Updated October 2026 · 6 picks
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Most weeknight cooking time goes into chopping, shredding, peeling and drying. These gadgets each take one of those slow jobs and make it faster, without needing a full food processor.
| Best for | Pick | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Best for apples | Tigwin Apple Peeler, Corer and Slicer with Suction Base | Check price on Amazon |
| Best multi-blade chopper | Mueller Pro Vegetable Chopper and Mandoline Slicer, 10-in-1 | Check price on Amazon |
| Best chicken shredder | SURETIVIAN Twist Chicken Shredder with Clear Lid | Check price on Amazon |
| Best can opener | KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener with Bottle Opener | Check price on Amazon |
| Best chopper and spiralizer | Fullstar Pro Original Vegetable Chopper & Spiralizer | Check price on Amazon |
| Best salad spinner | OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, 6.22 Qt | Check price on Amazon |
Each pick was selected by comparing manufacturer specifications and recurring themes in owner feedback against these criteria:
Product details change — confirm sizes and current price on the Amazon listing before buying.
1. Best for apples
Peels, cores, and slices an apple with a few turns of the crank, which makes short work of a bag of apples for pie or applesauce. The suction base holds it steady on the counter, and it handles potatoes as well.
2. Best multi-blade chopper
Dices an onion or pepper with one press and drops the pieces straight into the attached container, which takes most of the knife work out of soup and chili prep. Eight swappable blades also slice, julienne, and grate, and the whole thing comes apart for the dishwasher.
3. Best chicken shredder
A few twists of the lid shreds cooked chicken evenly, replacing the slow two-fork routine. The clear lid lets you see how fine the shred is, the non-slip base keeps it planted on the counter, and it also handles cooked pork and beef.
4. Best can opener
A sharp stainless steel cutting wheel and an oversized turning knob get through cans of pumpkin, broth, and beans without the slipping and re-clamping of a worn-out opener. The cushioned handles are easier on tired hands, and the built-in bottle opener means one less tool in the drawer.
5. Best chopper and spiralizer
Press vegetables through the stainless steel blade grid and they drop straight into a 5-cup catch container instead of scattering across the board. A non-skid base keeps it steady, and the parts go on the top rack of the dishwasher.
6. Best salad spinner
A one-handed pump spins washed greens and herbs dry, and a brake button stops the basket instantly. The 6.22-quart bowl doubles as a strainer, a serving bowl, or a lettuce keeper in the fridge, and the lid comes apart for cleaning.
If dicing onions slows you down, start with a chopper; if shredding chicken does, a shredder.
Removable, dishwasher-safe parts make a gadget far more likely to get used.
Choppers with catch containers take more cabinet room than hand tools.
For frequent dicing of onions, peppers and similar vegetables, they save time and keep pieces uniform.
A twist-lid chicken shredder handles cooked chicken faster than two forks.
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