That scarred plastic cutting board is outta here.
I’m a professional kitchen tools tester. So trust me when I say I’ve thought a lot about the best cooking gear this year. After having reviewed hundreds of items, including waffle makers and rice cookers, I was inspired to take stock of my own kitchen cabinets. I have a few items, like scratched nonstick pans, that are no longer safe to use. Many more are just collecting dust. Here’s what I’m ditching—and upgrading—in 2026. Maybe you’ll be inspired to do the same.
The Kitchen Items I’m Ditching in 2026, at a Glance
- Nonstick Pans for: Lodge 10.25-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, Misen Pre-Seasoned 10-Inch Carbon Steel Pan, and Field Company Cast Iron Pan
- Black Plastic Cooking Utensils for: Hiware Spider Strainer, Made In Kitchen Utensil Set, and Williams Sonoma Walnut Essentials Utensils
- My Old, Scratched-Up Cutting Board for: The Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board, OXO Good Grips Plastic Utility Cutting Board, and Great Jones All Aboard
- Pots and Pans I Don’t Use for: Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set and Made In Stainless Steel Saucier
- Mismatched Flatware for: Lenox 815486 Portola 65-Piece Flatware Set and Made In Flatware 4 Piece Settings Set
What I’m Ditching: Nonstick Pans
Nonstick pans are convenient, and it’s nearly impossible to make bad scrambled eggs in one—they slide right off the surface. Plus, all of the models we’ve tested and recommend are free from PFAS; there will be no Teflon flu in our kitchens. But I’ve still got a gripe with them: They don’t last long. Even with proper care (never use metal utensils on them or put them in the dishwasher), they’ll deteriorate after a year or two of regular use. I’m sick of replacing my nonstick pans, so I’m not going to anymore! Instead, I’ll be using my favorite cast iron and carbon steel pans. I’ve spent years building up seasoning on them, so they’re truly nonstick. I don’t know why I’ve kept the cheap coated pan around so long.
The Most Affordable Cast Iron Skillet We Recommend: Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet
Care for your cast iron pan, and it’ll never stick to your eggs. We’ve recommended this one from Lodge for years, and it remains the best cast iron pan for most people. It’s only $25, yet it has two pour spouts, a helper handle, and comes pre-seasoned. It’ll last a few lifetimes if it’s treated properly.
To Find the Best Cast Iron Skillets, I Seared Steaks, Baked Cornbread, and Fried Eggs
A Slick, Handsome Cast Iron Skillet: Field Company Cast Iron Pan
$165 This is the cast iron pan I own. It’s especially smooth and arrives pre-seasoned, so you can cook with it straight from the box. Its flared sides make pouring from it easy—that’s especially helpful for getting rid of fat while cooking bacon or searing meat. I love that it’s lighter than most cast iron pans, because I can lift it one-handed, no problem. Oh, and it’ll last forever, even if it gets rusted and neglected.
A Smooth Carbon Steel Pan: Misen Pre-Seasoned 10-Inch Carbon Steel Pan
$90 You don’t need a cast iron pan and a carbon steel pan, but I think you’ll appreciate having both. I prefer the former for searing steak and the latter for making crepes. This carbon steel pan from Misen is my all-time favorite, and I’m sure I’ll use it even more now that I’ve gone nonstick-free. I love that it has a large cooking surface area, which makes it ideal for cooking a big batch of pancakes. Its surface is as smooth as butter, and only gets better with use. The handle’s silicone cover makes it very comfy to hold; I guarantee you’ll appreciate that!
We Tested 15 Carbon Steel Pans to Find Ones That Could Sear as Well as Cast Iron
What I’m Ditching: Black Plastic Cooking Utensils
I recently learned that black plastic cooking utensils have potential health concerns, so I’ve decided to ditch the few I own. There’s no sense in risking my family’s health when I own (or have my eye on) a few great replacements. I’ve especially been loving this metal strainer, which is better than any plastic version I’ve used.
A Big Metal Strainer: Hiware Spider Strainer
$17 Flimsy plastic strainer spoons, begone! You’ll never miss yours when you replace it with a stainless steel spider strainer. This tool is a cross between a slotted spoon and a colander, and its wide surface area and long handle will help you cook noodles, vegetables, and more. It’s durable, heat-resistant, and naturally non-toxic. I use mine for boiling broccoli, blanching green beans, and deep-frying anything that needs deep-frying!
This Spider Strainer Is One of My Most-Used Kitchen Utensils
A Do-It-All Utensil Set: Made In 5-Piece Kitchen Utensil Set
We named this the best minimalist utensil set in our review because it comes with five incredibly versatile tools. And they’re made from sturdy, naturally non-toxic stainless steel. The whisk has taut, strong wires; the tongs can grip powerfully; and the spatula-spoon is one of the most useful utensils I’ve encountered. These are high-quality, chef-approved tools for a great price.
The Prettiest Utensil Set: Williams Sonoma FSC Walnut Essentials Utensils, Set of 5
I’ve been dreaming about this walnut wood set ever since I edited our kitchen utensils set review earlier this year. The five pieces—a deep ladle, grippy tongs, a wooden spoon and a slotted spoon, and a wide food turner—are beautiful and thoughtfully designed. These are tools that will be used and loved, and will only get better with time. (Just occasionally treat them with a mineral oil so they don’t dry out.) I’m finally going to splurge for my own set.
I Scooped, Flipped, and Spooned To Find The Best Kitchen Utensil Sets
What I’m Ditching: My Old, Scratched-Up Plastic Cutting Board
My plastic cutting board is a few years old. If yours is too, I’m willing to bet it’s gouged within an inch of its life with knife marks. I don’t feel great about where all that scraped-off plastic ends up, so it’s time to finally say goodbye to my old chopping companion. Moving forward, I’ll be using my wooden cutting board much more. It’s longer-lasting, and it’s easier on knives. Plus, it has naturally antimicrobial properties. But it can’t hurt to keep a plastic board on hand—I recommend buying a brand-new one and replacing it once it becomes scarred.
The Boardsmith End Grain Maple Cutting Board
This is the cutting board to buy. It hasn’t been dethroned from its top spot in our review since we tested it years ago, and it’ll last for decades if you treat it well. Our editors have long sung its praises, namely impeccable construction, gentle-on-knives maple wood, and ability to customize your board. And no matter how rough you are on it, it won’t flake plastic into your food. If this is the year you finally get a Boardsmith cutting board, you won’t regret it.
I Tested 19 Wooden Cutting Boards—7 Emerged (Nearly) Unscathed
A Longtime Serious Eats-Favorite: OXO Good Grips Plastic Utility Cutting Board
If you’re set on sticking with plastic (or need a new one for prepping raw meat), our team has loved OXO’s plastic cutting boards for years. They’re durable, textured enough to prevent slippage, and they have a juice groove. (My old board was missing one, and I was grumpy about that every time I cut citrus.) At 14.75 by 10.5 inches, it’s big enough to handle all of my daily food prep tasks.
I Tested 15 Plastic Cutting Boards to Find the Best Ones for Everyday Food Prep
A Colorful, Extra-Large Cutting Board: Great Jones All Aboard
This beefy cutting board is 16 inches long—it’s never met a baguette, roast chicken, or head of cabbage it can’t handle. I think the handled design is cool and useful: You can hang it up for out-of-the-way storage. It comes in two vibrant colors, too: broccoli and blueberry. This board is more than just a looker, though: It performed well in our review, dulling a knife by only 12% after repeated use.
What I’m Ditching: Pots and Pans I Don’t Use
For the last decade, I’ve carted around an armful of pots and pans I never use. (Consider it sentimentality.) But those old, dented, and dinged-up aluminum pans are just taking up space in my kitchen. I’m going to donate the ones that are still in good condition and toss the ones that have seen better days, then focus on using and loving the high-quality pans I’ve got. If you’re looking to replace your pots and pans, here’s what I recommend:
A Worth-the-Hype Cookware Set: Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set
$445 This ceramic cookware set is stunning. It’s also one of the winners of our non-toxic cookware sets review. When we tested it, we especially liked the 10-inch skillet, which retained heat well. (Its temperature barely dropped when we added a pork chop.) This set is currently on sale and contains 10 pieces: an 8-inch skillet, a 10-inch skillet, a 2-quart saucepan, a 3-quart saucepan, a 3-quart sauté pan, an 8-quart stockpot, and lids. That’s everything you need and nothing you don’t.
To Find the Best Non-Toxic Cookware Sets, I Tested Them for a Month
The Most Useful Pot: Made In Stainless Steel Saucier
This is the pot I recommend to people who don’t have a ton of room for multiple pieces of cookware. A 3-quart saucier can handle almost every cooking task in the (cook)book. This one, which won our review, is large enough to make oats, risotto, and sweet and savory sauces. I use my saucier nearly daily to cook soup, boil pasta, and reheat leftovers. This isn’t the cheapest pot we’ve ever tested, but given its five layers of stainless steel and aluminum cladding and outstanding performance, it’s worth it.
We Found the 5 Best Sauciers After Whisking, Simmering, and Sautéing
What I’m Ditching: Mismatched Flatware
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to become a better host. You know, the type who has their stuff together and doesn’t make their guests eat off of their kids’ plastic plates because none of the good dishes are clean. One easy (and honestly, enjoyable) thing I’m doing is shopping for sets of matching flatware that are durable enough for everyday but nice enough for company.
A Really Good Deal on Flatware: Lenox 815486 Portola 65-Piece Flatware Set
$210
An Elegant, Simple Flatware Set: Made In Flatware 4 Piece Settings Set
I’m torn between the Lenox set and this one. The Made In contains fewer place settings, but I’m in love with its smooth finish and flared handles. The pieces in this set are pleasantly heavy, which gives them a very fancy feel. And, hey: It’s the overall winner of our review!
I Tested 26 Flatware Sets to Find Elegant, Versatile Picks for Any Occasion
FAQs
How long do nonstick pans last?
A couple of years at the most. Nonstick pans have a top layer that is easily damaged. Once it’s scratched or begins to flake off, the pan should be replaced. To extend the life of your nonstick cookware, never use metal utensils with it or clean it in the dishwasher.
What is the best budget cookware?
We’ve compiled a list of the best, most affordable cookware we’ve tested. It includes loads of great pots and pans, including a $25 pan from Lodge.
Why We’re the Experts
- Rochelle Bilow is an editor at Serious Eats. She’s been reviewing kitchen gear for SE since 2022.
- Rochelle is a culinary school graduate and a former line cook. Previously, she was an editor at Bon Appétit Magazine.