10 Kitchen Items That'll Help You Make Easy, Healthy Meals and Finally Stop Spending Money on Take-Out

I hosted a month-long LinkedIn audio series for No-Buy November last year. During that time, I learned that I wasn't the only one who often sacrificed my health for convenience at the cost of meeting my financial goals.

Many of us are busy and running from one obligation to another. We have to eat, but we don't have the time to prepare the food and clean up before we're late to our next commitment (or to bed!). I've been there! That's how we end up overspending on take out and delivery.

Here's a list of some of the items that have helped me make easy, healthy meals in my own kitchen and finally stop spending as much money on take-out**.

Oh, and by the way, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases you make using my links. This doesn't cost you any extra money* and supports my woman-owned small business, so thanks for using my affiliate links!

Stojanka's Must-Haves

• Disposable food trays for portion control and to cut down on dishes for less than the cost of paper plates.

• An immersion blender that'll make my family's favorite go-to corn chowder recipe super smooth.

• The soap that's taken the internet, and my kitchen, by storm.

1. This no-frills rice cooker makes perfect rice (and quinoa!) every time, for easy and healthy meals.

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I once purchased a very expensive rice cooker second-hand, and found that I preferred the rice that came out of this $20 one over that one! I donated it and I've been using this ever since.

The key to making great rice in this cooker is to use the included rice measuring cup and add the right amount of water using the measurements on the inner pot. If you add two cups of rice to the pot, for example, you would fill the water to the number two waterline. Super easy!

Get one that makes up to 6 cooked cups of rice on Amazon for $25.49.

2. The tried-and-true Instant Pot makes delicious soups and chowders in an instant (well, sort of).

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As a vegetarian, I have found that the Instant Pot is a great way to make savory hearty soups with perfectly done lentils (from dry!), carrots, and potatoes in about 45 minutes.

Now, check the thrift store for first if you know what you're looking for in a complete Instant Pot. I find that I almost always find one, but I don't always find one with all of the pieces it needs to function.

Keep in mind that you can always buy extra inner cooking pots, though. There are also glass lids that will help you easily store your food in the same pot where you cooked it. Fewer dishes! Hooray!

Get a 6 qt Instant Pot on Amazon for $99.95. It's also available in 3 and 8 qt capacities.

Oh, and speaking of dishes...

3. Cut down on dishes by switching to heavy duty disposable food trays.

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If you're already using paper plates to cut down on dishes, or to make meal imes more accessible, consider purchasing a box of 250 pack paper food trays. These are super sturdy and come out to about 12 cents each, which beats flimsy paper plates that are the same price any day of the week!

And, no, they are not just for tacos, nachos, and fries. In fact, the only thing we don't use them for is soup. As an added bonus, they're great for portion control.

Get some for your kitchen on Amazon for $17.95.

P.S. You can skip the food trays altogether for meals where you don't need utensils if you get fast food baskets. Just layer them with a basket liner then toss it when you're finished. Give the baskets a quick wipe or rinse and BOOM! Dishes done!

4. Stop food waste by properly washing your produce and drying it in a salad spinner before storing in the fridge.

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Sometimes having to wash produce is a barrier to eating it and then it goes bad. So, if you're one of those people who likes to have healthy produce accessible, then I highly recommend getting a salad spinner.

I learned that this kitchen gadget is not just for lettuce, but it's also great for all greens and small, light produce like berries, tomatoes, and "baby" varieties of your favorite veggies. I love using this salad spinner for grapes!

This another item I find often in the thrift store throughout the year. I expect that with summer having just begun, you'll have better luck getting one online.

Get one on Amazon for $29.99.

5. This induction cooktop can be controlled with an app and boils water quickly.

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I found this gem at a thrift store for $10 and was surprised to find out how expensive it was! While haven't used the app with this, it was my go-to appliance in the summer when I had a gas stove. It truly made cooking inside bearable.

Plus, as we know, waiting for water to boil is obnoxious, but as many reviewers noted, this induction cooktop really does make quick work of it. If other induction cooktops have let you down, this might be worth a try!

It comes in two colors, black and blue, and you can get it on Amazon for $149.95.

P.S. Here's how to check if your pots and pans can be used with an induction cooktop.

6. This portable countertop convection oven produces crispy goods and reduces your cooking time by 30%.

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This is one of those items I purchased at full price three years ago, and if I were in the market for another, I would purchase this exact one again.

It bakes beautifully and comes with baking pans so you can start using the oven the minute you get it! It's even used by popular food content creators on YouTubers (and I get it).

Now this particular item is not one I come across often at the thrift store. Although there are almost always some variation of countertop oven at every store I go to, this one is hard to find, and even harder to find in good condition.

Get it on Amazon for $215.96.

7. An espresso maker will save you from standing in line at your local coffee shop and handing over $10 just to stay awake.

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This was a $45 Facebook Marketplace find and had been used by its original owner just once, so it was a steal! FYI, I often find similar espresso makers or older models at the thrift store.

This espresso maker has saved me from buying coffee on the go and satisfied my craving for a powerful caffeine boost in the morning. I have even used regular ground coffee in this espresso maker. It worked just fine in a pinch. It's a workhorse!

I often alternate between this espresso machine and the fuss-free comfort of drip coffee from my Mr.Coffee machine when I need a bit of a caffeine break.

Get a similar one on Amazon for $86.99.

8. An electric kettle will get your tea, oatmeal, and instant soup ready in a jiffy.

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I prefer glass electric kettles and this one that I thrifted was my tried and true favorite for years. While I wish it held more than 1.7 liters, I love how quickly it boiled water and didn't mind refilling it if I needed more water.

I very reluctantly donated this kettle just a few months ago, and I'm confident it will last its new owner another 5-10 years.

P.S. This would make a great housewarming or office gift.

Get it on Amazon for $34.99.

9. Make silky soups using this time and space-saving electric immersion blender that comes with an interchangeable whisk attachment.

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Sure, you could use a blender instead, but clean up is 10x easier with an immersion blender and the results are the same. I also love it's small foot print– I store it in a drawer!

This immersion blender is so powerful that I honestly thought it was a KitchenAid. I realized it wasn't and it is almost half the price! I often just rinse and dry the interchangeable blender or whisk after use.

Get it on Amazon in one of 7 colors for $30.00.

10. This soap went super viral and earned a permanent spot in my kitchen!

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I generally stay away from trendy products because they usually cost more money, but this is one thing I'm glad my household bought into before I did. It revolutionized the post-meal clean up in my kitchen, especially for pots and pans.

Now, it's my go-to first line of defense against anything too long or bulky to be completely submerged in the sink.

P.S. If you have pets, you'll know what a pain cleaning biofilm off of food and water bowls is. Well, this product makes that entire process an absolute breeze. Just don't forget to rinse well!

Get it on Amazon for $8.02.

*Current prices fluctuate and may vary from those listed here.

**This post is not sponsored. All reviews are my own and items were purchased with personal funds.