OXO built its business on a single idea — kitchen tools designed to be comfortable for people with limited hand strength, which turned out to be better for everyone. Knowing where that design genuinely matters tells you what to buy.
What Good Grips actually delivers
The signature soft, oversized handle is not a styling choice. It was designed around arthritis and reduced grip strength, and it works: the handles do not need to be gripped hard, they do not twist in a wet hand, and the tools are usable by people who struggle with thin metal handles.
That matters most on tools where you apply force or leverage — peelers, can openers, jar openers, graters, tongs. On those, the difference against a cheap equivalent is real and immediate.
It matters far less on tools you barely grip: a whisk, a spatula, a spoon. Those are fine from anyone, and the OXO premium buys little.
Which tools genuinely justify the price
Worth it: the peeler, which is the product that made the brand and is still excellent. The can opener, particularly the smooth-edge version. The salad spinner, which is genuinely better engineered than cheap ones and lasts. Measuring jugs with the angled internal markings you can read from above — a small idea that is obviously right once you use it.
Also good: tongs, the mandoline (with the guard, always), and the food storage containers, where the sealing mechanism is better than most.
Skip: basic spoons, spatulas and whisks, where a supermarket equivalent performs identically. And anything with a complex mechanism you will use twice a year — the cheap version fails at the same rate and costs a fifth as much.
The guarantee
OXO offers a satisfaction guarantee and will generally replace a product that fails or disappoints. This is honoured reasonably readily and is part of what the premium buys.
It applies to product failure rather than wear. A peeler blade dulled after years of use is wear; a handle separating is a failure.
Keep proof of purchase for the more expensive items.
Care
Most Good Grips tools are dishwasher safe, but the soft handles last longer with hand washing — dishwasher heat and detergent degrade the rubberised material over years.
Non-stick and coated items follow the usual rules: no metal utensils, no abrasive scourers.
The soft handles can become tacky with age and heat exposure. That is the material breaking down and it is not reversible, which is the main reason to keep them out of the dishwasher.
OXO POP containers, sized properly
The OXO POP containers are among the brand's most popular products. Press the button and the lid seals; press again and it lifts off.
They come in a range of heights and footprints designed to stack and sit side by side. Measure your cupboard shelf height before buying, because the tallest POP sizes do not fit every cupboard.
Buy for what you keep. A 1kg bag of flour or a box of cereal needs a specific capacity, and OXO lists capacities on each container. Decanting is only useful if the whole bag fits.
Replacement gaskets and lids are worth asking OXO about before replacing a whole set.
Start with two or three OXO POP containers for the things you open most, such as coffee, rice or cereal, and see how they suit your cupboard before buying a large set. Sets look like better value, but they often include sizes you will not use.
OXO coffee and tea
OXO Brew makes coffee makers, grinders, kettles and pour-over gear. They are designed with the same attention to handling as the kitchen tools, and they sit at a mid-range price.
For an OXO coffee grinder, check whether it is a burr grinder and how many grind settings it has. Burr grinders give a more even grind, which matters more for coffee flavour than the brewer itself.
OXO coffee gear is also stocked widely, so compare the OXO site with general retailers during sale events.
Check the warranty on OXO small electricals separately; appliance terms can differ from the hand tools.
Where the OXO savings are
OXO discounts modestly — codes cluster at similar levels and several are the same offer through different channels:
On a single OXO peeler, a flat $10 beats 15% comfortably; on a larger kitchen order the percentage wins. The crossover on a $10-off code sits around $67.
OXO is also widely stocked, and general retailers discount it more deeply than the brand does during major sale events. For mainstream items, buying elsewhere during a sale usually beats a direct code.
Common questions
Is OXO worth the premium?
On leverage tools — peelers, openers, graters — genuinely yes. On basic utensils, no.
Does the guarantee really work?
It is honoured reasonably readily for failures. Wear is not covered.
Dishwasher or hand wash?
Mostly dishwasher safe, but hand washing meaningfully extends the life of the soft handles.
Are OXO POP containers airtight?
OXO designs them to seal well for dry goods. Check the gasket stays clean and seated, since that is what makes the seal.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| 15% off | Promo code | View at Oxo → |
| 15% off | Promo code | View at Oxo → |
| $10 off | Promo code | View at Oxo → |
| 15% off | Promo code | View at Oxo → |
