Handy Kitchen Tools That Are Actually Worth Your Money (And the Ones I'd Skip)
Walk into any kitchen store or spend five minutes scrolling through TikTok, and you'll probably end up convinced you need another gadget.
A banana slicer. A machine that peels boiled eggs. A gadget that cuts grapes into quarters.
I'll admit it, I've been tempted more than once.
The problem is that many kitchen gadgets promise to make my life easier but end up buried in a drawer after a few weeks, just taking up space.
I like keeping my kitchen practical. I don't believe you need every new gadget that goes viral online. I'd rather invest in items that genuinely make cooking easier.
To help, I'm sharing the kitchen tools I think are useful, along with options I don't think most kitchens need.
The Kitchen Gadgets Worth Buying
1. Garlic Press with a Removable Insert
I used to mince garlic by hand, and my fingers smelled like it for hours no matter how many times I washed them. A good garlic press fixes that in one motion, so no cutting board, knife, no lingering smell. Look for one with a swing-out steel insert, because that's the part that makes cleaning painless instead of annoying. And here's a trick that took me embarrassingly long to learn: you can press a clove with the paper skin still on. The press does the separating for you.
2. An Electric Kettle
If you drink tea, coffee, or just want hot water fast, an electric kettle earns its counter space almost immediately. More than my opinion, electric kettles rank among the most frequently used kitchen appliances, with well over half of owners using them at least once a week. So, a tool people actually reach for more frequently.
3. A Mortar and Pestle
Growing up in a Ghanaian household, a mortar and pestle sat in nearly every kitchen I knew. Even today, I still think a mortar and pestle gives sauces and spice mixes a texture that electric appliances struggle to recreate. You control exactly how coarse or fine you want it, something a mill can't give you. If you cook with whole spices at all, there's genuinely no better way to break them down, and ergo, this is one kitchen tool you'll probably use for years.
4. Tongs
Simple, but I'd hate to cook without a pair. Look for ones with a comfortable grip, nylon tips if you cook on nonstick, and a lock so they store flat instead of springing open in your drawer. Stovetop, grill, or serving platter, one pair covers all three.
5. Vegetable Peeler
Peels and doubles as a shortcut for vegetable noodles from zucchini, carrots, or asparagus. Cheap, small, and one of those tools nobody regrets buying. Mine lasted awhile before the blade finally dulled enough to replace.
6. Wooden Spoon
Not glamorous, but it scoops, stirs, and mixes without scratching a single nonstick pan you own. Buy one good one, and it'll outlast most of what's sitting in your gadget drawer.
7. Kitchen Scale
Weigh your ingredients instead of eyeballing cups and spoons. It's the difference between a loaf of bread that rises properly and one that doesn't.
8. Steel Colander
Boring, and exactly the kind of boring you want in a kitchen tool. Drains pasta, rinses greens, and if you buy a well-made one with non-slip feet, you'll never think about replacing it again.
9. Stainless Steel Skillet
This is the piece that does the most work in my kitchen: searing, sautéing, browning, frying. Because it handles so much, it's worth spending a little more here than you would on a single-use gadget. A good one lasts for many, many years too.
10. Large Pot
For soups, stews, pasta water, or a big batch of stock. If you cook for more than one person, or you meal-prep, you'll reach for this constantly. Dishwasher-safe and oven-safe versions save you extra steps on busy weeknights.
11. Food Storage Containers
A set with locking lids keeps lunches and leftovers actually fresh instead of soggy by day two. Buy based on how many people you're cooking for; a set of three works for one person, but a family needs more.
12. Manual Can Opener
Reliable and cheap, this one earns its place by simply never failing you. A top-crank style leaves smooth edges on the lid, and a comfortable handle makes the motion easier on your wrist.
13. Good Pair of Kitchen Scissors
I don’t think kitchen scissors get nearly enough credit. I use mine for cutting herbs, trimming vegetables, opening food packaging, and snipping baking paper. They're often faster than reaching for a knife. Look for scissors that come apart for easy cleaning because they'll stay much more hygienic over time.
The Tools That'll Likely Gather Dust
Not every gadget deserves space in your cupboard. Some look clever in online videos but rarely become part of everyday cooking. These are a few I'd happily skip.
1. Avocado Slicers
Unless you eat avocados every single day, a knife already does the job perfectly well. One gadget shouldn't exist for one fruit.
2. The Bread Maker
I wanted to love this one. In theory, it mixes, kneads, proofs, and bakes without you touching the dough once. But unless you bake regularly, a bread maker often becomes one of the largest and least-used appliances in the kitchen. I'd rather use the oven and save the cupboard space.
3. Juicer
Fresh juice sounds wonderful until you're the one washing seven different parts by hand after every use. Between the cost of produce, the cleanup time, and the counter space a decent juicer demands, it rarely earns its keep unless juicing is a genuine daily habit rather than a New Year's resolution.
4. Electric Can Opener
A manual can opener costs less, lasts longer, and does the same job without needing a charger, batteries, or storage space for its bulkier base. I bought the electric version once thinking it would save time. It saved maybe four seconds and needed twice the counter space. That trade never made sense to me again.
5. Single-Purpose Gadgets
Banana slicers, egg separators, strawberry hullers, corn strippers, etc. There seems to be a gadget for everything these days. Personally, I prefer tools that can perform several jobs instead of filling my drawers with items I rarely use.
I've learned that a well-equipped kitchen doesn't have to be filled with gadgets. I'd rather own ten excellent tools than fifty average ones. The best purchases are usually the ones you forget about because they quietly make cooking easier every day.
And while you're making your home feel more practical, don't forget the finishing touches. I love adding handcrafted pieces that bring warmth and personality into a space. If you're looking for beautiful home accessories, take a look at my collection at Rufina Designs. From handwoven baskets and planter baskets to decorative pieces made by talented African artisans, they're designed to make a house feel more like home