letsmake.cheap
Kitchen tools
What to buy used, what to buy once, and what to skip. Five-year cost comparisons across the gear that actually matters.
Kitchen tools: what to buy used and what to buy new
A used stand mixer, food processor, and Dutch oven cost about a third of new and last decades. A used blender, knife, or bakeware sheet is usually a false economy. Outfitting a kitchen 50/50 used vs new saves about $300 a year amortized — without lowering the floor on what you can cook.
Cast iron vs nonstick: a 5-year cost comparison
A nonstick pan replaced every two years averages out to about $40 a year. A cast-iron pan you bought once for $30 averages to under $6 a year over a decade. About $60 a year saved, plus a better sear on everything that goes in it.