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I’m a Professional Product Tester, and These Are the 6 Life-Altering Kitchen Upgrades I Wish I’d Made Sooner
Samira Vishwas | June 25, 2026 2:24 PM CST

I’ll never go back.

Credit: EatingWell / Getty

Key Points

The kitchen product market is truly jam-packed with pieces to buy, but what makes something genuinely worth the splurge? Even as a professional product tester and reviewer, it can take me years to find pieces that make the cut. There are a select few product categories I’ve determined are worth the investment: good cookware, kitchen organizerspantry staples, reusable baking dishes, long-lasting kitchen appliancesand glass food storage. Buying these products has been life-changing—they make cooking easier and better every time, and I couldn’t go without them. Read on to find out more!

Best Overall Kitchen Upgrades

  • Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven, from $270 at lecreuset.com and amazon.com
  • OXO Good Grips Fridge Under-Shelf Drawer, $40 at amazon.com
  • Lodge Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet, $29 (was $35) at amazon.com
  • Liuoud Under-Sink Organizer, $40 at amazon.com
  • Burlap and Barrel The Fundamentals Collection, $57 (was $60) at burlapandbarrel.com
  • Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, $320 (was $400) at amazon.com
  • Bentgo Signature Leakproof Glass Food Storage, $48 (was $60) at amazon.com
  • Pyrex Simply Store (3-Pack) Glass Food Storage Containers Set, $14 (was $18) at amazon.com

Good Quality Cookware

Credit: Le Creuset
Credit: Le Creuset

Cookware is the foundation of your kitchen—you use it to “build” most of your dishes across each meal of the day. Some of my favorite brands are Le Creuset and Made In, as each one makes durable pieces from cast iron and stainless steel that are built to last.

My family has had a Le Creuset Dutch oven for over 20 years, and we still use it weekly. It heats evenly, remains nonstick and is versatile enough to use in the oven or on the stovetop. I also love the brand’s cast-iron braiserwhich is incredible for one-pan dinners, pasta dishes, casseroles, and more. I also love the tall walls and flat base of my Made In sauté panwhich can shallow fry like a pro and easily brown and sear ingredients like fish or vegetables. While nonstick pans aren’t my favorite because the material wears down over time, none have lasted as long as my skillet from Carawaydespite using it daily for eggs for over three years! It’s the only one I’d buy again.

Clever Organizers

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Being organized isn’t just for the sake of things looking nice (though that’s a great perk). It also means you’re being smart with money and waste. If you keep things visible and in the right place, you’ll be more likely to use them, thus getting your money’s worth and preventing premature spoiling. The items below have all changed the way I operate in my kitchen.

OXO’s brilliant refrigerator organizers have nearly doubled the volume of food I can fit in my refrigerator. I use both the under-shelf drawers and shelf risers to create space in areas that would otherwise stay empty! Not only can I fit more, but I can also clearly see what’s in my refrigerator. The same goes for this bamboo spice organizer that keeps all 25 of my jars visible and easy to grab. And, I genuinely couldn’t live without this under-sink organizer set that keeps my kitchen cleaning products organized while leaving room for the pesky pipes under my sink.

  • OXO Good Grips Fridge Under-Shelf Drawer, $40 at amazon.com
  • Zri Bamboo Cabinet Spice Organizer, $17 (was $21) at amazon.com
  • OXO Good Grips Adjustable Fridge Shelf Riser, $29 at amazon.com
  • SpaceAid Spice Rack Organizer, $28 (was $37) at amazon.com
  • Liuoud Under-Sink Organizer, $40 at amazon.com
  • Pipishell Bamboo Expandable Silverware Drawer Organizer, $22 (was $31) at amazon.com

Good Quality Pantry Staples

Credit: Burlap & Barrel
Credit: Burlap & Barrel

Quality ingredients not only improve the way your food tastes, but they can turn simple recipes into special ones. Everyone’s pantry picks will be different depending on the recipes you make, but most people would agree with me that salt, olive oil, and spices are among the most important.

My favorite spices are all from Burlap and Barrel. They’re not cheap, but they’re the most flavorful, high-impact ones I’ve ever tried. I love that they’re single-origin and carefully harvested, whether you’re buying cinnamon or garlic powder. One purchase of these and you’ll never go back to what you find at the grocery store! In terms of extra-virgin olive oil, there are plenty of great options, though I love the subtle grassy notes of the Flamingo Estate Heritage Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the olive-forward Quinta Luna Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oilwhich one of my favorite Italian restaurants in New York City uses. I also find that adding vanilla bean paste is one of the most life-changing ways to improve occasional baked goods or everyday breakfasts, like overnight oats. My favorite after working as a pastry cook is the Heilala brand.

Stoneware Baking Dishes

Credit: Le Creuset
Credit: Le Creuset

Everyone forgets about reusable baking dishes, and the second you buy a set and finally ditch those flimsy aluminum pans, you’ll start to wonder why you did, too. They make even the most unsightly casseroles look table-worthy (we all have those go-to beige recipes). Plus, they bake your recipes consistently and evenly and last for decades.

You can buy lots of options, but none perform as well as the Le Creuset, Staub, and Emile Henry brands, in my experience. They’re an investment but will last forever.

Kitchen Gadgets and Appliances That Last

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

With so many pricey appliances and kitschy gadgets on the market, it’s become a common occurrence to buy items that are exciting at first, but lose all appealing qualities over time. When you do find those tools that both work well and last, you know you’ve hit the jackpot.

For me, the only appliance worth permanent counter space is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro because it can do so many different tasks, like air fry, bake, toast, reheat and proof. Another appliance with a permanent spot on my counter is my KitchenAid mixerwhich I was inspired to buy by my mom, who has owned hers for two decades! I’ve also owned my Escali kitchen stairs for 10 years, and it still works well. In terms of kitchen tools, I’ll never go without my versatile Earlywood spatulas. Below are even more choices I stand behind.

  • Sur La Table American Black Walnut Salt Keeper, $54 at amazon.com
  • KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, $380 (was $500) at amazon.com
  • Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, $320 (was $400) at amazon.com
  • Escali Primo Digital Food Scale, $22 (was $25) at amazon.com
  • Earlywood Wooden Kitchen Utensil Set, $45 at amazon.com
  • John Boos R-Board Series Rectangular Wooden Maple Cutting Board, $107 (was $115) at amazon.com
  • KitchenAid Citrus Juice Press Squeezer, $14 (was $20) at amazon.com
  • Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester, $13 (was $15) at amazon.com
  • Technivorm Moccamaster 53923 KBGV Select 10-Cup Coffee Maker, $240 (was $369) at amazon.com

Glass Food Storage

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

I’ve slowly started to move away from plastic food storage for many reasons, but one of the main ones is its lack of longevity. Plastic containers tend to stain, crack or break down, meaning I need to repurchase them more often than I’d like. Moving over to glass storage containers has been such a game-changer in my kitchen because they can be used in the refrigerator, freezer, or microwave, and they last for years and years without needing replacing.

My kitchen is filled with options from Bentgo, Pyrex, Ball and Bormioli Rocco, which I use for both refrigerator and pantry storage. All of these have lasted me years and they come in a variety of helpful sizes and shapes

  • Bentgo Signature Leakproof Glass Food Storage, $48 (was $60) at amazon.com
  • Pyrex Simply Store (3-Pack) Glass Food Storage Containers Set, $14 (was $18) at amazon.com
  • Pyrex Simply Store Glass Food Storage Containers Set, $45 (was $47) at amazon.com
  • Ball Mason Wide Mouth Jars, $22 at amazon.com
  • Weck Glass Jar Combo Pack, $28 at amazon.com
  • Pyrex Colors Sculpted Tinted Glass Mixing Bowls, $30 (was $35) at amazon.com
  • Bormioli Rocco Fido Glass Storage 5-Piece Set, $65 at amazon.com

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