34 Under-$25 Things That'll Actually Help You Cook More At Home, Like You've Been Threatening To Do For The Past Few Months

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06-05-2025

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Nope, close out of that food-delivery app.
1. Some kitchen shears can help you slice through all sorts of stuff, whether that's some green onions, raw chicken breasts, OR a bag of frozen mozzarella sticks you're about to eat for Monday night dinner. Doesn't hurt that these are fun!
Promising review: "I got these adorable scissors for my kitchen scissors. They are super cute. Amazingly sharp, I was not expecting them to be as sharp and solid as they are. The handles are perfect for any adult-size hand." — Kim
"These scissors are awesome. On top of being shaped like a bat, they do the job in the kitchen really well. They're sharp, and I've used them on chicken and vegetables (separate and cleaned between uses.) Many times I don't feel they need to be sharpened yet. They cut everything else really well also, so like paper lol." — Alexis
Get them from Amazon for $14.20.
2. Plus, a set of toss-and-chop salad tongs, or "salad scissors," will help break your $16-salad habit from that place down the street. This chopping tool (that costs less than two of those salads, btw) will bring a little bit of action to food-prep while helping convince yourself that your homemade salads are delish.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the salad scissors in action. These would also work great on bagged salad mixes that come un-chopped!
Promising review: "Love these! I hate big leafy salads so I bought these and they're perfect for chopping greens into bites. I also use them to quickly chop cherry tomatoes, onions, and other veggies. VERY nice quality." — asoon
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
3. Some Newman's Own all-purpose seasoning salt to help jazz up most ANYTHING you cook. The reason that food other people make tastes so good is that they SEASON it. Now that your food is cooking, it's time to google pics of Paul Newman in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof once again. Trust me. You wanna.
FYI, the Newman is Newman's Own is Paul Newman (certified hottie, duh) who started the company in 1982 with author A. E. Hotchner. The company donates all of its post-tax profits to child-focused charities.
Promising review: "I love everything about this product. The convenience, the taste, and the price. I put it on everything — scrambled eggs, salads, vegetables, and even meat. I used it to make pigs in a blanket, and they were fantastic. I will definitely buy this again." — Annette Bieber
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in many more flavors).
I'm currently working my way through a big collection of Newman's Own seasonings and they step up everything I make.
4. An airtight Deli ProKeeper if you feel like you're forever in a race to eat your opened packet of cold cuts before it loses flavor. You've def seen this on FridgeTok for not only ~decluttering~ fridges but also fighting food waste. Let's actually consume everything we bought!
Promising review: "I bought this because I have the outlandish idea that my refrigerator will look just like those on TikTok, but I am pleasantly surprised to find that it keeps my cold cuts fresher for much longer than expected. It's large enough to hold a pound or more of cold cuts or cheese, which is a bonus. The sealing technology is superb and strong. At one point, I almost could not open the container due to the seal being so airtight. Not only does this product look good in my fridge, but it is saving me money, so definitely a win-win for me." — IrishEyes
Get it from Amazon for $21.95 (available in three styles).
5. And a "Bread Buddy" dispenser made specifically for keeping sandwich bread fresh with this container that keeps it a bit more airtight than other methods (sorry, bread box). Plus, once the loaf is in there you can use the bag to pull up slices. Oh, and the reviewers have the receipts on it helping keep their bread fresh for much longer.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the Buddeez sandwich bread dispenser in action.
Promising review:"The Buddeez sandwich bread dispenser is great! It does exactly what it was intended for. I live alone, and I don't quite go through bread often enough before the last quarter section of the loaf starts to go stale. I was originally looking for something to put a loaf of bread in as a shell for my vacuum sealer that would keep the bread from getting crushed from the pressure. This dispenser solved all of my problems. Thank you!" — DRMcQuaig
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
6. A powerful dishwashing spray in case hand-washing dishes is a HUGE barrier to you actually cooking — especially if your old house *doesn't* include a dishwasher. This describes me and it's a total game-changer. A sink full of dirty dishes (of my own creation) now feels like NBD. You simply spray it, let it sit, then wipe, and rinse away the mess.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
I live in an apartment without a dishwasher, and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout food instead of cooking. But, as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap, BTW), I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas, which had a ton of caked-on food. It really does work like I say it does! Like, scary well.
Get the starter pack from Amazon for $12.25.
7. A dishwasher magnet so everyone in the house is on the same page about whether it's OK to eat off a plate that's in the dishwasher without having to grill everyone. All it takes is making the mistake ONCE to scar you for eternity and give you yet another excuse to order takeout.
My colleague Sally Elshorafa owns and loves this. Here's why:
''Pregnancy brain' — the brain fog that some people say they experience during pregnancy and sometimes after birth — is something I absolutely experienced for the majority of my pregnancy. I simply would forget things, like my keys or whether the dishwasher had run. This dishwasher magnet really put in the work. We run our dishwasher once a day and once at night, and I started to forget if the dishes in it were clean or not, especially if someone else had loaded them in and ran it. This magnet solved that problem! Plus, its silver frame matched so well with the stainless-steel dishwasher that we have, that it actually looks like it's part of the appliance."
Get it from Amazon for $6.92 (also available in black).
Also check out a version that's completely silver without the red or green for $19.95.
8. Affresh dishwasher tablets that'll get rid of residue that ends up creating odor and buildup on your dishes. Turns out, you don't need a new dishwasher, it just needs a proper cleaning. Apologies that you can no longer use, "Eh, the dishwasher barely works" as an excuse to not cook.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and dishes just not getting clean. Then, I became aware that the water softener was no longer doing its job so I had the rental company replace it. Dishwasher performance improved somewhat. I decided to do two more loads before deciding to purchase a new one. Then I saw a product test review for Affresh. I tossed one of the tablets into the bottom of the full machine per the instructions and ran the regular cycle. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I will use this faithfully every month, as recommended." — Sheila
Get them from Amazon for $8.49.
9. A clip-on strainer will work on a variety of pots and pans because sometimes you just wanna make some noods but don't wanna lose any to the kitchen sink. This is also so much easier to wash than a regular colander.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review:"Love, love, love this pasta strainer!!! My husband and I hate cleaning out the strainer, so I ordered this to make life easier. OMG, does it make life easier!!! If this ever breaks, I'll be ordering another! It's very sturdy and easy to use. Absolutely love it!" — ShylohsRedShadow
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in five colors).
10. The Pink Stuff Spray in case you're extremely into the OG cleaning paste and have wondered out loud, "Hm, I wonder what else they make." Well, THIS! It'll help erase all sorts of kitchen grime in case you avoid cooking because of the mess it makes.
Promising review: "I've tried everything I could think of to get my oven clean, then came across this on Amazon. It smells like green apples to me, which is far better than most cleaning products. The picture was taken during the cleaning process of the inside of the glass door. I'm amazed!" — Star
11. A box of slow-cooker liners to make cleaning up after yourself (and delicious concoctions) criminally easy in case the reason you haven't been using this workhouse countertop appliance is because of the cleanup. Just toss the liner when you're finished!
Amazon
I adore my slow cooker but hate cleaning up after using it. So I use these handy lil' bags. Read my full review of Reynolds Kitchens Premium Slow Cooker Liners.
Get a box of 20 from Amazon for $12.18 (also available in small size).
12. A set of three reusable silicone air fryer liners because cleaning out an air fryer can be a total PAIN. Popping this liner out after you've whipped up and devoured your meal will be MUCH easier.
Promising review: "I love love loooove these! I hated cleaning out my air fryer. But these are a game-changer!!" — Ce Ce
Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.99 + (available in six variations).
13. Plus, a magnetic air fryer cheat sheet so you can merely glance at it as a kitchen helper instead of scrolling through your Pinterest board for that ONE recipe.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Bought an air fryer several months ago which I haven't used a whole lot because it came with only a few recipes but not enough info on other items to cook. The Lotteli cheat sheet gives you cooking times and temperatures for a lot of your common everyday foods in a magnetized easy-to-read, two-sheet combo that fills in where the air fryer pamphlet that came with the unit leaves out. I also bought an air fryer cookbook but this only comes with specific recipes, whereas the cheat sheet fills in the void for quick basic needs. Very happy with this purchase! 😁" — B. Frank Smith
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in two colors).
14. A pack of reusable produce-saving bags will finally be a solution to keep your fruits, veggies, and cut flowers fresh for much longer — which means you'll actually get to enjoy them before they go bad.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews:"We decided to do a little test. One banana in a bag and one out, same location in the kitchen. This was after nine days. You can see that there's a distinct difference in the bananas. Amazing product!" — Trio Mum
Get a 20-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in a 32 and 40-pack).
15. A fridge door organizer to squeeze in some extra space for leftover sauce packets and other tiny food items you still wanna use. Turns out some extra Taco Bell sauce packets will go a looooong way on scrambled eggs or a DIY quesadilla.
www.amazon.com
This comes in a pack of four with two pockets each so everyone can get one! And because they're clear, you'll be able to see what's inside so you can actually use it.
Promising review:"I used the product to clear up space that was used for condiment packets, but they also worked out great to hold my mom's insulin pens so they don't get lost in the fridge." — GuVal
Get four from Amazon for $9.99.
16. A rapid defrosting tray so you won't have to put off cooking because your meat is still frozen. You can't go back in time to put out your main dinner ingredient to thaw, but you CAN use this instead of using the excuse to order Domino's.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I was a little concerned this was going to be one of those gifts that were hyped up but it's not. It's not going to thaw a huge chunk of meat in an hour but I have thawed a chunk of chicken in a few hours. The product itself isn't very thick which I like as it doesn't take up a lot of space for storage. It doesn't warm up, but pulls the cold from the meat, which makes the product thaw (like putting meat in cold water to thaw it faster and not cook it)." — Savannah A.
Get it from Amazon for $19.89.
17. A dishwasher-safe silicone soup cube tray that'll hold one cup (or a serving) of delicious hot entrees like soup/chili/stew/sauce per cube so you can make one big batch, freeze, and then reheat it later. Heck. Have it for breakfast! It's your life.
It also comes with a lid so you can easily stack them and four fill lines (½ cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, 250 mL).
Souper Cubes is a small business seen on Shark Tank that specializes in bake-and-freeze storage products.
Promising review:"I'm extremely happy with my Souper Cubes! I cook chili and soup and always make too much, having the ability to freeze serving-size portions is perfect. Saves time and food quality by not having to thaw it all each time I want another serving. High quality and since it's silicone and not rigid plastic it won't crack in the freezer. Highly recommend!" — Alexander S. Waterman
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in four colors and packs of two).
18. A three-pack of Velveeta cheese sauce you can simply pour in a bowl, microwave, and then dump over pasta or just use as a dip for some good old tortillas. These'll come in handy when it's a Wednesday night and you barely want to lift a finger to feed yourself.
Amazon
Promising review: "These have been great to use. Cooking for just one person isn't the easiest thing for me, but these portions have been great when I want mac 'n' cheese, nachos, or a small smothered burrito for one. I'm sure when it's camping time these will make it into my camping stash." — M. Cheatham
Get them from Amazon for $3.28.
19. A Dash mini rice cooker that'll easily make a hearty and filling side to go with that last piece of salmon or chicken you have in the fridge. But! It can also whip up oatmeal, stew, soup, quinoa, rice, and pasta. So that opens up all sorts of easy meal possibilities. Plus, it's small enough that you'll definitely find room for it on your one-bedroom apartment's kitchen counter.
Promising review:"I bought this for my daughter for her dorm at college. She loves making flavored rice and warming up soups and things. She likes it so well that she brings it home from college with her on breaks. It is especially nice that it has a removable pot, which makes it so much easier to clean or keep leftovers in. Would definitely buy again, don't waste your money on a slightly cheaper one that does not have a removable pot." — midohtree
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors).
20. A Rapid Ramen Cooker to transform a brick of noods into the base for a delish meal in just three minutes in the microwave! 'Tis time to put that ramen you've been hoarding the pantry to tasty use and wash the minimum number of dishes possible.
Rapid Brands is a small biz specializing in microwave cookware.
Promising review:"God's ramen cooker. This thing may seem like just an ordinary Tupperware, but I assure you it will blow that thin plastic garbage out of the water. It retains heat amazingly and does not bend or falter under extreme temperatures. I'm a college student and I have never felt such joy from making ramen in my small dorm microwave, for a 900-watt I recommend five minutes. Buy this product if you live and breathe air, because it is beautiful." — Theron
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
21. A clear magnetic refrigerator dry-erase board that sticks directly on your fridge. It's a little bit more aesthetic of a reminder than a series of sticky notes. Feel free to jot down reminders to eat the leftovers that are about to go bad!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It also includes four dry-erase markers!
Promising review:"Saw it on TikTok being used as a dinner menu for the week! It will help me be more organized and add little chores that needs to completed or important reminders. Love it, no complaints." — Clarince Thomas
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
22. A five-pack of Foods Huggers that'll help you preserve the cut end of a lemon or another piece of produce without hogging up a whole food-stroage container, which inevitably leads to you forgetting it 'til it's too late. If you SEE the stuff, you're way more likely to use it.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Food Huggers is a woman-owned small biz that focuses on everyday sustainable solutions to cut down on single-use plastic.
Promising review: "My cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes are thankful, and so am I! Lids fit perfectly, keep leftovers fresh, and compact storage! Yeah, love the convenience!" — angela d.simms
Get them from Amazon for $17.99.
23. A Bluapple produce extender you'll def wanna re-up after you see what it can do in a mere three months. It absorbs ethylene gas that would otherwise ripen your fruits and vegetables. It's safe to put in the fridge *or* even in a fruit bowl.
Amazon
Bluapple is a small biz specializing in this product. Each packet lasts three months.
Promising review:"Put one of the Bluapples in my fruit crisper when I received them. Went shopping the next day and put a large container in the drawer. I have just finished them. They were as fresh as when I bought them TWO WEEKS AGO. Love this product. Ordered more for my sisters and daughters. Would highly recommend them to anyone." — Amazon Customer
"This has literally made my produce last longer! I love this. I will definitely be buying again." — Lavone
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
24. A Shark Tank- featured "Pizza Pack," a perfectly sized storage container that'll take up WAY less space in your fridge than a half-empty pizza box and keep your leftover frozen pizza from the night before fresh. Plus, you can even pop it straight into the microwave and reheat ALL your stacked slices in one fell swoop.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the Pizza Pack in action.
Pizza Pack is a small business that specializes in sustainable food storage solutions.
Promising review:"I LOVE THiS!!! This is one of those products, that when you buy it you will say, 'Where have you been All of my LIFE!!' (Especially in college!) I am very pleased with the design and how fresh it keeps my pizza. And I ordered some really large pizzas lately and was so pleased that even these big slices fit!! This is definitely a must-have!! It is worth every penny and worth its weight in gold in the money you save from not throwing out dried-out pizza!" — A.O
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in eight colors).
25. A set of reusable Gripstic bag sealers that'll take up a teensy bit of drawer space in comparison to chip clips and will be a FAR more practical alternative because they do a better job of keeping air out of chip bags. Pour some (stale) chips out for all the fallen Cheez-Its.
Gripstic is a small business that specializes in reusable chip clips.
Promising review: "I'm a stickler about stale chips and have always used those little snapping clips. I thought they worked pretty well, but they really don't compare to Gripstics. The snack that proved this the most was Pirate's Booty. If these are exposed to air for more than three minutes, they turn into styrofoam peanuts. I promise they're just as fresh as when you first open them with Gripstics. They're going to be my go-to chip clips moving forward." — Rachel Campbell
Get a set of 24 from Amazon for $23.95 (available in five sets).
26. A bag of FryAway cooking oil solidifier that'll transform used oil into a solid that's super easy to throw in the trash.
FryAway is a US-based small business specializing in planet-friendly cooking waste solutions.
Promising review: "I will always keep this stocked in my house! My husband sent me a TikTok, I know I know, and I thought it couldn't hurt to try it out. I loved after the first night! I could easily remove the hardened oil and throw it out." — Roberta
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
27. A garlic rocker will be much easier to use (and clean) than your traditional garlic press. The bread is waiting! There's no law against inhaling a whole loaf of homemade garlic bread for dinner.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I like garlic very much, so I use this garlic press every day. It works very well, is easy to use, and easy to clean. Compared with the garlic press I used before, this is more labor-saving and comfortable." — Jessica
"Just what I was looking for. Saves so much time. A little difficult to clean...but I don't see how that could be remedied. Would definitely buy it again." — MRH Speech
Get it from Amazon for $10.97+ (available in two colors).
28. A pair of cut-resistant gloves to help safeguard yourself for when you DO have to use a knife. Even with all the tools and gadgets, you've gotta use one occasionally!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Food-safe and machine-washable. Check out our full review of these NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves.
Promising review:"After my husband sliced his finger on our mandolin, I decided to check out these gloves. We are both very impressed with how well they work. The company who sells these is also wonderful — they sent a follow-up email to ensure that we liked the gloves and would have replaced or refunded our money if we weren't happy. The only thing I was concerned about when I ordered the gloves was if I was buying the right size. My husband and I have different hand sizes, but the medium is working well for both of us. And knowing that they would send a different size free of charge was wonderful. Now, we don't have to worry about slicing off our fingers!" — That Author Guy's Wife
Get them from Amazon for $13.59 (available in sizes S–XL and in five styles).
29. A manual food chopper for quick work of herbs, fruits, veggies, and ice in case your knife skills could use some practice or you just wanna make food prep a lil' more fun.
www.amazon.com
It's also dishwasher safe (top rack only!) so cleanup is super simple.
Promising review:"This is great for cutting lots of veggies super fast. All you have to do is roughly chop down your veggies, toss them in, and give it four to five pulls for perfectly diced chunks for salsa or toppings on eggs or tacos. It comes with a handy cover too so all you have to do is rinse the blade and toss the container in the fridge or cooler." — Kevin B.
Get it from Amazon for $14.71+ (also available in green).
30. A microwave potato bag to cook your potato to perfection in a mere four minutes instead of having to wait around (or google how long) to cook it in the oven.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I have used this potato bag for quick/moist cooking of all varieties of potatoes and fresh corn on the cob (keep the husks on), The bag will also keep your food warm until serving time. Nutritive value of your food will not be diluted as it would have during an extended cooking process in boiling water." — Pura
Get it from Amazon for $8.96.
31. A silicone baking mat might just become your sheet pan's BFF because this'll replace a roll (and then some) of aluminum foil used as a pan lining. I own these mats and have used them for basically every single thing that you could bake in an oven, whether that's roasted veggies, salmon, or really anything from the frozen-food aisle.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I use these mats many times a day. They make cleanup super easy, which is really important in my hectic life. They wipe off easily with just water." — Tasia Lung
Get a set of two from Amazon for $19.96.
32. An instant-read meat thermometer to help you FINALLY cook the perfect steak for a gourmet-tasting meal that you're not paying someone else to make. OR just not give your family food poisoning again from undercooked meat!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Couldn't be easier to use, really. I tested it with ice water and boiling water, and it seems to be pretty accurate. I've already cooked some steaks using it and they came out perfect. Plan to use it a lot with my smoker and expect good results there too. I love that it has the magnets so I can stick on the fridge, the grill, or the smoker, and it's always handy. And you really can't beat the price at under $10!" — FCC
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
33. A mini steamer can help you whip up some easy meal sides in the microwave for when you're like, "I need some veggies," but really don't need to spend $20 on a fancy "bowl" meal.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "It works great so far. I just tried it to cook some fresh broccoli, carrots, and snow peas. It cooked them in fewer than four minutes. They turned out great!" — Camilla Rogers
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
34. *Reusable* toaster bags to help you achieve peak sandwich at home without firing up the stove top *or* catching your toaster on fire! Gotta love a hot sandwich for dinner!
Amazon
These are also a fan favorite for families with members who have celiac disease or other food sensitivities.
Promising review:"Unless you are a 'foodie' and need to grill your sandwiches, this bag is a great way to get a warm sandwich. And if you have cheese on it, the cheese will melt. Just make your sandwich and put it in the bag. Put the bag in your toaster and you have a great sandwich! It's so easy and when I am done, I just rinse the bag under the faucet. Great for kids who love grilled cheese without the fuss of 'grilling'!" — joycetv
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $8.99.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.