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Can you enter Top Chef as an air fryer chef? Because this Ninja Crispi and I would win.

I am a contributor and former BuzzFeed Shopping writer extraordinaire, as well as a film & TV critic, which is why she loves scouring the interwebs to find the best pop culture knick-knacks to rep your fave fandom.

Promising review: "I cannot say enough good about this strainer. It fits all my pots, from small to huge, and even frying pans! I have strainers, colanders, every kind of lid converter...this strainer is the best ever. When the pot is too heavy for me to hold to drain off the water, I can still hold on with both hands, and then, when it is mostly drained, I set the pot in the sink to continue draining. Washes up like a dream, or you can toss it in the dishwasher. I do not know how I lived without this strainer. Now I can get rid of probably 20 items out of my kitchen!" —SGA

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in six colors).

It comes with a bazooka sushi roller, bamboo sushi mats, animal-shaped/triangle/nigiri/gunkan sushi maker, sushi knife, avocado slicer, oil brush, chopsticks, chopstick holders, sauce dishes, spreader, rice paddle, and instructions. 

Promising reviews: "This is an essential kit for a new-to-sushi chef at home. Everything is right here and convenient. Get some rice, nori sheet, seasoned rice vinegar, cucumber, tuna, and avocado, and you're rolling in a day lol." —Chris

"We are sushi lovers to say the least! This product was easy enough for beginners like us to use; we had never made our own sushi, so this was a lot of fun! Turns out really great once you get the hang of it, and the sushi turned out delicious!!" —Anet Mendez

Promising review: "Okay, before we start, can we just admire the packaging? I was expecting a cheap cardboard box, and it came so nicely packaged, and the pressure cooker itself was nicely tucked in the center, so it doesn’t get damaged in shipping. I am a beginner cook. As a matter of fact, I have not cooked a full-on dinner meal in my entire life. This magical device and app told me exactly which groceries I needed, what to do with them, and how to cook them. It was a breezy experience to whip up a nice dinner for myself, and we are not talking pasta and meatballs. We’re talking a complete meal with shrimp, vegetables, spices, crops, etc. It might not sound impressive to you, but the idea of cooking something like this would not have seemed possible to me before. The unit looks great on the countertop, the app was super easy to set up, and I just love every single bit of this thing!" —Alex

Promising review: "Doesn’t get any easier than this! My kids love helping me in the kitchen, and this made things so simple. My daughter (5) was able to fill the bottle with pancake mix and liquids through the wide-mouth bottom, shake, and pour her own Mickey pancakes. I was planning to store leftover mix in the fridge; however, my son (6) joined us and made heart and smiley face pancakes as well. I purchased it for our upcoming camping trip, and I know it will make life easier in the woods." —Lisa D

Promising review: "I was the world’s worst about letting pots boil over and burn up! This is a lifesaver. It keeps your stove clean, prevents spillover, and helps me know when to add more liquid. I can’t believe I just found this. It’s def worth the price. I don’t even use the lids that came with my pots anymore." —K Stan

Get it from Amazon for $17.07+ (available in two sizes and two colors).

Promising review: "I love pasta, but I hate *making* pasta. Too many pots, pans, strainers, cleanup, etc. Forget it. And after a long day at work, when I am craving pasta, all I want to do is eat right away. This pasta cooker cooked pasta better than I ever have in my life. I am Italian, so as you can imagine, I have eaten (and made myself) a LOT of pasta. This product is a game changer. It was extremely easy to use, cooked quickly, and came out PERFECTLY. Not overcooked, a little al dente, but not firm. Perfection. Now I have no excuse not to cook pasta for myself (and my husband) practically every day. BUY THIS. It will change your life." —Hope Lanza

Promising reviews: "As someone who is starting to cook more for themself, this has been amazing. Cooking chicken can always be a struggle, as I don't want to risk food poisoning, which can make my chicken dry. Using this thermometer has helped me perfect cooking many different dishes, as I know exactly when it's time to take them off the heat. It has also helped me present the food more beautifully, as I no longer cut into the steak or chicken to check the inside. I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to have an accurate, easy-to-read, and easy-to-use cooking thermometer!" —Tim

"I recently started cooking more and found waiting for a traditional meat thermometer really annoying! But this product, I found a breeze, I love that it turns on when it opens, so I just have to open it, pop it in the meat, and get a reading in seconds! I also love that it has the temperature each type of meat needs cooked to on the handle, especially as a beginner! Overall, I recommend!" —Spencer Worrell

It has a finger protector and a container with a bottom lid — so you can automatically and easily catch all your zoodles as you spiralize! Plus, there are three blade settings for thin, medium, or ribbon zoodles.

Promising review: "I’m a newbie to spiraling, so I decided to buy an inexpensive tool just to try it out. To my surprise, this little gadget really works well. Blades are really sharp, so it’s really smooth when spiraling zucchini, squash, and cucumbers. I highly recommend it if you don’t want to shell out money for an expensive tool. Glad I bought it!" —Annette Jaramillo

Promising review: "I love this grill. It's very easy to use and clean. I'm a beginner cook, but this grill has opened a door for me to learn more. I've cooked tons of different foods on the grill and have been very satisfied with the results. I'm surprised at how quickly food cooks on this grill. I've become more health-conscious thanks to the George Foreman Grill. I've also saved money from eating out less. Why eat fast food when this grill is way more convenient and healthier? I've always thought cooking was a hassle, but I'm having fun. Hands down, the best item in my kitchen!" —Reginald Darien

Promising review: "I hate cooking but love hot breakfast sandwiches, and this does the job. Even won over my wife, who rolled her eyes at a new kitchen appliance. Easy to use and clean. Well worth the purchase." —John McCoy

"My husband loves a great breakfast sandwich. This was fun, and quick, and gave us lots of yummy ideas. The quality was actually amazing and really elevated breakfast and lunch. High performance at a super low price, well worth it, and I will be buying more for gifts. It’s quick to clean and stores easily away. The plates are of high quality and super stable. My kids love it for a quick meal on the run." —Michelle Jurich

Read our Instant Pot review for more deets!

Promising review: "This thing is great! I bought it to cook dried beans fast, and it does. A process that required eight hours of soaking and two hours of boiling now takes half an hour. The unit is also easy to clean. Plus, it has a whole bunch of cooking modes beyond pressure cooking. The sauté feature makes it easy to sauté the food in the same pot that you pressure cook in, so it reduces the number of pots and pans you need to cook your meal." —S. Coffrey

Promising review: "As a beginner, I was nervous to purchase. I quickly loved it and used it as much as possible. So many great recipes. Easy clean up. Fast preparation and cook times. Highly recommended!" —Tiffany

Promising reviews: "I absolutely love this scale. It makes baking so much easier, and my cakes come out perfect as a result." —Mrs. Cantrell

Promising review: "The product was just as advertised. No surprises. Easy to use, and the digital readout in the handle is accurate and easy to read. Functional. And arrived quickly. Very happy with the performance that does not require additional cables, plugs, or take up a lot of space. Easy to store, and the bowl doubles as a stand for other functions as well. I liked it so much I bought another one." —Bryan

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three colors). 

Promising reviews: "I’ve recently tried growing some herbs on my patio and have loved using herbs in cooking. These make life so much easier. After I clean my herbs, these scissors make it easy to quickly cut them into small pieces. The design is brilliant. The plastic cover helps get herb pieces off the scissors, so there’s no waste. It’s easy to wash, too." —Lori

"These little scissors are great. They are sharp enough to cut the most fragile herbs, AND, fortunately, they come with a little 'comb' to clean between the blades after use. Using these scissors is sooooo much easier than chopping them. I highly recommend them." —Michelle

Promising reviews: "I love this little guy. Do I need him? Probably not. I did just fine with a knife before he flew into my kitchen. But he entertains me and makes me smile. Worth every penny." —Book-Kitten

"I love it! So much easier than the garlic press I used to have. This little guy is easy to use, just pop a garlic clove in and spin it a couple of times. VERY easy to clean, mostly just rinse it (no soaking needed). A great gift for yourself." —Manganese

Promising reviews: "I was skeptical of this product, but I love it!!! It makes chopping veggies, especially onions, so much easier. You can use it for many foods and adjust the thickness for your slices." —hannah_k

"What a time saver. I made pico de gallo in a couple of minutes. As for the cilantro, I placed 1/2 a jalapeno on the blades, then cilantro. Chopped beautifully. Works very well, well worth the $$." —Yvette Garza

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in four colors).

Promising reviews: "This thing is great. You can cook a pile of crepes in half the time it takes using a large pan or griddle, and it's way easier. They're perfectly sized and shaped, too." —MixedProducts

"My kids love crepes, and I debated a lot if this would be worth it or not — 100% worth it! Makes crepe-making so easy! I taught my kids, so now they can make their own. So happy I took a chance on it and got it!" —Jen

Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in three sizes and four colors).

Promising reviews: "Even though I've had to make my own meals for years, cooking has never been my strong point, and I still mess up on the tiniest things. This is a HUGE lifesaver as it is cheap and not easy to mess up. Breakfast is so much easier now." —Jo Russo

"This little device speeds up the cooking of soft, medium, and hard-boiled eggs by at least 10 minutes because I don't have to wait for water to boil in a pot first. Water starts steaming very quickly. The alarm isn't super loud either. Put the eggs in an ice bath afterward, and they peel easily. Comes with a measuring cup that also has a pin on the bottom to puncture the eggs before cooking. Excellent instructions, too. It also makes poached and small omelets too." —D.G.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors).

Check out our Dash rapid egg cooker review for more deets!

Promising reviews: "Makes cooking ramen easier, no cover needed. Thought it was a bit expensive, but it makes perfect ramen without the mess. Best texture noodles, way better than the stove." —Rupert

"LOVED this product! I will be using it a TON! Worked exactly as advertised, and you can tell it will hold up well in the future! It's the perfect size and impossible to screw up. Made for the microwave, it has a fill line for the water, and you cook it for 4 minutes. I've added the seasoning both before and after cooking, and it made no difference for me. Solves the problem of dirtying a pan to cook the noodles and greatly speeds up the whole process. The noodles are cooked perfectly and have a wonderful texture. The pan cleans quickly and easily, and then you can eat out of it!! Handy handles that don't burn your hands. LOVED this item. An absolute MUST for the Ramen Noodle lovers out there!! BUY this, you WON'T regret it! What a useful, wonderful invention!" —Kay A

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in 10 colors).

This combines a contact grill, a panini press, a full grill, a full griddle, and a half grill/half griddle into one counter-space-saving device. So yes, you can use it to grill burgers on Friday night *and* make pancakes Saturday morning.

Promising reviews: "This griddler is perfect for steaks, chicken, fish, sandwiches, etc. The griddler can be pressed or opened all the way to turn into a grill. It has small slots where the oil drains, so you will have a nice oil-free meal! And the food doesn't stick because the grill parts are nonstick! and easy to detach and clean! preferred buying this for beginners. When you are ready, you can jump up a notch and get a $200+, which is larger, and the grill is hotter." —Ashley

"Love this Grill. I have cooked on it a lot Does Steak in about 10 minutes. Great for anyone that needs to speed up cooking time. My husband got this grill for me for Christmas. LOVE it. "You won't go wrong on the price either." —JoAnn Davis

Promising reviews: "Why did I wait so long to buy one of these? The same day I received it, I was making broccoli, and my hubby doesn’t like it in big chunks, so I decided to try breaking it up with it, and it was SO fast and easy!! I wish I had bought one sooner!" —Jennifer139

"This utensil crumbled up the burger the best I've ever seen. I always hated trying to make sloppy Joes or cook up hamburger for chili; I would always end up with bigger chunks than I wanted. This item makes it so easy!" —Melinda Mcfarland

Get it from Amazon for $11.39+ (available in black and blue). 

Promising reviews: "So happy I bought this. My old one, from the thrift store, cracked. It was an oldy! This one is awesome! Blends the soup so well and fast!!!! Great find!" —Sandy Butler

"Just a beginner, but so far I like this immersion blender for soups. The shaft is long enough for deeper pots. I'm looking forward to using it when I make tomato sauce. The frother is perfect for Cappuccino!" —UconnEl

Promising reviews: "I absolutely love these oven mitts! It's one of those kitchen items that are a MUST, but always put off purchasing. I had criteria for what I wanted in mitts and found them. The mitts do everything they say they do, and that's keeping my hands and arms safe. I highly recommend them." —Amazon Customer

"These are AWESOME. We love them, they are nice and thick, and the silicone covers everything that your hand touches under it. I feel safer using these than I ever have using oven mitts, which is saying something. I am scared of the oven, to be honest...I always fear burning myself on the rack. These alleviate that, 100%." —Christine Eidukas

Get them from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 13 colors).

This helpful gadget will add leverage, helping you keep your wrist in a neutral position. It's great for anyone with arthritis or overall hand/wrist pain. You *also* won't need an oven mitt, since the handle will protect you from the heat! It's safe for up to 350 degrees — so please don't use this inside your oven.

Promising review: "I purchased this for my sister. She was talking about having to give up using her cast iron due to the weight and her wrists.She loves this! She says it's a huge relief for her wrists. Makes it so much easier to use her fry pans again." —Randeet2

My colleague Emma Lord is ready to divulge why this stuff is so great:

"Okay, I bought this on a whim because there's a sushi place down the street from me that makes truffle avocado sushi rolls, and I was like, I need these in my life, but I also need money to live. I decided to DIY it with a regular $4 avocado roll, and this seasoning and the umami bliss of it all basically exploded my brain. Since then, I've tried it on eggs, on burritos, on potatoes, on chocolate mug cakes, pretty much every sweet and savory thing I can think of. The best part is you really get an excellent bang for your buck — it's so flavorful that I've been using this for months now and have barely made a dent in the container!"

Promising review: "Will never need truffle oil again! This is what truffle oil SHOULD taste like, and it's much easier to use. Far superior to truffle powder." —Doc

Promising reviews: "This is such an amazing resource for someone on a budget who may also be a beginner cook. The recipes are simple, easy, flavorful, and good for you. It dispels the attitude that healthy food is expensive that I have held on to for so long. I've gifted it to my sister and can't help but sing its praises to everyone." —Sarah Jane

"I'm a college student and received this book as a gift from my mother. As someone who was new to cooking on my own, this book completely changed the way I thought about cooking. Not only does this book provide easy, no-fuss recipes, but it is also a how-to book on cooking and eating well. Each recipe can be altered to fit your needs and what you have in the fridge/pantry! Leanne showed me that you don't need complicated ingredients to have an amazing meal. And now that I'm a more experienced cook, I still come back to this book for inspiration and ideas on new recipes. If you are new to cooking, buy it. If you are on a tight budget, buy it or look at the PDF online. If you are looking for ways to cut back on processed foods, buy them. Even if you are an experienced cook, buy it. Despite the book's general premise, this cookbook is for EVERYONE. By the way, some personal favorites of mine are the zucchini chocolate muffins, banana pancakes, taco salad, cauliflower cheese, and her pizza dough recipe." —Andra Smith

Promising reviews: "The BEST THING I EVER BOUGHT!!!!! We LOVE this air fryer!! So easy to use, easy to maintain/clean. Also, its portability is GREAT! I also got the disposable liners as it helps make clean up even easier." —Kishan Singh

"I currently have a kitchen with no oven and a very small stovetop. This is a GAME CHANGER. I’ve used this several times today after receiving it in the mail. Made baked sweet potatoes, air-fried chicken wings, air-fried fish sandwiches, this thing is AWESOME. Considering getting other ninja products. I’ve been eyeing the CREAMI for ice cream and sorbet. I love this brand. Ninja 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽 even if you get this just to reheat leftovers, it’s amazing. You won’t regret it." —Vicky

Get it from Amazon for $159.99+ (available in nine colors).

Promising reviews: "For each item I wanted to airfry, I would do a search, then write down the time and temperature in a notebook. This way, having it right on the fridge beside the air fryer makes things so much easier and quicker! Very handy!!!!😁👍" —Amazon Customer

I bought an air fryer several months ago, which I haven't used much because it came with only a few recipes and not enough info on other items to cook. The Lotteli cheat sheet gives you cooking times and temperatures for a lot of your everyday foods, in a magnetized, easy-to-read, two-sheet combo that fills in where the air fryer pamphlet that came with the unit leaves off. I also bought an air fryer cookbook, but it only includes specific recipes, whereas the cheat sheet fills the gap for quick, basic needs. Very happy with this purchase! 😁" —B. Frank Smith

Get it from Amazon for $8.98 (available in two colors). 

Promising review: "I love this little thing. It's like rice R2D2! I am not good at cooking rice on the stove. I bought this little rice cooker, and it makes it significantly easier not to burn my rice, not to screw up my pans, and not to do anything wrong. Total win! Sometimes the little timer might be a little bit much for whatever you're cooking so you might have to pull it off a little early, just make sure you check it and stir once in a while to make sure it's not getting stiff or burned on the bottom. I also recommend not letting stuff sit there on warming mode, it does work, but I feel like it dries the rice out, and it's not my preference." —Richard C.

Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "If you are a beginner cooker (just like me), this is a must-have. It includes some recipes, but that is not the main focus of this book. It teaches you how to cook from scratch. How to season, when to season, how to equilibrate fat, and so many other tips to improve your cooking ability." —Gabriela Xavier

"This book is worth its weight in gold. The author shares an extraordinary skill set organized in easily understood teaching modules. Mediocre fresh green beans turned into flavorful wonders, buttermilk plus chicken roasted to flavor and tenderness heaven, Italian bread salad flavor testing and adjustment by the author's encouragement. My guests were in awe and freely praised my cooking. Easily improve your cooking through easy lessons. Destined to be a classic. The author empowers the home cook — this is the real deal." —Reudi

Promising review: "LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PRODUCT!! I hate cooking and most especially anything that sprays or pops, like frying chicken or fish. After buying this product, I wouldn’t mind cooking at all. I just place the product on top of my frying pan and let my food cook, and then flip the food and do the same. This product is easy to clean. I highly recommend this product to prevent any oil splatter in the kitchen." —Joanna

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in a variety pack with three different sizes). 

Promising review: "I have one, use it more than my larger food processor, and this one was a gift. Everyone who enjoys cooking but hates the prep, this is the answer. Does it all, in smaller amounts and obviously not everything the larger processor can do, but certainly worth having in your kitchen, you will use it again and again, and dishwasher safe." —Kindle Customer

"Great little food processor! I've made pesto and hummus with it so far, and I love it. I live alone, so the size is perfect for my needs. Makes several servings of whatever I'm making and comes with a few recipes in the instruction manual to get started." —Peter Tracy

Get it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in three colors).

EZ Bombs is a small biz that specializes in different cooking bombs like pozole, tinga, and, of course, birria!

Promising review: "This seasoning has been a game changer for my quesabirrias. I used it with chuck roast, and the results were incredible — full of bold, authentic flavor. It’s incredibly simple to use, and the seasoning blend does all the heavy lifting. Definitely worth keeping stocked for quick, flavorful meals." —Ruby Vizuet

Get it from Amazon for $16.98 for a two-pack.

Promising reviews: "I like to bake, but I’m so bad at math. Having this right on the fridge makes the conversion so easy! I love it. My first cake, a chocolate Swiss roll, came out beautifully." —Catherine Farrell

"I love this baking conversion chart! Makes going from cups to grams much easier." —Diane Hansen

Promising review: "Cooks four baked potatoes at once. If you like baked potatoes, but hate waiting an hour for them to cook in the oven, then this bag is for you." —Cal-Rip23

"Gone are the days when you wait an hour+ for a simple baked potato! First off, the price for what you get is amazing. I mean, come on, you can get four baked potatoes in like 15 minutes! Oh yeah, the size of this potato bag is great, you can fit four normal-sized potatoes in here and bam – four baked potatoes! This bag is thick and easy to use; the functionality is simple. Step one: open the flap, step two: put the potato in the flap/bag, step three: microwave, step 4: open the bag/flap and enjoy! I’d like to add this thing makes corn on the cob super easy as well, just plop it in the bag and bam – fully ready-to-eat corn on the cob!" —steven Knowlton

Check out a TikTok of the salad scissors in action. 

Promising review: "Love these! I hate big leafy salads, so I bought these, and they're perfect for chopping greens into bites. I also use them to quickly chop cherry tomatoes, onions, and other veggies. VERY nice quality." —asoon

"I got this for my son with disabilities and has trouble chewing to make cutting his food easier, and it’s fantastic! Makes things a little easier! I also use it to make chopped salads. Great tool to have on hand!" —TracyJ

Promising reviews: "This was actually given to me as a gift, and I loved it so much I bought one as a gift for my mother. I usually used a double boiler when I needed to steam anything, and size was always an issue. I prefer to steam my vegetables, and this not only makes it incredibly easy but also lets me steam several things at once with the two separate containers. It works incredibly fast and efficiently. I would highly recommend it for anyone in need of a good steamer." —James F

"Works well, good if you hate cooking and you want something you can just sit off to the side and cook while you work. You can't really burn food in a steamer unless you try." —JJ

* 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.