Arthritis is an inflammatory condition of the joints. Also known as joint inflammation, the swelling and tenderness associated with this condition can translate to pain when working your way through everyday tasks, like kitchen prep. Eating healthy (especially anti-inflammatory foods) coupled with movement in the form of regular hand exercises, yoga, stretching, tai chi, and more may help ease pain, as well as medications prescribed by your doctor. And when it comes to cooking, there are thankfully many helpful tools and gadgets on the market these days that are designed to help.
In the United States, it’s estimated that nearly 25% of all adults — roughly 58.5 million individuals — have arthritis, per the CDC.
“Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic hand or wrist pain. Osteoarthritis, which degrades the cartilage that cushions bones in the hands and keeps them from rubbing together, is one of the most common types,” says New York City-based Jacob Hascalovici, MD, Ph.D., pain specialist and chief medical officer at Clearing. “Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that inflames linings of the joints in the hands, is another common type. Since we use our hands so often when cooking, arthritis can present a real burden, sometimes making it harder to stir, cut meat or vegetables, open cans or jars, use spices, or knead bread, for example.”
Mixers, food processors, blenders, and even sharp knives can remove or minimize a lot of the aches and pains of kitchen work for those suffering from arthritis in the hand, says Hascalovici. “Some people with arthritis rely on food processors for chopping or choose mandolins or ulu knives. A standing mixer can ease the strain of constant stirring,” he continues, noting that you should look for accessories that have large buttons, or padded or easy-to-use grips, and that are relatively easy to move around the kitchen.
“With knives, use a sharpener, but, of course, be very vigilant and careful about cutting yourself, and keep a first-aid kit handy in case that happens,” Hascalovici adds. “Rubber ring grips can help with opening jars, as can electric can openers or helping release air from a jar lid’s seal manually by hitting the lid with the end of a butter knife.”
The Best Kitchen Tools for People With Arthritis
What to Consider
Before you start cooking, Hascalovici recommends spending a few moments surveying your kitchen workspace to determine if you can adjust your setup to be better or to grab specific prep tools. Implement smart strategies: “Can you use relatively pain-free days, for example, to chop a lot of vegetables at once, which you can then freeze for later use? Can you keep a bowl of warm water or paraffin nearby if you need to help out some hurting hands while doing kitchen tasks?” he asks. “Things you should probably avoid include lifting heavy pots or skillets, overworking yourself (or your hands), using dull knives, and failing to plan ahead for how to manage any aches or pains that arise.”
We’ve rounded up stellar kitchen gizmos and tools to help those suffering from arthritis or joint pain in their hands or wrist. Tools are there to make day-to-day life easier after all, and these just might be your next go-to’s for pain-free prepping.
1
Nonslip Grip
Good Grips Swivel Peeler
From the cushioned handle to the sharp, hardened stainless steel blade, this tool is a boon for all your peeling needs, and the cushioned handle doesn’t slip around even if your hands are wet.
FYI: The original line of OXO Good Grips tools was developed with insight and feedback from a gerontologist and arthritic sufferer, with the idea that everyday kitchen tasks could be improved with thoughtfully-designed tools with soft, comfortable handles for relieving discomfort.
The inaugural collection of 15 OXO tools, including this best-selling swivel peeler on Amazon, proved so helpful to those suffering from pains caused by arthritis that the tools were awarded the Tylenol/Arthritis Foundation design award in 1990. Now, the company grounds its design around tools that make everyday tasks better for hands of all sizes and strengths.
The team at BestProducts.com finds many of their products best-in-class, as you may notice while continuing on with this list.
More: The Best Kitchen Knives to Elevate Everyday Cooking Tasks
2
5-in-1 Opener
Soda and Water Bottle Opener
Opening bottles with sore hands or arthritis can be quite frustrating. This ergonomic opener lends help to weaker hands so you can twist off bottle caps with hardly any effort. Now, back to mixing that five o’clock seltzer refreshment.
3
Opens Jars of All Sizes
Good Grips Jar Opener with Base Pad
Opening a jar can be tough for anyone (pass the Herculean strength, please), especially those who have arthritis. That’s why we love the contoured, nonslip grip on this jar opener with a base pad that securely grips jars and lids for opening with a quick twist of the handle.
You don’t have to apply too much hand pressure to the soft handle cushions to work the device, and we appreciate that the stainless steel teeth grip the lid firmly. Bonus: The base pad keeps bottles stable for easier opening.
4
Lifetime Warranty
Stainless Steel Butter Spreader
Spreading butter evenly doesn’t have to be so tough. With this highly rated butter spreader, your toast won’t tear into pieces and you’ll enjoy nice, even distribution. Courtesy of its ergonomic design, you may also find this lightweight butter spread more comfortable to use than a standard butter knife.
5
Meal-Prep Star
Good Grips Prep and Go 10-Piece Set
Dealing with hard-to-close Tupperware is no fun, arthritis or not. Behold: this Amazon’s Choice food container set that’s leakproof, dishwasher-safe, freezer-safe, and odor- and stain-resistant, to boot.
Ideal for leftovers or meal prep, these containers also stack neatly to reduce their real estate footprint in your fridge or cabinets. There’s a 20-piece set, too.
6
Disassembles for Easy Cleaning
Good Grips Glass Salad Spinner
One of the newer products in OXO’s catalog, this salad spinner makes drying greens and herbs so much better. A quick press of the soft, nonslip knob on top and you’re on your way to beautifully washed and dried salad victuals. No more hard-on-your-hands cranks or pull-strings — and the patented built-in brake button stops the spinner almost instantly when you’re done, while the nonslip base prevents skidding.
When you’re done spinning, you can plop your greens and/or herbs out of the colander and into the included glass bowl for a beautiful presentation.
P.S. The spinning basket also works well as a colander for pasta, beans, and more.
7
Includes Stand and Instruction Book
Alaskan Ulu
As Hascalovici mentioned, an Ulu knife can be a great choice for those who have arthritis (or anyone who does a lot of chopping in the kitchen and suffers from hand pain).
These so-called rocker knives are said to help increase your dexterity and leverage, so tasks like chopping nuts or slicing hard cheese become less painful. For this knife, in particular, we love that it’s easy to sharpen using a knife sharpener and that it maintains its edge for quite some time between sharpenings.
8
Dishwasher-Safe
Good Grips Garlic Press
No more stressing every time you see a recipe that calls for minced garlic! Sturdy, die-cast zinc construction? Check. Large-capacity garlic chamber? Check.
The Good Grips Garlic Press crushes garlic with the ease of just a squeeze, so no more crouching over a cutting board working with a knife. In addition to the nonslip, comfortable rubber handles absorbing pressure from your hands, we also love that the built-in cleaner saves you the trouble of needing to meticulously clean it after each use.
9
Built-In Pliers
Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener
In the market for a can opener? This user favorite manual can opener from — you guessed it — OXO is a winner. Using an oversized side wind mechanism with a soft-grip knob, you can open cans more easily sans sharp edges being created on the can or lid. Lid pliers also are handy for touch-free removal so you don’t get tomato paste or bean juice on your hands.
10
Highest Copper Content
Store Arthritis Gloves
Boasting more than 43,000 ratings and countless five-star reviews, these gloves help provide relief for all sorts of hand pain, whether you suffer from arthritis or tendonitis. The copper-infused compression gloves with flexible fabric and moisture-wicking capabilities are great for extra support while you cook (especially knife work), write, or go about your day. You can also wear these four-way stretch gloves overnight to help refresh your hands while you sleep.
Perri O. Blumberg
Perri is a New York City-born-and-based writer; she holds a bachelor's in psychology from Columbia University and is also a culinary school graduate of the plant-based Natural Gourmet Institute, which is now the Natural Gourmet Center at Institute Of Culinary Education.
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