Whether you are hosting a holiday feast or just trying to stay fed through all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays we all can benefit from help in the kitchen. Personally, I do a little bit of both: I bake through the holidays, but I get so caught up in the sweets that I forget to eat real food. I’m trying to be better and this is where holiday meal prep comes in.
These are the kitchen gadgets I’m using this holiday season to speed up my cooking, stay organized, and spend less time cleaning so I can spend more time enjoying the holidays with my family.
Kitchen Gadgets for Holiday Meal Prep
P.S. these top-rated kitchen gadgets also make great gifts for the foodies on your holiday shopping list.
- Shaker Shield
- Clip-on Pasta Strainer
- Vegetable Micro Chopper & Spiralizer
- 2-in-1 Olive Oil Mister & Pourer
- Nested Mixing Bowls with Grater Attachments
- 3-piece Cookie Sheet Set
- 3-in-1 Collapsible Prep Tub & Cutting Board
- Double-sided Titanium Cutting Boards
- 8-piece Microwave-Safe Cookware Set
- ONWEX Barrier Gel
Shaker Shield makes sure your food has all of the flavor with none of the mess
You want to know what holiday meal prep gadget is already keeping my kitchen cleaner while spending less on paper towels? Shaker Shield.
This nifty new kitchen gadget from the HEX Spice Company allows me to switch between seasonings, handling raw proteins, or even sticky desserts in progress without needing to wash my hands after every single step along the way, and with no more messy jars, spoons, bowls, handles—you get my point?
Yeah, I’ve tried mise en place in the kitchen. But honestly, I don’t have enough little bowls and jars to house every seasoning I’m using. Plus, it makes more dishes. And let’s be real. If you’re a cook or baker who tastes along the way, you know you need a little bit more of this and that. So what good was digging up every little container in my house just to pull my jars back out? Also, as a busy mom who sometimes just has less than 5 minutes to get dinner seasoned and in the oven, I just grab my oil, open my jars, and get cooking. Then I just toss my Shaker Shield in the dishwasher once I’m done.
I know we’re talking holiday meal prep today. But for me, Shaker Shield is for everyday survival.
Shaker Shield is available now on the HEX Spice Company site and will be coming soon to Amazon. Shaker Shield comes in two colors and is sold as a 3-piece set (plus carrying bag) so you can use the product for various-sized jars and bottles. The variety will serve you well over the holidays, but I honestly usually use just one Shaker Shield for my day-to-day cooking. And these are my new favorite hostess gift!
Price: $29.99 for a 3-piece kit in black or translucent.
Buy Now: HEXSpiceCompany.com and coming soon to Amazon.
AUOON Pasta Strainer Clip for Pot
Have you ever cooked your pasta to perfectly al dente only to have no idea where your strainer is, or the sink is full of dirty dishes? Clearly, I have a thing for meal-saving gadgets, and this Silicone Clip-on Pasta Strainer by AUOON is one I’m reaching for as a lifeline again and again. Better yet, use this clip-on strainer for more than pasta. Strain potatoes for your mash, or blanched green beans for your side dish.
The flexible food-grade silicone allows this strainer to work on a variety of pots. It can also withstand temperatures ranging from -40 to 240°F. So even if you’re a new cook who can do a lot of damage in the kitchen, this meal prep gadget is safe.
Review: “Love it! I eyed this product for awhile, telling myself I didn’t need another kitchen gadget – I have plenty of strainers, but I am so glad I finally decided to try it. It has a small footprint, making it easy to store; it it clips strongly to the pot, no splatter worries; lots of color options for all tastes; and, MOST importantly, it goes right into the dishwasher. Definitely recommend.” — C L S, Amazon review.
Buy Now: $13.99 from Amazon.
Fullstar Vegetable Micro Chopper
Nothing beats your favorite holiday dishes, but I could live without the endless chopping. Am I right? Chop no more! The Fullstar Vegetable Chopper & Spiralizer makes chopping vegetables fast and kind of fun.
With over 120k positive reviews and an overall 4.5-star rating, the Fullstar Vegetable Chopper and Spiralizer is one of Amazon’s consistently highest-rated kitchen gadgets for meal prep year-round, and for a good reason! Users get four different ultra-sharp chopping blades, including the trending “micro-chop” blade that makes you actually want to eat salads. There are also three different spiralizer blades, including one for zoodles. Plus, your vegetables are guaranteed to be consistently chopped, resulting in more even cooking and more delicious meals.
Review: “My mom loves this chopper, and after seeing what she has put it through, I understand why. She has arthritis and uses it constantly for meal prep and freezer prep because it makes chopping large amounts of food much easier on her hands. At one point, she went through approximately 21 pounds of onions (They were on sale, okay?) with this thing in one go. That alone sold me on the durability. What impressed me even more is that after all of that use, the blades are still sharp.” — Sera White, Amazon review.
Buy Now: On sale for $27.99! Full price is $49.99 on Amazon.
TrendPlain 16 oz 2-in-1 Olive Oil Sprayer & Pourer
I have a confession. I can be very heavy-handed with oil in my kitchen. That’s why I’ve loved adding this 16 oz. Olive Oil Sprayer and Pourer.
It dispenses oil in three ways: a short hold for a fine mist for oiling a pan or to spritz veggies before roasting, a long hold to coat salad with a stronger mist, or use it to pour oil. For $8.99 it’s very durable, easy to hold and use, and the silicone base prevents me from making a loud “THUNK” when I set it down and scaring myself.
Review: “Easy to clean, easy to fill, easy to use! Sprays a nice, fine mist, a more concentrated spray and pours without dripping. The handle is comfortable and the thumb trigger works well. They hold a good amount of oil, so I don’t have to refill often, even after daily use. I got the two-pack so I could use one for olive oil and one for avocado oil. No more buying cooking spray in the aerosol cans! I highly recommend these.” — Ice Queen, Amazon review.
Buy Now: Buy one for $8.99 or two for $15.99 on Amazon.
Belwares 14-piece Nested Mixing Bowls with Grater and Mandolin Lid Attachments
Between Thanksgiving, holiday baking, Christmas dinner, and the hangover brunch on New Year’s Day, you need a good set of bowls. I love this 14-piece Nested Mixing Bowl Set from Amazon. Each set includes five stainless steel mixing bowls, each with its own lid, and four grater attachments.
This mixing bowl set stands up to all of your holiday cooking and baking. They can hold ingredients, store for later, and the attachments offer all the versatility you need all season long. Plus, the nested design helps these bowls take up as little space as possible so you can set ’em and forget ’em in your cabinets once the holidays are over and you don’t even want to think about cooking or baking.
Review: “They clean so easily!!! The rubber bottom keeps them in place even when I’m using a high speed mixer. They’re really perfect sizes for all kinds of dishes. But best are the lids, which are completely air tight, and so convenient for cooking in and then storing in the fridge!” — Sammy Wein, Amazon review
Buy Now: Sets start at $24.99 on Amazon with multiple color options available.
NutriChef 3-piece Cookie Sheet Set
Can you say “holiday season” and not think of cookies? I can’t. If you don’t have any cookie sheets, now is the time to fix that. I suggest these 3-piece Non-stick Cookie Sheets from NutriChef.
For a beginner baker, this 3-piece nested set is perfect. It’s enough to work on multiple batches at once; the nested design takes up minimal space, and NutriChef creates tons of high-quality kitchen products. That’s how I know I can trust the non-stick coating on these pans so that my cookies never stick.
Review: “These were exactly what I was looking for, for all my baking needs! They are not those ones that you use a few times, end up scratched up or burnt. Very easy to wash and the red rubber pieces on the handles are a good little “safety” feature that can prevent a bad but and they do snap off when you are ready to wash! Took me a while to find a good set that wasn’t too expensive for me and these were the ones!!” — taylor, Amazon review.
Buy Now: $29.99 for this 3-piece set, plus other options.
VENYRA 3-in-1 Collapsible BBQ Prep Tub & Cutting Board
Brine it. Grill it. Smoke it. I don’t know what you’re cooking or how you’re cooking it this holiday season, but the VENYRA 3-in-1 BBQ Prep Tub is going to make it easier.
Made out of food-grade silicone, this collapsible tub holds up to 16 liters; the lid doubles as a grooved cutting board that catches all of your drippings. Plus, the claws make shredding meat easier and give you protection from the heat of your cooked protein, and you get a resting bag. You can use this tub throughout your whole cooking process. Start with brining, allow it to cool in the tub, cut it up on the cutting board, then clean it out and use it for serving or storing.
I can think of so many uses for this product that we didn’t even list: picnic basket, vegetable crate, emergency cooler—the uses for this prep tub are endless. You’re going to buy it to help with Thanksgiving meal prep, but it will soon become your go-to kitchen gadget for year-round holiday feasts.
Review: “Exactly what I needed. It did great for transferring meat to and from the smoker. The cutting board bottom is a nice feature. Just take care not to cut the sides of the container. Cleans easily. Stores neatly.” — Jim- G-Town, Amazon review.
Buy Now: $39.99 on Amazon.
Titanium Cutting Boards
Every kitchen needs a quality cutting board, and this Double-Sided Titanium Cutting Board gives you two great cutting boards.
This cutting board was designed for both raw and cooked food preparation. The titanium side is naturally antibacterial, perfect for cutting raw proteins, and is non-porous, so it’s resistant to stains and odors. Flip it over, and you have a hard plastic cutting board with a grooved surface, great for collecting juices and preventing messes. It also features a grinding stump so you can prepare your aromatics without dirtying another gadget. Also, this 16″ x 11″ cutting board is big enough to provide a large cutting surface, but is still small enough to fit comfortably on your counters.
Review: “I’ve been using this double-sided cutting board for a few days, and I’m impressed with how solid it feels. Having a titanium side and a PP side is a great idea, since I can keep raw meat and fish separate from fruits, vegetables, and bread. The 16″×11″ size gives me enough room to prep a full meal without feeling bulky on my counter. It rinses clean easily, and so far I haven’t noticed any scratches or odors. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a durable, food-safe board that handles everyday cooking.” — Misty, Amazon review.
Buy Now: $38.42 on Amazon.
Anyday 8-piece Microwave-Safe Glass Cookware Set
The more I cook, the more I realize I need cookware that can stand up to a variety of cooking methods. These bowls from the Anyday 8-piece Microwave-Safe Glass Cookware Set can go from the freezer to the oven, from the microwave to the dishwasher, and make a statement on my dining table. The frosted glass aesthetic allows this cookware to double as beautiful high-quality serveware. Plus, each bowl comes with its own airtight lid that is just as versatile.
Review: “Perfect to use in my new microwave that has a steam cook option. Good quantity and pretty enough to go from microwave to dining table to refrigerator if there are leftovers. Very pleased with this purchase.” — Vivian Swertinski, Amazon review.
Buy Now: $159.99 for a set of four.
ONWEX
Okay, maybe this next product isn’t your traditional kitchen gadget, but it can certainly help you with your meal prep and beyond throughout the holidays. ONWEX Shield Gel creates an invisible barrier on your hands that prevents messy substances from sticking to them.
With ONWEX a little goes a long way. Each 20.3 fl. oz. bottle provides 500-800 uses; the gel dries within 60 seconds and lasts for hours. That’s less time spent scrubbing your hands at the sink and more time actually cooking.
Review: “I’m very happy with this product. It’s easy to apply, dries quickly, and creates a protective barrier on my hands without feeling heavy or greasy. It’s especially useful when I’m working with materials that can leave my hands dirty or irritated. A little goes a long way, and it washes off easily when I’m done.” — Javier Rojas, Amazon review.
Buy Now: $26.99 for a 10 oz bottle on Amazon.
More Holiday Help from TIA
I hope our 10 top-rated kitchen gadgets for holiday meal prep help you feel a little more prepared for the months ahead.
Looking for more holiday help from TIA? Check out 6 Smart Upgrades I Swear By Before the Holidays to get your home ready for guests and festivities. Or fit a few more guests at the dinner table with our Easy Folding Table Hack for a 10 Seat Dining Table for Your Christmas Party.
Let us know what else we can help you out with this holiday by telling us in our comments. Otherwise, happy holidays!
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