Unlock Culinary Efficiency: 7 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets Under $20!

My approach in the kitchen is to dedicate precisely the amount of time needed to prepare a dish. Working on a rich polenta that requires stirring for a full hour? I’ll gladly queue an album I enjoy and pull up a stool. Crafting a gigantic sandwich with multiple distinct elements? Not an issue — I’ll free up my afternoon. However, if I’m pressed for time, like trying to whip up a speedy salad between appointments or preparing some delicious pasta before heading out to a show, using a few tools that enhance efficiency for simple tasks is beneficial.

Whether I’m utilizing my Chinese cleaver for swiftly chopping root vegetables, my Microplane for zesting a lemon to create a quick dressing, or a spider ladle to assist in transferring pasta swiftly from cooking to its saucy destination, I have learned to depend on numerous tricks to expedite cooking. Remarkably, most of these time-saving implements I utilize daily are priced well below $20. Here are a few of my favorites.

Best Under-$20 Time-Saving Hacks

• OXO Good Grips Chef’s Squeeze Bottle Set, $12
• Winco Chinese Cleaver, $14
• KitchenAid All-Purpose Kitchen Shears, $9, originally $12
• Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler, 3-Pack, $14
• OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer, $19
• Microplane Grater, $18
• Hiware Solid Stainless Spider Ladle, $9, originally $10

OXO Good Grips Chef’s Squeeze Bottle Set

Squeeze bottles are remarkable revolutionizers. I employ these not only for swiftly greasing pans and ingredients (as well as drizzling finishing olive oil on a dish before serving), but also for having soap readily available at my sink for speedy cleanup. Priced at $6 each, they will significantly accelerate your overall kitchen workflow and make you appear thoroughly professional while doing it.

Winco Chinese Cleaver

During my time working the prep station in a kitchen years ago, this cleaver was my trusty companion. It enabled me to swiftly handle large vegetables, like sweet potatoes and squash, yet was also sharp and agile enough to chop and mince garlic, slice peppers, and even dice onions. Even amidst my collection of high-quality knives at home, this remains often my preferred choice for quick prep tasks.

KitchenAid All-Purpose Kitchen Shears

Kitchen shears can accelerate cutting herbs and greens, trimming meats, and portioning completed dishes, among various other tasks. There’s a reason this seemingly modest tool boasts over 68,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. You definitely require one in your kitchen.

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler, 3-Pack

I personally prefer the skin on when dealing with potatoes and carrots, but that aside — whether you’re peeling one of those vegetables, prepping citrus for a beverage, or getting some fruit ready for dessert or a smoothie, having a top-notch peeler is a total must. This impressive option from Kuhn Rikon features a robust base and carbon steel blades, enabling you to slice, peel, and skin at astonishing speed.

OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer

Looking to prepare some quickly sliced onions, shredded cabbage, or thinly cut vegetables for a recipe? A robust mandoline will assist you in achieving that in mere seconds. I have lost count of the times I’ve transformed a cabbage or an onion into a mountain of shreds for coleslaw or stir-fry in less than a minute.

Microplane Grater

The Microplane is among the most essential instruments in my kitchen. Numerous meals gain from a quick application of lemon zest or grated garlic or ginger, and this basic tool enables you to achieve that faster than any other option.

Hiware Solid Stainless Spider Ladle

Simply stated, if you create pasta or boil or blanch foods in any manner, you cannot do without a spider ladle. Leave behind your days of clumsily pouring hot water into the sink and embrace the world of faster cooking (and no more hot water burns) with one of these.