11 Actually Useful Kitchen Tools You Haven't Heard Of

Having a long, thin spatula on hand can save the day when cooking delicate dishes like fish, eggs, or fluffy pancakes. Also called a fish turner, this slotted spatula is perfect to keep tender items intact when you flip them over. Typically made out of metal to keep the flavor of the food from changing, fish spatulas work well with metal and cast iron cookware on the stove or in the oven.

With a curved edge, thin, flexible blade, and slotted design, a fish spatula is just as helpful for keeping juicy burgers intact as it is for scallops, tilapia, or mahi. It lets the juices drain out, keeping your filet from deforming. Even though it is thin, the metal spatula and sturdy handle allow chefs to dislodge seared meat or fish from the pan without letting it fall apart. Equally at home on the baking front, a fish spatula is the perfect tool to get cookies off the baking sheet or brownies out of the pan without the dreaded crumble. There is even a fish spatula included in the Smithsonian's exhibit on cooking, "Food: Transforming the American Table." The wooden-handled spatula is part of a tool kit representing the preferred tools that made home cooking so popular.

Add flavorful fresh herbs to your dishes and drinks with one hand thanks to an herb stripper. You can remove the leaves and chop the herbs all with the same tool. Some herb strippers, such as those from kitchenware companies like Sur La Table, even include a bowl to collect the stems or leaves to be used in your dish. Many herb scrapers include helpful diagrams and graphics to guide you to the right slot for your herbs, whether it's a plant with a thicker, woody stem or one that is thin and delicate. If you want even more utility, consider an herb scraper with an edge that can chop your fresh herbs as well.

This tool also makes a good housewarming gift because it's useful, compact, and inexpensive. For chefs who like to make the most out of every bit of fresh herbs, an herb stripper is perfect to separate the more delicate leaves from the stems. Paired with your favorite herb growing kit, an herb stripper is sure to please. Plus, there's a good chance that the recipient doesn't have one.

You can make pulled pork, chicken salad, or any number of other recipes so much faster and easier using a meat shredder. Due to their resemblance to claws, they are often called meat claws. Because they have evenly spaced edges, a meat shredder creates more uniform pieces of meat that you can use in cooking. This creates a more cohesive dish that works well with sauces or condiments. If you are making a large batch, a meat shredder will also save your hands and wrists from the repeated and tedious action of shredding with a fork or knife. It pulls through more meat with each swipe compared to a smaller table fork. It also breaks down the fibers much better than cutting with a knife.

You can opt for a low-tech set made of stainless steel or a machine that shreds meat with just the push of a button. Meat shredder gadgets go even faster but can be harder to clean since they have more intricate parts. Most sets of non-mechanized meat shredding claws have comfortable handles that let you grip the tool as you pull it through brisket, pork shoulder, or roasted chicken. To keep your meat claws in tip-top shape, make sure to sharpen the tips of each blade routinely. Most home chefs need to sharpen their blades every few months, although the best sharpening frequency will depend on how often you use your meat claws.

If you love the top of the muffin, these pans allow you to bake your favorite part and skip the rest. This results in faster cooking times and the perfect muffin. They come in nonstick silicone version as well as metal. These pans are extra shallow compared to traditional muffin pans but still have a similar overall diameter. You will likely need to adjust the cooking time if you are using a standard muffin recipe since these tops are shorter and cook faster. You won't need paper muffin liners, making this an even more economical option for those who prefer this portion of the muffin.

You can also use them to make perfectly-portioned eggs for breakfast sandwiches, mini quiches, or English muffins. Cake-style cookies, such as traditional Whoopie Pies, are also easy to make using these shallow baking tins. Because they are uniform, you can make a large batch all at once. They are shallow so the same amount of batter yields more individual servings. To really make the most of your time, look for a tray that has 12 or more spaces on a single pan, resulting in larger batches within the same baking time. If you are more interested in crafting than baking, you can even use these to melt old, broken crayon pieces and make new one-of-a-kind circular crayons or add a wick to create candles.

If you're a fan of crinkle-cut fries, you can use this tool to make your own at home. Not only will it save you money over takeout but you can also make the recipe healthier or personalized with your own spice blend. A crinkle-cut knife can be used on everything from cucumbers and carrots to apples and watermelons. You can cut fruits or vegetables to serve raw or cut produce like potatoes, squash, and carrots before roasting them. The special presentation adds some extra style to a fruit or veggie platter. But it really shines as a potato knife for tasty fries. They come out uniform, which helps them cook evenly. A crinkle-cut knife also allows you to control the thickness. You can opt for traditional deep frying or make the recipe healthier by using an air fryer or baking sheet.

Most models have a rubberized or textured grip handle to keep the knife from slipping as you cut. The handle tends to be larger and allows for a solid grip, resulting in less wrist fatigue than if you tried to do the same action with a traditional paring knife. It also cuts in one slice rather than a lot of intricate manipulation of a sharp knife, which is generally safer for your fingers. The blade is stainless steel and can be dishwasher safe, although you should check to make sure.

The next time you have to spread butter, you'll be grateful for this heated knife that makes the task so much easier. You don't need to worry about the bread tearing as you try to make grilled cheese or the butter breaking off into chunks. Instead, it'll go on as smooth as, well, butter. You can use it with other spreads, such as jam or peanut butter, to make them transfer easier as well. If you are spreading butter on delicate breads like croissants or brioche, a heated butter knife helps melt the butter directly into the surface without the need for tough spreading. It also makes the job easier even on sturdier breads, rolls, or toast. 

Some have perforations that create delicate butter curls as well. These also go on smoother and look great on bread, rolls, or biscuits. Most heated butter knives are rechargeable and last for an hour or more of continuous use on one charge. You'll need to have a place to store the charger but won't need to worry about replacing the rechargable battery. You might need to handwash them, however, since some aren't safe to put in the dishwasher. They are a bit larger than a standard butter knife but still portable and easy to use and store. Look for a model with an automatic shut-off feature. These turn off after around 15 minutes to prevent accidental burns.