Life
23 Odd Kitchen Products On Amazon That Are Actually Genius
I'm three weeks away from renovating the kitchen in my apartment, and that means I'm doing some serious research on genius kitchen gadgets that are available on Amazon. Why? Well, things have changed a lot since the day of Mad Men, when the most coveted culinary tool was the trending Chip 'n' Dip. Now, the internet is loaded with weird but surprisingly useful products that make your kitchen safer, roomier, cleaner, more efficient, and a hell of a lot more fun. As a fan of practicality as well as the occasional zucchini pasta dinner, I'm all over this one.
While a few of these items are fit for professionals, you don't necessarily need to be a chef to utilize them, either. They can help everyone from the wine enthusiast to the forgetful shopper. Best of all, they're specially designed to help your day go a little more smoothly, whether you're cooking a four-course meal or lost the cover to your take-out container.
Finally, because you're shopping on Amazon rather than in a department store, you get a huge selection at a great price, and instead of lines and the endless labyrinth that is the kitchenware section, you get a brown box delivered straight to your door.
1. Save The Second Half Of That Onion Without Plastic Wrap
Food Huggers, $24, Amazon
Like cute little condoms for your produce, Food Huggers extend the shelf life of all your foods by creating a tight no-hassle seal over the unused portion. This one comes in a set of eight with various sizes to fit a variety of food as well as fit jars and cups. They're microwavable, freezer safe, and dishwasher friendly, too.
2. This Button That Makes Your Shopping Lists For You
Hiku The Shopping Button, $50, Amazon
Never again leave something off your shopping list. Hiku The Shopping Button records what you need to buy and sends it straight to your phone, either through voice-activated lists or the built-in barcode scanner. You can even use it to shop online, so groceries get delivered straight to your door.
3. Save Counter Space And Put An End To Puddles
Lifewit Over The Sink Drying Rack, $17, Amazon
Whether you're short on counter space or tired of wiping up puddles, the Lifewit over the sink drying rack is an excellent solution. It's made of sturdy stainless steel rods that fit over most sinks to dry pots, pans, and vegetables, it's resistant to rust, shock, wear, and heat, and it rolls up for easy storage when you're done.
4. This Brilliant Wand That Chills And Aerates Simultaneously
3. These Tongs That Minimize Messes On Your Counter
Dreamfarm Sit-Up Tongs, $19, Amazon
No spoon rest necessary for these Dreamfarm sit-up tongs — they have an odd design that holds them up off the counter, minimizing drips and mess. They also have durable stainless steel arms, heat-resistant silicone tips, and a click-lock mechanism.
5. Clean Cutlery The Safe Way
Kitchenwise Skrub Knife Cleaner, $15, Amazon
The Kitchenwise Skrub knife cleaner might look like a cushion-y taco, but it's actually a double-sided sponge with a hand-protecting outer casing that shields your skin while cleaning knives and other sharp utensils. It's also great for pizza cutters, food processor blades, or any other sharp cutlery. The sponges are non-scratch and replaceable, and all parts are dishwater-safe.
6. Start Composting In Your Home With This Tiny Smell-Proof Bucket
Epica Stainless Steel Compost Bin, $30, Amazon
Composting is an awesome way to recycle organic matter so it can be used as a fertilizer and soil amendment. The Epica stainless-steel compost bin is a number one best seller because it's a compact way to create compost right in your kitchen. It has an airtight top and charcoal filter that eliminate smells, and reviewers love that it's small, easy to clean, and sanitary.
8. Sweep Your Mess Over To This Thing And Watch It Disappear
Eye-Vac Dustbin, $99, Amazon
Imagine a dust pan that didn't move and sucked up all your crumbs for you. The Eye-Vac dustbin is a stationary vacuum with super strong suction and an infrared sensor that's always on, so all you have to do is sweep your mess toward the bottom, and voila, it's gone. It sucks up dust, hair, and debris, and it's super easy to empty out without bags and without hassle.
9. This Board With Different Mats To Stop Cross Contamination
Seville Classics Bamboo Cutting Board With Mats, $26, Amazon
If you're worried about cross contamination in the kitchen, this genius Seville Classics bamboo cutting board comes with seven slide-out mats, each color-coded and labeled for different food groups. They're also flexible for easy transfer of food and dishwasher safe. The board itself is anti-microbial, super durable, and has non-slip feet.
10. Store Your Mason Jars The Smart Way
Otter Lap Mason Jar Storage Rack, $22, Amazon
If you, like me, use mason jars for everything from soups to spices, this Otter Lap mason jar storage rack is an absolute must-have. It comes with two fully customizable racks that you can use to hang up to six mason jars, and they can be installed under shelves, below cabinets, and on your walls.
11. This Genius Strainer Stops Clutter, Burns, And Renegade Noodles
SNAP n STRAIN Pot Strainer, $12, Amazon
If you've got a whole drawer dedicated to colanders, the SNAP n STRAIN pot strainer is for you. It's made of a durable and safe silicone material that snaps onto all sizes of cookware, and since it's strong, secure, and withstands temperatures up to 450 degrees, you won't end up with burns or renegade noodles in the sink.
12. This Space-Savvy Bowl That Holds All Your Favorite Snacks And Dips
Chip and Dip Bowl, $19, Amazon
The chip and dip bowl is a clever and space-savvy way to serve your favorite snacks. It comes with three plastic bowls (two of which fit securely around the rim of the bigger one), and they're BPA-free, super classy looking, and great for everything from salads to cherries and their pits.
13. No More Plastic Wrap Or Mismatched Lids
Silicone Suction Lids, $33, Amazon
Forget about plastic wrap or desperately searching for the right size top. These Silicone suction lids adhere to cups, bowls, mugs, and pots with a leak-proof design. They keep your food fresher for longer, they're dishwasher- and heat-safe, and they come in six different sizes.
14. The Only Pan For Corner-Brownie Lovers
Bakelicious Crispy Corner Brownie Pan, $17, Amazon
If you're a fan of the chewy corner brownies but tired of only getting four per batch, let me introduce you to the Bakelicious Crispy Corner brownie pan. Its genius design has raised middle dividers that give you twelve brownies, all with chewy edges. It's also non-stick, durable, and brownies fall right out after cooled.
15. This Genius Tool For Low-Carb Lifestyles
Spiralizer 5-Blade Vegetable Slicer, $30, Amazon
If you follow a gluten-free, paleo, or low carb lifestyle, the Spiralizer vegetable slicer will expand your menu options tenfold. It has five blades to transform your veggies into different sizes and shapes, so you can easily make stuff like zucchini noodles, curly fires, and hash browns. It's so durable and functional you can even spiralize hard root vegetables like turnips and sweet potatoes.
16. This Cute Little Appliance That Cooks Eggs All Different Ways
Dash Go Rapid Egg Cooker, $20, Amazon
If you find yourself cooking eggs a lot (and I mean a lot) then the Dash Go Rapid egg cooker is well worth it. Whether you like your eggs soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled this little machine will cook them to perfection. It even has additional attachments for omelettes, poached, or scrambled eggs. All the non-electric parts are dishwasher safe, and reviewers claim that this "cooks just like the pricier models".
17. This Minimalist Scale To Save Room In The Kitchen
Joseph Joseph Digital Folding Food Scale, $17, Amazon
The Joseph Joseph digital folding food scale is a compact yet accurate way to weigh your food in grams, pounds, fluid ounces, and millimeters. It has an easy to read LCD display and touch-activated controls, and reviewers use it for everything from baking to weighing small packages.
18. This Spring-Loaded Holder That Coats Your Sponge In Suds
Full Circle Bubble Up Ceramic Soap Dispenser, $13, Amazon
This Full Circle Bubble Up ceramic soap dispenser has a spring-loaded sponge holder that creates extra suds. Simply put liquid soap into the dishwasher-safe ceramic base, and press the sponge into it when you need more soap. It's also a sleek way to keep your sponge handy and dry.
19. This Cutting Board That Folds Up For Easy Transferring
BAS Folding Cutting Board, $20, Amazon
The BAS folding cutting board allows you to safely chop your herbs and vegetables, and then it turns into a chute so nothing drops on its way to the pan. It also comes with a complementary ceramic knife and peeler, and reviewers love that it's durable, travel-friendly, and simple to clean.
20. This Rechargeable Heated Knife For Butter And Cheese
Heated Butter Knife, $21, Amazon
This heated butter knife is waterproof, food-grade, rechargeable, and reaches a temperature of 167 degrees in one minute. It's perfect for cutting through frozen butter or hard cheese, and reviewers are saying, "This is the coolest and unexpected item I have ever purchased."
21. Flexible Measuring Cups For Stubborn, Sticky Ingredients
iSi Flexible Measuring Cups, $22, Amazon
If you've ever worked with a recipe that called for peanut butter, you know how genius these iSi flexible measuring cups are. They're made from a bendable silicone that allows you to squeeze out frosting, butter, or batter after it's measured. They come in a set of three (one, two, and four cups) and they're also heat-resistant and dishwasher-safe.
22. Overcome The Nightmare That Is Your Tupperware Drawer
Joseph Joseph Nesting Storage Containers, $27, Amazon
I know I'm turning into my father when I say stuff like this, but the storage container drawer is always a nightmare because nothing fits and you can never find a lid. These Joseph Joseph nesting storage containers come with six BPA-free boxes that fit one inside of the other, and they're color-coded with dots so you can easily spot the right top. They're also microwavable and fine in the dishwasher or freezer.
23. The Most Badass Sushi Dish That Ever Existed
Shark Attack Sushi Plate, $35, Amazon
Functional yet morbidly hilarious, this Shark Attack sushi plate is made from hand-painted ceramic and is a super fun way to serve your sushi. His tail holds your chopsticks while his mouth holds your soy sauce, and reviewers use it for everything from candy to hors d'oeuvres.
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