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Kitchen Gadgets That'll Make Meal Prep Fun Again

Life isn’t all blandly boiling spaghetti. Check out the kitchen tools you didn’t even know you needed!

Every now and then, we run out of steam in the kitchen. Not literally. We mean, you know, eggs and beans for breakfast, beans and eggs for lunch. It just gets boring.

That’s why we were so excited to track down these kitchen gadgets. Some are fun, some are just useful, but either way they’ll all add a dash of inspiration to your cooking routine.

1. Avocado Slicer

This single utensil creates perfect creamy avocado slices in a single pass. It sure beats cutting with a knife and then gutting with a spoon. Why use two utensils when you can get it all done with just one, and have more even, perfectly-shaped slices?

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Urban Outfitters

We don’t know about you, but we always either leave a little creamy goodness behind when we’re slicing avocado, or, worse, we cut through the peel and make a gooey mess. You don’t have to worry about either with this thing.

Get it from Urban Outfitters here.

2. Infinite Edge Brownie Pan

There’s only one problem with brownies: Not everyone gets an edge piece. Without edges, your brownies are all uniformly soft and in the minds of some connoisseurs, without character. It’s robbery. That’s why some genius invented the Infinite Edge Brownie Pan.

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Amazon

Now you can end fights over the edge pieces forever. With this easy-to-clean, non-stick pan, every single brownie has an edge. It’s sheer perfection.

Get it from Amazon here.

3. Pineapple Corer/Slicer/Peeler

This sharp coring tool cuts perfect pineapple rings from a whole fruit. Cut up a fresh pineapple without dribbling juice all over your kitchen! Be careful, though; those blades are sharp.

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Amazon

Oh, and the ergonomic handle is good for lefties and righties alike. The whole thing is remarkably easy to clean when you’re done. There’s nothing like fresh pineapple, and with this slicer, you don’t have to be an expert chef to get terrific cuts of fruit.

Get it from Amazon here.

4. Veggie Chopper

Ready for truly tear-free onion chopping? This veggie chopper from Mueller presses vegetables—especially onions—through your choice of two stainless-steel discs to effortlessly dice them into the size of your choice.

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Amazon

Better yet, the enclosed, 4-cup catcher bin contains the onion vapors that make chopping onions such a tearful endeavor. Simplify your cooking life. Stop the tears. It just makes sense.

Get it from Amazon here.

5. Watermelon Popsicle Cutter

Transform the watermelon slices of yesteryear into tasty and nutritious “popsicles” that kids and adults alike will love! This is essentially a cookie cutter with a soft, plastic-covered handle side. Press it down into a watermelon slice to cut out a popsicle, then throw it in the freezer.

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Amazon

The kids will love these just as much as store-bought, sugar-laden popsicles. They may never even suspect that they’re eating healthy fruit!

Get it from Amazon here.

6. Jar Opener

How many hours of your life do you think you’ve lost to trying to get the lid off of a stuck jar? There’s the hot-water trick, sure, but that takes time, and in the end, you’re left with a wet jar and drips around the kitchen. Ultimately, this thing is the answer.

Hea
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Amazon

It grips jars and lids with stainless steel teeth. Meanwhile, an included base pad holds the jar steady. Give one twist of the easy-to-grip, non-slip handle, and voila! Open jar.

Get it from Amazon here.

7. Fixed Gear Bike Pizza Slicer

The fixie fad may be more-or-less over, but pizza is here to stay. This cute bike model doubles as a pizza slicer. It doesn’t really depict any gears or chains at all, so you’re free to imagine a freewheel hub and as many cogs in the cassette as you like.

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Urban Outfitters

And if someone asks about the mag-alloy-style front wheel? Tell them the important thing is that you eat the pizza. Fast. With this stylish pizza cutter, you can’t stop and you won’t stop (slicing the pie).

Get it from Urban Outfitters here.

8. Snoopy Grilled Cheese Maker

Even Joe Cool gets hungry every now and then. This adorably retro sandwich grill makes two grilled-cheeses at a time. It imprints one with an image of Snoopy himself and the other with a smiling Woodstock.

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Urban Outfitters

The cooking surface is totally nonstick and easy to clean. Simplify the party snacks at your next retro get-together. Just don’t invite Charlie Brown. Things never go right for that kid.

Get it from Urban Outfitters here.

9. Grilled Cheese Toaster Bags

If you’re not in the mood for a Snoopy grilled-cheese maker, these things might fill the void in your life. They’re toaster-safe bags that keep any melted cheese or other drippings from gumming up the inner workings of your standard bread toaster, allowing you to use it as a simple, convenient grilled-cheese maker.

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Uncommon Goods

Did we mention that they’re reusable? They’re made of teflon and woven fiber glass, so you can use them again and again—up to an estimated 50 times. Since this is a package of three, that’s 150 delightful lunches in your future.

Get it from Uncommon Goods here.

10. Angry Mama Microwave Oven Cleaner

Fill this Angry Mama up with water and vinegar and send her for a spin in the microwave. She’ll literally steam-clean the grime from its walls! Wipe down after she works her magic and everything will come off easily.

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Amazon

Not only does this kitchen gadget make cleaning the microwave totally easy, it’s cute and silly. Just do not buy it as a gift for your own mother unless you’re really, really sure about her sense of humor.

Get it from Amazon here.

11. Farberware Food Huggers

Your life is about to change, and it’s all thanks to these little green silicone discs. Slip them over a vegetable once you slice it and save the rest for later. You can even squeeze them over open cans of cola to preserve the bubbles! They’re like reusable plastic wrap that’s pre-cut for everything in your refrigerator.

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Amazon

They fit over jars and cans. They fit over zucchini, lemons, onions, and tomatoes. In fact, there’s barely anything in the refrigerator these things don’t fit over, and they’re easy to clean and reuse. If you’re worried about the environment, these make a great replacement for wasteful plastic wrap.

Get it from Amazon here.

12. Cookbook Stand

This is more than just a cookbook stand. It’s a piece of decor. Reclaimed wood construction—from Europe, no less—and galvanized metal highlights give a rustic flair to any kitchen counter.

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Uncommon Goods

This will hold up your cookbooks or even an iPad while you cook so you can focus on following the recipe. In the meantime, it’ll just look gorgeous on your kitchen counter. These things are made by an artisan named Stacy Borocz on-location in Hungary. They’re finished with natural beeswax and mineral oil. Long story short, this thing is legit.

Get it from Uncommon Goods here.

13. Piggy Microwave Cover

The best way to keep your microwave clean is to stop splatters at the source. That’s where this little piggy comes in. Throw it over your food when you microwave to catch the sauce projectiles before they can do their damage. Plus, it’s cute.

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Bed Bath and Beyond

If you have any doubts about the cuteness of this microwave cover, we invite you to consider the marketing slogan printed on the minimal packaging: “This little Piggy keeps microwaves clean.” Enough said.

Get it from Bed Bath & Beyond here.