27 Kitchen Tools for a No-Cook Summer

It might only be June, but the sun does not seem to care — it’s already too hot to turn the stove on without melting into a puddle myself, and I simply don’t care to be indoors longer than I need to be. Every summer, as I trade bulky wool sweaters for breezy cotton pieces, so too do I swap my kitchen staples for ones that help me keep my oven firmly off until September.

If you also want to keep your kitchen cooler this summer without subsisting on cold leftovers, join me for No-Cook Summer. I’ve rounded up everything you need to make light meals, like panzanella, fruit plates, and grilled fish, so you can make the most of summer’s bounty without turning on the stove. Shop my go-to veggie slicer, glass air fryer, food storage containers, and more, starting at just $12.

Best Tools for No-Cook Summer at Amazon

The secret to No-Cook Summer? Focus on assembling, rather than cooking. Stock up on tools like a salad spinner, mandoline slicer, and julienne peeler so that salads and grain bowls come together effortlessly. 

To bulk up salads, sandwiches, and tacos, shred rotisserie chicken from your favorite market with this handy tool. Fit a grilled or roasted chicken breast within the two halves of the shredder and twist until it reaches your desired consistency.

Store-bought dressing, who? Add the ingredients for your preferred vinaigrette to the bottle and shake to add a punch of homemade flavor to even the simplest of meals. Store the shaker bottle in the fridge so you can enjoy chilled dressing all week long.

Best Small Appliances for No-Cook Summer at Amazon

Silky cold soups, smoothies, salsas, and more are ready in minutes with high-quality small kitchen appliances, like immersion blenders and food processors. I also swear by air fryers, slow cookers, and rice cookers for set-it-and-forget-it meals during a heat wave.

• Instant Pot 4-Quart Vortex 6-in-1 Mini Air Fryer, $65, originally $90
• Zojirushi 5.5-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer, $226
• Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer, $180
• Zojirushi Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker, $152, originally $190
• Ninja Immersion Blender and Whisk, $80
• Turelar Immersion Blender Set, $40, originally $60
• Cuisinart 5‑Cup Food Processor, $60, originally $90
• Ninja Slushi Frozen Drink Machine, $260, originally $350
• Crock-Pot 7-Quart Manual Slow Cooker, $45, originally $60
• Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker, $199, originally $230
• Bella 1.5-Quart Slow Cooker, $18, originally $20
• Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, $20
• Aroma Digital Rice Cooker, $37
• Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, $90, originally $110

I’ve tested many rice cookers over the years, and this 5.5-cup model is my runaway favorite. It has an easy-to-use interface that makes switching between programs a breeze. For a meal I don’t have to think about, I like adding marinated salmon to the included steam basket, so it cooks alongside my rice without heating up my home.

As a reformed air fryer skeptic, I’m very taken with this petite model. I like that the glass cooking tray is made without any pesky forever chemicals. Plus, the larger tray size is big enough for a meal for four, handy for hosting and meal prep.

Best Serveware and Storage for No-Cook Summer at Amazon

Food storage isn’t just for leftovers: Lean on lidded charcuterie boards, glass Tupperware, batter bowls, and more for make-ahead meals, ingredients, and batters. 

• Lipper International Acacia Salad Hands, $14, originally $17
• Netany 75-Ounce Glass Pitchers with Lids, Set of 2, $29
• 50-Ounce Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 2, $36
• Farberware Build-a-Board Charcuterie Board with Locking Lid, $20
• Pyrex Colors Tinted Glass Serving Bowls, Set of 3, $35
• Anchor Hocking Batter Bowl, $33

Pasta salad, cut fruit, and leftovers have met their match in these pretty lidded Pyrex storage bowls. They bring me joy every time I spot them in my fridge, and fattoush or cornbread salad feels infinitely more inviting in a bowl rather than a bland Tupperware.

Pre-batch sun tea, lemonade, iced coffee, and juice with these lidded glass drink pitchers. I use them for occasional entertaining and for hydration all week long, since they’re slender enough to fit in a refrigerator door.