The Tests

Kitchen Gear Reviews

We test the tools that make home cooking better. Expert picks, honest pros and cons, and real-world durability checks at every price point.

24

Categories Tested

67

Products Evaluated

Seamless Series High Heat Silicone Spatula
#1 Pick

Spatulas

Stop melting cheap plastic into your food. We tested the heat resistance, edge flexibility, and core strength of the top silicone spatulas to find the only one you need.

Seamless Series High Heat Silicone Spatula

$14.99

Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet
#1 Pick

Baking Sheets

The backbone of roasting and baking. We tested commercial-grade aluminum half sheet pans to find the ones that refuse to warp under high broiler heat.

Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet

$16.99

Tri-Ply Clad 3-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid
#1 Pick

Saucepans

From reducing delicate sauces to boiling pasta, a heavy-bottomed saucepan is non-negotiable. We found the best tri-ply stainless steel options.

Tri-Ply Clad 3-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid

$49.95

Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls (Set of 6)
#1 Pick

Mixing Bowls

The foundation of prep work. We tested glass, stainless, and plastic sets to find the exact configuration every kitchen needs.

Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls (Set of 6)

$26.99

ThermoPop 2 Super-Fast Meat Thermometer
#1 Pick

Thermometers

Stop guessing if chicken is done. We tested the fastest, most accurate instant-read thermometers against expensive lab equipment to find the absolute best.

ThermoPop 2 Super-Fast Meat Thermometer

$35.00

The Boardsmith Maple End-Grain Cutting Board
#1 Pick

Cutting Boards

We reviewed testing data from Serious Eats, America's Test Kitchen, and Wirecutter to find the best cutting boards for every kitchen — from premium end-grain maple to reliable plastic options for everyday prep.

The Boardsmith Maple End-Grain Cutting Board

$175.00

Breville Sous Chef 16 Cup Food Processor
#1 Pick

Food Processors

Expert-tested food processors for home cooks in 2026. From budget-friendly to premium, find the right processor for chopping, slicing, shredding, pureeing, and kneading dough.

Breville Sous Chef 16 Cup Food Processor

$449.95

Micro-Perforated Stainless Steel Colander
#1 Pick

Colanders

We tested the drainage speed and hole topology of the top stainless steel colanders to guarantee your pasta never sits in hot water too long.

Micro-Perforated Stainless Steel Colander

$19.99

Primo Digital Kitchen Scale
#1 Pick

Scales

Baking without a scale is a gamble. We tested digital scales for gram-level accuracy, response speed, and high weight capacity.

Primo Digital Kitchen Scale

$24.95

Heavy Duty Take-Apart Kitchen Shears
#1 Pick

Shears

From snipping chives to spatchcocking a raw chicken, heavy-duty kitchen shears are essential. We found the ones that can cut through bone.

Heavy Duty Take-Apart Kitchen Shears

$25.00

Signature Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt
#1 Pick

Dutch Ovens

We tested the heaviest enameled cast iron pots to see which ones deliver perfect slow-braises without blistering their enamel on high heat.

Signature Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt

$419.95

MultiQuick 5 Vario Hand Blender
#1 Pick

Blenders

Stop transferring boiling soup into a countertop blender. We tested the highest-torque hand blenders that puree directly in the pot without splashing.

MultiQuick 5 Vario Hand Blender

$64.95

Good Grips Stainless Steel Ladle
#1 Pick

Ladles

A bad ladle spills more soup than it serves. We tested the exact angle and bowl capacity of premium stainless and silicone ladles.

Good Grips Stainless Steel Ladle

$19.95

Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
#1 Pick

Cast Iron Skillets

We tested the top cast iron skillets for searing, baking, and everyday cooking. Here are our picks for every budget.

Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

$19.90

COSORI Pro LE Air Fryer 5 Qt
#1 Pick

Air Fryers

We compared the top air fryers by capacity, crispiness, ease of cleaning, and value. These are the ones worth buying.

COSORI Pro LE Air Fryer 5 Qt

$69.99

HENCKELS Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Set
#1 Pick

Knife Sets

From budget starter sets to professional-grade Japanese steel — we compared the top kitchen knife sets for home cooks.

HENCKELS Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Set

$109.99

Instant Pot Pro 6-Quart Pressure Cooker
#1 Pick

Instant Pots

The best Instant Pot models for home cooks in 2026, tested and ranked for pressure cooking performance, versatility, and ease of use.

Instant Pot Pro 6-Quart Pressure Cooker

$99.95

Staub 5.5-Quart Round Cocotte
#1 Pick

Dutch Ovens

We tested and researched the top enameled cast iron Dutch ovens of 2026 to find the best options for braising, baking bread, soups, stews, and everyday home cooking across every budget.

Staub 5.5-Quart Round Cocotte

$279.99

Escali Primo P115C Digital Kitchen Scale
#1 Pick

Kitchen Scales

The best kitchen scales for home cooks and bakers in 2026, tested and ranked for accuracy, ease of use, and value.

Escali Primo P115C Digital Kitchen Scale

$29.95

All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set
#1 Pick

Nonstick Cookware Sets

The best nonstick cookware sets for home cooks in 2026, tested and ranked for cooking performance, coating durability, and value.

All-Clad HA1 Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set

$229.99

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer
#1 Pick

Stand Mixers

We analyzed testing data from Serious Eats, America's Test Kitchen, and Wirecutter covering 15+ models to find the best stand mixers for every home baker.

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

$449.99

Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender
#1 Pick

Blenders

The best blenders for home cooks in 2026, tested and ranked for smoothie performance, soup-making power, durability, and value.

Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender

$449.95

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
#1 Pick

Kitchen Thermometers

Expert-tested kitchen thermometers for accurate cooking at home. We compared speed, accuracy, and value to find the best instant-read and leave-in thermometers for every budget.

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE

$125.00

LYNK PROFESSIONAL Expandable 4-Tier Spice Drawer Organizer
#1 Pick

Spice Organizers

The best spice organizers for home cooks in 2026, covering drawer inserts, cabinet racks, countertop towers, and magnetic fridge options. Organized and tested picks to keep your kitchen clutter-free.

LYNK PROFESSIONAL Expandable 4-Tier Spice Drawer Organizer

$34.99

Our Review Standard

We know that equipping a kitchen is expensive. Whether you're buying a $300 Dutch oven or a $20 spatula, you deserve to know if it's going to last. We synthesize professional reviews from America's Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, Wirecutter, and leading YouTube chefs to isolate the consensus top performers.

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