Two Small Kitchen Tools for Faster Food Prep

Weeknight prep slows down in tiny ways: herbs that need snipping, packaging that fights you, and cans that leave jagged lids when the opener is dull or awkward. You do not need a new knife block for that. Two small catalog staples—heavy-duty kitchen shears and a reliable can opener—cover a surprising share of the friction between grocery bag and pan.

Start with shears that actually cut

The iBayam Kitchen Scissors Shears All Purpose Heavy Duty, Protective Sheath, 2-Pack lists at $8.99 against a $14.99 compare (about 40% off). The product page frames heavy-duty stainless steel kitchen shears in a valued 2-pack (black/red and black/grey) with comfort-grip handles and protective sheaths—sharp enough for meat, herbs, packaging, and everyday food prep, and dishwasher-safe. Live rating: 4.8 / 5.0.

Keep one pair by the board for food; park the second for packaging and bags so you are not rinsing tape glue off the herb shears mid-recipe. Sheaths matter when the drawer is crowded.

Add a can opener that is kinder on hands

Pair them with the KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener and Bottle Opener (Black) at $14.99. The listing describes a razor-sharp stainless cutting wheel with soft ergonomic black handles and a built-in bottle opener—framed as a durable everyday kitchen essential that opens cans cleanly with less hand strain. Live rating: 4.6 / 5.0.

Use it for the beans, tomatoes, and coconut milk that show up on busy nights. The bottle opener is the quiet second job when the drawer magnet is already full.

A weeknight prep sequence

Coming home: sheath off, snip herbs and open packaging with the shears, then open the can before you heat the pan. Cleanup: dishwasher for the shears when the listing allows it; wipe the can opener wheel so dried food does not dull the next week. Hang or sheath both so the next cook is not digging.

Who should shop this pair

Home cooks who prep meat, herbs, and canned staples several times a week and want less hand strain. Skip the shears if you already have a sharp dedicated pair you love. Skip the KitchenAid opener if your electric opener is flawless and you never fight a lid—this duo is for drawer friction, not for collecting gadgets.

What we are not claiming

We did not run blade sharpness labs, dishwasher cycle trials, or timed mise-en-place studies. The $8.99 / $14.99 shears compare, 2-pack colors, sheath and dishwasher-safe framing, $14.99 KitchenAid price, stainless wheel and ergonomic handle details, bottle opener, uses, and ratings above are what the product pages show. Snip faster. Open cans cleaner. That is the prep method.