the middle of!

Promising review: "This item is the best kitchen helper. First time using it I was apprehensive about it really working, but it works like a charm. Put my tomatoes in first literally slicing them immediately, then my green olives...perfect. I know I will be making more salads and healthy veggie trays with this food cutter." —Cynthia

Get it from Amazon for $12.95.

I have this wok and it's fantastic! My husband is the main chef in our house and he was super excited to try this pan out — it did not disappoint. We made stir fry vegetables and chicken in it. It was so much easier to combine everything into one deep pan and we served the meal directly out of it. Honestly, the GIF (as seen above) from the site has inspired me to make pasta in it next!

Promising review: "I love this carbon steel wok! Not only did it arrive perfectly pre-seasoned, it cooks food evenly and deliciously! I really love it and I am so glad I decided to get one." —Jade D.

Get it from Food52 for $99.

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.