4 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets Reviewed: Are They Really Useful?

Welcome back! Today,

I have four unique kitchen gadgets to try out, all suggested by viewers. Let’s see how they perform.

First up is a crinkle cutter.

I picked it up for $15.98 on Amazon, where it has a 4.4-star rating from about 600 reviews. The product lists itself as a stainless steel tool with a zigzag blade for making crinkle cuts. It’s supposed to be good for slicing potatoes, fries, and veggies, with an easy-grip handle. Reviews say it’s comfortable to hold and makes great crinkle fries, though some people mention it isn’t very sharp.

When I first got it, the look caught my eye. It feels sharp enough, but not the sharpest. Let’s try it out on a potato. I left the peel on for this test. The first slice went okay. It isn’t razor sharp, but it works. The crinkle cut looks fine. As I kept cutting, I noticed my hand started to feel tired after a few potatoes. Still, the fries looked good once I finished. Next, I tried it on a cucumber. No trouble there—much easier than the potato. The blade had no problem making neat cuts. Then I tested it with a carrot. This took more effort, but the handle stayed comfortable and the cuts looked nice.

For comparison, I tried another crinkle cutter I had from a previous review. That one was much sharper but not as comfortable to hold. Overall, this new crinkle cutter works, especially for softer veggies, but it could be sharper.

Next is the mini Grip Jar Opener, which cost $13.99. It comes in a three-pack with blue, black, and purple options. It claims to open all types of lids up to four inches in diameter and can fit on a keychain. Most people like how small and handy it is, though some say it’s too small and doesn’t grip well.

I tested it on a baby food jar, which worked but felt a little cramped in my hand. It also did fine with a salsa jar and soda bottle. It seemed best for smaller lids. On larger jars, the ring on the tool got in the way, and it struggled with grip. With a jar of pickles, which was within the size limit, I didn’t get a solid grip, so it wasn’t as effective. The opener worked well for smaller lids, but not so much when you push the size limit. It’s good for small containers, but I wouldn’t call it a universal solution.

Now for the safe grate. This cost $12.99 and has a 4.0-star rating from just under 1,000 reviews. The product claims to protect your fingers while grating or cutting and is meant for both kids and adults. Many reviewers say it keeps fingers safe, but some found it awkward to hold, tough to clean, or not good for soft foods.

It looks simple and light, but I wanted to see if it’s helpful. I started by grating a block of cheese. The spikes inside held the cheese well, and I felt like my fingers were out of harm’s way. As I got to the end of the cheese, though, it was hard to get the last chunk grated. Clean-up was easy with a kitchen brush.

Cutting a cucumber with the safe grate was simple. The tool held the piece steady, and my fingers felt safe. The same went for cutting a carrot. For cutting, the tool worked even better than for grating. Then I tried it with a corn peeler that’s sliced my thumb in the past. Using the safe grate made it a little awkward, but it kept my fingers out of the way and did the job. The safe grate isn’t perfect, especially for grating, but it works well for many cutting tasks. I wonder about its long-term strength because the hinge feels a bit flimsy.

Last is the pan organizer, priced at $18.97 with an impressive 4.5-star rating and almost 18,000 reviews. It claims to hold up to five pans or lids, either vertically or horizontally, and can also store cutting boards. Most people say it’s sturdy and keeps things tidy, though some report it doesn’t save much space or feels unsteady.

Assembly was easy—just a few screws. I loaded it up with a heavy 12-inch pan at the bottom, followed by my heaviest pan, a large lid, and two more pans. It handled all of them without tipping. The first time I put it together, I didn’t realize there was a correct orientation, and everything slid off. Once I fixed that, it worked fine. Using it on its side gives you only four slots instead of five, but it’s still stable. I even tested stacking the heaviest pans on top, which isn’t recommended, but the organizer managed it.

Here’s how I’d rank these four gadgets:

4. Mini Grip Jar Opener: Too small for most uses, works best on little lids, and isn’t as good as many kitchen openers.

3. Crinkle Cutter: Not as sharp as I’d like, though it does the job and gives you more control with its grip.

2. Safe Grate: Protects your fingers for most tasks and works best for cutting, but may not last long due to the build.

1. Pan Organizer: Handled my heaviest pans and kept everything stable, making it the most reliable of the group.

If you’ve tried any of these products, share your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for watching, and see you next time!