Not every small-kitchen fix needs a new appliance or a proper rethink of your cupboards. Sometimes one thing can make a bigger difference than you’d think. Here are three we found which we think deliver amazing bang-for-buck.
A scale that lies flat when you’re not using it
Most kitchen scales are built like they expect to live on the worktop full time, which is a problem when your worktop is already spoken for. The Salter Compact Digital Kitchen Scale is a slim, stainless steel platform with an easy-read LCD display and an add-and-weigh function, so you can build up several ingredients in one bowl rather than washing up between each one. Its listing gives it a 10kg capacity, which covers everything from a spoon of yeast to a full mixing bowl, and it comes with the batteries already in the box.
Good to know: a 10kg capacity is more than most home bakers will ever need, so don’t pick this one for the number alone. The main draw is the slim shape, which slides into a drawer rather than sitting out. Salter doesn’t publish exact dimensions on every listing, so if drawer space is tight, it’s worth checking the measurements given on the current page before you order.
Lids that stretch over almost anything you own
Mismatched food storage is a small-kitchen classic. You’ve got the bowl, you’ve lost the lid, and cling film only gets you so far. DigHealth’s Silicone Stretch Lids come as a set of 12 in six sizes, and each one stretches to seal over bowls, dishes, tins and mugs instead of you hunting for the one container that actually has its lid. The listing states they’re BPA free and safe in the dishwasher, microwave and freezer, so the same lid can go straight from fridge to reheating.
Good to know: these are covers, not proper seals. They’re fine for leftovers in the fridge, but we wouldn’t trust them for anything you plan to tip upside down or shake about. Silicone also holds on to strong smells like garlic or curry if it isn’t washed promptly, so give them a proper rinse straight after use.
A colander that folds down flat instead of taking a shelf
A rigid colander is one of those things that’s awkward to store precisely because it isn’t awkward to use. OXO’s Good Grips Collapsible Colander gets round this with silicone sides that concertina down flat once it’s empty, so it can live in a drawer or lean against the side of a cupboard rather than hogging a shelf. OXO’s own site lists it as 3.5 US quarts, which is enough for a couple of portions of pasta or a good pile of vegetables.
Good to know: the UK Amazon listing rounds this same colander’s capacity up to 4 litres, while OXO’s own site calls it 3.5 US quarts (a touch under 3.3 litres). The two numbers don’t quite match, so if you’re weighing this up against a specific pan or sink insert, it’s worth checking the exact size on the current listing before you order rather than going on either figure alone.
These pieces get you a bit more use out of the space you’ve already got, without asking you to spend much to find out if they suit you. We’re big fans.
A quick note on the pictures in this post: they’re illustrations of what each type of product generally looks like, not photos of the exact items, so the real thing will look a little different.
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