Skillet Meals Are Easy With These Genius Kitchen Gadgets

Skillet meals are some of the quickest, most comforting dishes you can make. But if most one-pan meals leave your kitchen messy and your arms tired from scrubbing burnt-on residue, it’s time to invest in some handy helpers. Amazon is bursting with time-saving tools we swear by, including the perfect enameled cast iron skillet and gentle wooden utensils that won’t scratch or chip your pan. 

We also found a budget-friendly mandoline slicer, a durable wooden cutting board, and more prep tools that’ll help you get food on the table faster. And, after you’ve put all of the leftovers away, powerful cleaners like All-Clad’s stainless steel polish will help you spend less time tidying up. Browse our picks, including editor-tested and chef-recommended favorites starting at just $5, below. 

Best Skillet Meal Cooking Utensils at Amazon

Still using your old, black plastic cooking utensils from college? Now’s the time to swap them out for new, non-toxic options that are gentler on your hardworking skillet. For nonstick and enameled cast iron pans, opt for a 10-piece silicone utensil set from Get It Right or a 3-piece wooden set from OXO. If your pan is stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel, try All-Clad’s set of stainless steel essentials. It includes all the spoons, spatulas, and ladles you’ll need to make just about any one-skillet meal. 

• Gorilla Grip Kitchen Tongs, $10, originally $20
• Le Creuset Silicone Utensil Set with Stoneware Crock, $70
• Get It Right 10-Piece Ultimate Silicone Kitchen Tool Set, $120
• U-Taste Silicone Spatula Set, $27
• OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Wooden Utensil Set, $20
• Caraway 5-Piece Wooden Utensil Set, $145
• All-Clad 5-Piece Stainless Steel Kitchen Utensil Set, $100
• Staub Multi-Function Spoon, $17
• OXO Good Grips Wooden Corner Spoon & Scraper, $9
• Misen Silicone Fish Spatula, $19

This silicone kitchen tool set is on the pricier end, but considering how well it performed during testing, we think it’s absolutely worth it. The spatulas will scrape your skillet clean with just one pass, while the pastry brush is a nice addition for anyone who bakes often. As a bonus, all of the silicone heads detach from the wooden handles when it’s time to clean up. 

With a unique, squared-off shape, this spoon-spatula hybrid was made to fit in every nook and cranny. It’s perfect for stirring stews, scooping rice, or scraping the bottom of your saucy base — all essential tasks for skillet meals. The silicone end won’t damage your pan, while the acacia wood handle has a loop for easy hanging. 

Best Skillets for One-Pan Meals at Amazon

Your skillet — the main event — should heat up evenly and be durable enough to last for years, with the right care. We have tested tons of great options, like All-Clad’s classic Fry Pan, which browned salmon perfectly in our kitchens. And of all the cast iron pans we’ve tried, we always come back to Lodge’s skillet — it’s budget-friendly, sears impressive steaks, and comes in plenty of sizes. Already have the basics covered, but looking to add to your collection? We’ve found reliable carbon steel and nonstick options, too. 

• Made In 10-Inch Stainless Clad Frying Pan, $139
• All-Clad D3 Stainless Fry Pan, $140
• Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skillet, $223
• Lodge Cast Iron Skillet with Silicone Handle Holder, $30
• Caraway Frying Pan, $125
• Lancaster No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet, $175
• Staub 11-Inch Enameled Cast Iron Traditional Deep Skillet, $180
• Hestan Professional Clad Titum Nonstick Skillet, 8.5-Inch, $130
• Mauviel Carbon Steel Frying Pan, $120

Made In’s stainless steel frying pan passed our short- and long-term tests with flying colors. We were surprised by how easily steaks released from its smooth surface, and we appreciated that the elegant sloped interior allowed us to toast loose peppercorns without losing any over the side. Another nice detail: The handle stays cool and has a textured grip on the underside to make the pan easier to maneuver. It’s also oven-safe up to 800°F. 

Le Creuset continues to set the standard for enameled cast iron cookware. The brand’s classic skillet was our favorite of the 23 pans we tested, in no small part thanks to its super smart design. Aside from the gorgeously glossy exterior, this skillet has a comfortable handle, a handy pouring spout, and an easy-to-clean interior. As one Amazon shopper put it: “These pans are expensive, no question. They are also ridiculously durable and incredibly useful. We barely use any of our other pans anymore! They’re that good.”

Best Skillet Cleaners at Amazon

Once you’ve invested in the right skillet, cleaning it properly is key to making it last as long as possible. Luckily, Amazon has plenty of great supplies for under $30, like Le Creuset’s Enameled Cast Iron Cookware Cleaner, which multiple chefs have recommended for tackling stubborn stains. For stainless steel, there’s All-Clad’s shine-restoring polish or Made In Cookware’s simple cleaner. And a set of soft dishcloths for around $1.60 apiece will dry every drop of moisture off of cast iron skillets. 

• Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Cookware Cleaner, $27
• All-Clad Specialty Powder Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish, $10, originally $11
• Made In Cookware Stainless Steel Cleaner, $15
• Mr. Scrub Sponges, 6-Pack, $10
• Homaxy Cotton Waffle Dishcloths, 6-Pack, $10, originally $13
• Lodge Chainmail Scrubbing Pad, $25
• Lodge Pan Scrapers, Set of 2, $5

Tough chain mail is designed for cast iron skillets. “Chain mail offers sufficient scrubbing action for cast iron without stripping the seasoning like scouring pads and other rough cleaning tools will,” cleaning professional Renata Cruz of Coastal Maid San Diego told us in a previous article. This scrubber from Lodge has a silicone core that achieves good grip while tackling stubborn, burnt-on food. It’s small, dishwasher-safe, and will help your cast iron pan perform at its best.

For stainless steel and nonstick skillets, try these gentle sponges instead. They’re less than $2 apiece, and Amazon shoppers confirm they hold up better than regular, disposable sponges. “They strike the perfect balance between tough and gentle, making it easy to scrub away stuck-on food without scratching dishes, pans, or surfaces,” one wrote. 

Best Skillet Meal Prep Tools at Amazon

Easy skillet meals are even simpler with these gadgets that can cut your ingredient prep time in half. A solid chef’s knife and sturdy wooden cutting board alone will make a huge difference when it comes to slicing vegetables or mincing garlic. We also found plenty of other nice-to-have helpers at Amazon, including a miniature food processor that survived multiple rounds of testing and a mandoline slicer with convenient slicing, shredding, and grating attachments. 

• Calphalon Prime Y-Peeler, $11
• OXO Good Grips Kitchen Shears, $20, originally $22
• John Boos Chop-N-Slice Maple Cutting Board, $87
• Wüsthof Classic Chef’s Knife, $170
• KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, $55, originally $70
• Cook with Color Nesting Prep Bowls, $25, originally $30
• Mueller Austria Mandoline Slicer, $35
• Zulay 2-in-1 Lemon Squeezer, $15, originally $17
• Cambom Rotary Cheese Grater, $23, originally $27
• OXO Good Grips Tofu Press, $30

Sharp kitchen shears are a must-have for everything like cutting chicken or slicing parchment paper. This pair from OXO has padded handles for better grip, sharp blades, and convenient notches that can strip herbs in seconds. Amazon shoppers confirm that the blades stay sharp use after use — plus, they come apart for easy handwashing. 

These prep bowls will come in handy when you’re working your way through a recipe with lots of ingredients. Each of the four sizes is ideal for mixing dry ingredients, marinating meat, combining garnishes, and more. Even better, they each come with a lid, so you can toss any extra ingredients right back into your refrigerator without needing to hunt for a container. The bowls also nest together, saving space in your cabinet or drawer.