Equipment Lab

Honestly, at this time in my life, I'm just not ready to shell out hundreds of dollars or give up precious counter space in my tiny kitchen for a massive juicing machine. But that doesn't mean I'll never get to enjoy a glass of freshly pressed orange or grapefruit juice from the comfort of my breakfast table. I swear by the manual citrus juicer that was passed down to me from my grandmother. It's a solid piece of equipment that is incredibly easy to use, store, and clean. And if you're a fan of pulp like I am, then you'll really appreciate the juice that this little contraption produces. To find out the benefits and drawbacks of this affordable juicer, keep reading.

I've never been much of a juicer. Perhaps it's the intimidation factor of learning to use a new appliance or the ugh factor of sticky, pulpy cleanup when I'm done, but I've resisted the juice movement despite the amazing health benefits its proponents espouse. So when we received a Hurom Slow Juicer as a Christmas gift from my in-laws, I was awfully skeptical about its future as a kitchen fixture. After some balking on my part, my gadget-loving, juice-guzzling husband convinced me to give it a try. Would I become a juicing convert? Find out when you keep reading.

Call me crazy, but I'm wary of products that are marketed "as seen on TV." Sure, the Magic Bullet looks pretty tempting at 2 a.m., but I've never actually made the plunge and picked up the phone to order. Perhaps someone was hoping to convert me. One recent day, the Prep N' Pop arrived in the mail. This contraption, which looks like a distant relative of a bike pump, promises to help secure foods while prepping them, thereby making peeling, chopping, and slicing easier, quicker, and safer. Did it completely overhaul my kitchen prep process? To find out, head right this way.

When the Actifry was first conceived three years ago, I marveled at the concept of making perfect French fries with nothing more than a spoonful of oil. Now that the French invention's finally hit the American market, T-Fal, the company behind the appliance, sent me one to try out. According to T-Fal, home cooks can save over 200 calories and 10 grams of fat per serving in comparison to fast food fries when using the Actifry ($300). Was it really possible that delicious fries could be made with just a tablespoon of oil, compared to a couple liters of it? Find out when you keep reading.