There are a lot of kitchen gadgets out there these days, but which ones do you really need, and which ones will end up just cluttering your shelves? {No one can afford a gadget that will just take up valuable space}. Don’t worry, today I can help you cut through the clutter and make cooking easier with a list of 10 kitchen gadgets you actually need in your life, and ASAP!

1. First on the list is a knife that editors at Epicurious say is a must-have because of its versatility. The Global G-2 8-inch chef’s knife is perfect for heavy duty chopping and fine dicing. You can find one at Amazon.

2. A good pair of tongs is a necessity in every cook’s life. I especially love them for picking up raw meat when cooking and grilling. However, not every pair is created equally. This offering from OXO is awesome: at 9-inches they are the perfect size, have a secure grip, and lock closed for storage. Get one for only $12 at Amazon.

3. You may not know that you need a vegetable slicer and spiralizer, but trust me–you do! The Veggoodle will easily turn zucchini, sweet potatoes and many more into delicious veggie noodles in minutes. It will also chop, dice and turn vegetables into pretty ribbons. Seriously, my kids will eat vegetables that have been through the Veggoodle that they refused to eat before. Get one, ASAP!

4. When I finally got my hands on a silicone baking mat, I realized exactly what I’d been missing. And that’s a lot, so I promptly bought several more! They give you perfectly brown-on-the-bottom cookies, rolls, breads, pizzas and more, plus they are naturally non-stick and easy to clean up. If you bake anything at all, you can’t be without them.

5. According to Epicurious, the KitchenAid stand mixer is still the best after nearly 100 years since its introduction in 1919. That’s hard to argue with! {And since I love mine, I won’t}

6. An immersion blender is so convenient. Who wants to cook butternut squash soup and then have to figure out a way to run all that hot liquid through the blender? Just stick an immersion blender right in the pot and you’re done. This BELLA version is a bestseller at Amazon, and comes with a whisk attachment.

7. A slow cooker is a kitchen staple for a lot of good reasons, which is why home cooks have loved them since their introduction in the 70s. They aren’t going anywhere, which is why you should have at least one in your arsenal. Nowadays you can get more bells & whistles, such as programmable timers and locking lids for travel.

8. Since good knives are indispensable, so are knife sharpeners. {Nothing worse than trying to cook with a dull knife!} The folks at Epicurious love this easy hand-held sharpener, because it will sharpen your knives with a correctly beveled edge in only 5-10 strokes. The best part? It’s under $8 at Amazon!

9. Silicone baking mitts are a must. They protect your hands when baking, cooking and grilling so much better than traditional baking mitts, and if you’re into Dutch oven cooking, you need them for that, too! These have a quilted cotton lining and will protect your hands and forearms.

10. Last but not least, have you gotten an Instant Pot yet? They are crazy popular, and for good reason! Home cooks {including me} love them for their versatility and ability to cook healthy, delicious food fast. Frozen chicken breasts cooked, cooled and shredded in 30 minutes? Yes, please!