Best Deals on Home and Kitchen Products
These are the best offers during the early holiday sales
By Samantha B. Gordon
While the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale just ended, Walmart Rollbacks and More event has one more day, and there are still many deals out there. Both sales are part of a push for early holiday savings, as people are shopping earlier than every for gifts. With hundreds of thousands of deals to sift through, it can be hard to find the best offers on products that are actually work it.
Consumer Reports is here to help. We keep tabs on all the products we test, including big-ticket items like fridges and mattresses, kitchen appliances like air fryers and coffee makers, and smart home products like sprinkler timers and security cameras. Whenever an item that scores well in our ratings goes on sale, we’ll let you know so that you can find the gems amid the duds.
Don’t see what you’re looking for below? Keep checking back. Holiday sales at all the major retailers—which usually begin in earnest in November—are almost here. We’ll be bringing you the best holiday deals on tested products all season long.
Viewing on a mobile device? Click on the links below to skip to each section.
• Air Fryers
• Coffee Makers
• Countertop Appliances
• Home Goods
• Kitchen Tools
• Luggage
• Mattresses
• Smart Home Products
• Vacuums and Robotic Vacuums
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Air Fryers
Oster DiamondForce Nonstick XL 5 Quart Digital Air Fryer
The Oster DiamondForce Nonstick XL 5 Quart Digital Air Fryer’s digital touchscreen is easy to read; and its programmed settings, easy to use—earning it a favorable score in our controls test. This model also doesn’t make too much noise, and cleaning the inside and outside doesn’t take a lot of elbow grease. Despite the air fryer’s name, the basket has a measured capacity of 3.6 quarts. Like other models we tested, this one comes with a one-year warranty.
Why it’s a good deal: At only $10 more than the best price we’ve seen, it may be worth it if you need it right away.
NuWave 6 Quart 37001
The NuWave 37001 air fryer boasts a measured capacity of 5.8 quarts. Our experts found its electronic controls with preprogrammed settings to be among the easiest to see and use. And the inside and outside of the appliance are a cinch to clean. One downside is that this highly rated air fryer is on the noisy side, so you’ll hear it running.
Why it’s a good deal: This is the best price we’ve seen for this air fryer all year, beating the previous low by $35.
GoWise USA GW22731
A CR Best Buy, the GoWise GW22731 air fryer has a measured capacity of 4.9 quarts. Its touch buttons and programmed settings are among the easiest to see and use. And this is one of the quietest air fryers we’ve tested. But the exterior’s crevices and the basket’s nooks and crannies take some effort to clean.
Why it’s a good deal: This model is already a good price, but a discount on top of that makes it even more appealing.
Coffee Makers
Keurig K-Elite K90
The Keurig K-Elite K90 Pod coffee maker is the best Keurig-branded pod brewer in our ratings. Its first-cup brew speed is a tad slow, but this Keurig makes up for it with great temperature and size consistency. It packs plenty of features, too, including programming, auto-shutoff, an iced-coffee brewing mode, a removable reservoir, and a height-adjustable drip tray.
Why it’s a good deal: While the Prime exclusive price was $20 lower than Walmart’s current offer, it’s still a decent discount on this trusty model.
Braun MultiServe KF9150BK
The Braun MultiServe KF9150BK is Braun’s take on all-in-one brewers like the Ninja Coffee Bar, which have become a popular option for replicating coffeehouse-style drinks at home. It offers seven different brew sizes, four different brew modes (including an over-ice mode), a glass carafe, a removable water reservoir, a water filter, auto-shutoff, and a cleaning indicator. It offers decent brew performance in our tests and its carafe is very easy to hold and pour.
Why it’s a good deal: All-in-one brewers can be pricey, and this model is almost 50 percent off its list price.
KitchenAid KCM1208DG
If you love the look of KitchenAid stand mixers, then you might want to consider this KitchenAid KCM1208DG coffee maker. It features the iconic wraparound metal band from the stand mixers, and offers the performance to match. Its many features include a permanent filter, a removable water reservoir, a cleaning indicator, auto-shutoff, brew-strength control, and programming.
Why it’s a good deal: This brewer beats out machines that cost twice as much, and it’s currently $10 off its list price. It could drop again closer to Black Friday, as we saw it for $109.99 earlier this week.
Countertop Appliances
Hamilton Beach 70730
If you grate cheese for pizza, shred potatoes for hash browns, or dice veggies for salads, you’ll like the 450-watt Hamilton Beach 70730 Food Processor and Vegetable Chopper. It has two speeds and a 10-cup capacity, and it’s dishwasher-safe. It also comes with reversible blades, a bowl scraper, cord storage, and a 1-year motor warranty. Our tests find that it can be a little noisy, however.
Why it’s a good deal: This model typically sells for over $50, but Walmart has a solid discount.
Ninja BL770
This Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System ranks in the middle of CR’s ratings. It earns above-average scores for chopping onions for salsa or almonds for pies but gets only an average score for puréeing soups and scores below average for grating Parmesan cheese. It’s also a bit noisy. The 8-cup-capacity chopper has convenient touch-button controls and three speeds, and comes with accessories including a dough blade, a blender attachment, and a recipe book.
Why it’s a good deal: This model was $30 less during Prime sales, but this price is still a substantial savings.
Emeril Power AirFryer 360
There’s quite a lot going for this 1,500-watt Emeril Power Toaster Oven. It’s a cinch to operate, and we’ve found that it’s particularly good at making toast and baking cookies. If you’re looking to save counter space, this model doubles as an air fryer, too, and its 0.5-cubic-foot interior has the capability to turn out a 4- to 6-pound rotisserie chicken. The best part? It’s almost half off.
Why it’s a good deal: This is now just a few dollars more than the toaster oven’s lowest price.
Calphalon Auto-Speed BLCLMB1
Though this blender isn’t among our top-rated, the Calphalon Auto-Speed BLCLMB1 is one of the most reliable models in our tests. The 1,100-watt blender comes in dark stainless steel with a 68-ounce BPA-free Tritan jar, plus a 25-ounce smoothie cup you can take on the road. It weighs 8 pounds and has a pulse option and a removable blade.
Why it’s a good deal: Amazon’s price dropped $30 compared with last week, which is a great discount if you need it right away. (But if you don’t, you might wait—it was an additional $10 cheaper on Prime Day.)
Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System BN801
Ninja full-sized blenders earned an above-average rating for predicted reliability in our member surveys. The 1,200-watt Ninja BN801 Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-iQ combines impressive performance and value pricing. Whether you crave soups or smoothies, this model has you covered, receiving a top rating for puréeing and a score almost as good for icy drinks. It comes with a personal blender attachment, a 24-ounce to-go cup, and a food processor accessory. The blender’s removable blade also makes cleanup a cinch, a big reason it did very well in our convenience tests.
Why it’s a good deal: This model is now just $20 more than the best price we’ve seen.
Home Goods
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Baking Pan
The Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Baking Pan is the smallest of all the sheet pans in our tests, but at almost 8.5 pounds, it weighs the most—by far. In fact, it’s difficult to remove it from the oven with just one hand. On the plus side, it doesn’t warp, and cleanup is easier than it is for many other uncoated pans.
Why it’s a good deal: This cast-iron pan usually sells for closer to $50, but a 20 percent discount makes it worth considering.
Crane Drop
The Crane Drop humidifier is intended for rooms up to 250 square feet and earns a top rating in our tests for overall performance. This model comes with an empty-tank indicator and has an automatic shutoff feature. Easy to use and energy-efficient, this model also scores top marks for its low noise levels.
Why it’s a good deal: With the on-page coupon, this is just three dollars more than the best deal we’ve ever seen for this model.
Skil DL529303
The 20-volt Skil DL529303 does fast work of drilling holes and driving fasteners. It’s also light and comfortable to hold, and weighs a little over 3 pounds. It comes with only one lithium-ion battery but charges up very quickly, and it has an LED work light and a belt hook. This model comes with a generous five-year warranty.
Why it’s a good deal: This is $20 less than the regular discount. It’s the first time we’ve seen the price dip this low in months.
Frigidaire FHWW063WB1
The Frigidaire FHWW063WB1 is no slouch when it comes to cooling a room. It gets an above-average rating for comfort, hitting and maintaining a set temperature with little effort. It bounces back in brownout conditions without a problem, and the controls are a cinch to figure out. It operates pretty quietly on a low setting, but once you crank it up to high it gets a bit noisy. So if you plan to install it in a room where you watch TV, look for another model.
Why it’s a good deal: A roughly 20 percent end-of-season discount is worth a look for one of the top window ACs in CR’s ratings.
Herschel Novel Duffle Mid-Volume
Planning to travel with teens? Get them this reasonably priced weekender that comes in fun, youthful colors and patterns (tie-dye! florals!). It’s water-resistant, light and easy to carry, and simple—no confusing bells and whistles here. A separate compartment for shoes keeps your clothes clean, but other than that, this is a straightforward bag to get you from point A to point B.
Why it’s a good deal: This is already a great low price for the quality, and the 30 percent discount makes it a great budget buy.
Kitchen Tools
Instant Milk Frother
When you think of the brand Instant Pot, its line of multi-cookers usually comes to mind, but the company has branched out into coffee makers and frothers. Its Instant Milk Frother was one of the best models in our at-home review, offering performance almost on a par with the Nespresso Aeroccino4 milk frother, which costs more than twice as much. The only downside is that the Instant Milk Frother isn’t dishwasher-safe because its controls are built into the side of the carafe. Cleaning is still a breeze, though—you just need to hand-wash it with a wet cloth. It’s on sale for about 30 percent off its list price.
Why it’s a good deal: This is the best price we’ve ever seen for this milk frother by about $6.
Müeller V-Pro 5 Blade Mandoline
We tried out 11 mandoline slicers at home, and this one by Müeller was the most “extra,” and by that we mean it had the largest variety of attachments. This mandoline can make thick cuts, beautiful thin slices, and fun waffle cuts. The julienne blades are easy to use, too.
Why it’s a good deal: The sale price just dropped significantly for both color options of this mandoline.
Chef's Choice Knife Sharpener
The Chef’s Choice 4643 knife sharpener looks like the analog version of the brand’s electric sharpener, but it works a bit differently. It has two basic sharpening settings, one for sharpening knives to 15 degrees and another for sharpening knives to 20. A third stage polishes the edge on any knife, regardless of which sharpening angle you choose. Like the brand’s electric sharpener, the 4643 feels well designed, with grooves that hold your knife at the perfect angle as you slowly draw it through.
Why it’s a good deal: This sale price is $1 lower than the best price we’ve seen all year.
Mattresses
Avocado Green
Avocado makes some top-notch mattresses, and this is a great chance to save on one. Both the Green and the Green Pillowtop Avocado mattresses support a wide range of side- and back-sleeper body types. On our firmness scale, the Avocado Green is very firm and the pillow top is medium firm. To get the $250 savings, use the code GREEN at checkout.
Why it’s a good deal: This is better than the 10 percent discount Avocado typically offers.
Birch by Helix Natural
If you’re sick of synthetic materials, this is a good time to consider the Birch by Helix Natural mattress, which is made with materials like cotton, wool, and natural latex. Right now, Birch’s Fall Into Sleep sale is going strong, and you can take $400 off this mattress with the code FALLSALE400. This hybrid innerspring mattress performs well in our tests for most sleepers, getting its highest scores for support when it comes to petite back sleepers. It also tests superbly for durability and stability.
Why it’s a good deal: This matches the best discount we’ve seen for this mattress all year. The sale also includes two free Eco-Rest pillows.
Sleep Number 360 p6 Smart Bed
Sleep Number’s 360 p6 Smart Bed is a top-ranking adjustable air mattress in CR’s ratings. Both partners can adjust the firmness of independent halves of the bed. Our tests found that this mattress doesn’t retain warmth, so it’s a good choice for keeping you cool if you tend to sleep hot.
Why it’s a good deal: A $400 discount is pretty significant, but it’s worth noting that the sale price has been $100 to $200 lower in recent weeks.
Smart Home Products
TP-Link Kasa Cam KC120
The TP-Link Kasa Cam KC120 offers great performance at a budget-friendly price. It earns high scores in our video quality, response time, and data security tests, but its data privacy could be better. It doesn’t offer many features, but you will get monitoring zones and voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. With a Kasa Care plan, you’ll get 30 days of video storage.
Why it’s a good deal: We’ve seen this camera dip to $25 during Prime sales, so the price may fall again during Black Friday sales.
Kwikset Premis 919TRL 15 SMT
The Kwikset Premis smart lock is best for iPhone users because it works with Apple’s HomeKit smart home ecosystem and Siri digital assistant. In our tests, the Premis is very resistant to kick-ins and lock picking, but it’s susceptible to attack from a cordless drill. Still, this lock comes with some very helpful features, including an access log to keep track of who comes and goes, a tamper alarm, an auto-lock feature, and the ability to create and share PINs with others. Just note that because this lock uses Bluetooth and HomeKit, you’ll also need an Apple TV, Apple HomePod, or Apple iPad (that’s constantly plugged into an outlet) in your home to control the lock remotely.
Why it’s a good deal: This model is at the best price we’ve seen.
SimpliSafe The Essentials SS3-01
The SimpliSafe The Essentials SS3-01 security system is one of the best options out there for DIY home security systems. It receives above-average ratings across the board, with the exception being a less-than-ideal rating for data privacy (a common result for a majority of systems we’ve tested). Of course, the system also works with SimpliSafe’s security cameras, the CR-tested SimpliSafe Doorbell Pro SS3 video doorbell, and the smart lock. You can opt for self-monitoring or pay a subscription fee for professional monitoring. And you can purchase extra contact and motion sensors to cover your whole home.
Why it’s a good deal: This system was only $239 during the Prime Early Access sale, so if you wait until Black Friday sales start in earnest you could see that price again. But if you need something now it’s still a good savings.
Cync by GE Lighting Indoor Smart Camera
If the idea of buying a security camera from a lighting company gives you pause, know that GE Lighting was recently acquired by the high-end home automation company Savant, so it knows a thing or two about security cameras. This Cync indoor-only model offers great video quality, strong data security, and speedy response time in our tests. It also features a microSD card slot for local video storage and a manual privacy shutter, which you can close if you don’t want the camera watching you while you’re home. Other features include voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, person detection, and monitoring zones.
Why it’s a good deal: This camera is about 33 percent off its usual list price.
Vacuums and Robotic Vacuums
iRobot H1 H121020
We’re used to seeing iRobot vacuums in our robotic ratings. But the iRobot H1 H121020 hand vac is the first to break into our handheld ranks. It performs well overall and is especially good at cleaning bare floors and picking up pet hair, earning top scores. The rotating brush attachment makes good contact with surfaces, helping boost its pickup scores. It has a trigger that allows you to turn the vacuum on and off, or you can lock it and let the iRobot run. The battery lasts for about 17 minutes when running on high. It weighs just over 3 pounds, which is about average for the handhelds we test.
Why it’s a good deal: This is the best price we’ve ever seen for this model, beating the previous low by $25.
Eufy 30C
A basic robotic vacuum that will work well in small spaces, the Eufy 30C is nimble, quiet, and good at cleaning but not very effective in larger spaces. It also has the option to connect to WiFi so that you can start and stop the robot from your phone, set a cleaning schedule, and integrate it with smart home routines, if you choose.
Why it’s a good deal: This price is $4 less than the low we saw during Prime Day in the summer.
Miele Triflex HX1 SMUL0
Miele has a sterling reputation for its plug-in vacuums, and the Triflex HX1 is its first cordless model. It earns top-notch scores on almost all our tests. The coolest part, though, is that you can put its parts together in two different styles: a modern stick-type setup, with the weight at the top and a long shaft that can reach into cramped areas, or a more traditional upright configuration, with better balance but a bulkier middle.
Why it’s a good deal: This brand doesn’t go on sale often, so take advantage of this discount before it’s gone.
Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge
The Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge has many of the same strengths as the more basic Eufy 11S—including decent cleaning performance, quiet operation, and nimble navigation. The difference is that it navigates in orderly, back-and-forth rows, which means it’s less likely to accidentally miss sections of your home or get lost in big spaces. CR has not tested the G30, but we have tested its near-identical sibling, the G30 Edge. (The only difference is that the Edge comes with do-not-cross strips, which are awkward to use anyway, at least by today’s bot-vac standards.)
Why it’s a good deal: This model was $20 less earlier this week, so that price could change again closer to the holidays.
Dyson Ball Animal 2
The 17-pound Dyson Ball Animal 2 has impressive results in CR’s lab tests for carpet cleaning. It aces our bare-floor and pet-hair tests, too. Emissions are clean, so this vacuum won’t spew debris back into the room (although emptying the bin can stir up some dust). It comes with attachments that help you get into tight spaces. In our brand reliability survey, Dyson uprights earn middle-of-the-road scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
Why it’s a good deal: Dyson sales are few and far between, and while this model was $25 cheaper earlier this week, it’s still a solid discount.
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