12 Best Kitchen Essentials You Won't Believe You EVER Lived Without

Sometimes you want to prep, cook and serve meals in as little time as possible; then there are the rare occasions when you think ahead to dinner while you’re still getting your monsters to chow down on pancakes and realize you have the time to put a chili in the slow cooker. Whichever type of day you’re having, a multi-functional appliance like the Ninja Foodi is one staple we can’t believe ANY household survives without. It can even air-fry things, so you can trick your kids into thinking those french fries are a splurge and get to enjoy them yourself, too. It’s like a billion things in one and only takes up a tiny bit of counter space, so there’s still room for that Magic Bullet you swear you’ll actually use to make healthful smoothies one day.

When it comes to easy dinners that require approximately 0 brain cells, making pasta is always a good idea; pouring a 10lb pot of boiling hot water over a strainer in your sink without burning a) yourself b) your kids or c) your dog is a bitch. Enter the handheld strainer that will changing your freaking life, wherein you fish the pasta out of the pot, rather than pour it out with the water itself. So simple, yet SO mindblowing, right? Then, you can let the water (and the handles of the pot) cool down and dump it into the sink after dinner (or tomorrow morning, we don’t judge) without burning anybody. The greatest inventions are the simplest ones, ladies.

One-pan meals that require a little bit on the stove followed by a little bit in the oven are easy enough (generally), but there’s one major issue they all pose: when you take that pan out of the oven, the handle is scorching hot, a fact that is often quickly forgotten in our house, leading to burned fingers and emergency cold water rinses. That was the case, at least, until we found this tiny silicone miracle. Designed to fit over the handle of most pans, it serves as a visual reminder that, yes, you took that piece of metal out of a 400 degree oven a few seconds ago and, if that isn’t enough, provides a barrier from the heat so you don’t injure yourself. When you have 12,370,128,301 things on your mind, including avoiding stepping on the Legos that are every.where., sometimes you need a little help to avoid second-degree burns, and that’s a-okay.

Ah, the cutting board: You always seem to need one (unless you’re a monster who cuts directly on your countertop), but storing them in any sort of reasonable fashion is cumbersome, to say the least. This, my friends, is why thin, flexible cutting boards are the way of the future: They stack neatly, have a textured side to grip for safety and are even color-coded and feature adorable little chicken, meat, fish and veggie icons if you’re the kinda gal who likes to separate boards by type of food. Plus, they’ll add a bit of brightness to your kitchen, which is always fun, and they’re dishwasher-safe, so yes, please.

Whether or not you’ve mastered the ski google-wearing to avoid sobbing uncontrollably while you chop onions, I think we can all agree it’s one of the least enjoyable (and frustratingly time consuming) parts of cooking. But fret no more, ladies! One of the cooking world’s best kept secrets, onion choppers — which, yes, can also chop other veggies, too — will basically save your brain from melting like those tears from your eyeballs (see what we did there?). It even comes with a variety of attachments that let you choose the size of the chop, and it comes apart easily so cleaning isn’t a bigger headache than making the meal itself.

Ok, but really, how annoying are all those water bottles you have lying around for your kids? Yes, they’re necessary to avoid spills and keep your littles hydrated, but they’re certainly not attractive or easy to store when they’re knocked around and rolling all over the place. Keeping them organized with a display rack, much like the kind you’d use to display your fine wines in a previous life — will make them easy for the kids to grab when they need one and easier for you to find without tearing apart the cabinet four times a day. Sounds pretty ideal, right?

Make someone feel like a professional chef no matter what their kitchen skills look like. This Vitamix blender has 10 variable speeds and can make soups, salsas, nut butters, smoothies, sauces, batters, baby food, frozen cocktails, and more, with practically just a push of a button. One reviewer said, “The Holy Grail blender, y’all. I grew up with a Vitamix (big, tall, classic model), and since being on my own I have really missed it. I tried food processors (because they’re cheaper), less expensive blenders, immersion blenders, etc. Nothing came close to what a Vitamix can do. If you’re wondering if it’s worth the price, I would give a resounding YES. It’s so supportive of a healthy diet (smoothies, soups, scratch-made dips and salsas, nut milks and butters, etc.) and it’s stupid easy to use AND clean.”

During this pandemic (and for the foreseeable future), sensor-free everything is pretty much the rule of the land when it comes to kitchen appliances. A trash can that you don’t have to touch (eww, germs) is no exception. Available in black stainless steel, brushed stainless steel, rose gold, white, and dark bronze, this 58-liter rectangular voice and motion sensor kitchen trash will straight-up beautify your li’l kitchen nook. To use, just say “open can” or wave your hand to get the lid to open without having to actually touch any icky surfaces. The best part? The kids will get a kick out of it, too.  Shares an Amazon customer, “This may have been the most expensive trash can I have ever bought and probably one of the most awesome purchases I’ve bought. You never realize how crappy the $12-20 trashcans are until you spend a little more on it and then you’re like ‘holy crap.’ Saying ‘open can’ when my hands are full is super helpful, but even better is just waving the can open… The can itself is SUPER DUPER made well, like it crazy the quality that went into this….which I would hope for at $200. If you’re considering a simplehuman trash I HIGHLY recommend them, not just this one but ALL of them. This is my second simplehuman trashcan, I bought the cheaper plastic one as an intro because at the time it fit into my budget and even that one was made crazy well and I still have it. The trash bags are also ridiculous. They do not compare to the grocery store trash bags at all! It doesn’t matter if the box says heavy-duty I can 100% tell you that the simplehuman trash bags will CRUSH them. I feel weird raving about a trashcan and trash bags, but truly, if you’re on the fence, take the dive! It’s totally worth it.” 

Say bye-bye to germs with this touch-free sensor liquid soap pump dispenser from simplehuman. To use, simply place your hands beneath the pump (up close for a small dab or a bit farther away for a bigger glob). How’s that for some Houdini-level magic?? Like the trashcan, this kitchen essential comes in a range of stainless steel colors plus brass to match your kitchen hardware. It has an easy-to-access recharge plug that will keep the dispenser charged for up to three months. A funnel opening makes refills a cinch—no drips or messy puddles on your kitchen counter. Bonus: It also has a clog-free tubing pump which can be used for soap or hand sanitizer. One customer weighs in, “Easy-peasy to put the soap in this dispenser. It is such a clean-looking convenience to have on my kitchen counter by the sink. Really nice looking. Many visiting friends have commented on how attractive it is, in addition to the convenience of its intended use. I have already purchased a 2nd one of these for a dear friend, he liked it so much. I bought the liquid soap in the bag that was recommended for this dispenser. It has a nice subtle lavender scent. I appreciate its ability to dispense soap automatically when I have really dirty hands.”

It’s not (quite) Houdini-level magic, but it sure is close. This stainless steel watermelon slicer by YUESHICO is a lifesaver. If you’ve ever attempted to cut a watermelon before, then you know that it takes time. Your entire fam will be in awe as you whip out this li’l gadget to cut perfectly cube-shaped slices (2CM, to be exact). What better way to encourage everyone to eat more fruit, amirite?! While family get-togethers probably aren’t happening this year, imagine how easy it’ll be to put together a fresh fruit platter for future barbecues to come. The cutter blade is kid-friendly so you won’t have to worry about any unexpected trips to the emergency room. Phew.