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Best Summer Kitchen Upgrades

• Keep Your Kitchen Cool: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro$400
• Use This on the Grill: Lodge Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet$30
• No More Buggy Lettuce: OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner$33
• Keep Ice Solid for Days: Yeti Roadie 32 Wheeled Cooler$375
• Leakproof and Insulated: BrüMate Era Flip Tumbler$48
• Slices Produce in Seconds: OXO Good Grips Julienne Prep Peeler$12
• The Best Containers for Freezing: OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Airtight Glass Container Set$38

I test kitchen gear for a living, and over the years I’ve been doing so, I’ve tried hundreds of products. Some of them are total duds, but others can be genuinely life-altering for folks like me who cook often. Because I change my cooking habits seasonally, I use certain items more often this time of year than others, and they’ve made my life easier. Think air fryer toaster ovens for keeping my apartment cool or durable coolers that keep ice cold for days. Below are some of the items I’ve collected that have completely changed the game for me on hot days, and I’m hoping they do the same for you.

Do-It-All Air Fryer Toaster Ovens

No matter where you are in the country, chances are it’s hot, and the last thing you want to do is heat your entire kitchen into a sauna you weren’t ready for. I live in an apartment where turning on the stove can raise the temperature by multiple degrees, so I knew I needed a solution: an air fryer toaster oven.

These nifty gadgets give you multiple cooking options without warming your kitchen. Not only that, but they cook food in half the time with no hand-holding required. The one I use daily is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro; you can’t beat its efficiency, versatility and sleek design. We also love the Instant Pot Omni Plus and Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven for folks who want more cooking space. And if you’re tight on countertop real estate, opt for the Ninja Flipwhich folds up when not in use, or the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact.

• Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro$400
• Instant Pot Omni Plus Toaster Oven Air Fryer$225 with coupon (was $250)
• Ninja Flip Digital Air Fryer and Toaster Oven$250
• Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact$250
• Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven$369
• Black and Decker Crisp ‘N Bake Air Fry Countertop Convection Toaster Oven$62

Durable Cast-Iron Skillets

Cast-iron skillets are a cookware powerhouse all year, but I couldn’t imagine summer without them. Their textured, high-heating interior encourages all of the char you want on seasonal produce and proteins alike. Plus, you can’t beat their flexibility—you can use them on your stove, in the oven or on the grill. The dishes you often make in these skillets are perfect for summer—think berry cobblers, baked cornbread, seared salmon, charred vegetables or smoky baked beans.

In my opinion, you really cannot go wrong with a classic Lodge skillet. They heat evenly, last for years and are relatively inexpensive. I also love the Lodge dual-handle pan for folks who know they want to use their skillet for anything and everything, because the two helper handles make it much more compact and easy to move. If you prefer a smooth cooking surface, we find the Stargazer Smooth Cast-Iron Skillet worth the splurge, too. And Lodge’s Blacklock Triple Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet is a lightweight option for folks who don’t like the heft of traditional cast-iron.

• Lodge Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet$30
• Stargazer Smooth Cast-Iron Skillet$155
• Camp Chef True Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Classic Skillet$39
• Lodge Blacklock Triple Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet$60
• Lodge Seasoned Cast-Iron Dual-Handle Pan$30

Produce Prep Tools That Actually Work

Summer is the season of fresh produce across the entire country. Personally, I’m encouraged to eat a bit more locally and tend to gravitate towards fresh, crisp ingredients to beat the heat. It pays to have kitchen tools on hand to make that prep easier.

For me, I couldn’t go a summer without a serrated utility knife. Small, long and jagged, these are perfect for slicing through delicate heirloom tomatoes and juicy peaches without ruining their delicate texture. I also love my OXO julienne peeler for getting quick shreds of carrot, zucchini and radish for salads. You’ll never catch me eating farm-fresh lettuce without running it through my favorite salad spinner—I’ve had too many situations where I found a caterpillar or two in my kale. I also find a mini food processor essential for quickly chopping onions, shallots or garlic, in addition to blitzing together salsa, dressings and dips.

• OXO Good Grips Julienne Prep Peeler$12
• Henckels Solution 5-inch Serrated Utility Knife$20
• KitchenAid Citrus Juice Press Squeezer$20
• OXO Good Grips Large Adjustable Handheld Mandoline Slicer$35
• Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor$45
• OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner$33
• Wüsthof Gourmet 5-Inch Serrated Utility Knife$50
• Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester$18 (was $19)
• OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Herb Keeper$17

Containers That Double as Food Preservation Storage

Because there are so many freshly grown products around, I want to keep them on hand for as long as possible. I’m no professional canner or preserver, but in my kitchen, I have found that it really pays to have everyday food storage options on hand that double as options for doing so.

For freezing leafy greens, chopped-up fruit and more, silicone storage bags from Stasher are great. I also love your standard glass containers because they’re versatile enough to use for everything, whether it’s fresh fruit or slow-cooked sauces. The OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Glass Containers are our favorites for the freezer with durable bases and airtight latching lids. Ball Mason jars are the gold standard for jarring jams, pickles and more, and Weck jars offer an all-glass option. Both can be used for regular short-term storage, or you can get more scientific and actually preserve recipes. I’m a huge fan of using the freezer for preserving, so Dinner Cubes are a very useful addition to my space. They can hold fresh juice, tomato sauce or apple butter in little blocks for easy grabbing.

• Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bags$35 (was $45)
• Souper Cubes 1-Cup Silicone Freezer Molds with Lids$40
• Ball Mason Wide Mouth Jars with Lids and Bands$22
• Weck Tulip Jars$23
• OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Airtight Glass Container Set$38

Coolers and Water Bottles That Stand Up to the Heat

When you’ve gone to the beach every summer for your entire life, you understand the value of a good cooler. There’s nothing worse than a soggy, warm sandwich. I’m currently testing a wheelable option from Yetiwhich is both durable and insulated enough to keep up with my beach runs for many summers to come. Yeti makes other options that plenty of my colleagues swear by, like this backpack cooler and this more compact over-the-shoulder soft cooler. Other great finds include this RTIC cooler and this Coleman coolerthe former being the one my dad has used to pack our food for over a decade.

To go with your cooler, you need an insulated bottle that keeps ice solid for hours. For that, Yeti is always a good bet. My favorite option is the standard water bottle because it seals super tight to keep the chill in. The brand also makes a huge half-gallon jugwhich my parents use for the beach—it’s great for bringing a beverage for folks to share. Recently, I’ve been extremely impressed with the BrüMate Era Flip Tumblertoo, which is totally leakproof and compact but still comes with a fun straw.

• RTIC Ultra-Light 52-Quart Hard Cooler$184 (was $229)
• Yeti Hopper M Series Backpack Soft Sided Cooler$260 (was $325)
• Stanley IceFlow Fast Flow Water Bottle$35
• Yeti Rambler Half-Gallon Jug 2.0$100
• Coleman Classic Series Insulated Portable Cooler$68 (was $85)
• Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Portable Cooler$200 (was $250)
• Yeti Roadie 32 Wheeled Cooler$375
• BrüMate Era Flip Tumbler$48
• Yeti Rambler Water Bottle$40 (was $45)

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