8 Affordable Kitchen Tools We Can’t Live Without

These 8 kitchen tools are complete game changers; not only do they make cooking easier but also a lot more fun!

Limited kitchen space is a common hurdle. So, we need the best, most useful tools. No one wants a cluttered kitchen. Too many unnecessary items in the kitchen will not only make your kitchen messy, but hard to cook in. And, when it comes to cooking, working smarter not harder is the name of the game.

Take a look at our all-time favorite kitchen tools and why we love them so much. We promise that these simple tools will make a huge, positive difference in how you cook and the fun you have in the kitchen.

Silicone Baking Mat
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Anyone who bakes knows how annoying it is to clean baking pans. They are tedious to scrub and almost impossible to keep clean. Baking with parchment paper helps keep pans clean but using parchment can be wasteful. You buy the paper to use once, throw it away, rinse and repeat.

The answer to these baking problems are silicone baking mats. Reusable, completely nonstick, and easy to clean (most are even dishwasher-friendly!), these mats make quite the difference in the kitchen. They will help you bake perfect sweets, since they evenly conduct heat from your metal baking trays, and they will keep your baking trays perfectly clean! Get a set in a variety of sizes so you have one that fits every pan in the kitchen. They can even help reheat food in a toaster oven!

Rubber Spatulas
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The classic wooden spoon is great and all, but you need a set of rubber spatulas. They can scrape down the sides of a mixing bowl, fold batter together with ease, and even help you stir up ingredients in a hot skillet. The rubber spatula can do it all.

They’re also a more sanitary option than a wooden spoon for cooking. Wooden spoons may hold on to bacteria and they are not usually safe to put in the dishwasher. Rubber spatulas can go straight into the hot dishwasher to ensure they are perfectly clean and safe for cooking. Look for rubber spatulas that are heat resistant, dishwasher safe, and a little bit flexible. Once you buy a set, you’ll find that you use them constantly.

Silicone Muffin Tray
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Tired of washing muffin trays? They can be almost impossible to clean! But if you bake muffins in a silicone muffin tray, you will never have this problem ever again.

Silicone muffin trays can resist the high heat of the oven and can go right into the dishwasher after you bake. Plus, it’s super easy to pop the muffins out of the tray. You don’t even need paper liners!

Bake muffins, cupcakes, and even healthy egg bites in a silicone baking tray. You will be obsessed with this amazing kitchen tool.

Meat Claws
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If you love shredded meat, then you need a pair of meat claws. Sure, you can shred meat with forks, but that method is’nt always easy. If you want perfectly shredded meat, you really need to get a set of meat claws.

Use this handy tool to shred roasted pork, rip through a rotisserie chicken, or tear up some smoked turkey for a sandwich. Shredding meat has never been easier or more satisfying.

Pineapple Slicer
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Fresh, ripe pineapple is simply delicious. But pineapples can be difficult to cut. They are big, spikey, and have that hard pit in the middle that is sometimes frustrating to work around. A pineapple cutter might seem like a novelty, but once you use one to chop a pineapple perfectly in minutes, you won’t go back. The tool removes the pineapple core and peel, all while slicing it into neat little circles. Any fruit lover will appreciate this simple, useful kitchen tool.

Meat Thermometer
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Professional kitchens swear by meat thermometers, but something you might not think about at home.
A good meat thermometer doesn’t have to be expensive and it will take all the guesswork out of cooking meat. You can enjoy your meal with ease without worrying if your dinner was cooked to the proper temperature. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Get a simple, probe thermometer if you want to quickly check the temperature of meat in a skillet, or invest in a wireless thermometer if you like to cook on a grill. There are lots to choose from and it is a tool you will use anytime you make dinner.

Collapsible Food Storage Containers
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If you have a small kitchen or just like to keep things nice and organized, then you need a set of collapsible food storage containers. Each container folds down for easy storage. When you are ready to put away your food, simply pop the container open and it is ready to use!

Look for a container set that has a few different sizes, as you will need them all. Locking lids are another great feature and containers that are microwave and dishwasher safe are a must. Your container drawer or cabinet will never look so clean and organized!

Garlic Twister
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Every chef knows that freshly chopped garlic adds an incredible amount of flavor to every meal. However, all chefs also know that mincing garlic can be a tedious task. A garlic twister is going to be your go-to tool whenever you want freshly chopped garlic.

Simply put the garlic cloves in this little machine and twist it back and forth. Perfect, fresh garlic will be ready to use in just seconds! But why not a garlic press, you ask? Because unlike a press, a garlic twister can chop multiple cloves at once, is easier to clean, and it can be used for other things, too – like chopping ginger, herbs, and even nuts. This tool is a real kitchen time saver.