Our 11 Favorite Products We Tried in September

Our writers and editors test out hundreds of items each month, and when something is good enough to enter our regular cooking and dining rotation, we want to share. The best things we tried in September straddle the line between breezy summer dining and cozy fall cooking: We loved versatile ramen bowls (which could definitely double as pasta bowls), a powerful AI pellet grill and smoker, a water filter pitcher that targets forever chemicals, handy non-toxic cooking utensils, and more. Read on for the 11 best kitchen items we tried this month.

Best Writer- and Editor-Loved Products for September

Earlywood 10-Inch Handmade Wood Cooking Utensil

“This wood scraper (basically a flat cooking spatula) is one of my very favorite kitchen utensils, and it was sold out on Amazon for a really long time. Now, it’s back, and it’s a great do-it-all non-toxic utensil to add to your collection. I love how versatile this is — I can use it for flipping pancakes and burgers, but also for making a tofu scramble or rustling around some roasted vegetables in the oven. It’s very easy to clean, and its thin, flat edge makes it a formidable scraper if I’m trying to get some stuck food off the bottom of a pan or pot. Grab one while it’s available, because it could disappear again.” — Adam Rothbarth, writer

oLifeStraw 7-Cup Water Pitcher

“Like many people these days, reducing my exposure to microplastics and forever chemicals is top of my mind, both in the kitchen and outside of it. I appreciate that this water filter pitcher from LifeStraw filters out forever chemicals, PFAS, and bacteria, among other things. And, unlike your average fully plastic pitcher, the body of this one is made of glass, so there’s a bit less exposure to plastic. I appreciate the silicone base, too — it’s much less noisy going in and out of my fridge.” — Phoebe Sklansky, senior editor

Material Kitchen The Salt Sphere

“Not a day goes by that I don’t use Material Kitchen’s The Salt Sphere. I’m not sure what I love more: its magnetic swivel lid, its gorgeous design, or its fluted stand, which is hollow to hold finishing salt or pepper. What I do know is that anyone would be lucky to own this product.” — Liv Dansky, writer

All-Clad 8-Quart Simply Strain Stainless Steel Multipot

“I recently snagged this All-Clad pot on sale at Williams Sonoma. Living in a small apartment, I only have room for one multi-purpose stockpot, and this one does the trick with its built-in strainer and middle-of-the-road size — big enough for a decent batch of soup, but small enough to fit in my cabinet. I’ve even used it to make a large batch of simple syrup for a recent party. Plus, you can’t go wrong with All-Clad stainless steel, in my opinion.” — Phoebe Sklansky

Brümate Champagne Flute

“This portable Champagne flute is twice the size of a standard flute and keeps the bubbly cold during tailgate season. I also love that the lid flips up instead of coming off completely, meaning you never lose it!” — Breanna Killeen, associate editorial director

Caraway Glass Airtight Food Storage Container Set

“In my opinion, the thing Caraway does best is its food storage. I use the 17-piece food storage set every single day to keep food fresh in my fridge, and the brand’s new glass food container set is absolutely up to par. I already have it set up in my pantry, with its five containers full of granola, cereal, oats, protein powder, and rice. It not only looks stunning and stacks together perfectly, but it’s ingeniously efficient, complete with a magnetic airlock that, unlike some brands that attempt this, actually works. Plus, it uses non-toxic glass instead of plastic, which is a major plus.” — Adam Rothbarth, writer

Fable Ramen Bowls, Set of 2

“I recently tested Fable’s ramen bowls and have been reaching for them over my shallow pasta bowls. I like the depth, short sides, and heavy base of these oversized 36-ounce bowls and have used them for chili, rice dishes, and (of course) ramen. I also love that they neatly stack. My favorite color is the dDesert tTaupe, but there are plenty of cozy, earthy colors to choose from.” — Danielle St. Pierre, senior editor

Gir Silicone Spoon

“I love silicone kitchen tools, and this spoon is great for everything. I especially love this brand’s [currently sold out] small spoon. Sometimes, I’ll want to taste a soup, or I’ll want to scramble some eggs, or just eat some yogurt. This spoon can do it all without, and not scratching any surfaces.” — Doan Nguyen, digital photo editor

iBrisk It Zelos-450 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

“I tested this backyard grill all summer and really loved it. It has an AI-powered app that you can use to control your cooking, but I mostly used it manually — it’s incredibly easy to pick a temperature, fire up some wood pellets, and wait for some perfectly grilled chicken, vegetables, burgers, or whatever else you fancy. It’s also super easy to clean, and I love the small side table and knobs for hanging utensils. It’s currently on sale for $121 off, so whether you’re trying to upgrade to a wood pellet grill or break into smoking, this is a wonderful opportunity.” — Adam Rothbarth

Hydro Flask 64-Ounce Water Bottle

“I shirk the responsibility of refilling my water bottle often, so I got this half-gallon bottle to reduce my trips to the tap. Its strong handle doesn’t stretch under a full bottle, and the straw was a non-negotiable for me. Plus, the vacuum insulation keeps my water ice-cold even after hours in a hot vehicle.” — Dillon Evans, update writer

iDe’Longhi Cold and Hot Frother

“I’m a big fan of sipping on vanilla-flavored milk in the fall and winter, especially when said milk is heated and frothed. It’s a nostalgic drink that reminds me of when I was little, desperately wanting to participate in the Starbucks trend but unable to drink caffeine. Long story short, I’ve been using DeLonghi’s new Lattemix frother nearly every night for weeks. With the press of a button, it turns plant-based and regular milks into hot or cold foam. It also couldn’t be easier to clean thanks to its nonstick interior and magnetic, removable whisk.” — Liv Dansky