Time-Saving Kitchen Gadgets That Earn a Spot on the Counter

A time-saving kitchen gadget has to do one job faster than the way you already do it, and it has to be easy to clean and put away. Otherwise it ends up in the back of a drawer. The picks below cover the four places where weeknight cooking slows down: prep, cooking, drinks and storage, plus two organizers that cut the time spent looking for things.

Most of them cost between $18 and $34. Shipping is free on every US order, and you can return any of them within 30 days.

Pick the gadget that matches the step you like least:

• Chopping takes forever: the garlic chopper for aromatics, the mandoline for everything else.
• Too many dishes: the clip-on strainer replaces the colander, and the oil sprayer replaces a basting brush.
• Coffee drinks at home: the milk frother.
• Leftovers in half-empty containers: stretch lids and the bag sealer.
• Digging through cabinets: the fridge shelf and the under-sink organizer.

• The press garlic and onion chopper ($23.99) chops as you tap the top. Drop in garlic or a chunk of onion, press a few times, and skip the knife work on the cutting board. It's manual, has a stainless steel blade, and stands about 8.75 in tall.
• The 8-in-1 mandoline slicer (from $27.99) slices, shreds and grates straight into its catch bowl, so there's no transfer step. It comes with changeable blades, a hand guard, a drain basket and an egg divider with a grater, in Blue or Pink. Use the hand guard every time, since the blades are sharp.

• A clip-on pot strainer (from $21.99) clips onto the rim of the pot so you can drain pasta with one hand, and there's no colander to wash afterward. It comes in Black, Green, Red or Blue.
• The mist oil sprayer ($21.99) puts a fine, even mist on air fryer baskets, pans and salads instead of a pour or a brush. The glass bottle holds about 3.4 oz (100 ml) of oil, vinegar, soy sauce or lemon juice. Pump it a few times the first time you use it. To clean it, fill the bottle with hot water and a drop of mild dish soap, then spray it through.
• The hands-free electric can opener ($31.99) opens cans with one touch and leaves smooth edges. It runs on 2 AA batteries, which are not included.

• The handheld milk frother ($28.99) whips milk into foam for lattes and matcha in seconds. Press the button once and it keeps running, so you don't have to hold it down. It includes a double whisk head, the whisk comes off for cleaning, and it takes 3 AA batteries, not included. It also mixes eggs and dressings.
• A push-down bottle opener ($18.99) pops a cap off when you press it down on a bottle, using one hand. It's stainless steel, in Silver, Black, Green or Colorful.

• Silicone stretch lids (from $26.99) stand in for plastic wrap. Stretch one over a bowl, a can or half a lemon and it's covered. The six sizes run from about 2.6 to 8 in (6.5 to 20.5 cm) across, and there's a 12-lid pack for bigger households.
• The mini bag sealer ($17.99) reseals chip and snack bags in one pass and has a cutter for opening them. It recharges over USB-C and comes as a pink pig or a brown bear.

Time also goes into hunting for things.

• A magnetic fridge shelf (from $33.99) sticks to the side of the fridge with no drilling and holds spices and sauces where you can see them. It's carbon steel and needs no installation. Choose Small, Large, or a 2-piece or 4-piece set.
• The 2-tier pull-out under-sink organizer ($39.99) has slide-out shelves that bring the back of the cabinet to you. It measures about 10.7 in wide and 14.2 in deep and needs a cabinet opening of about 12.5 in wide, 15.5 in deep and 13 in high. Non-slip pads on the shelves help keep bottles in place. Check for pipes and door hinges before you order.