My Must Have Kitchen Products

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a kitchen gadget that actually makes life easier—not just takes up counter space. These are the appliances I use daily to whip up healthy, home-cooked meals with minimal effort (and maximum flavor). You’d think I was sponsored by Ninja with how much I rave about them. I’m not—I just have a borderline obsession with their stuff. Let’s dive in!

If your blender struggles with ice like a weak handshake, it’s time to upgrade to the Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ! This bad boy packs 1400 peak watts of power—enough to obliterate ice cubes into snow faster than you can say “brain freeze.” With three Auto-iQ programs, it basically does the thinking for you, so you can sip on perfect smoothies, frozen drinks, or nutrient-packed blends without breaking a sweat. Got a crowd to feed? The XL 72-oz. pitcher has you covered. Running out the door? The two 24-oz. to-go cups let you take your creations on the move. Smoothies have never been this easy—or this fun!

Personal Review: I believe you should have more than one type of blender but if you only want one, this is the one to get. With the spiral blade that goes all the way up the middle, it makes chopping so easy.

Hosting a shindig? Prepping a feast? Just feeling fancy in the kitchen? The Ninja food processor has your back with a beastly 1000-peak-watt motor that chews through tough ingredients like a champ. With 4 Auto-iQ preset programs, it practically cooks for you—chop, slice, puree, or knead dough at the push of a button while you sip something bubbly. The 9-cup bowl means no batch is too big (or too small—leftovers, anyone?). Razor-sharp stainless steel blades ensure every cut is precise—no more sad, uneven veggies. And because life’s too short for handwashing, all removable parts are BPA-free and dishwasher safe. Oh, and did we mention the sleek silver finish? It’s as stylish as it is powerful. So go on, unleash your inner chef—this bad boy is ready to party.

Personal Review: This makes making biscuits super easy and I love using it for pesto. I highly recommend.

Whether you like it hot, cold, strong, or smooth, this Ninja coffee maker has you covered with four brew styles—Classic, Rich, Over Ice, and Cold Brew—so your coffee mood always gets what it wants. Craving iced coffee? No watered-down disappointment here, just bold, flavorful goodness. Need cold brew now? No more waiting 12+ hours—it’s ready in just 10 minutes. With eight brew sizes, you can go from a small cup to a full carafe, or anywhere in between (because sometimes, one cup just won’t cut it). The removable water reservoir auto-meters the perfect amount, so there’s no need to measure—or constantly refill. Thanks to Thermal Flavor Extraction, every sip is ultra-flavorful with perfect saturation and temperature control. And since it works with actual coffee instead of pods, you can customize your brew while cutting down on plastic waste. Oh, and that 24-hour delay brew? That means you can wake up to the smell of fresh coffee like the caffeinated royalty you are. The best part? It comes with a 12-cup glass carafe, a permanent filter, and the Ninja Smart Scoop—because measuring coffee should be easy, just like your mornings.

Personal Review: This is the one we use at our house. It makes excellent coffee and its very easy to use. I like the built in frother tool. I do wish it had the ability to make espresso but it is worth the money without it.

Got a crowd to feed or just really love leftovers? This Crockpot_^TM 7-quart slow cooker has the space to serve 9+ people or handle a hefty 7-pound roast like a champ. Whether you like things low and slow or need to crank up the heat, the high and low settings (plus a handy warm function) keep your meal at the perfect temp until it’s time to dig in. The best part? It’s a true set it and forget it situation—throw in your ingredients, go about your day, and come back to a home that smells like pure comfort. Cleanup? Barely a thing. One-pot cooking means fewer dishes, and both the lid and removable stoneware can take a spin in the dishwasher. Speaking of the stoneware, it’s not just for slow cooking—it’s microwave- and oven-safe up to 400°F, so you’ve got options. With a sleek stainless steel exterior, black accents, and easy-grip handles, it looks just as good as the meals it makes. Oh, and did we mention it’s a budget-friendly way to whip up healthy, home-cooked meals? Your wallet—and your taste buds—will thank you.

Ready to take your baking game to beast mode? This Kitchenaid stand mixer packs 2x the power in the bowl compared to a classic tilt-head mixer, so whether you’re kneading dough or shredding chicken, this bad boy isn’t breaking a sweat. And with a 3-point locking bowl, it stays rock solid no matter how intense the mixing gets. With 11 distinct speeds, you’re in total control—from a turbocharged speed 10 to the extra-gentle ½ speed, which delicately folds in those fragile ingredients (because no one wants mashed blueberries in their muffins). The massive 7-quart bowl can handle 13 dozen cookies per batch, over 8.5 lbs of bread dough, or enough mashed potatoes to feed an army (or just your carb-loving soul). The double flex edge beater scrapes as it mixes, so you get perfect ingredient incorporation without stopping to scrape the bowl yourself—because you’ve got better things to do. And of course, it comes fully loaded with all the essentials: a 7-quart stainless steel bowl, double flex edge beater, coated flat beater, dough hook, 11-wire whip, and a pouring shield. So go ahead, unleash your inner baking wizard—this mixer is ready for anything.

Personal Review: I have had this model for 11 years and have only had to replace the gear box once. And that is with heavy heavy usage.

Say goodbye to food waste and hello to homemade snack heaven! The NutriChef Food Dehydrator is your electric preserving sidekick, turning fresh ingredients into long-lasting, nutritious treats with minimal effort. Fruits, veggies, meats—this beast handles it all, so you can enjoy homemade kale chips, chewy fruit roll-ups, or that perfectly seasoned beef jerky without any mystery ingredients.

With 10 stainless steel trays, you can dry a mountain of food at once, and since they’re removable, cleanup is a total breeze. Bonus? The trays work outside the dehydrator too, because options are always a good thing. The temperature control (95-170°F) lets you dial in the perfect setting for whatever you’re dehydrating, whether it’s delicate apple slices or hearty jerky. And with a touch-control LED display, auto shut-off, memory function, and a sleek glass door, this dehydrator is as smart as it is stylish.

The 360° high-heat circulation locks in 97% of vitamins and minerals, shrinking your food but keeping all the good stuff intact. Plus, it’s scientifically proven to extend shelf life—so your snacks stay fresher, longer. Get ready to level up your kitchen game—because once you start dehydrating, there’s no going back!

Personal Review: I use this ALL the time in the summer. One of my favorite things to do is speed up the process of making sundried tomatoes. It does it in a fraction of the time. I also dry the herbs that I grow in the garden. You can’t beat that fresh from the garden smell and taste. O.M.G! I also like to dehydrate fruits for homemade natural fruit snacks for using in yogurt and oatmeal.

Item Under $30

Tools, gadgets and more

Who says you need to spend a fortune to make cooking easier? These budget-friendly kitchen tools and gadgets—all under $30—help save time, cut down on hassle, and make meal prep way more enjoyable. From genius slicers to multitasking utensils, these little game-changers prove that sometimes, the best things in the kitchen come in small (and affordable) packages!