15 best kitchen gadgets to level up your dinner time hacks
Love a good life hack to save time? We’ve short-listed the best kitchen gadgets to make cooking quicker and easier.
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For many, cooking is a fun and therapeutic hobby, but for some of us, cooking is a chore that requires a lot of time, energy and effort that we don’t have.
While our parents and ancestors got by perfectly fine with regular kitchen utensils, there has been a huge resurgence of kitchen gadgets and devices, or better yet ‘life hacks’ that can help make the process of cooking quicker, easier and much more bearable.
The OXO Good Grips Hand-Held Mandoline Slicer is a case in point. This handy gadget has over 11,000 five-star reviews with shoppers attesting to its usefulness – they say it “changed my life” and “makes cutting [vegetables] the easiest job in the world”.
Plus, it’s perfect for whipping up quick cucumber salads, à la TikTok user @logagm.
Interested in turning cooking into less of a nightmarish job? Scroll on for our roundup of the best kitchen gadgets that will change your life for the better.
OXO Good Grips Hand-Held Mandoline Slicer, $23.97 (down from $39.95)
What You Need To Know
If you’re on the right side of TikTok, you would have seen the cucumber salad that has gone viral thanks to TikTok user @logagm. While slicing a cucumber with a knife is easy (Kendall Jenner would know), using this handy dandy mandolin slicer is even easier and quicker.
NB: Please take extra care when using this tool as the blades are very sharp.
This product alone has garnered over 11,000 five-star ratings with many praising the gadget.
“This appliance has changed my life. Slicing onions and potatoes has never been so effortless … All hail this kitchen appliance, the vegetables are consistent in width and cook evenly,” one reviewer wrote.
“Game changer. I personally haven’t used it but the wife wanted it and she hasn’t stopped thanking me since. Apparently it has made cutting onions the easiest job on the world,” another wrote.
Kisfam Vegetable Chopper, $55.99 (down from $79.64) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Praised for being “sturdy and strong”, this product is not only a veggie-chopper but it also works as a juicer, spiralizer, egg slicer and separator, and even comes with a peeler. It’s the perfect time and energy saver, and ideal for those who love a quick salad or veggie fix.
“Game changer for meal prep. This has been an amazing addition to my kitchen. It’s incredibly handy and save a lot of time chopping. You have to whack it down like a karate chop instead of pushing, that way the food goes straight through the chopper. I’d highly recommend and would buy again,” one reviewer wrote.
Chicken Shredder, $26.99 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This little machine is super safe and convenient for shredding up chicken, leafy greens and more without getting your hands dirty or putting in a tonne of elbow grease. It has a non-slip base and handles, and keeps the juice in. All you have to do is pop the chicken in, close the lid and use the handle to rotate it a few times.
“Where has this been??? I cannot say enough about this little gadget for shredding chicken!!! It is amazing! I have done the 2 fork method – that’s exhausting. I have done the beater/mixer method – that’s messy. But THIS is easy, quick, and shreds chicken like it should be shredded – so it gets used often. Just spray both pieces with some olive oil, let chicken cool a little after frying, and easy peasy – shredded chicken for so many dishes. I LOVE THIS,” one reviewer wrote.
3 Piece Cup Slicer, $11.30 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This nifty gadget is great for slicing soft fruits into the little pieces. Made from ABS plastic, it has stainless steel blades and comes with a brush for easy cleaning. All you need to do is push it down on your fruit of choice and once you bring it up, you’ll have sliced fruit.
“This makes cutting fruit and vegetables extremely convenient! We have used it for strawberries, and mushrooms so far and cuts down cutting time to a fraction of the time. Cleaning up the blades can be difficult at times, but if you use the given brush, or dawn spray (if you have it), it comes right off!” one reviewer wrote.
AUANDYU Spill Stopper Lid Cover 2 Pack, $20.66 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Made from food-grade silicone, these heat-resistant covers are a great option for those looking to avoid splashing from food, boiling water, steam and oil. The lid features a steam-release vent and silicone handles making them super easy to pick up and move.
“The product I didn’t know I needed. It works exactly as described, I haven’t used it to steam but now I can leave my broth unattended for a second without the fear that it will spill the minute I turn my back. Happy with my lids so far,” one reviewer wrote.
Silicone Clip-On Strainer, $17.99 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Designed to clip onto round pots and bowls of all sizes, this snap strainer is made from silicone that’s microwave and dishwasher safe, and can withstand temperatures up to 230°C . IT also comes with two silicone mitts so you can stay protected when handling hot items.
“Works like a treat. How have I lived without this. So simple to put on pot, strain everything, take off and wash. No more burnt hands,” one reviewer wrote.
ThermoPro TP-03B Digital Meat Thermometer, $19.97 (down from $23.99) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
If the idea of cooking steak at home terrifies you, you’ll love this thermometer. This pocket-sized digital device can accurately inform you of the temperature of pretty much anything – steak, roast chicken, a pot of oil and even water to see if it’s warm enough to poach eggs.
“Met my expectations and works very well. Easily switches between °F and °C. Lit display. Responds very quickly – needs less than a second to work, so I can reach into a hot oven with it to check on baked goods, etc. Also has a reliable magnet on the back, so I can keep it handy on my refrigerator. Definitely worth the price,” one reviewer wrote.
Kitchen Art 55211 Pro 2 Cup Adjust, $19.29 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Make measuring liquids, dry and semisolid ingredients easy with this convenient measuring tool. It’s made from food safe ABS and SAN plastic and silicone, holds up to two cups, and has millilitre, ounce, tablespoon and teaspoon measurement markings. Plus, it’s super easy to transfer the ingredients to the bowl – you simply push the inner cylinder up.
“Wish I knew these existed before. Everyone at home uses this now. Has multiple measurements on the side, I no longer need to convert the measurements which saves a lot of time,” one reviewer wrote.
Healthy Choice Electric Egg Steamer, $29.95 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
If getting out your pots and turning on the stove seems like a hassle to you, this egg cooker could be your new best friend. With a seven egg capacity, this little machine makes it quick and easy to boil eggs at just the push of a button. Simply pour water into the bottom of the machine. You can choose how much water you need depending on how hard you want the eggs to be boiled. Then, poke a hole in the bottom of the egg, place it into the machine and voila – just wait for them to cook.
“I was sceptical but omg. this egg cooker is amazing. So simple and cooks eggs exactly as I like them soft. Bear in mind, you can choose the way you want your eggs. Simply read the instructions and your away, so easy. No setting required, water determines the way you like your eggs. I wish I had bought one years ago,” one reviewer wrote.
OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Egg Separator, $7.17 (down from $11.95)
What You Need To Know
This clever gadget clips onto the side of a bowl and effectively separates the egg whites from the yolk, and even catches any bits of shells. It can clip onto a thin or thick-rimmed bowl, it’s easy to clean and can conveniently be packed away into a drawer after use.
“I bought this so that I could easily separate a bunch of eggs for a recipe. It did that very well and looks kind of cute. It also has a little ledge thing so you can crack your eggs on it. It’s handy, does the job and doesn’t take up a lot of space. I like it,” one reviewer wrote.
YARRAMATE Oil Sprayer, $14.99 (down from $16.66) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Whether you need a little spritz of oil or a generous pour, this gadget can do both easily. It’s made from food-grade BPA-free PP material and thick glass, and has a 470ml capacity.
“I love that it is glass and the two use options spray or pour means this lives on my bench because I use it every time I’m cooking. Good thing it’s so stylish I don’t mind it being out in display. It is so easy to refill plus no chemical nasties of the aerosol cans of olive oil,” one reviewer wrote.
MAXEUS 4-in-1 Jar Opening Kit, $12.58 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
If you constantly struggle to open jars or bottles, this jar opener kit will be your new best friend. You get a 4-in-1 jar opener with different sized openings, and a 5-in-1 multi opener that can be used for opening beers, lifting the pull tab on cans, unscrewing caps and more. Ergonomically design, these tools are especially great for older folks as they don’t put any stress on the hands.
These have been a life saver! … Even though my arm and hands are back to a good strength, I continue to use them because they just make opening things so much easier and faster …” one reviewer wrote.
JOTY Breakfast Sandwich Maker, $110 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This breakfast sandwich maker will have you ditching your favourite Uber Eats brekky for good. It features three hotplate layers, and a removable bottom plate that helps combine all the layers of the breakfast sandwich easily.
Cavedama USB Rechargeable Baking Digital Scale, $16.99 (down from $21.51) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
This stainless steel scale is perfect for those that love to measure their ingredients as accurately as possible. It’s USB rechargeable, however, if you forget to recharge it, you can still use it by popping in some AAA batteries – how convenient! Plus, you can easily change the measuring unit from kilograms, grams, pounds, ounces and millilitres.
“I love this little digital kitchen scale. It makes measuring ingredients for cooking and baking in the kitchen a breeze. With the press of one button, I can measure units including kg, g, lb, oz, and ml. Best of all, it is compact and easy to store away when not in use,” one reviewer wrote.
OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Scraper and Chopper, $17 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
Sure, it might look like a simple piece of stainless steel, but this nifty tool – which takes up almost no space – is a kitchen essential. It’s great for scraping up loose bits, dividing dough into sections without damaging the benchtop and gathering chopped up ingredients.
“Great ergonomics, nice and stiff. Sharp edge with built in ruler. Cleans (scrapes) cutting board exceptionally well. Will save the edges on my good knives. Highly recommend getting this kitchen tool and using it daily,” one reviewer wrote.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING KITCHEN GADGETS
When it comes to buying kitchen gadgets, these are a few factors to keep in mind:
Purpose: It’s important to be mindful of what you’re buying certain cooking gadgets for because, well, you wouldn’t want a drawer of unused kitchen utensils. Think: Do you need a kitchen gadget that makes cooking eggs easier? Do you need one that makes chopping ingredients quicker?
Size: If kitchen space is a concern for you, you may want to consider whether you want a kitchen gadget that’s big, bulky and takes up space, or one that’s small, easy to pack away and takes up little space – luckily for you though, majority of our recommendations above are quite small and easy to store away.
Material: If you’re buying kitchen gadgets, you should look into making sure that they’re good quality and made from food-safe/food-grade materials like silicone, stainless steel, glass and plastic.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
To help you find the right kitchen tools and gadgets, our team of experienced writers spent hours researching products to include in this article. We discovered what factors make great cooking tools by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO KITCHEN GADGETS MAKE COOKING EASIER?
Yes, kitchen gadgets are technically created with the sole purpose of making cooking much easier and way quicker for everyone.
WHERE CAN I BUY KITCHEN GADGETS?
While kitchen gadgets can be found at almost any store you can think of, our favourite place for finding the best, viral kitchen gadgets is Amazon Australia.
The online retail giant has everything you could possibly need, real customer reviews and usually offers same-day delivery as well as free shipping!
More home gadget coverage:
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