Before the 9 to 5 shift, there’s the 5 to 9 shift. Some people spend this time relaxing and catching up with friends. But most of us make a quick dinner and get ready for the next day’s work.
Cooking is fun, but the process and cleanup afterwards can be a chore, especially when you’re limited on time in the mornings and evenings. But whether you need to use the messy microwave or find an easier, more time-efficient way to make and pack lunches, there are handy products out there that can make the project easier.
In fact, TODAY contributor Allie Love recently shared with TODAY some of her favorite kitchen gadgets that make meal prep a breeze: Below, find the high-tech gadgets to quirky cookware that will help make cooking a breeze.
Featured on TODAY | Other Kitchen Utensils & Tools | Why We Chose This
Best kitchen gadgets and tools featured on TODAY
Revolution Touch Toaster
The brand says it has developed the world’s first digital/touchscreen toaster. With a tap of the screen, you can unlock different settings to customize your food to your liking and toast your bagels or waffles to perfection. “The Revolution Toaster was created with smart heating and a touchscreen so the technology adjusts to what you’re heating, which isn’t possible with a knob or dial,” Love explains. “This toaster toasts food instead of stripping it of moisture, resulting in crispy outside and soft, tender toast inside.” You can also buy accessories for toasting paninis and grilled cheeses.
Beast Mini Blender
“The Beast is the Swiss Army knife of your kitchen!” says Love. “It’s a versatile blender that can be used for shakes, dips, dressings, desserts, vegetable blends, crushing ice, and more. [and] “Just grind your coffee. The uses are endless.” Unlike most blenders on the market, there’s only one button to start it up. But the best part is that you can remove the blender cup and turn it into a portable cup for your smoothies or shakes. Blenders come in mini or full sizes, which we’ll show you below.
Even better, you can get 10% off the blender when you use the code “TODAY” on the brand’s website.
Beast Health Blender
Hexclad 2QT Hybrid Saucepan with Lid
“HexClad is a true hybrid (stainless steel and nonstick) cookware line that’s instantly recognizable by its signature chic hexagonal pattern design,” Love notes. This includes saucepans, which the brand calls “a kitchen staple” for their ability to prepare sauces, grains, and a variety of other dishes. Hybrid technology also allows for quick cleanup, a durable finish, and ensures food cooks evenly.
Hexclad 8-inch Hybrid Frying Pan
If you’re not sure where to start on your Hexclad journey, this pan is a great choice. For example, this multi-function pan also features the brand’s famous hybrid technology, but it’s perfect for cooking everything, including eggs and vegetables. This 8-inch is one of the smaller versions, but there are several larger sizes available, including a 12-inch and a 14-inch (with or without a lid).
Hex Clad Hybrid Pizza Steel
A quick look at the description proves that looks can be deceiving. It may not look like any other pizza pan, but we can assure you this one is pretty awesome. You’ll notice the handlebar first, which makes it easy to slide the pan in and out of the oven. But what surprised us most are the other high-tech features. These include an aluminum core that cuts cooking time, an oven-safe (up to 900°F) design, lightweight size, and non-stick technology that ensures your pizza comes out perfectly crispy every time.
Ninja NeverClog Cold Press Juicer
Some vegetables and fruits can be tricky to juice, but this juicer from Ninja claims to make it easy. Designed to deliver powerful juice with little mess or hassle, this juicer only requires two buttons to program. Customize with less or more pulp depending on your preference, and it’s dishwasher safe after use.
Crock-Pot On-The-Go Personal Food Warmer
Think of the Crock-Pot Portable Food Warmer as an electric lunch box. With a 20-ounce capacity, it’s big enough for one person to carry and heat up a meal at the office or on a road trip. It also has an airtight lid to prevent spills, making it perfect for toting leftovers, soup, or oatmeal that might be difficult to transport home. Overall, this device makes heating, transporting, storing, and cleaning your lunch easy.
Other Kitchen Utensils and Tools
TODAY contributor Chassie Post previously visited Hoda and Jenna to share their favorite quirky yet practical kitchen and cleaning tools you can buy right now.
SameTech Pineapple Peeler, Corer, Slicer, Cutter
“I’ve never bought a pineapple before because it’s such a pain to cut up and half of it goes to waste,” Post said. She discovered a unique tool that can make the process easier and reduce waste.
Peel, core, slice and cut your pineapple into bite-sized pieces in just seconds. Simply insert the stainless steel core into the top of the fruit and rotate to cut the pineapple into spirals. With one quick press of the 8-section blade, you’ll have an evenly chopped snack.
iGenietti Watermelon Corer and Slicer
If you’ve ever cut your fingers trying to cut a watermelon, this is for you. This tool combines the convenience of tongs with the functionality of a knife for easy slicing and serving.
Kitchen Gizmo Snap N Strainer
“What annoys me is how much space a colander takes up in a drawer or cupboard,” says Post, who likes that this clip-on colander is compact and fits over most pots and bowls.
Uncommon Goods Kebab Grill Basket
Instead of skewers, this easy-to-use grill basket lets you enjoy the taste of charcoal grilling without the hassle. The steel wire basket is heat resistant, and the rosewood handle ensures a comfortable cooking experience.
Uncommon Goods Bristle Free Grill Brush
Don’t shy away from grilling because of the hassle of cleanup. This nifty grill brush uses a continuous spring instead of bristles to remove grease and food build-up. It’s safe to use and designed to last longer than traditional brushes.
Hiware Blind Duster Brush
Dusting blinds can seem like a never-ending task, so cut down on cleaning time with this polygonal duster that works like tongs, allowing you to grab each blind individually and clean them with one sweep.
Hoover Professional Series Floormate Deluxe
Post calls this vacuum a game changer because it completely replaces the household mop: It cleans with both water and suction, and is designed to gently wash and scrub wood, vinyl, tile, and grout.
Simplehuman Rechargeable Sensor Pump
This touchless soap dispenser from Simplehuman is a smart hygiene device that dispenses just the right amount of soap every time, without any contact. It features a stainless steel exterior and a clog-proof pump to keep soap flowing.
This can be used with liquid soap, but you can also opt for a foam soap model.
HoMedics Cell Phone Sanitizer
HoMedics’ Phone Sanitizer is designed to sanitize your phone, keys, glasses, etc. The company claims that the device uses UV light to quickly kill up to 99.9% of germs and is effective in just one minute.
HoMedics Portable Disinfection Bag
This sanitizer bag takes sanitizing to a whole new level. Like the brand’s phone sanitizer bag, it’s designed to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, but it can hold larger items and multiple items at once.
Hoover One Power Evolve Pet Vacuum Cleaner
The Hoover OnePwr Evolve Vacuum delivers the power of an upright vacuum in a lightweight design at just 9 pounds. It also comes with a brush roll and odor-eliminating filter, making it perfect for pet owners.
How did you choose it?
The Shop TODAY team spoke with experts and TODAY contributors Ally Love and Chassie Post to learn how to choose the best kitchen appliances and tools available, as well as tips on how to use them for everyday use.
We then scoured the internet to select shopper-popular products that meet the guidelines laid out by our experts, plus we’ve included a few of our own personal favorites.
