What we like: Our top blender pick. Powerful motor. Wide range of speeds. Sturdy plastic jar with a grippy handle. Exceptional seven-year warranty. Automatic shutoff feature. Easy to clean.
Other things to know: Pricey. No high-powered blender could be described as quiet, but we found the Vitamix's noise to be quieter than others. Rarely goes on sale, and sells out fast. We still haven't seen it come close again to the $300 deal we saw last October Prime Day.
What we like: Our top cheap coffee maker pick. Easy to use and ultra-customizable. Consistently brewed the best-tasting, hottest coffee among the budget-friendly machines we tested. Removable water reservoir allows you to fill it directly from the sink.
Other things to know: Carafe lid can be fiddly. Average brew time of 13 minutes for a full pot. Measuring scoop included.
What we like: Our runner-up pick for the best cheap coffee maker. Reliably brews good coffee. Has some of the most useful features of all the cheap coffee makers we tested, including a self-clean function and user control of the hot plate's holding temperature.
Other things to know: Water tank was the hardest to fill in our tests, with measurements that are nearly impossible to read.
What we like: Our runner-up home espresso machine pick. More automated than our top pick. Has a sleek design, powerful steam wand, and built-in grinder. Touchscreen control center with step-by-step tutorials and multiple programs makes things easy for first-time baristas. Offers manual options for those with more experience.
Other things to know: Two-year warranty. Built-in grinder isn't as fine-tuned as standalone espresso-focused grinders. The portafilter size makes it harder to dial in your shots and can't accommodate larger doses.
What we like: Our former top espresso machine pick for beginners is still worth considering at this price. Powerful and dependable. Fast, fun, and easy to use. Small footprint. Consistent espresso shots and silky frothed milk.
Other things to know: Auto-clean setting is a bit cumbersome. Lacks hot-water dispenser. Two-year warranty. We've seen this for a little less, but this is a solid price.
What we like: Our top coffee grinder pick grinds coffee more evenly, and on a wider range of settings, than any other machine we've tested in the same price range. A workhorse that produces the consistent grind our experts seek. Reliable, modestly-sized, and easy to use. Also easy to clean and maintain. An investment you can rely on morning after morning.
Other things to know: The grind of your beans plays an important part in getting that perfect cuppa. Won't produce the tiny adjustments in fine grinds that thrill serious espresso enthusiasts, but can still produce fine enough grounds to pull a decent shot.
What we like: Our top pitcher-style milk frother pick. Straightforward controls. Nine temperature and froth setting combinations, including cold foam for iced lattes. Makes decadent, dense foam. Melts chocolate for hot cocoa, too. Magnetic whisk. Pours smoothly.
Other things to know: Stainless steel pitcher gets hot. Top-rack dishwasher-safe. Makes foam for one to two drinks at a time. Not as fast as other frothers. Works with both dairy and nondairy milks. One-year warranty.
What we like: A pick in our guide to the absolute best white elephant gifts under $25. These plastic Russian nesting dolls are really six handy dry measuring cups. Each half is cleverly labeled with six dry measuring increments, from a quarter to a full cup.
What we like: Our upgrade electric pressure-cooker pick. More cooking control than our top pick, with five temperature levels and five presets. Quieter steam release. Huge, intuitive LCD screen. Inner cooking pot is stove- and oven-safe (up to 450 °F) with stay-cool handles for easy lifting.
Other things to know: Among the few models compatible with Instant Pot's QuickCool Tray. Doesn't preheat faster than our top pick. Extra functions aren't that helpful. One-year warranty. Deal is for the 6-quart size. At Home Depot, price reflects in cart.
What we like: Our top immersion blender pick. Offers better control over blending soup and smoothies. Powerful motor and a unique blade. Easy to adjust speed with a firm press of the control button. Comfortable to use one-handed. Outperformed more expensive Braun models in our tests.
Other things to know: Comes with whisk and chopping attachments, but they require some finesse. We found the measurements on the accompanying beaker cup hard to read.
What we like: The best grater for speedy grating. Looks a little gimmicky, but it lives up to its promise. Efficient shredder. Can blitz through a variety of foods with ease. Comes with a single drum frame and swappable blade panels in five sizes. Stuck more securely to our counter than any other rotary grater we tested.
Other things to know: Blades store away neatly in a handy holder when not in use. Panels can be fussy to swap. Some settings are misleading. Tough to clean without a dishwasher. For those with limited hand dexterity setup may be difficult, but use is easier than a box grater. 90-day Woot warranty. Ships free for Prime members.
What we like: Our top pick for the best dry food storage containers. Durable plastic containers with a great seal. Held up through multiple drop tests and trips through the dishwasher. Stack neatly and efficiently into cabinets. Easy to scoop and pour from.
Other things to know: We only recommend for storing dry ingredients. Plastic clasps require multiple steps to open and close. Replacement containers and lids aren't sold individually. Deal for a set of five containers, 3.2 cups each.
What we like: A staff-pick grill press. Made of heavy-duty stainless steel, with a 6-inch flat surface. Especially easy to clean. You can evenly smash foods without overexerting yourself. Fixed wooden handle sits a comfortable 2.5 inches away from the heat source.
Other things to know: Also makes a great, inexpensive gift. The handle's gloss coating gets slightly slippery as oil splatters onto its surface. Round shape of the press might not work best for all cooking scenarios. Hand-wash with water and mild soap (avoid bleach).
Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet -- Top Pick
Target deal price: $12 (with store pickup or Circle Card); street price: $18
What we like: Our top baking sheet pick. Sturdy, inexpensive sheet pan that bakes evenly and will last for years. Workhorse of a pan that can handle a wide variety of tasks.
Other things to know: Some other aluminum pans may perform on a par, but the Nordic Ware consistently costs the least of pans of its quality. We've seen less per pan in two-packs, but it was years ago and prices have gone up consistently since. To avoid shipping fees, choose store pickup, purchase with a Circle Card, or add to a larger order.
What we like: Our runner-up pick for the best microwave. A good midsize model with ample power. Solid features, including a mute option, automatic reheating, and a door handle instead of a button. Looks better than most microwaves in its price range.
Other things to know: Doesn't heat as quickly or as evenly as our top pick. Most microwaves are essentially the same, but this model's features stand out. Has a handle instead of a button. One-year warranty.
Not the lowest deal we've seen, but street price is on the rise.
What we like: An at-home frozen drink maker we like.
Took TikTok by storm.
Actually works well making professional-quality slushies and is easy to use and clean.
Presets for slush, frozen juice, spiked slush, milkshakes, and frappé.
Convenient for entertaining and hosting.
Other things to know: We think our Vitamix blender pick is a better investment that offers similar results.
This deal is the same price at which the Slushi originally launched, but it matches the only sales we've seen so far.