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I Test Kitchen Gear for a Living—These Are the 10 Labor Day Weekend Deals Worth Buying

Including deals on our favorite Le Creuset Dutch oven and Instant Pot pressure cooker.

By
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly headshot against a black background
Grace Kelly
Senior Editor

Grace Kelly is a senior editor for Serious Eats, where she's tested thousands of kitchen products. Before this, she worked at America's Test Kitchen and was a prep cook and bartender. 

Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Published August 28, 2025 04:30AM EDT
A person removes cooked meat from the Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 6-Quart Pressure Cooker

Serious Eats

I’ve tested loads of kitchen equipment: Dutch ovens, sauté pans, knives of all shapes and sizes, pizza ovens, and even fire pits. Suffice it to say, I know a thing or two about what’s worth the countertop/backyard/kitchen space—and what’s worth snagging, especially when it’s on sale for Labor Day weekend. There are plenty of deals to be had on retailers like Amazon and Williams Sonoma. I combed through the sales to find discounts on kitchen items that I, a pro equipment tester, think are worth it. 

The 10 Best, Editor-Loved Labor Day Weekend Deals, at a Glance

  • The Best Dutch Oven: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven with Lid, 5.5 Quart

    Amazon Prime Day Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven

    Amazon

    This is the Dutch oven to beat all Dutch ovens—so when it’s on sale, I say grab it. In my tests, the light enamel seared meat deeply, and it stood up to some aggressive thwacking with a spoon in my durability tests. I’ve been using it ever since, and it’s still in pristine condition.

    le creuset dutch oven on a stovetop

    Serious Eats

  • Our Favorite Zojirushi Rice Cooker: Zojirushi NW-QAC10 5.5-Cup Capacity Flat-Top Induction Cooker

    Zojirushi Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer NW-QAC10

    Zojirushi

    Zojirushi is synonymous with rice cookers—and it makes some of our team’s favorites. I was a rice cooker skeptic, but I’ve been converted. This rice cooker lets me whip up a pot of rice without the dreaded starchy water overflow and subsequent stovetop cleaning. It ain’t cheap, but it’s on sale for a limited time for Labor Day.

  • The Best Instant-Read Thermometer: ThermoWorks Themapen ONE

    ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE

    King Arthur Baking

    Everyone should have an instant read thermometer. It takes the mystery out of cooking, ensuring perfect results every time. I've had a Thermapen ONE for a few years now and it's speed and accuracy is unmatched, so this is definitely a deal worth grabbing.

    A white Thermapen ONE thermometer with its probe extended on a marble countertop.

    Serious Eats

  • The Best Trash Can: simplehuman 10 Gallon Rectangular Kitchen Step Trash Can

    Amazon Simplehuman 38-Liter Kitchen Step Can

    Amazon

    A good trash can makes the difference between your kitchen being pristine and smell-free or being a stinky breeding ground for flies. The simplehuman is not only our favorite trash can after testing, but it's the one I’ve been using for about three years. The hinged lid opens smoothly and keeps even the worst smells (rotten potatoes are truly foul) contained. It’s currently over 20% off for Labor Day.

    A person places an inner can into the simplehuman 38-Liter Brushed Stainless Steel Steel Trash Can with Lid

    Serious Eats

  • A Powerful Sous Vide Machine: Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Pro

    Amazon Anova Precision Cooker 3.0

    Amazon

    Sous vide cooking is all about temperature precision. This machine from Anova aced every one of our temperature tests, and it has a super simple interface to boot. It’s a whopping 53% off for Labor Day, one of the lowest prices I’ve seen.

    Person pouring water into a Anova Culinary Precision Cooker 3.0 on a countertop

    Serious Eats

  • An Awesome Chef’s Knife: Misono UX10 Chef's Knife

    A person sharpens the Misono UX10 Chef’s Knife No. 712

    Serious Eats

    Have I mentioned I love this chef’s knife? No? Well, let me say it again: I love this Misono chef’s knife. It’s sharp, balanced, and has a nimble blade that makes it adept at tasks big and small: dicing onions, coring tomatoes, and even deboning chicken thighs. Rarely on sale, it’s currently slightly discounted for Labor Day. But hey, a couple of bucks is something!

    Finely sliced carrot on the Misono UX10 Chef’s Knife No. 712 blade

    Serious Eats

  • A Versatile, Classic Set of Ramekins: DOWAN Ramekins

    DOWAN 4 oz Ramekins - Ramekins for Creme Brulee Porcelain Ramekins Oven Safe, Classic Style Ramekins for Baking Souffle Ramekins Bowls, Set of 6, White

    Amazon

    Ramekins are my go-to for holding snacks and even ice cream. This set from Dowan was my winner due to its classic look (it pairs well with any kitchen style) and stellar performance: Soufflés rose nicely, and coddled eggs cooked evenly. Grab this essential ramekin set on sale for Labor Day.

    dowan ramekins with currants

    Serious Eats

  • A Do-It-All Instant Pot: Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker

    Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 6-Quart Pressure Cooker

    Amazon

    I love my Instant Pot. It’s a weeknight hero—especially if you’re like me and forgot to soak beans or want to throw together a quick beef stew. The eight-quart version of our winner is currently discounted by over 30% for Labor Day, so it’s the time to buy.

    A person removes cooked meat from the Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 6-Quart Pressure Cooker

    Serious Eats

  • A Bento Box Lunchbox for Back to School (or Work!): Bentgo MicroSteel Leak-Proof Lunch Box

    Bentgo Microsteel Lunch Box

    Bentgo

    Whether it’s back to school or back to the office after vacation, a sturdy, leakproof lunchbox is in order. This option from Bentgo has been our favorite through multiple rounds of testing because of its sleek form factor and leakproof lid.  It has a removable divider, too, if you want to pack an extra-large sandwich.

    Bentgo Microsteel Lunch Box with food in it

    Serious Eats

  • Cute, Stacking Espresso Cups and Saucers: Sweese 2.5 Ounce Porcelain Stackable Espresso Cups with Saucers and Metal Stand

    Sweese 2.5 Ounce Porcelain Stackable Espresso Cups with Saucers

    Amazon

    Pulling a shot of espresso into a coffee mug looks a bit funny. A better option: espresso cups, the perfect way to sip that bold brew. I have been eyeing this cute, café-chic set, and now that they’re on sale, I’ll be adding to my cart. (Make sure to toggle the $5 coupon to get the deal!)

    drinking espresso from Sweese Porcelain Stackable Espresso Cups on a marble counter top

    Serious Eats / Irvin Lin

FAQs

When is Labor Day weekend 2025?

Labor Day is Monday, September 1, 2025. Sales run from August 30 until then, and even after. 

Where can you find Labor Day kitchen gear deals?

Amazon, Williams Sonoma, and other kitchen retailers are offering sales on select kitchen equipment for Labor Day. 

Why We’re the Experts

  • Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Serious Eats. She’s tested hundreds of kitchen items, including Dutch ovens and fish spatulas. Her Instant Pot has saved dinner on multiple occasions. 
  • Our team at Serious Eats tests gear all the time, so we know what’s worth adding to your kitchen.
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