Best Cooking Tools Under $20 for Everyday Cooking: Your Guide to an Affordable, Smarter Kitchen
That feeling when you want to cook a great meal, but you’re convinced you need expensive, fancy gadgets to do it—so you just end up ordering takeout instead.
If you’ve been putting off upgrading your kitchen because you think it costs too much, the best way to fix this is knowing that some of the most essential tools cost less than a takeout dinner. Professional chefs and home cooks alike swear by affordable gear that works just as well as the pricey stuff. This guide highlights the best cooking tools under $20 that will actually make your everyday cooking easier, faster, and more enjoyable.
TL;DR
You don’t need expensive equipment to cook well. A $20 chef’s knife from Mercer is beloved by culinary students and pros alike . A $10 mini whisk can replace your bulky standard whisk for almost every small task . Kitchen shears (around $9–$14) handle everything from cutting herbs to opening packages . OXO peelers, bench scrapers, and silicone spatulas are affordable workhorses that professionals rely on daily . And a $9 clip-on pasta strainer eliminates the need for a bulky colander .
Key Takeaways
- The best-value chef’s knife is the Mercer Culinary 8-inch Millennia—under $20 and favored by culinary school grads .
- A mini whisk (like the OXO Good Grips Mini Whisk at $10) fits into small bowls and measuring cups, making it more useful than a full-size whisk for daily tasks .
- Kitchen shears are incredibly versatile—snip herbs, cut pizza, open packages, and break down poultry. Prices start around $9 .
- Silicone-tipped tongs protect your nonstick pans and offer a secure grip. Good sets start under $15 .
- A vegetable peeler with a sharp blade and comfortable handle (like OXO or Kuhn Rikon) costs around $10 and makes prep much faster .
- A bench scraper ($5–$15) is a baker’s secret weapon for cutting dough and cleaning cutting boards .
- A digital kitchen scale under $15 improves baking accuracy and portion control .
The Best Under-$20 Kitchen Tools, According to Experts
1. The Legendary $20 Chef’s Knife
Professional chefs and culinary students know about the Mercer Culinary 8-inch Millennia chef’s knife. It’s constructed from high-carbon Japanese steel, stays sharp, and has an ergonomic non-slip handle . Serious Eats editor Grace Kelly says this knife is still in her rotation because “I love that I can use it to break down a tough butternut squash, and after a quick sharpen on a whetstone, it’s ready to thinly slice the most delicate of tomatoes” . One reviewer who has used it daily for six years calls it “extremely functional” and says they “never felt the need to baby it” .
2. The Mini Whisk That Replaced the Big One
If you’re still using a standard whisk for everything, the OXO Good Grips Mini Whisk at $10 might change your life. It’s only 7.25 inches long and 1.2 inches wide, so it fits into any bowl, measuring cup, or mug . Product testers use it for scrambling eggs, mixing dressings, stirring protein powder, and even whipping cream by hand . It’s sturdy, easy to clean, and has a comfortable grippy handle.
3. Kitchen Shears: The Multi-Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed
For around $9 to $14, a good pair of kitchen shears handles a surprising number of tasks. Use them to cut herbs, slice pizza for kids, open packages of food, snip bacon, and even break down chicken . The Ibayam and KitchenAid options are dishwasher-safe and made from quality stainless steel .
4. Silicone-Tipped Tongs
Whether you’re browning vegetables in a cast iron skillet or grabbing a can from the top shelf, tongs are vital. The Hotec set features silicone heads that protect your pans from scratches and a comfortable grip with a simple locking design .
5. A Top-Tier Vegetable Peeler
OXO’s Good Grips Y-peeler has a sharp stainless steel blade and a comfortable non-slip handle that makes peeling everything from butternut squash to chocolate easy . Kuhn Rikon’s Swiss peeler is another chef favorite—the Y-shape is more comfortable than swivel peelers, and it costs around $10 .
6. The Mighty Bench Scraper
A bench scraper costs anywhere from $5 to $15 and is one of the most versatile tools you can own . Use it to transfer chopped ingredients from your cutting board to the pan, cut and portion dough, and clean up your workspace. One pro chef even uses them for non-cooking tasks like removing wallpaper .
7. A Digital Kitchen Scale
Most chefs agree that weighing ingredients is more accurate than measuring by volume, especially in baking . The Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale (under $15) has an 11-pound capacity, a tare button, and a large LCD screen . It saves counter space and helps with portion control.
8. The Clip-On Pasta Strainer
For around $9, a clip-on silicone pasta strainer eliminates the need for a bulky colander . You simply clip it onto your pot once the pasta is cooked, strain the water, and pop it in the dishwasher. It takes up almost no cabinet space.
9. A Reliable Fish Spatula
Despite the name, a fish spatula is useful for far more than fish. Professional chefs recommend it for flipping eggs, pancakes, grilled cheese, and cookies . The slotted, nonstick head is thin and precise enough to slide under delicate foods without breaking them .
10. A Meat Tenderizer
If you love making chicken Milanese, pork schnitzel, or flank steak nachos, a meat tenderizer under $10 is a great investment. KitchenAid’s dual-sided model makes quick work of tenderizing and pounding meat flat .
Comparison Table: Best Tools Under $20 at a Glance
| Tool | Best For | Key Benefit | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Chef’s Knife | Chopping, slicing, mincing | Professional quality at $20 | ~$20 |
| OXO Mini Whisk | Small mixing, dressings, eggs | Fits in mugs and small bowls | ~$10 |
| Kitchen Shears | Herbs, meat, packaging | Multi-purpose and dishwasher-safe | ~$9–$14 |
| Silicone Tongs | Flipping, serving, grabbing | Protects nonstick cookware | Under $15 |
| OXO/Kuhn Peeler | Peeling vegetables and fruit | Sharp blade, comfortable grip | ~$10 |
| Bench Scraper | Transferring, cutting dough, cleaning | Incredibly versatile | ~$5–$15 |
| Digital Kitchen Scale | Accurate measuring and portioning | Improves baking results | ~$10–$15 |
| Clip-On Pasta Strainer | Draining pasta and vegetables | Replaces bulky colander | ~$9 |
| Fish Spatula | Flipping delicate foods | Thin, slotted, and precise | ~$10–$13 |
| Meat Tenderizer | Pounding meat flat | Dual-sided for various cuts | ~$9 |
What to Look For (and Avoid)
Invest in: A good knife, peeler, tongs, and shears. These are the tools you’ll reach for almost every day.
Skip: Single-use gadgets that take up drawer space. Exceptions exist (like an avocado slicer if you eat them daily), but most specialty tools can be replaced with a good knife .
Check material: Look for high-carbon stainless steel for knives and shears, food-grade silicone for spatulas and strainers, and comfortable non-slip handles on everything you hold for more than a few seconds.
FAQ
What’s the best $20 kitchen tool?
The Mercer 8-inch chef’s knife is a standout—it’s professionally recommended and performs like a much pricier knife .
Are cheap kitchen tools worth it?
Yes, if you choose wisely. Many affordable tools, like OXO peelers and Mercer knives, are kitchen-industry favorites because they perform well and last a long time.
What kitchen tools should I never buy cheap?
Avoid cheap knives that feel flimsy. Also, very cheap nonstick pans can have questionable coatings. Stick with trusted brands like OXO, Mercer, KitchenAid, and Lodge .
How can I upgrade my kitchen on a budget?
Start with a quality chef’s knife, a vegetable peeler, kitchen shears, and a good set of tongs. These four tools will cover most daily cooking tasks.
What’s a good budget nonstick pan?
Lodge’s 10.25-inch cast iron skillet (around $30) is a naturally nonstick, non-toxic option that lasts forever . It’s slightly over $20 but worth the small splurge.
References:
Trusted Sources for Affordable Kitchen Tools:
- HuffPost – $20 Chef’s Knife Review
- ZDNET – 6 Cheap Kitchen Gadgets Under $20
- Food & Wine – Expert-Loved Tools Under $13
- Serious Eats – Under $40 Kitchen Essentials
- Allrecipes – Editor-Loved Tools
Which budget kitchen tool do you rely on most? Share your thoughts in the comments.
