11 Ingenious Kitchen Tools That'll Simplify Your Life

Some kitchen gadgets are fun novelties, while others surprise you with their ingenuity and effectiveness. These 11 handy tools fall squarely into the latter.

As a team of experts who practically live in the kitchen, we’ve used every tool and gadget imaginable to help us cook smarter, find clever storage solutions, cut down on single-use plastic, and more, so we don’t take the term “ingenious” lightly. Exhibit A: Super-handy kitchen shears that does 90% of what a knife can do, but way easier and faster. Exhibit B: A pizza cutting wheel for perfectly cut pies without burning hands.

Need more proof? Here are 11 ingenious kitchen gadgets that we can’t get enough of.

1. KitchenAid All Purpose Shears with Protective Sheath, $8.99

Kitchen shears are quite clever in their simplicity. If you've ever tried to spatchcock a chicken with a knife or even snip herbs with regular ol' scissors, you know the struggle. Our market editor Jada Wong has two of these (in case she ever misplaces one) and uses them in place of a knife for most tasks during meal prep. They’re also dishwasher safe for super-easy clean up.

2. Five Two Adjustable Rolling Pin, $39

Do you know what a 1/8-inch pie crust looks like just by eyeballing it? Not many people do! This adjustable pin has markers for different thicknesses and takes the guesswork out of it, so all you have to do is roll.

3. Kitchy Pizza Cutter Wheel with Protective Blade Guard, $8.49+

Just like how you’d never eat pizza with a fork and knife, you wouldn't cut it with anything else besides a rolling cutter. Wong uses this compact gadget almost every other day week for perfectly cut pies each time. Just roll it over your pizza and then rinse in the sink or toss it in the dishwasher.

4. Bee's Wrap Reusable Food Wraps, $18-$46

Wrap the end of a baguette, a wedge of cheese, or the top of a bowl—whatever it is, this wax wrap will keep it fresh. The warmth of your hands makes the wax malleable, and once the wax cools, it creates a tight seal so your snacks never go bad. It’s endlessly useful and can be easily rinsed out with soap and water.

5. Mad Hungry Spurtle 4-Piece Set, $19.99

Scottish in origin and handy for mixing, the spurtle is delightfully (and surprisingly!) useful where a wooden spoon would be—especially at getting into the curves of your favorite pot. Some are flatter at the end like a cross between a spoon and a spatula, while others look like the love child of a pestle and spoon.

6. Stasher Silicone Food Grade Reusable Storage Bag (Bundle 4-Pack Small), $54.99

Made of extra-durable silicone, these bags can store snacks, crayons, travel-sized beauty essentials—you name it—without resorting to single-use plastic. They’re dishwasher safe and can be reused over and over again, making the investment worth it in the long run.

7. Food52 x Farmhouse Pottery Double Oven Mitt, $57-$64

This clever double oven mitt means you'll never misplace one of them again. The extra length also helps protect your hands and body as you pull things out of the oven or off the stove, too—just be careful to avoid the flames on your stovetop.

8. Helen Chen’s Asian Kitchen Stainless Steel Spider Strainer Basket, $7.99

This larger strainer basket lifts dumplings, noodles, blanched vegetables, and more from a pot of bubbling water with ease, while the wooden handle keeps your hands safe. You'll wonder how you ever cooked without it.

9. Staub Cast Iron Vertical Roaster, $169

By roasting upright, you get an evenly-cooked, crispy-skin bird all thanks to an ingenious pan.

10. Food52 Five Two Airtight Silicone Lids, $40

Ditch the plastic wrap with silicone covers that suction snuggly over bowls and wash up easily by hand or in the dishwasher. You can use them in the microwave, oven, and freezer, too.

11. Frieling Lid Master, $40-$80

You know what's not fun? Pan storage—until now. Flip up the feet on this Lid Master and use it to create a little space between your pans, so they tower sturdily and never scratch. It'll also prop up a double boiler or act as a trivet, too.

What ingenious kitchen tools have you used and loved? Let us know in the comments!

This article was updated in July 2021 with more clever kitchen tools to help make our lives easier.

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. As an Amazon Associate and Skimlinks affiliate, Food52 earns a commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.