24 Kitchen And Cooking Products Reviewers Specifically Say Work Well If You're Cooking For Two

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15-03-2025

1. America's Test Kitchen's The Complete Cooking for Two because in addition to over 700 recipes portioned specifically for two people, the experts at ATK packed it with tips and advice for using leftovers, reducing food waste, and making each and every recipe work. Sure you could do the math with other recipes yourself, but why would you, when recipe virtuosos engineered these to work in smaller sizes?
Pssst...it includes air fryer recipes, too!
Promising review: "We have retired and downsized our home. This cookbook is great for meal planning and efficiently cooking for two. I have made several recipes from this book. I find with planning and portioning as I shop, we have no food waste. This is my go-to cookbook for day to day meals. This cookbook would also be good for young couples, college students or cooking meals for sick, elderly neighbors when a small batch is needed." — ghosty girl
Get it from Amazon for $26.02.
2. A pack of two 1/4-size Nordic Ware sheet pans so you can make two-person-sized sheet pan dinners a cornerstone of your weeknight routine. I use the larger size of these aluminum pans all the time for roasted veggies, fish, and chicken, and let me tell you, everything always comes out perfectly. These smaller sizes would just be easier to wash!
Amazon
I don't even line them with anything, usually because I'm cooking something with enough fat like salmon or chicken thighs (if I'm worried I do a little EVOO spray), or making sure to coat my veggies in enough oil that they get a good roast. So things like, never stick.
Promising reviews: "This is the perfect size sheet pan. If you are cooking for one or two people this size will easily do a sheet pan meal. Solid, encapsulated rim does not warp or bend." — Dave D
"I love these pans. I cook for myself and these are the perfect size for sheet pan chicken or vegetables. I also have used this to make sheet cake as well. I would highly recommend for any kitchen but especially for people who are often cooking for one or two people." — Linda A. Burke
Get them from Amazon for $22.
3. A veggie chopper to slice and dice onions, potatoes, and even tomatoes in a matter of seconds. Cooking most nights of the week saves so much $$, and this'll significantly, um, ~cut~ the amount of time and effort you spend to prep. Since you're sizing your portions for two, you won't have to empty the container in between the onion, carrots, and celery for your mirepoix. And when you're cooking for a crowd, it'll still be a timesaver, you'll just have to do onion first, empty, then carrots, etc.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action.
Promising review:"I use this to chop up veggies for soup. It works great. I've also used it to dice cheese for snacks, fruit for fruit salad, and potatoes for potato salad. Such a useful addition to my kitchen. It's the right size if you're cooking for one or two and doesn't take up a lot of shelf space." — Alice
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (also available in a crocodile version at another listing).
4. A super slim, compact toaster that'll do up your roommate's two grocery store slices for morning toast but also will fit those longer artisan slices you like for your lunch sammie. Peep the pic to see how it'll slide in the spot that's already between your air fryer and coffee maker, so you don't need to make counter space for it. That adorable surf blue, oatmilk white, or seaglass green color? The cherry on top.
Promising review: "Perfect for one or two people. Takes little counter space. Toasts quite fast and evenly. No complaints at all. Easy to clean. Decent price! What more can you ask for?" — Phrankx
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two colors).
5. A set of reusable Gripstic bag sealers, because when you're cooking for one or two, the name of the game is "reduce food and money waste." These effortlessly seal up open bags, helping prevent staleness by blocking your favorite Cool Ranch Doritos and that expensive King Arthur Flour from their dual arch nemeses: air and moisture.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Gripstic is a small business that specializes in reusable chip clips.
Promising review: "You might not think you need them but you do! I use these on every partial bag of frozen food, dry powdery spice or flour, chips, candies, everything. If you cook for one or two and have a half bag of peas in the freezer these gadgets will keep the bag closed. Chip and candy bags won't spill or get stale as soon." — Jim in KCMO
Get a set of 24 from Amazon for $23.95 (available in four sets).
6. A versatile Ninja Crispi Air Fryer system with sooo many options: Air fry, bake, crisp, and reheat settings. Both a larger 4-quart or smaller 6-cup (1.5 quart) dishwasher safe glass base that serve triple purposes as serving dishes and leftover containers, thanks to the included leak-proof lids. Brilliant for a two-person portion of meat in the big container and veg in the small one, or for when you're craving chicken strips but your partner wants fish. The quick cooktime means you CAN make two meals.
Amazon
BTW, the cookbook in #1 includes air fryer recipes that would work for this!
Promising review: "So happy! It is relatively small. Easy to store on the counter top. It cleans up very easily. Perfect for two people. I absolutely love it. Food comes out perfectly and tastes great and meats are moist. I have cooked vegetables, meat and desserts. Meals are done within 20 minutes. I may need to buy one more as the hubby wants to use it especially when he wants something different for dinner than I want. So, if for no other reason he finds it easy to use and wants to use it. I have found tons of recipes on Pinterest and cookbooks written specifically for the Ninja Crispi." — Cherie Elias Saly
Get it from Amazon for $159 (available in three colors).
7. A Souper Cubes freezer tray featuring four one-cup compartments perfect for fitting a single serving of chili, soup, sauce, or whatever other freezer-friendly big-batch meal you desire. Why? Those single-portion sizes are *much* quicker and easier to pull out of the freezer and safely defrost than the whole hunk would be at once. And because you only need two portions, the other two can go back in the freezer!
Amazon, www.amazon.com
It's BPA free, dishwasher safe, and to make it even more genius, it has half- and full-cup fill lines on the sides of the compartments so you know exactly how much you're putting in. Also, you only need one or two trays, because once the food's frozen, you can put the portions in a plastic bag (I use large Stasher reusable bags, $20.99), return that to the freezer, then wash the trays so they're ready to freeze something else later!
Read my full Souper Cube review for more about why I love them! Souper Cubes is a small business run by a family who wants to reduce food waste!
Promising review:"When making a large batch of anything (spaghetti sauce), clam chowder, chicken soup, for the two of us, we're sick of it half way through. This is the perfect freezing apparatus so we freeze while it's still fresh and weeks later can pull out the perfect size portion for a quick meal. You don't need several cubes because once frozen, you pop out the portions and put them in a small plastic bag and then you can use the cubes for something else to freeze." — cjs103
Get one from Amazon for $19.95.
8. The "Fasta Pasta," aka a microwave cooker because with it, preparing a batch of your favorite noodles goes MUCH easier and faster — you don't even have to wait for the water to boil. The cooking guide says a portion for two takes just 11 MINUTES to cook, start to finish. Traditional pasta prep can't even compare.
Amazon
All you do is measure your servings of spaghetti using the holes in the lid, add it to the cooker with some water, and microwave it for 12–20 minutes (depending on how much pasta you're cooking). And yes, it's dishwasher safe.
Promising review:"Great kitchen tool I've used it three times this week to make spaghetti and it works great. I cannot yet attest to other forms of pasta, but I'm sure it will do well. Great cooking chart included for all types of pasta.
I am confined to a wheelchair or walker and simply can no longer get a pot of water from the sink to the stove top. You have to be careful because the water can scald you, but since my sink is beside my microwave, I can cook pasta for lunch or dinner without having to be helped. It's also very quick. I can cook spaghetti for two in the microwave before a pot of water would be up to a boil. One of the best purchases I have made for my kitchen since I became incapacitated." — Debra J. Clanton
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (also available in red at another listing).
9. Or a snap-on silicone pasta strainer if you very much prefer to stick to the stovetop method. This attaches to your pot and skips the whole process of dumping your penne into the colander and then back into the pot again. And the benefit for two people? Because you don't need anything bigger for a smaller portion, it pops in the dishwasher, saving you from wrestling the giant colander when you just want to be watching TV already.
Amazon
It does work on larger pots too, it's just a little harder to control if you're draining a four-plus person sized pasta portion from a huge, heavy pot. (I have something similar from a different brand, and prefer a regular colander for the bigger portions for that reason.)
Kitchen Gizmos is a small business that specializes in kitchen accessories.
Promising review:"Idk about you but I HATE having to clean a huge bulky strainer when I've only cooked enough pasta for two. My old roommate wouldn't even clean it after every use she hates it so much. But this thing snaps right on and takes up no room in the sink after. Super easy to clean. I love it! Best purchase. Totally worth it!" — Gabby
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in seven colors).
10. Some produce savers that really will keep berries, spinach, lettuce, bell peppers, and all kinds of fruit and veggies day-one fresh for nearly two full weeks. Again, when there's just two people in the house, you gotta do what you can to cut down on waste. With these, you'll actually have enough time to eat all your strawberries before they go bad! I know these work because I have 'em, and have been using them pretty constantly since March 2018.
They legit keep produce fresh for up to 10–11 days in my experience — you can read my full Rubbermaid Freshworks review for more! These days, I *also* refrigerate my bag of sliced bread in my large one, because I can't make it through a loaf before it gets moldy, and these help keep the fridge from drying out the bread even like, two weeks later. Yay for less waste!!
They're also 100% top-rack dishwasher safe; I run 'em through the top rack all the time. This reviewer's single, but I can personally vouch for these as key in a two-person household for the same reason.
Promising review: "I had played with quite a few ways of keeping greens fresh with very limited success. I'm a single guy and I always ended up tossing away half of what I had due to spoilage. I hate wasting food! (And money, too!) So far I've tried a spring mix and also baby spinach in one of these containers and I am super pleased with the results I've seen." — Timothy D. Adams
Get a set of four from Amazon (a large lettuce/bread size, two small berry size, and one medium in-between size) for $33.99 or check out all the available packs and sizes here.
11. Or a Bluapple freshness ball designed to stash alongside your veg in the fridge and your fruit in the fruit bowl to absorb the rot-causing ethylene gas the fruit gives off. Yep, this is another genius invention aimed at maintaining freshness and cutting back on the amount of food you just throw in the trash, which is especially a challenge in a smaller household.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Just refill the Bluapple with a new packet every three months. Here's a one-year refill kit.
Now I'm wondering about combining the FreshWorks with the Blueapple...hmm!
Promising review:"These little things work great. For two people you always have leftovers and this saves your produce and your money! Inserts last 3 months! Will continue to purchase." — Philly Beth
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.99.
12. A PopLite personal popcorn maker if you love the snack, but hate throwing away single-use plastic with the microwaveable brands every time. This makes just enough to split with one other person, won't burn the kernels, and, because it air-pops, customizes easily after the fact with whatever toppings you each like best.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the popcorn maker in action.
Promising review: "Perfect for one or two people. Easy, fast, clean, and compact. I am pleasantly surprised at how much better the texture of the popcorn is and then how much better the taste is versus the stirring crazy popcorn maker that I had. I have a spray bottle of oil for use with my air fryer and it also works perfectly for spritzing the popcorn. I have had various popcorn kettles, air poppers, machines, and popcorn contraptions, and this I'd say is the best." — Scott A. Emond
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
13. The Dash rapid egg cooker so your breakfasts become instantly easier and more delicious, without taking much more effort than pouring a standard bowl of cereal. It makes tasty omelets plus hard-boiled, soft-boiled, poached, and scrambled eggs in a jiffy with minimal dishes! Six eggs is perfect for two people: you each get two eggs for breakfast, and one egg for later to supplement your lunches.
Of course all the non-electric parts are top rack dishwasher safe, which means cleanup's just as low-effort as cooking.
Promising review: "My wife and I LOVE this! We decided to give this a try when it was on a good sale. It is so easy to make hard boiled eggs now. The instructions are straight forward, clean up is fast and easy, and the egg maker even plays music when the eggs are finished cooking. We really do enjoy how easy this is and it is perfect for the two of us." — Jeremiah S
Get it on Amazon for $18.99 (available in five colors).
14. A Guac-Lock because you and S.O. both want to save some room for tacos tonight, so wouldn't it be nice if y'all could enjoy the leftover guac again tomorrow and the next day and the next? Make that dream come true with this genius device, which sizes precisely to the amount of dip you have left over, blocking air out so everything stays as green as Kermit the Frog.
www.youtube.com, www.amazon.com
The guac pictured on the right is A FULL WEEK OLD, and still green and fresh!
Promising review:"I like how crystal clear the plastic is. And this does work really well to keep guacamole green and fresh! I wish it came in a smaller size though because it's bigger than we need for just two people... We still use it though, it just feels funny to use such a big bowl for a small amount of guacamole." — Please buy me a skunk
(I'd tell this reviewer to make a bigger batch so the two of them can enjoy their guac for several days!)
Get it on Amazon for $23.74.
15. A microwave steamer — it's sized perfectly for two servings of asparagus / broccoli / carrots / zucchini / corn on the cob / [insert your favorite veg here] OR two pieces of fish OR, for the nights you're home alone, one serving each of fish and veggies. Go wild with customization to get some amazing flavor combos: swap the water for leftover Chardonnay, top everything with some slabs of butter or jots of fish sauce, and add some fresh thyme or dill or basil from your window garden.
Amazon
Get more ideas for combos from the BuzzFeed post about how to steam fish in parchment paper.
Promising review: "Holds just enough for a generous serving of veggies for dinner for two people. Works great and appears to be pretty sturdy. I've used it about 20 times so far and it is still just like new. Very happy with this product.
Update a year later: This steamer has held up amazingly well. I use it several times a week and it is still in excellent condition." — Ellen M.
Get it from Amazon for $29.97.
16. Or a mini version of the microwave steamer that's ready and waiting to whip up an instant side of veggies or potatoes — to quote Shakira — ♫ wherever, whenever. ♪ Maybe you're in a situation like me, where your partner doesn't really like veggies, so you're always looking for easy ways to make single servings. Like this!
One reviewer even uses it to heat up frozen, pre-cooked, sliced grilled chicken breast.
Promising review: "This little steamer is AWESOME!!! I love it! Easy to use and easy clean up as well. Have steamed cauliflower, Yukon gold mini potatoes and sweet potatoes and they have all come out perfect! The lid keeps the heat in, so you can place all your dinner items on your plate and add them last. Your veggies stay hot! Cannot wait to steam other items! The size is perfect for one or two people to have a portion." — allison payton
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
17. A Ninja Hot and Iced Coffee Maker because it's basically engineered to satisfy both of your changing coffee needs through each day and each week. Press a button to summon iced coffee (that's not watered down), 10-minute cold-brew, and two strengths of hot coffee — all in your choice of single mugs, single to-go cups, or a carafe for the weekends and WFH days. Oh, and it's brewed with regular coffee grounds of your choice, no wasteful or expensive pods necessary.
www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "Great for one or two people, great single cup flavor as well as carafe. The brew selection of classic and rich are distinctive and accurate." — Karl Oakley
"This machine is perfect for a household that has different coffee tastes in the morning, or for smaller households where you only need enough for one person much of the time. We replaced a basic coffee maker with this one, so it was quite the upgrade. Me and my husband are constantly at odds over coffee. He almost always wants hot no matter what time of year or temperature outside, whereas I much prefer iced. We can now do both in half the time! Absolutely love the scoop that snaps on the side and a washable and removable filter. Everything you need all in one place! My only con with this machine so far is the carafe is really hard to wash. Had to get a bottle brush for it. Other than that I highly, highly recommend this machine." — Sarah Rose
Get it from Amazon for $149.95.
18. A Dash Mini Waffle Maker I own, love, and swear by for making quick, fun breakfasts for my husband and me. Pair it with your favorite waffle mix to make ADORABLE Eggo-size waffles that taste twice as good as the frozen ones, because they're hot and homemade.
When I was pregnant, and one of my biggest cravings was for waffles just like my grandmother used to make them — not fancy Belgian style waffles with deep holes like what's popular now, but crisp-on-the-outside, spongy-on-the-inside with shallower holes she made with her 1980s square maker. Unfortunately, she passed many years ago, and her waffle iron is lost to the ages.
Oh, and I don't have much room in my tiny NYC apartment kitchen for storing a giant or even mid-sized Belgian waffle maker, either. So I bought this tiny shallow-hole beauty from the well-engineered budget kitchen brand Dash. It's $10 and makes perfect Eggo-sized waffles but with all the texture and flavor of a homemade waffle!
Simply plug it in, let it heat up till the light goes off (like a hair straightener), spoon some batter on, and close to cook until it stops steaming, about 4-ish minutes for me with the Krusteaz Waffle Mix. Which, yes, that's what my grandmother used to use! They come out perfectly every time and with the exact taste and texture I'm looking for. Then to store, it takes up no more space than, like, the size of my palm.
Promising review: "This is perfect for two people. Instead of getting my big waffle maker out and waiting for it to heat up I just get the small one out and fix a half batch of waffle mix. It bakes better than my big one and it takes up so much less space. The big one is going." — Jan Rice
Get it from Amazon for $8.89+ (available in 13 colors as well as Peeps, skull, heart, and pumpkin shapes).
19. A set of three cutting boards — they're a kitchen basic for a good reason, and if you don't have several sizes to choose from already, what are you even doing? Besides prepping produce, you'll pull these out to serve charcuterie (the medium board's perfect for two servings), after-school snacks (if it's you and a kiddo sharing an apple and cheese, the small board suffices), and big hunks of meat that need carved (like that on-sale rib eye that's just right for you and your partner to split).
www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "They serve my purpose, because they're a great size if you're prepping for one or two people. I thought the smaller board was going to be too small but that's the one I use most for chopping veggies." — Lucinda Ross
"I've owned mine for two years. Use it nearly every day and it's still in great shape." — Michael J. Lockhart
Get them from Amazon for $39.97.
20. The Beast Mini Blender because, in addition to fast single-serve smoothies, it can, in less than two minutes, whip up a two-person-sized fresh salsa, hummus, Alfredo sauce, vinaigrette dressing, nut butter, gazpacho, or even frozen marg or frozen espresso martini. The recipe possibilities? Basically endless. Let's not forget how gorgeous it'll look sitting on your counter, too!
I used this blender a ton when I was pregnant to make myself smoothies with frozen fruit and yogurt to, ahem, help with constipation (IYKYK). It's truly the perfect size if you're making individual smoothies or quick salsas — I do a pico-inspired mix of tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, salt, lime juice, and cilantro — or DIY blended iced drinks like a frap or margs. It breaks up frozen fruit and ice quickly and effortlessly, takes up very little storage space, and looks adorable on your countertop! And you can enjoy your drink right out of the blender glass — it even includes a lid and straw that screw on for easy transport. The Mini comes with just one large size container, while the Mini Plus (what I have) also includes medium and small size containers.
Promising review: "This is truly the best blender I've ever had. Perfect for smoothies for one to two people. So easy to use. So easy to clean. Perfect for small batch drinks and cocktails. You could use it for salsas. Blends my drink better than any blender I've ever had. I never write reviews, but I had to for this. If you're thinking about getting this, buy it." — Charlsi Matthews
Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available with either one or three cups).
21. A nonstick, compact sandwich griddle sized just right for making two side-by-side paninis in mere minutes. It's amazing how toasting your regular old ham and cheese suddenly upgrades it to restaurant-worthy, and with no more effort than plugging this handy gadget in.
Amazon
Promising reviews: "Just the right size for two people. Does the job." — Pampular Bolden
"This just fits two sandwiches and they always come out perfectly. I make grilled cheese sandwiches by just putting the cheese between the slices and putting them in the sandwich maker. You just need to plug it in, wait for the green light to come on, place the sandwich in, wait for the green light to come on again and you have a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Cleaning is easy and it is not very large, so it is easy to store." — Retired Expert
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
22. A Vacu Vin wine saver system that sucks out a bunch of the air to keep a partially-finished bottle tasting fresh for an entire week. Sure, the two of you can finish an entire bottle in one evening, but if you're anything like me and my husband, as you're getting older, a second drink equals a guaranteed hangover headache. Spread the enjoyment of that nice Cab over two nights with this, and skip that morning pain.
Just quickly wet the bottom of the rubbery stopper, put it in the bottle, and use the pump until it makes a clicking noise! Then reopen and reseal each night until you finish the bottle.
My parents have owned one of these for as long as I can remember, and I've had mine for nearly a decade now, and both still get used at least several times a month and work pretty darn flawlessly. I'm no sommelier, but I can tell enough to know that, especially for the first few days, the wine still retains its original taste. I love wine but my partner is a cocktail/beer drinker only, so this gizmo keeps me from throwing out so much wine!
Promising review: "Get this if you drink wine more than a few times a year. For a household of one or two especially, this is a great product. Changes to flavor are essentially none for the first 3 days and wines remain drinkable usually for up to 7 days." — Michael
Get the set from Amazon for $24.27 (available in four other colors at this listing).
23. A Yonanas Soft Serve Ice Cream maker so you can revel in a freshly made, ice-cold, creamy dessert every night of the week, using nothing but frozen bananas and fruit! (Never fear, reviewers promise that despite the banana base, your treat won't be banana-flavored.) Two bananas + one cup of fruit = the perfect portion for two people!
Yep, it requires no dairy base, so if you have that or some other dietary restrictions, you can still enjoy!
Promising review: "My first go around I made pineapple, mango, banana. Two frozen bananas and 1/2 cup each of pineapple and mango. It made plenty for my husband and myself. It had a wonderful soft serve texture and was delicious. Our next try we made strawberry banana. It was about two frozen bananas and about 1 cup of frozen strawberries. That turned out great and it also made enough for two people." — Amazon customer
Get it from Amazon for $39.98+ (available in four colors).
24. A Dash mini rice cooker to make 1 or 2 cups of perfectly done grains of your choice, and keep it ready to eat without drying it out when it's done, thanks to a smart "keep warm" setting. Sure a bigger cooker would give you leftovers, but if you don't eat them, they'll get thrown out. This makes it simple to get exactly the amount of FRESH rice, quinoa, oatmeal, or even pasta for the two of you tonight. If you need more tomorrow, it'll cook in 20 minutes.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This is not only a cute rice cooker but it's perfect for two people. I used one full cup (enclosed) and in about 20 minutes I had perfect rice. Next time I would use a little less rice and water. The lid was resting on the liquid and it was difficult to scrub off the chicken stock and rice residue, but the rice was cooked perfectly and the pot was very easy to wash by hand." — Michele Laughlin
Get it from Amazon for $21.95+ (available in six colors).
You, after cheffing up months of meals for two with minimal waste, thanks to these handy tools:
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