Equipment

Small, Inexpensive Kitchen Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed

They'll make your prep easier and your food taste better—all for less than $20.

Published Mar. 16, 2019.

Sometimes you just need a new kitchen toy, especially when the kitchen is one of your favorite places to be. But you don’t need something big and fancy to make your kitchen experience better—you can get a useful gadget for $20 or less.

In this video, a segment from our Season 19 episode Chicken and Biscuits, America’s Test Kitchen TV gadget expert—and Tastings and Testings executive editor—Lisa McManus highlights kitchen tools that a lot of home cooks don’t have but should. You didn’t even know you needed them, but they will make your cooking space even better.

Featured Equipment

Wüsthof Gourmet 4¾-inch Cheese Plane: This cheese plane makes it easier to slice semi-hard cheeses into uniform-sized pieces. It also makes the cheese taste better: The thin slices release the full flavor and texture, so you can get the total experience of the cheese you’re eating. Your cheese board will thank you. [BUY ON AMAZON]

Dexas Heavy Duty Grippmats: Flexible cutting boards are a must-have for any kitchen. They make it easier to work with messy foods like raw meat, and are perfect for transferring food to small bowls after cutting. They’re thin and lightweight, making them perfect for kitchens with little storage space. Clean-up is also a breeze, because they can be thrown right in the dishwasher. [BUY ON AMAZON]

OXO Good Grips Silicone Cookie Spatula: This little spatula may not look like much but it actually has a lot of different uses. It’s perfect for getting into tight spaces like crowded baking pans. It’s skinny enough to slide right under just-baked cookies and wide enough ton flip eggs when you’re preparing breakfast. Also, its soft edge is great for swiping along pans for when you’re feeling like scrambled eggs instead. [BUY ON AMAZON]

Want to see more of Lisa and the rest of the America's Test Kitchen TV cast? To find out when and where the show airs in your area, enter your zip code into our station finder.

Want to see other ways you can improve your kitchen? Check out some other equipment round-ups.