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You’d be surprised just how often you’ll find yourself singing the praises of your mushroom kitchen timer to anyone who’ll listen.

I'm a Shopping editor (and mom to two toddlers) who covers a variety of topics, including helpful parenting/kids products, exciting gadgets, cozy products (think: home goods and fashions that'll make you want to snuggle), and any magical Disney item that crosses my path.

From a set of stove burner covers and KitchenAid shears to a pack of carborundum sponges and cut-resistant gloves, you won't know how you've made it through years of cooking without these handy-dandy kitchen items.

This colander can expand from 14.5–19.5 inches. It's top-rack dishwasher safe as well!

BuzzFeed editor Jenae Sitzes has and loves this product: "I have this colander in the pink color and absolutely love it! I don't leave it out on my sink permanently, but I've hung it right next to my sink using small Command hooks so I can quickly grab it and place it on my sink whenever I need to clean produce or drain pasta. I love being able to leave ingredients on it to drain while I work on other steps of a recipe, and it also leaves enough room in the sink for me to place dirty dishes or wash a pan without the dirty water going onto my clean ingredients. Highly recommend, especially for small kitchens!"

Promising review: "I’m obsessed with this. I leave it in my sink always. It makes washing fruits or draining pasta so much easier and has such a simple cleanup. It also adds a nice pop of color to my kitchen. I highly recommend it." —Alyssa

Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in six colors and in two-packs).

It also has a spout so you can control how much liquid you pour out, and its compact design won't take up much storage space!

Promising review: "Typically, I am not a fan of one-trick kitchen utensils. But this thing is a game changer!! Regular strainers are clunky and take up too much space, and pouring scalding hot liquid into them while heavy food splashes around is dangerous and messy. This eliminates that. Seriously, how have I lived my life without this? I remember making a very large and heavy batch of soup stock, and it was difficult enough to just lift the pot and pour, let alone safely into a strainer that could easily move or tip over if I poured too quickly…but this baby made the transfer so easy it’s almost laughable that anyone would use a normal strainer these days! It’s sturdy, stays in place, is small and lightweight, won’t rust, is easy to clean, and doesn’t burn your hands after being submerged in liquid fire. What else could you ask for in a strainer? Enough already, just buy it!" —Kellu

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in six colors).

Check out a TikTok of the Ninja Crispi Air Fryer System in action. 

Each air fryer comes with the "PowerPod," two containers (a 4-quart and a 6-quart), and lids. The PowerPod has auto-shutoff and four modes: Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Recrisp. The "feet" are heat-safe, so you can prop it on any surface, no problem.

Promising review: "I got my Ninja Crisper today and reheated some stuffed bread with feta cheese and spinach, and it did a wonderful job. It was like it just came out of the oven the first time. Nice and crispy outside, but the inside heated just right. I love that the bottom glass can be covered with the lid that comes with it. They come with a metal plate you can put in the glass bottom part, and it actually fits into the lid, so it doesn't get lost. The glass makes a difference in the taste, too. It is a great product and well worth it." —Jennifer 

Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in seven colors). 

Promising review: "We purchased this oven after our 26-inch drop-in oven finally saw its last day. It is a temporary oven ’til we remodel the kitchen. This oven does it all. I have cooked amazing dinners, cakes, cookies, and pies. The dual-zone sync option is awesome. Very happy customer here!!!" —Steve

Get it from Amazon for $204.43+ (available in two styles).

Check out a TikTok of the Bella toaster in action. 

Psst — if you're looking to save space in your kitchen and don't want to sacrifice on aesthetic, check out Bella's matching line of compact, affordable kitchen appliances! 

Promising review: "The narrow width of this toaster helps free up real estate on my small countertop, plus it accommodates two slices of toast, English muffins, or bagels as well as a regular-width toaster. It comes in a beautiful teal color, which I love. And the three toast levels ensure you don’t burn food, and the quality of the toast is just right — from light to brown. I highly recommend it!" —Joyce Hill

Get it from Amazon for $24.98+ (available in two sizes and four colors). 

Promising review: "Once you have these pans/bakeware, you’re going to want them all. I wish I had bought the entire set from the get-go. Amazing quality and workmanship. Beautiful, easy to clean. Best overall. Love the organization basket-a must for every kitchen. If you’re looking to go ceramic-get rid of chemicals, quality that won’t warp or wear out, then I highly recommend Caraway." —BEM

Get it from Amazon for $275 (available in six colors and also in an 11-piece set).

Each piece is oven safe, has a nontoxic coating, *and* comes with a lid holder/pan rack to keep them all neat 'n' cozy when not in use. They are oven-safe up to 550 degrees and safe for all stove tops.

BuzzFeed editor Amanda Davis has this set and is a fan! She said, "I started out with just the cream-colored sauté pan and loved it so much I knew I *needed* the entire set. TL;DR: the hype is absolutely real. This cookware is gorge in person, but I love that it's actually non-stick! It's so easy to cook on, it's easy to clean, and it's cute enough to leave on top of the stove for all (i.e. me) to see. I also love the pan and lid storage that comes with the set. They each fit inside my kitchen cabinets perfectly and really help with keeping things tidy and organized. I'd say it's definitely worth the investment!"

Learn more about this cookware set in our full Caraway Pan Set review!

This set includes a 10.5" frying pan, 3-quart saucepan and lid, 6.5-quarr Dutch oven and lid, 4.5-quart sauté pan and lid, four modular magnetic pan racks, and a canvas lid holder with hooks.

Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $395.50+ (available in six colors) or straight from Caraway for $395.50+ (available in 12 colorways).

You can also shop the pots and pans individually on Amazon or Caraway starting at $85.

Promising review: "I highly recommend this pine gel! I use it every day and love its versatility. For a deeper clean, I apply the gel directly, while for everyday use, I simply mix it with water as a multipurpose cleaner. I truly use it for everything in my home — it's become my go-to cleaning product. I use it as a laundry sanitizer to eliminate odors, in my floor mopping bucket, and for cleaning bathrooms, sinks, and my stove. I can't imagine my cleaning routine without it." —Lior mealem 

This winds up and times up to 60 minutes, ending in a loud buzzer. Reviewers also use it to help time themselves with work tasks and studying. 

Promising review: "This is whimsical and fun, my kids love it. I tell them their dinner comes from a fairy mushroom forest. 😋 Works great, keeps my little monsters in line — 'Dad, the mushroom went off.' Love it." —Vik V

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in four colors). 

Promising review: "Thick good quality material, has weight to it so it won’t slide around, I love that it has a slant to it so the water slides off AND it slips over the edge of the sink so the water doesn’t collect underneath." —shaw

Get it from Amazon for $18.49+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

Psst, as you can see above, this set also comes with a crumb catcher that catches crumbs where your stovetop meets your countertop!

Promising review: "I've been using the foil ones, and while they do the job, they're not so nice to look at. I like that this is black, so it matches the original color of the appliances, but more importantly, I like that it has a larger surface area to catch the drips that the foil ones never could. They're also trim-to-fit, so they get right up to each burner without leaving gaps where drips can burn, making it harder to clean. Overall recommended." —Michael

Get an 8-pack from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four colors and three sizes).

One reviewer also notes it's great for storing smaller vegetables!

Promising review: "Love this storage container, great to keep bacon in. Keeps it fresh longer. Plus, you write with a dry-erase marker on the lid so you know what’s in it and date it. Would be great for large amounts of deli meats as well" —susan dirr

Ivy Cottage Art Gifts is a small business that sells stunning handpainted kitchen items.

Promising review: "These salt and pepper shakers are a great size for someone who’s always in the kitchen! The paint job is as described and even more beautiful in person." —Kashlamb12

Get them from Ivy Cottage Art Gifts on Etsy for $38.99.

Promising review: "Excellent quality and fits a block of butter quite well. I particularly like that it has a lip the top fits over that keeps the butter inside so it isn't all over the edges of the cover. It washes up beautifully in the dishwasher or by hand. I liked it so much I sent one as a gift. Would definitely buy again." —Sunday Reader

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in six styles).

I have these in lavender (my favorite color)! I use 'em to chop up my salads — they work like a charm! SO much easier than trying to actually cut up lettuce with a knife (no thanks), and they're also great for cutting up my kids' pizza, waffles, quesadillas, and so much more.

Promising review: "These scissors do it all! From cutting poultry to removing gristle from the bottom of a tri-tip roast, and any number of other kitchen items. I'm left-handed, and the grip is comfortable. They're very easy to clean, and the plastic sheath that comes with them is a plus, preventing me from gouging myself when looking for other items in the 'sharp object' drawer. I'm thinking about getting a second pair. I highly recommend these kitchen shears!" —Suzy-Q666

Get it from Amazon for $9.89+ (available in seven colors).

Ronan is a small business that specializes in multipurpose tools for home use.

Promising review: "This is a kitchen must-have. We use it all the time — it's so easy to use that even our kids use it. Very durable blade that continues to perform and get value for your money." —Dawn R. 

I use this stuff constantly and can confirm it's fantastic. I use it on my frying pans and the grill pans from my griddler (which is ALWAYS a pain to clean). It loosens all the gunk and makes cleaning burnt bits and pieces much easier. It also smells incredible — very fresh and delightful! I recently swapped from the "fresh" scent to the "apple" one, and wow, it smells delicious. It also works great for removing stains on clothes (I've seen it remove coffee from a white tee with my very own eyes).

Promising review: "This makes it so easy to keep my sink clear of dishes. I use it constantly throughout the day. Every time I use a dish, I give it a quick spray, wash it, rinse it, and put it in a dish drainer. It is wonderful. I wish it was a little cheaper as I’m constantly using it; other than that, I love it." —Linda W.

Get a pack of four Amazon for $17.50 (available in four scents).

Smilyeez is a small business! Fill the brush handle with your favorite dish soap, attach it to your Scrub Daddy, then use the little lever to dispense the perfect amount of soap into the sponge! Many reviewers also note they like to use it to clean their bathroom.

Promising review: "This is a game changer for me. I hate dishes. Like seriously hate dishes. I hate touching wet food. When I wash dishes, I believe the water needs to be lava hot, and sometimes, it’s too hot for my hands when I use a rag or sponge. This tool helps me so much because it makes scrubbing easier without all the things I hate. I highly recommend." —Hope

Get it from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in six styles).

Promising review: "Nice and thin. You'll find so many more uses for these around the house than just getting stuff off the underside of cookware! I had hard, scaly water deposits on the glass surrounding our powder room faucet (one of those fancy, highfalutin modern-looking things). I've tried everything for four years to get this stuff off. One day, I thought, maybe I'll try my sponges. Took it all off super easily!!!! The faucet looks like new. My only rec is to spot-test your item first before using it because it will scratch certain surfaces if you scrub too aggressively (for example, it gets the burned-on, weird stuff off of the bottom of my fave Our Place pan, but I rubbed too hard in one spot and it took the color right off lol)." —Hoarder

Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $7.69+ (available in two sponge thicknesses).

You can use this to brew hot coffee *and* cold brew by adding coffee grounds to the top portion, tamping it down, letting it steep, and pumping into a carafe full of hot or cold water. 

Promising review: "Simple to use and cheaper than that other brand. This is about the best tasting coffee I have ever made at home. Easy to clean. Sturdy. Portable." —Alex Bonick

Promising reviews: "Aside from a Victorinox paring knife and a filet knife, this is the ONLY knife I own. I've used it just about every day for the last two months, and only now does it seem to be losing its edge. Since I primarily cook from scratch, I've put it through quite a bit! It's survived pounds upon pounds of potatoes, onions, garlic, a few acorn squash, and carving a whole chicken. I'd say it's a sound investment for the price." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $16.87+ (available in several sizes/types).

The 12-piece set comes with a chef knife, a bread knife, a utility knife, a santoku knife, a slicing knife, a paring knife, and covers for each blade.

Promising review: "I have several knives of good quality, really didn’t need these, to be honest, I bought them because they were so pretty.  😍 To my surprise, they have turned out to be a great purchase. Not only are they pretty to look at, but they are also really sharp! Be super careful when using these little pretties; they’ll easily take a finger off, 😉 if you aren’t paying attention, but if you are using them properly, or like me, an experienced cook in the kitchen, you’re gonna love how easy they make, chopping, slicing, and you might find yourself wanting to cook more often, just to be able to use them. Make the purchase, and enjoy!" —Serena L.

Get them from Amazon for $19.84 (also available in a 10-piece set).

You can even pop these in the washing machine for a thorough cleaning.

Promising reviews: "I got really tired of coming away with sliced fingers after manually grating cheese or potatoes. Measuring the glove size as instructed was easy, and the fit was perfect (small). I have used these gloves every day since I received them. I was going to try a mandolin, but that was more troublesome than it was worth. Just slip on the glove, and you are safe!" —S Martin

Get them from Amazon for $7.99 (available in sizes S—XL).

Promising review: "This is one of my favorite things I've ever purchased from Amazon! The fact that they're so customizable allows you to cut them and shape them to any drawer size! I think this will be my go-to gift for all of my friends who love cooking as much as I do! Freeing up cabinet space and having something that can so easily be rinsed off in the sink makes this a for sure buy!" —momonono

Get a 10-foot roll from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two colors).

The top layer is made of absorbent PU leather, so you can easily rinse or wipe it clean! It also has an anti-skid rubber backing to prevent sliding.

Promising review: "I was a little concerned about how things would dry on this mat since it isn't fabric, but everything seems to dry really well — and it is just so pretty a thing to have on my counter! Can't beat the price either." —Nana M.

Get it from Amazon for $9.78+ (available in three sizes and six colors/styles).

Promising review: "When it comes to cookware, I truly believe you can’t do better than this brand. The material used, the rich, beautiful color, the ease of use, and the nonstick properties are absolutely amazing. I will make sure that I buy every last pot from this line." —Lori Bush

Get it from Amazon for $170+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Love this little dishcloth! It’s SUPER absorbent and picks up really well. I use it in the kitchen every day to clean up countertops, sink, spills, placemats, dining table, etc. and it’s easy to wash, too. Great way to save money on paper towels." —Milica P.

Get a set of three from Amazon for $11.66+ (available in 30 styles).

I've introduced everyone in my life to this delectable condiment. Mike's Hot Honey is sweet with a kick of heat — you'll want to pour it over everything you eat. I personally love it on chicken cutlets and pepperoni pizza, but do with it what you will!

Promising review: "I tend to shy away from spicy foods, but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to try a new condiment to liven up snacks and recipes with. I was afraid the spice would be overpowering, but it’s actually quite mellow and smooth; just the right touch of heat. So far, I’ve enjoyed this on fruit salad (banana/strawberry/blueberry) with cottage cheese and drizzled on the original Chick-fil-A sandwich....so delicious!" —Sleeps in Rain

Ayoh is a small business that was founded by bestselling cookbook author, Molly Baz.

Promising review: "If you love a flavor explosion, these are it!! I can’t wait to see what else we come up with with these!! Molly Baz is a genius." —tania

These are microwave- and dishwasher safe!

Promising review: "This set is adorable! The color is so pretty, and the quality is excellent. I highly recommend it." —Cynthia

Get it from Ikea for $59.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "The quality is amazing. Bright white, ceramic! I loved them so much I ordered another set! Obsessed with them!" —christina lowie

Get a set of two from Amazon for $25.49+ (available in three sizes). 

County Line Kitchen is a small business specializing in mason jar–style cold brew makers, pitchers, and accessories.

Promising review: "This has been a hit in my house. Makes the most delicious cold brew and is of great quality. I have saved a ton of money on going out and on pods I used to buy. I try to let it sit for 48 hours so I can dilute it with a little water to get it to last longer, and throw it in my dishwasher in between uses. Perfect!" —Jo

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two colors).

* Reviewers Are Singing The Praises Of These 36 Genius Kitchen Products

* Walmart Products For Anyone Who Doesn’t Wanna Spend All Day Cooking

* It Turns Out Baking Doesn’t Have To Be Intimidating, At Least Not When You Have These 27 Products

Plus, finds from Sur La Table and Wayfair.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.