The 17 best kitchen products we tested in 2024 for every home cook

Set includes: 8-inch and 10-inch skillet, 1.5-quart and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 3.5-quart sauté pan with lid, 8-quart stock pot with lid and a steamer insert with lid | Material: Stainless steel | Oven safe: Yes, up to 500°F with silicone grip; up to 500°F for broiler use | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Induction: Compatible | Warranty: Lifetime

Cuisinart is a trusted name in cookware, and this triple-ply stainless steel collection offers a ton of value — no wonder we named it the best cookware set of 2024. With two skillets, three pots and a steamer insert (hello, broccoli), you're ready for anything. And at $300 (when it's not on sale for less), it's truly a steal. All the pieces go from stovetop to oven and can even withstand a blast under the broiler. They're medium weight and, while not the easiest we've ever maneuvered, felt manageable and balanced. The handles remained cool while on the stovetop.

Cleaning stainless steel pans is always more challenging than their nonstick counterparts, so prepare to put in some elbow grease. While this set is technically dishwasher-safe, we suggest you hand-wash and -dry it to extend its lifespan. 

Sizes available: 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch | Weight: 2 pounds | Material: Aluminum with removable silicone grip | Oven safe: Yes, up to 400°F | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Induction: Compatible | Warranty: Lifetime

Full disclosure: Our resident cookware tester, Lisa Schweitzer, has been using a Tramontina nonstick pan for years. She says (and this is a direct quote): "Cooking with this pan is a dream! With only a slick of oil, eggs slide right off the surface and over the flared edge onto the plate." It performed as well or better than the other pans we tested, crisping salmon skin to brown ASMR perfection and cooking golden pancakes without hot spots.

Cleanup is a breeze and only requires a few swipes with a soapy sponge, even around the rivets that secure the handle. About that handle: The removable silicone grip is a plus, as it keeps the handle cool on the stovetop. It also gives it added grip and makes it extra comfortable to hold. Read more about this skillet in our guide to the best nonstick pans.

As longtime Lodge skillet owners, we home editors can attest to the fact that the company makes a pan that will last forever, as long as you care for it properly. The brand's Blacklock-edition pan, our top choice for the best cast iron skillet, is lighter and easier to maneuver than the classic version, with slightly thinner walls.

When Schweitzer fried eggs in it, they came away with little effort and crispy edges. Yum! Also of note is the handle — it has Lodge's signature teardrop shape but is more ergonomic and a little longer, and it feels more comfortable in hand. Schweitzer had no trouble moving the pan from the stove to the oven and back. It's a snap to clean (as most cast iron skillets are) with nothing more than hot water and a synthetic scrub brush.

Sizes: 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch | Material: 5-ply clad stainless steel | Oven safe: Yes, up to 800°F | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Induction: Compatible | Warranty: Limited lifetime

There wasn't much to fault when it came to our winner of the best stainless steel pan. At 2.25 pounds, it maneuvered well from the range to the oven and felt balanced while Schweitzer seared chicken thighs, sautéed onions and deglazed the pan. She also really enjoyed the handle (which isn't something we had thought much about before testing) because it stayed cool on the stove.

This pan is made from five-ply clad stainless steel layered with aluminum, which helps it produce a deep golden-brown sear on proteins like chicken or steak and ensures it will perform at high temperatures. It's oven-safe up to 800°F, which a home oven can't even reach, but it means that the pan holds up under the broiler. As far as the price, $119 is up there for a single piece of cookware, though it's often on sale for $100. But for a restaurant-quality piece, it's worth it.

Size: 6.75 quarts | Weight: 12.6 pounds | Material: Enameled cast iron | Max oven temperature: 500°F | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Warranty: Limited lifetime

After testing eight Dutch ovens, Schweitzer awarded Le Creuset the honor of best Dutch oven overall. She has owned this particular cast iron pot for nearly 20 years, and while it's expensive enough to call an investment, it performs as well as it did on day one.

This iconic piece of cookware is made in France and comes in a rainbow of colors. Schweitzer has used her pot (in the shade "Flame") for just about every cooking task — boiling, braising, searing — and it has conquered them all. It's also relatively lightweight (12.6 pounds for a 6.75-quart pot).

While $445 is a major splurge, we often see this pot on sale for about $300 (still a lot!). But if you consider its versatility and how long it will last, it's worth every penny. Read our review of the Le Creuset Dutch oven for more.

Material: Stainless steel | Weight: 5.5 ounces | Style: Japanese

After slicing and dicing with nine worthy knives, we consider the Global Classic Chef's Knife to be the Goldilocks of this category — it's not too heavy and not too light, and it slices through almost everything as if your food is as soft as Marshmallow Fluff. The knife felt balanced in Schweitzer's hand, was easy to maneuver and the blade was remarkably sharp. It was a pleasure to use, and while not a traditional-looking knife, it has a modern steel design we love.

What's truly unusual about Global knives is that they are crafted end to end from a single piece of stainless steel (it's called CROOVA 18, which is a blend of chromium, molybdenum and vanadium metals). The handle features a perforated pattern that's quite comfortable to grip. Read more in our guide to the best chef's knives.

Blade material: High-carbon stainless steel | Handle material: Polypropylene | Blade length: 9 inches | Wash instructions: Hand wash

Our best carving knife hails from the beloved German brand Wüsthof, which is also Ina Garten's favorite knife maker, and for good reason. This stellar utensil will keep you carving for decades thanks to a full tang (meaning it's made from one piece of stainless steel from end to end) and a triple-riveted handle. It feels comfortable in hand, it's exceptionally sharp, and at 9 inches long, it will help you maneuver around any bone-in roast you cook. The dimples in the blade create space between the blade and the food so that the steel doesn't get sticky during slicing.

The Chef'sChoice 1520 is Ina Garten's favorite sharpener, and we can see why. It's about as foolproof as it gets, with three sharpening sections and abrasives made of diamond (the hardest material on earth — it can sharpen anything). One section is for Western knives, one for Eastern (Japanese) knives and one for polishing/honing all knives. The process is simple: Turn on the power and slowly run your knife from the base of the blade to the tip several times through each side of the Western or Eastern sharpening section. Then, run the blade several times through the honing section.

It comes at a hefty price — $190 — but if you're really interested in keeping your knives in tip-top shape and you have the space and budget, this electric knife sharpener is certainly the easiest and best we could find. To learn more, check out our story on the best knife sharpeners.

Size: 12"D x 16.5"W x 12.25"H | Capacity: 6 quarts | Power: 1800 watts | Max temp: 450°F | Style: Single-basket | Functions: Air fry, roast, bake, broil or warm | Care: Dishwasher-safe basket and tray

Topping our list for the best air fryers is this versatile model, which boasts substantial cooking room, requires minimal maintenance and is easy to use, all while looking sleek. It comes pre-assembled, so there's no setup required, and the accompanying instructions are intuitive.

A bright LED interface displays five functions — air fry, roast, bake, broil, and warm — plus five presets. We assessed the air fry function by making french fries, breaded chicken tenders, chicken wings and crab rangoon, using package instructions and the "frozen" preset where there were none. Everything came out right on time and was juicy on the outside and crispy on the inside.

While air-frying was the main focus of our test, we also tried several other functions: Our roasted chicken breasts, baked salmon and broiled steaks cooked to perfection.

Capacity: 9 cups | Size: 15"W x 8.3"D x 17.2"H | Features: Thermal carafe, programmable, can make a single cup | Warranty: 2 years

Our top pick for the best drip coffee maker is incredibly simple to use, with a single dial that lets you control everything. It costs $230, which is pricey, but it works just as well, if not better than, similar coffee makers that are more expensive.

The instructions are straightforward: You turn the dial to select your brew size and get access to the menu, which lets you change the time, program the wake-up timer and more. Despite the simple design, the machine packs in thoughtful features like a countdown clock that starts once your coffee is done so you know how long it's been sitting. Overall, it's a quiet and quick machine (it took about eight-and-a-half minutes to make a full pot) with a high-tech look. All the removable parts other than the carafe are dishwasher-safe. We had some minor gripes about the carafe; to find out more, read our Oxo Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker review.

Machine size: 15.54"H x 11.39"W x 9.13"D | Water tank capacity: 60 ounces | Brew style: Pod or basket | Servings: 6, 8, 10, and 12 ounces, plus carafe option | Modes: Classic, rich, over ice, specialty

This Ninja, our favorite ice coffee maker, offers lots of bells and whistles without taking up too much counter space. It's also really easy to operate, and it works quickly. Brewing a 12-ounce cup of iced coffee took about 75 seconds, the fastest of any model. Also stellar: The integrity of the iced coffee it produces, which was cold and strong with little ice melt or sediment — the closest to what we'd find at a specialty coffee shop. The water reservoir is substantial, and there's a fold-out frother for adding foam to hot or cold beverages. The (mostly) touchscreen display — with graphics — adds visibility while making your kitchen feel like a high-end café. 

We also loved this machine's pod feature; read more in our story on the best single-serve coffee makers.

Size: 5"D x 7.5"W x 9.5"H | Capacity: 32 ounces | Brewer type: Pitcher with infusion filter | Function: Cold or hot brew

Our top pick for the best cold brew maker is not only easy to use but easy to maintain — all the parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe. At less than 10 inches tall, the pitcher is large enough to yield 1 quart of cold brew coffee yet compact enough for smaller refrigerators, narrow cabinets and travel.

The pitcher is shatter-proof, plus stain- and odor-resistant, and the lid screws on tightly so your coffee stays fresh for up to two weeks. Unlike other cold brew coffee makers we tested, it's also completely spill-proof — even when you turn the pitcher upside down. Last but certainly not least, the cold brew itself is high quality, similar to what you might expect from a café.

Water tank capacity: 40 ounces | Size: 8.7" W x 12.7" D x 12.8" H | Color options: Gray, red, black and matte black | Watts: 1,300

Nespresso pods produce tasty, high-quality cups of drip coffee and espresso, and the VertuoPlus makes the experience as easy as possible. It impressed us so much, we also named it our best Nespresso machine of the year. You push just one button to operate it, and there's a mechanism that automatically tosses your used pod into a receptacle inside the machine.

We loved the sleek and stylish look of the VertuoPlus (this model is made by De'Longhi; Breville also makes one with similar specs) and how compact it was for such a powerful machine. It also requires minimal upkeep: Just empty the used-pod receptacle (which holds about 10 pods) and descale (aka deep clean) every three months or 300 pods.

One of the main issues with single-serve machines is the amount of waste they produce. At least Nespresso offers a recycling program for its aluminum pods. You can drop them off at 250-plus locations or order free recycling bags with prepaid labels.

Water tank capacity: 42 ounces (about 4 cups of coffee) | Size: 5.1"W x 12.6"H x 12.8"D | Colors: Black | Watts: 1,520

Our winner for the best Keurig coffee maker delivers everything you'd want from a single-cup machine and more. It makes four cup sizes (8, 10 and 12 ounces, and a 2-ounce shot), the buttons are clear and intuitive, and it offers an "over ice" option that automatically adjusts brew temperature for less-watery iced coffee. Plus, it comes with a bonus for anyone who likes lattes, cappuccinos and other espresso-style drinks: an excellent standalone milk frother.

Keurig makes four versions of the K-Café, all of which feature frothers. The Barista Bar is the most affordable and streamlined of the bunch. The frother is incredibly easy to use, whipping up both hot and cold froth that strikes the balance between creamy and cloudlike fluffy.

Size: 9.8"L x 7.2" W x 9.1"H | Capacity: 1.8 liters | Automatic shutoff? Yes | Max temp: 212°F

The IQ Kettle strikes the perfect balance between form and function — and if you have other stainless steel appliances on your countertop, it will fit right in. The base and handle stay cool to the touch, and a "soft top lid" gently releases steam. We like how the five preset buttons allow you to easily select a drink type and temperature, especially helpful for groggy mornings — plus they light up, so you know what's happening.

This kettle reached its maximum temp in about four-and-a-half minutes and the warming function kept it steady for another 20 minutes. Despite the warmer then shutting off, the water still hovered in the 160°F range about an hour later, speaking to the kettle's impressive insulation. Read more about this pick in our guide to the best electric kettles.

Material: Tritan plastic or glass bases with plastic lids | Care: Plastic containers are dishwasher-, freezer- and microwave-safe (bases and lids) | Quantity: 24 pieces

Topping our list for the best food storage containers is Rubbermaid's Brilliance line, which comes in a variety of sizes, available with either a glass or BPA-free Tritan plastic bases. We tested the Tritan plastic and they were durable yet lightweight, the flip-style lids were easy to clean and, when locked, the set proved to be airtight. Based on our experience, the containers are also odor- and stain-resistant, so they still smell fresh and look like new after being used to store saucy foods such as marinara sauce and hot wings.

Unlike some other plastic containers on the market, these have excellent clarity. Another biggie: The bases and the lids in both the plastic and glass versions are dishwasher-, freezer- and microwave-safe. 

Material: 18/8 stainless steel | Cap: Standard mouth, Wide mouth, Flex straw or Flex chug | Volume: 24, 32, 40 or 64 ounces

The Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle is resilient, practical and — thanks to numerous cap and capacity options — customizable. It was the best insulated water bottle we tried.

The pliable loop on the cap made for agile carrying, while the Flex straw option provided quick access to water. The double-wall vacuum insulation kept our drinks cold for the promised 24 hours, and the entire water bottle proved dishwasher safe. Our tester, Granero, has owned and used Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottles for several years and, despite countless drops and washing cycles, they remain leakproof and look like new.