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  • Ina Garten’s Easy French Trick for Cooking the Best Pot Roast I’ve Ever Tasted

    Ina Garten’s Easy French Trick for Cooking the Best Pot Roast I’ve Ever Tasted

    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    Pot roast is one of those classic cold-weather dishes that never goes out of style, like beef stew or chicken noodle soup. Even though it’s a fall mainstay, pot roast can also get a bad rap, with a reputation for being bland, boring, and consisting of dried-out beef with overcooked vegetables. 

    I happen to disagree. A good pot roast can truly be great with a balance of slow-cooked flavor, melt-in-your-mouth tender beef, and perfectly cooked vegetables. All you need is the right recipe. I’ve personally tried a few different pot roast recipes over the years, but was never really able to settle on my ultimate go-to. That is, until I tried one from the legendary Ina Garten that includes a surprising addition that I’ve incorporated time and time again: cognac.

    Most pot roast recipes ask you to deglaze the pot after searing the meat with either beef broth or red wine. In her recipe, Ina deglazes with a combination of red wine and cognac. The addition of cognac adds a fruity, spicy flavor to the sauce that makes this recipe stand apart from others I’ve tried. 

    Plus, this addition is subtle enough (but still impactful) to allow you to be creative without clashing with other ingredients. Because pot roast itself is a combination of pretty basic flavors and techniques, there’s a lot of room to riff and build something with deep flavor tailored to your specific tastes and preferences. You could swap out carrots for parsnips, you could add some spice, you could add a dash of fish sauce to bump up the umami — the possibilities are endless. 

    Tips for Making Ina Garten’s Pot Roast

    Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn

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  • 6 “Smart” Kitchen Upgrades You’ll Regret Not Splurging on, According to Realtors

    6 “Smart” Kitchen Upgrades You’ll Regret Not Splurging on, According to Realtors

    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    Unlike in other parts of the home, when it comes to smart tech in the kitchen, there can be a fine line between utility and gimmick. Several designers and real estate pros were quick to point out their least-favorite smart “upgrades” in the kitchen for everyday use, and as Laura Chappetto, principal designer at Element Design Network, sums up, “Much like anywhere else in life, some tech can bring ease and convenience … but too much can be overwhelming and remain unused.”

    So what’s the sweet spot? What appliances can you add to your kitchen that will actually enhance your aesthetic, simplify your life, and possibly increase your home value? I talked to design experts, Realtors (and real home cooks!) for the best kitchen upgrades you’ll regret not splurging on.

    “Hands down, smart lighting is the most popular and accessible smart upgrade,” says Angelique Kreller, an interior designer with Australian brand Yabby. Sebastian Jania, owner of Ontario Property Buyers, adds that there’s great bang for your buck on this investment, since “it’s relatively inexpensive and the kitchen experience can be greatly enhanced by this. Dimming, color adjustments, scheduling, and other capabilities are available with smart lighting, which can consist of switches, fixtures, and light bulbs that can be operated via voice commands or applications,” he says. 

    Ariel Baverman, a top Realtor for Coldwell Banker Realty, says she puts smart bulbs in regular fixtures so she can turn on all or some of the lights in a room without even getting up. “Also, I can turn them on and off remotely or by command, meaning if my hands are full carrying things at night, I don’t have to put them down and won’t be stumbling around in the dark.”

    While technically not a kitchen or cooking appliance, the washer and dryer can often be found in the kitchen due to the convenience of sharing a water line. If this is the case, having smart laundry appliances can add a lot of appeal and usefulness to its nook in the kitchen. 

    “The big draw on those is a remote start and being able to see if the cycle is complete,” Baverman says. “App connectivity lets you know where it is in the cycle. And if you go to work all day and don’t want your clothes to sit there wet, you can load it up in the morning and start it remotely to sync with the time you get home, then put it in the dryer immediately. Or, if you’re one of those people who just forgets that you put a load in the wash, the app will remind you!” Goodbye, mildewy rewashes!

    Built into your range or wall, smart ovens are conventionally sized ovens that allow you to control and monitor their functions through an app. Chappetto says they’re even the “most-loved smart appliance in our clients’ homes.” Sell My House Fast Owner and Founder Daniel Cabrera adds that the preprogrammed settings common to them “facilitate better results for home cooks — it’s an investment you’ll never regret, especially when the situation requires precision and convenience.” 

    Kreller confirms that preprogrammed settings can be particularly valuable for home cooks, taking the guesswork out of cooking by adjusting the temperature and time based on the dish. “It’s nice to be able to put your dish in the oven and trust it will be hot and perfectly cooked when dinnertime rolls around,” she says. Jania adds that it’s especially nice to be able to control and keep an eye on your cooking while running errands or being elsewhere. 

    Additionally, Baverman adds a spiritual note to the value of smart oven functionality. “Some people also like having a Sabbath feature on their wall ovens or ranges because depending on how observant you are, these settings can help you have hot food during Shabbat and other holidays where turning on and off a ‘fire’ or power is prohibited.”

    4. Countertop Smart Ovens

    If you don’t want to splurge on a high-end built-in smart oven, no worries. They come in countertop sizes, and Braverman says she “loves” hers. “They often have an air-fryer setting, and if you’re cooking for just one to two people, it’s the perfect size for my Le Creuset stoneware baking dishes for cooking or reheating.” She’s used the programs for chicken, fish, steaks, burgers, cookies, and mini pizzas, yet is impressed that “there are still dozens of settings I haven’t even yet explored on it, even though I’ve had it for years!”

    5. Digital Pressure Cookers

    “Anything with a timer to delay start is really great, especially for people who can prep the meal ahead of time like an in-appliance mise en place,” Baverman says. And best of all, they’re useful investments you can take with you into any home.  

    For instance, slow cookers do all the work of making dinner for you while you’re out during the day. You can program micro computerized rice cookers to start cooking or steaming your meal to be ready at a specific time, and digital pressure cookers cover nearly any kind of cooking. “There’s nothing better than setting things up in a cooking appliance so that it starts later in the day, and I can come home to a freshly cooked meal,” she says. 

    Some of us can’t go without our morning joe, and programmable coffee makers have been around for quite some time. Kreller enjoys the freedom of being able to have fresh-brewed coffee “before you even step into the kitchen,” and advanced technology has made it possible to go far beyond your old-school drip. For instance, different models like the KitchenAid KF8 fully automated espresso machine or the Spinn coffee maker can make espresso, Americanos, cappuccinos, cold brew, and a medley of other barista-level concoctions using centrifugal brewing tech via one tap, or even directly from an app.

    Making Your Kitchen “Smarter”

    Other than lighting swaps, some of the brightest “smart” choices you can make for your kitchen are ones you can take with you, making them a doubly beneficial investment. For big buys, smart ovens might be the only major built-in kitchen appliance worth splurging on, unless your washer and dryer are also located in the kitchen and you plan on leaving them behind, according to the pros. Either way, the most important thing to keep in mind is how often you plan to use the features these appliances offer to justify the upgrade.

    Do you have a favorite “smart” kitchen upgrade you swear by? Let us know in the comments below!

    Su-Jit Lin

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  • The “Excellent in Every Way” All-Clad Pan You’ll Reach for Every Single Day Is $120 Off — But Only for a Limited Time

    The “Excellent in Every Way” All-Clad Pan You’ll Reach for Every Single Day Is $120 Off — But Only for a Limited Time

    I’ve loved magazines for as long as I can remember, which is what motivated me to study journalism in college. My proudest accomplishment since graduating has been landing a job in New York and moving to the city of my dreams.

    In my role at Apartment Therapy, I’m most passionate about making my home look organized and sophisticated and helping our readers do the same — often at a discount. Although I cover my fair share of newsy pieces and sale posts, my work focuses on long-form service articles that help our audience make informed shopping decisions.

    In my free time, I enjoy reading about fashion and design, watching reality TV, and exploring New York.

    Nikol Slatinska

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  • This Viral Cauldron at HomeGoods Has Shoppers Running to Find One (You Can Cook with It!)

    This Viral Cauldron at HomeGoods Has Shoppers Running to Find One (You Can Cook with It!)

    I’ve been a full-time journalist since 2023, but my experience in the field goes back further. I graduated magna cum laude from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where I developed my own major called Culture Writing and Criticism. While working my way up to Editor-in-Chief at the school blog, I earned a number of bylines at TV Guide Magazine, CNN, Decider, and Texas Monthly.

    At those publications, I mostly focused on art and entertainment. However, I’ve always loved shopping, writing reviews, and service journalism — which is what led me to giving commerce writing a try as an intern at CNN Underscored. There, I had a ton of fun producing beauty and fashion shopping stories, which ended up preparing me first for my work as AT’s commerce editorial assistant and now as assistant editor.

    I’ve long been passionate about interior design and taken pride in the appearance of my space, whether it was my dorm room or my first tiny studio. Exploring that interest professionally has been a dream, and I love thinking about a product from every angle and figuring out if it’s really worth it. As someone who was recently on a student budget and works with a small living space, I especially like to find and share items that are compatible with that lifestyle. In my eyes, a great product equally delivers on style and function, ideally at an affordable price point.

    Morgan Pryor

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  • This Forgotten Detail Instantly Dated My Newly Redone Kitchen Cabinets (But the Fix Was Easy!)

    This Forgotten Detail Instantly Dated My Newly Redone Kitchen Cabinets (But the Fix Was Easy!)

    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    Painting cabinets and swapping out the knobs and pulls are always the easiest first steps when it comes to a no-demo kitchen reno. And fortunately, it’s a (relatively!) affordable and approachable way to dramatically change the look of your kitchen. With only swapping wall paint and one fixture, my 1950s kitchen got a whole new look by trading a black-and-white paint job on the cabinets for a dark green. But as soon as I was done, I realized I’d made a mistake. 

    These were the original cabinets, and I had failed to notice one little detail: The hinges were a shiny finish and style that screamed out-of-date. Now, if I were beholden to all things original all the time, I’d want to keep them as is. But in an effort to bring the kitchen into 2024, with just some fun nods to the era (hello, vintage pink wall oven!), my plan was to add some contemporary hardware to the cabinets. Realizing anything I liked would clash with the vintage chrome hinges stopped the plan in its tracks. 

    And I stayed frozen — until talking with a cabinet refinishing specialist. I wasn’t sure if it would be a huge lift to replace the hinges, as I was sure I wanted something hidden, or something that better matched the rest of the kitchen. Brandon Butler owns Louisville Cabinet Rehab here in my city, and he was kind enough to talk me through how to replace those old, dated hinges (which is easier than it sounds!). 

    He said what we most likely have here is chrome. Thanks to an electroplating process that made it easy to mass produce hardware, that was incredibly popular in the 1950s, and although it may not be quite as simple as popping off a knob or a drawer pull, it’s a simple enough project to DIY, Butler said. (Although preferably, it would have been done at the same time as painting the cabinets, but I digress.) 

    How to Replace Outdated Kitchen Cabinet Hinges

    If you’re an avid DIYer, you should have no problem making the swap. He recommends using a drill to carefully loosen the screws on each hinge, then remove the screws and hinges. Be sure to keep your cabinet doors in order, or even stick a piece of tape on each one along with the opening it goes to, identified with numbers so you’ll know which one goes to which when you’re done.

    It’s easy to find replacement hardware hinges; a quick search turned up a slew of options like these at Lowe’s, or these on Amazon, and for anyone with a heftier budget, these beauties at Rejuvenation. Just be sure you’re getting the same style, i.e. surface-mounted (although if yours are hidden, this may not even be an issue!). And remember to check that the size will more or less match up with the ones you’re replacing. 

    What’s even better news? The holes don’t actually have to line up — which would really narrow down your hinge options — according to Butler. His tip if they don’t: Get some thin, double-stick tape, place it over the hole you’re going to use to mount the new hinges, drill through it, and put your screw in. You might have to tap out new holes for the others, he says, but the plate will cover the old ones. 

    And that’s it! I wish I’d done it when the cabinets were being painted, but I feel confident enough now to pick out some hardware, then find hinges that will match and make the swap. Before long, without too much of a time or money commitment, we’ll have beautiful, original cabinets that don’t scream 1957.

    Buy: Berta Full Overlay Frameless Soft Closing European Hinges, Set of 6, $12.88

    Dana McMahan

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  • The 4-Ingredient One-Pan Dinner I Make Week After Week During Fall

    The 4-Ingredient One-Pan Dinner I Make Week After Week During Fall

    Before joining The Kitchn, I worked for Serious Eats. I was initially hired as the office manager, but quickly transitioned into a role as editor and recipe developer. Prior to my time there, I spent more than 10 years in professional kitchens in Washington, D.C.; Boston; and New York City. I’ve worked as a line cook, baker, culinary teaching assistant, pastry chef, and kitchen manager.

    I have an MS in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College, and a Culinary Arts Certificate from Boston University. I’m the author of a self-published ebook titled A Guide to Northeast Grains, an introductory guide to baking with regional flours — specifically buckwheat, einkorn, emmer, rye, spelt, and triticale.

    I love teaching home cooks how to make good food in their kitchens, whether it’s sharing a recipe for a quick and easy dinner or a super-delicious dessert, or writing about how to make the best tomato toast.

    Kristina Razon

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  • My Favorite Hot Dogs Ever Are Finally at Trader Joe’s — For Way Cheaper (I Got 4 Packs!)

    My Favorite Hot Dogs Ever Are Finally at Trader Joe’s — For Way Cheaper (I Got 4 Packs!)

    I’ve already waxed poetic about these dogs, but I’m more than happy to say it again: A&H hot dogs are plump, snappy, and beautifully smoky, which adds an extra layer of flavor. Growing up keeping kosher, my options were very limited. (I couldn’t, say, sample my way through 10 different brands.)

    Andrea Kaufman

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  • The $3 Grocery I Never Leave IKEA Without (It’s the Most Underrated Item!)

    The $3 Grocery I Never Leave IKEA Without (It’s the Most Underrated Item!)

    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    More than Scandi-style furnishings, a BILLY bookcase, and plant-based wax tealight candles, what gets me excited on a shopping trip to IKEA is filling my shopping cart with sandwich cookies. Yes, that’s right. Give me a package — or a few — of these $2.49 Kafferep cookies over the Swedish chain’s Swedish meatballs. 

    What’s So Great About KAFFEREP Biscuits?

    These sandwich cookies actually come in two flavors: Rainforest Alliance Certified chocolate and raspberry. The fruit-based one is my favorite. Both flaunt a cute heart-shaped cut-out with the filling visible (and enticing!). It’s rare to find a raspberry-flavored cookie that’s not a sticky mess, but these fit the bill. The cookie itself is vanilla, much like a golden Oreo.

    Another aspect I love is the tidy roll they’re wrapped in — no plastic trays that just get tossed in the trash. 

    The story about how I discovered these cookies is like most grocery items: by accident. I’ve been shopping at IKEA for about two decades now, including when I lived in Southern California during my 20s and needed cheap-but-stylish furniture, along with kitchen items in my modest two-bedroom home near the beach. I used to beeline to the kitchen-gadget and closet-organizing sections and completely ignore the groceries.

    But when an IKEA store opened near me in Milwaukee a few years back, it was time to start peeling back the layers of this mammoth retailer. Now I didn’t have to shove everything in the car and then haul it back from the Chicago area. I could also visit as often as I like. One day I came home with one package each of the sandwich cookies — and I haven’t stopped doing this since. It helps that the groceries are near the check-out lines at IKEA … as a little reminder.

    What’s the Best Way to Enjoy KAFFEREP Biscuits?

     Swedes have a coffee-break tradition called fika where coffee is paired with cookies. If these cookies are in my pantry, they are on rotation with my afternoon cup of coffee, as I find it too sweet to be a morning snack.

    One winter I even stuffed these in my husband’s Christmas stocking, as they fit perfectly and I know he loves them as much as I do.

    Buy: KAFFEREP Biscuits with Raspberry-Flavored Filling, $2.49 for 6 ounces at IKEA

    What are your favorite IKEA groceries? Tell us about them in the comments below.

    Kristine Hansen

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  • My New Favorite $4 Ice Cream Tastes JUST Like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

    My New Favorite $4 Ice Cream Tastes JUST Like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

    For the past 5+ years, I’ve worked in communications and managed companies’ social media accounts. Before joining The Kitchn, I served as the Culinary Editorial Fellow for Food Network. My work has been published in Food Network, Whetstone Magazine, and NYU’s Bite Magazine.

    While working in the nonprofit world, I decided to further my education at New York University where I earned my MA in Food Studies. My aim is to highlight diverse voices in the food world through my storytelling. I am also passionate about ensuring that all people have access to food and have worked for the nonprofits Just Food and West Side Campaign Against Hunger advocating for food justice and food security.

    In my free time, I love trying new plant-based foods, listening to music or podcasts, going to concerts, and being in nature. I’ve also loved baking since I was a kid and find it very therapeutic, so I will jump on any chance I get to whip up a sweet treat.

    Alexandra Foster

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  • This New OXO Storage Gem Helps Me Cut Down on Waste and Save Money in the Long Run

    This New OXO Storage Gem Helps Me Cut Down on Waste and Save Money in the Long Run

    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    If I’m being honest, I’ve always been a zip-top plastic bag guy. Whether it’s wrapping up leftovers, packing sandwiches that I take to work, or portioning out meal prep ingredients, my fridge is usually full of the tight-sealing baggies. However, since my little sister is always pestering me about single-use plastics and trying to make my kitchen more sustainable (and since it’s the right thing to do, if you can) I decided to test out some reusable silicone bags. That being said, I’ve heard the horror stories about this sort of product leaking in the fridge — or being impossible to ever really get clean — so I knew I had to spring for some quality items. That’s why I chose the OXO Good Grips Silicone Reusable Bags. OXO is an editor-favorite brand that never disappoints in quality or style, so I knew their reusable bags were probably going to be up to snuff. Spoiler alert: They rock. 

    What Are the OXO Good Grips Silicone Reusable Bags?

    These durable silicone bags from editor-favorite brand OXO feature a seamless design that makes them a snap to clean. The food-grade silicone construction keeps food fresh for longer, and the dust-resistant finish keeps unwanted particles away. Plus, they’re made with a wide opening for “fumble-free filling,” and the secure seal keeps food contained at home and on the go, and prevents those gnarly fridge leaks that I mentioned earlier. They’re available in a variety of flat and stand-up (we’ll get to that) sizes and colors as well. 

    Why I Love the OXO Good Grips Silicone Reusable Bags

    These OXO Good Grips Silicone Reusable Bags do exactly what they say they’re going to do: keep food fresh, eliminate plastic bag usage in the fridge and on the go, and (probably) save you some money in the long run by not having to stock up on zip-tops all the time. However, the coolest part of the OXO Good Grips Silicone Reusable Bags, in my opinion, are the stand-up models. They’re essentially your standard silicone reusable bags, but they’re able to, well, stand up on their own while you fill them. I personally love this feature, since trying to fill a normal zip-top with food — especially straight from a pan — is usually a two-person job, where one person holds the bag open and one person pours. With the stand-up bags, this is no longer an issue. 

    Plus, I’m not the only one who’s a fan of these bad boys. “I’ve tried multiple brands of reusable silicone kitchen bags, and honestly most of them have been a disappointment,” one reviewer wrote. “In my opinion, OXO has finally cracked the code on making reusable silicone bags feel simple and usable, like conventional plastic bags. Actually, I would say this bag is even easier to seal than a traditional zip-top style bag. The lip of the bag is large and easy to align when you want to seal it up. There’s also a nice positive locking sensation when you push the two halves together, so you know it’s sealed.”

    So, if you’re looking for some reusable bags that actually work, don’t spill in your fridge, and help you cut down on plastic (and save money in the long run) you can’t go wrong with the OXO Good Grips Silicone Reusable Bags. 

    Buy: OXO Good Grips Silicone Reusable Bags, $39.99

    Ian Burke

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  • The Amazing Furniture Deals Hiding in Raymour & Flanigan’s Clearance Section

    The Amazing Furniture Deals Hiding in Raymour & Flanigan’s Clearance Section

    Sarah writes about all things shopping for Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, and Cubby helping you find the best deals and the best products for you and your home. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order).

    Sarah M. Vazquez

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  • The Best Small Dining Tables for Two, Starting at $72

    The Best Small Dining Tables for Two, Starting at $72

    Haley is your ultimate shopping authority, dedicated to bringing you the latest deals and the best product choices for Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn. With prior experience as a full-time commerce writer for POPSUGAR, she’s passionate about helping you discover the best places to shop for top-notch products without breaking the bank. Born in Vermont and based in Boston, she has a deep-rooted love for New England and enjoys her weekends exploring the charm of the region, hopping from one (very small) state to another.

    Haley Lyndes

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  • Shoppers Swear This Air Fryer Toaster Oven Is the “Best Investment” They Ever Made (It’s on Sale!)

    Shoppers Swear This Air Fryer Toaster Oven Is the “Best Investment” They Ever Made (It’s on Sale!)

    The Kitchn received compensation for this post, which was written and edited independently by our editorial team.

    Before I got one for myself, I was a bit skeptical about toaster ovens. To be fair, I’m generally hesitant to buy any small appliance, but I couldn’t ever convince myself that it was worth sacrificing counter space for in my tiny kitchen. But like countless other shoppers who’ve left rave reviews online, as well as numerous Kitchn editors, I’m firmly on Team Toaster Oven now. It’s replaced nearly all of my other appliances; who needs a toaster and microwave when you have one of these bad boys? Even better, my toaster oven has an air frying function, so I don’t need one of those anymore, either.

    Toaster ovens come in all shapes and sizes and prices, so it’s not always easy to know where to start. You want yours to have as many functions as possible, be easy to operate, and ideally, look nice on your countertop. You can be sure that Breville’s products will check those boxes; we’re fans of its espresso machines, microwaves, and a number of its toaster ovens, including the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro. It’s a bit pricey, but we (and hundreds of shoppers) can tell you firsthand how worth it it is. Here’s why you should snag it while it’s going for $100 less.

    What is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro?

    Like me, contributor Marshall wasn’t sure of toaster ovens until this one changed her mind. While researching models to give to her sister as a gift, Breville’s Smart Oven stood out to Marshall amidst a sea of ovens that toast unevenly, offer poor controls, and have overall faulty designs. “Breville solves all these problems, and improves on the competition,” she wrote. “In fact, I’d go as far as saying using it is a … delight.”

    Why? “The Smart Oven actually makes it easy to toggle between functions — something I’ve never even bothered to do with other toaster ovens,” Marshall explained in her review. “Things are clearly labeled, and any adjustments within each setting (like number of slices of bread and desired darkness) are easy to figure out as well.” Further, it has a magnet that pulls out the rack for you, and you can slide the bottom out for easy cleaning. Most importantly, it has 13 settings: toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, proof, air fry, reheat, cookies, slow cook with high/low settings, and dehydrate.

    Sure, it takes up about a cubic foot on your counter, but its multiple functions make up for it — and you can fit a 9- by 13-inch baking pan or 13-inch pizza inside of it. Best of all, with how little you’ll be using your full-size oven, you’ll save a ton of money on your electric bill, and you can turn the inside of your oven into extra storage!

    What QVC Shoppers are Saying

    Several hundred more reviews echo Marshall and the above shoppers, so you can be confident that you won’t regret the splurge. Still, you don’t have to get the Smart Oven at full price. QVC is offering it at $100 less than usual. If you’re new to QVC, you can use the code HELLO30 for another $30 off, so if I were you, I’d hurry!

    Buy: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, $299.95 (normally $399.95)

    Morgan Pryor

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