The Best Kitchen Tools for Seniors Who Want to Keep Cooking Independently

Opening cans might seem like an easy task until you’re working with reduced grip strength. Luckily, electric options that don’t ask as much of our hands are available, and they still get the job done. This model from Cuisinart is not only functional for many can sizes, but it doesn’t require the gripping and twisting required with a manual can opener.

In order to use it, simply lift the lever, place your can, and press the lever down to start the automatic mechanism. Once finished, it will automatically shut off, and both the can and the lid will stay magnetically adhered to the machine for easy removal. The lever mechanism also twists to pull away from the machine, allowing you to remove it for cleaning.

Reducing the fatigue of standing is an important consideration for seniors (or anyone, really). While wheeled stools can slip out from beneath you, anti-fatigue mats can make standing more comfortable and make cooking feel more accessible. These mats provide a cushy, non-slip surface that’s more comfortable than tile or linoleum. And they stay put, which helps to reduce tripping hazards. They come in several colors and two sizes: a classic mat size and a runner size that’s a bit longer at 5 feet (ft).

Editorial director Simone Scully says these mats hold up better and recover more quickly from indentations caused by stools or standing than other comfort mats she’s tried. She says “spills mop up quickly on them, too.” While we wish more color or style options were available, these make a great addition to your kitchen. Scully also suggests trying them out in front of a standing desk to reduce fatigue.

If it's hard for you to bend or you want to avoid climbing on a stool to grab that thing that’s just out of reach, using a grabber tool can be very helpful. Magnets in the tip of this tool make it easier for you to pick up things like a dropped spoon. Plus, the non-slip rubber coating helps keep objects from slipping out of your grasp. The handle folds down, making it easier to store. And it weighs just 9 ounces (oz), so it won’t strain your wrist or arm.

If you’re unsteady with a knife or you’re simply tired of doing relentless chopping, consider trying one of our favorite kitchen tools: the OXO food chopper. Dice your onions, carrots, celery, and more with a few pushes. If you want smaller cuts, simply keep pressing, and the zig-zagging blade will give you smaller and smaller pieces.

We love this chopper’s comfortable, easy-press knob, which doesn’t require a ton of force to use. The catcher cup has volume markings, so it’s easy to see how much you’ve made. Plus, the entire setup comes apart for dishwasher-safe cleaning.

Let’s be honest: We all have trouble opening a tough jar sometimes. But if you’re dealing with reduced grip strength, it becomes even harder. This jar opener from OXO accommodates a range of jar sizes. It also comes with a non-slip base pad to hold your jar steady. To use it, you simply slide the opener over the lid and use the handle’s leverage to twist it off. You can also use this tool on bottled items like beverages, sauces, and dressings. The slim design makes it easy to store. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe.

Cutting on a stable surface is key for safety in the kitchen, whether you have mobility limitations or not. We like this set from Gorilla Grip because you get a good range of sizes and all the boards are reversible. The ends have silicone coverings to keep them from sliding all over your countertops and handles that make gripping easier. Plus, these boards are lightweight, so you don’t have to struggle with hauling a heavy wooden cutting board out of your cupboard.

If you use a stovetop kettle, there’s always the risk of leaving it on and forgetting it. In this case, an electric kettle may be a better option. While it’s easy to miss the telltale screech of the kettle from another room, having an automatic shutoff function ensures that a kettle won’t boil dry and become a fire hazard.

We love the Breville IQ Kettle because it has automatic shutoff and boil-dry protection. It also includes preset temperature controls and a soft-opening lid that can reduce splashing. Plus, it has a keep-warm setting that will keep the water warm for 20 minutes, in case you often want a second cup of tea.

The Breville IQ is relatively lightweight, so if you’re only boiling a few cups at a time, it’s not terribly heavy to move. It holds up to 7 cups, it and has a sleek, stainless steel look that makes it an attractive addition to any countertop.

If you’re preparing smaller amounts of food and safety features like an auto shut-off are a priority, then you may want to consider getting a countertop oven. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro reads like a souped-up toaster oven while doing so much more. This oven has 13 preset functions and will do everything from toasting your morning bagel to baking cookies, roasting a full chicken, air frying your favorite frozen convenience foods, and even proofing your bread dough.

“I love the bevy of cooking features. It’s so easy to use (just two settings and a start/stop), and it’s easy to add or lessen cooking time and temp. I love how many extras come with it as well,” says food and health writer Marisa Olsen. She says the oven is preset with reminders to rotate the air-fry basket as needed. And the cooking racks slide forward automatically when the door is opened, making them easier to grab (and less likely to cause a burn).

“The timer counts down in seconds, not just minutes, with a big interface screen with an orange background and black font, so it’s easy to read across the room/kitchen and easy to toggle and add or change time or temperature,” says Olsen. “I also like that all foods cook on a timer, so the oven will turn off when it reaches its cooking time. So, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn off the oven.”

We’ve all done it: walked away from a stove or pot of water only to find your cookies on the wrong side of crispy or your pot of water boiling over. We like this timer from ThermoWorks because its large display is easy to read, the large buttons are easy to push, and the alarm is loud enough to be heard over the clamor of professional kitchens. This gadget ensures you won’t miss the modest beep from your microwave timer.

If managing all the measuring utensils needed for baking proves difficult, we recommend getting the OXO Good Grips Kitchen Scale. It lets you measure directly into your bowl, dispensing with additional dishes and the hard-to-find (and even harder to read) teaspoon and tablespoon measures.

The scale features a pull-out display so your readouts won’t be foiled by your bowl, and the lettering is pretty large and easy to read compared with some other models we’ve tried. Measure in ounces, pounds, grams, or kilograms, or even convert between them as you go. While this scale is a helpful option for baking, it’s also great for portioning out meat when you bulk-buy and then freeze.

“I love the pull-out feature on this scale,” says editor Katie Tuttle. “It’s easy for a bowl to obscure your measurements when you’re mixing dough, and OXO handles that quite neatly. The stainless steel exterior is easy to wipe clean, and it’s slim enough for me to tuck into my cupboards when I’m not using it.”

Liquid measuring cups can be somewhat difficult to use; you need a level surface or a steady hand, and the ability to read the markings on the side of the cup. Both of these can be challenging when you have vision or grip issues, so we really appreciate these angled measuring cups from OXO.

The company has translated the side-of-cup measures into a high-contrast visual you can see from above, making them a bit easier to read. The angled handle also has a grippy material, making it easier to hold. These measuring cups come in various sizes, but I find the 2-cup option to be especially versatile. It’s big enough to hold larger quantities of liquid, or as little as one-fourth of a cup.

Mom’s Meals is the ultimate in no-cook options fit for seniors. The service sends out fully prepared, microwaveable meals that accommodate common health or diet-related concerns such as diabetes, heart health, renal-friendly, high-protein, vegetarian, gluten-free, low-sodium, and even pureed foods.

While other meal delivery services include nutrients like sodium that may not be recommended for seniors (or others with health conditions), Mom’s Meals offers condition-specific menus that may make it easier to find meals aligned with certain dietary needs. Meals reheat in minutes and favor comfort-food classics. Plus, some Medicaid recipients and people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans with a meal benefit may qualify to receive meals at little or no cost.

Julie Cunningham, MPH, RDN, and her parents, tested Mom’s Meals. Cunningham says it’s “a great service for older adults or disabled people who no longer have the interest or ability to cook, and want quick, nutritious food at home. The prices are reasonable, the ordering process is quick and easy, and there is no ongoing commitment, so you won’t be charged unless you actively place an order.” Using the service also helps “ease the burden of shopping, meal prep, cooking, and cleanup for either an adult who needs the meals or a busy caregiver.”

Nutrition shakes come in all shapes and sizes, but the Ensure Max Protein Shake is one of my favorites, especially for seniors. Each shake offers a whopping 30 grams (g) of protein, a nutrient that can be harder or more labor-intensive for seniors to get. Each serving also has 4 g of fiber along with additional micronutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, and B12, to name a few.

In testing, science and health writer El Wilson compared the flavor of the vanilla to melted ice cream, saying it’s “sweet and quite mild.” In addition to classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, you can also find fun options like cafe mocha, caramel, and birthday cake. Supplement shakes aren’t kitchen tools, but you can take them along with your diet to get certain nutrients, and they’re fabulous for seniors who want to find balance and prioritize nutrition without doing more cooking. These shakes are only 160 calories, so they make a good snack.