30 Best Labor Day Sales on Tested Kitchen Gear

Fries cooking in the KitchenAid Dual Convection Countertop Oven with Air Fryer — Serious Eats

With Labor Day comes the official end of summer (boo), cooler temperatures (hiss), and major sales (hooray!). Whether you’re mourning the loss of sunny summer days or can’t wait to get into the “-ber” months, I highly suggest closing out the season with some well-deserved sales-shopping for kitchen appliances and tools. But, as somebody’s grandmother always used to say, “It’s not a deal unless you need it.” With that in mind, I’ve scoured this year’s Labor Day kitchen deals and pulled out the 30 best items—all kitchen essentials. In true Serious Eats fashion, every single one of them has been rigorously (nerdily!) tested by me or others on our team of editors. Shop happily knowing that whatever you browse on this list has been vetted, tested, and approved.

Best Labor Day Sales on Kitchen Essentials, at a Glance

The Best Dutch Oven: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
A Highly Accurate Instant-Read Thermometer: ThermoWorks Themapen ONE
A Pro-Level Sous Vide Machine: Anova Culinary Precision Cooker Pro
Our Winning Vacuum Sealer: Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro
A Foolproof Rice Cooker: KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker
One of Vitamix’s Premium Blenders: Vitamix Ascent X2
Our Longtime Favorite Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
A Small but Powerful Gas Grill: Weber Spirit E-210 Gas Grill
Our Winning Deep Fryer: All-Clad Easy Clean Pro Electric Deep Fryer
The Best Japanese Chef’s Knife: Misono UX10 Gyutou
The Best Breville Coffee Maker: Breville Precision Brewer
A Budget-Friendly Nonstick Pan: Tramontina Professional Fusion 10-Inch Nonstick Frying
A Speedy Electric Kettle: Breville Smart Kettle Luxe
A Chef-Loved Saucier: Made In Stainless Clad Saucier
A Great Budget Food Processor: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

The Best Dutch Oven: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Amazon

$420
$290 at Amazon

It’s a classic. It’s the best. And frankly, it’s the only Dutch oven you’ll ever need to buy. Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron pots are the stuff of legends, and our tests have proven that they’re worth the splurge. They heat beautifully with no hot spots and last for generations. Le Creuset is always a smart buy, but when it’s on sale, I say run—don’t walk.

We Tested 22 Dutch Ovens to Find the Best Ones for Stews, Braises, and Loads More

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A Highly Accurate Instant-Read Thermometer: ThermoWorks Themapen ONE

King Arthur Baking

$119
$101 at Amazon

Cook, grill, and bake better with an instant-read thermometer. These handy tools give you accurate readings in a second or two—or at least, the good ones do. Our whole team loves the Thermapen ONE, and I’ve even gifted a couple to my parents and in-laws. This thermometer rarely goes on sale, so I suggest buying one now if you’ve been eyeing it.

Our Favorite Instant-Read Thermometers Are Lightning-Fast and Incredibly Accurate

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A Pro-Level Sous Vide Machine: Anova Culinary Precision Cooker Pro

Amazon

$400
$94 at Amazon

When we tested sous vide machines, the Anova Precision Cooker Pro blew the competition out of the (evenly heated) water. It has a clear, easy-to-read onboard display and an information-rich app that makes sous vide cooking as easy as pushing a few buttons. It’s mega-powerful with 1200 watts—the most of any immersion circulator we recommend. I’m shocked it’s discounted this steeply, and I don’t want you to sleep on a good deal!

The 4 Best Sous Vide Machines Are Accurate, Fast, and Fun to Use

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Our Winning Vacuum Sealer: Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro

Amazon

$155
$299 at Amazon

Vacuum sealers keep food fresh, quickly infuse meat and vegetables with marinades, and are handy for sous vide cooking. But so many are bulky and loud. The Anova Precision Vacuum Sealer Pro delivers where other sealers fail, and I especially like that it’s safe to use with liquids. There’s no refractory period between sealings, and the machine’s built-in bag cutter works so well. It’s on sale for almost $50 off this Labor Day weekend.

We Tested 25 Vacuum Sealers to Find the 6 Best Ones for Sous Vide and Food Storage

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A Foolproof Rice Cooker: KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker

Amazon

$400
$320 at Amazon

I first tested this rice cooker in early 2024, and I’ve used it almost every day since. It’s worth noting that before owning it, I was anti-rice cooker. But the KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker’s versatility more than makes up for the counter space I need to give it. It’s impossible to make bad rice (or beans, or quinoa, or oats, or…) in this machine. You don’t even need to measure anything—a scale underneath the cookpot takes care of that. It’s on sale this weekend, and I’m telling my whole family; they’re impressed with it whenever they come over for dinner.

After Testing 24 Rice Cookers, We Found the 8 Best Ones for Every Type of Rice

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One of Vitamix’s Premium Blenders: Vitamix Ascent X2

Amazon

$550
$500 at Amazon

The Ascent X2 is one of Vitamix’s most premium blenders. It has three smart presets—smoothie, soup, and frozen dessert—and 10 variable speeds. It’s a sleek looker, but more importantly, it nailed the tests in our review: The smoothies were some of the creamiest, silkiest we made.

Which Vitamix Blender Should You Buy? I Compared (Almost) All of Them

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Our Longtime Favorite Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer

Amazon

$130
$110 at Amazon

You can’t beat this air fryer. Trust me, many have tried. Every time we re-test them, the Instant Vortex comes out on top. The clearly labeled touchscreen is easy to use, and the wide, square basket allows for maximum airflow—this translates to maximum crispiness. Our favorite is the 6-quart size, but it’s currently unavailable at Amazon; however, the 4-quart is in stock and on sale. It’s a perfect size for smaller households or heating leftovers.

We Tested 34 Air Fryers (Making Enough Wings and Fries to Last a Lifetime) to Find the Best Ones

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A Small but Powerful Gas Grill: Weber Spirit E-210 Gas Grill

Weber

$549
$399 at Amazon

The Spirit E-210 is the smallest gas grill we recommend. It only has two burners, but it boasts 450 square inches of cooking space, four tool hooks, and two side tables. Of course, it also comes with Weber’s excellent customer service and a 10-year warranty. Buy it this weekend, and you’ll knock $150 off the price.

To Find the Best Gas Grills, We Spent More Than a Month Testing 20 of Them

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Our Winning Deep Fryer: All-Clad Easy Clean Pro Electric Deep Fryer

Wayfair

$250
$200 at Amazon

Considering a deep fryer? Let’s chat about the All-Clad Easy Clean Pro. It self-filters, self-drains, and heated up quickly in our tests. One of its most underrated features is the 25-inch cord—a lot longer than many other deep fryers. This is the easiest way to fry at home without making a stinky mess, and it’s $50 off this Labor Day.

We Tested 10 Deep Fryers to Find the Best for Crispy, Crunchy Food

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The Best Japanese Chef’s Knife: Misono UX10 Gyutou

Amazon

$205
$192 at Amazon

The Misono UX10 is beloved by professional chefs and our editors. I’ve been using one for a few months (I finally got it after hearing my colleagues talk about it so much!) and I love how long the blade stays sharp, even with daily use. This is one of the most precise, nimble, and lightweight Japanese chef’s knives out there, and right now, it’s on sale.

These are the 6 Best Chef’s Knives for Chopping, Slicing, and Dicing, According to Serious Eats’ Resident Knife Nerd

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The Best Breville Coffee Maker: Breville Precision Brewer

Amazon

$330
$298 at Amazon

You don’t have to use a pour-over setup to take your coffee seriously. I drink drip most mornings, and I can tell when it’s been brewed in a bad coffee maker. The Precision Brewer has been a longtime winner in our review because it offers so much customization. You can control the bloom time and brewing temperature, and you can even define the pH of your water before your first brew. Plus, the machine has a thermal carafe to keep brewed coffee hot for hours.

The 5 Best Automatic Drip Coffee Makers for Most Coffee Drinkers

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A Budget-Friendly Nonstick Pan: Tramontina Professional Fusion 10-Inch Nonstick Frying Pan

Amazon

$60
$40 at Amazon

This skillet is made with an aluminum core, which heats up quickly. No nonstick coating will last forever, which is why Serious Eats has always recommended saving your money and buying cheap ones—after all, you’ll eventually need to replace it. Our favorite budget pick is on sale for only $40. Buy it!

We Spent Weeks Testing 14 Nonstick Skillets and Still Don’t Think You Should Spend a Ton on One

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A Speedy Electric Kettle: Breville Smart Kettle Luxe

Breville

$220
$189 at Amazon

This electric kettle has it all, including five temperature settings, each with recommended uses (such as green tea and coffee). In our tests, it heated up fast—even when filled to the top—and kept water hot for an hour. The Breville kettle comes in a handful of chic colors, too. Check the price before you buy; different colors come with different discounts.

After Testing 24 Electric Tea Kettles, I Got the Tea on the Best Ones

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A Chef-Loved Saucier: Made In Stainless Clad Saucier

Made In

$200
$169 at Amazon

You need a saucier. These sloped pots have smoother edges than saucepans, which makes them better for whisking and stirring. I use mine for cooking oats, making sauce (duh), and anywhere I would use a saucepan. We’ve long recommended the Made In saucier for its meticulous construction, and for this weekend, the 5-quart size is on sale. I wouldn’t be surprised if you ditch many of your other pans after buying it.

We Found the 5 Best Sauciers After Whisking, Simmering, and Sautéing

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A Great Budget Food Processor: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

Amazon

$320
$262 at Amazon

Food processors can be pricey, but this one costs hundreds less than some of our other winners—and that was before this Labor Day sale. This Cuisinart model was the easiest-to-use food processor in our review because it has just two buttons. It’s powerful enough to slice potatoes, grate mozzarella, and make a creamy mayonnaise, and it comes with some great accessories like a slicing disc, spatula, and recipe booklet.

Pulse! Pulverize! These Are the 9 Best Food Processors

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The Best Instant Pot: Instant Pot Pro 6-Quart Pressure Cooker

Amazon

$170
$130 at Amazon

Instant Pots are the original multicookers. We tested almost every Instant Pot there is, and this one pressurized the quickest. It’s pretty cool that the inner cookpot can be used over electric, induction, and ceramic stovetops. Releasing the steam was safe and easy, making this the best Instant Pot we’ve reviewed. This weekend, you can grab some sizes for a discount.

Which Instant Pot Should You Buy? Here Are 4 We Recommend

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A Durable Petty Knife: Victorinox 6-Inch Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife

Amazon

$50
$30 at Amazon

My colleague Grace named this petty knife the best budget option in her review. It has a durable handle and is a true workhorse of a knife. You can’t beat this Victorinox in terms of versatility, and its blade is super sharp: It was able to slice through tomato skin with no problem in our review. The knife is on sale for about 50% off right now.

I Tested 10 Petty Knives—My Favorites Made Food Prep Easy

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A Must-Have Springform Pan: Nordic Ware Springform Pan

Amazon

$21
$16 at Amazon

Nordic Ware’s springform pan is made from carbon steel and has a nonstick coating for easy release of sticky baked goods like quiche. Its buckle closes tightly and barely leaked, even in our cheesecake test. (Place a half sheet pan underneath it to catch drips.) Nordic Ware is a leader in quality bakeware, and I personally own tons of the brand’s items, including this pan!

We Tested 9 Springform Pans So You Can Bake Cheesecakes and Quiches With Confidence

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Non-Toxic Food Storage Containers: Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers

Amazon

$43
$38 at Amazon

We filled these containers with dyed water, shook them 40 times, and laid them on their sides for 15 minutes—they refused to leak. They don’t get discolored, even when filled with stain-prone food like tomato sauce. And because the bases are made from glass, they last longer and, importantly, won’t leach microplastics into your food. Now’s a perfect time to stock up on a few different sizes.

We Tested 12 Food Storage Containers to Find the Best Ones for Leftovers and Lunches

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An Easy-to-Store Plastic Cutting Board: Great Jones All Aboard

Great Jones

$60
$48 at Amazon

Go ahead, toss this cutting board in the dishwasher when you’re done using it. Yes, really. Unlike wooden boards, this one doesn’t require specialty care and maintenance. Our editors have long loved Great Jones’s colorful cookware and bakeware, and we were so impressed with this new offering that we added it as a winner in our plastic cutting boards review. It stays put on a countertop, and the surface is lightly grippy, so food won’t slide around as you’re cutting it.

I Tested 15 Plastic Cutting Boards to Find the Best Ones for Everyday Food Prep

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Useful Little Ramekins: Dowan 4-Ounce Ramekins

Amazon

$19
$12 at Amazon

You can’t have too many ramekins. My colleagues and I like to use them for food prep, but of course, they’re also ideal for baking individual soufflés and puddings. This classic set won our review because the ramekins are stackable and have ribbed sides that are easy to grab with a pair of tongs. In fact, there wasn’t a single thing we didn’t like about them. Grab a set of six for around $2 each this weekend.

I Tested 10 Ramekins to Find the Best Ones for Soufflés, Custards, and More

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Super Sharp Poultry Shears: OXO Good Grips Spring-Loaded Poultry Shears

Amazon

$28
$21 at Amazon

These shears are sharp and have deep serrations that can slice through bone and slippery skin. A bolster keeps your thumb safe, even when it’s slippery. And, there’s just enough tension to add spring-loaded strength without being dangerous. These are amazing shears; if you don’t have a pair, this is an awesome time to invest.

I Tested 14 Poultry Shears and Found 4 That Can Tackle Turkeys (and Other Birds)

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A Colorful Whisk That’s Nonstick-Safe: Kuhn Rikon Silicone Whisk

Amazon

$31
$22 at Amazon

This brightly colored whisk offers more than just good looks. Its flexible wires are ideal for scraping up and moving ingredients, even in tight corners, and it’s coated with heat-resistant silicone. In our review, it whipped cream almost as fast as much bigger whisks. It’s on sale for about $10 off for Labor Day.

To Find the 6 Best Whisks, I Made Loads of Whipped Cream

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A Simple and Effective Whetstone: Amazon Basics Whetstone

Amazon

$15
$13 at Amazon

Your knives could probably be sharper. (If they’re anything like my knives, anyway.) A whetstone is the best way to sharpen them without taking off too much of the blade, and this is the cheapest one we recommend. Actually, we were surprised by how well it worked in our review—we didn’t have high hopes because it was so affordable—but were pleasantly surprised. Knock a couple of bucks off with the Labor Day weekend sale.

I Put 12 Knife Sharpeners to the Test—Here’s Which Ones Made the Cut

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A Popular Skillet: Hexclad 12-Inch Hybrid Pan

Amazon

$179
$152 at Amazon

HexClad makes some wildly popular pans. We’ve tested them and recommend them—with reservations about the steep price tag. Labor Day sales are a great time to give this pan a try for less.

HexClad Pans Are Everywhere—But Are They Worth the Steep Price Tag?

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A Lightweight Wok: Joyce Chen Carbon Steel Walk

Amazon

$40
$30 at Amazon

This carbon steel wok earned a top spot in our review. When seasoned, it’s truly nonstick, and it has a big bowl that can stir-fry with the best of them. The wooden handle keeps your hands safe while cooking, too. Knock $10 off if you order one this Labor Day weekend.

To Find the Best Woks for Stir Frying and More, We Smoked up Our Kitchen

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A Pack of Swedish Dishcloths: SuperScandi Reusable Compostable Swedish Dishcloths

Amazon

$31
$17 at Amazon

Sure, dishcloths aren't the most exciting Labor Day steal. But why not use this sale to stock up on basics you'll use every day? This set is highly absorbent and comes in a variety of prints and colors. These dishcloths are machine-washable, too.

I Tried 8 Swedish Dishcloths to Find the Best Ones You Can Use Over and Over Again

Serious Eats / Eric King
A Durable Enameled Cast Iron Skillet: Crock-Pot Artisan 10-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

Amazon

$45
$34 at Amazon

You don't need to spent hundreds on enameled cast iron cookware. This skillet took a top spot in our review, and it costs under $50—before the Labor Day discount. It's lightweight, so it's a good choice for cooks with mobility issues.

To Find the Best Enameled Cast Iron Skillets, We Fried Eggs, Seared Steak, and Baked Cornbread

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The Best Trash Can We've Tested: simplehuman 38-Liter Brushed Stainless Steel Steel Trash Can with Lid

Amazon

$130
$100 at Amazon

This trash has one job and it does it well: It holds a lot of garbage and doesn't stink. (Literally or figuratively.) simplehuman products aren't cheap, but this can comes with a 10-year warranty and great customer service. I recommend taking advantage of this sale while you can.

We Tested 9 Kitchen Trash Cans to Find Ones That Actually Contain Smells

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A Powerful Hand Mixer: Breville The Handy Mix Scraper

Amazon

$160
$130 at Amazon

This hand mixer is really effective at creaming butter and sugar, and its rubber-coated beaters work quietly—you can also use them without fear of scratching your favorite mixing bowls. It has lots of great upgrades, like a light that shines into the bowl, a pause button, and a storage case for the extra attachments.

I Tested 17 Hand Mixers to Find the Best Ones, and, Boy, My Arms Are Tired

Serious Eats / Afton Cyrus