Serious Eats Editors Are Getting Ready for Spring With These 8 Kitchen Tools

From air fryers to Swedish dishcloths.

Published February 24, 2025 04:30AM EST

A set of Swedish dishcloths on a marble countertop. — Serious Eats / Eric King

While temperatures remain frigid, spring is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. (That’s what we’re telling ourselves, anyway.) Ahead of warmer weather and more sunshine, we asked Serious Eats editors to share the kitchen tool upgrades they’re making to welcome the new season. Their answers were delightfully nerdy, from Swedish dishcloths to a cooking oil solidifier. You can grab some of their picks on sale, like this tested favorite Instant Vortex air fryer or a set of Rubbermaid glass food containers.

Kitchen Tools Our Editors Are Grabbing for Spring, at a Glance

The Best Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer
Our Favorite Glass Food Storage Containers: Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers
The Best Insulated Water Bottle: Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle
A Clever Cooking Oil Solidifier: FryAway Deep Fry Cooking Oil Solidifier
A Great Set of Dry Food Containers: OXO Good Grips 10-Piece Pop Container Set
Absorbent Swedish Dishcloths: Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths
A Super Sharp Zester: Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester
The Best Budget Strainer: OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Double Rod Strainer

Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer
Amazon
$140 $100 at Amazon
During fall and winter, I don't mind heating my whole kitchen by roasting vegetables and meats, but during the spring and summer, I like to keep the oven off as much as possible. That's where the air fryer comes in handy! I've used air fryers at work and borrowed a friend’s but I think it's time to get my very own. The Instant Vortex Plus is large enough for cooking a whole meal, such as air-fried salmon and crispy Caesar broccoli. This model was top-rated in our tests, so it's my pick to treat myself as we head into spring. — Megan O. Steintrager, associate editorial director
We Tested 34 Air Fryers (Making Enough Wings and Fries to Last a Lifetime) to Find the Best Ones
Serious Eats
Rubbermaid Brilliance 3.2-Cup Glass Food Storage Containers, 4-Pack
Amazon
$43 $40 at Amazon
Look, I know myself well enough to know that I will not be making many major life improvements at the start of the year. Me and winter? We're not on good terms. The moment spring rolls around, though, I'm ready to be a new person. This year's spring refresh goal is more meal prep and more leftovers as office lunches. I have a few of these glass food containers from Rubbermaid already, but I'm ordering more to avoid purchasing sad office salads for all of March. — Amanda Suarez, associate visuals director
We Tested 12 Food Storage Containers to Find the Best Ones for Leftovers and Lunches
Serious Eats
Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle
Amazon
$30 at Amazon
I put off upgrading my water bottle for years and held onto a few Nalgene bottles far longer than I should have. I recently upgraded to our top water bottle pick, the Owala FreeSip, and my hydration routine has never been better. The sip or chug mouthpiece is smooth to drink from, and I'm especially looking forward to having ice-cold water during the summer thanks to its insulation—no more lukewarm water on hot days! I love it so much I'm going to grab another one with a fun color combination to welcome spring. — An Uong, writer
Sip or Chug: I Tested 8 Stainless Steel Water Bottles to Find the Best Ones for Everyday Use
Serious Eats
FryAway Deep Fry Cooking Oil Solidifier
Amazon
$13 $10 at Amazon
I have a jug of used fry oil that sits despondently on my kitchen floor—and it's time to say goodbye. So, I will be buying these (currently on sale) packets of FryAway to rid myself of its uncanny presence for good. — Grace Kelly, editor
FryAway Promises to Make Getting Rid of Cooking Oil Easy, But Does It Actually Work?
Serious Eats
OXO Good Grips 10-Piece Pop Container Set
Amazon
$113 at Amazon
Spring always inspires a flurry of cleaning and organizing in my house. I'll definitely be tackling my pantry as part of that. I own a set of these OXO dry food storage containers and need another. It’s perfect for housing flour, sugar, beans, pasta, grains, and much more. — Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, associate editorial director
I Tested 48 Dry Food Storage Containers and Found 6 Sets That’ll Keep Pantry Goods Fresh
Serious Eats
Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths, 10-Pack
Amazon
$20 at Amazon
I've used my set of Swedish dishcloths for so long and have put them through the washing machine so many times that they’re getting worn out. Time for a new bunch—and I have no doubt these will last me a long time, too! — Genevieve Yam, culinary editor
I Tried 8 Swedish Dishcloths to Find the Best Ones You Can Use Over and Over Again
Serious Eats
Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester
Amazon
$18 $17 at Amazon
A Microplane is one of those tools so ubiquitous that its brand name has become synonymous with the product itself—just like Band-Aid. But to avoid actually needing a bandage in the kitchen, remember to replace your rasp-style grater every so often. Dull tools result in accidents! — Kelli Solomon, senior social media editor
We Tested 12 Rasp-Style Graters—Here Are the Best Ones
Serious Eats
OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Double Rod Strainer
Amazon
$22 at Amazon
For some reason, I still don't own a fine mesh strainer. But with spring weather comes spring vegetables that want to be blanched and shocked or steamed. I've finally put this mesh strainer in my online shopping cart. I can't wait for spring peas! — Rochelle Bilow, editor
I Tested 8 Fine-Mesh Strainers and Found a Couple of Standouts
Serious Eats

Why We’re the Experts

An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
An has been testing kitchen gear for Serious Eats for over two years.
This spring, she’s looking forward to making more citrus-forward baked goods, like this bright lemon tart.