Photo: Michael Murtaugh
Instant Pot Rio 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $75; street price: $90
What we like: Our top electric pressure cooker pick. A versatile time-saver in the kitchen. Simple to use. Performs all core functions as effectively as (or better than) competitive models. Durable stainless steel inner pot. Safer steam release than previous models.
Other things to know: Lid is heavy and can get hot. Has a lot of buttons. Searing is lackluster. Only one pressure option. Has some tricky-to-clean spots. Lacks some more advanced features, like a steam diffuser or a stove- and oven-safe inner pot. One-year warranty.
Read more: The Best Electric Pressure Cooker Is an Instant Pot
Ninja Air Fryer Pro — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $80; street price: $90
What we like: Our top pick for the best all-around air fryer. Heats fast, no pre-heating required. Easy to use, with a fuss-free interface with physical buttons. Cooked the most well-crisped food in our tests, including evenly browned wings, fries, and nuggets. The 5-quart square basket is nicely roomy.
Other things to know: A bit loud. Can overheat, so you’ll need to adjust time and temp when cooking delicate foods like brussels sprouts. Nonstick basket is free of PFAS, but the ceramic silicone-based nonstick finish comes with its own safety concerns. One-year limited warranty.
Read more: The Best Air Fryer
Breville Control Freak Portable Induction Cooktop — Worth Considering
Amazon deal price: $1,200; street price: $1,500
What we like: A portable induction cooktop worth considering if you want complete control. Has more features and functions than many high-end ranges we’ve tested. Can set it to a precise temperature and adjust the “intensity” which determines how fast it will heat up.
Other things to know: It’s expensive, like really expensive. Using it manually is a little less intuitive than other cooktops. It’s quite big and requires a lot of counter space.
Read more: The Best Portable Induction Cooktop
Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker WMR-CAP2 — Budget Pick
Amazon deal price: $23; street price: $30
What we like: Our budget waffle maker pick. Makes consistently excellent waffles quickly. Compact design is perfect for small spaces. This model is a good choice only if you like your waffles thin and crispy, and don’t need to make many at once.
Other things to know: Produces one thin, round American-style waffle at a time (think Eggo). Hardware feels cheaper than that of our other picks.
Read more: The Best Waffle Maker
Keurig K-Express Single Serve Coffee Maker — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $60; street price: $80
What we like: Our top Keurig machine pick. More compact, less expensive, and easier to operate than other Keurigs we tested. Has a strong brew function that improves the flavor of your coffee. The removable water tank adds convenience. Makes coffee in three sizes: 8, 10, and 12 ounces.
Other things to know: One-year limited warranty; damage resulting from using non-Keurig pods and accessories may not be covered. Some online reviews claim that Keurig isn’t the best about honoring its warranty. A larger serving just adds more water to your cup, while using the same amount of coffee.
Read more: The Best Keurig Machine
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Countertop Ice Maker With 1 Gallon Side Tank — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $400; street price: $600
What we like: The best countertop ice maker for nugget ice, with a larger side tank. Produces soft, chewable ice (like what you get at Sonic). Sleek design. Transparent, illuminated reservoir. Side tank magnetically attaches to side of machine. Wi-Fi enabled.
Other things to know: One-gallon side tank extends time between refills. Nugget ice has a cult following, but it makes carbonated drinks go flat faster. Large for a countertop ice maker; about the same footprint as an espresso machine. Expensive, even on sale.
Read more: The Best Countertop Ice Maker
USA Pan Rectangle Cake Pan — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $20; street price: $28
What we like: The best rectangular cake pan for sheet cakes. Indispensable for the simplest brownies, bar cookies, and single-layer sheet cakes. Nonstick coating feels durable. The edges and corners of our cakes came out clean and sharp. Great price for such a heavy-duty, sturdy pan. Limited lifetime warranty.
Other things to know: The corrugated sides help release cakes easily, they don’t mar the edges of the cake too much. Not the lowest price we’ve seen (dropped to $11 in September), but still a good deal.
Read more: The Best Cake Pans
Norpro Grip-EZ 2-Tablespoon Stainless Scoop — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $13 (deal on 2 use promo code TBSP size); street price: $16
What we like: One of our top picks for cookie baking gear. Game changer if you’re used to portioning out drop cookies by hand. Strongest and the most comfortable to hold. Released the dough (both hard and sticky kinds) more cleanly than any other.
Other things to know: Comes in multiple other sizes, so you can make giant cookies or tiny cookies if you prefer. Deal price on 2-Tablespoon size.
Read more: The Best Holiday Cookie Baking Gear
Stanley Classic Easy-Pour Growler (64 Ounces) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $34 (deal on black 2.0); street price: $56
What we like: Our top pick growler. Classic styling that’s a pleasure to carry and pour from. Keeps drinks fizzy, cold, and tasting great. Dishwasher safe. Comes with volume markings, a Surgeon General’s warning about alcohol (required in some states if you want to have a growler filled by a brewery), and a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
Other things to know: Wasn’t the absolute best in any one of our tests, but was the most consistently adored. Provides average cold retention. The design of the growler’s thin metal lip made it prone to dribbling after pouring. Deal on black 2.0 color.
Read more: The Best Growler
Grillaholics Grill Basket — Our Pick
Amazon deal price: $24; street price: $30
What we like: Best vegetable basket for grilling. Simple, effective, and dishwasher-safe. Large perforations allow for better heat and air circulation. Provided the most contact with grill grates.
Other things to know: Stainless steel basket will stand up to the rigors of high-heat grilling better than nonstick options. Street price has risen over the last few years.
Read more: The Best Grill Tools and Accessories
Coffee Gator French Press — Worth Considering
Amazon deal price: $25; street price: $30
What we like: A French press worth considering if you want an affordable steel press. We didn’t expect to like the Coffee Gator as much as we did. It turned out to be a charming, durable, minimalist press that punched above its weight in terms of flavor and design, especially for the price. It’s also easy to clean.
Other things to know: The main downside of this press is that it leaves a few more grounds in the cup than we prefer. Still, it’s a perfectly acceptable French press at a reasonable price.
Read more: The Best French Press
Timemore Chestnut C5 Pro Manual Coffee Grinder — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $88 (deal on black); street price: $110
What we like: Our upcoming portable manual coffee grinder pick. Easy-to-use, with a textured grip and a folding handle for storage. Sturdy and well-built. Grinds quickly, evenly, and consistently, which makes for a balanced, sippable cup of coffee. Grinds fine enough for a decent shot of espresso, and has numbers on the grind adjustment dial, which makes it easier to find and return to a grind size.
Other things to know: Also makes a nice gift for coffee lovers. Only makes a couple servings of ground coffee at a time. A little bigger than our current manual coffee grinder pick, but grinds a bit faster. Comes in matte black.
Read more: The Best Coffee Grinder
Bryan Stove Best BBQ Grill Brush — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $10; street price: $15
What we like: Our top grill-grate brush pick. Also recommended as a classic dad gift. Has three rows of thick-gauge wire bristles. Sturdy construction won’t bend during tough scraping tasks. Comfortable 10-inch plastic handle gives plenty of leverage.
Other things to know: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that ingesting grill brush wires can cause nonfatal injuries, but the number of reported cases is relatively low.
Read more: The Best Grill Tools and Accessories
KitchenAid Ribbed Soft Silicone Pot Holder Set — Also Great
Amazon deal price: $9 (deal on black, orange, or red); street price: $13
What we like: Our bigger pot holder pick that comes in prettier colors. Larger and more rectangular than our top pick from OXO, and the thick, ribbed silicone padding on one side provides better heat protection. The unique divided hand pocket gives you more control.
Other things to know: Its thicker material and large, square corners make it a little more clunky than our top pick, but the corners can be helpful when it’s used as a trivet. Set of two. Comes in a variety of muted, trendy, and bright colors.
Read more: The Best Oven Mitts and Pot Holders
Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $15; street price: $18
What we like: The best grater for fine grating. Sharp teeth and narrower face help reach every nook and cranny on a lemon or cheese rind. The non-slip rubber handle is more comfortable to hold than those of heavier metal graters. Ideal for smaller foods like nutmeg, garlic, or citrus.
Other things to know: We’ve read a handful of reviews saying that the plastic handle may break off, but several Wirecutter staffers have owned this tool for years without problems. It can go in the dishwasher (but probably shouldn’t).
Read more: The Best Grater
Instant MagicFroth 9-in-1 Milk Frother — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $45; street price: $60
What we like: Our top pitcher-style milk frother pick. Straightforward controls. Nine temperature and froth setting combinations, including cold foam for iced lattes. Makes decadent, dense foam. Melts chocolate for hot cocoa, too. Magnetic whisk. Pours smoothly.
Other things to know: Stainless steel pitcher gets hot. Top-rack dishwasher-safe. Makes foam for one to two drinks at a time. Not as fast as other frothers. Works with both dairy and nondairy milks. One-year warranty.
Read more: The Best Milk Frothers
AeroPress Clear Coffee Press — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $38; street price: $50
Amazon deal price: $30 (deal on gray); street price: $40
What we like: The clear version of our top pick for a simple and portable single-use coffee maker. Performs exactly the same as the original AeroPress. Lightweight, compact design. Quickly produces full-bodied, flavorful coffee. Easy to use. Dishwasher-safe.
Other things to know: Only brews one cup at a time. The clear version costs a bit more than the original, so it’s only worth getting if you value that crisp, clear look. Not the lowest price we’ve seen but still a solid discount.
Read more: The AeroPress is a Fast, Portable, No-Frills Tool for Making Terrific Coffee
Duxtop 9100MC Induction Cooktop — Budget Pick
Amazon deal price: $69; street price: $78
What we like: Our budget pick for the best portable induction cooktop. A great, no-frills machine for a good price. Equipped with 15 power settings and 15 temperature settings. Simple controls are ideal for occasional or tech-averse users.
Other things to know: Does not maintain a set heat or temperature as well as our other picks; you’ll have to pay closer attention to cooking and adjust temperature more often. Not the lowest price we’ve seen, but street price has risen over the years.
Read more: The Best Portable Induction Cooktop
DrinkMate OmniFizz Soda Maker — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $70; street price: $111
What we like: Our top soda maker pick. Offers a simple user experience, customizable carbonation levels, and tasty results with a variety of liquids. Works with any screw-in carbon dioxide cylinder, not just those from Drinkmate, so you can easily find and exchange cylinders both in person and online.
Other things to know: This listing doesn’t come with an included CO2 cylinder. Carbonates through a nozzle on a separate cap that you screw onto your bottle.
Read more: The Best Soda Maker
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $300; street price: $400
What we like: Our top air fryer toaster oven pick and our upgrade toaster oven pick. Performs just as well as an air fryer as it does a toaster oven. Specific settings for dehydrating, proofing, and slow cooking. Crisps up food faster than traditional toaster ovens. Large two-rack capacity. Multiple fan speeds.
Other things to know: Even on sale, notably more expensive than our other picks. “Super convection” fan speed is incredibly loud. Didn’t toast bread quite as evenly as other picks. We’d prefer a pizza stone over the included nonstick pizza pan.
Read more: The Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Vitamix 5200 Blender — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $300; street price: $500
What we like: Our top blender pick. Powerful motor. Wide range of speeds. Sturdy plastic jar with a grippy handle. Exceptional seven-year warranty. Automatic shutoff feature. Easy to clean.
Other things to know: Pricey. No high-powered blender could be described as quiet, but we found the Vitamix’s noise to be quieter than others. Rarely goes on sale, and sells out fast. Best price we’ve seen this year, finally matching the $300 deal we saw during 2024 October Prime Day.
Read more: The Best Blender
Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $120; street price: $150
What we like: Our top coffee grinder pick grinds coffee more evenly, and on a wider range of settings, than any other machine we’ve tested in the same price range. A workhorse that produces the consistent grind our experts seek. Reliable, modestly-sized, and easy to use. Also easy to clean and maintain. An investment you can rely on morning after morning.
Other things to know: The grind of your beans plays an important part in getting that perfect cuppa. Won’t produce the tiny adjustments in fine grinds that thrill serious espresso enthusiasts, but can still produce fine enough grounds to pull a decent shot.
Read more: The Best Coffee Grinder
Espro P3 French Press (32 Ounces) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $32 (deal on black); street price: $40
What we like: Our top pick for the best French press coffee maker. Elegant-looking, easy to use, and relatively simple to clean. Unique double filter makes richer, more flavorful coffee with less residue than its competitors. We like the clean lines of the frame and that it’s dishwasher-safe.
Other things to know: Not the most visually appealing French press. The beaker replacement is pricey if you break it. You cannot make less than 24 ounces of coffee in this 32-ounce press. Matches low.
Read more: The Best French Press
Chefman 1.8 Liter Electric Glass Kettle — Worth Considering
Amazon deal price: $28; street price: $35
What we like: An electric kettle worth considering if you’re seeking a budget model with adjustable temperatures. One of the lowest prices we’ve seen on a variable-temperature electric kettle.
Other things to know: Not as accurate as our other variable-temperature picks, but it gets close enough that you should still be able to make a good cup of tea or coffee. Glows in different colors based on the temperature setting.
Read more: The Best Electric Kettle
Braun MultiQuick 7 Immersion Hand Blender MQ7035 — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $80; street price: $110
What we like: Our top immersion blender pick. Offers better control over blending soup and smoothies. Powerful motor and a unique blade. Easy to adjust speed with a firm press of the control button. Comfortable to use one-handed. Outperformed more expensive Braun models in our tests.
Other things to know: Comes with whisk and chopping attachments, but they require some finesse. We found the measurements on the accompanying beaker cup hard to read.
Read more: The Best Immersion Blender
Technivorm Moccamaster KB Coffee Maker — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $220; street price: $330
What we like: Our top pick for a simple drip coffee maker. Much like our other top pick, the KBT, but has a glass carafe and a hot plate that’s finely tuned to keep coffee warm without scorching it, a rare feat. The coffee it produces tastes incredibly nuanced, too.
Other things to know: Lacks extra features like timers or complex settings, but coffee connoisseurs will appreciate the taste. Pricey, but its much longer warranty (five years) and Moccamaster’s reputation for longevity make it a worthwhile investment.
Read more: The Best Drip Coffee Maker
Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glass (Set of 4) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $24 (set of four); street price: $40
What we like: Our top pick for the best all-purpose wine glass. Tulip shape works for both red and white wines. Durable and inexpensive. Elegant enough for dinner parties. Dishwasher-safe.
Other things to know: May not highlight nuanced aromas and flavors of pricy wines; best for wines $20 per bottle or less. Deal price is for a set of four.
Read more: The Best Wine Glasses
Gripstic Bag Clips (Assorted Pack of 12) — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $20 (assorted pack of 12); street price: $25
What we like: A durable set of chip clips we like. Reusable clips seal bags to keep food fresh for days—or even weeks—on end. Each clip is essentially a stick-like pole encapsulated in another stick-like pole that creates a seal when you fold a bag between the two. Small to store. Works on more than just chip bags.
Other things to know: Dishwasher- and freezer-safe. There’s a small learning curve using these clips for the first time, but otherwise it’s nearly always easy. Deal is for a 12-pack in assorted sizes from 5 to 13 inches, to fit just about any bag.
Read more: These Weird-Looking Clips Keep My Chips Crispy for Weeks on End
Rubbermaid Brilliance Pantry Food Storage Containers (Set of 5, 3.2 Cups Each) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $28; street price: $36
What we like: Our top pick for the best dry food storage containers. Durable plastic containers with a great seal. Held up through multiple drop tests and trips through the dishwasher. Stack neatly and efficiently into cabinets. Easy to scoop and pour from.
Other things to know: We only recommend for storing dry ingredients. Plastic clasps require multiple steps to open and close. Replacement containers and lids aren’t sold individually. Deal for a set of five containers, 3.2 cups each.
Read more: The Best Dry Food Storage Containers
Fly By Jing Chili Crisp Noodles (Pack of Six) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $28; street price: $35
What we like: Our top pick for premium chili crisp noodles, from our guide to the best instant noodles. The combination of spice, umami, and vinegar is nice. Sun-dried (not deep-fried) noodles have frilly edges that offer a fun, chewy-soft textural contrast. Vegan friendly.
Other things to know: Comes with four seasoning packets: dried scallions, chili oil, shallot oil, and a soy-vinegar blend. Pack of six. We found ourself wishing for a little more acid to balance out the generous chili oil. At Fly By Jing, use promo code FBJHONEY10; price includes $8 shipping.
Read more: The Best Instant Noodles
A-Sha Meteor Noodles With Danzai Sauce (12-Pack) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $25 (pack of 12); street price: $31
What we like: One of our saucy instant noodle top picks. We loved this ramen’s balance of sweet shallots and a meaty sauce coating thick, bouncy noodles. It was a near-unanimous favorite of our testers. The “meteor noodles” are ovoid-shaped, with laser cuts intended to absorb extra sauce.
Other things to know: We can’t say for certain whether those laser cuts work as intended. Vegan-friendly. 1,250 mg of sodium per serving. Contains wheat and soy. Deal for a pack of 12.
Read more: The Best Instant Noodles
Rao’s Homemade Marinara Pasta Sauce — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $5 (with clipped on-page coupon); street price: $7
What we like: A top pick in our new guide to jarred marinara sauce. Versatile, well balanced, and umami. Consistently overperformed through several brand-concealed tastings. Both flavor and texture got high grades when paired with pasta or bread. Testers appreciated the olive oil floating throughout the sauce, which helped cut acidity and give a luscious mouthfeel.
Other things to know: It’s still jarred sauce and your Italian nonna might give you a piece of her mind over it. Clip the on-page coupon to get the deal price.
Read more: The Best Jarred Marinara Sauce
