10 Cheap Kitchen Tools That Basically Pay for Themselves

As a shopping writer, I’m always looking for ways to save money, but some products don’t need to go on sale to be a good deal. For example, the silicone spatula I use every day is much more cost-effective than the Thanksgiving table decorations I reach for once a year. I’ve compiled a list of 10 kitchen tools under $15 that you’ll use so often, the cost per use is practically nothing, including an OXO egg spatula and Mr.Siga microfiber cloths.

Best Low-Cost Per-Use Kitchen Tools

We’re serious about our eggs, and this tiny silicone spatula is the perfect tool for folding a stuffed omelet or flipping a fried egg without breaking the yolk. The thin, flexible tool glides under delicate edges, and if you eat eggs as often as I do, this handy little OXO tool will pay for itself in no time. “[This] is my favorite kitchen tool, and my junior-sized example has endured two years of daily use making scrambled eggs and sautéing veggies,” one reviewer wrote.

Yes, most olive oils from the grocery store come in ready-to-use dispensers, but this glass one allows for more precise pouring and light sprays. Not only will you use it daily, but it will also save you from overpouring and wasting oil, too. “I’ve only had this sprayer for one week, but I’ve used it every day,” one shopper wrote. “It’s perfect for spraying my daily salads and all my cooking needs.”

Washing dishes is one of those dreaded daily tasks that we all do, and this OXO squeegee can help clear plates, scrape down mixing bowls, and corral scraps into the garbage disposal. “The OXO Good Grips Small Squeegee might look a bit too basic at first, but don’t let that fool you—it does an impressive job,” one happy customer said. “I’ve been using mine since 2020, and now it’s September 2024, and it still looks brand new.”

These all-purpose cloths can dust bookshelves, clean countertops, and dry dishes. At about $1 per cloth, their cost per use is basically negligible, especially if you keep them as long as this reviewer: “These are my second set I’ve gotten,” they said. “My first set I’ve had for maybe 2 years, and they’re still working really well.”

I’m constantly wiping down my microwave after reheating leftovers, but this $7 silicone cover can prevent the mess. One shopper used to cover their food with waxed paper, but foldable silicone covers “pay for themselves.” Another person said they’ve been using the cover daily for “several months,” which means the gadget has only cost them a few cents per use.

Keep chips, cereal, and baking supplies fresh with these durable clips. You can stick them on the fridge until you need them, and shoppers say they’ll last for years. At 67 cents apiece, the cost per use will be less than one cent after 10 weeks of daily use.

This 5-piece spatula set is on sale for just $2 apiece, and the heat-resistant utensils have been bought more than 10,000 times in the last month alone. One shopper called them the “best spatulas ever,” adding that they’re “cheap in cost but not in usability and value.”

Stop pouring grease down your kitchen sink—this grease keeper saves your drain from clogs, and it has a built-in strainer for catching fried food bits. You’ll use it every time you cook burgers or fry bacon, and it will stay grease- and burn-free for two years, according to one buyer.

A fish spatula, like this one from Winco, is one of the unsung heroes of the kitchen. It’s much more versatile than the name suggests, whether you’re “flipping eggs” or “turning burgers.” “I work in a seafood restaurant, and this is the main tool we use all day every day,” one customer wrote.

A dishcloth and sponge combination, these Swedish dish cloths will earn their keep by your kitchen sink. They only cost about $1.50 apiece, and some shoppers even use them as paper towel alternatives. One person said the 10-pack lasts months and they will “never use a stinky dish rag again.”