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Are fancy kitchen composters worth the money?

Plus, a really big chicken parm and the best meal kits for families

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September 10, 2026 5:37pm EDT

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When New York City made composting the law of the land at the end of 2025, I knew I needed to get my act together. I’d tried composting before by keeping food scraps in a plastic countertop bin, but emptying and cleaning it every couple days was messy and smelly and I’d give up after a few weeks. To solve my problem, I decided, I needed to buy something better (as one does).

We named the Mill food recycler a Gear of the Year winner last year, but it’s not the only game in town. Keep reading to find out which electric kitchen composting machines our editors think are worth their high price tag, along with:

A delicious potato kugel to make for Rosh Hashanah (which starts tomorrow!).
How to protein-charge your meals by adding cottage cheese.
Family-friend meal delivery services for those busy nights when the last thing you want to think about is dinner.

ABBEY STONE

SENIOR RECS AND REVIEWS DIRECTOR

Why this ad?

In Our Carts

Are Kitchen Composters Worth the Price? We Put 4 to the Test

By Abbey Stone

Electric kitchen composters and food recyclers promise to turn your food scraps into dried grounds or usable compost in a matter of hours, eliminating the need to transport a dripping bag of rotting food goo through your apartment and around the block to where your building keeps the communal bin (just me?). Like magic, these machines can reduce the volume of your food waste by up to 90%, so you can go weeks or months without emptying them. The downside? Many of them are very expensive.

To find out whether these appliances are worth the hefty price tag, a few fellow BA editors and I put them to use in our own kitchens. Nearly a year later, I have to say, it’s hard to imagine life without mine.

My Cranky 5-Year-Old Helped Me Figure Out the Best Meal Delivery Services for Families

By Adam Campbell-Schmitt

If I say “What’s for dinner?” and “I’m hungry” and your first reaction is to shudder because you’ve heard those phrases far too many times from your children, then you’re in the right place. Sometimes, even if we’re willing to cook, we just don’t have the time for regular meal planning. So, if you’re one of the primary dinner providers for your family, a meal kit service can take the pressure off figuring out what to feed everyone who depends on you for dinner.

We’ve tested every meal kit out there, and here are the ones that offer the best value for money and the most kid-friendly menu options.

Rosh Hashanah Recipes

Crispy Potato Kugel

BA’s Best Snickerdoodles

Why this ad?

What to Cook

Ground chicken covered in panko and parmigiana baked on a sheet tray and topped with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and basil leaves.

A Really Big Chicken Parm

By Jesse Szewczyk

When senior Test Kitchen editor Jesse Szewczyk first came across chef Skyler’s giant chicken cutlet that went viral on TikTok, he knew he wanted to put his spin on it. His take? This supersized chicken parm topped with marinara, melted mozzarella, and fresh basil.

GET THE RECIPE

On the Side

Need More Rosh Hashanah Menu Inspo?

Here are 41 recipes to welcome the new year.

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in Your Kitchen:

News you can use! Try our editor-approved DIY fly trap.

Cottage Cheese Is Having a Moment:

Here’s how our editors are cooking with it.

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