The holidays are upon us, and if you’re planning to host Thanksgiving dinner this year, you’re probably already mapping out the menu, hunting down the best ingredients, and, let’s face it, preparing for a few inevitable kitchen disasters. After all, cooking a feast fit for family and friends requires more than just a Pinterest-worthy recipe—it requires the kind of cookware that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a Michelin-starred kitchen. The problem? The best cookware pieces often come with a price tag that could rival the cost of your entire grocery list. But don’t worry, because we’ve got you covered.
If you are down to shell out the cash, we’re here to inform you that investing in these kitchen essentials not only elevates your cooking game but might actually make hosting feel a little less chaotic. Sure, it’s not cheap, but the right tools can make you look like a culinary genius (and avoid sending your guests straight to the takeout apps). So, whether you’re an aspiring chef or just trying to survive the holidays with your sanity intact, these are the luxury pieces our own staffers use (who are not pros, FYI) that’ll have you cooking *like* a pro. Yes, chef!
The cookware *actually* worth your cash, according to staffers
“After years of buying the cheapest nonstick pans I could find (some of which only lasted a year, while others I’ve had since college), I knew it was time for an upgrade. I wanted to find a large frying pan that’s not only built to last but made with high-quality materials I can trust.
Made In’s 12-inch stainless-clad frying pan fits that bill. It cooks food more evenly and quickly than my previous nonstick pans and is also super easy and low-effort to clean (just soak in warm, soapy water and lightly rinse!). It’s also got just the right amount of heft to it—not too light that it’s shifting around on the burner, but not too heavy to pick up. I broke it in on the first night with homemade chili!” – Allison Forsyth, Senior Health Editor
Read our Made In Cookware CeramiClad review here.
“I had the opportunity to see Benchmade’s kitchen cutlery in action at a media dinner this fall, and I cannot express enough how amazing these knives are. If you’re a serious home chef that wants a knife that cuts through ingredients like butter, the Station Knife is for you. It’s expensive, no doubt. But the quality is top-notch.
Benchmade blades are all lasercut from premium stainless steel and paired with featherlight handles to give you comfortable control while you chop, slice, and dice. They’re all hand-assembled and sharpened in Bend, Oregon with the utmost precision and care. And if they do get dull, the brand has frees sharpening services for the life of the knife. So, yeah, it’s expensive. But when you really widdle down (lol) what you’re paying for over the life of a tool you use every day, it’s worth every penny.”— Francesca Krempa, Commerce Editor