Our 10 Favorite Products We Tried In May

The Food & Wine team spends a lot of time testing kitchenware. Some of us test dozens or even hundreds of products a year, like outdoor grills, kitchen knives, and even chocolate. And some gear is so good that it becomes integral to our everyday rotation, which is always a thrill. This month, one of our writers fell in love with Yeti’s new vacuum-insulated Rambler bowls, while an editor discovered a cordless vacuum from Zwilling that became an immediate essential. Meanwhile, our special projects editor couldn’t stop munching on sea salt and vinegar protein chips made out of chicken. (Yes, you read that right.) Read on to shop more items we loved in May.

What We’re Loving in May

• Yeti 2-Quart Rambler Bowl, $45 at amazon.com
• Traeger Grills XXL Grilling Spatula, $37, originally $50 at amazon.com
• OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush, $11 at amazon.com
• Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Molds, $37 at amazon.com
• Cadavo Stainless Steel Canning Funnel, $7 at amazon.com
• Zwilling Xtend Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, $164 at amazon.com
• Pulse Power Chickpea Butter Spread, $8 at walmart.com
• Steelport Knife Co. Steelcore Cutting Board, $280 at steelportknife.com
• Wilde Sea Salt & Vinegar Protein Chips, $6 at amazon.com
• Maeve Chocolate Sun’s Light Bonbon Box, $25 at maevechocolate.com

Yeti 2-Quart Rambler Bowl

“I’ve been testing a set of these bowls over the past three months, and I now can’t imagine my life without them. I’ve stored cold salads and hot appetizers in these double-wall insulated bowls, and they’ve kept my dishes adequately cool or warm for hours at cookouts and dinner parties. The splash-proof lid keeps my food contained during transit, so I never have to worry about stray lettuce in the backseat. I love these bowls so much, I reach for them at home to store leftovers or use as mixing bowls for baking projects. As a baker, I find that the biggest size is perfect for proofing doughs, and this petite 2-quart one is ideal for dips or sauces.” — An Uong, writer

Traeger Grills XXL Grilling Spatula

“I’m having a big grilling summer, and I’ve been loving this almost comically oversized spatula. With a 6- x 10-inch surface, it’s excellent at lifting burgers, portobello mushrooms, fish filets, tofu slices, and other delicate items from the grate without risking them flopping over the spatula’s edges or breaking in half. Traeger’s spatula is not much more expensive than a standard high-quality spatula, but its size makes successfully moving food a piece of cake. (Coincidentally, a literal piece of cake is something else that this spatula would excel at picking up.) Plus, frankly, it looks really cool.” — Adam Rothbarth, writer

OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush

“A pastry brush is actually one of the most important tools you need for grilling — a chef recently confirmed this for me. If you’re using any kind of sauce or marinade, make sure you have even coverage on your protein or veggies. Otherwise, the flavors could turn out uneven. This silicone brush helps me get an even layer of steak sauce, barbecue sauce, olive oil, or whatever else I’m using when I grill.” — Adam Rothbarth

Souper Cubes Silicone Freezer Molds

“I love steel-cut oats, but I never had an easy way to make them fresh in the mornings until now. That changed when I got Souper Cubes. Now, I cook a huge batch of steel-cut oats on the weekends, divide the mixture among the cups, and set the whole thing in the freezer. All I have to do is pop out a block and microwave it for about three minutes when I want fresh oats in the mornings. I also use the smaller size to make fancy ice cubes filled with mint, lemon, and ginger.” — Liv Dansky, writer

Cadavo Stainless Steel Canning Funnel

“This simple tool has saved me so many spill-related headaches in my kitchen. I use Mason jars for everything from storing food to making cold brew coffee. I feel like this funnel can help others this coming summer. “ — Doan Nguyen, photo editor

Zwilling Xtend Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

“I’ve been testing this mini cordless vacuum for the past couple of weeks, and it has already become an everyday essential in my kitchen. It’s great for cleaning difficult spills, crumbs, coffee grounds, and even dusting off my appliances. “ — Katie Brown, editor

Pulse Power Chickpea Butter Spread

“This subtly sweet spread looks and tastes like peanut butter but is made from chickpeas. It would be great for anyone who has a nut allergy, but I honestly just love the flavor. It’s delicious swirled into yogurt or spread on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and there are 5 grams of protein per serving.” — Merlyn Miller, editor

Steelport Knife Co. Steelcore Cutting Board

“This board combines all the best things about a wooden cutting board with the smooth, impermeable surface of a composite one. It’s end-grain wood on one side and a paper-based composite on the other, with steel beams inside to hold everything together and prevent warping. It requires all the same oiling and hand-washing as an all-wood board, though, and it’s pretty expensive. Steelport’s known for its expensive but great knives, and this is the same.” — Jason Horn, senior writer

Wilde Salt & Vinegar Protein Chips

“If you had told me a few months ago that my favorite new snack would be made of chicken, I wouldn’t have believed you. I simply cannot get enough of the protein chips from Wilde. They have a perfect light and crisp texture, are sturdy enough to scoop thick dips, and come in a delicious range of flavors (salt and vinegar is my favorite, though!).” — Lucy Simon, special projects editor

Maeve Chocolate Sun’s Light Bonbon Box

“I’ve been taste-testing a lot of chocolate lately, and I’ve separated them into two categories: the luxury, once-in-a-while kind and the everyday, I-can’t-stop-eating-it kind. Maeve, formerly Seattle Chocolate, satisfies my need for the latter, and this particular box of bonbons — including espresso, hazelnut, milk chocolate, and peanut butter flavors — is crunchy, nutty, sweet, and not too rich. I love it.”  — Dillon Evans, update writer