Instant Pot Duo
Amazon, Walmart (Out of Stock)
What would a kitchen deals post be without an Instant Pot? The perpetually on sale Instant Pot is a good, reasonably priced entry point to the world of pressure cooking. This model has nine different functions, from cooking rice to making yogurt. It’s big enough for family meals, and the end results will be just as tasty as on the more expensive models.
ThermoWorks’ Thermapen series thermometers are the Cadillacs of the instant-read thermometer world. They’re not cheap, but they’re reliable, simple to use, and last forever. I’ve been using mine for years and it’s every bit as good as the day it arrived. The One is accurate to ±0.5 degrees Fahrenheit and takes one second to read the temp. Note that Thermapen doesn’t sell on Amazon and we suggest avoiding any Thermapens (or knock-offs) you see there.
This is in our guide to the Best Chef’s Knives, and it was the most common knife in every restaurant I’ve worked in. It’s lightweight, holds its edge very well, and since the blade is thinner and softer than most European-style knives, it’s easier to sharpen.
Vitamix 5200.
Photograph: AmazonThere are blenders, and then there are Vitamix blenders. I was a skeptic, but like my fellow Gear reviewer Joe Ray, the Vitamix made me a blender person. A blender is, essentially, just a blade atop a motor. Everything else just gets in the way. The motor is why the Vitamix is so good. And yes, the Vitamix is expensive, but it’s worth it. This isn’t the best deal we’ve ever seen for it, but it’s the best we’ve seen this year.
If you think of a blender as a smoothie-making machine, this is the blender you want. It’s not an earthshaking deal, but the Nutribullet is the perfect single-serving smoothie maker, and the blending container doubles as your glass, so you can blend and go.
The Tea Spot (Enter CYBERTEA at Checkout)
One of our favorite tea shops is having a site-wide sale. I’m especially fond of this tumbler, which serves as a brewer and keeps your tea hot for several hours. The deal also nets you three tea samples. You’ll also get free shipping (unless you’re in Alaska or Hawaii).