12. Heat-safe silicone lids with a variety of uses

Five Two Airtight Silicone Lids, available at Food52, $40

These silicone lids might truly be the most useful thing I came across this year. They can cover and seal mixing bowls in the fridge when you don't have a clean container to transfer leftovers into; they can act as lids on pots and pans in the oven; they can be popped on top of cookware to keep your food warm as you wait to serve it ... I could go on, but I'll spare you. They come in a pack of five sizes and are even dishwasher safe. —Sally Kaplan, editor