34 Kitchen Products You Don’t Technically Need, But Will Most Definitely Want

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

If you’re the kind of person who would buy a meat thermometer shaped like an adorable little demon, boy howdy, does this post have good news for you.

1. A rose-shaped ice mold reviewers love to use for everything from ~aesthetic~ cocktails to iced coffee. They’re also a Big Mood to use in a cooler for events like weddings and showers!  

A red colored ice rose in a cocktail

Four ice roses in the mold in various dyed colors

Psst — you can use these to freeze iced coffee or juice to add to your morning iced coffee or cocktails to cool them without watering them down! 

Promising review: “I was at a restaurant and they put one of these roses in my cocktail. I knew right then I had to make these at home and ordered these while at the restaurant. These are easy to fill and have rubber snaps that lock them tight. They come right out and you can even take just one out and leave the others for the next time. These are a hit at all of my dinner parties too! I have already ordered more as my friends all want these in their drinks!” —Siri US

Get it from Amazon for $7.99

2. Michael Scott/Prison Mike reversible dishwasher magnet so you always know whether the dishes in there are clean and need to be put away, or whether they’re dirty and here to SCARE YOU STRAIGHT.

the clean and the dirty sides of the michael scott magnet shown on reviewer's dishwasher

Promising review: “My whole family is a fan of The Office, so when I was searching for a magnet we could use on our dishwasher, this was the hands-down winner. Does it go with my farmhouse decor? Nope, not at all. But it does get the attention of two teenage boys. Had I gone with something a bit more my decor style, I can guarantee you it would not be as useful. I mean, we all would much rather see Prison Mike staring back at us than suit and tie Michael Scott, right? And there is only one way for that to happen…clean out the dishwasher!” —R. Funk

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

3. A “Scrambled Bus” egg holder for when you want breakfast on the ~eggspress~ line and need access to ’em as quickly and adorably as possible. 

A yellow school bus shaped egg tray with a transparent top shaped like windows on.a bus

Promising review: “My kids are having fun with it. They even try to draw faces on the eggs and pretend they are going to school. I like how easy it is to open and store inside my fridge.” —Joseph Angelo Alcantara

Get it from Amazon for $14.94.

4. A cult-favorite ~secret~ popcorn salt anyone in the movie theater industry will tell you is a perfect copycat of that oh-so-savory buttery goodness you love to inhale before the previews begin. Not to be dramatic about popcorn on main, but this stuff is game changing.

A carton of Flavacol salt

Reviewer image of buttery popcorn

Our family recently unearthed this because beloved To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before author Jenny Han mentioned that it was her secret to delicious popcorn, and it may have just wrecked me for other at-home popcorn for the rest of my life. It genuinely tastes just as salty and buttery and savory as fresh movie theater popcorn. I inhaled it so fast that every single one of my organs lit up in mild alarm.

Promising review: “I am a person who will make myself sick eating buckets of popcorn (I have no self control). This has by far been my favorite ‘TikTok made me buy’ item. My at-home popcorn is now my favorite thing to make and I don’t need to go the theater for popcorn. Very much worth the purchase and this will last me such a long time.” —S Martinez

Get it from Amazon for $9.45.

5. “Pizza Pack,” aka a pizza storage container so handy you’ll wish you bought one MOONS ago. Instead of wasting foil or trying to shove a pizza box into the fridge, you can use this collapsible container to stack up to five leftover slices on top of each other — it’s even designed so the slices won’t stick, *plus* it’s totally microwaveable, so you can reheat all the slices at once without moving them. 

A triangular storage box with a pizza slice in it

The side of the storage unit showing its depth to fit more slices in it

Pizza Pack is a small business that specializes in sustainable food storage solutions. 

Promising review: “It’s always a pain to put away leftover pizza. It never seems to work. UNTIL THIS PRODUCT!!! I am very happy with my purchase. It’s easy to keep the pieces separate from others and you don’t have a large bulky box letting your crust dry out. You can use it for one piece or several — it is very easy to expand. The best part is that it is very easy to clean. Storing the Pizza Pack when not in use doesn’t take up a lot of space either. Try it.” —B. Cirincione

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in seven colors). 

6. A “Hell Done” digital thermometer so you can keep track of your meats to know if they’re rare, medium, well-done, or positively ~sinful~. This features a clear and easy-to-read digital display, plus the ability to tell people you literally went to hell and back to cook this meal!!! 

A thermometer inside a piece of with a digital display shaped like a cute red demon

The thermometer next to the box showing that the end of it is a little red horn

Promising review: “This thermometer not only works perfectly, but is a great conversation starter at gatherings! I’ve used it a few times now and am completely satisfied with the purchase. It is accurate, and the display is super easy to read. If you buy this, make sure to read the back of the box ;).” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $21.95

7. A pancake batter dispenser complete with side measurements so you can mix your ingredients right into it without dirtying up an extra bowl and ladle. Reviewers swear by this to get mess-free, perfectly round and portioned pancakes! 

reviewer using the batter dispenser to pour a perfect circle of pancake batter onto a griddle

same reviewer's perfectly round pancakes cooking on a griddle, some plain, some with chocolate chips

Check out a TikTok of the pancake batter dispenser in action. 

Promising review: “I got this yesterday, and my son asked me this morning if I would make him pancakes! I was happy to oblige, so I could try my new kitchen gadget, and it did not disappoint! I LOVE it! I made the batter right in the container, and it has measurements on it, so I didn’t even have to get out my measuring cups. The batter came out perfectly and easily, and when I stopped the flow, it immediately stopped! There was not one dribble of batter anywhere, and the pancakes turned out perfectly! —Nikki

Get it from Amazon for $19.87

8. A “Gracula” garlic crusher, because you know what? If a 108-year-old vampire lurking moodily in the trees in the Pacific Northwest isn’t going to fall in love with you and grant you immortality, one might as well make your life in the kitchen a little easier. 

A reviewer twisting a vampire shaped garlic crusher and showing the garlic inside

The garlic crusher sitting on a counter

Promising review: “I love this little guy. I found him on a BuzzFeed list and had to have it as soon as I saw it! I’ve minced as many as five cloves in it in seconds. It’s a little tricky getting all of the garlic out once minced (I use a silicone basting brush to get most of it but I always use more than the recipe calls for anyway so it’s not a deal breaker). Cleanup is a breeze because he goes right in the dishwasher!” —Barbie

Get it from Amazon for $14.95.

9. Plus a splurgeworthy terracotta Garlic Keeper you *need* in your life if you’re a true garlic lover. Reviewers love how it extends the life of their garlic, and that it’s large enough to fit several large heads of garlic inside. Now you will never have to suffer the peril of having a fresh baguette with no garlic to cook on it again!! 

A cylinder shaped terracotta keeper with holes aerating out the garlic inside

Promising review: “Immediately you can tell this product is high quality. It fits two or three whole garlic bulbs, maybe more. It definitely extends the life of our garlic. We loved it so much that we bought one for our friends too.” —Gatsbygirl

Get it from Amazon for $29.99

10. A glass milk carton reviewers *love* for frothing — not only is it the perfect size, but the container is shaped in a way that stops milk and cream from spilling over the sides. Because yes, there’s no use crying over spilled milk, but crying over spilled FROTHED milk?? Valid. 

A model pouring milk into a coffee cup from a glass milk carton-shaped container

Amazon

Promising review: “I love glassware, especially borosilicate glass, because it’s delicate and yet strong, it’s thinner and lighter than most glass. This is is definitely a conversation piece, because of its small milk carton shape and it holds a significant amount of cream or milk. It’s perfect for use during brunch, and during coffee or tea dates with friends. To get it cleaned, I use warm water, dish soap, and a small foam brush, than I put it on the dish rack to air dry.” —APR63

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in six styles). 

11. A set of vinyl coasters to give your coffee table a delightfully retro nostalgic touch *and* protect it from the perils of condensation. 

A black mini vinyl record in a reviewer's hand that says

six different mini vinyls on a table

Promising review: “I absolutely adore these!!! They are so cute and definitely do the job! They keep the surface free from water rings and make me giggle!” —johnny williams

Get a set of six from Amazon for $6.99

12. A teensy mini waffle maker to churn out adorably sized, perfectly cooked-through waffles in mere minutes. Psst — if you’re waffling on the waffles, you can also use it for hash browns, paninis, biscuits, and even (gasp) PIZZA. If you can dream it, you can mini waffle it.

two cooked waffles next to small blue waffle maker

Promising review: “At first, I laughed and thought it was too small to really do anything. I was so wrong — it’s an amazing little waffle maker!! Can cook almost anything on it! I have cooked eggs, waffles, and French toast.” —S PETERSON

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 20 colors).

13. A handy dandy condiment fork with a holder you can wrap right around a jar of olives or pickles so it’ll always be at your disposal when you suddenly *need* a pickle but don’t want to put your hands in the jar. This is also great for late-night snacking shenanigans, since you won’t wake up half the house looking for a clean fork. 

The pickle fork in a silcone utensil holder wrapped around a pickle jar lid

A reviewer using the three pronged fork to stab a pickle

Check out a TikTok of the condiment fork in action. 

Promising review: “Great kitchen item. Forks are great to get pickles out of the jar, but if you have kids/lazy people (lol) you know that dirty hands are going into that jar. 😉 This has really prevented that from happening. It comes with two different rings to fit whatever size jar, a stabber holder, and a stabbing stick.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $8.99

14. An attachable Stanley cup snack bowl for the ultimate in “girl dinner” hacks. Now you can have all your beloved snacks so close to your face that you’re *thhhissss* close to living your dream out eating out of a trough like a fluffy farm animal. 

A  white small plastic bowl with a hole in it resting around the lid of a handled Stanley cup water tumbler

The bowl in pink with a bird's eye view showing four sections for different snacks

Psst — lots of reviewers say this fits their Stanley cup *and* the cheaper alternative versions of it, like this $29.99 Simple Modern tumbler

Promising review: “If using this snack holder on my Stanley is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Now when I sit at baseball tournaments all day, I don’t have to keep reaching into snack bags and coolers. We all get the snack we want and never have to carry more than a cup. I do get some odd looks but if they had one, they wouldn’t be judging anymore. Sits very sturdily on my tumbler but comes off easily when I’m done with it.” —Abby

Get it from Amazon for $9.98 (available in three colors). 

15. A butter spreader, which is basically like a Pez dispenser but for butter??? Instead of contending with a knife you can just push a bit of the butter stick out of the dispenser and apply it directly to warm toast, pancakes, corn, or the butter-able dish if your choosing. 

A reviewer holding a white dispenser with a stick of butter inside it

Model spreading butter on a pancake using the dispenser

Check out a TikTok of the butter spreader in action. 

Promising review: “I remember having a butter holder, exactly like this, for corn when I was growing up. It was nice to find the same one. No more having the butter slip off the corn when applying it with a knife. No more tricks like using a fork and having the butter melt through the tines or how about buttering a slice of bread and wrapping it around the corn and spinning it. It’s also great that the butter is covered at one end by the plunger and the other end by a cover. This way, the butter will stay fresh and always ready when you need it.” —Allison

Get it from Amazon for $5.96

16. A delightfully nonstick smiley face pancake pan reviewers use for mini pancakes and eggs to instantly ~pizzazz~ what is indisputably the most delicious meal of the day. 

A pan with mini pancakes that all have different expressions cooked into them

Promising review: “Easy eggs and pancakes. This is a family favorite!! We love cooking with this. It makes breakfast quick and cleanup easy.” —AmazonCustomer

Get it from Amazon for $19.99

17. A pair of glowing lightsaber chopsticks to bring balance to The Force *and* to your sushi. 

BuzzFeed editor using the glowing, blue chopsticks to eat sushi

Two sets of glowing lightsaber chopsticks in blue and red

Emma Lord / BuzzFeed, Amazon

As you can see from the above GIF, I bought these for myself, and I love them to pieces. TBH, I use them as decor every bit as much as I use them to eat. Sometimes I just keep them in my work area to light them up during the day to feel fancy. They toggle back and forth between a bunch of different colors, like red, blue, yellow, purple, and multicolor, so you can either make them match *or* have a red and blue one together and bring ~balance~ to the Force.

Get it from Amazon for $11.97.

18. Plus a 3D-printed wearable “chopstick” that has a cult-following among folks who spend a lot of time at their computers. This lets you pluck snacks out of a bowl without getting your greasy fingers on a mouse or trackpad, making it a boon on a stressful screen-heavy day. 

Model wearing a small chopstick-like device between two fingers and plucking a chip out of a bowl with it

The model holding the chip between the device

Ridha 3D Printing/Etsy

Bonus: This is also a great life hack for anyone with drying nails or manicures they don’t want to mess up! 

Ridha 3D Printing is a family-run, Michigan-based Etsy shop established in 2021 that specializes in 3D-printed gadgets and toys. 

Promising review: “Perfect for what I wanted it for. Now I can game on my PC and eat snacks without getting my mouse and keyboard dirty! Thank you, such an amazing invention. 😊” —Leilani Calderon

Get it from Ridha 3D Printing on Etsy for $4.90+ (available in 21 colors and two styles). 

19. An adorable cat mug and warmer set you can use to keep your coffee and tea warm the whole day and spare yourself eight zillion trips to visit your noisiest friend, The Microwave. This features three temperature settings, an eight-hour auto-shutoff, and conveniently works with other mugs, too! 

A pink mug of tea on top of a matching pink warmer with a cat face-shaped mug topper on the side

Promising review: “This warmer keeps my tea at the perfect temperature and will stay on for eight hours. The cup is very cute. I have used a different cup on it and it worked well too. The only thing that I would change is the shape of the cup, it is skinny at the top. It would be easier to clean if it wasn’t small at the top, but I like it anyway!” —Edsmom 1 

Get it from Amazon for $24.89+ (available in seven styles). 

20. A Scrub Daddy sponge holder designed *specifically* to suction to the side of your sink and cradle your favorite smiley sponge, so it air dries faster, stays cleaner, and helps minimize clutter on your counters. 

A white suctioned plastic piece with indents jutting out like a smiley face

A smiling sponge held in the sponge caddy

Storage Theory is a small business that specializes in unique storage solutions for every room in your home. 

Promising review: “Finally a nice place to keep my Scrub Daddy. Holds great on the side of the sink. The suction power is strong for its size, and it rotates with ease. This is a good holder for the price.” —Luis peralez

Psst — you can get a Scrub Daddy sponge here on Amazon! They are extremely beloved by TikTokers because they’re mildew-resistant, dual-sided with different scrubbing textures, and designed with a smile that lets you more easily clean utensils. 

Get it from Amazon for $11.99

21. A pickle wine stopper perfect for anyone who is both a wine-o AND a brine-o, letting you preserve your favorite pinots in ~style~. 

Pickle shaped wine stopper next to the box it comes in

The pickle inserted into the top of an open wine bottle

Promising review: “I bought this pickle wine stopper for my nephew and his partner. It keeps air out of the bottle with a snug fit and it cleans up easily after use. The fact that they love ‘pickle’ anything is an added bonus!” —Cynthia

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

22. A Buddy the dog spoon and spatula holder, aka the goodest! boy!!!!! in your kitchen. This heat-resistant pupperoonie will latch to your pots and pans to make an instant spoon rest (or prop open a hot lid to vent while cooking!). Paw-sitively DELIGHTFUL. 

two dog spoon rests, one beige and one brown, on the side of a pot holding spatulas

a dog spoon rest propping open a lid on a cooking pot

Promising review: “Most adorable spoon holder ever! I have a griddle in the middle of my stove, needed a holder that wasn’t my counter. This is super cute, easy to clean, and unique!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $13.70+ (available in two colors and in a two-pack). 

23. A mini donut maker to keep anyone with a sweet tooth occupied — truly, can you think of anything in this universe more delicious than a warm homemade donut?? I’ll wait.

donut maker with room for seven cookied mini donuts

Assorted mini donuts

The donuts cook within minutes, have an auto shutoff to stop them from overheating, and come with a recipe book that even includes gluten-free and Paleo-friendly options. Bonus? You don’t even need to figure out how to make donuts — this machine will take store bought brownie, muffin, and cake mix just fine.

Promising review: “I cannot say enough about the Dash Mini Donut Maker. It is so much fun to use and make donuts at home. Rather than going to the local chain donut restaurant, you can make your own specialty donuts at home. It is very easy to use and cleans up quickly. My children love to decorate the donuts after they are cooked. It’s a fun family activity and the donuts taste great! Also, it comes with a neat design and stands out among my other boring looking kitchen cooking appliances. If you like donuts, this product is for you.” —JoshH

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes).

24. A lil’ mushroom fridge deodorizer you can fill with baking soda to combat even the strongest of fridge odors (I’m looking at YOU, yogurt I forgot I left half open!). Bonus: he’s designed to fit neatly into the egg section of the fridge. 

A small mushroom shaped white deodorizer with a red top smiling in a fridge

Promising review: “He can go anywhere in your fridge, a true icon. Easy to clean, but would recommend a funnel for filling. He makes me happy when I go into the fridge. He is the snack guardian and I love him.” —Gabba

Get it from Amazon for $16.50+ (available in two colors). 

25. A daisy-shaped dish brush with a lil’ vase holder so cute that, fair warning, you can’t use it without accidentally bursting into an iconic Disney princess song. (Dibs on “When Will My Life Begin?” just saying!!)

a white daisy shaped scrubber with its stem in a pink vase

Check out a TikTok of the flower scrubber in action. 

Promising review: “Love having this on my kitchen sink. It’s happy and cute and makes me happy. One leaf did twist off after a few weeks of use but it’s still cute and I could’ve been more careful holding it. Not a super stiff brush but works well for most hand washing and quick rinses. Brush rinses well and food doesn’t get caught in it. I was happy to find it has a hidden scraper edge on top of the brush. Will def buy again when this one gets gross since it brings so much tiny joy into my kitchen.” —Hannah Jo Wilson

Get it from Amazon for $13.99.

26. A fast-drying sink stone caddy you can prop your sponges or toothbrushes on and watch the magic happen — the water will “poof!” evaporate in less than two minutes, preventing your sink area from becoming a soggy, sudsy mess. 

A small rectangular gray caddy with a soap brush and sponge propped on it

Momo Lifestyle is a small business that specializes in family-friendly homewares. 

Promising review: “We got this for the bathroom that the kids use. Anybody with little kids will know that they make a constant mess. We had water all over the counter, mainly around the soap dispenser, and it was causing problems. This has helped a great deal. There is less water on the counter and I even like to put water on it sometimes just to watch it evaporate within about 60–90 seconds. It was totally worth the money.” —David P. 

Get it from Amazon for $9.99

27. A egg yolk separator that is basically what would happen if a fish alien abducted a yolk (sorry for whatever bizarre fan fiction AU that might have inspired). Essentially, this makes baking and cooking with eggs a WHOLE lot more foolproof, and helps prevent food waste. 

chef using the fish shaped yolk separator to gobble up a yolk

Amazon

Check out a TikTok of the egg separator in action. 

Promising review: “This thing is a time and egg saver. We own a bed and breakfast hotel and a number of our menu items and baked goods of our require separating eggs. This little frog gets the job done efficiently and prevents the waste that happens when the yolk breaks. Plus, it’s just plain fun to use in the morning. Wish it were a but easier to clean, but otherwise, a great purchase.” —SR

Get it from Amazon for $13.90 (available in three designs).

28. A dainty bird-shaped lemon juicer you can use to squeeze lemons, limes, or oranges into your morning tea, salads, or hot water. Turns out the early bird gets the worm *and* the delightfully aesthetic juice. 

A clear acrylic bird shaped squeezer with an orange slice in it

Model squeezlng a lemon into a jar

Amazon

Promising review: “This little utensil is adorable, and quite practical. When I saw it on TikTok I knew I had to have one. You simply put a slice of lemon in and pour out the juice. It looks so pretty sitting on the table and comes in very handy.” —Dian Marchese

Get it from Amazon for $7.99

29. A “Cork Pop,” a ridiculously easy-to-use wine bottle opener that uses pressurized air to pop off the cork in one easy motion after you drive a needle through it. Looks like you just got a cool new party trick 😎. 

Model piercing a bottle with a thin needle that uses pressurized air to pop the cork off

The small black device with a used cork in it

Amazon

Promising review: “Awesome product. Works every time. Especially handy with old wine where the cork has dried. Pops it right out. Highly recommend.” —heco 5375

Get it from Amazon for $19.30+ (available in eight colors). 

30. A cleverly-designed banana slicer that yes, a lot of reviewers bought as a joke, except it became so handy that the joke was on them — this gives you quick, perfectly portioned banana slices, making it easier to incorporate them in cereal, oatmeal, PB and banana sandwiches, and other Pinterest-worthy breakfasts. 

A banana shaped slicer cutting a banana into even portions that are then put into a bowl

Promising review: “TikTok made me buy it and could I live without? Yes. But now I don’t have to slice my bananas every day. This does wonders for my OCD too!” —Paige

Get it from Amazon for $7.04

31. A set of nifty hamburger holders so you can load up your patties with every single condiment you can find without living in fear of spilling it all over yourself. The tyranny of mustard stains ends HERE AND NOW!!! 

Reviewer holding a burger in a small silicone case

Promising review: “This is a fantastic invention!!! No more dumping everything from your hamburger into your lap! It all stays in the burger and you stay clean!! It came with four, so my husband put two in the car, and we kept two in the house!! I’m going to give these to our kids and grandkids for Christmas!!” —Roxanne Fulton

Get a set of four from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in five color combinations).

32. A set of giant fruit-shaped sponges for anyone whose kitchen could use a pop of color 🍓🥭🍊🌈 — reviewers love these because they’re super soft and gentle on hands, and their extra large size makes them super absorbent and great for cleaning larger areas outside of the kitchen, too! 

A model cleaning a pan with a soapy avocado shaped sponge

sponges shaped like cut in half strawberries, avocados, oranges, and melons

Amazon

Promising review: “I wanted nice sponges that could be used in a guest suite. Most people stay a week at the most, so I was not as concerned about durability as visual appeal. These sponges fit the bill perfectly. They are relatively sturdy, enough so that I typically use the sponge, after my guest leaves, to clean up the suite, and it holds up to that and then some.  And they don’t have a rough scrubbing side, so I don’t worry that my pans/pots will get scratched up.” —Mad Hen

Get a set of four from Amazon for $6.99

33. A set of snail tea bag holders to keep your floral tea from pulling a disappearing act *and* giving you a built-in breakfast buddy to talk to about that weird dream you had last night. 

reviewer photo of the blue snail holding a tea bag on the rim of a mug

snails of different colors lined up on the rim of a mug

Check out a TikTok of the snail teabag holder in action.

Promising review: “Love these fun little quirky tea slugs. They work on all shapes and sizes of mugs and have brought a smile to all who either used them or were the lucky recipients of their own batch of tea slugs from me. They clean up well with just a quick rinse under the sink and are even fun to use on wine or cocktail glasses to help guests track their drink.” —NC

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $6.99.

34. A cow-themed cheese holder that is, in fact, a Big Moooooooood. Not only is this an adorable and handy way to store your cheese slices, but tons of parents say it’s been a real hit with the kiddos! 

A squared shaped closed small storage box shaped like a cow

The lid flipped open to find cheese inside

Each container holds 24 slices of cheese. 

Promising review: “I had an old Kraft cheese container from decades ago that finally broke and I didn’t think I would be able to find a replacement, but this is even better! My kids named it Daisy immediately. It is cute to have in the fridge or even bring out to the dinner table. Great quality and should last a long time.” —Karen

Get it from Amazon for $9.99

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

Read More