As professionals who write about food and kitchen gadgets for a living, the editors at Bon Appétit are constantly surrounded by an expansive array of culinary products. Between personal purchases and the endless stream of product samples arriving daily, there is always something new making its way across office desks and into home kitchens. Every month, the team rounds up the standout items they have tested or bought themselves that have genuinely changed the way they cook, eat, and navigate their daily routines.
For the month of October, the editorial staff found themselves gravitating toward a diverse collection of items. The list spans from a holiday-ready serving bowl and a reliable skillet engineered for cooking eggs to seasonal snacks, pantry staples, and even a candle designed to evoke the comforting aroma of a fresh pot of steamed rice.
Field Company No. 5 Cast Iron Chef Skillet
One of the most common questions directed at product reviewers in the culinary space is simply which nonstick pan to buy. The answer is almost always cast iron, a suggestion that rarely matches what people initially have in mind. Consumers typically ask because their current cookware is failing them—whether it is a scratched-up PFAS pan or a ceramic alternative that frustratingly begins to stick after a mere year of use. This is usually followed by the familiar lament that cast iron demands too much active maintenance.
According to the Bon Appétit team, this notion is largely a misconception. The actual upkeep involves washing the skillet—something that happens with any piece of cookware, and yes, dish soap is entirely acceptable—followed by placing it briefly on a warm stovetop to dry, which eliminates the need for towel drying altogether. For the first few uses, adding a small amount of seasoning oil as the skillet dries helps build up a reliable base layer, after which rigorous maintenance is largely unnecessary.
For those shopping specifically for an egg pan—arguably the most common motivation for seeking out nonstick cookware—the recommendation points directly to Field Company’s No. 5 Chef Skillet. The distinct advantage of this particular design lies in its sloped sides, which depart from the traditional 90-degree angles found in standard cast iron skillets. These angled edges allow cooks to easily flip contents with a flick of the wrist. Measuring 7.5 inches, it provides optimal space for two fried eggs or a small batch of sausage links, while still accommodating up to four scrambled eggs without issue. Furthermore, the pan is lightweight and fully compatible with induction cooktops, promising a slick cooking surface that outlasts any chemically coated alternative.
Year and Day Splatter Low Serving Bowl
Nothing announces a formal dinner party or a casual family gathering quite like a statement serving piece. Whether it is classic cabbage platters, cheekily chipped enamelware, vintage transferware ironstone, or spatterware, statement tableware serves as the anchor for a well-set table. The team at Bon Appétit has expressed particular enthusiasm for Year & Day’s Splatter Collection, a line of Portuguese-made ceramics inspired by the traditional hand-splattered Italian "schizzato" technique.
Within this collection, the Low Serving Bowl stands out as an exceptionally versatile piece capable of transitioning seamlessly from the dinner table to everyday kitchen tasks. Measuring just over 13 inches in diameter, the bowl appears painterly and refined when holding a household’s weekly supply of fresh fruit, yet it is spacious enough to serve family-style portions of salad, pasta, or just-washed greens. When not on display during meal service, its generous proportions make it surprisingly practical for less glamorous kitchen duties, such as soaking grapes or defrosting blocks of meat. While dishwasher and microwave safe, the bowl is also anticipated to see heavy rotation throughout the upcoming holiday season—whether it is lined with a decorative tea towel to keep dinner rolls warm, filled with seasonal gourds and mini pumpkins, or utilized as the vessel for a festive dessert.
Simple Trail Cardamom Crunch Granola
Working as a shopping writer for a food publication comes with the distinct perk of receiving a steady stream of complimentary pantry products. While many items prove enjoyable and others fall short, only a tiny fraction are compelling enough to warrant making space in a crowded home pantry and repurchasing with personal funds once the samples run dry. Simple Trail’s artisanal granola has firmly earned that distinction among the editorial staff.
Introduced by a colleague, the small, Oregon-based brand quickly cultivated a dedicated following in the office. The primary appeal lies in its exceptional crunch, achieved through the inclusion of toasted whole buckwheat groats, paired with the warmly spiced profile of the Cardamom Crunch variety. After sharing the stash with household members, the consumption rate naturally doubled, prompting immediate reorders of multiple bags to ensure the pantry remains adequately stocked.
All-Clad Cast-Iron Griddle Press
Culinary revelations often begin with admitting past skepticism. For years, the prevailing sentiment regarding searing presses was that they were largely performative accessories rather than functional kitchen necessities. However, after experiencing the results firsthand during a dinner at a friend’s home, the perspective on even-searing tools shifted dramatically.
The All-Clad Cast-Iron Griddle Press has since been recognized as an essential component of a well-equipped kitchen arsenal. While versatile enough for general searing applications, it has proven particularly valuable for achieving optimal smash burgers and developing a uniform, deeply browned crust on high-quality cuts of steak.
Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Snackers
Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar has long enjoyed a dedicated consumer following, but its availability in individually wrapped, perfectly portioned snack formats offers a new level of convenience. Described as surprisingly nuanced, nutty, and buttery, these bite-sized portions deliver a rich flavor profile that easily elevates a midday routine. Whether packed into a lunchbox, consumed as a late-afternoon energy boost, or enjoyed as an evening snack, the snack-sized portions provide a satisfying culinary experience that punches well above its weight class.
Culture Pop Sparkling Apple
Maintaining focus and hydration throughout a demanding workday often requires more than a standard glass of water or morning coffee. To combat the afternoon slump without relying on caffeine or artificial additives, editors have turned to Culture Pop’s autumn-inspired flavor, Sparkling Apple.
Served over ice with a straw, the beverage offers a caffeine-free jolt characterized by subtle apple notes, gently warming spices, and a delicate tartness. Crucially, the formulation contains no sugar alcohols or stevia, incorporating instead a dose of live probiotics that make it a refreshing accompaniment to lunch or a midday break.
Glo Bars
The crowded market of protein bars often draws criticism for lengthy ingredient lists featuring unpronounceable additives and lackluster flavor profiles reminiscent of travel snacks. In contrast, Glo Bars—handmade in small batches in Los Angeles—focus on simplicity and wholesome ingredients.
Utilizing just 11 ingredients, including sea salt and vanilla extract, these bars derive their sweetness entirely from dates. Protein is supplied by grass-fed New Zealand whey, while a substantial amount of fiber comes from a blend of nuts and seeds, complemented by the addition of goji berries. Editors note that they serve equally well as a pre-workout snack or a nutritional supplement following a protein-light lunch.
Beituti Hot Honey Tahini Sauce
Bottled dressings and sauces can be a difficult sell for culinary professionals who prefer whisking together homemade vinaigrettes and custom sauces. Nevertheless, Beituti’s Hot Honey Tahini Sauce has managed to break that rule.
The condiment successfully balances the creamy, slightly bitter profile of fresh tahini with the mild sweetness of honey and the warming spice of Aleppo pepper and garlic. Its versatility shines when drizzled over grain and bean bowls, spread onto sandwich bread to elevate everyday lunches, used to top scrambled eggs, or served as a dip for fresh vegetables and fries.
One Trick Pony Organic Unsalted Smooth Peanut Butter
Finding products that align with early childhood nutritional guidelines can lead shoppers to evaluate labels closely. When introducing solid foods to infants and navigating major allergens, pure, single-ingredient foods become paramount.
One Trick Pony’s Organic Unsalted Smooth Peanut Butter fits this criterion by listing just one ingredient: organic roasted Argentinian peanuts. Featuring a naturally creamy texture free of added salt, sugar, or mysterious additives, the peanut butter has earned praise from both parents and toddlers alike within the team.
Steamed White Rice-Scented Candle
Home fragrance choices often lean toward conventional notes of fresh air or clean laundry, but niche makers continue to introduce inventive alternatives. Baisun Candle Co. has captured attention with its steamed white rice-scented candle, crafted from soy wax and featuring a crackling wood wick.
Handmade by a small business that also produces nostalgic, Asian-American-inspired scents modeled after White Rabbit candy, persimmon, and boba, the candle delivers a comforting, familiar aroma designed to evoke a sense of home and ease.
Mallomars
As the colder months approach, the return of seasonal treats to grocery store shelves brings a sense of traditional comfort. Nabisco’s Mallomars have become a weekly staple in staff households, anticipated eagerly from their return in early fall through their departure in January.
Enjoying the cookie is noted as an exercise in technique: holding the confection vertically with the rounded top facing forward allows teeth to cleanly pull away the dark chocolate-covered whipped marshmallow in its entirety, leaving the graham cracker and chocolate base to be enjoyed in a final, satisfying bite as the winter weather sets in.