As people who write about food and 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 Test Kitchen-approved pepper grinder (excuse us, pepper cannon), a new favorite piece of cookware, and a spring dinner-party-worthy serving set.
Read on for all of the products we’ve been obsessing over this March.
Veark Magnetic Knife Rack
I recently purchased the Veark Magnetic Rack for my partner after it took over his Instagram feed. It’s a master class in minimalistic design. I bought two, and they basically Lego together, with no hardware required aside from the screw that fastens them to the wall. You can also purchase containers and shelves that attach to the rack to store your wooden spoons, spatulas, tongs, tweezers, and more.
We use the rack to store anything magnetic in our kitchen, including knives, scissors, a Microplane, and our kitchen thermometer, and we hang our pots and pans off the hooks. It’s a huge space saver in our small NYC apartment. —Emma Jacobson, contributing social media editor
Männkitchen Pepper Cannon
When the Männkitchen Pepper Cannon came to my attention, I sat up and looked closely. The all-metal body and burrs (the wheely thing that grinds the pepper) sounded promising. We go through immense quantities of black pepper in the BA Test Kitchen. Whatever amount you use at home, multiply that by 6, maybe even 10, and you’ll start to understand. Three of our previous pepper mills all died an untimely death, each lasting only a few months. Let’s just say we put the stress in stress test. I am pleased to report the Männkitchen has held up exceptionally well, blowing past its one-year mark with barely a scratch, its grinding mechanism still as smooth as the day it arrived. It is sleek and beautiful, easy to fill, and pleasing in the hand. It is also unignorably expensive. On its website, the company admits as such, saying, “Yes, it is. And a Ferrari is expensive compared to a Volkswagen.” Period.
I, for one, think it's absolutely worth it. Amortized over even just one year, it’s literally pennies per use—and basically free after that (girl math!). —Shilpa Uskokovic, senior Test Kitchen editor
Year and Day Splatter Serving Set
This serving set makes my kitchen look put-together all day, every day, and honestly, sometimes that’s all you need to feel a little better. The plum color adds the perfect pop to my beige-and-white apartment without being too much. The pieces are lightweight but still feel really sturdy, and they arrived super well packaged, which I appreciated. I’ve been keeping them out for fruits and veggies so they double as decor, and now that spring is here, I’m excited to fill them with salads, breads, and spreads for easy hosting or just a simple meal at home. —Cristina Correa, social media manager
Frø Danish Rye Bread
I recently got my hands on a loaf of Frø Danish rye bread, and basically haven’t stopped eating it since. Founded by Danish-American sisters Maya and Eva Ebbesen, Frø is the US’s first Danish rye bread brand. Each dense, well-seasoned loaf is made with rye flour, whole rye berries, and an array of seeds. I’ve enjoyed it savory, with boiled eggs, smoked fish, or slices of sharp cheese; as well as sweet with a swipe of nut butter or thick fruity jam. I’m eagerly awaiting grabbing another loaf in the summer, so I can use it as a base for tomato toast. But because of everything going on in the bread, it’s genuinely exciting to eat with nothing more than a pat of good butter—preferably a layer so thick you can see tandsmør, or tooth marks, after a big bite. The bread is baked in Brooklyn and is currently sold at a few shops in New York, as well as available for purchase online. —Rebecca Firkser, Test Kitchen editor
Nutribullet Ultra
Like so many people, I’ve been striving to up my protein intake, namely in the form of protein powder. I am a long way away from dry-scooping (if you know, you know) and need to blend mine into a smoothie if I have any hope of consuming it on a regular basis. The thing that has made hitting this goal possible is my Nutribullet Ultra (which also happens to be BA’s pick for best personal blender). Compared to my Vitamix, the Nutribullet is lightweight, takes up less space on the counter, and is still able to pulverize frozen fruit and ice with the same force. Cleaning it is simpler too since the blades unscrew from the container. Given the ease of using this machine, I’ve found I’m not only able to get my protein every day, but I’m also now having breakfast on a daily basis—something I’ve long struggled to achieve. I’ll still reach for my Vitamix when I need to blend some butternut squash soup or make a batch of frozen piña coladas, but for every smaller task, my Nutribullet Ultra will be by my side. —Carly Westerfield, associate manager, audience strategy
Spring and Mulberry Sea Salt Chocolate
Spring & Mulberry doesn’t miss. Its date-sweetened chocolate bars are worth buying for the packaging alone, but they taste as great as they look—and the brand’s newest flavor, sea salt, is no exception. It’s made with only four ingredients: cacao beans, dates, cacao butter, and sea salt. I save the embellished bars, which come with toppings scattered right on the bar (my two favorites are the mango chili and mulberry fennel), for a special occasion or a rainy day, but the brand’s new sea salt flavor has become my daily staple. What’s not to like about really great salty chocolate? —Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager
Flamingo Estate Douglas Fir Vetiver Candle
If you reserve piney-and-woodsy-scented things for the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, you’re missing out. I know this because I was that way: Balsam notes are for Christmas! I thought. But then I lit this Douglas fir and vetiver candle from Flamingo Estate on a gloomy March day and saw how wrong I’d been. Rather than giving Tannenbaum, the scent felt fresh and crisp, like when you’re walking in evergreen forest and take a deep breath. Like the Pacific Northwest, probably. —Abbey Stone, senior shopping and reviews director
Smitten Kitchen x Staub Braiser
Since arriving at my doorstep a month ago, this braiser has quickly become my most-used piece of cookware. It’s a collaboration between heritage cookware brand Staub (which makes our favorite Dutch oven) and OG food blogger Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, who worked with the brand to bring back the once-discontinued pot. Its size and shape are ideal for everything from stir-fries to braises, and I’ve been using it constantly for dishes I’d otherwise be trying to cram into my 10-inch cast iron. It’s got the same easy-to-clean black enamel coating that my Dutch oven has, but the shorter sides mean dishes like one-pot skin-on chicken thighs or baked pastas have a better chance at browning evenly on top. —Alaina Chou, shopping and reviews writer
Siete Salsa Soleada
Store-bought salsa can be hit or miss. This one from Siete was a hit! Hinging on sun-dried tomatoes, it has a substantial texture and deep umami, with subtle sweetness from dates and smoky spice from chipotles. I want to spoon it on anything cheesy, like cheddar-kale quesadillas, pepper-jack-stuffed poblanos, or grilled Halloumi tacos. —Emma Laperruque, director, cooking
Plasticana Gardana Clogs
I tend to think everyone gravitates toward one type of shoe. There are sneaker-heads, those with an enviable collection of loafers or flats, and others (like me) who love to walk around in a clog. The pair of clogs I’m most often reaching for these days are my Gardana Clogs from Plasticana. Meant for gardening, they are lightweight and made of a mixture of recycled plastic and natural hemp, the latter giving the shoe its signature speckled hue. I by no means have a green thumb, and thus don’t wear mine out in the garden beds. I do, however, slip these on for quick errands, casual meals with friends, or even days in the office. —June Kim, executive editor
Fly By Jing Creamy Sesame Noodles
Everyone has their emergency pantry essentials for nights when you can’t be bothered to grocery shop: canned tuna, beans, frozen dumplings…. My stash always includes Fly By Jing’s instant noodle lineup, specifically the newly launched Creamy Sesame Noodles. These are not your average instant noodles; these go through a two-day fermentation process, are sun-dried, and hand-cut, resulting in a bouncy, chewy texture that goes above and beyond the cup of noodles of your past. This flavor hits with creamy sesame paste that luxuriously coats the subtly frilled noodles and has that signature tingle from Sichuan peppercorns. Ready in six minutes, you can eat them straight from the bag, or try my move of searing sugar snap peas and ground pork in a skillet and mixing it all together. —Olivia Tarantino, senior shopping and reviews editor
Symbiome The Ceremony Matcha Mask
I write a lot about matcha here, and it’s usually the drinkable kind. But this month I’m loving this Symbiome Ceremony Matcha Mask, which blends first-flush matcha (from Ashu’s Matcha, the brand I’ve been using at home every morning recently) into a soothing gel mask. In the same way that I love the ritual of making my morning beverage, I’ve been using the mask twice a week as an evening ritual to calm and brighten my travel-battered skin. The matcha gives the mask a natural, earthy smell, a boost of antioxidants, and a faint green hue. At this point, I might be 20% matcha inside and out. —K.K.