In this episode of Finds or Fails, I tested three kitchen gadgets that claim to solve everyday annoyances, plus a bonus non-kitchen item suggested on Discord. I ran each one through real-world tests (not just quick demos) to see what actually works and what deserves a one-way trip to the boneyard.
Where to Purchase
Below are links where you can purchase the items covered in this review.
Gadgets Reviewed
Dreamfarm Upcup (Adjustable Measuring Cup)
This is an adjustable measuring cup with a sliding base that lets you measure different amounts in the same cup, and it’s designed to be especially helpful with sticky ingredients. My first question was simple: is it actually watertight, and is it accurate? In my quick liquid test, it didn’t leak and it appeared to match my standard measuring cup at 100 ml.
Then I pushed the main “selling point” by using it for wet and dry ingredients back-to-back without rinsing: oil, sugar, flour, and shredded coconut, all in one run while I threw together a small batch of coconut sugar cookies. The scraping action did what it promised, and the cookies turned out surprisingly good for a recipe I made up as I went.
My take: It worked as advertised and I’ll keep using it. The downsides are that it feels a little on the cheap side, smaller measurements can be tricky because the surface is flatter, and the handle can feel a bit “sticky” when you’re working with sugar. My biggest wish is a larger, glass version (a 2-cup model would be a winner). As is, though, I am a fan of this one.
Heated Butter Knife (USB-C Rechargeable)
This one promises the age-old dream: spreading cold butter like it’s already softened. It has two heat modes and claims fast warm-up, so I tested it with a thermal imager. The heat-up speed and temperature were legit. I did get hot quickly and reached the advertised range (maybe even hotter).
The real question is whether it makes spreading butter easy and clean. With ice-cold butter, a normal knife predictably failed. With the heated knife, cutting got easier once the heat contacted the butter, but spreading wasn’t as effortless as the product videos make it look. I got decent results, but it took technique: cutting thin, letting the butter warm on the knife, keeping the knife flat, and basically heating as I go.
My take: It works, but it’s not magic. Better than a regular knife if your butter is truly cold, but it’s a process and the results aren’t as dramatic or as “instant” as the listing makes it seem.
Blade Ball (3-in-1 Spiralizer, Slicer, and Grater)
I picked this up at Marshalls for cheap, and I didn’t have high expectations. It’s a compact, stackable “ball” that includes a spiralizer blade, slicer blade, fine grater, a bowl, and a hand guard. I tested each blade with common ingredients to see if it was just gimmicky storage or actually useful.
Spiralizer test: Zucchini. It worked smoothly and surprisingly fast with very little force. The blade felt sharp and the spirals came out clean, though the bowl is on the small side.
Slicer test: Cucumber, squash, and carrot. The slices were uniform and the blade was very sharp. Cucumber and squash were effortless; carrots took more force (as expected), but it still performed well. The main caution is handling it carefully when opening because your hand can get close to the blade.
Grater test: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and carrot. It does work, but it’s a very fine shred. Monterey Jack seemed better suited than cheddar. If you want ultra-fine shredded cheese or fine veggie shreds, it’s useful, but it’s not the type of grater I reach for most often.
My take: Shockingly solid for the price. Two of the three functions are “I’ll actually use this,” and the grater is more of a niche tool depending on how fine you like your shred.
Flat LED Book Light (Bonus Item)
This is a flat-panel LED light that has multiple color modes, dimming, and a timer. It’s been sold by a bunch of different vendors under different listings, so I wanted to see if it was clever or just trendy.
On a small book, it fit well and the brightness was good. But the biggest issue showed up fast: the panel itself has a cloudy look that makes the page feel less clear, almost like you’re viewing the text through a haze. It also picks up fingerprints and smudges constantly, and that makes the clarity problem even worse.
On larger hardcover and paperback books, it didn’t cover the page well and felt awkward to use. A normal book light wasn’t as bright, but it didn’t block the page or add that cloudy layer.
My take: It’s workable on certain small books, but the cloudiness and smudging killed it for me. For bigger books, it’s more hassle than it’s worth.
Final Verdict
The Dreamfarm Up Cup and the Blade Ball are staying with me, and I expect to continue using both of them. The heated butter knife and the flat book light didn’t impress me enough to earn a spot, so they’re headed for the Boneyard.
Video Review
Check out the full video review below.