Goodbye, hot pot season

And how to host the best one [Make hot pot at home]( [An overhead shot of a hot pot spread.]( Marilyn Ong Hi! Brittney Ho here—I’m one of the people who edits this newsletter, I’m a winter hater, and I’m a lifelong hot pot lover. Let me explain. I’ve never been a fan of the winter, or the way it dries up my nose, or forces me to bundle up in stuffy layers, or engulfs me in pitch darkness at 5 p.m. But I happily brave all of that each year, because I know the season brings one of my all-time favorite comfort meals: [hot pot](. Hot pot is a meal best enjoyed in chilly temperatures and warm company. A big pot of simmering broth sits in the middle of the table, surrounded by plates of raw greens, protein, and root veggies. Dunk, cook, eat, repeat. This weekend, our family is throwing our last hot pot extravaganza of the season—our way of saying goodbye to winter—and we’re pulling out all the stops: We’re preparing a pot of spicy broth to bubble away at the table. We’re filling small sauce dishes to the brim with hot chiles, fragrant sesame oil, and crispy garlic. And of course, we’re preparing mounds of fresh veggies (we love watercress and crunchy lotus root) and paper-thin slices of meat (the lamb never lasts long in our house) to cook at the table. If all of that sounds as overwhelming as it does delicious, don’t worry—our team of kitchen experts has recently updated [our guide to everything you need to host a hot pot dinner](. Start with the basics: a [cooking vessel]( and [a portable heat source](. Then level up with soup bases and soup skimmers. As supervising editor Marilyn Ong writes, “As soon as you’ve done it once, you’ll feel like an expert. We promise.” Come springtime, I won’t miss the frosty fingers or chapped lips, but I will certainly miss the smell of hot pot wafting through my kitchen. ’Til next winter. [Throw your own hot pot dinner →]( We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. [Learn more ›]( [Today’s Sleep Week roundup]( [Someone waking up in a bed.]( [Become a morning person]( The mental fog, the dark room, and the uncomfortable temperatures beyond that cozy bed can make it impossible to rise and/or shine. Our advice? [Use smart home devices to make waking up easier](. [An illustration of someone holding over a dozen stuffed animals.]( [The case for sleeping with stuffed animals as an adult]( We’re not ashamed to say it: We’re a staff of stuffie-loving sleepers. [Read more]( about why cradling a teddy bear at night can help quiet your thoughts and lull you to sleep. [Today’s best Sleep Week deals]( [The Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter.]( [Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter]( [Deal price: $284]( | Street price: $359 Use promo code WCCOMFORTER If you’re ready to invest in a high-quality down comforter, we strongly recommend this one. Lightweight, lofty, and warm, it’s held up well over our years’ worth of testing. [Buy now from Brooklinen]( [Thhe Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set.]( [Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set]( [Deal price: $118]( | Street price: $150 Use promo code WCSHEETS These sheets are made with a percale weave, a cool, breathable type of cotton weave that feels light and crisp against skin—excellent for hot sleepers. [Buy now from Brooklinen]( [The Nest Easy Breather Pillow.]( [Nest Easy Breather Pillow]( [Deal price: $70]( | Street price: $90 Use promo code WC23 A longtime favorite among our testers, this pillow has moldable, customizable filling that offers firm support for back- and side-sleepers. [Buy now from Nest Bedding]( For more deals on our picks, check out the [Wirecutter Deals page](. [View email in browser]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for Wirecutter’s Newsletter. Getting too many emails from us? To stop receiving Top Picks, [unsubscribe](. 
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