Kitchen Gear

Short, opinionated buying guides. Fewer picks, clearer reasoning, no 40-item listicles.

Buying guide

Best cast iron skillet

You don't need a $200 skillet. Here's the cast iron pan that wins for 95% of kitchens, the upgrade for enthusiasts, and who should skip cast iron entirely.

Read the verdicts →
Buying guide

Best chef's knife under $100

Skip the knife block. One good chef's knife does 90% of kitchen work — here are the three worth buying under $100, from a $25 workhorse to a Japanese upgrade.

Read the verdicts →
Buying guide

Best Dutch oven

A Lodge braises like a Le Creuset for a fifth of the cost. The value pick that wins most kitchens, the braiser worth the upgrade, and the icon you overpay for.

Read the verdicts →
Buying guide

Best everyday dinnerware

Everyday plates should survive the dishwasher, the microwave, and your roommate. The three dinnerware sets worth buying, from $40 practical to heirloom.

Read the verdicts →