51 Must-Have Kitchen Tools, Gadgets, and Appliances for the Ambitious Home Chef

1. A fan-favorite vegetable chopper that lets you slice through an onion with ease—no risk of accidental finger loss. Sure, they've seen countless Gordon Ramsay tutorials on proper knife skills, but the connection between their brain and hand is a bit shaky, alright??

2. A set of sleek, "floating" kitchen knives housed in an acrylic display case, perfect for anyone who might need a little extra motivation to cook by surrounding themselves with stylish tools. 

3. A two-stage knife sharpener (for those whose current knives lack one) that has the power to restore even the dullest blades to their original sharpness. No need to replace an entire set—this compact tool can effortlessly sharpen and polish both straight and serrated knives alike.

4. A dishwasher-safe silicone soup cube tray because they're a soup lover at heart but live solo and can't possibly consume it all in one sitting. 

5. Modular sheet pan dividers to help them cook a complete one-pan meal without overcooking any of the ingredients. 

6. A Yonanas fruit soft-serve maker that transforms any frozen fruit into creamy ice cream or sorbet. This is a favorite among those with dietary restrictions who still crave the occasional ice cream treat!

7. A Dracula garlic mincer because nothing beats the rich flavor of freshly minced garlic, especially when they're preparing an Italian feast, compared to the blandness of garlic powder.

8. A nylon chopper ideal for chopping up ground meat, frozen veggies, eggs, and more. If they're into tacos, Philly cheesesteaks, or smash burgers (~chef's kiss to Shake Shack~), this tool will quickly become a favorite in their kitchen.

9. An oil mister so they can spritz their one-pan meals evenly. This handy gadget eliminates the need to toss ingredients by hand and keeps them from getting coated in hard-to-clean (and pricey...) EVOO. 

10. A pancake batter bottle for those who (or their family) devour hotcakes like it's nothing. With this tool, a full stack can be whipped up in minutes. 

An Anova sous vide cooker that allows users to create gourmet meals with minimal effort, making it so simple that they can set it and forget it, leaving their food to cook on its own while they go about their day.

A silicone crab utensil holder that proudly holds your spoon in the air, preventing it from melting on the stove while you're preparing your dish.

An automatic spice grinder, perfect for adding a dash of flavor to every meal in the most extravagant way possible, bringing a touch of flair to your kitchen.

A ~sage green~ air fryer for those who struggle to get their meals just right in the oven. With this gadget, they can quickly crisp up asparagus, cook salmon to flaky perfection, and even bake a delightful lemon bundt cake if they feel adventurous.

A set of magnetic air fryer cheat sheets that can be easily attached to the fridge, making it simple to reference them while cooking. This way, they won't have to clean egg and breadcrumb residue off their hands and struggle with their phone to look up instructions online while preparing chicken fingers.

A two-pack of handheld bag sealers that can be used to cut and seal various snack bags, ensuring treats stay fresh longer.

17. An automatic pan stirrer that steps in when there's only so much time in the day, and sometimes, getting the makeup done takes priority over scrambling eggs. 

18. A biodegradable bacon sponge designed to absorb grease from fried foods, preventing clogs not just in your sink, but potentially in your entire neighborhood's sewer system if discarded improperly.

A rapid egg cooker that is fast, efficient, and perfect for preparing soft, medium, and hard-boiled eggs with consistency every time.

An eight-speed immersion blender perfect for frothing milk, whisking eggs, or making homemade baby food—pureed chicken, anyone?

A panini press, for those who crave a tomato, mozzarella, and pesto sandwich without waiting 30 minutes for a delivery that might not even be warm (*and definitely not worth $20+...).

22. A KitchenAid stand mixer that's calling out for experimentation with every delicious Christina Tosi creation. Picture a world where you master Milk Bar's signature birthday cake, and enjoy it anytime. 🍰 🤤

23. A four-slice retro toaster that’s perfectly sized for those hefty NYC-style bagels — no squishing required.

24. An all-in-one 8-in-1 spiralizer for spiralizing, juicing, grating, shredding, and more. Forget searching for multiple kitchen tools—this one gadget does it all.

25. A breakfast sandwich maker that cooks an egg, toasts bread, warms up precooked meat, and melts cheese, enabling them to make the perfect breakfast sandwich without the need to queue at Dunkin' or Starbucks.

26. Alternatively, a simple-to-use egg bite maker so they can prepare small egg bites that fit their keto/paleo/gluten-free/vegetarian diet without spending $9 (and the cost of gas for the drive-thru).

27. A Levo II herbal oil and butter infusion machine for those who absolutely love the pre-meal bread basket with a small dish of artisanal oil for dipping.

28. A compact Balmuda toaster that, as reviewers mention, can take a humble 99-cent baguette and transform it into a bakery-quality loaf.

29. A mini waffle maker that allows them to take a break and indulge in a warm, homemade snack that's far more exciting than a frozen Eggo.

30. A versatile electric pasta maker, perfect for those who have watched *Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy* and are now eager to recreate authentic regional dishes on their own.

31. An instant-read digital thermometer that eliminates the guesswork when cooking meat, baking bread, or tempering chocolate. It delivers accurate results within a single degree and only takes four to seven seconds to measure.

32. A microwave potato cooker, perfect for those times when they crave a loaded baked potato but don’t want to wait 45 minutes for the oven. Simply pop it in the microwave for four minutes and — BOOM — the potato is ready to enjoy.

33. A set of slow cooker liners for those who love a hassle-free one-pot meal but hate dealing with the mess of stuck-on food afterward.

34. A vented microwave food cover that prevents spills, splatters, and the occasional small explosion (we've all been there). The BPA-free, perforated lid lets steam escape, ensuring no unsightly condensation buildup. Once you're done, it collapses to under an inch in height for easy storage.

35. A veggie spiralizer that lets them transform their favorite vegetables into spaghetti or fettuccini! Equipped with 12 razor-sharp stainless-steel blades, it effortlessly slices through zucchini, squash, and more.

36. An Instant Pot that can prepare meals in 20 minutes or less! Personally, I’ve made pulled BBQ chicken, teriyaki chicken with rice, and mashed potatoes in one of these with minimal effort.

37. A 3-in-1 avocado slicer for those still obsessed with avocado toast. Grab one of these gadgets — it will split, pit, and slice your avocado — and you’ll be able to recreate a cafe-worthy dish worth $15 or more right at home.

38. An Oxo Good Grips veggie brush, because it's time to face the truth: rinsing your potatoes quickly isn't really cutting it, it's only satisfying your conscience.

39. A set of three dough presses designed to easily create hand pies, dumplings, ravioli, calzones, empanadas, and more. This handy tool could help break free from the grip of Trader Joe's frozen gyozas that have dominated their meals for the past six months. 

40. A 3-in-1 Cuisinart burger press so they can create the perfect Juicy Lucy 🍔 right at home (big thanks to Top Chef: Kentucky for the tip). 

41. An all-in-one measuring cup that not only clears up cupboard space but also saves them from dealing with tricky fraction or decimal conversions. For a long time, I only had a 2/3-cup measuring cup, and my English major self was in a *world* of hurt.

42. Or a set of space-saving measuring spoons with dual sides for wet and dry ingredients, designed to magnetically nest together, ensuring they never lose their teaspoon and won’t have to guess measurements using their tablespoon instead.

43. A Thaw Claw that helps speed up the thawing process by weighing down the meat in the sink, making it thaw seven times faster than leaving it on the counter.

44. A measuring cup designed specifically for semi-solid ingredients like peanut butter, honey, shortening, and brown sugar, ensuring they get every last bit into the bowl instead of getting it all over their fingers.

45. A snap-on silicone strainer that easily clips to the side of their pot, eliminating the need for a colander in the sink and preventing accidental splashes of ~boiling~ hot water when draining their cavatappi.

46. A set of durable fridge liners that not only minimize Tupperware condensation and takeout spills but also extend the freshness of fruits and vegetables, helping them stick to their carefully planned meals.

47. A set of silicone baking mats that will replace countless sheets of parchment paper. If Netflix's numerous reality cooking shows have sparked their culinary creativity, these mats will quickly pay for themselves.

48. Some reusable food huggers because sometimes, a splash of lemon (or as the MasterChef judges might call it, 'acid') is exactly what they need, but they don't want to waste perfectly good produce.

49. A Carraway cookware set that provides not just every essential pot and pan, but also clever storage options like magnetic racks and a canvas lid holder.

50. A convenient herb stripper designed for anyone seeking a simple method to strip fresh cilantro and rosemary while cooking. Simply slide them through and discard the bitter stem!

51. A marble mortar and pestle designed to crush any spices of choice with ease.