Splurge vs. Save: Popular Kitchen Appliances and Products Compared

👀 Sharing my unfiltered opinions on what's worth the money - or not. 💵 Air fryers, slow cookers, nonstick pans, Dutch ovens, food processors & more so you know what to splurge on & what to save on!✅

I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on kitchen equipment, appliances, gadgets, and kitchen stuff. I’ve had some gems and I’ve had duds. Actually, way more duds that gems over the years. I’ve also been “influenced” by other food bloggers and social media influencers and many times I’m convinced they either have low standards, or simply cannot cook because the item just isn’t good, or both.

I’m dishing on what I own, why I love it, and why I think you’ll love it too. Or not. I’m sharing so that you save your money and don’t end up with a dud or overpay senselessly.

• Some of my picks are squarely in the “it’s worth the splurge” ✅ camp.

• But in some categories, I love the more budget-friendly and “save” option.

• In some categories the splurge is less than 20 dollars apart from the save.

• And in some categories I actually recommend both the splurge and the save, for different reasons or different people based on how you cook.

• And with some, just flat out avoid it. 🚫

All of my opinions are just that, my opinions. We all have one. But mine are not sponsored, endorsed, or “influenced” by a brand to post or not post my reviews.

Air Fryer

Splurge ✅: Cosori Stainless Steel - I’ve used at least 10 air fryers over the course of the last 10 years, and without a doubt, this is the BEST of all of them. First, this 6.5-quart machine just looks beautiful on my countertop. Next, the safe nontox ceramic coating in the cooking basket is so resistant to anything sticking to it making cleanup a breeze and it’s one piece, no little grooves and grates to pick caked on food out of. And it’s a beast of a workhorse in the actual air frying department. It cooks faster and more evenly than any other air fryer I’ve ever used. There’s also in-app cooking for those more tech-loving than I am. All around, I adore this machine and highly recommend it.

Save: Ninja Air Fryer Pro It’s a highly popular brand and there’s nothing wrong with this air fryer, but I don’t love the black box look personally and the other finishes just aren’t as sexy as the Cosori stainless steel. The Ninja is also noticeably smaller at 5 quarts, so it can’t cook as much nor as fast. However, if you need an air fryer and are cooking for 1 to 3 people, it’s likely big enough for average meals.

Slow Cooker

Splurge ✅: Ninja Multi Cooker - A 10-in-1 machine that comes in either an 6.5-quart or 8.5-quart size. Since I personally don’t tend to make slow cooker recipes that I need to sear first on the stove and then slow cook, that feature of this slow cooker isn’t that big of a deal to me. It also steams, sautes, and more but I use my slow cooker to do just that - slow cook. I’m also not a huge slow cooker recipes consumer in my personal cooking life when I’m not developing and testing recipes for my site. I’m more of a “how can I get this done in 20 minutes (not 3-6 hours)” kind of cook. However, if you slow cook frequently and want to have multiple functions in one machine, people rave rave rave about this unit and for all you get, it’s only $109 which is a DEAL!

Save ✅: Crockpot 7-Quart Manual Slow Cooker is an old school, no frills, add the food, set it and forget it, type of machine that’s $44 bucks. Personally, as a low tech person, and as a person who isn’t trying to do 8 functions in one when I reach for my slow cooker, this is what I have and have had for about 10 years and it works great and gets the job done. I’ve also had much fancier slow cookers that I’ve gifted to friends because I am not fancy enough to use all those features, and more importantly, I don’t have the storage space for extra slow cookers!

If you want a slightly fancier model without tons of functions, this Crockpot 6-Quart Cook and Carry ✅ is really handy. Because many times when you’re going to make something in a slow cooker, it’s when you’re bringing a dish to someone’s house for an event and you start the dish at your house, or make it fully at your house, but want to transport it. And either finish it there, or plug it in to keep warm once you’ve arrived. This is so nice because it takes the risk out of things spilling during transport!

Nonstick Pans

👀 This is a category where the price difference between the splurge vs the save is vast; and there are two splurge-worthy pans I highly recommend.

And…I also recommend the Save pans because at the price point, they’re a no brainer. Especially if you’re on a budget, or you may have a kid going away to college or in their first apartment, or you need a gift for a younger couple that is practical and useful but doesn’t break that bank, etc. Or…you tend to ruin pans and cannot justify something more deluxe.

Caraway top, OurPlace lower left, Redchef set lower right

Splurge Winner🥇✅: Caraway 4.5-quart saute pan with lid (or Amazon link for faster shipping) is the gold standard for me in nonstick cookware when I need a roomy pan because this skillet is big, wonderfully heavy and it means business. If you cook bigger meals, bigger pieces of chicken breasts or salmon, batch cook for meal prep, make big stir frys with lots of volume from veggies like my Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl, this is a no-brainer skillet. Also great for big egg scrambles, omelettes, crepes, pancakes, seafood, fish, and more!

Splurge 2nd Winner🥈✅: OurPlace Always Pan 2.0 (or Amazon link for faster shipping) doesn’t stick even with delicate proteins like eggs, chicken breasts, seafood and more! A very high quality nonstick pan that comes with a spatula and steamer basket at a great price point with 6 color options. Slightly smaller than the Caraway above which is why for me personally, I don’t reach for it quite as much because I love cooking in bulk and having planned leftovers. But if you’re cooking for 1-2 or 3 people, it’s perfect. Comes with a lid, steamer baske, and wooden spoon, too. You get more extra “stuff” with OurPlace than Caraway.

Save🥉✅: Redchef Nonstick Skillet Set is what I recommend if Caraway​ or ​OurPlace​ aren’t in your budget, because you can get a 3 pan SET for less than the price of 1 of the other name brand pans. I highly recommend this budget brand of safe nonstick skillets because the ceramic coating is great, the overall quality is wonderful, the handles stay cool to the touch, food slides right out, and basically these are great dupes to Caraway!

Who Redchef pans are for IMO: If you’re not a great cook (you know who you are), or you tend to ruin pans (you’ve got the Midas touch lol) or handwashing pans isn’t for you, then get these and not Caraway or OurPlace because with the price point on those, you simply will want to take better care of them..

Tip: If you need just ONE pan for eggs, ✅ this is the one (budget) pan I reach for because sometimes I just make two scrambled eggs and don’t want or need a bigger pan to clean up. Our ‘egg pan’ as I call it (but it’s useful for all your nonstick needs) is always in rotation among family members because someone is always making eggs in my house.

Spatula (Flipper, Turner)

“Splurge” (but not really because it’s so superior and inexpensive) ✅: Missen Stainless Steel with Silicone Tip is an ELITE spatula that gets up and under food without breaking it. For flipping eggs, pancakes, omelettes, crepes, getting under burgers, pieces of chicken, fish or seafood - it’s is a breeze with this perfectly angled, thin-yet-sturdy, spatula. The silicone tip protects your nonstick skillets (like the ones above) so you can use it with confidence!

Save: (as in, save your money please) 🚫 Turners that look like these feel very clunky and very grandma’s kitchen tools. We have evolved. Unless you’re flipping a 14 ounce steak, I just don’t see where these have their place. Eggs? Hella to the no. Pancakes? Nope. I’ve honestly thrown so many of this type of turner away because they take up room and break my food or scratch my nonstick pans. Bye.

Dutch Oven

👀 This is another category where the price difference between the splurge vs the save is vast and while I’ve had my Le Creuset pieces for 20+ years now (omg I am old) so I can truly vouch for them over the long haul and the test of time, I don’t think you’re making an error if you get the Lodge by any means.

Splurge ✅: Le Creuset 6-quart round Dutch oven is the old school, old standby Dutch oven that most serious cooks have. I was gifted mine by my mother long before I even really knew how to cook. It wasn’t until I started cooking more and started my food blog that I truly appreciated what a Dutch oven is useful for:

Soups, stews, chili, sourdough, roasts, turkey breast, anytime I double or triple a recipe and the quantity won’t fit in any other skillet, I use my Dutch oven.

Save ✅: Lodge 6-quart round is 1/3rd the price and you’re getting solid craftsmanship. I just looked it up and Lodge has been around since 1896. It’s not French and not imported like Le Creuset is (therefore likely helping deliver on a great price point), and it’s a workhorse and you cannot go wrong with it.

Bottom Line: I believe every kitchen needs one Dutch oven. I personally also love my Le Creuset 8-quart oval. It’s an investment in your future (chef) self. And you can gift it to your kids or grandkids. You only need to buy this ONCE in your life. There’s a Lodge 7-quart oval that’s 1/5th the price!

Mini Food Processor/Chopper

Splurge ✅: Cuisinart 3-cup is handy to have around to make sauces, vinaigrettes, dressings, marinades, mince fresh herbs, chop nuts, and more. It’s for those times when it’s more than you can do well by hand (or care to) but the amount of food involved is smaller than will even hit the blade on a larger model or when you don’t want all those dishes. I just looked it up and Amazon told me I bought mine in just a few years ago back in 2013 and its still going strong.

Save: Hamilton Beach 3-cup gets great reviews on Amazon but since I’ve been going strong with my Cuisinart for 13 years, I’ve had no reason to purchase others. There’s less than an $18 dollar difference separating the splurge and save and I think the splurge is worth it.

Food Thermometer

This is a category where the price points are far apart and the functionality isn’t all that different. And while I can speak to the longevity and true workhorse nature of the Thermapen One because I’ve owned mine for 5+ years and have used and abused it during that time as a professional food blogger, and it continues to function flawlessly. But on the flip side, I think at a certain level, a thermometer is a thermometer - so get whichever one your budget allows.

Splurge ✅: Thermoworks Thermapen One (or directly from the Thermoworks site) is the gold standard in food thermometers for most food bloggers. I’ve had mine for 5+ years, probably longer, and I still take the temperature every.single.time when I make chicken on the grill, a whole chicken, a turkey breast, or a whole turkey that’s foolproof. There is simply no way to “just eyeball” 165F degrees. Close doesn’t cut it because undercooked poultry and your family now has a raging case of salmonella and overcooking, while safer, is a recipe for just dry, tough, bad meat. The Thermapen One is extremely fast (less than 1/2 second) and supremely accurate. It’s the Rolls Royce of food thermometers and makes a great gift for that person who has everything.

Save: ✅ AlphaGrillers has over 90,000+ ratings on Amazon so clearly, they’re doing something right! If all you need is a thermometer to get the job done and just have one (rather than guessing) and you’re fine with a 1-2 second wait time, then get this! It’s 12 bucks very well spent!