Amazon’s Best Labor Day Sales on Non-Toxic Cookware Under $50

Person cooking food in Joyce Chen Carbon Steel Wok — Serious Eats

New Year’s Day has historically been the day to start resolutions, but if you’re looking to make some non-toxic swaps in your kitchen, there’s no need to wait until January. Start your good cooking habits now! Labor Day sales make it a breeze to usher in autumn with a fresh stainless steel saucepan or a new enameled cast iron skillet—without hurting your wallet. To help you refresh your kitchen in time for cooler weather and holiday cooking, we’ve rounded up our favorite tested-and-approved, PTFE-free cookware, bakeware, and kitchen tools under $50, including some sleek glass storage containers and a silicone-coated muffin tin.

Non-Toxic Labor Day Deals Under $50, at a Glance:

A Fantastic Enameled Cast Iron Skillet: Crock-Pot Artisan 10-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
The Best Muffin Pan: USA Pan Nonstick Muffin Pan
The Best Glass Containers for Leftovers: Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers
The Best Budget Small Saucepan: Duxtop 1.6-Quart Whole-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid
A Silicone-Coated Bundt Pan: Nordic Ware 12-Cup Original Sparkling Silver Bundt Pan
The Best Cast Iron Skillet: Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet
The Best Kitchen Scale: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull-Out Display
The Best Budget-Friendly Wok: Joyce Chen Carbon Steel Wok
A Great Stainless Steel Water Bottle: Hydro Flask 24-Ounce Wide Mouth Water Bottle with Flex Straw

A Fantastic Enameled Cast Iron Skillet: Crock-Pot Artisan 10-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

Amazon

$45
$34 at Amazon

Enameled cast iron won’t be as slippery as chemically coated nonstick pans, but the smooth interior of this skillet made it easy for us to flip fried eggs (and seared steak) when we tested it. You can get it for 25% off during Labor Day sales.

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

Serious Eats
The Best Muffin Pan: USA Pan Nonstick Muffin Pan

Amazon

$32
$29 at Amazon

Don’t let the word “nonstick” scare you. This pan’s coating is silicone-based and doesn’t contain any potentially harmful PTFE or PFOA. It helps cupcakes and muffins come out whole every time and makes cleanup a breeze. (No one likes cleaning stuck-on bits out of a muffin pan.)

These are the Best Muffin Pans for Even Baking, Easy Release, and Perfect Shape

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The Best Glass Containers for Leftovers: Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers

Amazon

$43
$38 at Amazon

If storing and reheating food in plastic weirds you out, you’re not alone. These stackable glass containers come with watertight lids, which, despite our best efforts, didn’t stain or stink when we evaluated them. They’re also microwave-, oven-, and dishwasher-safe.

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

Leak-proof lids matter when you're transporting food that can stain.
Serious Eats / Eric King
The Best Budget Small Saucepan: Duxtop 1.6-Quart Whole-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid

Amazon

$41
$36 at Amazon

A small saucepan is convenient for melting butter, heating single portions of leftovers, and simmering a few cups’ worth of hot cocoa. This one has a rolled rim for easy pouring and curved, saucier-like corners that are easy to stir around.

I Tested 8 Small Saucepans and Found 4 Picks for Sauces, Browned Butter, and More

Serious Eats
The Best Bento Box: Bentgo MicroSteel Lunch Box

Bentgo

$40
$30 at Amazon

This bento box is the perfect size for toting sandwiches or salads to school or work. Though it’s made from silicone and stainless steel, it can still go in the microwave thanks to its rounded edges and MicroSteel makeup (science!). Get it for $10 off during Labor Day Weekend sales.

To Find the Best Bento Boxes, I Packed Sandwiches, Leftovers, and Snacks

Serious Eats
A Silicone-Coated Bundt Pan: Nordic Ware 12-Cup Original Sparkling Silver Bundt Pan

Amazon

$36
$28 at Amazon

An iconic offering from a classic baking brand, this Nordic Ware Bundt pan is coated with silicone (no PTFE or PFAS in sight) and makes cakes a breeze to unmold. Its light interior also helps brown the cakes evenly while baking, so you’ll always have a picture-perfect dessert

I Tested 9 Bundt Pans, and the Winner Is a 75-year-old Classic From Nordic Ware

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The Best Cast Iron Skillet: Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet

Amazon

$25 at Amazon

Okay, so this pan may not technically be on sale, but we think $25 for our longtime favorite cast iron pan is always a steal worth celebrating. Unlike Teflon or ceramic-coated pans, cast iron’s coating won’t scratch off or wear down over time. Plus, you can heat it over high temperatures and use metal utensils as you desire.

To Find the Best Cast Iron Skillets, I Seared Steaks, Baked Cornbread, and Fried Eggs

Serious Eats
The Best Kitchen Scale: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull-Out Display

Amazon

$56
$43 at Amazon

We’ve recommended this scale for years. It has an easy-to-read, pull-out display and a 15-minute memory (no more looking over to see a blank screen mid-mise en place). Its stainless steel tray comes off for washing, too.

To Find the Best, Most Accurate Kitchen Scales, I Took Over a Thousand Measurements

Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
The Best Cast Iron Tortilla Press: Imusa USA Cast Iron Tortilla Press 8-Inch

Amazon

$40
$35 at Amazon

Cast iron tortilla presses are nice because their inherent weight helps create even pressure for flat, round tortillas. When we tested it, we loved how easy the IMUSA USA press was to use, as well as its price, which was less than half that of our other winners.

I Made Dozens of Fresh Tortillas to Find The Best Tortilla Presses

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly.
The Best Budget-Friendly Wok: Joyce Chen Carbon Steel Wok

Amazon

$40
$30 at Amazon

After seasoning it with oil during our tests, this carbon steel wok was supremely nonstick. Eggs, fried rice, and vegetables all came out without a hitch. Its wooden handles also stay cooler than metal, so we could maneuver it while cooking without fear of burning our hands.

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

Serious Eats
A Great Stainless Steel Water Bottle: Hydro Flask 24-Ounce Wide Mouth Water Bottle with Flex Straw

REI

$40
$30 at Amazon

This water bottle checks all of our boxes: It keeps water cold for hours, has a built-in straw, and fits in most cupholders. Oh, and it comes in a ton of fun colors (though discounts may vary across the palette). Get it for 25% off during Amazon’s Labor Day sale.

Leakproof and Lovely: We Tested 12 Water Bottles to Find the Best Ones for Staying Hydrated

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly
The Best Food Mill: Mirro 3.5-Quart Stainless Steel Food Mill

Amazon

$60
$45 at Amazon

For the silkiest mashed potatoes, a food mill is a must. This model has a fixed sieve, meaning you don’t have to find a spot for any extra attachments (one is really all you need, anyway). Its sturdy stainless steel construction means you can buy it once and use it for years.

To Find the 3 Best Food Mills, We Puréed 30 Pounds of Potatoes and Tomatoes

Serious Eats / Taylor Murray
Some Pretty Glass Pantry Storage Jars: Guzzini Grigio Glass Canisters

Container Store

$43
$31 at Amazon

These sophisticated glass jars can help keep moisture, air, and pests out of your pantry goods, thanks to their tight-fitting lids. We liked their look so much when we tested them, we named them our favorite models for storing your go-to snacks and ingredients out on the countertop, within easy reach.

I Tested 53 Dry Food Storage Containers and Found 7 Sets That’ll Keep Pantry Goods Fresh

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly
The Best Small Whisk: Kuhn Rikon Silicone Rainbow Whisk

Amazon

$31
$22 at Amazon

Who doesn’t want a pop of color while baking? This whisk is not only cute, but functional, too: It whipped up a 3-quart bowl of cream in about three minutes during our tests. Plus, it won’t scratch up non-toxic ceramic pans, since its tines are covered in a layer of durable silicone.

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

Serious Eats
A Pack of Reusable Swedish Dishcloths: SuperScandi Reusable Compostable Swedish Dishcloths

Amazon

$21
$17 at Amazon

Paper towels used to be a huge culprit of single-use waste in our kitchens, but no longer. These Swedish dishcloths are made from cotton and wood cellulose, and they’re washable and reusable. Also, they’re super absorbent and dry quickly between uses.

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

Serious Eats / Eric King
The Best Compact Garlic Press: Zulay Kitchen Premium Garlic Press Set

Amazon

$20
$13 at Amazon

This rust-proof, stainless steel garlic press comes with a cleaner brush and tucks into the additional silicone clove peeler sleeve between uses. We noted that it produced “exceptionally fine-pressed garlic” when we tested it, and that its simple design made it easier to wash.

I Reeked of Garlic for a Week to Find the 4 Best Garlic Presses

Serious Eats / Owen Burke
The Best Pie Weights: FurRain Ceramic Pie Weights

Amazon

$19
$16 at Amazon

Holiday pie season is approaching. We named these ceramic pie weights our winners because one set was enough to blind bake with—unlike other pie weight sets, which allowed crusts to slump because there weren’t enough of them. They also yielded evenly baked bottoms and were quick to clean.

I Tested 9 Popular Pie Weights to Find the 2 Sets Actually Worth Buying

Serious Eats / Meghan Splawn
The Best Spider Strainer: Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer

Amazon

$17
$13 at Amazon

Spider strainers aren’t just for fishing deep-fried goodies out of oil (although, hey, they are great at that). You can also use them to scoop pasta like penne or tortellini out of boiling water, strain blanched veggies, and move food around when stir-frying in a wok. This one also happens to be an editor-favorite.

This Spider Strainer Is One of My Most-Used Kitchen Utensils

Serious Eats / Eric Brockob
A Steamer Basket We Love: Consevisen Steamer Basket Stainless Steel

Amazon

$13
$7 at Amazon

This steamer performed excellently in our tests. Its 5.5-inch base can expand out to 8.5 inches, making it suitable for small and big pots alike. It fit almost a dozen potstickers inside and cooked bright and tender broccoli florets. It’s almost half off during Labor Day sales.

To Find the 3 Best Steamer Baskets, I Steamed Over 10 Dozen Dumplings

Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger
A Petite Silicone Food Turner: GIR Get It Right Premium Silicone Mini Flipper

Amazon

$13
$11 at Amazon

The GIR silicone turner is a mighty tool for flapjacks, burgers, and eggs. It's more compact than our other favorite turners, making it a great choice for smaller pans and scooping portions out of crowded casserole dishes.

To Find the 3 Best Nonstick Food Turners, I Flipped Pancakes, Eggs, and Burgers

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FAQs

What day is Labor Day?

Labor Day falls on the first Monday in September every year. This year, it’s on September 1, 2025. If you’re looking to shop Labor Day sales, don’t wait; you can find discounted kitchen gear now.

Does Amazon deliver on Labor Day?

Yes, Amazon will deliver on Labor Day, but if the warehouse is busy or the package is sent through another carrier (like FedEx or the postal service, for example), it may be delayed. If you want to receive your Amazon package before the Labor Day rush, be sure to shop the sales early.

Why We’re the Experts

Ashlee Redger is a writer for Serious Eats. She’s been testing and reviewing kitchen gear since 2022.
The Serious Eats commerce team rigorously tests each piece of cooking gear that we recommend. During sales events like Labor Day, we scour the deals to find discounts on our tested-and-approved favorites.

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