The kitchen game changers we can't live without

Are you like us – your kitchen drawers are packed full of utensils but there's only one you consistently reach for every time you cook? While you would never get rid of the clutter (who knows when you'll next need a caviar spoon), everyone's 'desert island' utensil is different and for good reason. So we decided to poll those around us for their kitchen game-changer.

From fish turners to scrapers and long tongs, these are the items we absolutely can't cook without.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

Joseph Joseph Chop2Pot Plus Folding Chopping Board 2-Pack

Score 43% off

"I am forever chopping ingredients because all I ever seem to eat, when I'm not having pasta, is salad. The thing I hate most about chopping my ingredients is the process of transferring them from the chopping board to the bowl, and this clever chop-to-pot board has become my best friend in the kitchen. The sides fold up and create a nice little slide for my ingredients to get straight to the bowl without falling everywhere except the bowl." – Carina

OXO Melon Baller

Was $24.95, now $12

"I won't eat the fruit I buy unless it's cut up, and I don't get much joy out of cutting up fruit. I bought this on a whim, thinking it might be a fun way to consume fruit, and I was very happy to be proven right. While the technique takes a bit of practice, it's really much more enjoyable to eat melon balls than chunks (I don't make the rules). I also think it's going to help me up my fruit platter/charcuterie game ahead of summer." – Erin

OXO Good Grips Fish Turner 

Grab it for $22.95

"I was inspired to buy this by Alison Roman, who uses one in almost all of her cooking videos and says it's one of her essential kitchen items. It's just such a useful tool for any kind of pan-based cooking, from meat to pancakes to anything in-between." – Kahla

Blue Ginkgo Over The Sink Colander and Strainer Basket  

Buy it for $23.99

"This is the perfect size for my sink (and I did lots of measuring) and I use it most for draining pasta. It's much better than using the old round colanders." – Sarah

Le Creuset Oval Spoon Rest

Grab it for $30

"My parents-in-law love their spoon rest so much that they bought us one. It means there's a clean spot to put the spoon in between using it when you are cooking on the stove – rather than just putting it down on the bench. It's super easy to pick up and run under the tap, and the stand means that hot handles don't have to be laid on the bench. Having a particular spot for the spoon also means the kitchen feels more organised when cooking can quickly make the bench feel very cluttered." – Serena

OXO Good Grips 30cm Tongs 

Was $32.95, now $16.95

"These OXO Good Grips Tongs are super handy for my partner's barbecuing, and cooking things on the stove where oil might spit a bit." – Jess 

OXO Good Grips Garlic Press 

Was $52.95, now $31.77

"I love garlic. If a recipe calls for a clove of garlic, I'm adding at least three more on top of that! But adding more garlic means more time faffing about in the kitchen, and I just don't have the time or patience to do so. Enter my garlic press. It's super easy, time-saving and just the best for a gal wanting to have as much garlic as possible without having to cut as much garlic as possible." – Sindy

Stasher Reusable Silicone Storage Bags

Save 33% off

"I didn't intend for Stashers to become my personality, but one day I turned 29, and here I am. I have them in almost every size. I bought some for my sister on her birthday. I've caught myself staring wistfully at them all lined up, side by side, filled with leftovers and keeping each other company in the fridge." – Josie

GreenPan Mini Egg Pan 

Get yours for $25.46

"I've always been an egg lover, especially one with a runny yolk. When I use normal frying pans, I just can't get them to form that lovely circle shape and always manage to break the yolk when it's time to flip. Having a small frying pan like this is the perfect size for a single fried egg. It keeps it in a nice circle (perfect on an English muffin) and easy to get the spatula under and flip." – Ros

OXO Good Grips Multi-Purpose Scraper and Chopper 

Now on sale for $17

"I'm messy in the kitchen, especially when I'm chopping things and transferring them from the chopping board to the bowl or pan. This scraper helps me pick up my chopped food without pieces of [insert any vegetable here] falling on the bench or (worse) the floor. It's also great for sectioning out dough (I make pasta from scratch these days) and scraping the leftover sticky dough from my dough board before I pop it into the dishwasher." – Carina

Ninja Blast Portable Blender 

Buy it for $79

"The Ninja Blast Portable Blender is such an easy product to use. It's also helped me tap into an even bigger issue, which is my ongoing lack of breakfast prep and the minimal amount of time I give myself in the mornings. Since it's portable, I've even been experimenting with smoothies that I could take to the office." – Erin

READ NEXT: How to choose the right pizza oven for you