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But you’ve gotta eat. And it’s cheaper to cook at home more often. Ugh.

As a Deputy Editorial Director for BuzzFeed’s shopping team, I love to get into the weeds of why a product’s worth the money by deep diving into customer reviews, and product-testing as much as possible.

Cooking can be the pits. Every other recipe seems to require a spice that's not already in your cabinet. If you're cooking meat, you've gotta get it to the *right* temp or you risk making yourself sick. And then if it doesn't taste good in the end, that just adds insult to injury. But there's LOTS of help available...some of which is in this story! Short of having someone just do the cooking for you, you can definitely problem-solve with these finds. 

I live in an apartment without a dishwasher, and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout food instead of cooking. But, as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap, BTW), I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas, which had a ton of caked-on food. It really does work like I say it does! Like, scary well.

Get the starter pack from Amazon for $18.08.

These are also a fan favorite for families with members who have Celiac disease or other food sensitivities.

Promising review: "Unless you are a 'foodie' and need to grill your sandwiches, this bag is a great way to get a warm sandwich — and if you have cheese on it, the cheese will melt. Just make your sandwich and put it in the bag. Put the bag in your toaster and you have a great sandwich! Its so easy, and when I am done, I just rinse the bag under the faucet. Great for kids who love grilled cheese without the fuss of 'grilling'!" —joycetv

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $6.99.

Promising review: "Couldn't be easier to use really. I tested it with ice water and boiling water and it seems to be pretty accurate. I've already cooked some steaks using it and they came out perfect. Plan to use it a lot with my smoker and expect good results there too. I love that it has the magnets so I can stick on the fridge, the grill or the smoker and it's always handy. And you really can't beat the price at under $10!" —FCC

Promising review: "These have been great to use. Cooking for just one person isn't the easiest thing for me, but these portions have been great when I want mac 'n' cheese, nachos, or a small smothered burrito for one. I'm sure when it's camping time these will make it into my camping stash." —M. Cheatham

Check out a TikTok of the Ninja Crispi Air Fryer System in action. 

Each air fryer comes with the "PowerPod," two containers (a 4-quart and a 6-quart), and lids. The PowerPod has auto-shutoff and four modes: Max Crisp, Bake, Air Fry, and Recrisp. The "feet" are heat safe, so you can prop it on any surface without worrying! 

Promising review: "I got my Ninja Crisper today and reheated some stuffed bread with feta cheese and spinach, and it did a wonderful job. It was like it just came out of the oven the first time. Nice and crispy outside, but the inside heated just right. I love that the bottom glass can be covered with the lid it comes with. They come with a metal plate you can put in the glass bottom part, and it actually fits into the lid, so it doesn't get lost. The glass makes a difference in the taste, too. It is a great product and well worth it." —Jennifer 

Get it from Amazon for $152.95+ (available in eight colors). 

The programmable digital countdown timer allows for cooking durations from 30 minutes up to an extended 24 hours, providing flexible meal preparation for up to 7 people. Psst, this has definitely been making the rounds on TikTok. 

Promising review: "I absolutely love this slow cooker. The lid rest is ideal and makes serving a breeze. I cooked in it last night for the first time, and what would have taken twice the time in my other slow cooker was done in about 3 hours in this one. Love love love it! Definitely worth the money!! Will recommend to all of my friends and family!" —Debbie

Get it from Walmart for $48.42+ (available in 18 colors).

Get a box of six liners from Amazon for $3.18.

Buying whole veggies and chopping them is cheaper than buying pre-chopped stuff. (Pre-chopped stuff is still a great option if you have limited dexterity, though! There's a reason grocery stores sell them aside from convenience for the able-bodied person. Do NOT even get me started on how everything isn't for *you* specifically.) AND evenly chopping ingredients means that they'll cook evenly and, therefore, taste better. Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action. 

Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper, which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer

Promising review: "Love these knives. Sharp, aesthetic, and serve their purpose. The set comes with a good amount of knives and the shears are incredible." —Samantha Gillin

Get a set of six knives plus kitchen shears on Amazon for $17.98. 

The set comes with the following spice blends: Chicken Allrounder; Burger Allrounder; Vegetable Allrounder; Italian Allrounder; Potato Allrounder; Avocado Topping; Egg Topping; Pasta Allrounder.

StoveShelf is a small business and these shelves are built to last a lifetime. 

Promising review: "This is an excellent buy. The shelf helped me declutter my cabinet and it is an awesome storage space for my more-often-used spices. It is sturdy, easily installed, and attractive. I recommend this shelf." —Pamella R. 

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in six styles and three sizes).

This bundle includes one of each: Sweet Honey Mustard (which I think tastes like Chick-fil-A's); Cherry Smoked BBQ (which I think tastes like Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce); Hot Honey Sriracha; Creamy Southwest Ranch; Buffalo Blue Cheese; and Spicy Garlic Parm.

Get it from Taste Flavor Co. for $48.49. And you can grab some individual sauces from Target.

Promising review: "Baked potatoes couldn't be easier or quicker. These work just as advertised. We have found that with larger potatoes, you may have to double your time, but 8–10 minutes compared to an hour or more in the toaster oven can't be beat!" —Don Juan

Promising review: "Like everyone else, I have a huge food processor. I decided to try this little 3-cup, and I have absolutely no regrets. It’s so easy to clean, so I use it to just do two or three garlic cloves; great for all the fresh herbs. Haven’t used my cheese grater in ages. Cheese does not resemble the gratef, but it works fine for me. Book is very handy with suggestions of how to use the product." —Ginger

Get it from Amazon for $29.29+ (available in four colors).

It also comes with a lid so you can easily stack them and four fill lines (½ cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, 250 mL).

Souper Cubes is a small business seen on Shark Tank that specializes in bake-and-freeze storage products. 

Promising review: "I absolutely love this. I am a widow and live alone. It is perfect for freezing soup. The frozen cubes come out of the tray very easily, which I then put in a freezer bag. I recently decided to try some Marinara sauce because the 32 oz. jar is much too large for me to use up for just one person. Again, the 32 oz. sauce filled all four compartments, which I froze. Popped frozen cubes into a freezer bag, which frees me up to put something else in these silicone freezer trays. I thought they were pricey, but am so glad that I bought them!" —Aloha Phyllis

Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in four colors and packs of two).

Check out a TikTok of the weekly meal planning pad in action. 

Sweetzer and Orange is a small business specializing in planners, stationery, and educational products. 

Promising review: "The magnet is great, sticks to fridge very well, does not slide or move. Perfect for planning meals and adding needed grocery items to the right side. Then you just tear off the right side and head to the store. This has made our family meal planning so much easier!" —SandyBeach

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two styles). 

It also includes four dry-erase markers! 

Promising review: "Saw it on TikTok being used as a dinner menu for the week! It will help me be more organized and add little chores that needs to completed or important reminders. Love it, no complaints." —Clarince Thomas

Promising review: "I had to try this because I saw it on TikTok, and I spend way too much on Uncrustables for my picky kids! And my kids (ages 3 and 6) love the different shapes they can choose from." —Rachel

Promising review: "If hard-boiled eggs are at all a part of your life, this device will change everything. Reclaim lost hours, catch up on missed TV, reconnect with old friends and family. Anything is possible with the free time you'll find at your disposal as you drop six eggs into this beast, press a button, and then walk away. What will you do? High-intensity exercise? Model building? Learn a second language? I hear your concern. 'What if I become so engrossed in my newfound love of taxonomy that I forget about my eggs?' Fear not, efficient chef. Like the horn of Gabriel himself, the unmistakable tone of this technological marvel could rouse the dead and bring you running to your fresh-and-ready ova's side. The Dash Go Rapid Egg Cooker is what mankind has been working toward since the first roundish stone was shaped into a wheel. Witness the apex of human innovation! Did not love the poaching tray." —J. Mercer Crenshaw

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in eight colors). Also check out the double-decker version.

Check out a TikTok of the multicooker in action. 

Promising review: "I normally don’t write reviews. However, if I could give this pressure cooker a 10 out of 5 stars, I would. So far I’ve cooked a whole chicken, beans and rice, working on baby rack ribs, and a few other things. The best feature is all dishes I’ve cooked have taken no more than one hour. I have yet to try vegetables, but parsnips are in the near future as are beats. Only criticism would be to invest in some kind of trivet to keep the meat you’re cooking out of the liquid. Planning on some lamb shanks in the very near future." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $179 (available in four colors). 

I have a well-documented love for the Ultimate Variety Pack, but the brand recently revamped their noodles and I've tried several of the new versions. Now I'm an even bigger fan! They're good enough that you can convince yourself that you're eating takeout (just forget the part about you actually boiling water for them). This new sesame miso recipe is my new favorite and is flavorful/hearty enough to feel like a full meal. 

Get a four-pack from Momofuku for $12 (and check out other flavors).

Promising reviews: "We decided to do a little test. One banana in a bag and one out, same location in the kitchen. This was after nine days you can see that’s there’s a distinct difference in the bananas. Amazing product!" —Trio Mum

Get a 20-pack from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in a 32 and 40-pack).

Promising review: "I was a little concerned this was going to be one of those gifts that were hyped up but it’s not. It’s not going to thaw a huge chunk of meat in an hour but I have thawed a chunk of chicken in a few hours. The product itself isn’t very thick which I like as it doesn’t take up a lot of space for storage. It doesn’t warm up, but pulls the cold from the meat, which makes the product thaw (like putting meat in cold water to thaw it faster and not cook it)." —Savannah A. 

Oh, and there's also a built-in garlic grinder on the wheat straw side! Check out a TikTok of the double-sided cutting board in action. 

Promising review: "This cutting board is perfect! One side is for meat, the other for fruits and vegetables. There is no need for two separate boards. It's very stylish, made of sturdy materials, and easy to clean. It's so pretty I just leave it on the counter, but it does have a handle for hanging." —Jowana Lamb 

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes). 

Promising review: "After years of using bricks, rocks, and water jugs, I finally broke down to research and buy one of these. It works flawlessly as designed, and now I can press and marinade my tofu blocks in the fridge, instead of pressing in the sink. Beautifully designed product, Now I can enjoy more tofu!" —Paula M.

Get it from Amazon for $27.95 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter for her dorm at college. She loves making flavored rice and warming up soups and things. She likes it so well that she brings it home from college with her on breaks. It is especially nice that it has a removable pot, which makes it so much easier to clean or keep leftovers in. Would definitely buy again, don't waste your money on a slightly cheaper one that does not have a removable pot." —midohtree

Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in three colors).

Check out a TikTok of the rectangular lazy Susan in action. 

Promising review: "This is perfect for short people with big refrigerators! I could never reach anything on the top shelf and had to grab a step stool, now everything fits perfectly on this, and I can reach them all! It glides great and is very sturdy." —Tara Mann

Rapid Brands is a small biz specializing in microwave cookware. 

Promising review: "God's ramen cooker. This thing may seem like just an ordinary Tupperware, but I assure you it will blow that thin plastic garbage out of the water. It retains heat amazingly and does not bend or falter under extreme temperatures. I'm a college student and I have never felt such joy from making ramen in my small dorm microwave, for a 900-watt I recommend five minutes. Buy this product if you live and breathe air, because it is beautiful." —Theron

This is made from borosilicate glass with a glass lid so it's microwave-, oven- Oven-safe (500 degrees F for bowls, 400 degrees F for lids), freezer-, and dishwasher-safe. Its 8-cup capacity makes it great for storing, freezing, and then reheating leftovers. 

Promising review: "This thing is absolutely incredible, it makes cooking sides (especially sweet potatoes) so much easier! I just throw it in the microwave and by the time my protein is done, whatever I put in the bowl is done too. I’m glad I went with the 8-cup size; it’s not too big or too small. It easily fits two sweet potatoes." —Smilin Sam

Get it from Amazon for $41.99 (available in six colors).  

Check out a TikTok of the nonstick sheet pan dividers in action. 

Promising review: "Brilliant. 100000% Recommend them! It lets me separate veggies by how long they take to cook so they are all ready at the same time and nothing is over/undercooked. I love these cheat sheets. They are a great tool for my kitchen." —yule

Get a set of four from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three colors, without or without lids, and in multipacks). 

Fly By Jing is Asian woman owned and sells sauces, oils, and dumplings!

Promising review: "I have purchased my share of Chili Crisps, but this is BY FAR MY FAVORITE!!!!!!! My job allowed its employees to build a box of our favorite items and this was one of the items I chose. And I tell you I’m so GLAD I DID!!!!! It had just the amount of heat and DID NOT HAVE A GREASY TASTE!!!! After my first BITE, I looked it up so I can place my order!!!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!!!" —Pozaya B. 

Get it from Amazon or Fly By Jing for $9.99.

Promising review: "I love this steamer. I work full time and have recently joined Weight Watchers. I can make a meal in 15–20 minutes. It’s easy to use and easy to clean." —Marissa D.

Promising review: "It works great so far. I just tried it to cook some fresh broccoli, carrots, and snow peas. It cooked them in less than four minutes. They turned out great!" —Camilla Rogers

Like I said up there ^, I've tried all these varieties. My fave is the Mover & Shaker that's a mac 'n' cheese version of cacio e pepe (my fave kind of pasta). They're all super tasty and you can tell that they're more elevated than your standard boxed stuff. When it comes to pasta, normally I'm of the opinion that the cheesier, the better. And these pass that standard! Like, if I'm gonna eat a meal that's supposed to taste like cheese, it needs to taste like cheese. And these do — probably because these are made with *actual* cheese. That is unless you're trying out the vegan option that's made with cashew nut milk. 

Get a four pack from Amazon for $21.99. Not that you can also score them for a bit cheaper than this variety pack by the box from Target for $2.99—$3.99 each: Shella Good (aged white cheddar and shells), Cheddy Mac (creamy cheddar and macaroni), Twist My Parm (asiago and parmesan with spirals), Mover & Shaker (cacio e pepe-inspired), and Vegan Be Heroes (plant-based cheddar with gluten-free mac).

Promising review: "Works exactly as it says it does. I have small hands and trouble gripping things. This makes opening jars extremely easy and it opens in seconds just by twisting the jar counterclockwise. I'm so glad I ordered two so I can give 1 to a family member who has trouble with opening jars as well. I would definitely buy this again!" —H.T.

FYI, you can use these for brownies, blondies, and bread, too. This is also great for making several kinds of lasagna at once if you and other fam members have different preferences!

Promising review: "I loved everything about this pan. It's versatile, I can put three different cake mixes in each well, or meat loaves, etc. I really love this pan! A very happy customer." —Lisa F.

Promising review: "Easy to use on many different-sized pans. Clip on and drain, then pop it in the dishwasher. Great little item, especially for draining ground beef. Love it!" —AustinLonghorn

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 14 colors). 

You can also use it to chop nuts, fruits, and veggies!

Promising review: "This little guy does a REALLY great job of grinding/crushing a lot of garlic quickly! Besides being ridiculously cute, he's sturdy and easy to clean. He only faintly held on to the garlic smell after cleaning, but let's be honest, garlic is PUNGEANT, so no surprises there. I do think that using a small silicone spatula is helpful for getting the garlic bits out that get stuck in the grinding teeth I smile whenever I get to use him which is a lot because there's no such thing as too much garlic. I love that not only does it make food prep so much easier, but I just feel happy using it. This is a MUST GET!" —Lina

I've taste-tested many of the recipes and heard all about my friend's hard work she put into it! She also sourced all kinds of retro and vintage serving ware to really capture her fun personal style in a way that translates to a very accurate representation of who she is as a (lovely) person!

Get it from Amazon for $11.37+ or Bookshop.org for $27.89.

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Plus, finds from Amazon, Sur La Table, Walmart, and Wayfair.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.