It’s Preptember here at BA, and that means we’re bringing some of our favorite tools and tricks for meal prep, storage, and those all-important back-to-school plans.

There’s a special type of chaos that comes with Sunday meal prep. Every pan I own is in use, the cooktop is coated in oil splatters, papery garlic skins skitter across the floor, and the sink is stacked with dirty dishes.

For years, that was my Sunday ritual: hours of chopping, blending, and washing, just to end up with five identical dishes I’d be tired of by Tuesday. Then, I got my hands on Cuisinart’s Smart Stick immersion blender, and everything about that routine changed.

I (perhaps embarrassingly) own three blenders, including a Vitamix and a Beast Blender, but my immersion blender is the one I reach for most when I’m working ahead. It’s the tool that turned meal prep from something I dreaded into something I (almost) look forward to.

The case for the immersion blender

I love cooking, I write about kitchen gadgets for a living after all, but cooking in bulk when you live alone can feel like a chore. And eating the same thing four days in a row can even get downright depressing. The way I’ve figured out how to enjoy it is by starting with basics—grains, roasted veggies, versatile proteins—and then jazzing them up with sauces, marinades, and dressings so they don’t feel repetitive. That’s where the Smart Stick comes in.

The genius of an immersion blender is that it does its job without taking over your kitchen. Instead of dirtying half a dozen bowls, I blitz soups right in the pot, emulsify vinaigrettes directly in deli containers, and blend sauces in the very vessel I’m storing them in. Pop on a lid, slide it into the fridge, and you’re done.

If you’ve ever lived in a small apartment, you know counter space is a currency. Unlike my Vitamix, which takes up prime real estate on my kitchen island, the Smart Stick is slim enough to tuck away in a drawer and light enough to pop on the dish rack. There’s no more giant blender jar taking over the sink. Instead, clean-up is just a 30-second soapy rinse.

Attachments make it even better

This immersion blender does more than blend—it’s three tools in one. Cuisinart includes two extra attachments, a small chopper/food processor and a whisk, which amplify its meal prep ability.

The chopper attachment is my shortcut for prepping onions, garlic, and herbs, saving me from one of the most tedious parts of meal prep (seriously, if you haven’t tried mincing garlic with a mini chopper, it is as close to life-changing as a small appliance gets). It’s also a game-changer for small-batch pesto, where ingredients would barely reach the blades of a full-size food processor.

The 8-inch blending shaft is another plus. It’s longer than most other models I’ve tried, which means it can easily reach the bottom of deep stockpots or tall bowls. That means no more awkward pot-tilting and no more half-blended soups.

What I use my Smart Stick for

Sauces, dips, spreads, soups, marinades—you name it. If you can blend or blitz it, this thing has probably handled it in my kitchen. I’ve used mine to whip up:

As people who write about food and test kitchen gadgets for a living, Bon Appétit editors are constantly surrounded by a wide range of products. Between our own purchases and the endless stream of samples sent our way, it means there’s always something new coming across our desks and into our homes. Every month we’re rounding up the standouts we’ve tested or bought ourselves that changed the way we cook and eat.

This month a new piece of kitchen gear that changed our cooking game, a condiment we’ve taken to putting on everything, and a limited-edition bev we’ve been sipping all summer long. Read on for all of the products we’ve been obsessing over this August.

Spindrift Yuzu Mandarin

I had never taken a sip of a drink and felt like my whole world shifted until I cracked open a can of Spindrift’s new Yuzu Mandarin sparkling water. It bursts with bright, tangy citrus notes from the real Japanese yuzu juice that are perfectly balanced by the juicy sweetness of Californian mandarins. The result is a flavor that’s simultaneously nuanced yet familiar. This is a limited-edition, online-only batch, so do yourself a favor and grab a pack (or two, or three…) before it’s gone. Trust me, this is the ultimate summer porch pounder you need in your fridge. —Olivia Tarantino, senior commerce editor

Koala Eco Natural Multi-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner

Having white kitchen counters means that yes, I’m spending more time than I’d like to admit cleaning up drops of egg yolk and streaks of chili crisp after all our summer cooking. I’ve also been trying to make a conscious effort to use natural, nontoxic cleaning products in an area like the kitchen where I’m regularly eating, and I’ve become obsessed with Koala Eco’s natural multipurpose kitchen cleaner. I’d buy it solely for the smell alone, which comes from lemon myrtle and mandarin essential oils, but what matters is that it actually works. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the product is plant-based and biodegradable. —Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager

KAMA-ASA Black Cutting Board

I recently picked up a new cutting board from Kama-Asa, the newish Japanese kitchenware shop in the growing Japanese marketplace collection off Norman Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It is so pleasant to prep veg on. My knife feels secure when I use it, and I don’t have to deal with the same paranoia about microplastics as I do when I think about plastic cutting boards. Cleanup is a breeze (especially for something that requires hand-washing lest it warp), and it doesn’t clash with my kitchen. It doesn’t completely replace my wooden cutting board, but it’s nice to have a solid number two option. —Joseph Hernandez, associate director of drinks and lifestyle

Birkenstock Super Birki 2.0

I’ve been testing indoor pizza ovens, which meant two full days in the Test Kitchen. On the first day I wore sneakers; by the end of the nine-hour day my feet were so sore. On day two I slipped on the Birkenstock Super Birkis—and wow. These workhorse clogs did what no sneaker ever could: make a full day of cooking actually comfortable. They’re loose enough to let your feet breathe, snug enough to support your arches, and super easy to clean thanks to the waterproof upper (clutch when you’re splashing tomato sauce around). I went for bold green, but they also come in more subtle colors like black and olive green, which Alaina and commerce writer Wilder Davies got. The three of us keep them at the office and switch into them every time we’re in the Test Kitchen. Pro tip: size down. I’m usually a 38, and the 37 was perfect. —O.T.

East Fork Guava Everyday Bowls

My collection of shallow bowls (a.k.a. bowl plates, a.k.a. blates) is admittedly out of control—and yet I can’t seem to stop adding new ones to my cupboard. The most recent addition is a set of Everyday Bowls from East Fork in their newly launched seasonal color Guava. They’re the ideal size for grain bowls, pasta, or a serving of my go-to fish curry, and the color is a gorgeous, juicy hue that sits somewhere between pink and terracotta. I’ll swap them out for my set of forest green bowls come fall, but for now I’m enjoying the summery pop of color. —Alaina Chou, commerce writer

Bungkus Bagus Sambal Goreng Chili Topping

It all started with buying crispy shallots, little pops of umami crunch that I find welcome on literally everything. Then came store-bought crispy garlic slices from my local Asian market. Finally, Sambal Goreng Chili Topping tore into my culinary universe like a condiment supernova. It kicks like Chuck Norris. It doesn’t just add heat, though—it adds the kind of bass that rattles the trunk latch of your car. Garlic, shallot, and chilies tangle up on your taste buds until you don’t know what is what. It is the finishing blast that makes my savory egg scrambles, rice-whatevers, and soupy anythings feel wonderfully complete. It’s borderline too spicy for me, but I can’t stop eating it because it is just that good. —Chris Morocco, food director

Pomelo Casa Large Hand-Painted Bowl

The McCarren Park Greenmarket has become a Saturday morning non-negotiable in my household this summer. We usually return home with a whole big bag of peak produce, wash it, and then put all the fruit (yes, heirloom tomatoes count) in our Pomelo Casa bowl. It’s the most beautiful hand-painted bowl and is big enough to fit our whole haul. Plus, since it looks so nice sitting out on the counter, it actually reminds us to consume all of our produce before it gets too ripe. —K.K.

Staud Tommy Bag

As a lover of food and also of cute things, I’m very into all the cute-food-printed clothes and accessories I’ve been seeing recently. Staud’s Tommy bag comes in a multitude of cute food prints—so many, I can’t pick a favorite. I grew up in a New England household where saltines comprised an entire food group, so the “Stautines” design is near and dear to my heart. But then there’s also the clutch made to look like a “Staudines” tin, one emblazoned with a hot dog (featuring the ballpark concession on one side and wiener dog on the other), and one featuring a host of jaunty crudités veggies. Gotta catch ’em all? —Abbey Stone, senior commerce director

Oxo Good Grips Corn Prep Peeler

Jersey-fresh sweet corn is my favorite summer vegetable—so much so that I eat it by the spoonful, tossed with butter, herbs, and a squeeze of citrus. This little corn peeler is a total game-changer. Before, I’d awkwardly saw kernels off the cob with a knife, sending them scattering across the counter. Now I can strip an ear in one smooth swipe, with less effort than peeling a carrot. I even let a friend try it the other day; her eyes went wide, and she turned to me in awe. It’s quick, mess-free, and makes tackling a pile of farmers market corn a total breeze. —O.T.

Amazon Prime Day is officially back and, despite its name, will span almost a full week this year. Much as Black Friday has crept across a full weekend into Cyber Monday, Amazon’s signature sales event is giving Prime members four entire days to score deep discounts on just about anything the online retailer sells.

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Some of our favorite Prime Day sales

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And when it comes to home cooks and their culinary needs, Prime Day Deals often include many of the kitchen tools, handy gadgets, and quality cookware brands our editors and contributors have tested and recommended. Check out our roundup of Amazon Prime Day kitchen deals with some of our top picks in each category below.

Prime Day FAQ

Cookware on sale right now

It might be time to add some specialty cookware or updated daily pans to your collection. We found deals on enameled cast iron Dutch ovens, nonstick skillets and frying pans, plus bakeware and cookware sets.

Small kitchen tools and kitchen gadgets on sale right now

When grabbing great deals on kitchen gear, don’t forget to think small. Whether you need silicone cooking tools or new cutting boards, or something higher-tech like digital meat thermometers and immersion blenders, check out these small-but-mighty essentials below.

Coffee makers on sale right now

Whether you prefer to brew a full carafe every morning or just one-cup-at-a-time from a single-serve machine, Prime Day has an offer on a coffee maker or espresso machine to meet your needs. We found deals on Breville’s Bambino espresso maker, Moccamaster’s classic drip coffee maker, Espro’s excellent French press or the compact but mighty Aeropress, plus Nespresso and Bruvi coffee pod options that will have you saying “Keurig who?”

Countertop kitchen appliances on sale right now

This year’s Prime Day has big savings on everyday items, including up to half off Ninja Foodi and Cosori air fryers, $150 off our favorite Vitamix blender, plus Instant Pot Pro pressure cookers/multicookers, rice cookers, toaster ovens, and Kitchenaid stand mixers.

Food storage containers on sale right now

An organized kitchen is a happy kitchen. Check out these sets of leakproof food storage containers, silicone bags, and even vacuum sealers on sale to help you stay on top of saving leftovers and some money, too.

Kitchen knives on sale right now

Good knives are expensive. But having good knives in your kitchen is invaluable. While some of our favorite knives right now are coming from smaller suppliers, you can still find a few nice blades and knife sets on Amazon. The Global 8-inch chef’s knife, one of our perennial picks for a quality cutlery option, is on sale for under $100, or snag a set of Zwilling steak knives for nearly 70% off.

Kitchen cleaning tools on sale right now

Someone has to clean up that mess, and if it’s going to be you then you might as well make it easier on yourself with some of these deals on vacuums, scrubbers, and other must-have cleaning tools.