9 Kitchen Hacks That Will Make Cooking Easy Peasy

West Elm Novak Banquette

This sleek, curved unit offers customizable designs to perfectly fit your space — whether compact or spacious. With its vertical tufted backrest, it gives off a subtle '60s Bond-era sophistication. Plus, you can choose from a wide range of fabrics and even add built-in power to charge your devices before starting, or ending, the day!

McGee & Co. Olivier Slipcover Dining Bench

Talk about comfort — this slipcovered dining bench has cushions filled with a dreamy feather-and-down blend, making every meal feel extra cozy. Plus, the linen cover gives it that perfect mix of laid-back and refined style.

Threshold Cora Dining Banquette

This budget-friendly banquette from Target features a sturdy wooden frame and upholstered fabric in a charming cottage stripe. The corner unit is a great space saver and the fabric complements a range of styles, from modern to farmhouse.

Serena & Lily Belgian Club Loveseat

This petite loveseat doubles as a space-saving banquette. With its gently rolled arms and inviting curves, it creates a cozy, relaxed spot for dining — perfect for lingering over a delicious meal.

West Elm Shelter Storage Banquette

A banquette with built-in storage? Game changer. The pillow-soft seats make it a cozy spot to gather, while its modular design makes it perfect for most spaces. Bonus: it's made from sustainably sourced wood.

Pottery Barn Layton Upholstered Banquette

This banquette is the perfect mix of relaxed and refined, combining cozy upholstered seating with the rustic charm of exposed wood. It has a curved design (love) so you can make the most of your space, whether it's a breakfast nook or an open dining area — perfect for laid-back meals and long, cozy gatherings.

West Elm Hargrove Banquette

This similar banquette is a fresh take on modern farmhouse style, or even coastal California design with its oak wood frame.

Williams-Sonoma Dining Upholstered Banquette

This customizable banquette in a French-inspired ticking is the perfect nook to sip coffee in the morning, enjoy a casual lunch, or gather with friends for a laid-back dinner. Plus, its space-saving design means you get extra seating without taking up too much room!

Banquette Inspiration

Cordonné Príncipe Paint

I adore this built-in curvy banquette with a pop-of-red cushion. It really feels so French and lovely. The checkered floor is another detail that charms the space. The pretty green paint color ties it all together!

Lulu & Georgia Florent Dining Chair

Swooning over this floral upholstered banquette that isn't afraid to show its curves. Paired with these cute wavy-back chairs, this setup is divine in my book.

Nickey Kehoe Banquette Inspiration

A rich, reddish leather in a sleek design gives this piece a modern twist on a traditional look.

The LifeStyledCo Kian Dining Chair

I love how this banquette wraps around both sides, creating plenty of space to gather. Paired with the Kian dining chair and a pile of cozy pillows, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a sunny breakfast with your favorite people.

AYR Barns Coates Dining Table

A reclaimed pine table paired with a tufted upholstered banquette strikes the perfect balance between rustic charm and refined elegance — an elevated look I absolutely love.

Le Maé Roxie Dining Table

This geometric table pairs beautifully with the corner banquette, which features a unique fluted wood detail at the base. Not only does the banquette maximize seating in a cozy, space-saving way, but it also adds a stylish focal point that elevates the entire dining area.

Brook & Lou Sloane Chandelier

This wood-framed banquette is a refined take on the classic cottage-style design, bringing warmth and charm with an elevated touch. Paired with a bold natural-fiber chandelier and cottage-inspired plates on the wall, it creates a cozy-yet-stylish dining nook that I admire.

1. Cookie Presses

Williams Sonoma Cookie Press Set

The cookie press was once a must-have for home bakers hoping to create perfectly-shaped cookies. All you had to do was fill the canister with dough and pull the trigger to squeeze out cookies in fun shapes and designs, oftentimes themed for holidays like Easter and Christmas!

But while this tool has some nostalgic charm, it's typically seen as more of a novelty than a necessity nowadays. Modern bakers have gone back to rolling out dough by hand and using cool cookie cutters or other tools like rollers that offer more versatility.

2. Butter Molds

Antique Carved Wooden Butter Mold

Butter molds, typically made out of wood, featured ornate designs like flowers or wildlife and were prized for their ability to shape butter into beautiful patterns. Then, the decorative butter was often used to impress guests at dinners or other formal occasions!

Outside of antique stores, though, this kitchen tool is rarely seen today. The convenience of pre-packaged butter and the move toward minimalist kitchens among homeowners have made these fancy molds almost obsolete.

3. Breadboxes

IKEA Magasin Bread Bin

You probably remember your grandparents' decorative breadbox sitting on their kitchen counter – it was designed to keep loaves fresh by protecting them from air and light while still allowing for enough ventilation.

The invention came during an era when bread was usually homemade or purchased fresh on a regular basis. But today, the availability of pre-sliced bread and the widespread use of plastic packaging have caused the breadbox to fall by the wayside.

4. Egg Poacher Pans

Eggssentials Poached Egg Maker

Next up is the egg poacher pan, which had small cups to hold eggs as they gently cooked in simmering water. The tool was supposed to simplify breakfast prep without the need for precise technique or timing.

Yet, as home cooks became more skilled in the kitchen, they realized the same result could be achieved using just a large pan of water and a dash of vinegar. This has rendered the egg poacher pan pretty obsolete.

5. Cake Breakers

Vintage Cake Breaker

First invented during the 1930s, cake breakers were designed to help people slice through delicate cakes without squishing them. The tool almost looked like a very long-toothed comb and would be used like a knife.

But, much like with the egg poacher pan, the evolution of baking techniques and the rise of better gadgets have caused the cake breaker to be replaced by things like sharper knives.

6. Cherry Pitters

OXO Good Grips Cherry & Olive Pitter

People who frequently enjoyed fresh cherries once viewed the cherry pitter as a must-have. Instead of battling with a knife, the contraption used hand-crank technology to pull the pits out.

Nonetheless, cherry fans can now find pitted cherries readily available in supermarkets, so de-pitting them at home is no longer a typical chore.

7. Hand Mixers

SMEG Hand Mixer

You probably have memories of cranking a hand mixer to whip, beat, or mix ingredients. Thankfully for your forearms, more efficient appliances have been released that rendered the hand mixer unnecessary.

Obviously, there are electric hand mixers and even more heavy-duty stand mixers on the market, like the famed KitchenAid. Plus, some people use regular blenders or immersion blenders to achieve the same result!

8. Toast Racks

Apollo Chrome Toast Rack

Last (but certainly not least) is the toast rack! This quaint kitchen item helped hold slices of toast upright, allowing the bread to cool without becoming soggy.

It was particularly well-used in more formal settings or when multiple people were being served at once. Nowadays, it's just less convenient, as home cooks can lay their toast out on larger cooling racks to save time and space in their kitchens.

Mickey Barnes goes on countless life-ending missions after he signs up to be an Expendable. On his quest to colonize the ice world of Niflheim, he's cloned countless times — but, shockingly, nothing really goes wrong until two Mickeys wind up surviving at the same time.

Mickey 17 hits theaters March 7 and stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.

Rule Breakers — In Theaters Now

When a woman risks everything to help educate young girls in Afghanistan, and train them to compete in a robotics competition, she cultivates a spirit of hope — and finds herself against dangerous opposition.

Rule Breakers premieres March 7 and stars Ali Fazal, Nikohl Boosheri, Amber Afzali, Nina Hosseinzadeh, Nada El Belkasmi, Sara Malal Rowe, and Noorin Gulamgaus.

Queen of the Ring — In Theaters Now

This spring movie follows single mom Mildred Burke, a wrestler who becomes the first million-dollar female athlete during a period in time when wrestling was banned in the majority of the US.

Queen of the Ring premieres March 7 and stars Emily Bett Rickards, Josh Lucas, Tyler Posey, Kelli Berglund, Walton Goggins, Marie Avgeropoulos, and Gavin Casalegno.

Opus — In Theaters March 14, 2025

Ayo Edebiri stars as a writer who gets the invitation of a lifetime to visit a pop star's remote compound. And considering he disappeared 30 years ago, the invitation is definitely intriguing. At least, until she finds herself in the middle of a very alarming turn of events.

Opus hits theaters March 14 and stars Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means.

Black Bag — In Theaters March 14, 2025

Agent George Woodhouse is faced with an impossible decision when his wife Kathryn becomes a major suspect: stay true to the country or stay true to his marriage.

Black Bag premieres March 14 and stars Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan.

This spring movie is nothing but sci-fi Western vibes, and I'm thrilled. Michelle sets out to find her little brother with the help of a robot and a drifter — and they're in for one crazy adventure.

The Electric State hits Netflix March 14 and stars Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Woody Norman, Giancarlo Esposito, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Hank Azaria, Colman Domingo, and Alan Tudyk.

Novocaine — In Theaters March 14, 2025

Nate can't feel physical pain. And when his dream girl gets kidnapped, he uses that to his advantage in a quest to find her.

Novocaine premieres March 14 and stars Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Lou Beatty Jr., Van Hengst, Conrad Kemp, and Jacob Batalon.

O'dessa — On Hulu March 20, 2025

O'Dessa's a farm girl who's always been told her voice has power. And that power is put to the test when she sets out to find an invaluable family heirloom — and save one true love.

O'Dessa hits Hulu March 20 and stars Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Murray Bartlett, and Regina Hall.

Bob Trevino Likes It — In Select Theaters March 21, 2025

20-something Lily longs for a family connection, especially after her father suddenly abandons her. When she makes an unexpected connection with a man named Bob Trevino (her dad's name), their small acts of kindness change everything for each other. This spring movie is definitely in the running for "most emotional 2025 movie" — the trailer makes me want to cry!

Bob Trevino Likes It stars Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Lauren "Lolo" Spencer, and Rachel Bay Jones.

Rachel Zegler stars as a reimagined Snow White, who's determined to bring justice to a kingdom oppressed by the Evil Queen. It has the same wonder of the original cartoon, with an added dose of strength. Not to mention it's just beautiful to look at.

Snow White hits theaters March 21 and stars Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, and Ansu Kabia.

Ash — In Theaters March 21, 2025

After her entire crew is killed, Riya finds herself alone on the planet of Ash. Her relief at being rescued by Brion morphs into terror as they figure out if they can trust each other — and make it out alive.

Ash premieres March 21 and stars Eiza González, Aaron Paul, Iko Uwais, Beulah Koale, and Kate Elliott.

After a father-daughter duo accidentally hit a unicorn with their car, the dad's boss becomes obsessed with using the unicorn's healing properties for profit.

Death of a Unicorn hits theaters March 28 and stars Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, and Jessica Hynes.

Freaky Tales — In Theaters April 4, 2025

Multiple stories converge in this new movie follows "an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis, and a debt collector" in 1987 Oakland, according to the synopsis.

Freaky Tales hits theaters April 4 and stars Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, and Tom Hanks.

Warfare — In Theaters April 11, 2025

A group of Navy SEALs watches American forces move through Iraq in this spring movie that's based on the memories of the people who were really there.

Warfare hits theaters April 11 and stars D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Taylor John Smith, Michael Gandolfini, Adain Bradley, Noah Centineo, Evan Holtzman, Henrique Zaga, Joseph Quinn, and Charles Melton.

Drop — In Theaters April 11, 2025

In Drop, Violet's date with Henry turns into a nightmare when she starts getting anonymous instructions dropped to her phone — and if she doesn't follow them, her kid will pay the price. The only problem? The final instruction is to kill Henry.

Drop premieres April 11 and stars Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Jacob Robinson, Reed Diamond, Gabrielle Ryan, Jeffery Self, Ed Weeks, and Travis Nelson.

The Amateur — In Theaters April 11, 2025

CIA agent Charlie, mourning the death of his wife, decides to take matters into his own hands and exact revenge on the men responsible for her death.

The Amateur premieres April 11 and stars Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne.

Sinners — In Theaters April 18, 2025

Twin brothers set out to escape their troubled past, but things take a turn for the sinister when they realize their future is just as terrifying.

Sinners hits theaters April 18 and stars Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Delroy Lindo.

Meet The Avengers' edgy sibling team. In Thunderbolts*, Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes' group of anti-heroes go rogue when they realize their mission was a setup.

Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 2 and stars Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.

Get ready to witness some crazy new stunts because Tom Cruise returns for one last mission: locate an AI program called The Entity before it falls into the wrong hands. And those stunts include scuba diving and hanging off a plane, no big deal.

Mission: Impossible 8 hits theaters May 23 and stars Ving Rhames, Henry Czerny, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales, Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigham, Pom Klementieff, and Frederick Schmidt.

This spring movie is already healing my inner child! You know the story: a little girl living in Hawaii wishes for a friend...and gets an buck-wild alien instead.

Lilo & Stitch hits theaters May 23 and stars Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Amy Hill, Kaipo Dudoit, Courtney B. Vance, Tia Carrere, Chris Sanders, Billy Magnussen, and Zach Galifianakis.