We’ve all seen the viral kitchen gadgets promising to change your life — vegetable choppers, avocado slicers, silicone molds. Most of them won’t turn you into a better cook. But if they make one task a little easier? That’s worth something. A cleaner countertop. A quicker scoop of watermelon. Marginal gains, dramatic impact.

The problem is that for every actually-useful gadget, there’s a drawer-cluttering dud. So I asked the NBC Select team: What do you actually use in your kitchen — and what’s been worth it?

Kitchen Mama Automatic Can Opener:

NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin calls this one a favorite.

“It doesn’t leave behind a sharp or jagged edge on the cans, which I’ve cut myself on before and ripped a trash bag,” Malin says. “Overall, I really like kitchen gadgets that simplify something about cooking or ingredient prep, or that do something I find annoying.”

Starkitchen Clip On Strainer:

NBC Select associate social media editor Caitlin Cusack uses hers all the time.

“The pasta strainer is my favorite thing in my kitchen. I don't know what life was like before it,” she says. “Pasta is one of my favorite foods, so I use it often.”

Ceramic Spoon Rests:

Not flashy, but practical. NBC Select video producer Josh Rios uses these daily when cooking multiple meals. They help avoid cross-contamination and keep the stovetop clean.

“I use those spoon holders every day pretty much because it keeps my oven clean from random drips of food and grease,” says Rios. “I've honestly followed the philosophy of never having a one-use gadget.”

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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the NBC Select editorial staff's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.