15 Kitchen Upgrades Under $50 That Feel Like More

A good cast-iron skillet is one of those rare kitchen purchases that may outlive you.

Eggs. Burgers. Cornbread. Steak. Roasted vegetables. Pizza. Biscuits.

Stovetop. Oven. Grill.

It isn't delicate. It doesn't require an app. And if you treat it reasonably well, it gets better with age.

If you're still trying to zest a lemon using the tiny side of a box grater, we've suffered enough.

A Microplane makes quick work of citrus zest, Parmesan, garlic, ginger, chocolate and fresh nutmeg.

It's inexpensive, takes up almost no room and makes you feel strangely competent every time you use it.

Stop cutting into chicken to see if it's done.

Stop guessing whether the steak is medium-rare.

And definitely stop determining whether something is cooked by staring thoughtfully at it.

An instant-read thermometer makes you a better cook almost immediately.

This is one of the few small appliances we're willing to make room for.

Soup can go from chunky to silky without transferring boiling liquid into a blender.

It also handles sauces, dressings, dips, purees and depending on the model, whipping and chopping.

Current models from established brands can still be found below our $50 limit.

There is a special kind of disappointment involved in opening the refrigerator and discovering the container you thought was sealed absolutely was not.

Good food-storage containers stack well, seal properly and let you see what's inside.

Glass versions are especially useful when you want something that can move from refrigerator to microwave or table without looking like you packed lunch for middle school.

This is a very small improvement.

That's why we like it.

Instead of bending down to read the measurement from the side, an angled measuring cup lets you read the amount from above.

Is this life-changing?

No.

Will you appreciate it every single time you use it?

Probably.

We've already made the case for one in our baking-tool guide.

We're making it again.

A kitchen scale makes baking more consistent, portioning easier and recipe measurements much more precise.

It also reduces the number of measuring cups you need to wash.

We consider that a feature.

Freshly ground pepper tastes better.

There. That's the entire argument.

The only problem is that some pepper mills appear to have been engineered specifically to make getting pepper onto food as difficult as possible.

Find one with a comfortable mechanism, adjustable grind and enough output that seasoning dinner doesn't qualify as cardio.

A salad spinner sounds like the kind of thing we're usually against. However - splurging on the right tool here can save lots of money lost on rotting lettuce. Find a good spinner that has a sturdy bowl (preferably green bowl to prolong the life of the leafy greens) that catches the water and needs dumped. Don't fall for the cheaper versions that have to sit in the sink to spin (those with a hole on the bottom).

Large.

Single purpose.

Takes up cabinet space.

Unfortunately, it works.

Dry greens hold dressing better and stay fresher, and the spinner also makes washing herbs considerably easier.

Your cutting board doesn't need Wi-Fi either.

It needs enough room to work, enough grip not to slide around the counter and enough durability to survive regular use. Find a great plastic board that folds. Small enough to store but large when you need it.

A larger board is one of those upgrades you don't appreciate until you stop trying to chop an onion on something the size of an index card.

No, you don't need one.

Yes, they're fun.

Coffee drinks, hot chocolate, matcha, protein drinks and quick emulsions all become easier with a little battery-powered frother.

It also takes up approximately the same amount of room as a toothbrush.

This is the sort of unnecessary thing we can support.

This may be the least glamorous upgrade on the list.

Replace the dull peeler you've had since approximately 2004.

You'll understand.

We covered this in our baking list too.

There's a reason.

A good silicone spatula scrapes bowls, stirs sauces, folds batter, cooks eggs and retrieves the last bit of whatever you paid $8.99 for from the jar.

The best versions are simple and sturdy.

Not every kitchen upgrade needs to involve food.

Better lighting can completely change how a kitchen feels.

Small rechargeable or plug-in under-cabinet lights can brighten prep areas without hiring an electrician or beginning a renovation that somehow ends six months later with you choosing new flooring.