Shop Our F&W Faves Featured at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

Food & Wine is many things — your inspiration for your next wow-worthy side, your guide to perfecting a roast chicken or finally nailing a laminated dough, and your authority for which new restaurant to hit next. But it’s also the place to discover the best in kitchenware.

While some of us on staff are in the kitchen honing recipes, meeting the best new chefs, or exploring the latest in cocktail techniques from some of the world’s finest bartenders, others are in the lab testing the most sought-after kitchen tools so we can confidently bring you our expert picks.

We’ve spent over 11,000 hours testing more than 3,000 products to bring you top-tier, tested recommendations to fill up your kitchen cabinets, whether it’s the copper cookware set that is both your weeknight go-to and dinner party hero, your coffee grinder that never wavers when you need it most, or your chef’s knife that’s always ready to slice and dice with ease, no matter what you bring to the table — or cutting board.

To us, hands-on testing is invaluable, and we meticulously analyze every aspect of the products that enter our labs, including product advancements, innovative settings, helpful new features, and, of course, shortcomings. Our goal is to bring you our expert, vetted, and honest recommendations. 

After many, many hours in the lab, we displayed some of the most intriguing, inspiring, and impressive products we’ve had the pleasure of testing at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.

Ooni Koda 16 Gas Pizza Oven

$599 at Amazon $600 at Williams-Sonoma $599 at Ooni.com

There’s a reason Ooni is the name in pizza ovens: This portable propane-powered outdoor pizza oven produced some of the best-tasting pies we’ve made, from its perfectly springy crusts to sturdy doughy centers. 

On top of its reputation for top-of-the-line pizzas, we also find it incredibly user-friendly. It’s ready for action seconds after unboxing, and it cooks a pizza to perfection in just one minute. Learning to customize your preferred pizzas takes a little time, but each pizza we've baked in our test kitchen has been better than the last. You may be hesitant to bring home a single-use appliance, but trust us: Once you’ve had a taste of one of these pizzas, you’ll be firing it up frequently. 

Monogram Forge Heated Ice Press

$1,500 at Williams-Sonoma

We’ve never seen anything quite like the Forge Heated Ice Press, and its performance matches its impressive design. The innovative device uses precision temperature to create a perfect 2.5-inch-diameter sphere (from blocks prepped in the included molds) that instantly cools so the ice won’t melt and dilute flavors when dropped in a drink, and it does so in as little as 60 seconds. 

Though it may look intimidating, the Forge is foolproof and intuitive to operate thanks to its simple and sturdy configuration. We found it both easy to use and consistent, and we were impressed by the superb quality of each and every sphere we pressed. It’s the ideal product to display while entertaining.

Männkitchen Pepper Cannon

$200 at Amazon $200 at Mannkitchen.com

There are your typical pepper grinders, and then there’s the Männkitchen Pepper Cannon. Its quality is evident as soon as you hold it in your hand — it feels sturdy, modern, and durable, thanks to its solid black matte aluminum body and impressive steel burr grind mechanism. In addition to its expansive grind range (most pepper mills grind between 12 and 28 mesh size, while the Männkitchen goes from eight to 60), this sleek and powerful mill has a substantially large capacity to hold an entire jar of peppercorns. 

Although the Pepper Cannon requires manual twisting, that doesn’t detract from its power. In fact, it outperforms its competitors by a mile, capably and efficiently shooting some of our tests’ most even grinds consistent with each setting. We’ve used the Pepper Cannon for years, and whether you’re seasoning a large roast, a rack of ribs, or a substantial serving of vegetables, the Pepper Cannon works quickly and evenly, so don’t worry about wrist fatigue or over-seasoned spots. Its large double chambers also mean you’ll have to refill less often. 

Stargazer 10.5-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

$135 at Amazon $115 at Stargazercastiron.com

A proper cast iron pan is a staple of any kitchen, and the Stargazer has never disappointed us during testing. Its bronze exterior looks radiant on any surface, from stovetop to table. We find its perfect 10.25-inch diameter the most convenient and versatile size.  

When we test cast iron, it all comes down to heat — heat conduction, heat retention, and heat distribution. The Stargazer handles high temperatures effortlessly. We barely experienced any sticking, even during the historically sticky cornbread test. The smooth, flat bottom of the pan allowed any stuck-on debris that did remain in the pan to release quickly with soap and a scrubber. We appreciate its easy-to-maneuver wide handle and sear-worthy surface, the hallmark of a truly great cast iron skillet. And despite the various tests we’ve thrown at it, the quality of this piece continues to shine through. 

Josephinenhütte Josephine No. 3 Red Wine Glass

$220 at Amazon View on Josephinen.com

These wine glasses exude luxury with their atypical shape, lightweight build, and height. We swirled, smelled, and sipped our way through various reds, and these innovative glasses enhanced the wine-drinking experience. 

The unusual shape serves a purpose: The large bowl aerates the wine easily in the glass, and the curved shape brings the full spectrum of aromas and flavors to the palate, bringing out the variations in color between a Beaujolais and a Bordeaux. They might not be for everyone, but they are undoubtedly for serious wine drinkers and collectors. 

“This is what I would expect at a fine-dining restaurant with a smart wine program,” says Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis. “It’s a gorgeous glass, and I love the wide base compared to the thin stem, and it’s very easy to swirl. I think it’s a good all-purpose for any red or white or if you’re going through whites and reds at dinner.”

Le Creuset Stoneware Pasta Bowls Set

$72 at Amazon View on Lecreuset.com

Pasta bowls offer far more versatility than their name suggests, and many of our editors turn to this special set of Le Creuset bowls for any meal of the day. Le Creuset never disappoints us when it comes to quality, and these bowls are no different. The stoneware is resistant to chipping and cracking, and its durable enamel glaze is easy to clean. We’ve made hundreds of meals in these bowls, running them through our dishwashers and microwaves without signs of any scratching or breaking.

At just under 9 inches in diameter, they’re the perfect landing zone for anything, including salads, soups, cereal, and, of course, saucy pasta. Choose from one of the classic brand colors and effortlessly stack them, either tucked away in a cabinet or on an open shelf for display. 

Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

Orig. $249 $220 at Amazon $250 at Target $325 at Williams-Sonoma

From backyards and wooded areas to driveways, we've spotted these sleek, smokeless fire pits everywhere. And we can see why they're so popular: They burn (nearly) smokeless, are odor-free, and are effortless to operate. We’ve hauled these easy-to-move fire pits great distances, and they’ve impressed us with every burn.

Because of the stove’s airflow design, wood and charcoal burn thoroughly, so you won’t find yourself playing musical chairs with a change in wind direction. It’s also fairly painless to clean due to its removable base plate and ash pan, making cleanup significantly shorter (and less messy) than other fire pits we’ve tested. While we love the Solo Stove for its simplified (yet still quintessential) fire pit experience, we also appreciate the brand’s add-ons, like the Solo Stove Pi Fire Pizza Oven attachment and popcorn maker. 

Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler

$425 at Amazon $425 at REI View on Yeti.com

A cooler can make or break an outing, but we trust this Yeti to keep our beverages cold. In fact, we can confidently say it kept our ice frozen for over 24 hours without any signs of melting. We’ve packed it with ice, single-use cans, perishables — you name it. Even on the sunniest of days, the cooler kept things fresh and always ready for consumption. With an impressive 48-liter capacity, it's held as many as 80 cans at one time. 

The single-piece construction upholds Yeti’s reputation for unmatched durability and quality, and its puncture-resistant wheels make for effortless travel, no matter what type of terrain you roll it over. We like that you can very easily remove the food tray and pour ice into it. Cleaning is efficient with the help of an attached spout that quickly removes excess water and ice without requiring you to tip the cooler completely over. 

Hestan CopperBond 10-Piece Cookware Set

$1,700 at Amazon $1,700 at Williams-Sonoma $1,700 at Wayfair

Copper’s superiority when it comes to heat conductivity and nonstick properties make it the ultimate material for a well-stocked kitchen. We’ve tested countless cookware sets over the years, and Hestan stands out with its perfect thickness, responsive exterior, equal balance, and excellent browning capabilities.

Apart from its obviously gorgeous exterior, cooking with this set is a joy. It had some of the most even heating — never scorching chicken or causing beans to stick. Each piece has a lightweight build, convenient pour spouts, and nicely curved walls. A few other function-forward features put this set above the rest, including the interior handle rivets that are flush with the pan, which means no extra scrubbing to remove deposits they might have trapped. Introduce this collection to your cookware lineup now, and it’s set to be an heirloom for years. 

Miyabi Birchwood SG2 7-Piece Knife Block Set

Orig. $1,780 $1,300 at Amazon $1,300 at Williams-Sonoma $1,300 at Wayfair

Besides being gorgeous, this knife block set also earned the highest marks possible for performance. One hundred layers of Damascus stainless steel protect each of the four incredibly strong, hand-hammered SG2 micro-carbide powder steel blades, which effortlessly glided through every piece of produce we tested each knife against, including tomatoes, garlic, kiwi, and onions. Never once did the chef’s knife resist or catch friction, and each of the four blades feels lightweight yet safely solid. 

In addition to the blades, the block also comes with a honing steel and a pair of shears, which felt particularly durable, expertly cutting through chicken joints and cartilage. The solid birchwood handles make each piece a joy to hold, and the extra spaces in the bamboo block provide room for up to eight more of your favorite knives. 

Café Specialty Drip Coffee Maker

Orig. $299 $229 at Amazon Orig. $299 $229 at Target $230 at Williams-Sonoma

We’ve tested hundreds of coffee makers, from top-of-the-line espresso machines to highly manual stovetop models, but this SCA-certified coffee maker is a favorite among editors. Its clean, luxurious design sits attractively on any countertop, but the real quality comes in its features. 

Voice-activated controls signal the machine to start, the coffee strength is customizable, and the insulated thermal carafe has kept our brews hot for hours. Apart from these helpful features, we just like how the coffee tastes.  After brewing multiple carafes at full, half, and minimum capacity, each cup came out smooth, without any bitterness or burnt notes to taste.

Kuvings REVO830 Whole Slow Juicer

$700 at Amazon $700 at Williams-Sonoma View on Kuvingsusa.com

The best kind of juicer is one you’ll actually use, and we can’t say enough good things about this machine. For one, it’s easy to put together and, perhaps more importantly, to take apart and clean. During testing, it effortlessly (and quietly) converted whole apples, fibrous kale, and thick ginger root into clean juice in a matter of seconds. Features like the Auto-Cut Chute make this juicer straightforward to use; it consists of a rotating knife at the bottom, which slices produce like carrots, celery, or cucumber into small pieces to make them easier to crush and juice.

The result? Smooth, fresh, delicious juice — fast. We were more than satisfied with the amount of juice extracted, and the countertops were virtually clean when testing wrapped. Juicing requires time and money, but in this case, it really is worth the squeeze. 

Whynter ICM-255SSY 2.6-Quart Upright Ice Cream Maker

$600 at Williams-Sonoma View on Whynter.com

Even though it can churn out an impressive 2.5 quarts per batch, the innovative Whynter ice cream maker doesn't take up too much countertop space. It comes equipped with a compressor freezer, meaning no pre-freezing is required, and temperature and consistency control functions let you customize the firmness of each batch. 

We were highly satisfied with the results of this machine, which turned room-temperature ingredients into delicious vanilla ice cream with just a button. Customization is easy: It easily disperses mix-ins like Oreos. The best part? It’s not limited to ice cream — you can make frozen yogurt and sorbet, and the experience is about as effortless and intuitive as it can be. The removable stainless-steel bowl and churn blades disassemble quickly for cleanup. 

How We Select Our Faves

When selecting products to test, we consult our vast network of chefs, sommeliers, and other specialists. We ask them what qualities make for the best-in-class products and gather their expertise on using and maintaining each item. Then our team of dedicated experts, including seasoned food writers, editors, and culinary professionals, rigorously tests the items side by side to determine the winners.

But our work doesn't end there. We also bring our top recommendations home and use them in our daily lives. We reach for our winning cookware to test its durability over time, experiment with the various settings on the best air fryers, and pull shot after shot on the latest machines to continue updating our recommendations with new learnings. 

Every tool we recommend is rated across multiple metrics and weighted according to the areas that are most important to us, such as performance, durability over time, design, ease of use, and overall value. We select our F&W Faves from the winners — they're always a mix of the most important categories to our readers, from budget buys to special splurges. When it's time to check out, we want you to feel that we are equally invested in your investment.