By Wirecutter Staff
The Wirecutter Deals team scans the virtual aisles of the internet, searching for great discounts on Wirecutter-recommended products so you don’t have to. In our deal blog posts (like this one), we highlight the discounts that we think Wirecutter readers will love. For more deals information, check out our Deals page, follow us on Twitter @WirecutterDeals, and subscribe to our daily deals newsletter.
Here’s something professional chefs, home cooks, and people who watch the Food Network for mostly entertainment purposes can likely agree on: There are few things more satisfying than stocking your kitchen with new, high-quality equipment. Heavy-duty Dutch ovens, mugs that keep your coffee warm, smart displays that walk you through recipes—all of it is irresistible to a kitchen enthusiast.
But kitchen gadgets can be expensive and upgrades hard to swing, especially when you’re on a budget. Though we can’t get HGTV to give your space the makeover of your dreams, we can steer you toward good deals on the Wirecutter picks you want and need to bring your kitchen up to speed. Here are the best discounts our Deals sleuths found on items that can play a big part in your kitchen transformation without breaking the bank.
An inexpensive, versatile Dutch oven
Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven (red)
Deal price: $41; street price: $65
Unfortunately, the price of this item has risen and it's no longer a deal. For more deals information, check out our Deals page.
A Dutch oven is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment you can add to your kitchen. You can use it bake bread, braise beautiful cuts of meat, deep-fry donuts—the possibilities are endless. The Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, now down to just $41, is an exceptionally good option. As our top pick, the Lodge is inexpensive, rated to withstand up to 500° F, and cooks foods just as well as other, much pricier Dutch ovens we’ve tested (we’re looking at you, Le Creuset). Its large handles lessen the strain of moving a full pot, and its rounded corners make quick work of scraping up every bit of delicious fond when deglazing (just avoid using metal or abrasive tools). This is a great time to pick up the Lodge: Not only is it down to the lowest price we’ve ever seen, but deals on this cast-iron pot are also rare—this is the first one we’ve posted in well over six months.
Read our review of the best Dutch ovens.
A smart way to never let your coffee get cold again
Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug (pack of two)
Deal price: $100; street price: $160
Unfortunately, the price of this 2-pack has risen and it's no longer a deal. For more deals information, check out our Deals page.
If you’re the kind of person who brews a cup of coffee in the morning and completely forgets about it as work picks up, you’re well acquainted with the disappointing realization that your java has gone cold. Instead of popping your cup into the microwave (ew), invest in a pair of temperature-controlled smart mugs. This Best Buy deal on the Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug—which typically sells for $80 apiece—brings the price of two mugs down to just $100. Though spending $50 on a mug may seem a bit extravagant, the Smart Mug is worth it: Made of hand-washable stainless steel, the mug keeps your drink at whatever temperature you prefer (from 120 °F to 145 °F), and you can control it from an app on your smartphone. If you’re easily distracted in the mornings and like your coffee warm (but not too hot), this is a great opportunity to save on a pair of smart mugs.
Read our review of the best gifts for coffee lovers.
A high-capacity, filtered water dispenser
Pur Ultimate Water Dispenser
Deal price: $34; street price: $40
Update: Up a few bucks to $34, but still a decent deal. For more deals information, check out our Deals page.
Pitcher-type water filters just never seem to stay full in a home with more than two people. It can be a frustrating nuisance, especially when you’re the one tasked with filling it back up. A simple solution is replacing your pitcher with a high-capacity water dispenser: The Pur Ultimate Water Dispenser, our top pick for the best filtered-water dispenser, can hold up to 18 cups of water without taking up too much room in your refrigerator. It’s easy to use and has a kid-friendly spigot, so all household members will be able to top off their glasses with ease. Now down to $31, this is the first deal we’ve ever posted on the Pur dispenser, making this a great time to pick one up.
Read our review of the best water filter pitchers and dispensers.
An accurate probe thermometer
ThermoWorks ChefAlarm
Deal price: $51; street price: $68
Unfortunately, the price of this item has risen and it's no longer a deal. For more deals information, check out our Deals page.
If you’re going to be grilling, smoking, roasting, or braising a large piece of meat for a long period of time (such as in the new Dutch oven you just bought on sale), a probe thermometer is essential. The ThermoWorks ChefAlarm, which offers more features than the other picks in our guide to the best meat thermometers—such as a timer and volume adjustment—lets you monitor the temperature of your meat without having to constantly open the oven or grill. Very accurate with a long probe, the ChefAlarm also includes a temperature alarm and a backlit screen, as well as a case to hold the probe and digital unit. Usually one of our most expensive probe-thermometer picks, this deal brings the price of the ChefAlarm down to just $55.
Read our review of the best meat thermometers.
An especially smart kitchen assistant
Amazon Echo Show 8 (charcoal)
Deal price: $90; street price: $105
Home cooking is all fun and games until you’re up to your elbows in sticky cookie dough and the phone screen displaying your recipe goes dark. Upgrade to something that makes prepping meals a lot easier, such as the Amazon Echo Show 8. You can easily search for and find recipes, and the Echo Show 8’s crisp screen displays them in a simple-to-read way. Though a bit smaller than our top pick, the Echo Show (2nd Gen), the midsize Echo Show 8 is a great option if you’re looking to save some money. It has an 8-inch screen that’s bigger than that of the Show 5 (which we also recommend), and it costs half the price of the original Echo Show even without this deal. Down to just $90 with a free one-year subscription to Food Network Kitchen, now is a great time to invest in a smart display that can double as your sous chef.
Read our review of the best smart displays for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.