Small Kitchen Gadgets Worth Buying When You Cook for One (8 Picks)

Kitchen gadgets multiply. You buy one for a recipe, then another, and soon a whole drawer holds tools you used once.

In a small kitchen, every gadget takes space from something you actually need. These are the eight we think earn their place when you cook for one, and the ones we would leave on the shelf.

The short version: Start with a kitchen scale and an instant-read thermometer. Together they fix the two hardest parts of solo cooking: portion sizes and not overcooking your only chicken breast. Then add take-apart kitchen shears and a Microplane zester. Buy the rest only if you will use them every week.

The Three-Question Test for Any Gadget

Before buying any gadget, ask:

1. Does it do something my knife, pan or hands cannot do well?
2. Will I use it every week, not just for one recipe?
3. Do I know exactly which drawer, hook or shelf it will live on?

If any answer is no, skip it. Every pick below passes all three for most solo cooks.

Our Picks at a Glance

• Best kitchen scale: OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Scale With Pull-Out DisplayJump to review ↓
• Best instant-read thermometer: ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2Jump to review ↓
• Best kitchen shears: Henckels Take-Apart Kitchen ShearsJump to review ↓
• Best zester: Microplane Premium Classic ZesterJump to review ↓
• Best mini chopper: Cuisinart Mini-Prep PlusJump to review ↓
• Best immersion blender: Braun MultiQuick 5 MQ505Jump to review ↓
• Best egg cooker: Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, 7-EggJump to review ↓
• Best reusable storage bag: Stasher Silicone Sandwich BagJump to review ↓

1. OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Scale With Pull-Out Display: Best Kitchen Scale

If we could recommend only one gadget to a solo cook, it would be a scale. The hardest part of cooking for one is portions, and a scale takes the guessing out.

Two ounces of dry pasta is one serving. A third of a cup of rice is one serving. Eyeball those and you either go hungry or throw food away. Weigh them and you get it right every time, which also makes your groceries last as long as you planned.

A scale is also how you shrink recipes. Most recipes serve four. Halving “one cup of flour” in cups is messy; halving 120 grams is easy.

What makes the OXO stand out is the display. It slides out on a short arm, so a big mixing bowl or dinner plate never hides the numbers. The steel platform lifts off for washing, which matters when you weigh raw chicken. It is also America’s Test Kitchen’s top-rated kitchen scale, and the pull-out display is the reason.

If $65 feels like a lot, OXO makes a 5-pound version for less. For single portions, 5 pounds is plenty.

Who should buy it: Every solo cook, and anyone who bakes.

2. ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2: Best Instant-Read Thermometer

When you cook one chicken breast, there is no second piece to cut open and check. Overcook it and dinner is dry; undercook it and dinner is unsafe. A thermometer tells you the exact moment it is done.

The ThermoPop 2 reads in a couple of seconds, which matters more than it sounds. With slow thermometers, you stand over a hot pan while the numbers creep up. With this one, you stab, read and move on.

The display turns itself to face you, so you can read it whichever way you hold it. It is waterproof, so you rinse it under the tap instead of wiping around the electronics.

Keep these numbers taped inside a cupboard door: chicken and leftovers at 165°F, pork and fish at 145°F, medium-rare steak at about 130°F. See how to clean a meat thermometer for care.

Who should buy it: Anyone who cooks meat or fish, or reheats leftovers.

3. Henckels Take-Apart Kitchen Shears: Best Kitchen Shears

Good shears replace a handful of gadgets. They snip herbs, cut chicken thighs into strips, trim green beans, slice pizza and open the packaging everything comes in.

For a solo cook, they also save a cutting board. Snip scallions or herbs straight into the pan, cut bacon into lardons over the skillet, or trim a chicken thigh on its own paper. One less board in a small sink adds up.

We like take-apart shears for one simple reason: hygiene. After raw chicken, fixed shears trap juice in the pivot where no sponge can reach. These come apart in two pieces, so you can scrub every surface or put them in the dishwasher.

The blades are long and narrow, which makes them nimble on small jobs like trimming fat or snipping chives.

Who should buy it: Everyone. These are the most versatile tool on the list.

4. Microplane Premium Classic Zester: Best Zester

A rasp zester does far more than zest lemons. It grates garlic into a paste, shreds fresh ginger, turns Parmesan into fluffy snow and finishes a dish with nutmeg or chocolate.

For one person, it replaces two tools. You rarely need a cup of grated cheese, so a box grater is overkill. And a garlic press is a pain to clean; a rasp does the same job and rinses clean.

The Microplane is the original, and the blades stay sharp for years. The soft handle gives a good grip when your hands are wet.

It is flat and thin, so it slips into any drawer. Keep the cover on to protect the blade and your knuckles.

Who should buy it: Anyone who cooks with garlic, ginger, citrus or hard cheese.

5. Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus: Best Mini Chopper

A full-size food processor is wrong for single portions. Put a handful of basil in a 12-cup bowl and most of it sticks to the walls while the blade spins at the bottom.

A 3-cup chopper is sized for what you cook. It chops an onion in seconds, makes enough pesto for two meals, blends a small batch of salsa and crushes crackers for a crumb coating.

The Mini-Prep Plus has been around for years because it does this well. It has a chop and a grind setting, and the blade has a sharp side and a blunt side for different jobs. It is small enough to live on a cupboard shelf rather than the counter.

It is loud for its size, and it will not knead dough. For everything else in a solo kitchen, it is plenty.

Who should buy it: Solo cooks who make sauces, pesto or salsa every week.

6. Braun MultiQuick 5 MQ505: Best Immersion Blender

An immersion blender is the solo cook’s blender. A countertop blender takes a big chunk of counter, and its jar is too large for one smoothie. A stick blender goes into whatever you are already using.

Purée soup right in the pot, with no pouring hot liquid into a jar. Blend a smoothie in the beaker it comes with. Whisk a little cream or a vinaigrette. Then rinse the shaft under the tap and put it in a drawer.

We like the Braun because it is light and comfortable to hold, which matters when you are blending a hot pot of soup with one hand. The bell-shaped blade guard cuts down on splashing.

It will not crush ice for frozen drinks. For that, see the best blender for protein shakes. For technique, see how to use an immersion blender.

Who should buy it: Anyone who makes soup, smoothies or sauces.

7. Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, 7-Egg: Best Egg Cooker

Eggs are the easiest protein for one person, and this little cooker makes them hands-off. Add water, add eggs, press a button and walk away.

It shuts itself off when the water runs out, so the eggs never overcook while you shower or pack a bag. Seven eggs is a week of hard-boiled breakfasts or snacks.

In a studio with two burners, it also frees up the stove. Boil eggs on the counter while the pan on the stove cooks something else.

If you rarely eat eggs, skip it. A small saucepan does the same job with more attention. For poaching on the stove, see how to use egg poachers, and compare more options in the best hard-boiled egg cooker guide.

Who should buy it: Solo cooks who eat eggs most days or prep breakfasts for the week.

8. Stasher Silicone Sandwich Bag: Best Reusable Storage Bag

Cooking for one means leftovers and half-used ingredients. Half an onion, a portion of soup, two chicken thighs for later in the week: they all need somewhere to go.

Stasher bags store them flat. In a small fridge or a freezer drawer, that is a big deal. A rigid container takes the same space whether it holds a spoonful or a full portion. A bag shrinks to fit what is inside it.

They go from freezer to microwave, so a frozen portion of chili can be reheated in the same bag. They also wash in the dishwasher, and turning them inside out on a rack helps them dry.

One bag costs more than a box of zip bags. Used every day, it pays for itself within a few months.

Who should buy it: Solo cooks who freeze single portions or store leftovers.

Gadget Priorities by Budget

Budget	Buy These	Approx. Total
Under $50	Thermometer, zester	About $40 to $55
Under $100	Add shears and one Stasher bag	About $70 to $90
Under $200	Add scale and stick blender	About $185 to $230
Everything	Add mini chopper and egg cooker	About $235 to $290

Start at the top and work down. The first four are useful in nearly every kitchen. The last four depend on what you cook.

Which Gadgets Fit Your Cooking Style?

Not every solo cook needs all eight. Match the gadgets to how you actually cook.

If you meal prep on weekends: The scale, thermometer and Stasher bags matter most. Weigh portions, cook them to the right temperature and freeze them flat. Our guide on how long chicken lasts in the fridge helps you decide what to freeze. For dairy, see can you freeze cream cheese.

If you make smoothies and soups: The stick blender covers both.

If you cook a lot of fresh produce: The zester, mini chopper and shears save the most time. For citrus, see how to use a lemon juicer and how much juice is in one lemon.

If you mostly cook meat and fish: The thermometer comes first. For grilling or smoking, a leave-in probe is also handy; see the best meat thermometer for smoking.

If you eat a lot of eggs: The egg cooker earns its space. Otherwise, a small nonstick skillet does the job.

If you bake: Buy the scale first. Baking by weight is far more reliable than cups, especially when you halve a recipe. See space-saving baking tool essentials for more.

Gadgets to Skip in a Small Kitchen

These fail the three-question test for most solo cooks:

• Avocado slicers. A knife and a spoon work as well.
• Strawberry hullers and banana slicers. A paring knife does the job.
• Egg separators. Your hands or the shell work fine.
• Garlic peelers. Crush the clove with the flat of your knife.
• Herb strippers. Run your fingers down the stem.
• Quesadilla and sandwich makers. A skillet does both.
• Full-size food processors. Too big for single portions.
• Bread makers. Bulky, single-use and slow to pay off for one.
• Spiralizers. Fun for a month, then forgotten.

If you already own some of these, try a one-month rule. Anything you have not touched in a month can probably go.

Why Multi-Use Tools Win

The best gadgets replace several others:

• Shears replace a pizza cutter, herb scissors and a packaging knife.
• A rasp zester replaces a garlic press, nutmeg grater and small cheese grater.
• A stick blender replaces a blender, hand mixer and whisk for small jobs.
• A scale replaces most measuring cups.

Before buying something new, check whether a tool you already own does the job.

Why Cheap Gadgets Often Cost More

It is tempting to buy the cheapest version of every gadget. For tools you use daily, that usually backfires.

Cheap thermometers read slowly or drift out of accuracy, which means overcooked meat. Thin shears loosen at the pivot and start to chew instead of cut. Budget scales often hide their display under the bowl.

None of the picks above are the most expensive in their category. They are the ones built to survive daily use. Spend a little more once on the tools you reach for every day, and save on the ones you use once a week.

How to Store Gadgets in a Small Kitchen

One drawer, one purpose. Keep all hand tools in a single drawer with dividers so nothing gets lost. See how to organize kitchen drawers in a small kitchen.

Hang the shears and zester. A magnetic strip holds shears, and a hook holds the zester. See the best magnetic knife strip.

Keep plug-in gadgets together. The chopper, stick blender and egg cooker can share one cupboard shelf. Wrap the cords before storing.

Use the walls. Rails and hooks free up drawers. See vertical storage ideas for small kitchens and countertop organization ideas for a small kitchen.

The Basics Come First

Gadgets sit on top of a few basic tools every kitchen needs. Before buying any of the above, make sure you have:

• A sharp chef’s knife. See the best knife set under $100.
• A cutting board. An over-the-sink cutting board saves counter space.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• A wooden spoon and a silicone spatula.
• A colander. A collapsible one stores flat.

With these and the right pans, you can cook almost anything. Our best cookware sizes for cooking for one guide covers the pans. For plug-in appliances, see the best small kitchen appliances for cooking for one.

Caring for Your Gadgets

• Dry the scale platform after washing, and keep liquids away from the base.
• Replace the thermometer battery when the display dims.
• Separate the shear blades and wash the pivot after raw meat.
• Rinse the zester right away, before food dries in the teeth.
• Wash the stick blender shaft immediately by running it in a cup of soapy water. Never submerge the motor.
• Descale the egg cooker now and then with a splash of vinegar.
• Dry Stasher bags inside out before storing.

Related Guides

• How to Stock a Small Kitchen for Solo Cooking
• Easy Meal Prep Ideas for One Person in a Small Kitchen
• How to Cook a Full Meal With Only Two Burners
• Best Vegetable Choppers
• 8 Best Immersion Blenders
• Best Airtight Food Storage Containers

Frequently Asked Questions

What kitchen gadgets are worth buying for one person?

A digital scale, an instant-read thermometer, good kitchen shears and a rasp zester are worth it for almost every solo cook. A mini chopper, immersion blender and egg cooker are worth it if you would use them every week.

How do I decide if a gadget is worth the storage space?

Ask three questions. Does it do something your knife or pan cannot do well? Will you use it every week? Do you know exactly where it will live? If any answer is no, skip it.

Is a mini food processor worth it for one person?

Yes, if you make sauces, pesto or salsa, or chop a lot of onions. A 3-cup chopper suits single portions far better than a full-size food processor, whose blade barely reaches a small handful of food.

Do I need a kitchen scale if I cook for one?

It helps more than any other gadget. A scale lets you cook exact single portions of pasta, rice and meat, halve recipes accurately and bake by weight. It also means fewer measuring cups to wash.

Which gadgets should a small kitchen skip?

Avocado slicers, egg separators, strawberry hullers, banana slicers, garlic peelers and spiralizers. A knife, a spoon or your hands do the same jobs, and these tools crowd drawers you cannot spare.