11 Best Kitchen Gadgets Under $20

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I absolutely love to cook. Since I have been taking cooking classes for the last two and a half years, I have realized that there are a few low cost kitchen gadgets that can really improve a person’s cooking experience. Like anything else, having the right tools for the job makes all the difference. I don’t want bulky or large gadgets, but rather ones that can fit easily into drawers and that are dishwasher safe. I want to share my favorite gadgets with you today!

The Bench Scraper

The bench scraper (Check it out on Amazon) was the first gadget that I purchased after I began taking my cooking classes, and it may be my all-time favorite! With a bench scraper, you can measure the thickness of dough and cut, divide, and trim foods. You can also scoop up chopped food from your cutting mat and use the scraper to clean your work space. When you chop vegetables and use your knife to scoop up vegetables, it dulls the blade. Knives are not very wide, so you have to collect whatever you are chopping multiple times. However, with a bench scraper, you just slide scraper under your chopped foods and place them in a bowl! I love that the bench scraper is such a multi-functional gadget.

Tovolo Spatula

You may be thinking that you can get a spatula at the dollar store. However, I love the Tovolo Spatula (Check it out on Amazon) for quite a few reasons. The best attribute of Tovolo Spatulas are their removable heads. I don’t know how many times that my spatulas have not cleaned well around where the spatula head joins the handle. With the Tovolo, I am able to take the head off from the handle and sanitize both in the dishwasher without worrying that the spatula didn’t get clean. The spatulas come in a variety of colors to match your kitchen or cookware.

Bowl Scraper

The bowl scraper (Check it out on Amazon) may be completely misnamed. It should be called the everything scraper. I use this gadget to scrape my pots, pans, bowls, and plenty more. When I use my enameled cast iron cookware, it often leaves cooking marks on the bottom of the pots or skillets. I just use the scraper with warm water, and the marks come off easily. I also use the scraper for food prep. It is perfect when achieving a smooth surface with icing and baking mixes.

Silicon Baking Mat

Silicon baking mats (Check them out on Amazon) are unbelievable for clean-up. No longer do I have to use cooking sprays or parchment paper to line pans. There is also no more hardcore scrubbing of dirty pans because these baking mats are non-stick. I clean the mats with soap and water or cleaning spray and the mats are spic and span in no time at all. Oh, and I should mention that the silicon that the mats are made of gives equal heat distribution throughout the pan for a perfect baking surface.

Cutting Mats

I have spoken of how fond I am of the thin, dishwasher safe cutting mats
(Check them out on Amazon) that I use, but they really are amazing. It definitely helps that the mats are non-porous, so I feel comfortable cutting any type of meat on them. They have a textured back for easy gripping and the mats will withstand any knife. The mats are versatile, so I don’t mind folding them when needed!

Peeler

I had given up hope in the world of peelers (Check them out on Amazon) that none were of good quality. Then I encountered the cheapest, most hard core peeler ever. This peeler will peel ginger, potatoes, or whatever you throw at it with no difficulty. My faith in the peeler world has fervently been restored!

Flat Whisk

I have only recently began using a flat whisk (Check it out on Amazon), but I do wonder where it has been most of my life. The flat whisk makes egg yolks so easy to compress when scrambling.  It is super for delicate mixes and for making sauces. I also love that because the whisk is flat, it does not get caught up and tangled in kitchen drawers. 

Blender Spatula

I love my blender, I mean really love it. However, I don’t think my love would be as strong if not for my blender spatula (Check it out on Amazon). The spatula makes scraping out the bottom of the mixer bowl a cinch, especially underneath the blades. You can use the blender spatula to get every last drop of goodness out of the bowl and to clean it well.

Kitchen Spider

A what??? Yes, a spider (Check it out on Amazon) is one of my favorite cooking tools! I first began using spiders to retrieve bagels from boiling water and doughnuts when frying. However, I have decided that it is amazing for all types of retrieval… from bones in broth to pasta, and everything in between!

Microplane

I was once a person who had to look at all the expiration dates on my spices to make sure that they were not out of date when I cooked. Although this still happens sometimes, I have drastically cut this down by using many fresh spices with the Microplane (Check it out on Amazon). It is easy to use and the spices are so fresh and delicious. I also use the Microplane to zest citrus fruits for recipes and to grate cheeses. Clean up is easy when you place the Microplane in the dishwasher.

Airtight Storage Container

I used to be one of those coffee connoisseurs who needed to grind their fresh beans every morning and wake up the entire house. That was until I found airtight storage containers (Check them out on Amazon) with plunger lids. I absolutely love how fresh my coffee grounds and other products stay because there is absolutely no air seeping in. I can only imagine the foods that can stay fresh in this container!

I definitely think that the 11 items listed above have made me a better cook, without a lot of cost. These gadgets are high quality items perfect for shower gifts or for revamping your kitchen tools. I hope that you discover some handy kitchen gadgets that make your cooking experience easier as well.

Do you have a favorite kitchen gadget that you love? We would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line in the comment section below!