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Posted: 2021-04-23T18:24:30Z | Updated: 2021-05-11T19:07:49Z

Cooking can sometimes be a chore not everyone is a chef who can whip up a gourmet dish easily. But by adding a few tools to your kitchen, cooking can become a whole lot easier.

A handheld garlic press, egg separator or immersion blender can make all the difference when it comes to meal-prepping or baking sweet treats. These 26 handheld tools come with high praise from reviewers, so you know theyre worth it.

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.

1
A classic handheld OXO can opener
With cushioned handles, this can opener will make popping open your favorite soup so easy. You'll be pleased you added this to your cart the next time your power goes out and you can't use the fancy electric one you typically reach for.

Promising review: "The OXO can opener is a work-horse. It is strong, well-made and plows through whatever you give it, with ease. I've had this one before and after years, it finally gave out and was hard to turn. But in buying an alternative from another company, I quickly realized the mistake and went right back to OXO to buy another. This one is so sturdy that it will last for a very long time and I'm really glad I bought it again." A.M. Miller


Get it from Amazon for $14.95 .
2
A lemon squeezer
You can use this to literally live out the old saying "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Just picture yourself sipping on a freshly squeezed glass while basking in the sun. Simply divine.

Promising review: "For years I've been squeezing lemons by hand, couldn't justify spending more on a real squeezer. Well, eventually after all the wet hands, lemon juice going everywhere and sore hands I just had had enough. I ordered this and by far am very picky with what goes into the kitchen to avoid spending more money to replace in the future. I'm particularly considered about safety/chipping/materials. Well I tried this out with our classic chicken piccata and it was the quickest, easiest experience and well made. Put the lemon in, squeeze the lever, keeps all my seeds out (no more fishing!) and every time consistent results. I saved more money getting the most juice from my lemons than probably on the product. Wish I would've bought sooner." drmach12

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in nine colors).
3
An OXO small egg beater
Your omelet will come out nice and fluffy when you use this device. It'll also be your saving grace when you're whipping up an individual dessert or Dalgona coffee and don't want to be bothered with a full-size hand mixer.

Promising review: "We live off-grid so we dont like having a bunch of power-sucking kitchen appliances but we like to cook and needed something more powerful than a hand whisk. Amazed that we were able to make whipped cream with this. Everything pops off to make cleaning easier. Handle is comfortable and operation is pretty smooth and not too difficult." Joi maree freeman

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 .
4
A milk frother
This packs a powerful punch despite looking rather delicate. It'll help transform your hot chocolate or coffee into something out of a Hallmark holiday movie. Delish.

Promising review: "OMG, this milk frother makes my homemade latte taste like it was made by a barista. It was perfect. So perfect that I bought a second one for my brother who loves coffee to use. I've already recommended it to some coworkers. It has changed my coffee-drinking life. This comes highly recommended." Michelle Pirestani

Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in 32 colors).
5
A handheld garlic press
You'll be ready to rock 'n' roll with this just don't invite any vampires over for dinner.

Promising review: "Very sturdy and well-designed garlic press. The handle is solid and the metal used isn't cheap and presses well. The enclosed small knife scraper and garlic roller are very useful. It was extremely easy to clean three cloves and then press for fresh garlic instead of the old jarred stuff from a box store. Nothing is better than using it fresh for your marinades or cooking." Leips63

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two colors).
6
A compact eight-in-one spiralizer
This lil' gadget really does it all grate cheese, juice fruits, cut ribbons and *so* much more.

Promising review: "LOVE THIS. I absolutely love this. So far I've used the thicker spiralizer, two of the grater things, and then the juicer. I love how easy this makes keeping everything together. And it's sharp so it actually cuts through things without you needing to work super hard to do it. The only thing I don't love is that the spiralizers are a bit hard to clean, but I guess that's with all of them? Not sure, this is the first I've owned. But, overall I'd recommend it :)" Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 .
7
A cookie scoop
All of your precious balls of dough will come out *exactly* the same and look simply stunning before everyone in the house gobbles 'em up.

Promising review: "Why didn't I have one of these in my kitchen drawer before?! I bought the medium-sized scoop originally to make a large batch of cookies for Christmas, but today it came handy when I had leftover batter from my banana bread recipe and it made the perfect scoop to fill a regular-sized cupcake liner! Now I'm thinking about getting the small size for my mini-cupcakes! Super easy and they came out perfectly uniform and totally beats trying to use a spoon! Handles have a nice silicone grip too and help with hand fatigue. :-)" Michi K

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in sizes S-L).
8
A too-cute egg separator
You'll be so *egg-cited* to use this, whether you're prepping an omelet or baking a cake.

BTW: Colorful Cotton Candy is a small business run out of Hong Kong.

Promising review: "Item was very well packaged, it was cute and well made. Cant wait to use it. Candy, the seller, was fantastic at communicating/providing shipping updates. Looking forward to seeing new products get added to the shop. Will be buying again with no hesitation." Yvonne

Get it from Colorful Cotton Candy on Etsy for $12.07+ (available in four colors).
9
A culinary blowtorch
You'll finally be able to make your own baked Alaska after watching chefs do it on TV for years.

Promising review: "This mini torch is easy to use with an adjustable flame. It's not too fancy shmancy, but it's not expensive either. It does everything I need it to do, including lighting candles that have burned too far down to reach with a match. (although I know that's not its intent at all) Unfortunately, it doesn't arrive with butane; but once you fill it, it lasts a pretty long time!" Vero

Get it from Amazon for $18.99 .
10
A set of pan scrapers
You'll pat yourself on the back for buying these after you see how seamlessly you'll be able to remove burned-on bits from your pans.

Promising review: "Love it! Don't know that I'll ever need two of them as they are supposed to last very long. The material is firm, but not so ridged that they don't provide any flexibility. All the various angles allow for great scraping of the bottom where it meets the side of the pans. Will be using them for other pans besides cast iron also. Even used it to scrape up dried super glue when my kid managed to spill it on the kitchen counter. Worked like magic! There are no sharp edges, so nothing can scratch." Shelly Sidhu

Get them from Amazon for $5.75 .
11
An oven mitt
Match your kitchen's neutral aesthetic with this stylish oven mitt.

Dylan Home Goods is a small business run out of Los Angeles that specializes in handmade household products.

Promising review: "Fantastic handmade linen kitchen gloves! They are incredibly high quality and a perfect addition to our kitchen. Absolutely love them and can't wait to order more from this shop." Karissa Barney

Get a single mitt from Dylan Home Goods on Etsy for $16.50 (available in two colors).
12
A handheld knife sharpener
Bring your most-used kitchen utensils back to life.

Promising review: "Buying this knife sharpener has changed my life! I used to burn water, but now I'm on par with chefs like Gordon Ramsay! My knives are so sharp that I could cut off a finger and would not even notice. Paper-thin tomatoes and onions for a tuna fish sandwich? Not a problem! Thank you KitchenIQ, my life will never be the same." J.W.

Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in two styles).
13
An immersion blender
Now you can recreate your favorite takeout soup any time you want broccoli cheddar in a bread bowl, here we come!

Promising review: "Amazing blender! I've had other (cheap) models of immersion blenders. While they did what they were supposed to do, they did not have quality that this Mueller one has. I absolutely ADORE that the piece that does the work is all stainless, not cheap plastic. I use mine mostly for doing soups, and it does a wonderful job even on 'tough' kohlrabi. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a GOOD immersion blender!" Judy D.

Get it from Amazon for $29.97 .
14
A corn butter knife
Ensure each kernel is coated in golden goodness without much of a hassle or mess.

Promising review: "I purchased the corn butter knife early in the summer just in time for corn season. Since it comes in a set of two, I gave one to my daughter and son-in-law; their comment was, 'Why hasn't anyone ever thought of this before?!' It's a MUCH better solution than rolling the cob in a slab of butter!" Anne

Get a two-pack from The Grommet for $13.95 or Amazon for $9.99 .
15
A stainless-steel 3-cup sifter
This is great for anyone who is tired of using one with a squeeze handle this crank model will make your baking efforts a breeze.

Promising review: "Great sifter! This design is so much better than the squeeze variety I have been using, my hand was SO tired from my old sifter. This is just like my grandma used to have, seems solid. I expect to have many years of service from it. Sifting the flour makes a 100% difference in gluten-free baking, especially with those heavy bean flours. I know some people are talking about not being able to wash their sifters, but you know, I remember my grandma keeping hers in her big tip-out flour bin all the time without a problem. I'm keeping mine in a plastic bag as recommended by the manufacturer. I think it is a great product and a great buy." Doonsie

Get it from Amazon for $10.50 .
16
A customizable pizza cutter
Hazel Grove Customs is a small business run out of Burlington, North Carolina, that sells all kinds of customizable home items and accessories. You can have this pizza cutter customized with whatever phrase you'd like!

Promising review: "I love how unique the product was and how I could customize the saying. Shipped on time and I appreciated the speed of delivery and quality of product!" Tia

Get it from HazelGroveCustoms on Etsy for $14.95 .
17
A 3-in-1 BBQ tool
No more fumbling around for the right grill gadget while your burgers are ready to be flipped: This acts as a spatula, tongs and brush all in one.

Promising review: "Bought it for my son in law for Christmas, a grill master! Loved not burning his wrist on the big grill, and can pick up all large cuts of meat and small pieces of vegetable without a problem. Very well-made. Extremely pleased with this purchase!" Joyce

Get it from The Grommet for $17.95+ (available in three sizes).
18
A tortilla press
This will help take your Taco Tuesdays to the next level without going above and beyond your minimal cooking skill level.

Promising review: "I love this tortilla press! Its easy to use and to keep clean. Im also a sucker for the beautiful towel that came with it! Its so pretty and keeps the tortillas nice and warm. You wont be disappointed!" Cynthia P

Get it from Amazon for $48 .
19
An 8-in-1 kitchen gadget tool
This must-have tool includes a funnel, a juicer, a grater, an egg cracker, a shredder, a can opener, an egg separator and a measuring cup.

Promising review: "I highly recommend this product to everybody! It's very convenient and it takes up less space. I just sit it right on the counter in my kitchen and just grab it when I need it. It's ideal for everything it's perfect!" jennifer h.

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 .
20
Some environmentally friendly Swedish dishcloths
Made of cellulose and cotton, you can use these dishcloths to clean your counters, stovetops, dishes, shower doors and mirrors and they come in fun designs!

Promising review: "These are awesome and I dont know why I didnt learn to use these in the kitchen and bathroom ages ago. They wipe down countertops, sinks, and everything, leaving hardly any water behind and pick up even the smallest of debris, lint, etc. These are great quality." Shopper56

Get a set of three from Amazon for $15.20+ (available in 18 styles).
21
An OXO apple slicer and corer
You'll be able to quickly cut a healthy snack without being late to your Zoom meeting.

Promising review: "My husband laughed at this purchase questioning why we needed another gadget. Well, he ate his words the first time he tried it! This is the BEST gadget you never knew you needed. It perfectly cores and slices apples with a minimum of effort. Its the most-used gadget in our kitchen (we love apples). Highly recommend." CT C

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 .
22
A Gracula garlic crusher
Not only will this tool inspired by Dracula make you smile, it will also prevent your fingers from smelling like garlic all day. You can also use it to chop nuts, fruits and veggies.

Promising review: "I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and months later still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. I'm pretty sure she likes it better than other gifts I've gotten her which were more expensive/thought out, and I'm fairly certain it's what took me from 'good friend' to 'best friend,' but it be that way sometimes. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor." L

Get it from Amazon for $19 .
23
A French or dowel rolling pin
This will help you roll out dough for pizzas, breads, cookies and even properly flatten fondant. Anyone else super hungry yet?

Promising review: "First off, I'm so happy to have found a nice, basic dowel-type rolling pin. I appreciate the smooth, finished wood that doesn't stick to my food or preparation area, the simplicity of the design that's easy to tell if what I'm flattening is under the workable area of the pin or not, and that it's easy to clean/maintain. The deeper walnut color matches my (older) cutting board and keeps it from looking cheap. There's a good weight to it and it feels solid without being too heavy to handle or store upright in a utensil container. The length is also good and covers the bases of my baking needs. Very satisfied with my purchase." Dawn

Get it from Amazon for $10.98+ (available in two styles and two colors).
24
A pair of shredder claws
You won't have to suffer from burned fingertips while trying to get closer to flawlessly replicating your grandma's famous pulled-pork recipe.

Promising review: "Works well for shredding larger portions of meat, like pork. Plastic appears to be of higher quality. Sufficient room in the opening for most finger and hand sizes. The pointed tips shouldn't cause injury unless you're careless. I'd highly recommend the use of quality protective gloves; you're not only dealing with the mess of shredding itself but also, most likely, some elevated temperature food." Legardi11

Get it from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in four colors).
25
A pair of looseleaf tea infusers
You won't want to describe these as anything other than "dino-myte."

Promising review: "These are darling! I have one at home and one at work and they both work well. Ultra fine leaves/pieces make it through, but thats true for most infusers unless theyre ultra fine mesh. One (humorous) design flaw... it does look a bit like Nessie is relieving herself when you take her out of your cup. Haha" M.D.

Get a set of two from Amazon for $12.95 .
26
An OXO dusting wand
Transform your cakes and pies into a sugary work of art. Hope you've got your camera ready you're gonna want to show the final product off to all your friends.

Promising review: "Absolutely LOVE this little dusting gadget. If you want to sprinkle powdered sugar on cookies/cannolis PERFECT! Want to sprinkle your cake pan with flour PERFECT! Making Tiramisu and want to dust it with cocoa powder PERFECT! Awesome little tool." Cheryl

Get it from Amazon for $13.93 .

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.