We Didn't Know We Needed a Shrimp Deveiner Until Now

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While a top-tested knife can get you quite far in the kitchen, sometimes it's just easier to use a kitchen gadget to quickly chop some garlic or devein shrimp. Plus, they're usually fun and cute, and make great gifts for chefs and great gifts for foodies.

In the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we test thousands of kitchen products a year from air fryers and toaster oven to knives and cookware. When we test these products, we use all sorts of tools to get the job done best, and we test a wide assortment side by side as well. To come up with our list of the best kitchen gadgets, we considered kitchen tools and gadgets that are unique and useful since we know that counterspace and storage space comes at a premium. Here's our list of the best kitchen gadgets worth buying, including ones we keep within reach in the Lab and in our homes.

8-in-1 Kitchen Tool

Is it a lemon squeezer? Is it a cheese grater? Is it a measuring cup? Yes, yes and yes. This nifty gift is eight tools in one.

Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner

Microwaves can get dirty fast. Fill the bottom of this angry mama with with water and white vinegar, pop it in the microwave for seven minutes and watch her go. Steam releases from her head and loosens up grime so you can wipe it clean.

Electric Breakfast Sandwich Maker

Breakfast sandwiches are one of the the best grab-and-go breakfast options, especially when you can make them at home with your own ingredients. This small appliance allows you to do just that by cooking your egg, gently toasting your English muffin and even heating your Canadian bacon or melting your cheese all at once.

Butter Spreader Knife

Easily shred cold butter for smoother toast application with this nifty spreader.

Reusable Straws

A straw for hot coffee? These HotSips have narrow openings to prevent large sips that could scald your tongue. Bonus: they help keep lipstick in place.

Whisk Cleaner

Remove stuck-on food and batter from the loops, cutting cleanup time and waste. The plastic piece catches drips before they hit the counter and detaches to scrape inside the bowl, too.

Adjustable Rolling Pin

No need for rulers thanks to this rolling pin! It features rings to guide the thickness and measurement markings so you can keep track of the diameter while rolling.

Stainless Steel Watermelon Slicer

This gadget seamlessly rolls through watermelon flesh to make perfectly portioned pieces for a less messy snack. It's also safe for kids to use because it uses rounded plastic edges rather than blades.

Pancake Batter Mixer

This squeezable bottle was a winner in our 2021 Kitchen Gear Awards. It will mix your pancake batter and allow you to neatly dispense it. When you're done, just rinse the inside and toss it in the dishwasher to clean.

Non-Stick Pizza Scissors

You'll never use a knife or pizza slicer again on pizza. These are designed to cut right through so you can easily cut a slice as wide or thin as you want it.

Mini Handheld Tabletop Crumb Sweeper

Remove pesky crumbs and coffee grinds from your countertops with this pint-sized battery operated vacuum – just like our Kitchen Appliances Lab Product Analyst does!

HyperChiller

Want iced coffee, like, now? Chill drinks instantly with this frozen container. Just add hot coffee, swirl and icy cold coffee comes out.

Baker's Dusting Wand

A spoonful of sugar is fine and all, but this handy tool lets you sprinkle cookies and cakes with confectioners sugar or cocoa as if you were a fairy. Plus it takes up way less space than a traditional sifter.

Silicone Fish Yolk Separator

Sure you don’t NEED an egg separator, but how are you supposed to say no to this little cutie that makes the chore less tedious?

Mason Jar Measuring Cups

If you're still on the Mason Jar bandwagon, add this pretty measuring cup set to your countertop. It's adorable!

Mini Waffle Maker

This top-selling waffle maker comes in more than 20 different colors and patterns as well as different shapes for different holidays, like hearts or stars.

For even more mini waffles at once, check out Delish X Dash's Waffle Bite Waffle Maker.

Take Out Dice

Never argue over "what's for dinner" again — simply roll and let the dice decide for you.

Hopsulator Slim

Protect your hands – but mostly your drink – with this insulated can cooler that keeps slim cans, like hard seltzer, cold for hours. In our Kitchen Appliance Lab test, it kept one drink almost 80% cooler than the controlled sample without the sleeve.

Nut Butter Stirrer

Natural nut butters are delicious and all but they can be a pain to scoop when they separate. This gadget helps you stir it from the bottom up.

Silicone Cookie Spatula

You’ll be amazed how much use you’ll get out of this cookie spatula. It’s the perfect size for eggs and sometimes even burgers.

Plus Smart Meat Thermometer

This wireless thermometer tracks the internal temp of food as well as the air temp so you know how hot your oven or grill is. It connects to an app and even guesstimates how much cooking time is left.

Purr Over Coffee Brewer

This adorable, affordable coffee maker combines two of our favorite things: cats and coffee. Gift it to the caffeinated cat mom in your friend group.

Tortilla Press Kit

This tortilla press takes Taco Tuesday to a whole new level. Add the dough to the center of the disc and push down for a thin, uniform disc that’s ready to be cooked.

Good Grips Corn Prep Peeler

Sure you can use a knife to remove corn from a cob, but this peeler makes it fun – and safer.

Cup Sleeve and Swappable Grip

PopSockets are fun, especially on your cup. The sleeve can be used for hot or cold beverages.

Garlic Press and Slicer

This nifty gadget presses and slices; plus, it performed well in our side-by-side garlic press tests.

3-Set Original Swiss Peeler

Hands down, this is the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen's favorite peeler. It's easy to hold and quickly gets the job done.

1.5-qt Chopper Set

Cut fruits and vegetables into uniform pieces with this chopper that comes with three different sized blades and a pull-out drawer for easy access to ingredients.

Pineapple Corer

Trim the top off your pineapple and twist this gadget into the fruit to core and create slices. Use the shell as a serving pitcher or bowl after.

Sandwich Cutter and Sealer

Uncrustables barely stand a chance.

3 Piece Squeeze & Pour Silicone Measuring Cup Set

We love how easy it is to pour from these flexible measuring cups that nest together for storage.

Gourmet 5" Spreader Knife

The perfect sandwich knife: The serrated blade is great for cutting bread and tomatoes, the length gets to the bottom of jars easily and the wide blade allows for effortless spreading into thin layers.

3-pc Herb and Kitchen Shears

There’s nothing like a good set of shears. These have oversized handles and a pointy tip to make cutting a cinch. The herb shears make chopping parsley a thing of the past.

Multi-Peel Y-shaped Julienne Peeler

This peeler will transform your carrots, zucchini and even soft, seedless cucumbers into zoodles sans a bulky spiralizer. Use for salads, like the side in this gingery pork meatball recipe, or to cook cut veggies faster.

Chop 'N Prep Chef

This manual mini chopper makes chopping garlic and parsley a breeze – without having to reach for a knife or find an outlet for a food processor. We use it more than we ever thought we would!

Sphere Ice Molds - Set of 2

Cocktail ice was never so easy to make with these molds that you fill to the line and seal. They stack in your freezer and unmold in seconds. Choose from an assortment of different designs like flowers, footballs and even ornaments.

The Velvetiser

Elevate your hot chocolate experience with this hot chocolate maker that melts your chocolate flakes as it heats and froths your milk.

Coffee Scoop With Bag Clip

This scoop that measures out your grinds quickly, and doubles as a clip to keep your bag of beans fresh.

RELATED: 40 Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers 2021

18-ounce Sprayer Bottle

We love our air fryers around here and the Evo Oil Sprayer makes the perfect companion. Fill with your favorite cooking oil and use to evenly spray foods for perfectly golden results. Each propellant-free spritz claims to dispense 1/4 teaspoon.

RELATED: 9 Best Olive Oils for Any Kitchen

Chef’s Slotted Turner

This fish turner is for more than just fish. Its thin, flexible head, gets under food well, even if it has stuck onto the pan so you can flip with ease.

Silicone Devil Oven and Toaster Rack Puller

No more burns while trying to get something out of the toaster oven: Simply hook the open notch over the edge of the oven rack to push it away or pull it closer.

Lasagna Trio Pan

Even if each of your kids has a different "favorite," this pan can help you still make sure everyone is happy.

Electric Can Opener

Sometimes it’s just easier to have a handheld gizmo do the work for you than struggle with a traditional can opener.

Triple Quick Pop Maker

A favorite for making ice pops quick. Just keep the base in the freezer, and it’ll be ready to go when cravings hit.

Four Person Taco Set

This plastic taco holder set will add the perfect pop of color to your next taco party whether you choose to use the patterned size that holds two tacos or the solid side that holds three. More taco holders can be bought separately as add-ons here.

Guac-Lock Container

Say goodbye to brown guacamole! This GH-tested tool locks out air to keep dip tasting and looking fresh. Simply add your mix and slide up the base to squeeze out the air.

Spherificator Automatic Edible Food Pearl Former

Add a literal pop of flavor to food with this device that uses science to transform liquids into caviar-like spheres that can be used as garnish.

Leftover Soup Freezing Tray

Leftover soup, broth or sauce? No problem. Freeze and cover for later.

2 Tier Pantry Cabinet Lazy Susan Turntable

You'll find a million uses for this space optimizer.

Ice Box

Why have just normal square ice when you can have fun, cocktail-ready ice? Store extras in the ice box. It's great for fridges/freezers that don't have a built-in ice maker.

Good Grips Shrimp Deveiner

This tool makes cleaning shrimp a joy – yes, we said joy. All it takes is inserting the tip into the shell and pushing it through to cut it and clean the vein out in one swipe.

Bacon Bin Grease Strainer & Collector

This silicone tub can sit on your counter or be stored away when not in use to collect your bacon grease. We've used it for months and noticed no odors; plus, it's easy to wash in your dishwasher.

Garlic Twister

Twist this gadget back and forth to mince garlic, ginger and other ingredients. It's sturdy and rinses clean.

Lid Latch

Everyone will ask where you bought this gizmo from; trust us, we know from experience. It wraps around your cookware lids to make taking pots full of stew, or anything else, possible.

Slice Ceramic Blade, Safety Cutter

Meet your new favorite kitchen gadget. This little tool has a tiny ceramic blade on it that can open all of your packages, including plastic clamshells. It's magnetic and comes with a hole on the end so you can store it on your keyring. We were so impressed with it, it won a Good Housekeeping Kitchen Gear Award in 2022!

Daddy Kitchen Spatula Set (6 and 12 Inch Blue)

Scrape out every last bit of every jar with this spatula set that includes one that's long enough to reach into bottles and a smaller one that can be used with shorter jars.

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