BuzzFeed recently published a roundup of 56 kitchen products it describes as worth both the counter space and the money. The full product list isn't something we can reproduce here, so rather than guess at what made the cut, we'll do something more useful: borrow the idea behind the list. By the end of this article, you'll have a simple way to test any kitchen purchase, whether it's a $12 tool or a splurge, before it earns a spot in your cabinet.
The premise is a good one. Per BuzzFeed, the picks are meant to cut through trendy gadgets that don't deliver. Anyone with a drawer of single-purpose tools they used once knows why that matters.
Start With Cost Per Use
A price tag tells you very little on its own. What matters is what you pay each time you reach for the thing.
The math is easy: divide the price by the number of times you realistically expect to use it.
- A $60 pan used four times a week for a year comes to about 29 cents a use.
- A $15 gadget used twice and then forgotten comes to $7.50 a use.
The pricey item wins by a wide margin. The key word is realistically. Think about your actual week, not the version of you who makes fresh pasta every Sunday.
Ask the "One Tool, Three Jobs" Question
Space is a cost too. Before buying, name three different things the item will do for you. If you can't, it's likely a clutter risk.
A few examples of how the test plays out:
- A sturdy sheet pan roasts vegetables, bakes cookies, and catches drips under a pie.
- A good chef's knife replaces a pile of specialty cutters.
- A single large pot can handle soup, pasta, and a batch of grains.
A tool that does one narrow job can still be worth it if you do that job constantly. Just be honest about whether you do.
Check the Durability Signals
Things that last are cheaper over time, even when they cost more upfront. When you're comparing two versions of the same item, look for:
- Simple construction. Fewer moving parts means fewer things to break.
- Replaceable parts. Lids, blades, and gaskets you can swap beat a whole new purchase.
- Materials that handle heat and washing. Check what the care instructions ask of you. If they're fussy, you may not follow them.
- Warranty terms. A longer one suggests the maker expects it to hold up, though read the fine print.
This is general shopping sense, not a guarantee. A higher price doesn't automatically mean better quality, so reviews from people who've used the item for a while are worth the few minutes.
Give It a Home Before You Buy It
This is the step that separates a smart purchase from clutter. Decide exactly where the item will live. If the answer is "somewhere in the back of a cabinet," you'll probably stop using it.
A quick way to check:
- Daily-use items belong on the counter or within arm's reach of the stove.
- Weekly items fit in a lower cabinet or drawer.
- Occasional items need a spot you can reach without moving three other things.
If nothing fits, the item has to replace something you already own. One in, one out keeps the kitchen calm.
Spot the Impulse Traps
BuzzFeed's framing, gadgets that don't deliver, points at a familiar pattern. A few red flags tend to show up:
- It solves a problem you've never actually had.
- It looks great in a video but needs special accessories.
- It's a smaller version of something you already own.
- The pitch leans on novelty rather than how it performs.
Also be wary of big promises. No kitchen tool will transform your cooking or your health on its own. A good one makes a task easier or more pleasant, and that's plenty.
Run a Quick Audit of What You Own
You can practice this test on your current kitchen. Pull out everything you haven't touched in six months and sort it into three piles: keep, donate, and "prove it." For the last pile, put the items in a box with a date on it. If you haven't opened it in a month, you have your answer.
Then note which items you reach for constantly. Those are your proof of what worth looks like in your own home, and they're a better guide for future purchases than any list, ours or anyone else's.
A Simple Rule of Thumb for Splurges
If you're weighing a pricier item, it should pass at least two of these:
- You'll use it at least weekly.
- It replaces two or more things you already have.
- It's built to last, with reviews to back that up.
- It makes a task you do often noticeably nicer.
Pass two or more, and the splurge probably pays you back. Pass none, and the money is better spent on something you'll love for years.
Where to Find the Full List
If you want to see what BuzzFeed's team actually recommends, the original roundup of 56 products is the place to browse. Use it the way you'd use any list: as a source of ideas, then run each candidate through the tests above before it reaches your cart.
Before your next kitchen purchase, write down the cost per use and the spot it will live in. If you can fill in both with confidence, buy it. If not, wait a week.