BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More

Say “yes, chef” to all these kitchen must-haves.

Courtney Hayes is a freelancer who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping since 2019, covering a wide range of topics including home decor, fashion, beauty and skincare, gift guides, pet products, and more.

Promising review: "Hands down one of the best cookbooks I’ve ever used. The format of the recipes is so easy to read, and it comes with so many useful tips. Perfect for seasoned cooks and newbies alike. Every recipe we’ve tried has been a hit." —Norm

Promising review: "Functional, nice large size, sharp and quick to use grater — very well made and I LOVE the rubber base which grips the surface you set it on to grate — no slipping when grating. So well made. You will love it!" —Dan in L.A.

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 10 colors).

I have and love this thing! I recently got into making my own salad dressings, so this shaker gets used regularly. I like being able to measure how much oil, vinegar, or lemon juice I'm adding without breaking out my measuring cups. Plus, the size is perfect for matching enough dressing for just a salad or two. 

Promising review: "This item is perfect for making your own salad dressing. It is the perfect size for one or two people to use for a couple of days. The measurements on the cup are extremely helpful when adding your ingredients. The fact that you can shake before each use without spillage is what I was looking for in a dressing carafe. Quality is great and easy to wash." —Dorothy

Promising review: "We love cooking with this olive oil. It is easier to use than a regular bottle. You can also use it on salads, and it tastes delicious. I would recommend this product. My nephew sent us this as part of a Christmas gift, and we have been using nothing else since." —KATHLEEN E. CAMELIO

Get it from Amazon for $10.47+ (available in five sizes).

Promising review: "This collapsible strainer took the place of one metal colander and a hard plastic strainer. Because it collapses, it is an incredible space saver and fits right in the cabinet with my pots and pans. Easy to clean and keep clean! I recommend these to everyone!" —Sanderella

Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in two colors).

It can also be used to make soups, oatmeal, and other grains. 

Promising review: "I absolutely love this little rice cooker! It’s compact, easy to use, and cooks rice perfectly every time. The automatic keep-warm function is very convenient, and cleanup is quick and simple thanks to the nonstick pot. It’s the perfect size for small meals, side dishes, or meal prep. Great value for the price and a must-have for any kitchen. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐" —María Lopez

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Easy to use. Has made making dinners much faster and given me the option to cook foods at different temperatures when using the oven for another part of the meal. Also useful on its own to make a quick dinner on my own. Chicken thighs are perfect, crispy, and juicy. Lamb chops were tender with a bit of crisp. Great for re-heating too." —Mark Charlebois

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in four colors and three sizes).

Promising reviews: "I’m really happy with this nonstick muffin tray set! It came with two trays for such a low price, which makes it an amazing value. The nonstick surface works perfectly. My muffins slide right out without sticking or breaking apart. Cleanup is super easy, too, which saves so much time. Great quality for the price, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves baking!" —Ronald

"Great starter muffin pan. No handles or extended edges, which would make removing from oven easier and decrease risk of damaging your baked goods." —PLeeF

Promising review: "I really like these baking sheets. So far, they seem to be of good quality and sturdy. The rubber-coated handles on each end are a nice touch. The nonstick coating is of good quality. I feel like I will have these in my kitchen for a long time." —Jen Marquez

Get three pans for $16.99 (also available in eight other sets).

The 44-piece set includes 22 containers and lids in 10 sizes.

Promising review: "Great basic starter pack. Good quantity and assortment of bowls. Not as fancy as other options (no steam vents) but more value with the amount of bowls for the price." —Gina Shirley

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (also available in three other sets).

Promising review: "Love this product. I place my veggies in the bag with a paper towel, and veggies stay fresh for several weeks." —Faith

Get 30 bags from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a pack of 60).

Promising reviews: "Great baking pans. The quality is amazing, very sturdy, and extremely easy to clean, and they look beautiful as well. I highly recommend them." —Wilson Fonseca

"I absolutely love my Le Creuset set of three baking dishes! The three different sizes are so versatile — we can easily accommodate a big family dinner or just a cozy meal for the two of us. They’re heavy-duty and feel like they’ll last forever, with the great quality you’d expect from Le Creuset. They heat evenly, so everything cooks perfectly, and they’re absolutely beautiful, too — I don’t mind serving straight from the dish at the table. Worth every penny!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $134.95+ (available in 10 colors).

Promising review: "This chicken shredder works great and makes meal prep so much easier! I love that you can control how finely the chicken is shredded — just a few turns for larger pieces or more turns for finely shredded chicken. It’s quick, easy to use, and saves so much time compared to shredding with forks. Perfect for tacos, BBQ chicken, casseroles, and meal prepping. Highly recommend!" —Karry

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 13 colors).

Promising review: "I've had many lemon squeezers over the years. A few have been flimsy, most have been okay, but this one beats them all. It's strong, and the little strainer is effective, and the best part of all is that it sits on the counter so you only have to press down — no grip strength needed. I love it when a good brand makes a good product." —KS

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "This is an amazing little chopper. It's a real space-saver with super-sharp blades. It does make noise, but it's nothing too crazy. So far, it seems durable and efficient. With just a few presses on the lid, veggies are diced instantly. However, if it is pressed too much, it will turn into a paste. But it's so much quicker and easier than a manual chopper. I highly recommend this to make your life easier." —Amy Deason

The set includes a turner, a slotted turner, a skimmer, a spoon, a ladle, a pasta server, tongs, a whisk, a spatula spreader, a spoon spatula, two measuring spoons, a holder, a brush, a spatula, a grater, a strainer, scissors, a potato pusher, a can opener, a bottle opener, a pizza cutter, and an ice-cream spoon.

Promising review: "This set has pretty much everything you need in the kitchen. The silicone feels durable and safe for nonstick cookware. Also comes organized, which is a big plus. Great value for the price." —Lito

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Love these so much! Easy to use, easy to add salt and pepper. Grind sizes are great, just wish I got them in metal instead of black! Would recommend and would buy again! It’s been a year without a salt and pepper grinder, and glad we have these!" —Marcel K

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in six colors).

The set includes basil, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, chives, cinnamon powder, curry powder, ground cumin, ground ginger, Italian seasoning, marjoram, oregano, paprika, parsley, red pepper flakes, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme, turmeric, and yellow mustard.

It even comes with five years of free spice refills (just pay shipping and handling)! 

Promising review: "I sent this to my son for his apartment. Looks nice on the counter and comes filled with spices, which is a great starter set. Love that the spices have free refills. Came with all of the basic spices needed for cooking." —A. Mattix

Get it from Amazon for $54.99+ (available in two finishes).

It includes a corded hand blender, dishwasher-safe blender arm, blending jar with lid, and a pan guard.

Promising review: "This corded hand blender is the best blender I've ever owned. It's lightweight and very comfortable to hold, even when using it for extended periods. I bought the red one, and it looks beautiful in my kitchen.

"One of my favorite features is the variable speed control — you can blend as slowly or as fast as needed for different recipes. It also comes with a measuring cup and a lid, which are very convenient for mixing, storing, and serving. Overall, it's powerful, easy to use, and a great addition to any kitchen." —CRL

The set includes two oven mitts and two pot holders.

Promising review: "I use these oven mitts and pot holders every day! They don't slip (!!) and protect my hands perfectly from heat. I'm happy I chose this set as they work well for my time in the kitchen and add a little accent of color. Highly recommend!" —Diane G.

Get it from Amazon for $19.98 (clip the coupon on the product page to get it for $17.98; available in two colors).

It includes a pan, lid, steamer basket, and spatula.

Promising review: "Purchased this for my son's first home, and it's been a great addition to his kitchen! Easy to use, easy to clean, and very versatile." —Alecia D.

Get it from Our Place for $135 (available in six colors and two other sizes).

The set comes with an 8-inch chef knife, 8-inch slicing knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8-inch serrated bread knife, 5-inch utility knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, six serrated steak knives, kitchen shears, and a black hardwood knife block with built-in knife sharpener.

Promising review: "I’ve been using this knife for a few weeks now, and I’m honestly impressed with the quality for the price. The knives came sharp right out of the box and cut through meat and vegetables with ease. I cook almost every day, so having a full matching set has been really convenient for me. I really like the built-in knife sharpener. Another big plus for me is that it’s dishwasher safe. So far, everything has held up well with no rust/dulling." —TomIsNotHere

Promising review: "I had to give these measuring cups a 5-star rating. They are just as simple as the classics we have been using for at least 50 years. I'm sure they will be as durable as before, also. It's hard to go wrong with these. Absolutely recommended for the classic use of measuring cups. There are many others that have some special feature, but these will do just fine." —ParaboTECH

SolunaCraftsllc is a small biz based in Louisville, KY! 

Promising review: "Great addition to my kitchen. Works well so far with cilantro and basil. Beautifully packaged and arrived on time." —Anita

Get it from SolunaCraftsllc on Etsy for $27 (engraving is also available).

* If You Can Burn Water, You Probably Need These 32 Helpful Kitchen Products

*  In The Words Of Auguste Gusteau, Anyone Can Cook, And These 27 Items Will Get You Started

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.