It’s hard to believe summer is over, but there’s still plenty to see after the summer, from tweed fashion ads to Halloween candy displays to the launch of Starbucks’ fall menu. Luckily, nothing eases the end-of-season ache like some retail therapy. Use Labor Day sales as an excuse to upgrade your baking and braising gear and stock up on kitchen essentials before the weather cools down.
Here, Eater writers and editors rounded up the must-buy items right now from brands and retailers that are slashing prices so we can buy our veggies. Happy Labor Day!
Space Saver
In my kitchen, I have a storage shelf with an ever-growing number of Pyrex containers, and every time I open it, the lids come raining down on me. (The Pyrex bowls stack nicely, but the lids tend to just get tossed there haphazardly.) To solve this problem, it’s time to buy this smart lid organizer. I have two similar ones. Frying pan and pot lid It was a game changer for those cabinets too. Erin DeJesus, Editor-in-Chief
The perfect spatula
My most used tool in the kitchen is a little spatula. It’s perfect for scraping every last drop of pesto from the mini food chopper, scooping every last drop of Kewpie mayonnaise from the tube, and mixing sandwich spreads in little bowls to get every last drop out. I love that this pack comes in two widths; the super thin spatula is perfect for narrow containers like honey jars. — Bettina Macalintal, Senior Reporter
Required Armor
We’ve said it once (maybe twice), and we’ll say it again: If you’re using a mandolin, use a cutting glove. Cucumber influencer Logan Moffit has been daring everyone with his professional-grade slicer, and that’s all well and good, but it only takes one misstep to ruin an otherwise wicked moment of slicing an entire cucumber. These cutting gloves are easy to use, easy to clean, and incredibly inexpensive, especially right now. The seams aren’t. — Leslie Suter, Director of Special Projects
Travel Brewer
I’m a morning coffee addict. I need a cup of coffee to get that first cup of coffee. This is often an issue when traveling, where the mediocre coffee served in the lobby requires you to put on pants (again, you need caffeine for this) or the less-than-clean in-room coffee is Keurig at best, Keurig at worst. Coffee geeks swear by the Aeropress system. of For the ultimate coffee situation — portable or not — the super-compact travel version is on sale now at REI, and it can brew one to three cups in about a minute, which is about the length of time I’m willing to wait to return to my fancy hotel bed. — LS
Impulse buying in practice
Whenever there is a seasonal sale, we tend to end up buying things we don’t need just because they are usually expensive but are now a little cheaper. But guess what is something that we always need, always affordable, and now even cheaper? It’s kitchen towels. We probably need more kitchen towels too, to wipe up stains, to dry dishes, or to sling over our shoulders and pretend we’re going out. BearEven if you don’t need it now, you’ll definitely need it in 6 months because it will have burned, torn, or become too dirty to use, so stock up. — Jaya Saxena, Correspondent
Trendsetter
This summer has definitely been the summer of the Snackle Box, a portable, maximalist, one-of-a-kind approach to taking loads of snacks to the beach, a picnic, or basically anywhere you think a charcuterie platter’s worth of snacks is appropriate. The box, which we featured earlier this year, is now on sale on Amazon and offers eight separate compartments for maximum variety and a handle on top for easy transport. — EDJ
Table saver
As someone with a wooden dining table that shows water stains even when viewed from the side, I have strong opinions about placemats. The main opinion is that Uashmama placemats are basically perfect: they look great, are easy to clean, come in lots of lovely colors, and most importantly, they don’t get condensation on your table. I have four and have been meaning to buy more, and now that Food52 is having a site-wide 20% off sale, it’s time to add to my collection. —Rebecca Flint Marx, Editor at Eater at Home
Guardian of Summer
With Labor Day weekend fast approaching, we still have at least a month of warm weather to look forward to on the West Coast (hopefully), so it’s finally time to buy that big portable picnic blanket I’ve been considering all summer. The waterproof lining provides a nice cushion for those slightly damp mornings and when autumn starts to start to feel in the air. — EDJ
Grill Griddle
Flattops are the latest trendy gadget for outdoor cooking enthusiasts, with companies like Traeger and Weber selling giant griddles as alternatives to full-sized barbecue grills, but what if I told you that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a big rig to achieve your quick cooking dreams? Lightweight Carbon Steel Griddle This product from Made In transforms your existing grill into a surface perfect for cooking the perfect smashburger with crispy edges. — Ashok Selvam, Editor, Eater Chicago
Oven MVP
Baking sheets are the MVPs of my kitchen. They’re perfect for veggie prep, grilling, one-dish dinners, and of course baking. I love the look of these bright pink sheets from Great Jones. The Sheet Show set on sale now includes a large skillet and two small ones. I’m intrigued by the idea of purchasing a few cooling racks in a contrasting color to brighten up my small kitchen space. — Stephanie Wu, Editor in Chief
A salt well with a double role
For a few months I’ve been making do with my wooden salt shaker, but it’s reached the end of its life. There’s a big crack in the side and the tiny screw is doing all it can to hold it together (somehow the salt is still in it!). I recently saw someone use this little Le Creuset cocotte to hold their salt, and I thought it was adorable. This huge discount is the final push I need to finally replace my salt shaker. — B.M.
Hot Meal Keeper
I don’t have a Stanley Cup, and I’m not planning on buying one. But I will buy these super sturdy looking insulated food jars and spoons. I pack a lot of lunches, and when it gets colder, it’s nice to have something hot for my kids to eat that stays hot the whole time they’re at school. Plus, I’ll buy anything that comes with a spoon. — LS
Fancy Booster Plus
The toaster oven is hands down the most used appliance in my kitchen, and as a result, it’s also the dirtiest. My parents have been pestering me for a cleaner, less damaged model for literally months now, so I think it’s finally time to invest in a Cuisinart toaster/air fryer hybrid. It’s the decidedly premium version that I’ve had my eye on for a while, and at 35% off, it’s the perfect bargain to escape my parents’ pestering. — EDJ
Pasta Pro
For years, I’ve been eyeing a pasta attachment for my KitchenAid mixer. I usually roll out pasta by hand with a rolling pin, which results in edible but bland (i.e. sloppy) noodles. How much faster would I be able to roll out pasta if I let the KitchenAid do it? And how evenly? Now we might actually find out, since the attachment is on sale. — By Kat Thompson, Deputy Editor
Kettle Upgrade
I’m a pragmatist at heart, and that extends to my special interests, too, so when I saw the price tags on many of Fellow’s most high-end, decorated kettles, grinders, and kits, I felt like a Fast and Furious budget accountant. This streamlined version of the Stagg Kettle is much more approachable for aspiring beverage makers who don’t need a kettle with over-the-top bells and whistles or a handsome bald man painted on a greasy tank, although having one would be nice. — Jesse Sparks, Senior Editor
School Supplies
It’s back-to-school season, and with a star-studded lineup of Masterclass instructors including Eater favorites like Mashama Bailey, Alice Waters, Dominique Crenn, José Andrés, Madhur Jaffrey, and Niki Nakayama, there’s no denying the star-studded kitchen power. The list of names alone is enough to impress my parents, and with 50% off through Labor Day, we’ll definitely be picking up one of the programs this Christmas. — LS
Cookout Plus Up
Yes, of course, no one needs I want a wok for outdoor use, but there’s no way it wouldn’t be the ultimate tailgate proofing tool – the smoke detector usually goes off when the wok on the stove gets to temperature, so being able to cook outside solves multiple problems. — LS
Investment bread
Stainless steel may seem scary, but just make sure the pan is hot enough before using it, and I promise any proteins, eggs, or anything else you cook in this magical device will melt away in time. I’ve been using All-Clad pans for years and they’ve never budged. The magic of All-Clad pots and pans is that they’re a lifetime investment and can be easily transported from stove to oven. — KT
Classic Blazer
It’s not fall without some Dutch oven simmering. Maximize your seasonal soup and stew with Le Creuset’s Crème de la Crème Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, currently a whopping 42 percent off. Mine is the signature flame color, but why not switch it up with oysters or some perky purple shallots? — LS
Baking Trio
Baking season is upon us, and if you’re still using aluminum baking pans from the grocery store, it’s time to upgrade. Restaurant favorite Staub’s four-piece baking set is on sale for nearly 50% off Labor Day only, and it comes in three colors—red, white, and blue—perfectly election-worthy. LS
Hail Mary
Ok, let’s try that again. Umm… Hello family! This is me, your extended family member, saying it loud and clear that I want an outdoor pizza oven as a holiday gift this year. I say it again: someone please buy me an outdoor pizza oven. [I have made this request the last three years in a row and yet, still no oven.] Let’s get this straight. This highly rated 5-in-1 Ninja oven is super practical as a smoker, roaster, and pizza oven, and it’s on sale now at a huge discount at Walmart. We know you have a Walmart store near you, but shipping is free. Oh, I wish my loved one would buy it for me. I understand, I look forward to it. — LS
