One Of The Best New Kitchen Items At Costco In 2026 Is A Must-Have For Meat Lovers

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The pipeline to becoming a hardcore meat lover might begin with an impassioned declaration about brisket followed by experimentation with dry brines. Maybe the burgeoning meat fanatic starts making secret-recipe rubs and adds a thermometer to their arsenal. But what comes next? It's time to get elemental with woodchips and smoking, of course. And it just so happens that Costco has released a Nordic Ware Deluxe Kettle Smoker.

The $79.99 smoker comes in an attractive burnt orange-red color. Thanks to its affordability and straightforwardness, it could be viewed as a gateway to using larger outdoor equipment. The domed device — complete with adjustable vents and extra headroom for unwieldy slabs of brisket — is capable of both wet and dry smoking. Wet smoking (which involves higher humidity levels) is a nice option for thick cuts to help break down collagen over time. Going the dry route works best for crispy, burnished skin. Control over the smoke intensity is another handy feature. For example, it can help ensure a salmon centrepiece gets a lighter smoke and that robust pork ribs are penetrated with deeper flavor.

Of course, the item has its perceived shortcomings as well. At the time of writing, it had wracked up a not hugely compelling 3.9 out of 5 rating on the Costco website. Customers like the convenience of being able to use the cooking equipment indoors and that it creates minimal smoke. One notable criticism, however, is rusting. Costco suggests that the aluminized steel should be highly durable, but one reviewer complained of a "dime-sized rust spot on the cooking pan" the day after using it.

If you don't already own a smoker, you might wonder what you stand to gain. The short answer is much more flavor. A smoker can level up your cooking, imparting juicy trout with a whisper of fruity, crisp apple, creating chicken thighs with moreish char, and offsetting the saltiness of fall-apart pork ribs with rich, cherry sweetness. What tips the Costco smoker into one of the best new kitchen finds of 2026 is that it takes some of the guesswork out of woodchip sourcing and pairing. It comes with a five-strong line-up of apple, sugar maple, cherry, hickory and sweet mesquite finely ground, natural woodchips, as well as a recipe guide.

Taste boost aside, smoking is also a smart move for all but guaranteeing the holy grail of meat cookery — tenderness. Chasing that elusive melt-in-the-mouth texture is a lot easier with a smoker, which breaks down tissues in the meat and renders fat over a prolonged period of time and with low heat. That low and slow style doesn't just combat dryness, either. It actually helps meat to retain more of its nutritional value. That doesn't mean hickory-smoked brisket laced with BBQ sauce and served with a mini mac & cheese mountain will be good for you, but it will probably be great for your taste buds.