One-use kitchen gadgets you must have

Here are the tools we think are worth making room for in your cutlery drawer.

Spiralizer: It’s hard to transform veggies into noodles without investing in a spiralizer. But you don’t need to spend a ton — you can find spiralizers for less than $10. Usually, these inexpensive models work best for making zucchini noodles, but higher-quality ones will help you make healthier noodles out of celeriac, sweet potatoes and even beets. Bonus: You can also use your spiralizer to make curly fries.

Cherry pitter: Cherry season comes but once a year, so make this time extra special with a pitter to make snacking (and pie baking!) even easier. Best of all, it’s perfect for pitting olives, too.

Salad spinner: Say goodbye to soggy lettuce. Even if you prefer a lettuce-free salad, you can still use your salad spinner to remove moisture from all sort of veggies, from grated potatoes to zucchini.

Waffle iron: Nothing says brunch quite like a plate of waffles, and you can’t make waffles without a waffle iron. For a savoury alternative, you can make hash browns or frittatas in your iron.

Cookie scoop: Cookbook author Tara O’Brady swears by the cookie scoop — it’s pretty much the same as an ice cream scoop, but smaller (they’re basically interchangeable). It’s perfect for portioning out cookie dough and in a pinch, you can use it to top cupcakes with frosting.

Pineapple corer: Pineapples are a pain to prepare, but if you love this spiky, sweet fruit, you might want to consider bringing a pineapple corer into your life. This is a true one-use tool, but it’s a must-have if you regularly buy fresh pineapple.

Popcorn maker: An air popper is the healthiest, cheapest and easiest way to make popcorn. The countertop device runs between $25 and $60, and kernels come cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk. You don’t need oil when popping this way, which means you’re left with a blank canvas to flavour. Try a drizzle of olive oil, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper.

Egg clacker: Soft-boiled eggs are a pain to crack, but not if you have an egg clacker! This spring-loaded gadget cracks a perfect circle atop eggies, making it easier to eat them.

Potato masher: Even if mashed potatoes aren’t on the menu, you can use this hand-held tool to mash a variety of cooked veggies — cauliflowers, peas and squash — and hard-boiled eggs for egg salad.