5 Tools Not to Buy on Cyber Monday and What to Buy Instead

As a kitchen gear editor, I wait all year for Cyber Monday, and it’s finally here. Now is one of the best times to save big on the kitchen essentials on your wish list. Right now, Amazon is brimming with eye-catching deals on essentials like cookware sets, small appliances, and food storage solutions, but here’s the catch: Not every deal is actually worth adding to your cart. After years of testing kitchenware, I’m here to tell you which products deliver on their promises and which ones tend to disappoint. These are the five items I’d skip this Cyber Monday, and 26 smarter alternatives you’ll be glad you bought instead, all on sale at Amazon.

What to Buy on Cyber Monday, According to a Food Editor

• Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 9, $60, originally $80
• Henckels Classic Razor-Sharp 8-Inch Slicing Knife, $50, originally $75
• Unicook Flexible Silicone Spatula, 2-Pack, $14, originally $22
• Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven, 7.25-Quart $399, originally $480
• KitchenAid Stainless Steel Filled Pepper Grinder, $18, originally $19

Don’t Buy: Plastic Food Storage Containers

Buy Instead: Glass Food Storage Containers

Giant plastic food container sets are plastered all over Amazon’s deal section, but I advise skipping those sales and opting for glass food storage containers instead. Unlike plastic, glass doesn’t warp, stain, or leach microplastics into your food. These containers are also heat-safe — some can even be used in the oven. We rounded up the best deals on non-toxic food storage containers of all shapes and sizes, including sets and singles from OXO, Rubbermaid, and Caraway.

• Homberking 24-Piece Glass Food Storage Containers Set, $29, originally $44
• Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 9, $60, originally $80
• Bayzz 24-Piece Glass Food Storage Container Set, $30, originally $40
• Caraway 11-Piece Mini Food Storage Container Set, $122, originally $145
• Amazon Basics 14-Piece Glass Food Storage Containers, $24, originally $29

Don’t Buy: Single-Use Slicers

Buy Instead: Sharp Knives

Single-use gadgets like strawberry slicers, avocado cutters, and egg separators are fun to use and certainly tempting to buy when they’re on sale, but I always forget to use them. Even my vegetable chopper started to collect dust after a few uses. Instead of letting them take up unnecessary space in your drawers like I did, skip the gimmicks and grab a good, sharp knife or two. These editor-loved blades can be on the pricey side, but they’re up to 60% off for Cyber Monday. Read on to shop chef’s knives, paring knives, and more from brands like Henckels, Zwilling, and Wüsthof.

• Henckels Classic Razor-Sharp 8-Inch Slicing Knife, $50, originally $75
• Zwilling Twin Signature 3-Piece Starter Knife Set, $99, originally $140
• Wüsthof Gourmet Peeling Knife, $26, originally $35
• Henckels Compass Damascus 3-Piece Chef’s Knife Set, $159, originally $200
• Slemoon 8-Inch Chef’s Knife, $5, originally $10

Don’t Buy: Flimsy Plastic Utensils

Buy Instead: Silicone Utensils

Not all kitchen utensils are made equal. Flimsy plastic spoons and spatulas are prone to melting and warping when exposed to heat. In an effort to clear my kitchen of microplastics — and avoid buying tools I’ll need to repurchase a few months later — I’ve been swapping my plastic tools for silicone utensils. Not only can these spatulas handle high temperatures, but they’re flexible, visually appealing, and won’t scratch your cookware. And of course, they’re all on sale for Cyber Monday, starting at $1.25 apiece.

• OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Turner, $14, originally $16
• ChefAide 5-Piece Silicone Spatula Set, $7 with coupon, originally $13
• Oannao Silicone Cooking Utensils Set, $22, originally $26
• Di Oro3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set, $20, originally $28
• Vovoly Silicone Spatula Spoon Set, 3-Pack, $11, originally $14
• Culinary Couture Silicone 24-Piece Kitchen Utensil Set, $17, originally $20

Don’t Buy: Mega Cookware Sets

Buy Instead: Essential Pots and Pans

Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale has countless discounts on giant cookware sets. While these bundles may look tempting, they usually include niche pieces you’ll never end up using. Instead, invest in a handful of high-quality, versatile pots and pans you’ll have for a lifetime. Our favorite Cyber Monday deals include an editor-loved cast iron skillet, a Dutch oven that’s sturdy enough for soups and roasts, and a multi-tasking All-Clad pan that can handle weeknight dinners with ease. Head to Amazon and save on Lodge, Le Creuset, and Our Place cookware pieces worth making room in your kitchen for.

• All-Clad D7 Pot, 6-Quart, $280, originally $350
• GreenPan x Bobby Flay 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet, $23, originally $40
• Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven, 7.25-Quart $399, originally $480
• All-Clad Stainless Steel Roaster with Nonstick Rack, $150, originally $200
• Our Place Always Pan 2.0, $99, originally $135

Don’t Buy: Electric Salt and Pepper Shakers

Buy Instead: Manual Spice Grinders

Electric salt and pepper shakers sound great in theory, but in my experience, they burn through batteries quickly and tend to break at the worst times. Even the rechargeable models seem to run out of juice at the exact time I need a crack of black pepper or a sprinkle of sea salt. My advice? Stick to manual spice grinders. They never run out of power, plus there’s something satisfying about crushing peppercorns by hand. OXO’s mess-free salt grinder, Le Creuset’s gorgeous pepper mills, and minimalist sets from Joseph Joseph and Lars Nysøm are all on sale for Cyber Monday. Ditch your electric set and shop our picks while they’re up to TK% off.

• OXO Salt and Pepper Grinder Set, $34, originally $63
• Le Creuset Salt and Pepper Mill Set, $72, originally $96
• BInhai Wooden Pepper Mill Set, $18, originally $23
• Joseph Joseph Milltop Non-Spill Salt and Pepper Mill Set, $40, originally $46
• KitchenAid Stainless Steel Filled Pepper Grinder, $18, originally $19
• Lars Nysøm Salt and Pepper Grinder Set, $24, originally $28

While it’s smart to skip the gimmicky gadgets and low-quality cookware, there are still plenty of deals worth your attention. Shop durable cookware, editor-approved knives, non-toxic swaps, and other everyday tools you’ll actually use at Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale before prices go back up.