Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Amazon
We mean it when we say any opportunity to grab a Le Creuset Dutch oven on sale is worth hopping on. It’s been a front-runner in our tests year after year, thanks to its impeccable heating ability, which always results in tender braises and crusty bread loaves. Its enamel coating also stands up to the test of time and is a go-to in many of our editors’ homes.
Serious Eats / Grace Kelly
OXO Brew 9-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
Amazon
The OXO coffee maker produces consistently aromatic, flavorful cups of coffee and requires little work from the user. It’s great for those groggy mornings when you just need a caffeine kick before anything else. It’s a speedy machine with a thermal carafe that keeps coffee fresh for up to an hour.
Serious Eats / Will Dickey
Yeti Rambler 42-Ounce Tumbler With Handle and Straw Lid
Amazon
Several of our editors speak lovingly of their Yeti Rambler tumblers. These insulated travel mugs keep drinks cool for hours and conveniently fit into any car cupholder. During our tests, the press-on lid kept liquid from leaking too much, even if it wasn’t completely leakproof.
Serious Eats / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
Yeti Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler
Amazon
With beach days and camping trips on the horizon, you’ll need a hard cooler to keep snacks and drinks cool. This wheeled Yeti cooler boasts an impressive 72 hours of cold retention. Its smooth telescoping handle has a 6.5-inch grip. No more lugging a heavy cooler around—the rugged wheels can traverse uneven terrain without any trouble.
Serious Eats / Greg Baker
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
Amazon
Named the best espresso machine for beginners, this Breville Barista Express has a built-in grinder and steam wand. We were impressed with its ability to produce full-bodied espresso and appreciated how well it could steam milk to silky smoothness.
Serious Eats / Nick Simpson
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Amazon
If you’re still grinding coffee with a spice grinder, this is our plea for you to get an upgrade. The OXO burr grinder is the best affordable model and will instantly bring more consistency and quality to your coffee routine. It also has a large, clearly marked dial for quickly changing the grind settings.
Serious Eats / Nick Simpson
OXO Enhanced 10-Inch Nonstick Ceramic Skillet
Amazon
Cheesy omelets and delicate crepes are made with ease in this OXO nonstick skillet. Food seems to slide right off the pan, which has a comfortable handle and a durable coating that resists scratches. Bonus points: The ceramic coating is an excellent, non-toxic, nonstick option.
Serious Eats
Breville the Super Q Blender
Amazon
We didn’t think it was possible to call a blender “quiet,” yet here we are. The Breville Super Q isn’t exactly whisper-quiet, but it makes significantly less noise than other countertop blenders we tested. It also has five presets: soup, ice crush, frozen dessert, smoothie, and green smoothie. We also appreciate its very efficient auto-clean function.
Serious Eats / Will Dickey
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
Amazon
The KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart stand mixer is the best model for most avid home bakers. It can whip heavy cream or egg whites, knead dough, and mix cake batter. It also lasts for ages, having been a go-to baking essential in many of our editors’ kitchens.
Serious Eats
Toshiba Countertop Microwave Oven
Amazon
If your microwave is just a bit too grimy for a deep clean, it’s a good time to grab this Toshiba microwave, our top pick for a countertop microwave oven. During our tests, there were no detectable hot (or cold) spots in the foods it reheated, and we liked its spacious interior. Thanks to its smart sensor that guarantees uniform heating, it’s been our frontrunner for years.
Serious Eats
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker 3.0
Amazon
The onboard display on this immersion cooker cinched its place as one of our favorites. It also cooks accurately and quickly, heating room-temperature water to boiling in just 23.5 minutes. Despite its powerful heating ability, it’s exceptionally quiet.
Serious Eats / Russell Kilgore
Hamilton Beach 4-in-1 Electric Immersion Hand Blender
Amazon
Our favorite budget hand blender was a sleeper hit during our tests. It out-blended pricier models and even crushed ice without struggling. From whipped cream to mayonnaise, this humble machine can do it all, and it’s on sale for just $35.
Serious Eats / Russell Kilgore
Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Lid
Amazon
Lodge cookware has consistently done well in our tests, and this Dutch oven from the brand is no exception. (Personally speaking, I’ve had this fantastic piece of cookware for over a decade, and I love it.) It braises, stews, and bakes just as well as the competition. Plus, it’s on sale for $80.
Serious Eats
Zwilling 4-Piece Steak Knife Set
Amazon
For a budget-friendly steak knife set, this 4-piece one from Zwilling can slice through meat and vegetables without catching. The weighty handles are also comfortable to hold and maneuver around food.
Serious Eats / Grace Kelly
OXO Good Grips Thermocouple Thermometer
Amazon
Accurate, fast, and easy to read, this OXO Good Grips thermometer quickly rose to the top of our tested thermometers. The white digits against its black-lit screen are visible in bright kitchens and dark ovens alike.
Zeppoli Classic Dish Towels, 15-Pack
Amazon
We recorded a 141% absorbency rate with these kitchen towels. On sale for just over $1 apiece, Zeppoli towels are durable and versatile, able to dry dishes or wrap around hot handles. They can be tossed into the washer and will come out ready for the next round of sopping up messy spills.
Serious Eats / Henry Wortock
Krups Precision Electric Spice Grinder
Amazon
This spice grinder handled heaps of black peppercorns and fennel seeds like a champ. It produces fine powders at lightning speed, even breaking down cinnamon sticks in just 30 seconds. Grab it to enhance the aromatics in your cooking—just don’t use it for coffee.
Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
Zwilling J.A. Henckels 4-Stage Pull-Through Knife Sharpener
Amazon
For an approachable way to keep blades sharp, this manual knife sharpener gets the job done. We still recommend whetstones or electric models over manual ones, but if you must, this $25 offering from Zwilling can achieve a sharp edge quickly.
Serious Eats / Russell Kilgore
Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer
Amazon
If you cook rice every day, it’s worth grabbing this Zojirushi rice cooker that has 10 functions: white rice, brown rice, sushi rice, mixed rice, sweet rice, porridge, and more. It even has a setting for making cake. It lasts virtually forever and plays a pleasant tune when it’s done cooking.
Serious Eats / Alexander Huang
Kuhn Rikon Vase Grinder
Amazon
This pepper mill is a simple twist grinder that’s comfortable to hold. It didn’t hurt our wrists when we used it, and it achieved consistent grinds. Plus, it’s on sale for $18.
Serious Eats / Abigail Clarkin
Why We’re the Experts
- An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
- An has been testing gear for Serious Eats for over two years and has written about kitchen gear sales for a year.
- She loves a good deal and highly recommends you grab a Zojirushi rice cooker while it’s discounted.