Refresh Your Cookware With Our Favorite Tools Under $30
These are our favorite tools tested by Food Network Kitchen that get the most bang for your buck.
Hinterhaus Productions
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If you're feeling particularly motivated to clean out your cabinets around this time of year, you may notice some of your kitchen tools look a little worse for the wear. Turning your kitchen into a space worthy of your cooking skills (have you signed up for the Food Network Kitchen app yet?!) doesn't have to mean lofty renovations or pricey new appliances. We've gathered some of our favorite budget-friendly products that have been tested by the Food Network kitchen that will completely refresh your cooking space. The littlest additions can make a big difference when it comes to motivation for cooking, so grab that tool you've had your eye on for a while and get ready for a brand new recipe repitoire.
Currently on sale for $30, the Tramontina Professional series are utilitarian style pans that look like those you would find in a professional kitchen, which means there is no need to be working with old, dingy pans.
Pyrex has basically become synonymous with glass baking dishes, and it’s easy to see why: This is a no-frills, gets-the-job-done pan that just works really well. The two-inch-high sides are enough for most applications, and the handles are just wide enough to make them easy to grip with kitchen towels or oven mitts. Out of all the casserole dishes we tested, this was our favorite — and it just so happened to be the cheapest. It's a pan you’ll use again and again without thinking about it.
Dealing with dull blades while cutting fruits and vegetables can be dangerous. Make sure your peelers are up to par, and upgrade to these little workhorses. Their super-sharp blades are made from carbon-steel blades, and the smaller size makes them easy to hold.
Just like every pasta dish needs a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan, every kitchen needs a good cheese grater. For less than $10, you can get a one with six options, including coarse-, large- and small-holed graters, a zester, a slicer and even a wavy slicer. In testing, we loved how the rubberized handle and base makes it comfortable to hold and allows it to sit firmly on the counter.
For just $6.99, these mitts were our test kitchen's favorite in testing. We found they have superior heat protection for a cotton glove (thanks to a layer of neoprene on the fingers and palm), which allows you to comfortably grasp hot pans for minutes at a time.
If you've finally decided to start tackling those baking projects, you'll need the right tools. We recommend these plastic measuring cups because they have comfortable silicone grip on the handles and raised numbers indicating size, so they won’t fade or rub off over time.
Add rolling pin to the list of kitchen tools you didn't realize you needed. Don't get caught without this essential, and add this under-$20 option to your cart. In testing, we found the Farberware offers a firm and consistent grip, and its moisture-resistant hardwood makes it easy to hand wipe and dry.
If you're regularly cooking chicken, steak or any protein at home, a thermometer is a must. We love how this thermometer's long probe helps to keep your hands away from hot flames when grilling or cooking on the stove. It also has a very simple design with just three buttons, making it easy to navigate. It comes with a backlight, which would be very useful for grilling outdoors in the dark, as well as a "hold" button that keeps the temperature displayed instead of clearing it or immediately dropping it when removed from the meat.
Sure, decorated dishcloths are fun, but you also want to have a few around that will actually get the job done. The ribbed cotton terry makes these towels absorbent and the hemmed edges give them durability. This was our favorite budget pick in testing, so while these might not be the towels you display on your oven, they are great for cleaning up messes!
If you’re looking for an affordable countertop popper, we recommend the Dash Fresh Pop. The narrow spout helps guide the popcorn kernels directly into the bowl beneath, and the butter tray on top actually gets hot enough to give us a decent amount of topping.
Evenly toast everything from classic bread, to bagels and waffles in this no-nonsense toaster. In testing, we found this less-than-$30 option to be the best for its value on the market.
Refresh your coffee game without investing in an over-the-top machine. This affordable model is simple, but it’s not too bare bones. In testing, we loved the auto-brew feature and the automatic two-hour shut off for peace of mind.
