I’ve Tested Kitchen Equipment for Years, and These Are the Memorial Day Deals Worth Grabbing (Including All-Clad, Le Creuset, and Vitamix)

As someone who spends my days testing kitchen equipment, I’ve gotten to find out what the best manual citrus juicer is or which vegetable peeler is fastest. It’s a blessing and a curse to know what the best of the best is, especially during sales, when there are deals on all of my favorite gear. And for Memorial Day, the sales are plentiful. Thankfully, I scoured through the sales to find the best deals on the best products that I think are actually worth buying, from our loved All-Clad skillet to the best Le Creuset Dutch oven. Plus, some items are up to 50% off. 

Editor’s Memorial Day Deal Picks:

• The Best Blender: Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender
• The Best Cast Iron Dutch Oven: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Dutch Oven
• The Best Kitchen Towels: Zeppoli Classic Dish Towels
• The Best Instant Pot: Instant Pot Pro Pressure Cooker
• A Versatile Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
• The Best Stainless Steel Sauce Pan: All-Clad D3 3-Ply Stainless Steel Sauce Pan
• The Best Immersion Blender: All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel Immersion Blender
• The Best Budget Coffee Grinder: OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
• The Best Wood-Fired Pizza Oven: Ooni Fyra 12 Wood-Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven
• One of the Best Stainless-Steel Skillets: All-Clad 12-Inch Stainless Steel Skillet

The Best Blender: 

Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender

My professional-grade blender is one of my most beloved kitchen appliances. I reach for it nearly daily to make smoothies, soups, sauces, and more. Something like the Vitamix 5200 blender (our favorite of ten years) is worth the investment for all the time it will save you in the kitchen. This model has outperformed the rest time and time again thanks to its powerful motor and tapered jar that can hold up to 64 fluid ounces. Plus, it has an analog control panel with 10 speeds that offers plenty of control. The Vitamix 5200 is rarely on sale, so $135 off is a deal worth grabbing in my opinion. 

The Best Cast Iron Dutch Oven: 

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Dutch Oven

I’ve used almost every Dutch oven on the market, but I’m still eyeing this Le Creuset Dutch oven deal, because at 33% off, it’s too good to pass up. After six years of tests, the Le Creuset Dutch oven remains our top pick out of 20 models. This Dutch oven seared, sautéed, and slow-cooked effortlessly thanks to its even heat distribution and retention. The 5.5-quart capacity is ideal whether you’re cooking for yourself (with lots of leftovers) or for a crowd. At 11 pounds, it’s also lighter than the average Dutch oven we tested.

The Best Kitchen Towels: 

Zeppoli Classic Dish Towels, Set of 15

I love my dish towels — almost too much. They sop up all my messes, help me maneuver hot pots and pans with more dexterity, and last forever. As a believer that one can never have too many dish towels, I’m eyeing these Zeppoli classic dish towels. After testing 17 dish towels, we were impressed with how sturdy and absorbent the Zeppoli towels are. At just under $1 apiece, the price point is almost too good to be true — yet it is.

The Best Instant Pot: 

Instant Pot Pro Pressure Cooker

On evenings when I can’t bear to be at the stovetop, I’m thankful to have an Instant Pot that makes my weeknight dinner with a touch of a button. With it, I can make my favorite mushroom risotto in a fraction of the time. While it may feel like there’s an infinite number of Instant Pots out there, our rigorous tests revealed a top performer: the Instant Pot Pro. It pressurized the quickest, and was the best at searing and sautéeing. It also has a non-spinning stainless steel inner pot that stays still when you stir. Right now, the 6-quart model is a steep 30% off.

The Best Air Fryer: 

Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer

My mom and I bonded over shared custody of an air fryer for years. We made a lot of fries and even experimented with vegetarian “chicken” wings. Now that it’s time for me to get my own air fryer, I’m eyeing the Instant Vortex Plus, our top air fryer pick. The model fried its competition by consistently browning foods at the fastest speeds during our tests. Its touchscreen with knob control makes for a user-friendly interface and it offers six functions including air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate. At 44% off, it’s a deal that will pay for itself when I’m enjoying restaurant-level fries at home.

The Best Stainless Steel Saucepan: 

All-Clad D3 3-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan

I love my saucepan. It’s the unsung hero of my kitchen, cooking up custards, sauces, quick rice, and so much more over the 10+ years that I’ve had it. While it still has a few years left in it, I’m already planning an upgrade to one of our top saucepan picks, the All-Clad stainless steel saucepan. During our tests, the 3-ply stainless steel cooked evenly and was responsive to heat. The 3-quart model is a great size for most kitchens, and while All-Clad pieces are usually pricey, this 33% off deal has me more than intrigued.

The Best Immersion Blender: 

All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel Immersion Blender

I love eating soup all year round, even during the height of summer, and my immersion blender is my partner in crime. Whether I’m making butternut squash soup or cream of mushroom, I love that I can blend directly in my stockpot with a handheld blender like the All-Clad stainless steel immersion blender. Through each round of testing, the All-Clad model powered through as the fastest and most efficient immersion blender. It crushed ice cubes, puréed celery, and emulsified mayo in seconds. Grab it for 30% off, then blend and blitz your way to new culinary heights.

The Best Budget Coffee Grinder: 

OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

The day I found out about grinding coffee with a burr grinder as opposed to using a bladed spice grinder, my coffee game changed. Using a high quality burr grinder gives me more control over how coarse or fine of a grind I want. I’ve been using a handheld burr grinder for years, but as I drink more coffee, I’m tempted by this OXO conical burr grinder that’s been our best budget coffee grinder pick for years. It has 15 settings, plus micro settings in between the numbers to achieve even more precise grinds. It’s already affordable, but it’s on extra sale at 20% off. 

The Best Wood-Fired Pizza Oven: 

Ooni Fyra 12 Wood-Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven

Pizza is one of my favorite foods, and if I could, I’d have it for dinner every night. The Ooni Fyra 12 outdoor pizza oven makes a strong argument for daily pizzas. It has a portable design that doesn’t take up too much space, but with a 12-inch stone diameter, it can still churn out shareable pizzas. Using wood pellets only, it can reach 950°F in 15 to 20 minutes and can cook a pizza in just over a minute. Now that it’s 30% off, it looks like I might just have my daily pizza afterall.

One of the Best Stainless-Steel Skillets: 

All-Clad 12-Inch Stainless Steel Skillet

A great stainless steel skillet lasts a lifetime. I’ve had my 10-inch skillet for years, and it still sears up tofu just as beautifully as the day I got it. As I look to add a 12-inch pan to my set, I’m eyeing the All-Clad 12-inch stainless steel skillet, one of our favorites after rounds of testing. It conducts and retains heat evenly and while it’s usually on the pricier side, it’s definitely worth grabbing now at a whopping 50% off.

FAQs

How long do Memorial Day sales last?

While a typical Memorial Day sale lasts through Memorial Day, which lands on May 27, 2024, some deals stay on for longer. We’ll keep this list updated.

Why We’re the Experts

• An Uong is a Commerce Writer for Serious Eats and Food & Wine.
• An has reviewed kitchen gear for years, and especially loved her Vietnamese coffee phin and jar scraper.