Everyone has that one kitchen gadget they thought they’d never use, until they did, and now it’s out on the counter every day. An online thread recently asked people which tool they actually use most, and the answers were full of valuable tools that would make anyone’s life easier.
The story
Someone posted on Reddit that they wanted to buy a kitchen tool as a birthday gift to themselves. They already had all the basics, a dehydrator, a sous vide, even a siphon, but wanted something they’d actually use. They mentioned they were considering a cavatelli maker or a tortilla press and wanted suggestions from people who cook often. Within hours, the thread filled up with hundreds of replies from people listing the tools they swear by, from small scrapers to heavy Dutch ovens.
The reactions
One of the first replies pointed right back to what the original poster was already considering: “For a useful gift, consider a cavatelli maker (Fante’s or Gazechimp) for fresh pasta, or a tortilla press (Victoria cast iron or aluminum) for homemade tortillas.”
Fresh pasta tools like a cavatelli maker are surprisingly practical if you cook often. With this tool, you make chewy, fresh noodles in minutes using just flour and water. A tortilla press is another favorite; once you start pressing your own dough, you won’t get the store-bought ones. The cast iron ones last forever and can double as a small pan for baking flatbreads.
A lot of people agreed with this one right away, “Bench scraper. Never knew I needed one. God was I blind.” Another person added, “The amount of diced veg that meets my floor has gone down to almost zero. Truly the unsung hero of my kitchen.”
A bench scraper doesn’t look like much, but it’s surprisingly helpful. It helps clean up the board, move chopped food into a pan, and cut dough without making a mess. Once you have one, it’s hard to go back to using a knife for everything. They’re cheap, simple, and long-lasting.
Many people recommended buying an immersion blender, one said, “A good immersion blender. Game changer for convenience.”
Immersion blenders save the trouble of pouring hot soup into a blender jar. They’re ideal for purées, sauces, or even quick smoothies. Most people who buy one end up using it constantly because it’s easier to clean than a regular blender and takes almost no counter space.
Some people swore by an older classic, “Love love my potato ricer. Can be used to press other things as well—like citrus.”
Potato ricers are not just great for mashed potatoes, but they’re great for squeezing spinach, pressing cooked veggies, or juicing lemons and oranges without seeds. This classic tool handles heavy ingredients better than most motorized gadgets.
Many people also mentioned how much they rely on a simple mortar and pestle. One person shared, “Pestle and mortar. I use it pretty much every time I cook.”
Pestle and mortar are perfect for grinding spices, garlic, or fresh herbs into sauces. Many cooks said they keep it on their counters because it’s used daily, for everything from salad dressings to spice mixes. I use mine for some dishes that call for coarsely ground spices.
This helpful tool got a lot of nods from many Redditers. One said:
"Rotary grater with changeable plates. I just sliced some leeks and potatoes last night, and it was so damn fast/less stressful than using a mandolin. I use it often for grated cheese or veggies for soup.”
Rotary graters are safer than open-blade graters and work well for large batches. The interchangeable plates let you slice or shred a variety of food without switching tools. They’re great for soups, salads, and cheese toppings, especially when you don’t want to risk your knuckles on a mandolin.
Of course, no kitchen thread would be complete without someone mentioning an Instant Pot. “I received an Instant Pot as a gift, totally didn’t think I’d use it, turns out I use it all the time, at least once a week, if not more”, one person said.
The Instant Pot gets a lot of hype, but most people who own one say it genuinely saves time. It cooks rice, beans, stews, or pulled meats without needing to stir or watch the pot. People use it in all kinds of ways, for meal prep, quick dinners, or just when they don’t want to spend the evening standing by the stove.
Some people recommended investing in a kitchen appliance that would last a long time and be helpful for many things. “I’ve been a hobby cook for years, but finally invested in a Cuisinart 11-cup food processor. My family and friends are sick of hearing about it! However, my wife will listen to me endlessly since I’m now making homemade hummus, salsas, cheesecakes, ice cream (healthy kind with just frozen fruit and a can of coconut milk), etc., within an hour. It’s endless and by far the best tool ever!” said a husband.
Food processors are still the backbone of many kitchens. They chop, blend, and mix almost anything. The 11-cup size is big enough for sauces and doughs, but not so heavy as to be challenging to move around. For anyone who cooks from scratch often, this one earned a lot of praise for replacing several smaller gadgets.
A few people swore by something that many people wouldn’t think of considering, but is really useful, as shared by someone: “Do you have a vacuum sealer? I recently got one, along with the canisters for vacuum marination. A definite improvement over freezing leftovers in ziplock bags. And to my surprise, the vacuum marination does have a noticeable effect, especially on chicken.”
Vacuum sealers don’t just store food longer; they help marinate faster and more evenly. When air is pulled out, flavors absorb better. It’s useful for anyone who cooks in bulk or wants to reduce waste. The canisters that come with some models are also good for keeping coffee, nuts, and snacks fresh.
Some commentators recommend getting a Dutch oven. One shared, “After I met my girlfriend last year, I complimented her enameled Dutch oven. A few days late, I saw UPS had left a box on my porch. Love her and my dutch oven.”
Dutch ovens are a favorite because you can make almost everything in them, soups, braises, bread, and even desserts. The enamel inside makes it easy to clean, and you can use it on the stove or in the oven. A good one lasts a lifetime, so it’s a practical gift for someone who loves to cook.
And then there were a few mentions of smaller tools that make everyday cooking easier. One person recommended, “A Thermapen is a great gift. I use mine nearly every day. A second option would be a Peugeot pepper mill. It changed the way I experience pepper.”
A Thermapen helps check if meat or fish is cooked without cutting into it. It’s quick and accurate, making cooking much easier. The pepper mill might sound like a small thing, but once you start using fresh pepper, you can actually taste the difference.
The takeaway
Everyone has their own way of cooking, but having the right tools makes a big difference. You don’t have to buy every kitchen tool on the market; get the ones you’ll actually use and those that are good value for money. In the end, it’s about using what works for you!
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