Must-Have Kitchen Innovations for 2024: Tools and Gadgets You Can’t Live Without

Much of my 2024 was spent in the kitchen. As a creator of recipes and articles discussing my favorite culinary tools, this is no surprise to anyone familiar with me. Throughout the process of preparing numerous dishes, I explored many gadgets and utensils — and repeatedly gravitated towards a select few products. From a Zojirushi rice cooker to the Fellow electric kettle that I use on a daily basis, continue reading to explore the ingenious gadgets I now rely upon for assurance and proficiency in the kitchen. 

Ingenuity in Amazon Kitchen Gadgets and Tools Tested by a Writer

• Brown Sugar Bear Sugar Saver, $5  
• Fellow Stagg Electric Gooseneck Kettle, $165
• Zojirushi 6-Cup Rice Cooker & Steamer, $65, originally $75 
• OXO Good Grips Bench Scraper & Chopper, $12
• Material The Wood Spoon, $15
• Mooshion Corn Cob Scraper, $7 
• Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother, $75, originally $99 
• Männkitchen Pepper Cannon, $200  

Brown Sugar Bear Sugar Saver 

It frustrates me immensely when I embark on a cooking endeavor that I cannot complete. For example, when I opt to bake chocolate chip cookies only to discover unusable, hardened brown sugar in my pantry, I feel unreasonably upset until I can rectify the situation. To prevent this negativity from establishing itself, I have started using this charming terracotta tile. All that is required is to soak it in water, dry it off gently, and place it in the container housing my brown sugar, which remains fluffy and tender for months on end. 

Fellow Stagg Electric Gooseneck Kettle 

I consume a substantial amount of tea while my spouse enjoys a great deal of coffee, thus we required an electric kettle to meet our demands. We discovered exactly that with Fellow. Its capability to heat water to the desired temperature (and maintain that temperature for up to an hour) proves invaluable during hectic weekday mornings when distractions are frequent. I appreciate being able to heat water, step outside with my dog, or respond to an email, and return 30 minutes later to continue preparing my steaming cup of tea.   

Zojirushi 6-Cup Rice Cooker & Steamer

Regarding Zojirushi rice cookers, this is the most fundamental model you can purchase. Nonetheless, it accomplishes more than adequately for me in my culinary space. I especially appreciate the included steamer basket, which enables me to prepare fresh vegetables or seafood alongside any grain. It’s truly worth the investment if you consume as much rice as I do, particularly since it’s currently discounted for a limited period.  

OXO Good Grips Bench Scraper & Chopper 

Boasting over 15,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, it’s hardly surprising that one customer referred to OXO’s bench scraper and chopper as a “revolutionary tool in the kitchen.” Despite being a straightforward implement, it possesses an impressive array of functions, such as lifting vegetables from a cutting board, scraping dough off a countertop post-kneading, and dividing butter. It also features quarter-inch increments for simplified measuring during baking or cooking.  

Material The Good Shears 

Your nonstick cookware requires a utensil that won’t damage the surface, and wooden options are a fantastic gentle choice for any type of cookware. I own two of these wooden spoons and would like to have two additional ones. I adore their angled heads for effortless mixing and stirring, plus they are aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean by hand.

Mooshion Corn Cob Scraper 

A present from my husband’s aunt, Mooshion’s corn cob scraper efficiently removes corn kernels from the cob. Even though we could opt for a knife, this tool feels like a safer choice — and a significantly quicker one. An Amazon customer even described it as the “best little utility tool,” adding that “the blade is sharp and completely removes the kernels.”  

Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother 

I’m bending the rules slightly as I’ve possessed a version of this milk frother for several years, but it remains one of my preferred kitchen tools. It has received almost daily usage over the past few (cold) months while I’m frequently preparing tea lattes and hot chocolates to warm up. It even includes a setting for cold-frothed milk for beverages like cold brew. Acquire it now while it is discounted.  

Männkitchen Pepper Cannon 

Our electric pepper and salt grinders ceased functioning quite rapidly after we got them, which is why I was thrilled when Männkitchen sent me their pepper mill. The brand accurately refers to it as a “Pepper Cannon,” an apt name for such a highly effective tool. With minimal effort on my end, it processes more peppercorns in a shorter time than my electric version ever managed. It’s a pricey mill, but it’s probably the last one you’ll ever need to purchase.