12 Handy Kitchen Products for People Who Can’t Cook

Not everyone is destined to be the next Food Network star, and that’s okay. In fact, not everyone is even destined to be a gourmet home chef, and that’s okay too. But there are some people out there who have watched the cooking shows, bought the recipe books, and may have even taken a class or two, and still ended up barely knowing how to boil water. Don’t despair! Learning to cook can be a long process, and luckily, there are lots and lots of products out there that are literally made for people who can’t cook (but still want to try). If you’ve ever struggled to create a nice home-cooked meal, these products may get you on the right track.

Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt. Programmable Pressure Cooker

Microwave connoisseurs who want to graduate: Meet your new kitchen toy. There’s a reason the Instant Pot has become instantly popular with home cooks. It’s. So. Easy. Just a few taps of a button give you delicious food in time for dinner with minimal effort.

OXO Good Grips Adjustable Handheld Mandoline Slicer

Ever wanted to get those delicate veggie slices for a salad but always worried about cutting off your finger? This mandoline tool keeps your food in place and your hands out of the way so you have consistent cuts where they’re supposed to be: on your food.

NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves

But if you’d like to try to slice and dice the old fashioned way, protect your hands while you do it. The special material of these gloves makes it virtually impossible to cut your fingers while you chop, so even inexperienced cooks can work on their technique.

Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

A good chef should invest in a good knife. Contrary to what you might think, a super-sharp knife is way safer for you than a dull one, so practice those dices with one of the best knives on the market.

Master Pan Non-Stick Divided Meal Skillet

This sectioned skillet lets you cook several parts of your meal all at once, on one burner, so you can have everything ready at the same time. Plus, hello: easy clean-up.

Habor Food Thermometer

Cooking meat can be really stress-inducing to an inexperienced cook. If you’re not sure how cooked your meal is getting by feel alone, rely on this handy thermometer to tell you when the chicken is done (and safe to eat).

Easy Egg Poacher

Look, we can’t all be Julia Child. Egg poaching the traditional way can be pretty tricky, so take away the guesswork with this tool that lets you make your eggs in your favorite appliance: the microwave.

Microwave Bacon Cooker

Making bacon can be messy, and beginner cooks have to walk a fine line between underdone and totally burnt. But this rack makes it easy to make sizzling, crispy bacon for breakfast in no time flat.

Fasta Pasta Microwave Pasta Cooker

Okay, so boiling water may not actually be as simple as it’s made out to be. Perhaps you don’t have the cookware. Or a stove. Or anything to drain it. Or maybe you’re just too impatient to wait for the pot to boil. Whatever the reason, there’s still a way to make fresh spaghetti in the microwave with this innovative device.

Norpro Balloon Wire Whisks

Differently sized whisks can perform different functions. Once you stock up on the right tools, you’ll see this cooking thing is actually a piece of cake.

Dash Clear View Toaster

Knowing when your toast is done is all about timing and luck. But not anymore, when you have this see-through toaster. Now you can see when your toast, muffin, or bagel is golden brown and ready to eat with just a glance.

Masterclass with Gordon Ramsay

If you’re really looking to improve your cooking skills, take a few tips from a master. You can take an online cooking class with Gordon Ramsay himself either with a Masterclass subscription or with a single-class pass.