8 Kitchen Items That Are So Extra, But Surprisingly Useful
Alexis Dent
Alexis Dent
Alexis is an essayist and poet whose debut collection, Everything I Left Behind, is available now. She also puts her skills as a wordsmith to use writing custom wedding vows for couples through her lifestyle business, XO Juliet.
One of our favorite perks of adulting is the freedom to indulge in frivolous splurges. Once you have all of your kitchen essentials like plates and dishes and a cheese grater, what’s next? Think big. What if guests request sweet and savory waffles the next time you host brunch? Are you equipped with a waffle maker? And how many times have you burned your mermaid pasta while fighting to uncork a wine bottle? Enough is enough. Invest in these *slightly* unnecessary cooking tools and watch your kitchen skills thrive.
George Foreman Quesadilla Maker
“It’s electric!” isn’t just a catchphrase from the Electric Slide; it’s also an aspect of this super convenient quesadilla maker. Kudos to George Foreman, the king of kitchen convenience with his nonstick cooking surfaces. The only hard part of making this meal will be choosing which quesadilla recipe to try first.Oster Cordless Electric Wine Opener
After a long day of work, the last thing you want to do is struggle opening a much-needed bottle of wine with a pesky, traditional corkscrew. Just thinking about the cork deteriorating into bits makes us cringe. An electric wine opener may not exactly be a necessity, but it sure is life-saving. Not to mention, next time you have a girls’ night, everyone will be super impressed with your nifty wine opener.Moen Touchless Faucet
If you go ham in the kitchen, a touchless faucet is a must-have. Not only does it make cooking more sanitary (have you ever thought how gross it is to touch your faucet handles with raw chicken hands?), but it also is useful in general to be able to wash your hands, hands-free. Plus, it’s just really freaking cool. We recommend adding it to your Amazon wishlist and strike when this high-ticket item is on sale; you might snag it half-off.Chefman Panini Press Girl
Ever get hungry just by looking at something? That’s how we feel when we look at this panini press, girl. Pack it full of sandwich goodness to make multiple sandwiches at once; you and your roomie will always be well fed.Cuisinart Belgian Waffle Maker With Pancake Plates
Brunch is fun and all, but going out for bottomless mimosas and ordering indulgent French toast might really break the bank after a while. Investing in a quality waffle maker will allow you to turn your kitchen into the hottest (or at least the most affordable) brunch spot in town. All that’s missing is a carafe of homemade mimosas.OXO Good Grips Handheld Spiralizer
Turn anything from cucumbers to zucchini to sweet potatoes into scrumptious zoodles, frittatas, salad garnishes, curly fries, and more.TrueZoo’s Quirky Ice Cube Trays
Everyone needs ice cubes, but not everyone has ice cube trays in the shape of the United States of America. TrueZoo also makes ice cube trays in the form of snowflakes, hashtags signs, fish, duckies, and countless other designs that are #extra. For only $10, it’s not a big splurge and is a cool addition to your freezer. (See what we did there?)uKeg Pressurized Growler
Our fellow beer enthusiasts, especially those who love craft beer, can relate to just how great this growler is. It keeps beer fresh and carbonated for up to two weeks, and it has its own tap so you can pour your own beer like a boss. Just like many of these unnecessary but necessary products, this growler will also take your entertaining game to a whole new level.Alexis Dent
Alexis is an essayist and poet whose debut collection, Everything I Left Behind, is available now. She also puts her skills as a wordsmith to use writing custom wedding vows for couples through her lifestyle business, XO Juliet.