These 10 Clever Kitchen Tools Make Life So Much Easier, and They Start at $5

Adapting recipes to work in home kitchens and developing recipes from scratch is just half of what I do for Food & Wine. The other half involves a lot of time spent shopping for kitchen gear, experimenting with new small kitchen appliances, testing the latest and greatest cookware sets, and trying out new gadgets. I agree, I have a fun job. 

With so much time spent obsessing over my kitchen and its component parts, it’s only natural that I’ve come to rely on a few clever tools that look good, work well, and make my life easier while cooking. Read on to shop some of my favorites, including brown sugar savers and wine preservers, starting at $5. 

Best Clever Amazon Kitchen Tools and Gadgets

• Brown Sugar Bear Sugar Saver, $5 
• OXO Good Grips Pie Plate with Lid, $16
• Sunwuun 2-Pack of Wine Bottle Stoppers, $11, originally $14
• Dreamfarm Scizza 2-in-1 Easy Ergonomic Pizza Scissors, $27, originally $30 
• KitchenAid Stand Mixer Pasta Roller and Cutter Attachment, $127, originally $150  

Material Kitchen The Air Whisk

There are a lot of different styles of whisks (and I own them all), but my favorite has to be the Air Whisk from Material Kitchen. Its loops are narrow for easy storage and its bottom is flat, so it can stand on its own in between whisking sessions. With it, there’s never been a cream I couldn’t whip or a vinaigrette I couldn’t emulsify.     

OXO Good Grips Kitchen Scale

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve weighed a bowl that was so large, it blocked the screen of my kitchen scale with its bulk. OXO fixed this problem with a pull-out screen that’s as easy to read as it is to use. It can also hold up to 11 pounds, switch between ounces, pounds, grams, and kilograms, and looks pretty to boot. 

Brown Sugar Bear Sugar Saver

I added this terracotta tile to my kitchenware collection to keep my brown sugar from drying out, and I’m so glad I did. I soak it in water for 20 minutes, pat it dry, add it to my airtight container, and it magically keeps my sugar from clumping for three to six months at a time. For $5, I’d call that a win.     

OXO Good Grips Pie Plate with Lid 

OXO’s pie plate is one of my favorite kitchen tools. This is primarily because of its lid, which is tall enough to safely accommodate a heaping tower of homemade whipped cream without flattening it, sturdy enough to stack dishes on top of, and dishwasher-safe. 

Scrub Daddy Set of 3 of Sponges 

There are run-of-the-mill sponges and then there are sponges, and Scrub Daddy falls into the latter category. They’re designed to soften in hot water for delicate surfaces and stiffen in cold water for tough scrubbing jobs. Plus, their round eyes and wide smiles are actually grooves for fingers and utensils, respectively.  

Sunwuun 2-Pack of Wine Bottle Stoppers 

Like me, over 4,000 Amazon shoppers grabbed this pack of wine bottle stoppers to extend the shelf life of, well, open bottles. They work by sucking out air, thus delaying oxidation and preserving flavor for a few extra days.   

OXO Good Grips Large Adjustable Handheld Mandoline Slicer

I eat a lot of shaved Brussels sprout salads in the fall and winter, and there’s no better tool for breaking down my favorite tiny cabbage than a mandoline slicer. While the version I have is so old it’s no longer made, OXO’s model comes recommended by more than 12,000 Amazon shoppers. One reviewer even labeled it a “game changer” in the kitchen.  

Ember Travel Mug 2+ 

This recommendation comes to you by way of my sister-in-law whose morning cup of coffee is often interrupted by her toddler, her dog, her job, or all three. When she finally returns hours later to finish her drink, this Ember mug ensures that it’s still warm and ready to sip. It’s expensive for a mug, which is why you should add it to your cart now while it’s on sale for Cyber Monday. (Or check out other coffee mug warmers we recommend.)  

Dreamfarm Scizza 2-in-1 Easy Ergonomic Pizza Scissors 

If there’s one product I want but haven’t bought yet, it’s a quality pair of pizza scissors. I’ve used them before at restaurants and have always been wildly impressed by how easily they slice through even the crispiest of crusts. One Amazon shopper out of the 1,000-plus who gave it a perfect rating wrote that they don’t want to “ever cut a pizza another way again.”   

KitchenAid Stand Mixer Pasta Roller and Cutter Attachment 

For those times when I’m craving homemade pasta, I’m so happy I have these KitchenAid attachments. The set of three includes one roller for flattening dough and two cutters for spaghetti and fettuccine. I’ve had mine for years and they’ve never rusted. (Plus, shop more KitchenAid accessories on sale today.)

Looking for more clever kitchen gadgets? Head to Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals page before the sale ends. Plus, shop our curations of the best Cyber Monday 2024 deals, including savings on Breville appliances, coffee machines, Anthropologie holiday gifts, and more.