Last Updated on July 12, 2026
About The Kitchenware Journal
The Kitchenware Journal is a product review and buying guide publication based in Roanoke, Virginia. We publish honest, experience-backed content on cookware, kitchen appliances, and tools — no sponsored placements, no manufacturer-paid coverage.
Why We Built This
Nathan Miller started The Kitchenware Journal in 2023 with a specific frustration. Walk into any home goods store, or scroll through Amazon for twenty minutes, and you run into the same problem: product pages full of marketing copy, review sites that rank by sponsorship deals, and buying guides that clearly haven’t touched the thing they’re recommending.
He wanted something different. A place where the recommendation came from the actual kitchen — where someone had cooked with the pot, run the blender for six months, or figured out firsthand which knife sharpener actually recovers a dull edge.
That’s the standard The Kitchenware Journal holds itself to. Every recommendation on this site starts with one question: would we actually use this in our own kitchens?
What We Publish
The Kitchenware Journal covers cookware, small kitchen appliances, cutlery, bakeware, kitchen tools, and tablewares. Our content falls into three categories:
Product reviews — hands-on evaluations of specific items, written by the team member who tested them.
Buying guides — category-level breakdowns that help you understand what to look for before you spend money, across all budgets.
How-to content — practical guides on cooking techniques, maintenance, and getting more out of the tools you already own.
We earn revenue through Amazon affiliate links. That commercial relationship appears on every page. It does not influence what we recommend. Products that underperform in testing don’t get recommended — regardless of their affiliate potential. You can read more about how this works on our Amazon Affiliate Disclosure page.
Meet the Team
Nathan Miller — Founder & Chief Editor
Nathan Miller launched The Kitchenware Journal because he believes product reviews should start in the kitchen, not in a spreadsheet. Based in Roanoke, Virginia, Nathan has spent years testing the kind of everyday appliances home cooks actually rely on — Dutch ovens, multi-cookers, pressure cookers, induction cooktops, and the measuring tools that quietly determine whether a recipe succeeds or fails.
He has published articles on the site, with particular depth in multi-function cooking appliances, small countertop equipment, and bakeware. His reviews of Instant Pot pressure cookers, induction cooktops, and omelet pans reflect the kind of repeated, practical use that produces honest conclusions — not a single test session dressed up as expertise.
Nathan oversees editorial standards for all six writers and sets the review methodology the team follows. Read Nathan’s full bio…
Samantha Hickel — Cookware & Stock Pots
Samantha Hickel is the team’s specialist in stovetop cookware. Stock pots, saucepans, skillets, cutting boards, and knife sharpeners — these are the categories she covers, and she covers them through the kind of sustained, repeated testing that separates a first impression from a genuine assessment.
Her best-known work involves stock pot evaluation. Over eight weeks, she ran the same chicken stock recipe in every pot under review — same burner, same temperature, same three-hour simmer — to measure heat distribution, lid seal efficiency, and handle safety under a full load. That level of rigor is what her reviews are built on.
Samantha has authored many articles on the site, with particular depth in stainless steel cookware construction, compact dishwasher compatibility, and knife care. Read Samantha’s full bio…
Dominik Hunt — Cookware Construction, Bakeware & Kitchen Organization
Dominik Hunt has written more articles for The Kitchenware Journal than any other team member. His coverage spans the full cookware construction spectrum: pots and pans, roasting pans, bakeware types, stir-fry pans, and the kitchen storage and organization tools that keep a working kitchen functional.
Dominik brings a materials-first approach to his evaluations. He has written extensively on the difference between 18/10 and 18/0 stainless steel grades, the health implications of aluminum in cookware construction, and how to evaluate a pan’s build quality before you buy. His coverage of nickel-free stainless steel options has become a reference point for readers with metal sensitivities.
Outside of cookware construction, Dominik covers kitchen organization in depth — pot racks, cabinet storage, drawer organizers, and spice storage systems that actually work in real kitchens. Read Dominik’s full bio…
Randy Howell — Grilling, Specialty Appliances & Kitchen Gadgets
Randy Howell covers the appliances and tools that make home cooking more interesting — and occasionally more complicated. His focus areas include grill pans and outdoor grilling equipment, ice cream makers and frozen dessert appliances, electric kettles, sous vide equipment, air fryers, coffee makers, and the kitchen gadgets that actually earn a permanent spot on the counter versus those that end up in a cabinet after three uses.
Randy evaluates from a practical standpoint. He has covered the full range of grill pan materials — cast iron, carbon steel, stainless — with attention to sear quality, cleanup burden, and long-term seasoning maintenance. His ice cream maker and frozen dessert coverage, including deep work on the Ninja Creami, reflects the kind of hands-on testing home dessert makers actually need.
He has published over numerous articles on the site, with the largest concentration in product reviews across specialty appliances and cooking equipment. Read Randy’s full bio…
Gregory Lowe — Saute Pans, Kitchen Knives & Countertop Appliances
Gregory Lowe covers the daily workhorses of the kitchen — saute pans, kitchen knives and knife sets, kitchen grinders, juicers, bread makers, pressure cookers, and food dehydrators. He also covers microwave ovens and the countertop appliances that handle the in-between tasks most home cooks do several times a week.
Gregory evaluates pans through the lens of real daily cooking. His saute pan coverage — over 80 articles across every material, size, and configuration — reflects years of understanding what distinguishes a pan that sears well from one that scorches, and which handles stay cool under actual cooking conditions. His kitchen knife work focuses on long-term edge retention and the practical difference between blade steel grades for home use.
He has published numbers of articles on the site, with significant depth in pressure cooker safety, juicer performance, and the bread maker category. Read Gregory’s full bio…
Darren Kelly — Recipes, Tablewares & Kitchen Cleaning
Darren Kelly is the team’s recipe developer and the writer who covers what happens after the cooking is done — tablewares, dinnerwares, table linens, waffle makers, yogurt makers, and the cleaning tools and methods that keep a kitchen in working order.
His recipe work covers cast iron skillet cooking with particular depth — from everyday meals like skillet meatloaf and chicken pot pie to technique guides on how to get the most out of a seasoned pan. He covers pasta cookers, baking recipes, and the kitchen cleaning methods and supplies that matter for long-term cookware care.
Darren’s coverage of chopper appliances, can openers, graters, and zesters reflects the same practical focus: does this tool actually make the task easier, and does it hold up over time?
She is also a major contributor to our site. Read Kelly’s full bio…
Our Standards
very piece of content on The Kitchenware Journal goes through the same pre-writing process: competitor analysis, Amazon URL verification for every linked product, synthesis of long-term owner reviews, and keyword research focused on what buyers actually need to know.
We do not accept free products in exchange for coverage. We do not accept payment to feature a product or guarantee a positive review. Our editorial recommendations are not for sale.
→ Read how we test kitchenware
Contact Us
Questions about our content, corrections to specific claims, or editorial inquiries can be directed through our contact page.
We read every message and take factual corrections seriously.