Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter
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
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 Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $300; street price: $400
Target deal price: $300; street price: $400
Breville deal price: $300; street price: $400
Williams Sonoma 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
NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Personal Blender — Top Pick
Kohl’s deal price: $46 (free Kohl’s account required, use promo codes use promo code GET15); street price: $80
What we like: Our top pick for the best personal blender. Powerful motor. Blended everything we threw at it without straining. Easy to use and clean. Affordable. Small countertop footprint.
Other things to know: One-year warranty. Free Kohl’s account required; use promo code GET15 to get the deal price.
Read more: The Best Personal Blender
KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer — Also Great
Target deal price: $255 (price reflects in cart); street price: $450
What we like: Our stand mixer pick with more room and more mixing power. Bowl-lift stand mixers are more powerful than tilt-head models. Stable and quiet. Churned through doughs and batters without hesitation. Bowl is large enough for hefty recipes or small tasks.
Other things to know: Heavier (32 pounds) and taller than our top pick, making it harder to store or lift out of a cabinet. One-year parts warranty from KitchenAid.
Read more: The Best Stand Mixer
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
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
Cafflano Klassic All-in-One Pour-Over Coffee Maker — Gift Pick
Amazon deal price: $48 (with clipped on-page coupon); street price: $60
What we like: A gift pick for coffee lovers who like convenience. An all-in-one ceramic burr grinder, brewer, and insulated mug. Works well anywhere — just add beans and hot water. Recommended by Yuki Izumi, coffee director at Hi-Collar, a café and sake bar in New York City’s East Village.
Other things to know: Comes with everything needed to brew and hold your java, including a kettle, stainless filter dripper, insulated tumbler, and lid. Clip the on-page coupon. Recurring deal.
Read more: The 38 Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers
Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $120; street price: $150
Williams Sonoma deal price: $120; street price: $150
Crate & Barrel 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
Instant MagicFroth 9-in-1 Milk Frother — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $45; street price: $60
Target 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
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
Susteas Rotary Cheese Grater — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $24 (deal on yellow or green); street price: $32
What we like: The best grater for speedy grating. Looks a little gimmicky, but it lives up to its promise. Efficient shredder. Can blitz through a variety of foods with ease. Comes with a single drum frame and swappable blade panels in five sizes. Stuck more securely to our counter than any other rotary grater we tested.
Other things to know: Blades store away neatly in a handy holder when not in use. Panels can be fussy to swap. Some settings are misleading. Tough to clean without a dishwasher. For those with limited hand dexterity, setup may be difficult, but use is easier than a box grater.
Read more: The Best Grater
Homwe Extra Long Professional Silicone Oven Mitt (Set of 2) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $14 (deal on red); street price: $18
What we like: Our top pick for the best oven mitts. Heatproof, flexible, and sturdy design. Extra-long cuffs. Grippy, easy-to-maneuver, and water-resistant silicone exterior. Comfy polyester and cotton quilted inner lining. Machine-washable and dryer-safe.
Other things to know: Not very roomy in the cuff, with a circumference of about 12 inches. Like any other silicone mitt, these retain heat. Not the prettiest. Deal is for a set of two in red.
Read more: The Best Oven Mitts and Pot Holders
ThermoWorks Thermapen One Meat Thermometer — Upgrade Pick
ThermoWorks deal price: $70 (use promo code TW2K52D4Q, price includes $8 shipping); street price: $109
What we like: Our upgrade meat thermometer pick. The fastest and most accurate instant-read model we tested. Bright backlit rotating screen. Wide temperature range. Waterproof. Buttonless and completely automatic. Comes in a rainbow of colors.
Other things to know: Few recipes demand instant, to-the-degree accuracy. The switch to change between Celsius and Fahrenheit is inconveniently located inside the battery compartment. Retail price has recently gone up. Price includes $8 shipping; use promo code TW2K52D4Q.
Read more: The Best Meat Thermometers
Chef’sChoice Trizor XV Knife Sharpener — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $116; street price: $155
What we like: Our top knife sharpener pick since 2016. Gives the keenest, most consistent edges of any sharpener we’ve ever tested. Works on almost any kind of knife (except serrated blades). Reliable, fast, and easy to use. Clever design. Detailed user manual.
Other things to know: An investment, but one we think is worth it. It’s built to last, with a strong motor and sturdy construction. Street price has risen over the last year.
Read more: The Best Knife Sharpener
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
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
Draft Top Lift Universal Topless Can Opener — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $12; street price: $25
What we like: A staff pick soda can opener. This specialty can opener removes the lids on cans, to create a topless drink. Better than a regular can opener for creating open-can drinks. Would be a nice gift for a host or a fun party trick to entertain guests.
Other things to know: Watching the one-minute instruction video is a must because the directions are much more complicated than what’s listed on the pamphlet. The Universal is a new and improved version of this company’s older model. Deal on gray/black color.
Read more: This Can Opener Turns a Regular Soda Into a Sexy, Thirst-Quenching Beverage
Ototo Gracula Garlic Crusher — Gift Pick
Amazon deal price: $10; street price: $20
What we like: A Dracula-inspired kitchen gadget recommended in multiple Wirecutter gift guides. Any cooking-inclined classic horror fan, kid, or year-round Halloween celebrant would vant this a gift. Plop a few cloves into the base (his cape), pop on the top (his head), and twist at the neck to mince.
Other things to know: Make sure to remove chopped garlic quickly — vampires can’t tolerate garlic for long (plus it’s a nightmare to clean when dried). Deals rarely last long. Bleh!
Read more: 19 Gag Gifts (That They Might Actually Use)
Anyday 4-Piece Glass Round Dish Set — Staff Pick
Anyday deal price: $45 (use promo code WIRECUTTER); street price: $60
What we like: A glass container we like for cooking simple dishes quickly and reheating leftovers well. Safe in the microwave, dishwasher, oven, and freezer. Each airtight, leakproof lid has a venting knob that can be opened or closed to capture or release steam as food cooks.
Other things to know: Mainly relies on built-up steam to cook food, which makes is difficult to develop more-complex flavors. Could be a great asset to anyone that only has a microwave at their disposal. Set includes two 4-cup round glass containers and corresponding lids. Use code WIRECUTTER.
Read more: These Glass Containers Made Me Hate the Microwave a Little Less
