Clever Kitchen Products You Won’t Believe You Lived Without

Made by: StoreBound
Average Price: $299*

The world of printing has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years, but our kitchens have yet to see the fruits of those technological advancements. StoreBound wants to change all that with its PancakeBot. 

PancakeBot @Engadget / Facebook.com

Pancake lovers can input their own designs that the machine will draw out in batter onto the hotplate. If that’s not the best thing you’ve seen since sliced bread, then what is? Sadly, it might be some time before this piece of tech hits our countertops as there haven’t been any updates since 2016. Still, we can dream of a better world, right?

Who doesn’t want to wake up in the morning and take the stress out of breakfast, while also putting something that looks great on the table? We’ve seen the future and the future is the PancakeBot. Just make sure you have enough counter space when (and if) this bad boy finally gets released!

Made by: Chef’s Thumb
Average Price: $20*

Chopping vegetables can be a perilous process. How many of us have sliced an onion only to take off a little slither of our own flesh in the process? It could be argued that it’s extra protein, but it’s certainly not ideal. Chef’s Thumb aims to take the pain out of food prep and we’re here for it. 

Chef’s Thumb @chefsthumb / Facebook.com

The weird-looking gadget slips over the thumb and has a serrated pad so vegetables can be held in place. Not only does it aim to protect the wearer from any stray slips of the knife, but it also stops veggies from rolling around. For $19.95 buyers get the thumb, a knife, and a titanium peeler. 

Gadgets similar to this can be purchased on sites like Amazon but accept no imitations when it comes to this one. You have to hand it to creators, it might look like a medieval torture device but the idea behind it is really solid. It’s a thumbs up on this one.

Made by: Toy Zany
Average Price: $13*

Separating egg whites is no yolk. It’s a messy business no matter how you go about it. Whether you’re a fan of the shell method or use your fingers to strain, it’s unpleasant and sticky. While Toy Zany’s YolkPig Egg Separator looks like the stuff of nightmares, there’s no denying that it’s incredibly useful. 

YolkPig Egg Seperator @Laughing Squid / Pinterest.com

The little hollow piggy sucks the yolk out of the egg, making all your baking dreams come true. It even has a curly tail to boot. If you can get over how terrifying its gaping mouth and disproportionate body is, then it might be worth splashing out $13 on AMZ to have this guy join your kitchen farmyard. 

After all, what’s a kitchen without something novel like this that makes guests wonder exactly what goes on in your head? On a more serious note, it’s a sure-fire way to get kids involved in cooking and that’s always a bonus – as long as they wash their hands first!

Made by: OliveXpress
Average Price: $299*

Does shopping for olive oil fill you with terror? Do you find yourself staring into an abyss of Extra Virgin and Cold Pressed options that have your head spinning? Apparently, you’re not the only one. A couple of years ago a company decided to put consumers out of their misery and create the OliveXpress. 

OliveXpress @olivexpress1/Facebook.com

The countertop piece of machinery allows olive lovers to press their own at home, making oil instantly. The company managed to raise over $2 million to get the product started but it has yet to fully hit the market. When it does, you can expect to pay $299 for one. It’s a product made for Qurate’s HSN. 

Considering how much olive oil costs to buy, it could be a wise investment. It all depends on how often you use it and whether it would be worth splashing the cash for your very own machine. The choice is yours!

Made by: Kikunum
Average Price: $21*

Have you ever looked at a regular bottle of ketchup and wondered why it’s not more interesting? You can spend thousands on a swanky kitchen reno, but you’re still faced with those dull plastic bottles. It’s a conundrum – but that’s where Kikunum steps in with their Condiment Gun. 

Condiment Gun @OOLA / Pinterest.com

Turn mealtimes into a duel at noon with these kitsch squirting firearms. Ketchup not your thing? Fill it with mustard, or even mayonnaise if you’re feeling risky. One of these doesn’t come all that cheap at $21 a pop, but come on – it’s worth every penny, partner. Unfortunately, you can’t buy these at usual stores like Kroger.

You may not be able to pick it up at your usual grocery store, but just imagine the look on your family’s face when you put this on the table at your next mealtime. It’s worth hunting one of these down online, isn’t it?

Made by: The Chork
Average Price: $30*

We’ve heard of the spork, but what good does one of those do? Too drainy for soup and not enough spokes for a salad. The spork is the ultimate disappointment. But what about the spork’s cousin, The Chork? 

Chork @The Kitchn / Pinterest.com

It may not be as well known, but it’s twice as mighty. The Chork combines chopsticks with a fully-fledged fork. There are no half measures here. That way, diners can give the traditional way their best effort before giving up the ghost and switching over the fork when the chopsticks become inevitably too hard to handle. The only question is, why aren’t these sold with every pack of ramen we grab at Walmart?

If noodle makers were to pick up on this stroke of genius they might see a rapid spike in sales. You heard it here first – we’re team chork until the very end. It’s just a mystery it took so long for this to hit the market.

Made by: GoPon
Average Price: $11.24*

Somewhere out there, there is a person that finds holding a cold can of beer cruelty. It’s a strange world we live in, but different strokes for different folks. Can holders have been providing a barrier for those that want to keep their pinkies toasty for years, but then GoPong came along and decided that just wasn’t good enough. 

Can Grip @Angie Bauer / Pinterest.com

GoPong is just one of many retailers out there to market a Can Grip. It pretty much does what it says on the tin. The reusable, portable handle clips onto the can to give consumers the impression that they’re drinking from a mug. At $11.24 for four on Amazon, there’s clearly a market for these things. 

Is it something we would all choose to spend our hard-earned cash on? Absolutely not – but it could make a good stocking filler or a present for the person that has everything. Although, who wouldn’t just prefer a can of beer minus the grip?

Made by: Drink Stuff
Average Price: $2*

When a product description starts with “Have you ever wondered how Wolverine eats at a buffet?” you know you’re in for something good. In this case, it’s the Finger Fork. Not a fan of getting your hands dirty while fishing for canapes? That’s where this hunk of metal comes in. 

Finger Forks @eatwithUs/Pinterest.com

The Finger Fork sits snugly around your index finger as a small, yet durable piece of cutlery. While it probably performs its duty fairly well, it’s not exactly the most handsome accessory out there. You might draw a few strange looks from the rest of the buffet line when you pull this one out at Pizza Hut.

It’s also a good idea to remember to remove the utensil before you shake hands with the CEO of your company before the speeches commence. No one wants to be responsible for a trip to the ER, even if no one got their bonuses this year!

Made by: Fred and Friends
Average Price: $10*

Peeling vegetables is a boring but necessary task for any cook worth their salt. Some decide to use the old-fashioned sharp knife approach, while others may have joined the modern age and invested in a peeler.

CLOSE SHAVE Veggie Peeler @Awesome Inventions / Pinterest.com

Fred and Friends designed a peeler that looks just like a normal face razor, so you can give your carrot the closest shave possible. After all, even vegetables need to look their best, don’t they? Just don’t get it mixed up with your Procter & Gamble Gillette set, or things could get very messy very quickly. 

It’s not always easy to come up with a product that hits the right note between useful and novel. In this case, we have to give Fred and Friends props for striking the balance and offering something unique and giggle-worthy.

Made by: Fotile
Average Price: $130*

The overwhelming majority of consumers go out and buy sliced meat if they ever get a craving for some ham or wafer-thin chicken. However, are we all missing a trick? The Fotile automatic meat slicer might cost $130, but it has a 5-star rating. 

Electric Meat Slicer @Patrakiishumilov / Pinterest.com

All you have to do is place the meat in the top, hit a button, and away it goes. In just a few moments you’ll have your very own meat slices, ready to go into the sandwich of your choice. Whether this is an entirely necessary appliance is up for debate.

After all, you can buy sliced meat pretty much everywhere you go, from Walmart to Kroger. However, if you’re a catering company or running a deli then it might be the ideal piece of machinery to keep costs down and customers happy.

Made by: PJT
Average Price: $15*

Cracking an egg is a two-second job, but it can be incredibly annoying when you get a little bit of shell into an otherwise untainted egg. PJT decided that the world needed a solution to this problem and locked someone in a room until they came up with the EZCracker. Well, perhaps not – but who knows. 

EZCracker @Wisaki Online Store / Pinterest.com

The EZCracker costs an amazing $15, which is quite a lot considering the reviews are incredibly poor and users still find bits of shell mixed in with their egg anyway. One Amazon reviewer accused the product of “Toying with my emotions.” 

The review itself was funny, but there’s nothing funny about wasting money in the long run. $15 is a lot of money to waste on a useless hunk of plastic that doesn’t do the job it’s designed to do. It’s a no from us on this one.

Made by: Shengo
Average Price: $10*

Imagine living in a world where you can dip into a giant bag of Cheetos over and over again without dealing with the dreaded cheese fingers. We’ve all been there, forcefully wiping the Cheeto dust from our thumbs after a heavy night on the snacks. What if we told you there’s no need to suffer anymore? 

Finger Covers @BuzzFeed / Pinterest.com

Shengo has you covered. For around $10 you can buy a 15 pack of silicone finger protectors that will take the brunt of the cheese flakes so you don’t have to. Whether your poison is a bag of PepsiCo’s Ruffles or a greasy deep pan pizza, these guys are finger-lickin’ good. 

Say goodbye to having to wash your hands directly after shoving chips in your face and hello to another extreme of laziness. There really is something for everyone these days, especially when it comes to the kitchen.

Made by: Progressive Prep Solutions 
Average Price: $14.28*

The Progressive Prep Solutions S’More Maker, in addition to looking like a tiny robot banging on s’more bongo drums, is a convenient way that you can make s’mores in the microwave. No longer do you have to start a fire like in the olden days. The S’More Makers lets you make two s’mores in the microwave in thirty seconds.

Microwave S’more Maker @Denise Maynard / Facebook.com

Just fill the water reservoir. Place your s’mores onto the tray, and heat. The entire s’more heats at the same time, giving it the perfect consistency. You have to change the water reservoir every second time you use it. As an added bonus, it’s dishwasher-safe.

While it does take some of the fun out of making s’mores the old-fashioned way, it makes up for it by allowing you to have that marshmallowy goodness any time you like. What’s not to love about this firecracker of a gadget?

Made by: Fred and Friends
Average Price: $10*

Those of us packing a few extra pounds might be used to dealing with our own muffin tops, but Fred and Friends has taken it one step further. Their Muffin Top Baking Cases are shaped like jeans, so life can finally imitate culinary perfection. 

Muffin Top Baking Cups @Domestic Femme {Sarah Flores} / Pinterest.com

At around $10 for a set of two, they aren’t necessarily the cheapest cupcake cases on the planet, but what they take from your wallet they give you in laughs. Imagine presenting a blueberry muffin in one of these bad boys to an unsuspecting receiver. 

You’re bound to get a smile in return, just be sure to mention you’re not trying to insinuate anything. Nothing worse than offending someone with a well-meaning gesture…the taste of the cupcake should do that just fine by itself!