I Test Kitchen Products for a Living, and These 12 Are the Best I Tried in 2024

This gem is at the top of the list for a reason. I’m simply obsessed with this mini KitchenAid cordless vacuum with a rechargeable battery! It’s for keeping kitchen countertops and between appliances clean, but you can use it all over the home: near your litterbox, on your desk for crumbs, around the sink after shaving. My personal favorite? Adding the long attachment to reach cobwebs in corners of my apartment that I couldn’t otherwise reach! (Check out other amazing KitchenAid Go products here.)

This one, I’m not sure how I lived without. I use my Vitamix E310 every single day — for smoothies, dressings, sorbets, sauces, soups, doughs, flours, nut butters, even salt scrubs and crushed ice. The best part about this game-changing wonder appliance? It’s on sale now!

I know these shoes may not seem like a kitchen item per se, but they are. I originally got these as a comfy cooking shoe/house slipper (chefs swear by them thanks to their non-slip grip and water-resistant material), but I loved them so much, I made them an everywhere shoe. I got the punchy blue, but I love all of the colorways; in fact, once I wore them to the office, another editor just had to get them, too.

Every year, my dad asks for meat thermometers for Christmas (it always seems to be that his favorite just broke and is now discontinued, somehow). This year, I gifted him a two-pack of this smart thermometer, and it’s his favorite one yet; the technology allows you to track basically every aspect of the cooking process with smart probes that alert you when they’ve reached the perfect internal and ambient temperature. While my dad’s no novice, it takes the stress out of cooking meats (or veggie options!) for beginners.

I’m all about using less plastic, and these stretchy reusable lids make it so easy. The six-pack contains sizes that range from 2.5 inches to 8 inches in diameter, and are perfect for soups, salads, smoothies, and even covering half-used fruits and veggies like lemons and onions. What’s more? They’re microwave- and dishwasher-safe.

Vertical storage is one of the greatest organizing tricks for my tiny kitchen. This beautiful 17.5-inch stainless steel magnetic strip sits above my stove and holds all of my favorite Zwilling knives, which is perfect, because I don’t have any drawers (or counter space for a knife block).

Finally, a lemon juicer that lays flat to save space! As silly as this gadget looks, I can’t believe how well this “fluicer” works. It gets every single drop out by squeezing basically 360 degrees when I juice citrus for my favorite dressings and salads, and even has a little seed catcher where the juice pours out. (I also love the brand’s mini supoon!)

Tired of lugging around that heavy metal water bottle? I was, too. In its place, you’ll now find this permanent resident of my work bag, purse, and workout bag: the 16-ounce Nalgene water bottle. This cute bottle comes in dozens of colors and patterns, and is so light to carry around everywhere and refill whenever I need.

I used to start every morning with a hot cup of coffee with a splash of milk or half-and-half — until this sleek 4-in-1 coffee maker came into my life. Now I get to treat myself to a latte (either hot or iced with cold foam!) as soon as I wake up, for a fraction of what I’d pay at a coffee shop. Plus, another editor tested and loved it, too!

I first added one of these rechargeable, magnetic motion-activated lights to the inside of my dark closet, but it was so great, I couldn’t stop there. I added one to the underside of my kitchen storage rack to give me some added light when I make my morning coffee, and it’s been a total game-changer. You can adjust the brightness, color of the light, and even where the light comes from on the device itself.

Admittedly, my ancient apartment building gets a little buggy in the summer. The STEM light trap silently and discreetly catches every flying insect without any chemicals, and without the eyesore of ever having to see the bugs, because they’re hidden.

And last but certainly not least, one of my favorite cleaning products that I reach for on the regular. This Mrs. Meyer's cream cleanser combines the cleaning power of baking soda with essential oils and other natural ingredients to cut through grease and grime all over my kitchen and home, from the sink to pots and pans to shower tiles. And it comes in the loveliest lemon verbena scent!