When it comes to kitchen tools, bigger isn’t always better—at least when you live in a home with a tiny kitchen. If you have limited real estate, every inch of a countertop, drawer, and shelf is precious, which is why you don’t want to fill it up with tools that get little use. This dilemma has, of course, led brands to spin up a host of space-saving alternatives, some of which are truly useful and others that are more fit for the junk drawer.
Rather than buying something that’s purely marketed as space-saving or compact, we recommend looking for the best-but-smaller version of a tool. There are plenty of compact-but-mighty kitchen tools from our extensive reviews that are worth investing in, and that we promise will get plenty of use.
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迷你搅拌
Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk
Tovolo 6" Mini Whisk
There are plenty of times when afull-sized whiskis essential: to mix thick batters, reach deep into the corners of a pot, or properlyaerate cream, for example. But there’s nothing more exasperating than having to break out a giant whisk and a matching-sized bowl for everyday tasks like whisking a single egg or mixing together a quick dipping sauce or spice blend. This is where the mini whisk comes in. Clocking in at under six-and-a-half inches, thesewhisksare compact, but still long enough to hold comfortably. The best ones will have loops that are thin enough to avoid splattering in smaller bowls, yet still strong enough to thoroughly mix and blend.
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Y Peeler
Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler
Not only isKuhn Rikon’s original Swiss peelerhands downour favorite peeler, but it’s also one of the most compact options. Measuring just four inches tall and two-and-a-half inches wide, the pint-sized peeler is far more versatile than it looks. In addition to taking the skin off an array of fruits and vegetables, the trusty Y-peeler easily—and cleanly—takes the rind off of citrus, shaves Parmesan, and scoops out blemishes from potatoes. Another space-saving bonus for those in multi-handed households: unlike a swivel peeler, a Y-peeler works for both righties and lefties, so you’ll only need one.
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Mini Measuring Cup
OXO Mini Angled Measuring Cup
The very best compact tools are not only good at saving space, but also find a way to do the jobs of multiple products. Mini measuring cups are a prime example of such a tool.This one from OXOmeasures (of course), serving as a neater, less drip-prone replacement tospoons, while also taking the place of a full-sized cup for little amounts of liquids. It can double asa jiggeror as a cup for espresso pulls. We also like to use them as prep bowls for spices and herbs.
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Offset Spatula
Ateco Offset Spatula with Stainless Steel Blade
If you’re a baker, then there’s probably already an offset spatula in your drawer. They come in several sizes and can go as long as 12 inches, but Ateco makes a迷你4.5英寸版本that’s very versatile. We’ve already pulled togetheran exhaustive listof all the ways an offset spatula comes in handy when it comes to baking, but it can go far beyondfrosting cakeand lifting cookies—its unique angled shape is also great for spreading things on toast, smoothing sauces on top of casseroles, flipping burgers or small pieces of fish, and creating swirls in dips. (In a pinch, you can even use it as a cheese knife.)
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Eighth Sheet Pans
Nordic Ware 1/8 Sheet Pan, 1-Pack
For food prep (toasting nuts, mise en place, salting meat, reheating food ina toaster oven), you'll be glad to have a stack ofeighth-sheet pansaround. They're so compact, you'll hardly know they're there! Except when you need them, of course, which will be all of the time.
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Single-Serve Coffee Maker
Kalita Wave Dripper 155 Series
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker
When you live alone or you’re the single coffee drinker in your household, getting a full-sizecoffee maker可能就像一个承诺,无论是空间and the amount of coffee it makes. And though they’re convenient, machines like the Keurig cost a lot and still take up a chunk of the kitchen counter (plus, they make mediocre coffee). Asingle-serve coffee makerlike theKalita WaveandAeropress, on the other hand, can be tucked away when not in use, are easy to clean, and brew great coffee. For something a little larger, opt for a French press, which is still compact and easy to tuck away (althoughour favoritefrom Fellow is so stylish and sleek, you probably won’t want to hide it).
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Handheld Coffee Grinder
1Zpresso JX Manual Coffee Grinder
If you don't have the countertop space for a burr grinder, a handheld coffee grinder's a good move. We wouldn't necessarily want to grind a full pot of coffee with one every morning, but for single-serve coffee makers or pourovers, it works great. Aftertesting 11 of them, we recommend the 1Zpresso JX Manual. It's "easy to grind with and simple to adjust," as we said in our review.
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Petty Knife
Mac Knife Professional Utility Knife, 6-Inch
Shun Hikari 6" Utility Knife
Also known as a utility knife (but not to be confused with a utility box cutter),petty knivesfall between aparing knifeandchef’s knife. While both of those are essential to anyknife collection, there’s also a place for a petty knife, especially if you’re short on space. With blades measuring somewhere between five-and-a-half and six inches long, you’ll find that these short, yet nimble knives can handle a host of kitchen tasks—including mincing aromatics, chopping vegetables, and even breaking down chickens.
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Bench Scraper
Oxo Bench Scraper
For a tool that can do a ton, there'sthe bench scraper. Its wide, rectangular, semi-sharp blade can easily handle transferring piles of ingredients from the cutting board to a prep bowl, clearing off countertops, and portioning doughs. After testing eight of them, we recommend the OXO Bench Scraper. It has a soft, grippy handle and even features measurements on the end of its blade.
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Magnetic Knife Strip
Jonathan Alden Magnetic Wooden Knife Bar Holder Strip
Instead of a bulky knife block or even a cork drawer insert,a magnetic knife stripgoes right on the wall, using space that wouldn't be of much utility anyways. After testing, we like this one from Jonathan Alden. It has strong magnets and a handsome design.
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Mini Stainless Steel Bowl
Ikea Blanda Blank Serving Bowl Steel
There are certain tools thatwe recommend having two (or more) ofand stainless steel prep bowls are one of them. Having an assortment of sizes on hand is absolutely essential, especially small ones like these 5-inchBlanda Blankbowls from Ikea. They’re the perfect size for mise en place work, tiny enough to hold minced garlic and herbs, but also big enough for a chopped shallot or an egg or two. They’re easy to wash and stack up neatly, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself reaching for them frequently.
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Small Fine Mesh Strainer
OXO Good Grips Mini Mesh Strainer
Norpro 3-Inch Strainer
Perhaps one of the most underrated kitchen tools,a small fine mesh strainerwill come in handy more often than you’d imagine. If you make double-strained cocktails or tea frequently, it’s probably already part of your kitchen arsenal—if not, here are a few reasons to consider picking one up: to sift small amounts of flour, catch pulp and seeds when quickly squeezing a lemon, strain out bits from rendered fat, dust powdered sugar over baked goods, drain olives and other things packed in oil…you get the idea.
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居lep Strainer
Cocktail Kingdom Premium Julep Strainer, Stainless Steel - Matte Finish
Winco Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
For cocktail enthusiasts, there’s no doubt that a居lep straineris an essential tool. The sturdy, usually stainless steel, disc boasts perforated holes that helpstrain outmuddled ingredients and ice, while allowing the drink itself to flow through smoothly. Outside of cocktail making, a Julep strainer can be used to scoop ice and strain poached eggs out of boiling water.
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Small Rolling Pin
Muso Wood Small Rolling Pin 11 inch
When it comes to a goodrolling pin, length matters. We’ve found that the best option is both long and light, especially for rolling outpie crust. But there are times when pulling out a 17-inch rolling pin seems excessive and a smaller one actually offers more control. I discovered the versatility of a shorter, thinnerChinese rolling pin(also called a dumpling rolling pin) while watching my father-in-law roll outscallion pancakesand bought one for myself. It’s now my go-to for less hefty tasks such as flattening homemadedumpling skinsandbao doughor rolling out crusts forhand piesand smaller personal-sized pizzas.
FAQs
What’s the best gear for a small kitchen?
The best kitchen gear is the things you’ll use often, and that applies no matter the size of your kitchen. But when it comes to smaller spaces, you may want to consider downsizing to more compact versions of certain essentials—say, a 4-quart Dutch oven instead of a 7-quart one, a single-serve coffee maker vs. a full-sized machine—or looking for tools that can do multiple jobs.
What’s the best way to store kitchen gadgets?
Here at Serious Eats, we’re big fans ofmetro racks, which are strong enough to hold your heaviest kitchen equipment but can also keep smaller appliances and tools organized. They’re especially great at bringing additional storage space to tiny kitchens that don't typically have a ton of shelving or cabinetry to begin with.
If storage space is lacking, also consider optimizing your walls. For example, put up amagnetic knife stripfor cutlery. Not only is it space efficient, but it also offers the most flexibility. Strips are sold at various lengths and, unlike an unwieldy knife block, you never have to worry that a knife won’t fit the slots. You can also opt for a hanging pot rack, which gives you easy access to cookware and saves you time from rummaging around looking for the right pot or pan.