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This Expert-Approved Organizer Will Instantly Triple Your Fridge’s Storage Space

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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.

With the busy holiday season upon us, it’s a great time to give your fridge a bit of an organizing makeover to make it more easily accessible (and visually appealing) for all the traffic it’s getting. Whether you’ve been putting off reorganizing your fridge or just want a few more ideas on making it more functional, I talked to professional organizers to share their insights on which products are the best storage solutions on the market.

So you can spend less time searching through expired products in the back of the top shelf, and spend more time with family in the hearth of your home, I reached out to Marie Mandeville, pro organizer and founder of Tailor My Space; Kenzie Harkey, founder and CEO of Simply Dare; and Raychel Klein, pro organizer, certified KonMari consultant, and founder of Raybaybay, to share their top fridge organizer picks.

What to Do Before You Get a New Fridge Organizer

“Before buying fridge organizing products, declutter and organize your fridge first to narrow down which products you need,” recommends Harkey. “Once you categorize everything and organize it to your liking, take some measurements and then you will know what sizes you need for products.”

After you do that, consider the pros’ favorite picks for bins, turntables, labels, and organizers for cans, eggs, and fridge exteriors.

The Best Bin for Your Fridge

The Best Turntable for Your Fridge

The Best Fridge Exterior Organizer

The Best Can Organizer for Your Fridge

The Best Egg Organizer for Your Fridge

The Best Labels for Your Fridge

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L. Daniela Alvarez

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November 26, 2023
The Secret to Better Desserts? This $3 French Pantry Staple

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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.

So many wonderful fall ingredients have made their way into my tiny kitchen. While pumpkin spice everything and caramel apple anything is all the rage across the U.S., in Europe it is all about chestnuts — more specifically, desserts made with chestnut purée.

This time of year, you’ll find them in every high-end patisserie in France. Top pastry chefs go hunting in the woods for chestnuts, which they then turn into a sweet and sticky purée. It’s used in decadent, indulgent desserts like Mont Blanc, where it’s piled on top of a buttery tart shell (along with whipped cream).

In all honesty, this might be my favorite French dessert. But like many great French desserts, it involves a lot of components and time spent in the kitchen — something I’m not fond of, despite being an avid baker. As much as I like to think about making everything from scratch, I have to admit that when it comes to this dessert, I take several shortcuts. I buy buttery tart shells, whipped cream (or mouse), and ready-made chestnut purée.

The chestnut purée is so beloved in France and the alpine regions of Switzerland that you can find ready-made chestnut purée (named “marron purée”) in jars and even tubes next to the jams and honey in the supermarket aisle. These days, you can also order both online. How doubly convenient!

What’s So Great About Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread?

One of the best and most common, readily available tubes of chestnut purée is the one by Clement Faugier. It’s my go-to choice when making any dessert with chestnut purée. It’s made in the company’s factory in Ardeche, a region in France known for growing chestnuts.

I like that it comes in a tube, too: In Europe, most chestnut desserts like the Mont Blanc require the chestnut purée to be squeezed out of a piping bag and in tiny little noodle-like strips. For less-experienced bakers, you don’t need to mess around with any other tools; you just simply squeeze it straight from the tube!

The chestnut purée also comes in cans (and in bulk!), which makes it perfect for desserts that call for more of the deliciously sticky-sweet paste.

What’s the Best Way to Use Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread?

In Switzerland, the sweet ingredient is commonly found in ski resorts (alongside fondue), which is where I get my inspiration from. Rather than being too precious, I take a cue from the Swiss slopes and embrace simplicity: I place hard meringues at the bottom of a glass jar, dollop lots of whipped cream over the meringue, and then squeeze the entire tube of chestnut purée on top — et voila! Dessert made in a flash.

Rather than using cream, try spooning the chestnut purée as the filling in your next Swiss roll or Yule log cake. After having two epic desserts, featuring chestnut ice cream (at Le Vieux Chalet in Switzerland and Petri in Stockholm), I went home to recreate the from-scratch sweet with Clement Faugier’s spread. It might not be “Michelin-worthy,” but it was certainly my own culinary masterpiece.

What budget-friendly baking staples are you stocking up on right now? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Michelle Tchea

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November 25, 2023
Before & After: An “Extremely Dated” Kitchen Gets a Sunny Update for Under $3,000

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It was a mostly DIY project, too!
READ MORE…

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Cullen Ormond

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November 25, 2023
This $1 Bakery Find Is the Reason I Keep Shopping at Lidl

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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.

I’m a pretty loyal grocery shopper, in that I rarely stray from my (basically two) usual haunts. I’m not in the habit of hopping from store to store for the end-all, be-all lowest prices. I essentially have a Myspace Top 2. That is, until I discovered a new Lidl location was opening up near me; then, of course, I had to throw my whole roster out the window.

What started as casually flirting with the idea of just stopping by a Lidl ended up with me consistently with a sale flier in hand, reusable bags at the ready, and nearly getting a “I heart Lidl” tattoo on my forearm. I never looked back once I tried just one item in particular: the butter croissants.

Not only are they only $.79 a pop, but they’re also basically better than the freshly baked ones I get from my local bakery (that often go for at least six to eight times the price). How does Lidl do this witchcraft? I may never know, but I’m finally ready to stop gatekeeping this bakery gem.

What’s So Great About Lidl’s Butter Croissants?

Okay, so once you pick up your jaw off the ground from spotting that low, low price, you can get to eating one of these puppies. What you’ll soon discover is that these are the platonic ideal of a croissant: buttery, light, flaky, and airy in the middle and ready for slicing into crois-sandwiches or stuffing with something sweet and dreamy, like chocolate hazelnut spread.

Plus, they freeze up like a dream, so they’re a great thing to stock up on when they’re actually in stock because, as you’ll find, they’re pretty popular to those in-the-know. It was nearly an occupational hazard just to take a picture of these croissants over all the frenzy of other customers trying to get their share.

What’s the Best Way to Use Lidl’s Butter Croissants?

While eating them all on their own is a valid and worthy endeavor (I personally like to rip the flaky layers and dunk them straight in a milky coffee), why stop there? Anytime I can, I try to use these croissants to bring me back to my Italian vacations of yore. If that sounds just as delectable to you, do yourself a big favor and stuff your croissants Italian cornetto-style with a dollop of crunchy pistachio cream, apricot jam, or fresh whipped cream and berries.

Feeling more savory in your future? It goes without saying that these are the ideal vehicle for all sorts of sandwich fillings, like chicken salad, ham and cheese, or the best BLT you’ve had in recent memory. If you did yourself the aforementioned favor of stocking up on these croissants, you’ll be so glad you did; those croissants are going to be so happy in a savory breakfast casserole (or even a sweet one, for that matter).

Find it in stores: Butter Croissants, $.79 per croissant at Lidl

Do you have a Lidl gem more people should know about? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Mackenzie Filson

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November 25, 2023
I Tried Stanley Tucci’s New Pan Collection, and It Cooks Everything Perfectly

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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.

Usually when we come across Stanley Tucci, he’s either gracing the silver screen in a quirky yet charming role or working on creating something delicious in the kitchen, such as his renowned martini or his simple zucchini pasta. Either way, we’re not complaining!

Lately, though, Tucci has taken part in a number of cool partnerships to help further share his love for cooking and being in the kitchen. The actor most recently partnered with GreenPan to create a super-glamorous-looking cookware collection.

GreenPan, the popular cookware brand founded in 2007 by partners and friends Jan Helskens and Wim De Veirman, is known for its dedication to making “healthy” nonstick cookware that’s also durable. Helskens and De Veriman collaborated to develop reliable nonstick cookware that was nontoxic and free of PFAS, potentially harmful chemicals commonly used to make cheaper nonstick cookware.

What Is Included in the Tucci by GreenPan Collection?

There are 15 pieces of cookware in the Tucci by GreenOan collection, which you can buy in sets of various sizes or à la carte. I tested the 11-piece set to get a comprehensive look at the collection, while another editor tested a few other pieces to get different points of view.

The collection is available in either Carrara White, Venetian Teal, and Milano Black (inspired by Tucci’s home). Pieces are made with durable aluminum interiors that can withstand high temperatures and distribute heat evenly without warping, and coated with GreenPan’s Thermolon Infinite8 ceramic nonstick coating, which helps them perform like a high-quality, nonstick pan, without any harsh chemicals or PFAS.

The cookware is safe for all cooktops (including the ever-popular induction) and can withstand temps up to 600°F even in the oven or under the broiler. Lids, however, are only oven-safe up to 425°F. Pots and saucepans are also crafted with generous, flat bottoms that won’t wobble or become uneven over time, while the lids are made from sturdy tempered glass with stainless steel rims for a secure fit.

Additionally, each pot and pan has stylish gold stainless steel handles, both on the helper handles as well as on each lid.

My Review of the Stanley Tucci x GreenPan Collection

I was fortunate enough to be able to test out this incredibly sophisticated and well-crafted collection at home. After a few weeks of cooking, making a range of different dishes, and adhering to my usual dishwashing routine, I was able to fully make some educated critiques of the collection.

Appearance: Overall, I think every piece of the collection looks spectacular. A lot of cookware, especially nonstick ones, have super-clean looks from a distance, but upon a closer inspection, you can often see that they tend to look rather cheap or poorly made. This collection from Tucci, however, looks expensive and is made from a super-durable material. The interior of the pan even has a subtle sheen to it that is maintained even after cooking and cleaning.

Sophisticated Features: One of the main things that drew me to the collection was the gold accents that come with each pan. It’s not really common to have quality pots and pans that are nonstick but also have sturdy gold handles. Also, the pieces in this collection come personalized with Tucci’s name on each of the handles. Also, while I opted for the Carrara White version, the Venetian Teal and Milano Black are just as glamorous-looking. Just keep in mind, however, that the Milano Black doesn’t have the gold handles.

Functionality: Another aspect I noticed quickly about the collection is that whenever I made a dish that required boiling water, like pasta, the water came to a boil relatively quickly, which is great. Many low-quality pans often either take a while for the pan to come to a full boil or have a boil that is completely even. With this pan, including the stockpot and the large saucepan, I saw that the water had a very even boil.

Easy to Clean: Lastly, but perhaps most important of all, this collection is super easy to clean and you don’t have to worry about it being easily damaged from a sponge or start collecting scratches from something like a wooden spoon. When I started washing the pots that had pasta sauce in them, I was initially afraid that the pot would get stained and/or have scratches from the spoon on the bottom. Luckily, though, the pan was easy to wipe clean and was scratch-free!

Review of the GreenPan Stanley Tucci Ceramic Nonstick Fry Pan, 8″

This small fry pan can be used for a range of things such as making an omelet, sautéing vegetables, or even toasting a piece of bread. In my case, I used it to toast a bagel in some melted butter. While I could’ve toasted it in the toaster, I prefer the way it comes out when it’s cooked in butter directly on the heat. I found that the pan was the perfect size to get this done.

Review of the GreenPan Stanley Tucci Ceramic Nonstick Fry Pan, 10″

This will likely be one of the pans you use the most. It’s a great size for breakfast dishes like bacon or pancakes, but also is large enough to be used for a range of different sautés with vegetables, tofu, sliced protein, etc. Because I tested this around the holidays, I wanted to try something I don’t usually make, such as candied walnuts. I also thought this would be a good opportunity to see if the sugar would create problems for the pan. After tossing the walnuts with some sugar, cinnamon, and butter, the pan was still nonstick and easy to clean!

Review of the GreenPan Stanley Tucci Ceramic Nonstick 2-Quart Saucepan

A small saucepan like this one is often overlooked, but I actually like this size for making certain types of grains. Although you could easily heat up a canned soup or chili in this saucepan, I chose to make homemade sushi rice. It’s a simple dish that’s easy to make, but it’s also super flavorful. At first, I was afraid that the pan would be too small to properly cook the rice, but it ended up absorbing the flavor perfectly and wasn’t overcooked or mushy.

Review of the GreenPan Stanley Tucci Ceramic Nonstick 4-Quart Saucepan

This is also a great pan to use for making large portions of soup or chili, and it’s a great size for making your own marinara sauce at home. I used this saucepan to not only boil a short pasta (perfectly al dente, by the way!), but also mixed the pasta together with a jar of vodka sauce as well. The dish didn’t overcook the pasta at all; it wasn’t stained by the sauce, either.

Review of the GreenPan Stanley Tucci Ceramic Nonstick 4-Quart Sauté Pan

This is another pan that you’ll only find in the 11-piece cookware set. It’s super versatile and could easily be used to make multiple servings of a chicken dish such as chicken piccata or a seafood dish like shrimp scampi. For me, however, when testing I decided to start with the basics. I made a simple rice dish that I flavored with a packet of sazón, which also tinted the rice a bright orange shade. I wanted to also test to see if the packet of sazón would end up staining the pan at all, but after cleaning the dish later on, there was zero staining!

Review of the GreenPan Stanley Tucci Ceramic Nonstick 8-Quart Stockpot

This is probably the item in the collection that I was most excited about, and it’s one that you’ll only find in the 11-piece collection that I tested. I’ve never really owned a true stockpot with an insert that could also be used as a double boiler. For boiling pasta, I usually stick to pouring the pasta and water through a colander; for things like steaming or melting chocolate, I use the microwave.

With this pot, though, I can make perfectly al dente pasta and transfer it directly to the sauce in a separate saucepan. I can also put a shallow amount of water on the bottom to steam foods like pierogi, or add a large heatproof bowl to the top and gently melt chocolate on the stovetop. For initial testing, though, I stuck to what I knew most people would use it for: boiling pasta, which came out great and was easy to maneuver without worrying about pouring the pasta over the sink.

Is Tucci Cookware Non-Toxic?

Yes! In fact, this particular collection, created by Stanley Tucci and GreenPan, was made similar to how other nonstick GreenPan products are — without harmful chemicals or PFAS. Many nonstick cookware products are often made with toxic materials. GreenPan’s products, however, prioritize high-quality cookware that is functional and (actually nonstick) but also safe to use repeatedly.

What Pans Does Stanley Tucci Use?

Stanley Tucci is quite active in the kitchen, and shared many of his creations with fans online. This is partially why he collaborated with GreenPan to make an expertly crafted nonstick cookware line made in Italy. Plus, this cookware line and its various design elements were inspired by Tucci’s own kitchen.

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Cory Fernandez

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November 24, 2023
Anyday’s Microwave Glass Cookware Will Save You So Much Time

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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.

I am always looking for ways to make meal prep easier, whether it’s bookmarking quick and simple recipes, or using versatile cookware and gear that can make prepping and cooking go by faster. Unfortunately I also have a small kitchen, so as much as I love having the newest kitchen appliance, I’m not going all in unless I’m sure I have the space — sorry to all the air fryers I’ve loved, but didn’t have room for.

Somehow, Anyday’s cookware accomplishes all of those things that I’m looking for with its line of microwave cookware, which explains why I have several sets. It goes beyond being just microwave-safe — this is cookware that you can use to cook full meals (yes, full meals!) in the microwave, instead of on the stove or in the oven. The goal is to free you up to do other things by streamlining how you cook your food, providing tons of versatility and keeping your counters free of uni-tasking appliances. While the cookware might not truly eliminate the need for your Dutch oven or slow cooker (nothing really will!), they do serve multiple functions, making things much simpler and more efficient.

Anyday makes microwave cookware that you use to actually cook in the microwave, so you’re able to get more use out of the appliance. The cookware looks like dishes and bowls, and includes lids with valves. The lids and body of the dishes are made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass, and the lids also include a silicone seal and microwave-safe stainless steel.

Is Anyday cookware microwave-safe?

Yes, Anyday cookware is designed specifically for the microwave so pieces are microwave-safe. That being said, the brand definitely recommends following the “Getting Started” directions to make sure you set your microwave at the optimal power level and learn the ins and outs of the cookware before attempting an entree in the microwave.

How do I use Anyday cookware in the microwave?

Anyday has lots of instructions on how to use their cookware, and one that you definitely shouldn’t overlook is the steam valve on the lids. There is a valve on the top of the lids which needs to be lifted up in the released position to allow steam to exit the container as food cooks in the microwave. As another layer of safety, make sure to keep the lid an inch or more away from the wall of the microwave to prevent sparking.

When you’re storing food in the cookware, that same valve needs to be pushed down to keep everything fresh and, well, contained.

Can Anyday cookware really go in the oven?

Yes, the glass dishes can go into an oven up to 500°F and the lid is fine up to 400°F. Because the dishes are glass, they should not go on the stovetop or on a grill. However, they can go into the fridge, freezer, and dishwasher. I honestly wouldn’t think these products were worth it if they couldn’t go in the dishwasher, even if they were the greatest cookware I ever owned, so that’s a relief.

What can you cook in Anyday cookware?

You can cook many different things in the Anyday cookware. The website gives lots of tips and tricks for simple one-ingredient recipes like vegetables and rice as well as more complex dishes with meat, eggs, and other ingredients that you don’t typically associate as microwave-cooked.

Does Anyday have Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales?

Yes, Anyday is currently running a Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale with 20% off everything across the site, and 30% off orders $200+. It’s the brand’s biggest sale of the year, so it’s worth stocking up if you’ve been eyeing the cookware.

Is Anyday cookware worth it?

If you’re a heavy microwave user or just want to start using your microwave more often, Anyday cookware would be a good fit for your lifestyle. The glass construction is comparable to other high-quality glass containers, but the difference with Anyday is that the lids can also go in the microwave and even the oven; even though you can’t use them at the same high temps as you would a regular roasting or baking tray, this still gives you much more versatility than other cookware. Anyday’s pieces are also quite attractive compared to other containers, and the borosilicate glass is durable and can last years.

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Laura Wheatman Hill

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November 24, 2023
Drew Barrymore’s “Hero” Pan Made Me Believe in Nonstick Cookware Again

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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.

I gave up nonstick pans 15 years ago without losing sleep over it. I love my cast iron pans, and when I read about the dangers of nonstick cookware — dubious or not — it felt like a no-brainer to get rid of it. It’s akin to my friend who hates the taste of red meat, so she just gave it up without a second thought.

But when asked if I wanted to try Drew Barrymore’s Beautiful All-in-One 4-Quart Hero Pan, I was curious about what I’ve been missing all these years. The brand claims that the ceramic nonstick coating on the pan is free of the alphabet soup we’ve been hearing about for years (PTFE, PFOA, and PFOS), and because safety was the (ostensible) reason I gave up nonstick all those years ago, I decided it was time to give it another chance.

Looking for more great deals? Check out our complete Black Friday sale coverage, and be sure to sign up for our Cook/Shop newsletter for the latest sales and must-have kitchen finds.

What’s So Great About Drew Barrymore’s Beautiful All-in-One 4-Quart Hero Pan?

I started with pancakes and I was shocked by how little butter I needed to cook them properly. I moved on to diner-style home fries, assuming they wouldn’t get the crispy edges I love, but the Hero Pan’s cast aluminum construction blew me away with the evenness of the browning. I even crowded the pan!

Less skeptical at this point, I seared chicken breasts, steamed salmon and vegetables, cooked scallops, and made the prettiest omelet of my life. While boiling water for pasta on a Saturday to take advantage of the pan’s pour spout, I realized I had used the Hero Pan exclusively for a whole week after I first started using it, and it wasn’t even on purpose. Now, more than two months later, I still love it as my go-to. I continue to use it consistently — I just wash it and put it right back on the stovetop, because true to its name, it’s beautiful enough to leave out and because I know I’ll use it again in the next 24 hours, if not sooner.

The “10 cooking functions” claim felt a little hyperbolic at first to me. Can’t most good pans do at least eight, if not all 10 functions — boil, sauté, simmer, pan-fry, sear, braise, stir-fry, strain, steam, and serve? But now I’m essentially confirming it because it’s the easiest pan to grab and works for literally everything I’ve made. I discovered that I could get by with only one pan — this one.

The Hero Pan is dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing is recommended. You won’t mind, though, because absolutely nothing sticks to it — no scraping required. I only use silicone tools and I’m careful not to scratch the interior of the pan, but if it ever needs to be replaced, a new one usually costs a mere $69 — pretty impressive for all-purpose cookware that works even better than my (much more expensive) stainless steel version. Even more impressive is that the Beautiful All-in-One 4-Quart Hero Pan is currently on sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so it’s down to just $59 now through November 27.

The only pertinent negative is that the handle is prone to staining. When I splashed curry on the stay-cool handle, it left a series of yellow dots that required something more intense than soap and water to remove. The stains are subtle, though, and I’m not bothered. I have the White Icing colorway, so if you’re worried about stains, you’ve got options with the Black Sesame, Cornflower Blue, and Sage Green shades.

The Hero Pan is even induction compatible, which means that someday when I finally spend the money to convert from gas to induction, my trusty Hero Pan can stick around. I love the pan so much that I’m planning to buy it as a holiday gift for at least one relative — good thing it’s on sale!

Buy: Beautiful All-in-One 4 QT Hero Pan, $59 (normally $69)

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Meg Asby

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November 24, 2023
Caraway’s New Stainless Steel Collection Looks Absolutely Stunning In My Kitchen — And It’s Up to 20% Off for Black Friday

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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.

The Kitchn team members are no strangers to Caraway’s cookware and bakeware. The candy-colored nonstick pots and pans are favorites around here. And while everyone has their tried-and-true favorite pieces of cookware, I generally prefer the longevity and durability of stainless steel cookware over the usual nonstick stuff.

Despite their frequent appearances in my social media feeds, I was never swayed to purchase because of my own lifestyle and personal preferences. But when I heard that Caraway launched stainless steel cookware, I was immediately in.

Looking for more great deals? Check out our complete Black Friday sale coverage, and be sure to sign up for our Cook/Shop newsletter for the latest sales and must-have kitchen finds.

What Is the Caraway Stainless Steel Collection?

Caraway’s nontoxic ceramic nonstick cookware and bakeware has earned plenty of fans. Their Stainless Steel cookware collection is the latest addition to their family of products. Each piece is made up of five layers of metal — two outer layers of stainless steel encase three layers of conductive aluminum. These layers ensure quick and even heating, helping to avoid hot spots and burned food. Stainless steel is also a nontoxic cooking material, which aligns with the company’s established values.

What’s Included in the Caraway Stainless Steel Collection?

Caraway’s stainless steel collection includes four main pieces of cookware, which you can buy a la carte or in various set sizes. To get the full experience, I tested the 4-piece Cookware Set which includes a 10.5-inch fry pan, a 3-quart saucepan, a 4.5-quart sauté pan, and a 6.5-quart Dutch oven. It also includes three lids, one of them working for both the Dutch oven as well as the skillet.

In addition to the cookware, the set also includes a couple of bonus organizational pieces — a hanging organizer for the lids, and a set of modular, magnetic organizers to keep the pots and pans neatly within reach.

The use and care booklet included in the set covers a lot of good information. The main points were to limit the stovetop to medium heat, skip metal utensils, and opt to hand-wash for the best longevity of the cookware.

I did a little dance when I saw the big Caraway box get dropped on my doorstep. I immediately hauled it in and opened it up to find luxe-looking silver packaging. Opening the box revealed a lovely set of pots and pans all thoughtfully packaged. (And no plastic!)

An Honest Review of the Caraway Stainless Steel Collection

Overall, I really liked Caraway’s stainless steel pots and pans. I used this set exclusively over a long weekend, cooking for my family of four, plus a dinner party with a few more guests. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were really only a couple of instances where I couldn’t opt for one of these four pieces. It was a bit of a Goldilocks situation — nothing was too big or too small, but just right for the task at hand.

The biggest appeal was their size and capacity because each piece was sort of an in-between size from what you typically would find in a standard set of pots and pans. I also really like the ratio of the depth to height. There was enough open space to feel like you could move around and get into the pot without them being really wide and tricky to store because of their footprint. And if you needed to maneuver the pots around the burners, the lightweight construction wouldn’t give you an arm workout.

I was surprised to see that Caraway doesn’t recommend the use of metal utensils with these pots and pans. I like stainless steel cookware specifically because I lean so heavily on metal whisks and fish spatulas in my everyday cooking. I still used my metal utensils, but was a bit more gentle when cooking with the Caraway set, and things seemed fine. I also like that you’re able to throw stainless steel cookware in the dishwasher, so that I have the option not to hand-wash. Caraway doesn’t recommend this, though, to protect the cookware’s longevity, but I tossed mine in the dishwasher several times to test, and there were no immediate effects that I noticed.

Review of the Caraway Stainless Steel 10.5-Inch Fry Pan

This size of a pan isn’t uncommon, but is definitely a middle-of-the-road size when it comes to skillets. It’s a good addition to most kitchens. I used it to brown butter, sauté shrimp, make a grilled cheese, and fry eggs. Everything worked wonderfully. The eggs especially were a pleasant surprise. They released from the pan without too much manual coaxing.

Review of the Caraway Stainless Steel 3-Quart Saucepan

I have a 2-quart saucepan, and I have a 4-quart saucepan. This 3-quart option truly is a great in-between size that’s perfect for sautéing ingredients before a quick simmer like a small batch of soup or a quick pot of rice. The rounded corners also made it easy when stirring and sautéing — so much easier to maneuver a spoon in there from edge to edge. If you’re making rice, a quick heads-up that the steam vent will gunk up, so shift the lid around to let out the steam every now and then.

Review of the Caraway Stainless Steel 6.5-Quart Dutch Oven

I’ve known that my kitchen setup could use a stainless pot this size for a while now. I also tend to operate in a “make it work” mindset, working with what I’ve got instead. That said, I would have greatly benefitted from adding this to my collection ages ago. While it would have been an extra expense for sure, it’s also made just four days of cooking noticeably more convenient. That sort of exchange is worth the cost in some situations.

Review of the Caraway Stainless Steel 4.5-Quart Sauté Pan

I have a 3.5-quart straight-sided skillet that I rarely use. It’s rarely the right size and shape for anything I’m cooking. A regular sauté pan or a deeper Dutch oven tend to be the better options. But this 4.5-quart stainless sauté pan is such a great size and shape. (It reminds me a bit of my beloved 5-quart enameled cast iron braiser.) Notably, it fits an entire pound of pasta. The very first dish I made after receiving this set was caramelized tomato paste pasta. I boiled the pasta in the Dutch oven while building the sauce in this sauté pan. I was able to easily combine the pasta and sauce without losing any pieces overboard. I also made a batch of chicken kare raisu. The wide cooking surface meant I didn’t have to brown the chicken in batches. But I was still able to fit the entire batch of meat, vegetables, and sauce in a single sauté pan. I know this pan is going to get serious use.

Review of the Caraway Stainless Steel Lids

The lids create a tight seal, but the large handle is top heavy and a little awkward to handle. The heavy metal design of the handles also means they get quite hot, so have your hot pads ready.

The underside of the lid is also completely flat. Every other lid I own has either a bit of a dome, or a couple of rivets from the handle. These help the moisture drip back down into the pot. If you have the lid on the pot for any length of time, be sure to pick it up at an angle to allow the condensed moisture to release back into the dish. The steam vent got pretty gunked up specifically when I was making rice.

Review of the Caraway Stainless Steel Pan & Lid Storage

This set comes with a “docking station” of sorts for the pots and pans for Instagram-worthy countertop storage. Personally, I try to keep my countertops as clean as possible, but it’s still helpful beyond aesthetics — it’s easier to grab a singular piece without having to unstack a bunch of things.

Depending on how you store your cookware as well as your kitchen layout, the concept of the hanging holder may or may not work. I appreciate having all the lids in one spot as opposed to storing them in another cabinet, and my mid-century kitchen cabinet doors aren’t the best candidates to hang heavy lids with fairly permanent hanging hardware. This didn’t personally work for me, but I appreciate that storage was factored into this set — especially if you like to display your cookware.

Is Caraway’s Stainless Steel Cookware Worth It?

I think the size and flexibility of these pots and pans are great if you regularly cook for about four people. As a set, this collection feels very well-rounded so this is a really great starter set for someone who might be stocking their kitchen from scratch, but it’s also great for well-stocked kitchens. Even in my own well-stocked kitchen, only the 10.5-inch sauté pan resembled anything I already owned.

Buy: 4-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set, $556 (normally $845)

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Meleyna Nomura

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November 24, 2023
I Love My Vitamix So Much, I Use It Every Single Day — And It’s $200 Off Through Cyber Monday

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I held out on the Vitamix blender for a long time. I just wasn’t a Performance Blender Person. KitchenAid mixer, yes. Great food processor, yes. But the blender spot in my kitchen was taken by an old wheat-colored Osterizer handed down by my grandmother, and I just didn’t believe I needed a Very Serious Blender. Because the Vitamix has this reputation of a Very Serious Blender, does it not? It’s the best blender for serious cooks, and it does serious things, with serious power.

Well, for various reasons I have finally acquired a Vitamix, and while yes, it’s a Very Serious Piece of Kitchen Equipment that Does Very Powerful Things, why did no one tell me how fun it is?

Here’s my hands-on review of the blender all of our editors love, and that I, as a late adopter, have finally fallen in deep, swoony love with. If you are a serious cook, you too should consider one — but more importantly, if you’re a cook who likes to have fun, you deserve one. And if you’re someone who also loves a good deal, well, you’re in luck because Vitamix is having a huge Black Friday sale now through November 27 with deals up to 40% off.

Looking for more great deals? Check out our complete Black Friday sale coverage, and be sure to sign up for our Cook/Shop newsletter for the latest sales and must-have kitchen finds.

Why I Wanted a Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender

Why did I finally say yes to the Vitamix? Simple: My old blender was finally wearing out. It wouldn’t stay on at full power, and this coincided with a personal life moment of transitioning into drinking smoothies for breakfast. (This was another “OK, FINE” moment for me, as I always swore by eating vs. sipping my breakfast, but the realities of perimenopause have arrived and with them the realization that I am a better, happier human being if I consume 50 grams of protein in one slurp before school drop-off.)

Why the Vitamix Is Indeed the Best Blender for Serious Cooks

When I unboxed this blender and tried it out for the first time, it had Serious written all over it. It’s a heavy, sober piece of equipment, with a blocky pitcher and a lid that snaps on tightly. The motor purrs like a very fast car and the whole assembly barely vibrates even at the highest of speeds.

I immediately tried out the same spinach pasta sauce that didn’t quite live up to its potential. This is a beautifully easy Smitten Kitchen recipe that whizzes roasted garlic and butter together with a whole bag of spinach to make a creamy green sauce.

I made two batches side by side — one in my old blender, and one in my new Vitamix. I blended them for the same amount of time, but the differences were shocking. You can see in the photo below how the Vitamix version (on the left) looks like a silky and smooth sauce. The one on the right is closer to a pesto, with a lot of texture and not fully emulsified. The Vitamix was the winner, hands-down.

Since then I’ve tried grinding frozen fruit into smoothies and making frozen drinks. They all have emerged light, whipped, and practically fluffy with nary a speck of ice to be found. In fact, there’s a dedicated smoothie function that whips a smoothie to creamy perfection in a matter of seconds.

The Vitamix practically yawns at this basic task; it’s Very Powerful and it knows that.

Why the Vitamix 750 Is Also Very Fun

However, the thing I didn’t quite grasp in people’s love of their Vitamixes is just how fun it is to have all this raw, unadulterated power at your fingertips. I love how the blender doesn’t shake or vibrate, and how I’m not worried in the least about the lid blowing off (although past blender trauma still compels me to hold it on with one hand; I’m just too scarred by ceiling splatters to let that go! I’ll get there!).

But here’s where we get to the really fun bit: self-cleaning. I sent my husband a text one morning scream-typing, DID YOU KNOW THE VITAMIX CAN SELF-CLEAN?! “Lol” he typed. Then “wait really?” Oh yes, I said. It can clean its powerful little self.

This self-clean function is astonishing to Gen-X me, who still remembers tape decks in cars and isn’t used to all this modern ingenuity. Here’s how the Vitamix cleans itself: You put some hot water in a crusty blender, add a drop of dish soap, then turn on the blender to the “self-clean” function — one of five distinct program buttons on this model. The blender whirs, then whirs faster, and then suddenly your blender is filled with hot and finely foaming suds all the way to the top. It stops automatically after one full minute and voila! Your blender just needs a quick rinse to be perfectly clean. It even cleans the lid!

I was riveted by how well it works, and really taken by the idea that I don’t need to wash my blender anymore. (What can I say? I have two children under 8, and small mercies like this go really far for me.)

Another thing I love is the ability to heat soups directly in the blender. This heating functionality is a famous feature of the blender, and it works purely through friction; there’s no actual heating element. To take my daughter’s beloved Campbell’s tomato soup and heat it up directly in the blender, then to self-clean this self-same blender, all before she finishes her grilled cheese? It makes me giggle. Is it Serious Cooking? Absolutely not, but it is essential and practical cooking that makes me grin and that, my friends, is what our gadgets should facilitate.

Last but not least, the Vitamix tidies up my own mistakes. Once, I made an ice cream base and cooked it too hurriedly, curdling the eggs. (Next time I’ll just do it straight in the blender itself; did you know that you can make custard in it directly? Delightful!) I put that slightly gritty ice cream base in the blender and whizzed it into silky perfection. Once again, a Serious Cook wouldn’t have messed it up in the first place, but thank you to my Serious Blender for saving my bacon.

The Vitamix 750 Professional Blender Is Also on Sale, as of This Writing

So friends, if your blender doesn’t make you grin ear to ear, why not upgrade? Don’t let my mistake be yours; the Vitamix is Very Serious, yes, but it’s also a freaking blast. And it’s $200 off today during Vitamix’s Black Friday sale where you can also see deals up to 40% off through November 27, so you might want to add it to cart ASAP.

Buy: Professional Series 750, $429.95 (normally $629.95)

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Faith Durand

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November 24, 2023
Martha Stewart’s 15 Favorite Kitchen Gifts from Etsy You’ll Want to Snag ASAP

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Martha Stewart is the queen of the kitchen, but she’s also the monarch of hosting. The home cooking idol multi-hyphenate has seemingly dabbled in it all, from sharing her holiday hosting tips and kitchen hacks to creating drool-worthy one-pan meals. She’s even released her own meal kit! But now, the superstar has curated her favorite holiday picks on Etsy, just in time for gifting season. The pieces range from hosting essentials to budget-friendly gifts, all made and sold by Etsy vendors, and the kitchen items are truly one-of-a-kind.

“Shoppers can expect to find lots of earth tones, natural woods, modern farmhouse pieces, and touches of glam when shopping her curation,” says Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy trend expert. “Martha Stewart’s Holiday Curated Collection on Etsy is a go-to guide for anyone seeking to elevate their holiday celebrations and create an unforgettable experience for their guests this season.”

Here’s just a handful of what Etsy has to offer this holiday season — and if Martha Stewart is a fan, you know it has to be something special.

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Emma Kershaw

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November 24, 2023
The Brilliant $15 Freezer Find That Takes the Mess and Hassle Out of Meal Prep (and It’s on Sale for Black Friday!)

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There’s nothing like making a big pot of soup at the beginning of the week and having healthy, delicious meals readily available the following days. The only issue is that sometimes you don’t get around to finishing the pot, and it’s much more convenient just to throw out the leftovers than try to store them. The latter is usually a messy, annoying process and ends up occupying a lot of fridge or freezer space. In fact, this can be said of any liquid substance, including sauces, gravies, baby food, and the like. Fortunately, you’re not forever resolved to wasting food and money because of an easily fixable problem. The only thing you need is the YouCopia FreezeUp food block maker. It’s on sale at Amazon as a part of their Black Friday sales for just $15 for a pack of two, and each container is reusable. Once you put yours to good use, you can say goodbye to spills and cluttered shelves once and for all!

These food block makers are essentially 2-cup capacity plastic containers that store bags of liquid leftovers. Once your baggy is ready, simply place it between the two halves of the container, push the halves together, and secure them with the included silicone bands. Each container measures just 5 inches tall and 2.5 inches wide, so it’ll take up very little space on your fridge and freezer shelves as opposed to many Tupperware-style alternatives. Of course, if 2 cups isn’t enough, the food block makers are also available in a 6-cup capacity. Whether you’re storing a full batch of tomato bisque or a smaller quantity of barbecue sauce, there’s a size to accommodate your eats. When they’re ready to come out of the freezer, you can let them defrost inside the YouCopia blocks so the bags don’t fall over and leak onto your counters. Then, just snap the containers open, and you’re ready to go.

Hundreds of Amazon shoppers have tried this product and left a five-star review, and it’s easy to understand why, given how versatile it is. “I don’t know how I ever managed without this!” one reviewer wrote. “It’s easy to use, and my freezer is so organized now with these neat ‘blocks’ of chicken stock, mushroom barley soup, arroz con pollo, etc.” Another reviewer said they use theirs to hold bags of shredded cheese upright, so there’s really no limit to how you can use your food block makers. And, when you’re done using them, they’re super easy to clean — not that there will be much to clean!

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Nikol Slatinska

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November 23, 2023
How a Tennessee Family of 4 Spends $178 a Week on Groceries at Kroger
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Name: Meredith
Location: Memphis, TN
Number of people in household: 4; Dalton (32), Meredith (31), Lillian (3 years), and Eliza (8 months)
Age: 31
Occupation: I’m a food scientist and my husband, Dalton, is an insight sales manager. Dalton works from home full-time; I work onsite in a research and development lab three days a week and one day from home.
Where you shopped: Kroger
Weekly food budget: $150 to $200; the range gives us flexibility to buy more if certain staples are on sale.
Amount spent: $177.54

Kroger: It is less than a mile from our house, and the online ordering system is easy to use. The store typically has what I need and I’m usually impressed with the quality of the store-brand items.

What’s your grocery strategy?

I plan and submit an online grocery order for pickup once a week (typically Fridays). We used grocery pick-up prior to having kids, and we love the convenience even more now as parents. Adding groceries to my online cart helps me stay within our ideal food budget for the week, which is an extra bonus.

After looking at our weekly calendar, I determine how many meals I need to plan for the week. I usually take inventory of pantry and freezer items to see what can be used, as well as shop the weekly specials at the grocery store. If an item that we regularly use is on sale, I will stock up and freeze it for future use. Taking advantage of digital coupons is an easy way to save some money in our food budget. I also like to peruse food blogs such as Budget Bytes and Tastes Better from Scratch for recipe inspiration.

We often rely on leftovers from dinner for lunches throughout the work week. Breakfast is typically bagels, cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, or eggs. Our 3-year-old daughter eats what we eat for dinner and has breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided at school throughout the week. Our 8-month-old is breastfed and receives puréed fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
Pre-cooked chicken sausage, $6.19

French bread, $2.00

Tzatziki dip, $3.19

2 Caesar salad kits, $7.34

Vanilla ice cream, $4.99

English cucumber, $1.69

Whole bean coffee, $12.99

Bananas, $1.62

Blackberries, $3.19

Raspberries, $3.29

2 boxes oat cereal, $6.98

2 pounds Granny Smith apples, $2.99

4 Honeycrisp apples, $4.00

Peanut butter, $7.49

Red onion, $0.65

Brown sugar, $1.79

80/20 ground beef, $6.49

Broccoli florets, $6.00

Seltzer water x 3, $3.99

Olive oil, $5.99

18 eggs, $1.49

4 avocados, $2.99

Lentils, $1.99

Baby carrots, $1.25

Canned tomatoes, $1.00

Coconut milk, $2.49

Soft tortillas, $2.99

Honey, $8.99

Cherry tomatoes, $2.99

Oat milk, $3.49

Pico de gallo, $2.69

Maple syrup, $7.99

2 red peppers, $2.78

Boneless chicken breasts, $13.02

Tomato paste, $1.19

Garlic naan, $3.00

2 boxes wheat wafers, $3.98

Wheat crackers, $1.99

Grape jelly, $3.29
Grand total: $177.54 (includes taxes, pickup fee, and coupon savings)

Friday: Banana Oatmeal, “a Hodgepodge of Leftovers,” Chicken Tikka Masala, and Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream

I wake up at 6 a.m. to the sound of a cooing baby. After feeding her, Eliza falls back asleep. With the house still quiet, I quickly drink a cup of black coffee while lacing up my running shoes. After my run, my oldest daughter, Lillian, is found eating a granola bar on the couch with my husband. I make some oatmeal with a banana and eat it while unloading the dishwasher. Oatmeal is my go-to breakfast — it’s quick, easy, and filling. Dalton eats a chocolate chip granola bar with blueberry Greek yogurt while starting his work day.

Eliza is awake for the morning and eats a blueberry oatmeal purée. I have Fridays off of work so we play outside for a bit before going on a walk. Lillian snacks on Goldfish and Teddy Grahams while we stroll through the neighborhood. Dalton works from home full-time so while the baby naps, Lillian and I drive to pick up our weekly grocery order from Kroger. We are back home in less than five minutes!

Lunch is a hodgepodge of leftovers from the previous week. I reheat a baked potato and top it with leftover fajita chicken, peppers, and onion. Lillian and Dalton eat leftover beef hotdogs. We have company staying with us for the weekend so Lillian and I prep an apple crisp for dessert later. We had planned to grill, but decide at the last minute to make chicken tikka masala with rice and garlic naan instead. Lime seltzer water makes a nice accompaniment to the spicy Indian dish.

We enjoy the apple crisp with some vanilla ice cream and spend time relaxing and catching up at home after the kids are in bed. The apple crisp is full of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, which is perfect for a cool fall evening.

Saturday: Banana, Pancakes, Sausage, Bacon, and Berries, Snacks for Lunch, Drinks at the Zoo, and Chinese Takeout

Slow and relaxing Saturday mornings are my favorite: I consume a cup of black coffee and a banana while playing with Eliza in her room. We try not to be too noisy while the rest of the house continues to sleep. Lillian and Dalton wake up and we start cooking breakfast for everyone. We make a spread of homemade pancakes, sausage, bacon, and raspberries and blueberries with lots of coffee for breakfast. Eliza eats a banana and squash purée before going down for a morning nap.

Around noon, we are not too hungry for lunch, but need a little something to tide us over until dinner. We arrange a variety of snacks from the fridge and pantry to eat before going to the zoo: Tortilla chips with pico de gallo, Wheat Thins, leftover fruit from breakfast, sliced apples, and cheese make a quick and easy spread for the group.

Memphis has a spectacular zoo and our guests have never experienced its greatness. Even though we are members and go often, I still get excited every time we go! We purposely arrive ahead of the sea lion show, so we stop by the coffee shop right inside the entrance to grab some drinks to sip on while watching the animals. Dalton decides on a cappuccino and I order an iced mocha with oat milk. Our weekend guests graciously offer to pay for our drinks ($10.45). After a few hours of animal spectating, we decide it’s time for dinner.

One of our guests mentions she is in the mood for Chinese, so we pick up takeout from one of our favorite local Chinese restaurants on the way home. From experience, we know the quantities are large and we decide it is best to split a few dishes. Once home, we dig into sesame chicken, orange chicken, green curry, fried and steamed rice, hot and sour soup, egg drop soup, salad with ginger dressing, and the rangoons ($74). We are undeniably full and have plenty of leftovers.

Sunday: Cinnamon Rolls, Leftover Chinese, Bakery Snacks, and Leftover Tikka Masala and a Cinnamon Roll

Our guests plan to drive back to Nashville early and we are going to church. I pop a pan of frozen cinnamon rolls to cook while we get ready for a quick and easy breakfast. I can make some pretty decent homemade cinnamon rolls, but they take a lot of time. I’ve found the Rhodes brand is the closest to homemade that you can buy in the grocery store.

We say goodbye to our guests and pack snacks for Lillian to enjoy during church. She chooses pre-packaged Goldfish crackers and multi-grain Cheerios along with a water bottle. We grab to-go cups of coffee from home to drink while we drive 20 minutes to church. Our kids are tired once we return home, so lunch is quickly reheated leftover Chinese food from last night. I eat salad with green curry. Dalton and Liliian eat steamed rice with orange chicken.

While Eliza naps, Lillian and I venture out to a local shopping center nearby for a holiday open house. We stop in a children’s boutique first and enjoy some complimentary homemade snack mix in the store while shopping. The shopping center has a cute French bakery and we get in line to order an afternoon treat from the counter. I choose a regular hot coffee with a lemon macaron, while Lillian indulges in a strawberry macaron and sugar cookie with a cup of whole milk ($8.43). The barista is sweet and gives her the milk in a coffee cup like a big girl.

For Dalton and I, dinner is reheated tikka masala from dinner on Friday. Lillian eats a leftover cinnamon roll with sausage. Eliza eats a purée pouch of spinach, peas, and pears.

Monday: Banana, Bagel, Cheerios, Burger Tasting, Leftover Chicken Fajitas and Tikka Masala, Apple, Sheet-Pan Dinner and Toasted Bread with Butter

Monday after Daylight Saving time is rough. Everyone is up slightly earlier than usual and I enjoy a banana with my black coffee while preparing breakfast and lunch to eat at work. Dalton drinks coffee while helping get everyone dressed, ready, and packed for the day.

Lillian has breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided at school, which is a nice perk. Most mornings she does not want to eat anything until she gets to school. I pack enough purées to cover Eliza’s breakfasts for the week while at school. She currently eats two purées in addition to bottles of breastmilk throughout the day. I enjoy a second cup of coffee on the way to work.

Dalton eats a bowl of Cheerios after returning home from school drop-off. After settling in at my desk, I pop a bagel in the toaster and add some butter to the top while it is still hot.

Mid-morning, a coworker asks if I want to taste a project she has been working on. Most of my work projects are based on keeping our food safe and extending the shelf-life of food products, but many of my food scientist coworkers focus on creating new foods and flavors. I have the privilege of tasting many great food products before they go to market. I happily taste a variety of different burger patties and give some feedback. I am beginning to get hungry and the burger tasting is a nice mid-morning snack.

When lunchtime rolls around, I reheat some leftover chicken fajita and munch on an apple while at my desk. Work supplies complimentary soft drinks for the employees to enjoy and I’ve gotten into a habit of drinking a Coke Zero after lunch. I once went four years without soft drinks. I don’t drink them any other time except after lunch at work. The caffeine is a nice pick-me-up. At home, Dalton eats leftover tikka masala.

A coworker brought petit fours and I eat one later in the afternoon while finishing up work for the day.

Once home, Lillian helps me prepare dinner. We chop smoked chicken sausage, red bell pepper, onion, broccoli, and a chicken breast and place it on a baking sheet. We toss the mixture in olive oil and season it with an all-purpose seasoning (previously purchased from Buc-ee’s gas station) prior to cooking in the oven. This meal is one that I make regularly and it helps us use up fresh vegetables from the fridge. In addition to the sheet pan meal, I slice crusty French bread and top it with butter before toasting it in the oven.

Dalton and Lillian enjoy two petit fours I brought home from work. After putting the kids to bed, I make a cup of tea and eat a few Oreos while Dalton and I watch Friends on the couch before bed.

Tuesday: Oatmeal with Berries, Fried Eggs and a Bagel, Apple, Leftover Orange Chicken with Fried Rice, Tikka Masala and Sheet-Pan Dinner for Lunch, Pasta with Caesar Salad and Garlic Bread, and Oreos and Ice Cream

My body wakes up before my alarm. While sipping a cup of black coffee, I get things organized for the day. Lillian wakes up and asks for a bowl of cereal. While she eats, I make a bowl of oatmeal topped with brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, raspberries, and blackberries. Dalton wakes up and makes coffee.

Before heading out the door, I pack a lunch of orange chicken and fried rice leftovers from Saturday, plus a Honeycrisp apple to eat as a snack. As usual, I drink another cup of black coffee while commuting to work.

Dalton waits until returning home from school drop-off before frying three eggs to eat with half of a bagel while working.

Around 10 a.m. my stomach starts growling and I remember I packed the apple from home. While more expensive than most varieties, Honeycrisp apples just taste far better than most other varieties, in my opinion.

I work through the morning and heat up the orange chicken with fried rice around noon. The Coke Zero gives me a little extra boost to help energize me through the rest of the work day. Dalton eats the remaining tikka masala with some of the leftover chicken from last night’s sheet pan dinner. We heavily rely on leftovers to make for easy lunches.

I steep a cup of mint tea around 3 p.m. and drink it while reading a few research articles. After packing up for the day, I leave the office to head to pick up the girls at school. We go on a walk around the neighborhood before dinner. Once home, Dalton offers to cook dinner while I play “kitchen” with the girls upstairs.

He cooks penne pasta with meat sauce, prepares a Caesar salad, and toasts garlic bread. I usually don’t mind cooking, but it is a nice treat to have the night off. Dalton and Lillian eat a few Oreos we bought previously while I clean up the kitchen.

I have plans to meet two friends for dessert to discuss an upcoming baby shower we are planning. We meet at a local ice cream shop and I order a coffee cookie butter ice cream in a waffle cone ($6.18). Anytime cookie butter-flavored anything is on a menu, I am sold.

Once home, I get ready for bed and regret my ice cream choice. I am wide awake, thanks to the caffeine in the coffee-flavored ice cream. Oops!

Wednesday: Banana, Eggs and Toast, Leftover Pasta, Coffees and Pumpkin Bread, Pigs in a Blanket, Caesar Salad, and Leftover Apple Crisp

I wake up early to go for a run with one of my neighbors. The five miles fly by as we catch up and watch the sun come up. Once home, Lillian and Dalton are sitting at the kitchen table coloring and drinking milk and coffee, respectively. I eat a banana while making my first cup of coffee. Soon after, I get out a frying pan to make some eggs to eat over a slice of toasted french bread with butter.

I work from home on most Wednesdays, so after school drop-off I return home to begin working on research. It’s a productive morning of writing project updates and planning for an upcoming meeting. Before I know it, it is time for lunch. Dalton reheats leftover penne pasta for both of us to eat.

After lunch, we decide to move our workspace to a coffee shop less than a mile from our house. I order an iced honey bun latte with oat milk, he orders a cappuccino, and we split a slice of pumpkin bread ($15.46). The honey bun latte is extra sweet with white chocolate, cinnamon, and honey. I drink black coffee at home, but like to indulge in fancy, sweet drinks when ordering from a coffee shop. We welcome the change of scenery as we finish up work for the day.

I don’t have the commute for work today, so I pick the girls up from school a little earlier than normal and we head to the Children’s Museum for about an hour before heading home. We go to a weekly bible study on Wednesday nights. For convenience, we pull out a frozen box of Parmesan pigs-in-a-blanket (previously purchased) to bake, make a Caesar salad, and call it dinner. Once the girls are asleep, Dalton and I reheat the last little bit of the apple crisp from the weekend and eat it while relaxing before bed.

Thursday: Cereal, Banana Oatmeal, Leftover Sheet-Pan Dinner, Birria Chicken with Rice and Raw Vegetables, and Oreos

My alarm goes off and I walk to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. The rest of the family soon joins me and Lillian requests a bowl of Cheerios. She eats another bowl after finishing her first. She must be going through a growth spurt because she has been eating a lot more than usual.

Dalton grabs a handful of dry cereal and I make a bowl of oatmeal using one of the last remaining bananas. The banana is very ripe with the right amount of “black spots” — a nice, sweet touch to the creamy oatmeal.

I pack up my lunch for the day and head out the door to work.

Mid-morning, one of my coworkers asks me to taste a chicken patty she’s been working on — let’s just say some projects taste better than others. It is raining and cold outside, so I decide to stay in at lunch. I eat reheated chicken sausage and roasted vegetables with a side of balsamic vinaigrette and basil Triscuits and an apple.

I want something sweet after my lunch so I find some leftover Halloween candy to eat. Reese’s peanut butter cups are my all-time favorite candy, followed by Twix.

Once home after work, I heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté chicken, onions, and red bell peppers. I find a leftover jar of birria sauce from last week and decide to make tonight’s meal Mexican-inspired. I cook a pot of rice and pull out tortillas in our pantry. Dalton and I eat our birria chicken over rice, while Lillian prefers to eat hers in a tortilla. Some sliced red bell pepper and an English cucumber serve as our side dish to the meal.

After dinner, we pull out the Oreos before starting the bedtime routine with the girls.

At Kitchn we believe setting a food budget for you and your family is an essential part in getting your financial life in order. Don’t know where to start? We have a guide for that. Want to share your Grocery Diary with Kitchn? See how here.
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Mara Weinraub

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November 23, 2023
I Tried the Nonstick Pan That’s Supposed to Last Up to 37 Times Longer than Ceramic (It’s on Sale!)

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The quest for a nonstick pan that can actually stay nonstick for the long haul can feel, well, kind of futile. Get a new pan, then fall in love as your eggs go slipping and sliding onto your plate — but give it just a few months and you’re back to chiseling bits off the bottom again. Of course, failing to care for the pans properly is a big reason why they just don’t last that long (back away from the metal utensils!), but it’s just a matter of fact that, eventually, the coatings will get stickier over time. In addition, concerns about chemicals in PTFE (aka Teflon) coatings getting vaporized into the air at high temperatures has lured many shoppers away from traditional nonstick. Although these coatings are deemed safe and have been free of harmful PFOAs since around 2015, consumers are still wary.

Ceramic cookware has emerged as one of the most popular alternatives, but it’s known to lose its nonstick properties after just a few months of use. So when Material Kitchen, one of the many Kitchn favorite direct-to-consumer cookware brands, launched a nonstick a Teflon-free pan purported to last 37 times longer than ceramic last year, well I just had to try it out. And guess what? It’s just as good as new, after a year plus of daily use. But the good news doesn’t stop there! You can get ahold of this MVP pan for 20 percent off on Material’s site right now from now until November 29. All you need to do is add the essential to your cart (along with maybe the brand’s fan-favorite reBoard and our editor-loved knives, they shouldn’t be missed) and score the discount, easy!

When I unboxed it all those months ago, I also couldn’t help noticing how pretty it is, with its shiny stainless-steel bottom and emerald green surface. In a sea of black and gray, this 10.5-inch sauté pan is quite fetching.

What Is the Coated Pan by Material Kitchen?

The first time I held the essential, I noticed it’s decently heavy for a nonstick pan. At 2.78 pounds, it’s just a little lighter than an All-Clad skillet of the same size (by comparison the 10-inch nonstick skillets I already had in my cabinets were closer to 2 pounds 4 ounces). It makes sense considering the pan is built similarly — 5-ply construction with a copper core for even heating. (For what it’s worth, Material’s Coated Pan is decently more expensive than cheap-o nonstick pans but at least half the price of an All-Clad.) If you like a super lightweight nonstick pan this might not be the one for you, but I loved how substantial it felt and figured its heft meant there’s less chance this pan is going to warp.

The company calls the coating “mineral nonstick,” fume-free, as well as PFOA-free (again, all nonstick pans are now), Teflon-free, lead-free, and cadmium-free. It’s reinforced with stainless steel, which is why it lasts so much longer than ceramic. And don’t forget, it has that copper core. I’ve used it every day for a year and a half and it’s still as slippery as the day I took it out of the box.

My Review of Material Kitchen’s Coated Pan

The pan heats up fast. In a test of how quickly it heated a cup of water compared to other nonstick and ceramic pans, using the same burner and same flame level for all, the Coated Pan clocked in at less than a minute, while the others took about 30 seconds longer to get the water simmering. It was also noticeably more even in its heat. The water began simmering evenly all around the edges almost at the same time. The other pans started in one area and it took longer for the heat to spread.

I cooked pancakes without any oil or butter in the pan and they cooked perfectly golden and even, with no sticking. Even when I added sliced bananas and chocolate chips there was no sticking. I also fried up a bunch of eggs and made omelettes and crepes and they all slid out perfectly. When frying tofu not a single cube stuck and they cooked up crisp and evenly golden from the center to the very edge of the pan. And because the pan is oven safe to 500 degrees, I was able to cook up a frittata and let it get a finishing stint in the oven.

Supremely even heat, a truly nonstick surface, and a beauty to look at. All in all, I’m very impressed with the Coated Pan. In fact, it might just be my favorite piece of cookware I’ve owned to date.

Do you have a favorite nonstick pan? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Danielle Centoni

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November 23, 2023
I Worked at a Movie Theater and I Swear This Splurgy Stovetop Popcorn Maker Is Worth Every Penny

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It’s on sale!
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Morgan Pryor

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November 22, 2023
How To Reheat Turkey So It Never Dries It Out

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How to Reheat Turkey

The best way to reheat turkey is in a 350°F oven. Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of stock and/or butter. Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can microwave the sliced turkey (cover with a damp paper towel) in a microwave-safe dish at 50% power in 1-minute intervals.

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Meghan Splawn

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November 22, 2023
Can You Freeze Leftover Wine?

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Does Wine Freeze?

Yes, depending on the alcohol content, wine will freeze under the right conditions. Whether or not you should freeze wine, however, is a different story. Freezing wine in the bottle can potentially lead to the bottle cracking, since the wine will expand when it freezes. Also, though okay to drink, freezing wine can alter its taste once it’s defrosted.

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Stephanie Ganz

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November 22, 2023
The $18 Glass Mixing Bowl Set That Amazon Shoppers Are Obsessed With

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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.

Get ready to tackle holiday baking mayhem with Pyrex’s essential glass mixing bowl set — an essential addition to every home chef’s arsenal. It’s no wonder so many go wild for Pyrex: It’s high-quality cookware, has glowing reviews, and has a culinary legacy that spans a century. Not only is this set popular, but it’s a steal at a mere $18 for three. That’s probably less than what you spend on your baking ingredients alone! So, if you’re serious about whipping up sensational desserts without draining your bank account, these mixing bowls are your kitchen savior. Join the Pyrex fan club and elevate your holiday baking game without wreaking havoc on your budget — because who doesn’t love scoring a sweet deal in the kitchen?

What Is the Pyrex Smart Essentials 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set?

The versatile set includes a 1-quart, a 1.5-quart, and a 2.5-quart bowl, skillfully designed for easy nesting and convenient storage. Pyrex offers customers the assurance that these bowls are not only easily stowed away but also pre-heated oven-, microwave-, fridge-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe. Their functionality means that you can confidently tackle a wide range of cooking or baking tasks with ease.

What Amazon Reviewers Are Saying:

For only $17.95, Pyrex’s bowl set comes in three sizes (1 to 2.5 quarts), is easy to stack, and is perfect for anything from baking to leftovers. Plus, it’s tough enough for the oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, and dishwasher. Basically, it’s your all-in-one kitchen sidekick!

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Haley Lyndes

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November 22, 2023
I’m a Restaurant Worker, and This Is the One Thing I’m Buying on Sale for Black Friday

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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.

Each morning, professional kitchens are bustling with the sounds of knives chopping, sauces reducing, and food service film (a far-superior plastic wrap and secret weapon of restaurants everywhere) sealing containers as prep cooks work ahead on the night’s dinner service. Without them, no dish would make it from pan to plate to table. For many of us, the holiday season and the mornings before big family gatherings are the closest we’ll get to being on a prep cook’s schedule. But, if you’re a proud member of the “hosting family,” like myself, you might also be the line cook, executive chef, host, server — perhaps even bartender and sommelier! In other words, someone who could always use a second set of hands in the kitchen.

Unfortunately, not everyone has a sous chef who’s ready to lend a hand when it comes to prepping ingredients. Thankfully, there are plenty of options for the solo home chef. In my opinion, the food processor is the at-home equivalent to a restaurant’s prep team. It chops vegetables, purees soups, and even mixes dough with just the touch of a button. That’s why this Black Friday, I’m splurging on Cuisinart’s Core Custom 10-Cup Food Processor. Marked down to just $130 at Williams Sonoma — which is have a great Black Friday sale right now — it hits the sweet spot between price and utility that I think is unmatched in its field.

A food processor isn’t something you want to skimp on: Bad ones are a pain to clean and break down easily, and if it’s too small, it’ll be ineffective at most of the tasks you throw at it. Luckily, all of the accessories on Cuisinart’s machine can be removed easily, are dishwasher-safe, nest together for easy storage, and are constructed out of BPA-free, high-quality materials. You can even buy replacement parts for every last nut and bolt directly from Cuisinart if anything were to happen.

And, at 10 cups, this model is the ideal size for most households. If you’re cooking for a ton of people, you might have to pass vegetables through in batches when preparing the holiday feast, but you’ll get way more use out of this size than with a truly massive food processor you’d only be breaking out once or twice a year.

You could even use the money to buy one of Cuisinart’s many add-on accessories to turn this food processor into a one-of-a-kind kitchen workhorse — my favorite being Cuisinart’s Core Elements Juicing Center. High-powered juicers often run well over $100, but this accessory costs just a fraction of that. Now you can make the same quality of fluffy, fresh-squeezed juice served at the ritzy cafes of New York City. You could even grab some oranges, a bottle of Campari, and use it at the family gathering to make a two-ingredient crowd-pleaser: the Garibaldi. Or, better yet, make a few for you and yours as you put the house back together the next day as you congratulate yourself on a meal well-made and a job well-done.

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Cristiano Rotolo

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November 21, 2023
The Strange Decor Item Martha Stewart Always Has on Her Thanksgiving Table

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She has over 100 of them.
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Quinn Fish

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November 21, 2023
I’m a Former Barista, and This Is the One Thing I’m Buying on Sale During Black Friday

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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.

From the first cup of coffee I ever had to my days pulling espresso behind the counter at a cafe in Brooklyn, my favorite way to make coffee has always been using a pour-over. However, the difficult part about pour-over is that if you really want a nice cup, you need to perfect your technique. That usually involves buying a gooseneck kettle and carefully pouring a specific amount of hot water (usually weighed out with a kitchen scale and measured with a thermometer) over a precise amount of your freshly ground coffee in concentric circles, first in a bloom phase, then in a — you know what, don’t worry about it, because with the OXO Brew Single Serve Pour-Over Coffee Maker, things are much more simple. Which, I think, is a good thing, especially when you’re not 100% on the ball in the mornings. Sure, I love the ritual and end result of a well-made cup of pour-over, but these days, I find myself valuing ease and convenience more than anything else. That isn’t to say that this brewer doesn’t make a great cup, though — quite the opposite, in fact, according to almost 7,000 five-star Amazon reviews. Let’s dig into why.

What Is the OXO Brew Single Serve Pour-Over Coffee Maker?

The OXO Brew Single Serve Pour-Over Coffee Maker brews a cup of pour-over coffee in a pretty foolproof way. There’s an auto-drip tank that controls water flow to ensure a well-saturated bed of coffee and full extraction (i.e. no dry bits of coffee at the end of your pour) and the measurement markings on the tank show exactly how much water to add — up to 12 ounces, which is a pretty large cup. The lid also retains heat while brewing and doubles as a drip tray once you’re finished. The brewer comes with 10 OXO Unbleached All-Natural #2 Cone Coffee Filters, as well, which make sure there’s no grit in your cup. Here’s how it works: Pop a filter into the cone, add your ground coffee to the filter, place the water tank on top, add hot water to the tank, place the lid on top, and wait for the water to drain. That’s it! A freshly brewed cup of joe awaits you.

What Amazon Reviewers Are Saying

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Ian Burke

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November 20, 2023