Ready to "immerse" yourself in cozy cooking, thanks to this clever contraption? (Getty Images)(gpointstudio via Getty Images)
Thanksgiving is less than a month away (yikes!) and if the thought of preparing a multicourse meal for a group of people is stressing you out, there's one tool I, a professional baker, recommend adding to your arsenal. My trusty KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender does everything from smooth out gravy lumps to blitz butternut squash soup into a velvety delight. Oh, and you don't have to transfer a heavy pot of scalding liquid into the narrow mouth of a blender while praying you're spared from painful splashes, either — just use it right in the pot. I even reach for it to make homemade whipped cream in a jiffy! This little gizmo is a true holiday workhorse, and as an early gift, it's on sale at Amazon.
Use the included pan protectors to store the pans and keep them from getting scratched.
These No. 1 bestselling fabric-softening balls can be reused for over a thousand laundry loads. They're made entirely of wool, and they will not only make your washables plush but also shorten their drying time in the process. What's more, they'll save you tons of money on not-so-eco-friendly dryer sheets. At 50% off, consider them our favorite laundry hack.
The Sperax Walking pad is Amazon's No. 1 bestselling compact treadmill. It's only 4.6 inches high and 48 inches long, so you can slide it under your sofa or bed when you're not using it. It's also only 40 pounds, which is light enough that you can probably pull it out on your own but just heavy enough to make you sweat a little while doing so.
Keep in mind, this is really meant for walking, not jogging or running. It only goes up to about 3.8 mph, and it doesn't have handlebars to hold on to. You choose the speed with the included remote control, while an LED display on the top of the tread shows your speed, distance, time and even calories burned in real time. Also great: It has an anti-slip belt and a strong damping system, so you won't make too much noise.
Note: The listed retail price seems to be a bit inflated here. According to our records, this treadmill regularly retails for around $300 (not $2,000!). Still, with the on-page coupon, that brings the walking pad to nearly half off.
Before you find yourself immersed in all things pine tree and sugar cookie, revel in the bliss of autumnal aromas courtesy of this No. 1 bestselling candle.
It contains notes of "spicy cinnamon apples" and "fall leaves," and its large 22-ounce size means it'll burn for over 110 hours. Grab a few while they're 50% off...
We know what you're thinking: "Do I really need a bidet?" And if you're perfectly content shelling out for TP and wiping your bum with a scratchy sheet of paper that does a questionable job at best, the answer is no.
But, in the event that you're ready to improve your backside hygiene game, this easy-install accessory is a total game changer. Not only is it more thorough than wiping, it'll also make you feel like you're getting a spa treatment. This is the best price we've seen it on sale for in months...
The holidays are quickly approaching, and if you're set to host this year, you'd be wise to grab some matching flatware sets while they're as affordable as this one.
For $20, you're getting four salad forks, dinner forks, teaspoons, dinner spoons and dinner knives — and if you're expecting a larger crowd, it won't cost much to add a few more sets. We've never seen these stainless steel utensils dip lower than they are now.
Sizes available: 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch | Weight: 2 lbs. | Material: Aluminum with removable silicone grip | Oven safe: Yes, up to 400°F | Dishwasher safe: Yes | Induction: Compatible | Warranty: Lifetime
Full disclosure: Before I started testing for our story, I had used the 8-inch version of this Tramontina nonstick pan for years. Cooking with this pan is a dream! With only a slick of oil, eggs slide right off the surface and over the flared edge onto a plate.
"A small immersion blender is something I use daily for both sweet and savory applications," explains Pastry Chef Abigail Dahan of Provenance restaurant in Philadelphia. "My favorite is the Vitamix brand, which has different speeds but is more expensive, but I have used the KitchenAid brand with great success as well, and it's a lower price point."
(Psst: I own the KitchenAid and love it for making ultra-luscious whipped cream and smoothing out homemade jam when I don't want it too chunky. Check out my full review for more.)
At just 30 bucks? Go ahead and give it a spin — you'll thank me when you realize how versatile it is!
According to our trackers, this is as good a price as you're likely to find on this top-seller (it's only dipped lower than this once all year). All 11 colors are marked down by 25%, which is pretty rare — and this is the best price we've seen since July.
Before I got the KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender, I was using one from a different brand; it conked out after about a year. For a while, I assumed these types of appliances just weren't built to last, and it took me a long time to replace it. Eventually, I decided to give this one a try, and the difference is night and day.
For starters, it's far more powerful than many of its competitors, breaking down even the chunkiest cooked vegetables in mere seconds. And considering I've now had mine for about three years, it's already outlived its predecessor. I primarily use it for smoothing out soups and sauces, and as someone who makes a lot of homemade jam, it's become indispensable. (I don't like seeds in my jam, so blitzing up the cooked fruit makes it much easier to pass through a strainer.) Once the holidays roll around, my gravy always passes through its blades, and I actually prefer the silky texture of the whipped cream I make with this gadget over what I get from doing it by hand. Less work, better results? Win-win.
With one simple on/off button, it couldn't be easier to operate — though it's not cordless, so you'll need an outlet. To ensure nothing splashes up at you, I find that keeping the blade immersed in whatever you're blending is a helpful tip — and depending on the vessel you're using it in, you can slip the included pan protector over the blade to keep it from scratching the bottom of your pot. (Allow your food to cool a bit before using the pan guard, as it's not made of metal and could melt if too hot.)
Want to mix up a smoothie, or a small amount of food that doesn't warrant getting out a big pan? It also comes with a 3-cup blending jar that has a measurement guide on the side, as well as a lid for storing leftovers. As far as cleanup is concerned, the removable blade arm is dishwasher-friendly, though I usually just wash it by hand — if I rinse it off quickly enough after using it, any residue tends to slide right off. Way easier than having to clean a bulky old blender!
It's not just me who thinks this KitchenAid immersion blender is worth having. Over 10,000 Amazon customers have given it a perfect rating.
"The power of the appliance is perfect for raw and cooked foods," declared one convert. "It is user-friendly, space-efficient and quick in its breakdown of the food. ... The plastic guard is a plus as you can use it directly in your favorite pan without concern that the blades will damage the pan. You can blend soup that is still hot without it back-splashing or frothing. Definitely recommend this item."
"Why did I wait so long to get an immersion blender?" mused another satisfied shopper. "I bought this because I am getting a tonsillectomy and will be on a liquid and soft foods diet, but I've found myself using it a lot before my surgery. I have already made a puréed soup, horchata, sauces and smoothies with this blender. It doesn't struggle with firm or partially frozen ingredients like my Nutribullet does."
"This has made canning and other DIY food processing a breeze!" gushed another happy home cook. "I’ve been making homemade hummus, mayo and other dips, which have been so much quicker with this blender! It's also made my tomato processing/canning less messy."
"It works really well and has good power," wrote a generally pleased user. "I wish it had a separate button for different speeds, but it has a single button that when you lightly push it, it goes slow, and when you fully push it, it goes to the highest speed. Works well for me."
"I used it for the first time the other day on my sweet potato casserole, and all I can say is wow!" exclaimed a final fan. "It has a lot of power, is easy to use and my potatoes were silky smooth. No lumps at all. ... I love it as much as I love my mixer, and it is not heavy. The only problem I had was trying to keep the pan protector from falling off. Gonna have to practice on that one."
Another tool that makes meal prep a breeze? My Cuisinart mini food processor.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
