There are a lot of kitchen gadgets on the market, and it can be difficult to tell what’s really worth buying and what’s a waste of money. If you want to stock your cabinet full of useful gadgets, invest in these seven pieces:

1. Vegetable Peeler

A veggie peeler can do a lot more than just turn your zucchini into uniform strips. Next time you want some grated cheese, use your peeler! That goes for lemon zest and chocolate flakes, too. If you need to “shave” something in the kitchen, your vegetable peeler can handle the job!

2. Can Opener

So maybe your can opener isn’t a jack-of-all-trades, but he’s really good at what he does. An automatic opener that costs more than $100 is a little excessive, but if you plan on eating canned food at any point in the future, it’s worth investing in a sturdy, hand-held can opener. (Just make sure you disinfect it regularly, they get dirty!)

3. Pizza Cutter

Sure, pizza can be cut with scissors, but pizza cutters do a lot more than slice your favorite pie! If you want to cut dough for pastries, make homemade noodles or slice French toast, a pizza cutter will save you from a lot of hassle.

4. Colander

First, let’s get one thing straight: watery pasta does not taste very good. So a colander is an important tool if you’re a pasta lover. If you’re not a linguini fan, you can still use your colander as a makeshift steamer! Place your vegetables in the colander and place the colander in a large pot with 1-2 inches of water. Simmer the water until it’s boiling and place your lid over the colander. You’ll have steamed veggies in no time!

5. Melon Baller

Melon balls may seem like a waste of time, but what about cookie dough? Or ice cream? Think of your melon baller as a way to perfectly scoop and portion anything soft. You’ll be using it for practically every meal! You can also use this handy little scoop to deseed tomatoes, peppers and winter squash.

6. Tongs

Tongs are basically heat-resistant hand extensions, and make tons of kitchen tasks easier and safer – everything from flipping burgers to tossing salads. Mix pasta and sauce with ease, and rotate burning-hot cake and pie tins in the oven. If you need to grab something that may or may not hurt your hand, grab your tongs first. Better safe than sorry!

7. Cocktail Shaker

If you enjoy a martini every once in awhile, you know the joy of a perfectly shaken cocktail. But did you know that you can use your favorite liquor tool while making breakfeast, too? If you want to beat eggs, skip the whisk and use your martini shaker instead. They'll be perfectly beaten with the flick of a wrist

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

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