kitchen tools i love

These essential kitchen tools make cooking so much easier and all come in under $20. Gift them to your best friend who loves to cook or stock your own kitchen—you really can’t go wrong.

People ask me all the time what tools I use for various tasks around the kitchen. From how to quickly mince garlic to whisking together my favorite dressings, most of my go-to tools are under $20 and make my life infinitely easier. Here are a few of my can’t-live-without kitchen tools—what would you add to the list? Tag me @bakedbymelissa on Instagram to tell me!

Throw out all your other peelers—this one makes peeling fruits and vegetables a breeze. 

A must-have for thinly sliced vegetables. If you’re nervous about cutting yourself, pick up some cut-resistant gloves, too. (If not, watch your fingers!)

I use this every day—it’s my go-to tool for mincing fresh garlic and making homemade vinaigrettes. It’s also useful for zesting lemons and grating fresh Parmesan. 

Sure, it requires a bit of elbow grease, but this lightweight tool shreds everything from blocks of cheese for homemade macaroni and cheese to crunchy raw beets. 

The perfect size for whisking together homemade dressings. Doesn’t hurt that they’re cute, too. 

Brush olive oil over everything with this handy tool and feel fancy doing it.

Does “the juice of two lemons” ring a bell? It should—it’s the base of nearly every dressing I make. This juicer is a workhorse in my kitchen. 

My husband got this one for me because I kept cutting myself on lids opened with a regular opener. I won’t go back.

Easily pick up chopped veggies without getting cucumber confetti all over your floor. Excellent for baking bread, too!

I use tongs for everything, from stirring aromatics in a pan to picking up hot toasty bread. They’re a staple in my house!

Which of these kitchen tools do you love? Let me know by tagging @bakedbymelissa on Instagram!