The Best Under-$25 Kitchen Gadgets, Per Our Editors

As someone who is always in the kitchen planning my next set of meal preps, whipping up a weeknight dinner, or indulging in a midday snack, I’ve spent a lot of time carefully curating a collection of tools, gadgets, and appliances that I can rely on every day. 

Even with all I have, I’m constantly on the lookout for products that may not have crossed my path yet, hoping they might solve a recurring kitchen headache.

My insatiable appetite for the latest and greatest kitchen gadgets has led me to asking our writers and editors for the ones they reach for again and again. Not only are their picks affordable, but they all make prepping and cooking easier, too. Shop food choppers, mini whisks and box graters, electric egg cookers, and more—all under $25. 

The Best Editor-Loved Kitchen Gadgets Under $25 

• Zulay Kitchen 2-In-1 Lemon Squeezer, $14.99 (orig. $16.99); amazon.com
• Escali Primo Digital Food Scale, $25; amazon.com
• Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Straight Peeler, $19.95; williams-sonoma.com
• Norpro 809 Salad Maker, $7.99; amazon.com
• Nordic Ware Splatter Microwave Cover, $17.27; amazon.com
• Zulay Kitchen Pineapple Corer and Slicer, $9.99 (orig. $14.99); amazon.com
• Wingsflying 4-Pack Mini Whisks, $5.79; amazon.com
• Ototo Ice Cub Bear Ice Cream Scoop, $16.97 (orig. $19.95); amazon.com
• Bella 7-Egg Cooker and Steamer, $12.99 (orig. $17.99); amazon.com
• World Market Mini Stainless Steel Box Grater Set, $11.98; worldmarket.com

“I used to skip squeezing my own lemons and limes for cocktails and cooking and just use the bottled stuff, but a friend gifted me this for my birthday one year, and it’s been a game changer. (Turns out a Ranch Water really does taste better with freshly squeezed lime juice.) I’m partial to my yellow-and-green one, but it comes in a rainbow of colors to suit your style.”

—Betsy Watson, senior homes editor

“My most-used kitchen tool is a scale. I use it every day, multiple times a day to weigh my ground coffee each morning while preparing my pour-over. For baking, it’s an absolute must—if you’re a home baker, a scale is far more accurate than measuring cups, helping you achieve better results and a more consistent texture.”

—Lily Gray, associate editorial director

“After years of using the dingy old swivel peeler I’d had since college, I decided to upgrade to a Y-peeler after hearing so many people swear by them. The difference was stark—I’m now able to peel potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables in half the time, since it covers a much larger surface with each pass. It also just feels much more natural and ergonomic to use than my old swivel peeler. And the blade is super sharp, resulting in thin, satisfying peels.”

—Melanie Fincher, senior shopping editor

“Cooking does not come easily to me, so unless I’m staring at a recipe, I’m at a loss. This glass salad shaker is my secret weapon for creating at-home dressings with fresh ingredients. It has a handy-dandy cheat sheet built right into the design, and makes it look (and taste!) like I know what I’m doing in the kitchen.”

—Steph Osmanski, shopping writer

“I cannot stand a messy microwave, and I more so hate having to clean splatters off the inside of mine. This splatter cover prevents your microwave from looking like a crime scene any time you reheat leftovers, try to (gently) melt butter, heat soup, and more. It’s dishwasher safe, so it’s easy to add to your cleaning routine, and it’s also BPA free, so you don’t have to worry about heating plastic so close to your food.”

—Emma Ashe, Shopping Editor

“This pineapple cutter cuts down on the time and mess when coring pineapples. Simple and easy, it’s a must-have item if you like fresh pineapple. I’m much more inclined to buy and eat pineapple now that I have an easy way to prep it.”

—Sheri Kaz, commerce writer

“In an interview I conducted with our very own Senior Food Editor Josh Miller earlier this year, he shared that mini whisks were a go-to kitchen product of his, and through his testimony, he convinced me to get some for myself. I am shocked by how often I use these mini whisks to mix up sauces, incorporate ingredients in coffee or yogurt, and more. Their compact size makes them perfect for smaller-scale cooking jobs, and I love that this set comes with two 5-inch and 7-inch whisks.” 

—Alicia Geigel, shopping writer

“A bear-shaped ice cream scoop might not be for everyone, but I love this super cute one from Ototo. It works better than my basic scoop (from a household name brand), and it’s dishwasher safe.”

—Dena Ogden, associate commerce editor

“All it takes is a few tablespoons of water to have the most perfectly cooked eggs. This is probably one of the most-used workhorses of my kitchen because of how easy it is to use: You simply stack your eggs into the grooves of the cooker, pour in how much water you need (a measuring cup is included), and flip the “on” button. Depending on how cooked you prefer the yolk, the machine will automatically turn off when it’s ready.”

—Euna Park, senior shopping editor

“Respectfully, you need a mini cheese grater (or two) in your utensil drawer. It is the perfect size for when you need just a tablespoon or two of an ingredient to finish your dish or baked good. Think: chocolate, fresh ginger, garlic. It’s ten times easier to clean than a larger grater, too, so you don’t have to worry about dirtying up a larger gadget for that one ingredient that really brings your plate home.”

—Marisa Viglione, associate editorial director

“This salad dressing shaker is one of the most-used items in my kitchen. Prior to discovering it, I was making my salad dressing in mason jars which would always drip and cause a mess. This little wonder makes for easy pouring and storage.”

—Meghan Overdeep, senior digital editor

“My parents have a Blackstone grill and love it (they use it pretty much daily!), but they always told me how annoying it was to add olive oil. For Christmas last year, I bought them this under-$10 olive oil mister, and it’s become one of their favorite kitchen gadgets—so much so, they bought another one to keep inside on the counter, too. You can add olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, and more to easily spray or pour while cooking, and it eliminates the need for disposable cooking spray bottles, too.”

—Kaitlin Marks, Shopping Writer

“My mom got me a fish-shaped fish scaler as a gift because she knows I love to go for the scrap salmon collars and heads at the fish market. (They steam so well with greens!) This is so much easier to deal with than scaling with a fork as I had been, which would send scales flying like I was being celebrated with salmonella-flavored glitter. The scaler is beautiful to look at, feels great in the hand, and is just fun to use!”

—Leanna Yip, copy editor

“Ever since a friend gifted me a four-pack of these Swedish dishtowels, I’ve been hooked. They are super absorbent, very pliable with better dexterity than a sponge, machine or dishwasher safe, and last forever… I’ve tried other brands on Amazon, and they don’t compare. Not only are they great in the kitchen, I also wash windows and mirrors with them for a streak-free shine, wipe down shower walls, wash floors, you name it. Plus, I don’t use as many paper towels as a result. As they age or stain, I use them for rags and outdoor use. Did I mention, they last forever?!”

—Sheri Kaz, commerce writer

“This small but mighty tool has gotten use nearly every day since I got it. In fact, it works so well that it has officially replaced my expensive food processor, which is now collecting dust on my appliance shelf. I’ve chopped up a variety of vegetables and fruits with it, including carrots, onions, celery, peppers, and more. All you have to do is gently pull the nylon drawstring repeatedly to move the blade and chop the contents of the cup—it’s simple to use, time saving, and easy to clean.” 

—Alicia Geigel, shopping writer

“Sharp blades are a cook’s best friend, and when my kitchen knives began crushing cherry tomatoes instead of halving them, I knew it was time to upgrade from my old-school honing steel. This electric countertop sharpener was my pick, thanks to its guilt-free price and pull-through design that requires zero skill to use. A few swipes of each blade has returned them to better-than-new sharpness in mere minutes, and now all my knives—both serrated and straight-edge—practically sink straight through chicken, raw potatoes, and crusty bread like it’s warm butter.” 

—Miles Walls, shopping writer