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1. A Caraway cookware set that not only comes with every pot and pan one could need, but storage solutions in the form of magnetic racks and a canvas lid holder — bc, let's be real, locating the pan you need/being able to put it away once you're done is half the cooking-at-home battle.
What's included: A fry pan, sauce pan with lid, sauté pan with lid, Dutch oven with lid, modular pan rack, and three-slot canvas lid holder.
Promising review: "This cookware set checked every box for me. From the satisfying unboxing to the easy storage and easy cleanup this was worth every penny. I love the magnetic storage system that comes with it, it allows for easy on-counter storage that looks great and is easy to access. Gone are my days of rummaging through drawers and cabinets for my pans. The hanging lid storage is also a genius method of storing pot and pan lids. The cookware itself looks beautiful, I'm more than happy to go right from the stove to the dining room table with this set which is a breeze thanks to the included hot pads to place pots and pans on. Cooking with this set is everything you'd expect. You can feel the quality of these pans just by holding them. A lot of products claim nonstick but this is the best nonstick pot or pan I've used. They heat up evenly and are clean after just a quick rinse under the sink. I highly recommend!" —AZ
Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $395 (available in six colors).
2. A set of Anyday microwaveable cooking essentials if — you're being honest with yourself — you know the only way you're gonna make a home-cooked meal is if you can zap it into existence. As an added bonus, you can use the dishes to store leftovers and then reheat them again when you're ready for seconds!
What's included: Large deep dish, large shallow dish, medium deep dish, medium shallow dish, and two small dishes.
Anyday is a small, modern cookware brand from Steph Chen. If you need some inspiration, check out Anyday's dish ideas which include recipes from the likes of David Chang and Joshua McFadden!
Promising review: "Giving 5 stars does not do this dish justice; it needs five billion stars! This has to be the BEST product I have every purchased in my life. Since I do not have access to a stove or oven, these dishes have allowed me to 'cook' chicken, salmon, tilapia, shrimp, pork chops, and vegetables with just a microwave! Freaking genius!! Thank you Anyday for this beautiful ray of sunshine you have bestowed upon my life." —SR
Get it from Anyday for $170 (originally $200; available in three colors).
3. A trio of airtight canisters where you can store coffee, sugar, salt — you name it! Turns out reaching for these is a lot simpler than searching your cabinet for an unmarked ziplock bag of "hmm, is that flour or cornstarch??"
Promising review: "I was hesitant to buy these online but could not find anything locally I liked. I am so happy with these containers! They are HEAVY and very well made. Much higher quality than I anticipated receiving." —Courtney N.
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (pieces can also be bought individually).
4. An iconic Le Creuset Dutch oven which one reviewer calls "the Bentley of cookware" and I'm not about to dispute that...
Promising review: "I love this Dutch oven. I got the 7.25-quart size for four people, and it has been an irreplaceable pot for soups and stews and coconut chicken adobo. I have also used this to bake bread, too, and it worked well. I have had to stop myself from buying even more!" —Austin
Get it from Amazon for $259.95+ (available in seven sizes and 13 colors) or Le Creuset for $260+ (available in seven sizes and six colors).
5. A stunning, heirloom-worthy East Fork dinner set in delicious hues like panna cotta, morel, amaro, and butter.
What's included: Breakfast bowl, everyday bowl, cake plate, side plate, and dinner plate.
East Fork is an Asheville, North Carolina-based small biz that's been throwing and firing pottery since 2009. Today, they are a Certified B Corporation, Climate Neutral Certified (meaning they offset and reduce all of their greenhouse gas emissions), and they "partner with local non-profit, grassroots organizations and individuals working toward racial equity, community reconciliation, and the liberation of folks who’ve been systematically oppressed by white supremacy, patriarchy, and heteronormativity."
Promising reviews: "Great pieces worthy of collection and praise. We have been slowly collecting pieces of East Fork as we go and absolutely love how durable and beautiful they are." —Grant and Vicki T.
"I've been eyeing all of the beautiful dishes on East Fork's site for years, and finally took the plunge. I'm so glad I did — I absolutely love how they look in my kitchen and feel in my hands. :) The fact that EF is a B Corp is icing on the cake!!! Thrilled with my purchase!" —Chris R.
Get it from East Fork for $146 (originally $162; available in eight colors).
6. An acacia wood and marble salt cellar so you can add a little pizzazz — a la salt bae — to your next dish.
Promising review: "I was a little worried that this container would let in moisture, allowing the salt to clump over time. But I've been using this for quite a while now, and it does the job perfectly. It's also attractive on the countertop and has gotten compliments. I consider this a very worthwhile kitchen purchase." —Editing_Gal
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in six styles).
7. A set of stoneware measuring cups 'cause turns out, eyeballing your ingredients will not get you Gordon Ramsay results. Plus, they stack inside one another so you don't have to give up any precious counter or cabinet space! (Not pictured: me crying in my tiny Brooklyn kitchen.)
8. Or a set of gold measuring cups and spoons that won't melt when oops! you accidentally leave them too close to the stove.
What's included: Stainless steel 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, and 1/4 teaspoon.
Promising review: "These are so beautiful and just as pictured. The quality is great. Very sturdy. I absolutely love them." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 8- and 10-piece sets).
9. A set of decorative trivets made to protect your table from the scorching heat of your latest creation: an over-microwaved Hot Pocket (AKA molten lava straight from Earth's mantle).
Promising review: "This was a really hard purchase for me. I searched for quite a bit but couldn't settle on any trivets that also fit the aesthetic of my kitchen. These are perfect! Love the color, size, shape, dimensions… all of it. It was hard to press that purchase button though just because of the price (there are sooooo many cheaper options), but these seem like they will stand the test of time." —Anna
Get a set of three from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three colors).
10. A pastel knife set with such an arresting design, one reviewer warns not to forget they're super sharp, too!!!
Promising review: "I am a sucker for everyday use items that are effective at what they do and also super beautiful to look at. The pastels are just perfect. I agree with everyone, though, do not get comfortable and forget how sharp they are." —Ibric Family
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
11. A seven-piece utensil set in whatever color makes your heart (and subsequently your stomach) sing.
What's included: One can opener, one ice cream scooper, one peeler, one pizza cutter, one garlic press, one cheese grater, and one whisk.
Promising review: "Exactly as depicted... Ordered the mint and rose gold set and they are true to color and very pretty. Some are even now hanging with our copper pans. The pizza cutter comes in a clear sleeve and was way sharper than our pizza rocker. The can opener did its job on the first spin, the peeler was up to the job of carrots, and the whisk was ready to go into the gravy, but was deemed too pretty to use this soon. Would definitely give as a gift. I imagine the navy and rose are just as lovely. Enjoy!" —Ty Po
Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in eight colors and two metal finishes).
12. A ~sage green~ air fryer if you manage to under or over cook your entree every dang time you use your oven. If you thought these things were only for french fries or chicken nuggies, think again. You can crisp up fresh asparagus, cook salmon to flaky perfection, and even bake a GD lemon bundt cake if you so wish!
Promising review: "I don't know why it took me so long to get an air fryer but this thing is a beast and a game changer for me. I was debating on getting this or one of those little ovens to bake and toast things in but I'm glad I decided to get this. Everything about it is easy to use and I haven't had an issue with it at all. I use it almost every day and the uses range from heating things up, toasting bread, frying frozen foods, destroying documents, whatever. It's still going strong like the first day I had it. I line the bin with foil and the tray with foil also so clean-up is a breeze. Sure, I may lose a bit of crispness because of that but I'll take that for ease of cleanup. Like others, a brand-new unit is going to have to go through maybe 5+ cycles with no food in it to get rid of the smell but after that, you can throw anything in this thing. The 5-quart size is perfect for me and might be just a tad big for apartments but I can live with that since I like to load it up." —R
Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in four sizes and six colors).
13. A three-tier stand on which you can display the scones and tea sandwiches you put your blood, sweat, and (mostly) tears into.
Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this stand. It was super easy to assemble. It is beautiful and classy and perfect for any occasion. I used it for my engagement party and plan to find an excuse to use it for all future occasions!" —Anj K
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in 12 colors/styles).
14. A set of three complementary cutting boards that not only kill it in the color department, but give you options so you don't have to wash and rewash a single board when you're preparing multiple things. That comes in especially clutch when you're working with things like chicken that require way more than a quick rinse.
Promising review: "I needed some easy-to-clean and store cutting boards. These are great! I actually need to get one more set because I use them so often!! They are so easy to just rinse and toss in the dishwasher. The colors are cute too." —Michele Carroll
Get the three-piece set from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two colors).
15. Or a virtually-impossible-to-destroy wooden butcher block if you're really hard on your kitchen prods. I've decided it's not only the most stylish way to go, but also the most cost-effective because it won't melt or snap!
Promising review: "A beautiful cutting board. It feels 'clean' — beautiful design, great finish, good weight, and no warping! The pictures really don't do it justice; as good as it looks on paper, it's even nicer in person. The juice channel is smoothly cut, definitely not the rough, 'late addition' feel that some other boards have. Hand-holds on each end are cut well and perfectly placed, good utility without feeling like an afterthought." —JB
Get it from Amazon for $67.69+ (available in three styles).
16. A set of eye-catching colanders so you can flex on your roommates/house guests the next time you make your famous Annie's mac 'n' cheese.
17. A compact Balmuda toaster that — according to reviewers — can take a 99-cent baguette and turn it into a boulangerie-worthy loaf.
The sleek Japanese appliance surrounds your food with a thin layer of steam that holds in moisture while also toasting its exterior. While its "Artisan Bread Mode" is the most talked about feature, it also has settings for sandwiches, pizza, pastries, and overcooking (during which it toasts more strongly from above).
Promising review: "Holy moly! Best toast I have ever made. I did a comparison taste test with the Balmuda toaster vs. my cheapie $60 toaster oven. You can really taste the difference in the toast when it comes to texture and moistness. Hands down the Balmuda blew my other toaster out of the water. So happy with this purchase!" —JL
Get it from Amazon for $299 (available in four colors).
18. A marble mortar and pestle made to crush up whatever spices you like. It also works well with pills if your dog has outwitted your tuck-it-in-a-slice-of-cheese scheme.
Promising review: "This is a perfect size for small jobs. I like the inside grooves which help when grinding things like rosemary as it keeps them from bouncing out and also introduces added friction. I purchased the 4.5-inch one and it's definitely small but it has enough weight to do the job. Also it looks nice." —Melody
Get it from Amazon for $13.10+ (available in two options).
19. A hammered copper pan set so you can channel your inner Ina Garten and whip up a pea and pancetta starter and skillet-roasted chicken at the very same time.
Promising review: "Love these pans! They’re gorgeous and super easy to clean. I bought a Gotham Steel pan set on Amazon two years ago and have been using them almost every day. I love the quality of the pans, how fast they heat up, and that you don’t need to season them. The cleaning is super easy, we just throw them in the dishwasher and 45 minutes later, they come out perfectly clean. My husband and I moved into a new place in January and were buying new items for our kitchen. We looked for another cookware set from Gotham Steel and found this hammered copper set. After deliberating between this and the original lower-priced ones, I finally decided to buy these more expensive copper pans. I’M SO GLAD I DID. No oils or butter needed. No need to season them. Cleanup is almost too easy. I have a gas stove, no problem heating up just like the originals. And they look really nice. I can leave them on my stove top without worrying about the clutter. I’m going to give out a few of these for gifts come Christmas time." —Kane G.
Get the five-piece set from Amazon for $86.06.
20. A set of four cherry blossom dishes you can use for everything from mise en place (AKA prep) to soy sauce and wasabi if you're having a homemade sushi night.
Promising reviews: "These are super cute and perfect for size for individual side sauces or soy sauce for sushi." —Serena Di Millo
"These are absolutely adorable, and the photos are very true to their actual appearance. They are a little shallow/small but I knew that they would be mini so that isn't a surprise. Overall a lovely addition to my dishware." —Megan
Get the four-piece set from Amazon for $13.99 (available in two colors).
21. A retro microwave that will add a certain je ne sais quoi to your two-ingredient, Taco Bell-style cheesy rollup. 👩🍳 💋
Promising review: "I’ve had this for a couple of months now. One quick read through the instructions and I was ready to go. Very easy to operate and I have run into zero issues thus far. Absolutely love the vintage vibe. I purchased the electric kettle and toaster to match. Could not be happier with my purchase." —Tdub12345
Get it from Amazon for $89.98+ (available in four colors).
22. Or, if green is more your thing, a four-slice retro toaster with enough room to crisp sizable, NYC-style bagels — no smushing necessary.
Promising review: "Is it possible... a toaster can be... this sexy? Yes. Absolutely yes. This sexy toaster fit right in my farmhouse-style kitchen with its cool mint green color and retro vibes. Pros: Four slots and they are the wide and long type meaning those fancier breads fit without squishing the sides of your slice. It has a bagel setting, as well as a nifty reheat button so your toast doesn't get burnt or overly crispy if you aren't hovering over it and miss it pop up and have to retoast it. It is fairly easy to clean, just dump the tray, so no worries about crumbs or bits of bread burning in the bottom and ruining the perfect taste of your slice. The knobs have a neat texture and are adjustable so you can time it just right for Pop Tarts, toast, or toasted sandwich bread. Cons: My husband is a little jealous of how much I love this toaster, and has been asking me if it is better than him. What could I say? I mean it makes TOAST, all he makes is methane gas so... Maybe consider ordering a couples therapy workbook to go with this toaster when purchasing." —Alice R.
Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in two colors).
23. A sleek, three-speed Smeg blender that won't even blink twice at whatever ingredients you like to add to your smoothie. If your current setup shudders at the thought of a single ice cube, it's worth the investment.
Promising reviews: "This might be the best blender I've ever owned. I dream of preparing delicious smoothies every day." —Samantha Villavicencio
"We primarily use this for smoothies and milkshakes. It works beautifully. It's quiet, fast, and blends efficiently and thoroughly. I've had several blenders and this is the best. Worth the money." —Kristin Lim
Get it from Amazon for $299.95 (available in seven colors).
24. A Great Jones casserole dish ready and waiting to bake up your signature dish: Frito pie. It may not be the most photogenic fare, but this baby will put in serious work as soon as it's placed in front of a camera.
If you haven't heard of Great Jones before (welcome to the party!) they're a direct-to-consumer brand from foodies and first-time entrepreneurs Sierra Tishgart and Maddy Moelis. Their brand — named for cookbook author/editor Judith Jones — looks to bring home cooks everything they need to take to the kitchen more confidently.
Get it from Great Jones for $75 (available in four colors).
25. A pack of bamboo chopsticks you can keep in color-coordinated pairs or mix and match like the twinless socks in your drawer.
26. A pastel KitchenAid mixer just begging you to try your hand at every Christina Tosi creation. Imagine a world in which you perfect Milk Bar's signature birthday cake and can eat it whenever you want. 🍰 🤤
What's included: A 5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl, flat beater, wire whip, clear two-piece pouring shield, and spiral dough hook
Promising review: "My 32-year-old KitchenAid mixer is still working but I’ve been watching for a 5-quart bowl in a serene blue and finally found it at Crate & Barrel. I love the color, the polished finish on the bowl, and the non-stick finish on the paddle and whisk. It works great of course — as evidenced by the cinnamon rolls I made from my first KitchenAid’s cookbook. A seamless transition of traditions." —Dorothy
Get it from Crate & Barrel for $349.95+ (originally $449.95; available in 19 colors).
27. A wooden egg holder that keeps your stash in easy view so you never have to deal with the day-ruining ordeal that is going to make banana bread and pulling out a near-empty egg carton.
28. A Levo II herbal oil and butter infusion machine if one of your absolute FAVORITE parts of going out to eat is getting that pre-meal basket of bread and a tiny dish of artisan oil to dip it in.
P.S. you can even make soaps, bath bombs, and ~infused~ brownies or gummies with the Levo. All you have to do is fill the herb pod and set your dry or activation cycle, add oil or butter, set your infuse cycle, dispense, and enjoy
Levo is a woman-owned small business founded in 2016 by Chrissy Bellman and based in Denver, Colorado.
Promising review: "We love our Levo II! Can't imagine a better way to spend time than learning how to make my own infused oils that help our whole family, whatever the need. Want to add zest to a recipe? Make a concoction to help your loved one sleep? Try a new salad dressing without the mess? Whatever the need, LEVO II will help make an oil, a botanical, a new soap, tea or a lotion that is perfect. The app is abundant with recipes and ideas, so I feel supported with each and every step. East fast clean up. End to end customer experience is exceptional!" —Kendall E. Coleman
Get it from Amazon for $299 (available in five colors).
29. Or — if that sounds like something you'll use once and then forget about forever — a mini essentials kit from Brightland. It comes with two EVOOs and two fruit-forward vinegars so you can dip your breads and dress your salads with something that makes you feel Lisa Vanderpump-level fancyyyyy.
Brightland is a WOC–owned small biz, from Aishwarya Iyer, that sources its olives from a family-run farm in California.
Promising review: "The oils taste so GOOD — really fresh and light. I love that they add so much flavor to every dish making me a chef at home!" —Barbiana L.
Get it from Brightland for $70.
30. A beauuuuuutiful bottle grinder set so even if you do slip up and order takeout, you can at least sprinkle on your own freshly ground salt and pepper.
Get the set from Menu Design Shop for $109.95 (available in 10 colors).
31. Or an automatic spice grinder so you can top off every dish with a bit of spice and in the most ✨extra✨ fashion imaginable.
BTW — this grinder is battery-operated, so make sure to get a few AA batteries, too!
Promising reviews: "Nothing like freshly ground spices to add a little snap to your cooking. The pods snap on and off with ease and the grind size is very easy to adjust from barely ground to pulverized... The ability to group commonly used spices together in threes and carry them across the kitchen or outside to the grill just adds to the usability." —Todd Tittle
Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in four colors, comes with grinder and two interchangeable pods).
32. And a quilted floral oven mitt if your homemaker icon is none other than That '70s Shows' Kitty Forman.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.