Latest news with #gadgets
CNET
12 hours ago
- General
- CNET
Professional Chefs Beg: Don't Buy These 20 Pointless Kitchen Gadgets
As long as we have kitchens, brands will continue to pump out tools. Many are essential, while others just collect dust or don't perform their duties any better than a great knife or pair of kitchen shears. Instead of chasing every buzzy new appliance, it pays to stick with gear that's versatile, reliable and actually makes your life easier. To help you sort the essentials from the excess, we asked chefs and kitchen pros which gadgets are worth the hype -- and which ones are better left behind. Because when decluttering your kitchen, knowing what not to buy is just as important as knowing what to keep. These career cooks are the ultimate authority on which kitchen gadgets should get the boot -- especially when cupboard, counter and drawer space is limited. Each one listed their least favorite kitchen tools and offered their preferred method or tool for completing the cooking task that they're meant to do. Masaharu Morimoto Celebrity chef, restaurateur Masaharu Morimoto shared his pick for the most overrated kitchen tool. Dave Kotinsky/Stringer/Getty 1. Mandolin Chef Morimoto encourages beefing up your knife skills to make thin and uniform vegetable slices. Milk Street Why: "While it brings good slices, mastering proper knife skills gives you more control, precision and safety in the long run. Mandolins can be bulky, hard to clean and risky if you're not extremely careful. Relying too much on a mandolin, or tools like a two-in-one apple cutter or a tomato corer can hold you back from developing real technique. Taking the time to learn how to handle a sharp chef's knife or Japanese blade will help you in almost every recipe." What to try instead: Mac 8-inch Japanese chef knife. Lead chef-instructor Institute of Culinary Education, Los Angeles Culinary instructor Eric Rowse knows a gimmicky kitchen tool when he sees one. Institute of Culinary Education 2. Onion holders Why: "These look like a weapon for Wolverine wannabes; it's meant to help you hold a whole onion and "chop" it. Instead, cut the onion in half to create a flat surface so it won't roll away. If you're trying to cut rings, save the $14 and stick a fork in the root and hold the fork." What to try instead: Learn to properly slice an onion the old-fashioned way. 3. Onion goggles Save your money -- and some dignity -- and skip the onion goggles. Rubberball/Mike Kemp/Getty Why: "A waste of money, as they don't form a great seal around the eyes to prevent the sulfur compounds from getting to your eyes and making you cry. Keep your knife sharp and open a window or turn on a fan instead." What to try instead: CNET's Peter Butler shares tips for cutting onions without crying. 4. Metal, glass, stone and acrylic cutting boards Glass, stone and metal boards are OK for serving but when slicing and dicing, wood is the way to go. David Watsky/CNET Why: "Cutting on hard surfaces is bad for your knives; instead, go for wood or poly." What to try instead: Our list of the best cutting boards features plenty of knife-safe options. 5. Chicken shredder Why: "I can't think of anyone needing a tool devoted to shredding chicken outside a restaurant and even restaurants don't use it. This item only has one purpose so I'd skip it." What to try instead: Two forks. 6. Herb stripper Why: "I love thyme but hate stripping it. When I was young I got suckered into believing this tool would help me … It's been sitting in my cupboard, laughing at me for almost a decade now." What to try instead: For heartier herbs like rosemary and thyme, just use your fingers to slide down the stem, opposite to how the leaves grow. 7. Bluetooth wireless probe thermometer Instant read meat probes work fast and don't require a fussy Bluetooth connection. Chris Wedel/CNET Why: "These are a great tool but can be very expensive. I can see myself losing, breaking, dropping, accidentally throwing away or dropping it in the coals." What to try instead: ThermoPro's Lightning Instant Read Thermometer Cookbook author and lifestyle expert Cookbook author Peter Som didn't hold back when asked about his least favorite kitchen tools. Peter Som 8. Electric can opener A manual can opener is cheaper, works great and is less likely to break. Nelson Aguilar/CNET Why: "Most of us grew up with an electric can opener permanently stationed on the kitchen counter, like it was a vital appliance. But truthfully, they're more nostalgia than necessity. They take up space, can be a hassle to clean and often struggle with irregularly sized cans. A good manual opener is compact, reliable and gets the job done without needing an outlet or a user manual." What to try instead: Oxo's soft-handled can opener. Richard Ingraham Personal chef to Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union and author of Love: My Love Expressed Through Food Richard Ingraham avoids certain kitchen tools when cooking for celebs like Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union. John Parra/Gett 9. Avocado slicer Why: "A knife and spoon do the job just as easily and the specialized tool rarely fits all avocado sizes properly. It's a one-trick pony that clutters drawers." What to try instead: A good paring knife like this $35 Wusthof. 10. Egg separator Separating an egg by hand isn't so difficult that it requires hardware. Yipengge/Getty Why: "A tool just for separating yolks is unnecessary for most home cooks." The only exception may be this one, and even that is just for yolks. Err, I mean yucks. What to try instead: Cracking an egg and using the shell halves or your fingers works just as well. 11. Garlic peeler tube Why: "Rolling garlic cloves in a silicone tube may work but requires storing a single-purpose gadget." What to try instead: Smashing garlic cloves with a chef knife is quicker and more reliable. 12. Pizza scissors Chef Ingraham says skip the scissors on pizza night. Zoranm/Getty Why: "A pizza cutter or knife works better and faster. These scissors are gimmicky, awkward to clean and take up more space than they're worth." What to try instead: KitchenAid's stainless-steel pizza wheel. 13. Herb scissors Why: "They're hard to clean and don't offer a huge advantage over a sharp chef's knife. Plus, they tend to crush delicate herbs more than slice them." What to try instead: Made In's 8-inch Chef Knife. 14. Electric egg cooker Why: "Boiling eggs in a pot is straightforward and flexible. The electric version just adds clutter unless you boil eggs constantly and hate using a stove." What to try instead: This 1-minute hack for making poached eggs in the microwave. 15. Butter cutter and dispenser A good butter knife works just as well and requires less space and maintenance. Williams Sonoma Why: "It slices sticks of butter into pats … but why? A knife works instantly and you don't have to load and clean a plastic gadget for it." What to try instead: Williams Sonoma breakfast butter blade. 16. Pasta measurer Why: "It's a plastic disc with holes to tell you how much spaghetti to cook. Just eyeball it or learn the rough weight by experience. It's not worth the drawer space." What to try instead: A kitchen scale for precise measurements. 17. Oil mister Why: "Often clogs, sprays unevenly and requires constant cleaning. A small spoon or brush does the job with less frustration." What to try instead: World Market's olive oil cruet. 18. Electric potato peeler A sharp vegetable peeler is all you need to skin a batch of potatoes. Capelle.r/Getty Why: "Takes up a surprising amount of space and peels slower than a regular peeler. Plus, it's overkill unless you're peeling dozens of potatoes at once." What to try instead: Oxo's Swivel peeler. 19. Bagel guillotine Why: "Sold as a safer way to slice bagels but takes up a ton of space and is awkward to clean. A serrated knife does the job just fine." What to try instead: Opinel's 8-inch bread knife. Jackie Carnesi Executive chef, Kellogg's Diner Jackie Carnesi StarChefs 20. Oven mitts There's a reason pro chefs don't use oven mitts. Webstaurant Why: "Oven mitts are the most useless item in a home kitchen! A sturdy kitchen towel does the same job, and odds are, it's more likely to be washed regularly. I don't know many people who wash their oven mitts frequently enough ... it seems many have deemed it an item that doesn't warrant regular cleaning. It does." What to try instead: Stock a plethora of kitchen towels.
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Powerhouse Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra gets sweet discount at Samsung—save more with a trade-in
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is hands down one of the best tablets money can buy right now. It's Samsung's top-of-the-line slate, which means it offers everything you need from your new tablet and then some. It has one downside, though, and that is its hefty price. Starting at about $1,200, it's not exactly budget-friendly. But don't fret, fellow deal hunter, as Samsung lets you score one at a sweet discount if you're fast enough. Trade-in $549 99 $1199 99 $650 off (54%) Trade in your old tablet and save up to $650 on the powerhouse Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. Samsung guarantees at least $250 off with an eligible trade-in. Alternatively, you can still save $200 even without one. Bundle it with the book cover keyboard and slash 50% off that too. Act fast and save while you can! Buy at Samsung The manufacturer has slashed a whopping $200 off this bad boy's price, letting you score one for as low as $999.99. And that's sans trade-in. All you need to do is select the option that says you don't have a device to trade. But if you've got an old tablet you can spare, you could save up to $650 by trading it in with Samsung. As an added bonus, you can also get 50% off Samsung's book cover keyboard if you bundle it with the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. This means you can get it for only $100 instead of its usual price of around $200. That's pretty neat, especially if you want to use your tablet for everything—whether it's writing documents, playing a demanding game, or just watching YouTube. The best thing is that this tablet can handle pretty much anything you throw its way, as it delivers immensely fast performance thanks to its high-end Dimensity 9300+ chipset and 12GB of RAM. And since we mentioned YouTube, its beautiful 14.6-inch AMOLED display boasts a high 2960 x 1848 resolution, HDR support, and a 16:10 aspect ratio. This allows it to deliver stunning visuals, so you can spend hours enjoying travel vlogs, car reviews, and everything in the screen's 120Hz refresh rate makes the tablet feel even more responsive, all while Samsung's promised seven years of software updates ensure your slate's longevity and protection. Overall, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a solid deal if you're after a tablet that can handle anything for years to come. So, don't hesitate and get one with this promo today!
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Ninja's big summer sale saves on ALMOST EVERYTHING – including bestselling air fryers, CREAMi and Thirsti
Ninja has slashed the prices of many of its top sellers from today, in a huge summer sale. The discounts run up to 20%, which cuts a decent chunk off the household brand's premium gadgets. 7 Ninja Summer Sale The sale drops the prices of some of Ninja's most summery devices if you use the code NINJA20, including the Ninja CREAMi to make ice cream and other frozen treats, and the FrostVault which can keep food and drink cold for days. It's a great time to upgrade old items and try out some of Ninja's innovative, top-rated versions. After the Summer Sale has launched today, July 30, shoppers will have two weeks to shop the deals, before the discounts end on August 12. When a major brand like Ninja has a sale, it's not uncommon for items to sell out long before the sale ends, so if you have your eye on something it's worth being quick. We've rounded up our picks of the best Ninja sale deals below. Ninja Summer Sale deals Ninja Thirsti 530 ml Travel Bottle 7 Ninja Thirsti 530ml Travel Bottle £23.99 (was £29.99) What's the deal? Save 20% off both sizes - get the 530ml size for £23.99 and the 700ml size for £27.99. Why it's a great buy: The Ninja Thirsti bottle has been flying off the shelves this summer as its ideal for hot weather. It keeps ice solid for up two days, drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 - plus it's specially designed to retain fizz too. Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Maker Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Maker £135.99 (was £199.99) What's the deal? The Ninja Creami was already reduced, so with the discount code NINJA20 you can buy it for £135.99 - that's a hefty 32% off. Why it's a great buy: If you're after a refreshing treat this summer, this device is bound to impress - you can use it to make everything from ice cream and milkshakes to healthy smoothie bowls. Ninja CRISPi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer 7 Ninja CRISPi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer £119.99 (was £179.99) BUY HERE What's the deal? Stack the discount code on top of this already-reduced air fryer and you'll be able to snap it up for £119.99 instead of £179.99. Why it's a great buy: Ninja's newest and most portable air fryer, the Crispi is much less bulky than others so it's great if you're lacking storage space. The unique design combines glass containers (which you can then use to store the cooked food) with a compact Powerpod, which snaps on to cook the food. Ninja SLUSHi Frozen Drink Maker 7 Ninja SLUSHi Frozen Drink Maker £279.99 (was £349.99) What's the deal? You can now save £70 off this fun gadget, which is slashed to £279.99 with the discount code and you can get the Ninja Thirsti bottle as a free gift when you buy the SLUSHi now. Why it's a great buy: Frozen drinks are the ultimate summer refresher, and with this nifty machine you can whip up frappe coffees, frozen cocktails and of course slushy drinks. Snap it up and your house may just become the place to be... Ninja FrostVault 30QT/28L Wheeled Cooler 7 Ninja FrostVault 30QT/28L Wheeled Cooler £199.99 (was £249.99) BUY HERE What's the deal? The Ninja FrostVault has been cut down from £249.99 to £199.99, if you use the code NINJA20. Why it's a great buy: The perfect companion for outdoor adventures, this super-insulated cooler holds ice for days to keep food and drinks cold. It's ideal for camping, BBQs and more, with a family-sized capacity that holds up to 48 cans. Ninja Double Stack 2-Drawer Air Fryer 7.6L 7 £183.99 (was £229.99) BUY HERE What's the deal? Save £46 off this popular air fryer, which is now reduced from £229.99 to £183.99. Why it's a great buy: If you want to invest in an air fryer but take up minimal counter space, this could be the solution. The double-stack design has all the space and convenience of cooking different foods in two drawers (fitting up to six portions), but is a lot slimmer than other air fryers. If you're still deciding which air fryer to buy, these are the best air fryers The Sun Shopping has tried. Ninja Woodfire review to learn more.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The clever £10 gadget that means your kitchen counters are always clean and crumb-free
HOMEOWNERS can keep their kitchen counters clean and crumb free with zero effort, thanks to a £10 gadget. With the kids now off for school for six weeks, keeping the house clean may seem like a never-ending task, as they leave a trail of chaos behind them in every room. It can be an absolute nightmare trying to keep on top of everything, but the Lakeland Mini Countertop Vacuum will ensure your kitchen stays squeaky clean, while you sit back and relax. Priced at just £9.99, the nifty tool sucks up any crumbs, dust or glitter on your counter-top, at the touch of a button. Simply make sure your kitchen counter is dry, press the on button and kick back with a nice cup of tea. The high-power product is super quiet, so it won't disturb your afternoon nap, and features a cordless design, so you don't need to faff about with any annoying wires. It has a 30-minute run time, and sucks dirt into a canister, than can be easily emptied into the bin. The gadget is super tiny, so you can store it on the top of your counter, without it taking up any space. Plus, the USB chargeable device comes with a three-year guarantee, so your home will be crumb free for years to come. Lakeland said: "Tidying your surfaces has never been so simple thanks to the Lakeland Mini Countertop Vacuum. "Lightweight and portable, this mini vacuum is compact and completely cordless, making it easy to carry around and store in tight spaces when not in use. "Great for cleaning up glitter and crumbs from worktops and kitchen countertops, it's a handy little helper to get your surfaces back to looking their best. Sun tests world's thinnest vacuum at Dyson HQ – and 'PencilVac' is SAS of cleaning "With little brushes on the bottom, it helps to collect loose crumbs and dust, before sucking them up into the little unit to empty into the bin. "Built for everyday cleaning, it saves you time while keeping your space looking immaculate with minimal effort." More budget cleaning tools German discounter Lidl has also launched a bargain cleaning tool this week, for £160 less than Screwfix's version. The handy gadget can be used for multiple purposes including water extraction. The household items you're not cleaning often enough IF you want to ensure your home is squeaky clean, you'll need to listen up. Below are the household items you're forgetting to clean, and how to get them sparkling... Remote Controls: Wipe with a disinfectant cloth. Use a cotton bud for crevices. Light Switches: Wipe with a disinfectant wipe. Use a mild soap solution for tough stains. Door Handles: Clean with an antibacterial spray. Wipe down regularly. Underneath and Behind Appliances: Vacuum or sweep regularly. Mop with a suitable cleaner. Shower Curtains and Liners: Wash in the washing machine. Use a bleach solution for stubborn mildew. Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths: Microwave damp sponges for one minute. Wash dishcloths in the washing machine. Computer Keyboards and Mice: Use compressed air to remove debris. Wipe with a disinfectant wipe. Parkside Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleane r has a maximum 260 Airwatt suction power making it perfect for any cleaning job. Its multi-functionality allows it to be used in your house, garage or warehouse as it comes with a wide range of accessories and nozzles. It is ideal for use as a dust extractor when sawing or sanding as it picks up finer dust particles. The vacuum can also take care of your gardening needs as it has a blower mode which will come in handy in Autumn when the leaves start falling. Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver can be found in stores' middle aisle, which is home to a number of limited edition bargain products.
CNA
4 days ago
- CNA
Singapore tech: Some of the best homegrown gadgets available here
As National Day approaches, we thought this would be a good time to showcase some of the best Singapore tech products and gadgets from local brands. From OG tech trailblazer Creative, to MyFirst and Valore, we've shortlisted some noteworthy tech accessories from Singapore-based brands. HOW TO REDEEM YOUR SINGAPORE FLAG If you want to embrace the SG60 festivities, we have some good news. As part of the Fly Our Flag initiative, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents can redeem one complimentary National Day flag via the Shopee app. Visit here by July 29, 2025 for details (one redemption per household). We reviewed the Creative Outlier Go and found plenty to like. This is a good pair of workout earbuds. It stays securely in place during intense sessions and is comfortable to use for extended periods, even if you wear spectacles. Balanced, punchy sound and an expansive soundstage are icing on the cake. If you're just using it to listen to music or podcasts, it's a great option. However, latency on non-Android devices is a concern, so it may not be suited for videos or gaming. Battery life: Up to 6 hours per charge, Up to 26 hours of total playtime Water Resistance: IPX4 Bluetooth version: 5.4, supports multipoint connection Shop here As far as gaming mice go, this is a bang-for-the-buck device. The Basilisk V3 X HyperSpeed features ultra-low latency, dual wireless modes (Bluetooth + 2.4GHz), and an ergonomic design. It's got nine customisable controls, mechanical mouse switches for greater durability. It also offers slick RGB lighting, and battery life that lasts forever (okay, up to 285 hours). It runs on AA batteries and for the price, it's a solid win for casual and competitive gamers. Valore is the house brand of homegrown electronics retailer, Challenger. This PD100W adaptor could be your favourite travel companion. It offers a total of 100W USB-C charging and lets you power up to four devices at once with its dual USB-A and USB-C ports. Featuring US/ AUS, EU and UK sockets, it has a fireproof casing and short-circuit, over-temperature, over-voltage and overload protection. Shop here This home-grown brand's kids smart watch that includes GPS tracking, calling and messaging. It has a 1.4-inch square screen, supports 4G LTE connectivity and has a 2MP front camera for video calls. An integrated myFirst eSim eliminates the need for physical cards. The firm says that there are no activation or cancellation fees, though it's only compatible with the myFirst eSIM. The watch offers heart rate monitoring and step tracking. It also offers customisable safe zones, one-touch SOS alerts and parent-approved contacts. It does not allow the installation of third-party apps like social media and games. eSIM technology GPS tracking Calling and messaging Up to 40 hours of standby time, six hours working time Shop here I've been using this chair for the past six months and it's been great for just about any situation. Whether I'm working, gaming or leaning back to watch a movie, it offers plenty of back support, thanks in part to the four-way adjustable lumbar support system. It is pricey but you get what you pay for. Build quality is solid, its wheels roll very smoothly and it feels solidly planted even when reclining. I assembled it myself in about 20 minutes, though it would have been easier with an extra pair of hands. If black is too basic for you, there are over 70 colour options available. Cons? The leatherette material gets hot in our weather, so you'll need to point a fan directly at yourself to keep cool. Shop here Omnidesk Classic Regular Standing Desk, White, 153cm x 76cm (S$710.10; Usual Price: S$969; 26% off) This sleek, compact standing desk features a steel frame that supports up to 130kg. The dual-motor system makes height adjustments between 74cm and 121cm. The smart controller lets you save your favourite heights, charge your devices and syncs with the Omnidesk app. Safety features include collision detection and child lock. OLED monitors offer a significant qualitative jump over cheaper LCD offerings. While OLED panels are pricier, you do get what you pay for. Stunning colours, good contrast and deep blacks are par for the course. Gameplay is smooth thanks to its 240Hz refresh rate and fast 0.03ms response time. This handles high-res videos and fast-paced games easily. HDR400 True Black for that extra visual punch and FreeSync support to keep things tear-free. Shop here
