Some of our favorite things start off as a recommendation from a friend. Whether they swear by a skin-care gem, a cleaning must-have or just something to make dinner prep a little less exhausting, we rely on those in the know to give us the scoop on what really works. Now, imagine you had access to the opinions of tens of thousands of friends from all different walks of life — if that many people rally behind something, there's no way it's a dud.

No need to join any new social media groups; instead, trust the opinions of countless Amazon reviewers. They know how to differentiate something gimmicky from something great, and chances are, when hoards of them swear by something, it's the real deal. They're a discerning bunch, and you can use their knowledge to your advantage. Here are 10 products to help make your kitchen a lot more efficient.

Amazon

Dash Mini Waffle Maker

This mini waffle maker is an Amazon No. 1 bestseller, and is the perfect size for making mini waffles.

$10 at Amazon

It might be small, but it heats up quickly and is so versatile — you can use it to make hash browns, biscuit pizzas, and so much more.

"Wow. This is the cutest and most practical mini waffle maker," shared one of over 180,000 5-star shoppers. "It’s perfect, compact and easy to clean. It makes excellent waffles and you can get creative with a ton of other fun creations for you and your friends/fam. Highly suggest it. Getting one for everyone I know."

DASH

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker

$20

This genius tool can cook up to six eggs at a time, plus it makes delicious omelettes, poached and scrambled eggs.

$20 at Amazon

This No. 1 best-seller comes in eight colors, and boasts well over 88,000 5-star reviews.

"Dude, this thing is just way too cool," shared a shopper. "Perfect eggs every time, no matter if it’s an omelette, poached, or hard boiled AND it’s super easy to clean!!! I make eggs for my 1 year old and my husband almost every morning back to back no issue and make myself an omelette too."

Lodge

Lodge 10-1/4-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet

$20$34Save $14

Lodge cast irons need no introduction, and this skillet is no different — it's heavy, sturdy, and with proper care, sure to last you decades.

$20 at Amazon

"What's not good to say about cast iron?" shared a shopper. "It is a wonderful skillet, and everyone should have 5 or 16 of these in their kitchen! Preseason as described and you will have an excellent nonstick skillet for years and years and generations ahead!"

Hamilton Beach

Hamilton Beach BPA-Free Personal Blender

This blender is the perfect size for individual smoothies — plus, the jar doubles as a to-go cup.

$22 at Amazon

Over 61,500 shoppers rave about this small-but-mighty blender. One fan shared:

"This blender is easy to use. I add my weight loss supplement and fruit, blend it up in a minute, and drink right out of the blender cup. Add soap, water, blend, and it’s clean. Easy cheesy!"

KIZEN

Kizen Digital Meat Thermometer

$24$30Save $6

Undercooked meat? Gross and unsafe. Overcooked meat? Might as well chew leather. Just poke this thermometer into your steak (or poultry, or fish) and it'll tell you precisely how cooked it is.

$24 at Amazon

All it takes is just three seconds! No more guesswork, especially when you're grilling.

"An instant-read thermometer is a must for anyone grilling or cooking meat, poultry or fish," said one happy customer. "This is the secret to not overcooking! The best food thermometer I have ever owned. Would definitely recommend it to my friends or anyone looking to purchase a thermometer. Good value too!"

Amazon

Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener

$30$35Save $5

This handheld electric can opener works with the push of a button. More than 54,000 five-star fans are opening cans without the headache (and sore fingers).

$30 at Amazon

Say goodbye to dangerously sharp edges and fiddling with a manual can opener — this electric one is worth its weight in gold if you never accidentally nick your fingers on a jagged lid again.

"By far, the best one-handed can opener I've found. A little powerhouse compared to every other kind I've used," shared a shopper. "The moment I turned it on, I knew, finally, I'd hit the can opener jackpot. There was no doubt I'd no longer have to deal with any more half-opened cans, stuck openers that couldn't be separated from the cans, frustration, wasted money and having to toss another ridiculous busted device in the trash."

Zulay Kitchen

Zulay Original Milk Frother

$13$22Save $9

Frothy lattes and cappuccinos are just one button away. It's brightened the morning of over 71,000 rave reviewers.

$13 at Amazon

Forget having to go to a coffee shop for those perfectly frothy lattes, cappuccinos and matchas — this magical little frother can do it all. It makes just about any drink creamier in seconds, and it's so easy to use. Plus, it comes in a ton of different colors, so you can get one to match your coffeemaker or the rest of your small appliances. You can even use it for tea and honey!

"This little thing is fantastic!!" shared a shopper. "Even the hubby commented how much he likes it. We use it to blend protein powder, creamer, fiber products in our beverages. Just run the blending end under water to clean. Sits nice and handy on the counter for easy use. Just buy it, you need it!!"

Amazon

Bee's Wrap Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps

$17$19Save $2

This three-pack of reusable food wraps features three different sizes, and they're plastic- and silicone-free.

$17 at Amazon

Forget plastic bags and Tupperware you can never find the lids for — this beeswax wrap can store your leftovers just as well as the less sustainable options. They're good for packing lunches and keeping fruits and veggies fresh, and are infinitely reusable, washable and even biodegradeable. Plus: They're made in the USA with certified organic cotton, responsibly sourced beeswax, organic plant oils and tree resin.

"Can't recommend these beeswax wraps enough," shared one happy shopper. "The antimicrobial aspect of the beeswax keeps fruits and vegetables super fresh for much longer than plastic bags. They keep bread soft and fresh for much longer than Ziplocs. They are so much better for the environment, and they can be reused for months. We have been using our set for almost two years, and they are still as good as new. No waste!"

Never question the dishes again

Amazon

Clean Dirty Dishwasher Magnet

$7$12Save $4

A simple kitchen communications system: This easy-to-read sign keeps tabs on cleaning.

$7 at Amazon

If you've ever asked a family member to start the dishwasher, only to check on it hours later and pull out a dirty glass, you need this. It's a simple but genius idea: Just stick this magnetized indicator on your machine and alert your housemates to the state of your cookery by sliding its window left or right to indicate whether the contents inside are "CLEAN" or "DIRTY." No more accidentally picking up a dirty plate or loading dirty dishes into a dishwasher that's full of clean ones!

"My parents got a machine not too long ago that has controls and indicators on the top of the door, which is covered by the countertop when it is closed," one wised-up shopper shared. "They can never tell if the machine is clean or dirty until they open it up and pull the racks out. They've had several instances where dirty dishes have been put in a clean dishwasher or 'dirty' dishes got put back in the cabinets because they were semi-cleaned from the sink. These problems are no more. I got a big hug and a smile when I brought this over to them."

A kitchen gadget to make you a better chef

Greater Goods

Gray Food Scale

$12$20Save $8

Whether you're weighing for portion control or to make your recipes turn out perfectly, this kitchen scale can read down to the gram.

$12 at Amazon

Whether you're a home cook or a pro chef, a food scale can be the difference between an okay dish and a Michelin-star-worthy plate. This scale has a smooth, easy-to-clean surface, and even has four units of measurement so you can accurately portion your ingredients, as more than 92,000 five-star fans on Amazon can attest.

Shared one thrilled shopper: "I bought this kitchen scale for my mom, and she loves it. It's very thin and takes up almost no room at all in the cabinet, and the digital display is nice and clean. It appears to have an auto on-and-off feature, and it comes with a spare battery! For the money, this is a terrific little tool for cooking, weighing for mail postage, or even hobbies."

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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