10 Brilliant Kitchen Essentials That Simplify Cooking and Cleanup

      June 24, 2025

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      One thing about me is my passion for spending time in the kitchen. I take pleasure in cooking for my family, preparing for dinner gatherings and holidays, and of course, whipping up a classic girl dinner for myself. Although I’m quite proficient in the kitchen, I readily admit that I appreciate a good kitchen hack. If there's a tool that can save me time, help me organize my area, or prevent me from washing a mountain of dishes at the end of the day, I’m all for it. I’m also easily swayed by what I see on TikTok, so if someone raves about an item, it’s going straight into my cart. With that in mind, I know a thing or two about kitchen essentials that can simplify your life.

      I have a few kitchen gadgets that I absolutely adore, and whether you’re just starting out or an aspiring chef, you’ll likely find them useful too. Plus, you don’t have to spend a fortune on them. I always check REBEL first for open-box versions of premium kitchen essentials, which have saved me quite a bit (and currently, you can use code EVERYGIRL-15 for $15 off purchases over $100). So, without further delay, here are the kitchen essentials that are straightforward yet feel luxurious and will elevate your cooking and organization.

      10 Kitchen Essentials That Make My Life So Much Easier

      Hearth & Hand with Magnolia

      I may be old-school, but I own numerous cookbooks and even a recipe box. When I discover recipes I enjoy, I like to have hard copies to avoid losing them. However, while cooking, I prefer not to clutter my counter with a book or flip through pages with dirty hands. Incorporating a cookbook stand into my kitchen was both stylish and practical. If you, like me, prefer physical cookbooks to digital versions, you’ll appreciate having one of these on your countertop.

      Amazon

      Many of my go-to recipes align with the Mediterranean diet, which means I use a lot of olive oil. While I could measure out the olive oil by sight, my perfectionist side prefers accurate measurements. These olive oil dispenser bottles – which I also utilize for vinegar and infused oils – are a game changer. They eliminate the need for measuring cups, which results in fewer dishes to clean. Plus, they’re adorable and complement just about any kitchen style.

      Amazon

      I bought this mini vegetable chopper mainly because I was getting lazy with chopping and cleaning my cutting board. This small but powerful gadget can chop almost anything—peppers, onions, garlic, and more. It works simply: the more you spin the device, the finer it chops your food. While I mainly use it for chopping veggies quickly, it can also serve as an alternative to a food processor, which is great if you want to make salsa or pesto without investing in an expensive food processor.

      Amazon

      Though I sadly don’t have one in my kitchen, whenever I cook with someone who has one, I'm quick to volunteer to do all the chopping. This is the best vegetable chopper I’ve ever encountered because it includes various attachments and has a container connected to the chopper. This setup allows you to gather everything in one place, eliminating the need to wash cutting boards or knives afterward. I will admit I struggled a bit at first, but TikTok revealed that you simply need to smack it to chop. It sounds odd, but that’s the trick!

      Amazon

      Air fryers are all the rage now. I’ve even noticed that many of my frozen food packages include directions for oven, microwave, and air fryer preparation. I use my air fryer often enough that cleaning it became an unfortunate part of my routine. Then, I found air fryer basket liners that make cleanup much easier. I prefer the dishwasher-safe silicone ones, but if you're looking for an even simpler cleanup, single-use liners are an option.

      Amazon

      From a young age, I learned to cover whatever I put in the microwave with a paper towel to prevent splatters. It sounds straightforward! However, the paper towel often slips into my bowl of soup or falls off, resulting in a mess anyway. My fiancé recently introduced me to microwave food covers, which have saved me from many soup cleanups. What I love most about these covers is their ability to flatten for easy storage, so they don’t take up much space and can be stored in any drawer or cabinet.

      Amazon

      If you live in an apartment, you know the struggle of a small freezer. While there may be an ice maker inside, it occupies a significant portion of your limited space. Since iced beverages are essential for many of us, we often need ice on hand. This countertop