The Wirecutter Show

• How to Know What's In Your Drinking Water

  If you’ve ever wondered whether you should filter your drinking water, this is the episode for you. Wirecutter senior staff writer Tim Heffernan, who covers air and water filtration, shares practical steps for deciding whether to filter your water.  Tim discusses the most common contaminants you should watch out for, how municipalities filter your drinking water, and when it might be worth ponying up for a water test.  This episode covers:Why you should look up your annual drinking water quality report: Tim explains how every utility must publish an annual water-quality/consumer confidence report (CCR)--  a free first step toward understanding the quality of your drinking water. You can also look it up via the EPA site.When you may want to test your water for contaminants: If you’re concerned about what’s coming out of your tap, Tim recommends getting your water tested using a send-away lab kit. He’d skip at-home color-strip tests, which are often hard to read.Why living near a polluted area doesn’t mean your water will be polluted: The pressure in the pipes should help keep contaminants out. Contaminants in the water are more about your water source and how that water is treated.The pros and cons of different filters: Pitchers are cheap and convenient, but they clog and have short lifespans. Faucet and under-sink units use household water pressure for denser filtration and often remove more contaminants–but they can be more expensive overall. Products we recommend:Our favorite water pitcher: Brita Standard Everyday PitcherOur favorite under-sink filter: Aquasana AQ-5200Our favorite upgrade under-sink filter: Aquasana AQ-5300+ Max FlowOur favorite faucet water filter: Pur Plus Faucet Filtration SystemOur favorite water test kit: Tap Score Advanced City Water TestOur favorite water test kit for well water: Tap Score Advanced Well Water Test Additional reading:The Best Under-Sink Water Filter for 2025The 5 Best Water Filter Pitchers & Dispensers of 2025The Best Water Quality Test Kit for Your HomeThe Best Faucet-Mounted Water Filter of 2025 I’m Wirecutter’s Water-Quality Expert. I Don’t Filter My Water.  We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and WebsiteInstagram: /wirecutterThreads: /@wirecutterTwitter: /wirecutterFacebook: /thewirecutterTikTok: /wirecutterLinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutterWebsite: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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• How To Maximize Credit Card Points for Travel

  This week, we’re exploring how to travel for less, and in this episode we discuss how to smartly augment a travel budget with credit card points.  Brian Kelly—founder of The Points Guy and author of How to Win at Travel–pulls back the curtain on exactly how these programs work, the crucial pitfalls to avoid, and the little-known strategies for scoring the best deals on flights and hotel rooms.  For more affordable travel advice, don’t miss our earlier episode with Elaine Glusac (aka the Frugal Traveler). And find our recommended travel gear below.  This episode covers:Why you should pay down debt first: The points game only works if you’re debt-free. Any interest you pay on a carried balance cancels out the value of the points you earn.How rewards programs are funded: Credit card companies primarily make money through an "interchange" fee (usually around 2%) paid by vendors on every purchase. The credit card company then gives a portion of this money back to you as rewards.How to maximize everyday purchases: Audit your monthly expenses (groceries, eating out, gas, etc) and get a card that offers the highest rewards on those purchases.Why you may want to prioritize “transferable” points: Cards that offer transferable points (from major banks) can be converted to many different airline and hotel partners, giving you maximum flexibility for travel.When it’s worth using awards tickets: Flights booked with an airline's rewards program are often fully refundable and changeable up until departure at no extra cost, unlike standard cash-fare tickets. ALSO: If you have a question about gifts, we want to hear from you for upcoming mini series! Send your question as a voice memo to [email protected].  Additional reading:Secrets to Cheap Travel from NYT’s Frugal TravelerThe 6 Best Carry-On Luggage of 2025The 6 Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks for 2025The Best Suitcases for CheckingThe Best Gear for Travel in 2025  We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and WebsiteInstagram: /wirecutterThreads: /@wirecutterTwitter: /wirecutterFacebook: /thewirecutterTikTok: /wirecutterLinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutterWebsite: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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• Secrets to Cheap Travel from NYT’s Frugal Traveler

  This week, we’re exploring how to travel for less. We dive into the best tried-and-true strategies for stretching your travel budget. Elaine Glusac, a longtime travel journalist andThe Frugal Traveler columnist at The New York Times, joins us to share her best money-saving hacks, from timing your flight purchases just right, to negotiating directly with Airbnb hosts.  She also explains how to leverage under-the-radar resources like Going.com for finding cheap flights and Costco Travel for car rentals.  Plus she shares how to navigate Black Friday travel deals for cruises, flights, and hotels.  This episode covers:When to book flights for the best prices: Elaine breaks down the “sweet spots” for booking both domestic and international travel, plus why holidays require a different strategy.Why flexibility matters more than loyalty: Shifting your departure by just a day or two can save you money and stress—and sometimes matters more than which airline you fly.How to spot true airfare deals: Tools like Google Flights and Kayak alerts can help you track fares and avoid misleading “fake sales.”Why you should negotiate directly with hosts: Reaching out to Airbnb or Vrbo owners can unlock discounts you won’t find through the platform.When Black Friday travel sales are worth it: Some cruise lines and hotels run genuine deep discounts—but Elaine shares how to separate the hype from the real bargains. The Frugal Traveler Columns We Discussed: The Secret to Finding the Best Travel BargainsHow to Avoid Paying Vacation Rental FeesDriving the Alaska HighwayCredit Card Swipe Fees Are Going Down. Are Points Going With Them?Traveling Abroad? If You’re Paying With Dollars, Your Trip Is on Sale.Cheap Flights, Half-Price Cruises: This Travel Tuesday, Deals AboundGetting the Most Bang for Your Buck While Traveling OverseasJoin the Club, Save Some Money Additional reading:How The New York Times’s Frugal Traveler Packs for Any Trip ImaginableThe 3 Best Travel Backpacks of 2025 The 6 Best Carry-On Luggage of 2025The Best Suitcases for Checking Soft-Sided vs. Hard-Sided Suitcases: The Final Showdown  We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and WebsiteInstagram: /wirecutterThreads: /@wirecutterTwitter: /wirecutterFacebook: /thewirecutterTikTok: /wirecutterLinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutterWebsite: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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• Send Us Your Cookie Questions!

  We’re planning a special episode with Vaughn Vreeland from the NYT Cooking Team all about COOKIES!  Vaughn is coming out with a new cookie cookbook in October–so he’s the perfect person to answer your toughest cookie-baking questions. Are you wondering whether certain baking gear is worth the investment? Are you looking for a special cookie that will impress? Is there a recipe you want advice on? Let us know! Record a voice memo on your phone and tell us your first name, where you’re calling from, and what your cookie question is. Then email it to us [email protected]. Your question may wind up getting answered on the show!  We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and WebsiteInstagram: /wirecutterThreads: /@wirecutterTwitter: /wirecutterFacebook: /thewirecutterTikTok: /wirecutterLinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutterWebsite: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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• Samin Nosrat's Kitchen Favorites

  Chef and cookbook author Samin Nosrat, best known for Salt Fat Acid Heat, joins us to talk about her new book Good Things—and how she keeps cooking joyful, even in a small home kitchen. She shares the tools she relies on daily, the condiments that transform simple meals, and her approach to entertaining without burning out. This episode covers: How she organizes her tiny kitchen: Borrowing tricks from restaurant kitchens, Samin makes a small space efficient and inviting.The essential knives and sharpeners she recommends: Good blades (and the right sharpener) make prep faster, safer, and more fun.Tools she swears by for everyday cooking: From an immersion blender to a carbon steel pan, her kitchen MVPs do heavy lifting.When single-use tools are worth it: A food mill or Japanese mandoline can feel niche but save time and improve results.Condiments that elevate simple meals: Chili crisp, salsa macha, and preserved lemon paste turn basics into showstoppers.Her philosophy on entertaining: It’s about connection, not perfection—and choosing dishes that don’t leave you stuck in the kitchen. Also, Samin shared more tips for hosting a stress-free dinner party with Wirecutter kitchen writer Maki Yazawatrio. Wirecutter Picks in Samin's Kitchen: The Y peeler Samin reaches for daily: Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss PeelerThe sleek knife block in Samin’s small kitchen: Benchcrafted Mag-BlokThe spatula she can’t cook without: GIR Silicone SpatulaA handy and compact kitchen workhorse: Cuisinart Core Custom 4-Cup Mini Chopper Other Products Samin Loves: How she keeps pans spotless: Field Company Chainmail ScrubberA fancy at-home knife sharpener: Tormek Knife SharpenerOlive oil that supports a good cause: Seka Hills Olive OilAnother olive oil Samin counts on: California Olive RanchA special condiment Samin loves: Kuali Salsa Macha Samin says she also keeps a carbon steel pan, fish spatula, microplane, mandoline, immersion blender, and spice grinder in her kitchen for everyday use. Plus, a food mill for perfect mashed potatoes! Like us, she recommends home cooks start out with three basic knives: a chef’s knife, a serrated knife, and a paring knife. Here are Wirecutter’s picks for these handy kitchen staples. The Best Carbon Steel Pan Made In Carbon Steel Frying PanThe Best Fish Spatula:  Winco Fish SpatulaThe Best Microplane Grater: Microplane Premium Classic Series ZesterThe Best Mandoline: Super BenrinerThe Best Immersion Blender: Braun MultiQuick 7 Immersion Hand Blender MQ7035The Best Food Mill: Oxo Good Grips Food MillThe Best Coffee Grinder (for grinding spices): OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee GrinderWirecutter's advice on how to build your own knife kit (along with picks for all three knife types Samin discusses) Additional reading:Samin Nosrat's Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Dinner PartyThe Best Olive Oil You Can Buy At the StoreLife’s Too Short for Bad Olive Oil Build Your Own Knife Set More Samin:Instagram: /ciaosaminFacebook: /samin.nosratWebsite: https://ciaosamin.com/Podcast: https://homecooking.show/Samin’s new book: Good Things  We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› Wirecutter Social and WebsiteInstagram: /wirecutterThreads: /@wirecutterTwitter: /wirecutterFacebook: /thewirecutterTikTok: /wirecutterLinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutterWebsite: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/ The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast

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