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Cooking involves a surprising amount of gripping, twisting, pinching, cutting, lifting and repetitive hand movement.
For someone with arthritis in the hands, fingers, wrists, shoulders, knees or other joints, everyday tasks such as opening a jar, chopping vegetables or lifting a saucepan can become frustrating.
The right kitchen tools can change how a task is performed, reducing the amount of force, awkward movement or repetitive effort required.
This guide covers 10 practical kitchen tools for arthritis, including electric openers, ergonomic utensils, rocker knives, adaptive cutting boards, food processors, electric kettles and lightweight cookware.
You don’t need to buy everything on this list. Start with the kitchen task that gives you the most trouble, then choose a tool that specifically changes that task.
Quick Answer: Which Kitchen Tool Helps With Which Problem?
| If your biggest problem is… | A tool to consider |
|---|---|
| Opening tight jars | Electric or under-cabinet jar opener |
| Opening cans | Electric can opener |
| Cutting food | Rocker knife |
| Holding utensils | Wide, cushioned ergonomic utensils |
| Keeping food stable | Non-slip or adaptive cutting board |
| Chopping vegetables | Food processor or electric chopper |
| Pouring hot water | Lightweight electric kettle |
| Standing while cooking | Anti-fatigue mat or kitchen stool |
| Twisting a pepper mill | Electric salt and pepper grinder |
| Lifting pots and pans | Lightweight cookware |
You don’t need all 10. The best kitchen tool for you is the one that makes a difficult task noticeably easier, safer or more manageable.
The Arthritis Foundation similarly recommends adapting kitchen tasks rather than simply pushing through difficult movements, including using lighter cookware, ergonomic tools, rocker knives, and electric can and jar openers.
The 10 Best Kitchen Tools for Arthritis
The sections below look at each option in more detail, including what the tool may help with, what features to look for, and potential drawbacks to consider before buying.
1. Electric Jar Openers
Opening a tightly sealed jar combines two movements that can be difficult when arthritis affects the hands: gripping and twisting.
An electric jar opener does the twisting for you. Depending on the design, you position the opener over the jar, activate it and allow the mechanism to loosen the lid.
An under-cabinet opener is another option. Instead of using a handheld device, the opener remains mounted underneath a cabinet and can provide a fixed surface against which a jar can be turned.
Why it may help
An electric or mounted jar opener can reduce the need for:
- Strong gripping
- Pinching
- Wrist twisting
- Sustained hand pressure
What to look for
Consider:
- Jar sizes the opener can accommodate
- Controls that are easy to press
- How much counter or storage space it requires
- Whether the device needs batteries
- Whether an under-cabinet model can be installed securely
Options to consider:
Potential drawback: Electric models take up storage or counter space, while an under-cabinet opener requires installation. A simple non-slip jar opener may be enough if you only occasionally struggle with lids.
2. Electric Can Openers
Manual can openers can require squeezing handles, maintaining a grip and repeatedly turning a mechanism.
An electric can opener can perform much of that work after the can is positioned correctly.
Some models also cut around the side of the lid rather than producing the traditional sharp edge around the top.
Why it may help
An electric can opener can reduce:
- Squeezing
- Repetitive wrist movement
- Sustained gripping
- The need to manually rotate the opener
Options to consider:
- Kitchen Mama Auto Can Opener
- Cuisinart Deluxe Electric Can Opener
- Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Can Opener
Potential drawback: Electric can openers take up counter space and require cleaning and storage. If you only open cans occasionally, an easy-grip manual opener may be sufficient.
3. Rocker Knives for Easier Cutting
A conventional kitchen knife generally requires you to lift and lower the blade repeatedly while maintaining control of the handle.
A rocker knife uses a curved blade and a rocking motion instead.
Rather than repeatedly lifting the knife, you rock the blade back and forth across the food.
Why it may help
The rocking motion can change the way force is applied during cutting and may be easier for some people than repeatedly lifting a conventional knife.
A rocker knife may also be useful if you find a traditional narrow knife handle uncomfortable to hold.
What to look for
Consider:
- A handle that feels secure without requiring a tight grip
- A blade size appropriate for the foods you prepare
- A design you can control comfortably
- A shape that fits your preferred cutting technique
Options to consider:
Potential drawback: A rocker knife is still a sharp kitchen knife. Choose one you can control comfortably and use it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Ergonomic Cooking Utensils
Spatulas, spoons, ladles, whisks and other cooking utensils often have relatively narrow handles.
If your fingers are painful or stiff, maintaining a tight grip on a narrow handle can become tiring.
Ergonomic cooking utensils generally have wider, cushioned or non-slip handles that can be easier to hold.
Why they may help
A larger handle can give you more surface area to hold and may allow you to use a more relaxed grip.
Look for:
- Wide handles
- Cushioned surfaces
- Non-slip materials
- Lightweight construction
- A shape that feels comfortable in your hand
You don’t necessarily need to replace every utensil in your kitchen. Start with the utensils you use most often.
Options to consider:
Potential drawback: A larger handle isn’t automatically better for everyone. The ideal size depends on your hand, grip strength and the type of utensil.
5. Non-Slip and Adaptive Cutting Boards
A cutting board that moves while you’re preparing food can make the task more difficult.
A non-slip cutting board can help keep the work surface stable. Adaptive cutting boards go further, with features such as food spikes, raised edges or other ways to help stabilize ingredients.
These features can be particularly useful when using both hands to hold and cut food is difficult.
Why they may help
A stable preparation surface can reduce the need to:
- Hold food tightly
- Stabilize a moving cutting board
- Use both hands for every part of the task
Options to consider:
- Gorilla Grip Non-Slip Cutting Board
- OXO Good Grips Cutting Board
- Adaptive cutting boards with spikes
Potential drawback: Some adaptive boards are more specialized and may take up more storage space than a standard cutting board.
If using both hands is difficult, an adaptive one-handed cutting board may be worth considering.
6. Food Processors and Electric Choppers
Chopping vegetables, onions, herbs and other ingredients can involve repeated gripping and wrist movement.
A food processor or electric chopper can take much of the knife work out of meal preparation.
Even a small countertop chopper can be useful if you regularly find chopping tiring or uncomfortable.
Why they may help
An electric food processor or chopper can reduce the need for:
- Repetitive chopping
- Sustained knife gripping
- Repeated wrist movements
- Long periods of manual food preparation
Look for a model with controls that are easy to operate and a bowl that isn’t unnecessarily heavy.
Options to consider:
A compact chopper may be a practical choice if you cook for one or two people and don’t need a full-size food processor.
Potential drawback: Food processors can introduce more parts to clean and store. Consider whether the reduction in chopping effort is worth the extra appliance for the foods you regularly prepare.
7. Electric Kettles
A kettle filled with water can become surprisingly heavy.
An electric kettle may be easier to manage than a full stovetop kettle, particularly if you choose a lightweight model with a comfortable handle and stable base.
Automatic shut-off is another useful feature.
What to look for
If hand or wrist strength is limited, consider:
- A lightweight kettle
- A comfortable, easy-grip handle
- A wide opening for filling
- An easy-to-use power switch
- Automatic shut-off
- A stable base
Options to consider:
Tip: Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need. A partially filled kettle is lighter and may be easier to pour.
Potential drawback: Even a lightweight kettle becomes heavier when filled. If pouring boiling water is difficult to control, consider a smaller kettle or another preparation method rather than simply choosing a larger electric model.
8. Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mats
Not every useful kitchen aid is a hand tool.
If you spend a lot of time standing while cooking, an anti-fatigue kitchen mat can add cushioning between your feet and a hard floor.
This may be useful if prolonged standing contributes to discomfort in your feet, knees, hips or back.
What to look for
Choose a mat with:
- A non-slip backing
- Beveled edges
- Enough cushioning to feel comfortable
- A size appropriate for your main work area
- A surface that’s easy to clean
Be cautious with very thick mats or raised edges that could create a tripping hazard.
Options to consider:
Another option: If standing itself is the problem, a stable kitchen stool or chair may be more useful than a mat. The Arthritis Foundation recommends sitting for some kitchen activities when standing is difficult.
9. Electric Salt and Pepper Grinders
Traditional pepper mills require repeated twisting.
If arthritis affects your fingers, thumbs or wrists, that repetitive movement can become uncomfortable.
An electric salt or pepper grinder replaces the twisting motion with a button-operated mechanism.
Why it may help
This is a relatively small change, but it can eliminate a repetitive movement you perform whenever you season food.
Look for:
- Controls that are easy to operate
- A grinder that isn’t too heavy
- A shape that’s comfortable to hold
- Simple battery replacement or charging
Options to consider:
- Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set (Wood Grain)
- Electric Salt & Pepper Grinder Set
- Latent Epicure Battery Grinder
Potential drawback: Electric grinders need batteries or charging and may be heavier than a simple shaker. If seasoning a meal doesn’t cause you difficulty, this is probably not a necessary purchase.
10. Lightweight Non-Stick Cookware
A heavy frying pan or pot can be difficult to lift, carry and maneuver when arthritis affects your hands, wrists, shoulders or elbows.
Choosing lighter cookware can make it easier to move pans around the kitchen.
A cookware surface that’s easy to clean may also reduce the amount of scrubbing required after cooking.
What to look for
Consider cookware with:
- A lighter overall weight
- Comfortable handles
- Good balance
- A surface that’s easy to clean
- Handles that don’t require a tight grip
Remember that even lightweight cookware becomes much heavier when filled.
Avoid lifting a pan that feels difficult to control, particularly when it contains hot food.
Options to consider:
Potential drawback: A pan that’s light when empty can still become difficult to handle when filled with food. Smaller cookware may sometimes be easier to control than simply choosing the lightest large pan.
You May Not Need to Buy a New Tool
Before buying another kitchen gadget, consider whether you can change how you perform the task.
Small adjustments can sometimes make a bigger difference than adding another appliance.
Try:
- Move frequently used items: Keep everyday cookware, utensils and appliances where you can reach them without bending or stretching.
- Use smaller cookware: A smaller pot or pan is generally easier to lift when you don’t need a large one.
- Fill the kettle only as much as necessary: Less water means less weight when pouring.
- Sit for preparation tasks: A stable chair or kitchen stool may make chopping, peeling or stirring easier if standing is uncomfortable.
- Use both hands: When carrying cookware, using both hands can distribute the load.
- Prepare ingredients in advance: Pre-cut or frozen ingredients can reduce repetitive chopping on difficult days.
- Take breaks: If a task involves prolonged stirring, chopping or other repetitive movement, breaking it into shorter periods may make it more manageable.
- Change the timing: If your hands are more comfortable at certain times of day, consider doing more demanding meal preparation then.
The goal isn’t to make your kitchen full of specialized equipment. It’s to make difficult tasks easier to perform.
How to Choose the Right Kitchen Tool for Arthritis
The best kitchen tool isn’t necessarily the most expensive one or the product with the most features.
Start with the specific movement or task that’s causing the problem.
If gripping hurts
Look for:
- Wider handles
- Cushioned handles
- Non-slip surfaces
- Powered tools that eliminate manual gripping
If twisting hurts
Consider:
- Electric jar openers
- Under-cabinet openers
- Electric grinders
- Other tools that replace twisting with a push-button or lever
If cutting is difficult
Consider:
- Rocker knives
- Ergonomic knives
- Adaptive cutting boards
- Food processors or electric choppers
If lifting is difficult
Consider:
- Lightweight cookware
- Smaller appliances
- Smaller pots and pans
- Keeping frequently used items at counter height
If standing is uncomfortable
Consider:
- An anti-fatigue mat
- A stable kitchen stool or chair
- Preparing ingredients while seated
- Organizing the kitchen so fewer items require reaching or bending
If using both hands is difficult
Consider:
- One-handed cutting boards
- Non-slip mats
- Stabilizing devices
- Appliances that reduce the need to hold an item with one hand while operating a tool with the other
The goal is simple: change the task so you don’t have to rely as heavily on the movement that is giving you trouble.
Think in Terms of the Task, Not the Gadget
One of the most useful ways to choose adaptive kitchen equipment is to break a difficult activity into smaller steps.
For example, suppose opening a jar is difficult.
The problem might not be the entire task. It could be:
- Holding the jar steady.
- Getting enough grip on the lid.
- Twisting the lid.
- Maintaining that grip until the seal breaks.
Different solutions address different parts of the task.
A non-slip mat may help stabilize the jar. An under-cabinet opener can provide a fixed surface. An electric opener can take over the twisting.
This approach can help you avoid buying an expensive gadget when a simpler change might solve the problem.
Occupational therapy guidance for hand arthritis uses a similar problem-solving approach: identify the difficult activity, determine which part is causing the difficulty, try a solution, and see whether it actually helps.
When an Occupational Therapist May Help
If arthritis is making cooking and other everyday activities increasingly difficult, an occupational therapist (OT) can help you look at how you perform specific tasks and identify possible adaptations.
This can be especially useful if you have:
- Significant difficulty using your hands
- Reduced grip strength
- Limited range of motion
- Difficulty using both hands
- Difficulty safely handling kitchen equipment
- Trouble adapting everyday activities on your own
An OT may be able to recommend adaptive equipment or suggest changes to the way you perform a task.
You don’t necessarily need to replace your entire kitchen. Sometimes changing one part of a task is enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best kitchen tools for arthritis hands?
There isn’t one kitchen tool that is best for everyone. Electric jar and can openers can help with gripping and twisting, rocker knives can change the mechanics of cutting, and wide-handled utensils can be easier to hold. Adaptive cutting boards and food processors can also reduce the amount of hand work required.
The right choice depends on which kitchen tasks are most difficult for you.
Are electric kitchen gadgets worth it for arthritis?
They can be worthwhile when they eliminate a movement that consistently causes difficulty.
For example, an electric jar opener may make sense if gripping and twisting lids is a recurring problem. An electric grinder may be unnecessary if twisting a pepper mill doesn’t bother you.
Consider the specific task, how often you perform it and whether a simpler solution would work before buying another appliance.
What utensils are easiest to grip with arthritis?
Many people find utensils with wider, cushioned or non-slip handles easier to hold than narrow handles.
The best handle size depends on your hand and the task. If possible, try a utensil before replacing an entire set.
Can kitchen tools help with severe arthritis?
Adaptive tools may make certain everyday tasks easier, but their usefulness varies from person to person.
If hand weakness, limited movement or joint changes make cooking difficult, an occupational therapist can help identify equipment and techniques suited to your specific abilities.
What is the single most helpful kitchen tool for arthritis?
If opening jars is your biggest problem, a jar opener may be the best place to start. If cutting is difficult, a rocker knife or food processor may be more useful. If lifting cookware is the problem, lightweight pots and pans may have a greater impact.
Start with the task that causes you the most difficulty.
Are adaptive kitchen tools only for people with hand arthritis?
No. Some kitchen adaptations can help when arthritis affects other joints or when standing, reaching or lifting is difficult.
For example, lightweight cookware may be useful when lifting is a problem, while a kitchen stool may help someone who has difficulty standing for long periods.
Start With the Kitchen Task That Bothers You Most
You don’t need to buy a complete collection of arthritis-friendly kitchen gadgets.
Instead, choose one task that causes you the most frustration.
If opening jars is difficult, start with a jar opener.
If chopping causes problems, consider a rocker knife or food processor.
If your utensils are uncomfortable to hold, try a wider, cushioned handle.
If standing at the counter is tiring, consider an anti-fatigue mat or a stable place to sit.
Once you find a solution that genuinely makes a task easier, you can decide whether another kitchen adaptation is worth adding.
Bottom Line
The most useful kitchen tool for arthritis isn’t necessarily the most expensive or sophisticated gadget.
It’s the tool that changes a difficult task in a way that works for you.
A jar opener can reduce gripping and twisting. An electric can opener can eliminate repetitive manual turning. A rocker knife can change how you cut. A food processor can reduce repetitive chopping. Lightweight cookware can make lifting easier.
And sometimes you don’t need to buy anything at all. Moving frequently used items, sitting for preparation tasks, using smaller cookware or changing how you perform a task may be enough.
Start with the problem, not the product. Then choose the simplest solution that makes cooking easier.
Related Reading
- Adaptive Eating Utensils for Arthritic Hands
- How to Choose Arthritis Assistive Devices
- Best Hand Relief Tools for Arthritis
- Smart Home Gadgets for People Living With Arthritis
- Arthritis Supplies: A Complete Guide to Everyday Support & Independence
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your doctor, rheumatologist, or occupational therapist before making changes to how you manage your arthritis.
