Want to feel like you’re at a Michelin-starred restaurant while prepping and cooking from the comfort of your home? Snag Ina Garten's beloved blades. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)(Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)More
As a home editor, I’m constantly lurking on chefs' websites and social accounts for inspiration, recipe secrets and tips on the gadgets that make their lives easier. After all, who would know more than those who’ve made a livelihood of prepping and cooking, and who better to take cues from than the Barefoot Contessa herself?
So when Ina Garten posted on Instagram about the four knives every home cook should have, I was all ears. Which ones made the list? A chef's knife for chopping onions, a slicing knife, a bread (serrated) knife — which she uses for slicing both bread and tomatoes — and a paring knife for smaller tasks. "If you have those four, you can do almost anything," she says. Well, we found a highly-rated Wusthof 10-piece set — on sale for its Black Friday price — that has all of those and more, right in time for the holidays. Says Ina: "They're an investment, but if you take care of them, they'll last a lifetime!"
Read on to learn more about the knife set Ina considers a cut above the competition, and keep scrolling for other items she loves for gifting and hosting (including individual Wusthof knives on sale).
Related: See our roundup of the best Christmas gifts in 2024
Not only am I a fan of Ina Garten's approachable recipes, I also love checking out her gorgeous kitchen and cookware. Some of her go-tos are admittedly out of my price range, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover this super-affordable skillet, a longtime favorite of mine, is also a staple in her kitchen.
This pan can be used on all cooktops, is oven-safe and can even be placed over a grill or open flame. Lodge pieces are so durable, people often pass them down to younger generations. I've had mine for about 10 years, but it works just as well as the day I got it, if not better. Not bad for just 16 bucks!
Another thing I love about this pan? It's made of iron and oil — no PFOAs or PTFEs, which gives me peace of mind about cooking without "forever chemicals." No wonder it's one of 12 pieces of cookware Garten links to on her website.
Check out my full Lodge Cast Iron Skillet review for more.
Thousands of Amazon shoppers love these sturdy containers, which have airtight seals to keep food fresh. The containers are made of glass — but not just any glass. We're talking about borosilicate glass, which is used on thermal tiles in space shuttles.
Not only does it conveniently allow you to see what's packed inside, it's oven-safe up to 1,040°F. You can also store these containers in the freezer if you have leftovers you know you won't get to right away. At just over $3 per container, this is a fabulous value.
There's no need to spend an hour on your knees furiously scrubbing your shower when you have one of these on hand. It's garnered thousands of great reviews and features two adjustable speeds to cut through bathtub grime, soap scum and grout stains with little to no elbow grease. Its retractable handle allows you to clean without crouching over, and it comes with four brushes for tackling a variety of spaces in your home.
Check out our full Khelfer Electric Spin Scrubber review for more.
Hate vacuuming? Get a robot to do it for you! You can use this high-end Roomba to clean your whole house or select rooms. It can go just about anywhere — use it on carpet, tile or hardwood — and it's smart enough to avoid sucking up rogue socks, shoes, computer cords, etc.
"I have two German Shepherds, which equals a lot of fur, therefore we have four Roombas. Yes, four," said one loyal shopper. "This one does seem to get stuck under furniture more than the other two. However, it gets over things better, runs quieter and vacuums both the carpet and hardwood just as well if not better. So, I bought a second one. I highly recommend it. I have all four scheduled to run every day, they work well with Alexa and I truly have no complaints. If I needed a fifth roomba I would 100% buy a third of this model."
This chopper has a high-efficiency motor that handles even thick branches with ease, all while weighing under 3 pounds.
Handy humans, this one's for you: With a powerful drill and impact driver in this set, you'll finally be able to cross all those home-improvement tasks off your list. The compact, lightweight design makes them both easy to use, and the best part? No cords!
At over 40% off, this is one of the best prices I've seen it on sale for in years.
Never have a dull moment in the kitchen again, thanks to this No. 1 bestselling knife sharpener. Equipped with three slots for sharpening, repairing, straightening and polishing, it'll take your old blades from obsolete to like new in just a few swipes. Plus, it comes with a handy cut-resistant glove to spare you from painful nicks, and it happens to be 67% off (best price ever!).
An air fryer is just the ticket when you want a hot meal without turning on the oven. This top-rated model heats up quickly and holds up to 2.5 pounds of fries or 14 wings at a time. Plus, it can be used to dehydrate food, proof bread and even bake desserts.
This deal brings it down to within just a few dollars of its Prime Day price, which was also its all-time low.
Check out our roundup of the best air fryers for more.
Winter is in full swing, and that means a lot of nasty salt and dirt getting tracked into your car, your home and basically anywhere else you go. This battery-operated vac is strong enough for the task, and it's 45% off at Amazon right now. The long hose and nozzle attachments make it easy to get under car seats, into corners of your garage and more hard-to-reach spots. Just note that the battery is not included!
"Great suction and performance," said one user. "Simple to use, filters can be easily cleaned, and the attachments are all you need. Suction is better than expected. The only problem I have is that my wife used it once and now I can't get it back into my shop."
Cozy backyard bonfires — they're not just for fancy people in Aspen anymore, thanks to this portable fire pit. At just 7 inches across, 8.6 inches high and 2.3 pounds, this model is perfect for smaller outdoor spaces or packing up and bringing on the go. This is as low as it's dipped since 2024, so snag it ahead of your first cookout.
Our veins are like 50% coffee at this point in the year, so we’re big fans of the single-serve coffee maker. The best Keurig machine, according to home editor Jessica Dodell-Feder, is the K-Café Barista Bar, on sale for 30% off. That's only a few bucks over its lowest price of the year. Dodell-Feder loves this coffee maker for its ease of use, its "over ice" option, and its included milk frother.
Simply put, this might be one of the most aesthetically pleasing household appliances we've ever seen. Dig those wooden legs and that minimalist design! But while it might look like a million bucks, it's currently 35% off (its best price in months). Plus, it can help lower your heating bill!
In spite of its compact size, it's quite powerful. It has two heat modes — 1000-watt high heat and 600-watt medium heat, both of which take just seconds to kick in. But it also has a cooling fan mode, meaning this isn't a machine you'll only pull out for a few months.
At 6.3 inches tall and just over 2 pounds, it's incredibly portable, making it a cinch to bring from room to room. And, most importantly, its safety features include overheating protection, as well as automatic shutoff should it tip over.
That said, I am admittedly more of an espresso gal, and while this machine has me experiencing some sticker shock — even with the $200 markdown — I can justify the purchase by reminding myself of how much it'll save me on lattes from the local coffee shop over time.
Martha Stewart calls it "the best," and Senior Home Editor Jessica Dodell-Feder named it "best espresso machine overall" after putting a slew of models to the test. "For those who want an all-in-one machine, the Breville Barista Express is for you," she says. "It has a water tank and a built-in grinder! You can grind coffee directly into the portafilter for maximum freshness and in perfectly measured doses."
Chop to it! Secure this thoughtfully crafted lineup for yourself or your favorite cook while it's on sale for a record low.
Premium knife sets don’t come cheap, and this one, featuring high-carbon stainless steel blades precisely cut with state-of-the-art technology, strikes the perfect balance between form and functionality.
As a rule, knife sets offer a baked-in discount compared to what you’d spend buying individual blades, which makes the $72 markdown on this 10-piece knife and block set particularly stunning — at $248, it's down to one of the lowest prices we've ever seen.
Wusthof’s German-founded knives are a kitchen standby for novice and experienced cooks, a fixture in chefs' carefully curated cutlery collections for over 200 years. This particular set comes with a 2 ¾-inch trimming knife, 2 ¾-inch paring knife, 3-inch spear point paring knife, 4 1/2-inch utility knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 5-inch spreader, 6-inch cook's knife, 9-inch honing steel and kitchen shears, all encased in a beautiful acacia wood block, which keeps things organized and safe while adding a touch of warmth to your countertop.
The stainless steel blades are designed to resist corrosion and dulling; the polypropylene handles to stand up to fading, discoloration, heat and impact. This is all to say the Wusthof Gourmet 10-Piece Knife and Block Set is a worthy investment that can be loved for years to come. (Speaking of: The brand offers a limited lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.)
As if receiving Ina Garten’s stamp of approval wasn't enticing enough, Wusthof knives come highly recommended by other professional chefs we’ve spoken to in the past. They’ve also received accolades from Amazon reviewers who reaffirm their sleek design, versatility and honed blades.
"This set is such a joy," gushed a happy home cook. "My son-in-law recommended them. He was right! To be able to thinly slice cooked meat is a dream."
"Best knives ever!" exclaimed another impressed buyer. "Very sharp. Makes cutting a breeze. Saves time by being so sharp."
"We bought two from this brand several months back, and they were so superior to other brands we have," said a repeat customer. "So we bought this set. Very good, very sharp knives!"
"Very sharp knives, great set," echoed a generally pleased reviewer. "They work, but a larger kitchen knife would be nice."
Some reviewers, like this one, said they wished the knives were a bit heftier. "Fairly sharp, not as sturdy as I thought," they wrote. "[The] knives don't sit in the block nicely."
Even the best knives require maintenance, and this little doodad is a smart add-on:
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
