Home and kitchen

Everyday home buys with a price limit.

9 articles

Three pans beat a 12-piece cookware set

Why buying three good pans one at a time usually beats a big cookware set, with a simple comparison of stainless, nonstick and cast iron.

Manon LambertNov 8, 20263 min read

A countertop blender filled with a fruit smoothie

Home and kitchen

Cheap blender: what to check before you buy one

Buying a cheap blender? Check the motor, jar material and blade design first. Here is what a budget blender can and cannot do, and when to skip it.

Manon LambertNov 8, 20263 min read

A chef's knife resting on a wooden cutting board next to chopped vegetables

Home and kitchen

Cheap vs expensive kitchen knife: what the extra money buys

Cheap vs expensive kitchen knife: a mid-price chef's knife and a honing steel beat a pricey set for most home cooks. Here is where the money matters.

Manon LambertNov 5, 20264 min read

A chef knife, tongs and a thermometer on a wooden kitchen counter

Home and kitchen

Kitchen tools worth owning, and gadgets to skip

A short list of kitchen tools worth owning, from a chef's knife to an instant-read thermometer, plus the single-job gadgets that clutter your drawer.

Manon LambertNov 2, 20263 min read

A small apartment kitchen with a skillet and a saucepan on the stove

Home and kitchen

Cheap cookware for a first apartment: what to buy first

Cheap cookware for a first apartment: the short list of pans, pots and tools to buy first, what to buy used, and what to wait on until you need it.

Manon LambertNov 2, 20266 min read

A toaster oven with a small baking tray on a kitchen counter

Home and kitchen

Toaster oven vs toaster: which one earns its counter space

Toaster oven vs toaster: a toaster is cheaper and faster for bread, a toaster oven does more jobs. Here is which to buy based on how you cook.

Hamza IdrissiOct 2, 20263 min read

A bucket with cleaning supplies standing on a kitchen floor

Home and kitchen

Cleaning supplies you actually need (and 6 you can skip)

Cleaning supplies you actually need are fewer than the aisle suggests. Here is a short list for a home, plus six products that are usually a waste of money.

Manon LambertSep 5, 20264 min read

Stacked glass and plastic food storage containers on a kitchen counter

Home and kitchen

Glass vs plastic food containers: which is worth buying

Glass vs plastic food containers: glass lasts longer and does not stain, plastic is light and cheap. Here is which to buy for lunches and leftovers.

Hamza IdrissiSep 4, 20263 min read

A cast iron skillet and a nonstick frying pan side by side on a stove

Home and kitchen

Cast iron vs nonstick pan: which one should you buy

Cast iron vs nonstick pan: nonstick is easier for eggs and fast meals, cast iron lasts for decades and sears well. Here is how to pick for your kitchen.

Manon LambertAug 10, 20263 min read