Every Petite Cook Needs This Grabber Tool

As a petite person, I often get the sense that the world wasn’t designed for me. I notice it at concerts, when I’m stuck with a view of the back of someone’s head. I feel it when I’m trying on a leggy pair of jeans or attempting to get the attention of a bartender on the other side of an especially high partition. But as a food editor and avid cook, I never notice it more than when I’m preparing a meal. Most kitchens — mine included — feature high shelves and cabinets that I can’t access, even on my tiptoes. 

Though I dream of someday designing a personalized kitchen with reachable shelves, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make my current space more accessible. On top of a good step ladder and magnetized spice jars to store on the fridge, I always keep this grabber tool on hand to extend my wingspan and reach my highest shelves.

Unger 36-Inch Nifty Nabber Grabber Tool

This 36-inch tool is a convenient way to pick up items that are out of reach. The aluminum pole is strong and stable, and the grip is comfortable to press, hold, and release. With over 16,000 five-star ratings, I know I’m not alone when I say this tool is a total game-changer. One reviewer called this tool a “necessity for short people,” and I couldn’t agree more.

No matter what I’m trying to reach, this tool can grab it with ease. The claws have rubber tips with jagged edges, allowing them to pick up fragile and oddly shaped items securely. They even have a built-in magnet to grab small metal utensils and gadgets. 

There are countless grabber tools to choose from at Amazon, but few perform as well as the Nifty Nabber. As a happy customer noted, the tool “is longer than the average grabber,” which is ideal for vertically challenged cooks like me. While you may be tempted to buy a collapsible model to simplify storage, shoppers appreciate the stability of this non-folding model. “The last one I had was a folding one and was always collapsing as I used it,” they wrote. “This is much sturdier to use.” Plus, it’s easy to store, thanks to a hanging hole on the grip.

Aside from being useful for petite people, one shopper said that it’s “a must-have for those with physical struggles such as problems bending, stooping, [and] squatting.” It’s great for picking dropped items off the ground or taking out the garbage.

Keep all of your kitchen items within reach with this essential grabber tool, now on sale for just $20 at Amazon.

Shop More Petite-Friendly Kitchen Tools

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Utopia Home Folding Step Stool

OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Lazy Susan Turntable

U-Taste 16-Inch Extra Long Large Silicone Cooking Tongs

At the time of publishing, the price was $20.