Today I’m back with another round of kitchen gadget reviews, all of them requested by readers, and I’m excited to share my hands-on experience with each one. So, without further delay, let’s dive right in.
Where to Purchase
Below are links to the three items discussed in this review. These are the same Amazon listings from where I purchased them:
HandiHandle – The Jury’s Still Out
Priced at a modest $13.99 and branded as Amazon’s Choice, the HandiHandle arrived in what could only be described as a glorified Ziploc bag. The first impression left much to be desired – it’s a piece of plastic that could’ve been worth no more than pennies, and it didn’t even appear straight. But looks can be deceiving, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt.
The HandiHandle claims to add a convenient grip to half-gallon square cartons, touting itself as perfect for kids or anyone with grip or strength challenges. It reminded me of the Grab N Pour I reviewed for 2-liter bottles, which did its job quite well.
Fitting it onto an actual half-gallon carton of oat milk, the HandiHandle seemed promising at first, securely holding the carton as I poured. With continuous pouring, it held up until the very end without issue, even as the carton inverted while I poured the final glass.
The real test came with a smaller, 52-ounce ‘shrinkflation’ carton that is often sold alongside similar half-gallon cartons. Here, the HandiHandle was less convincing, slipping out as the carton got lighter. So while it works with standard half-gallon cartons, the variability with smaller sizes could be problematic.
Would I recommend it? It’s a simple tool that could be useful for some, but for others, it might be a solution in search of a problem.
The Slap Chop Folding Cutting Board – A Cut Below
Next, I tackled a product from Vince Offer – the Slap Chop Folding Cutting Board, retailing for $22.95. I’ve reviewed several of Vince’s products before, but this one was unfamiliar territory.
Right out of the gate, this cutting board showed signs of a fundamental flaw – it wouldn’t lay flat, displaying noticeable bumps in the center. This issue surfaced even when chopping something as straightforward as an apple. The folding feature, designed for easy transfer of cut items into a pot or pan, worked well initially, but as the board’s instability became apparent with more use, its practicality dwindled.
When it came to chopping a chicken breast, the board’s slight bow and lack of a non-slip base were concerns. In fact, the cutting board slid around enough to make the task challenging.
While the concept of a folding cutting board is innovative, and the feature itself worked as intended, the lack of stability and grip were major downsides. As a fan of Vince Offer, this was a bit of a letdown. I’d suggest a redesign with a non-slip base and a sturdier, flatter surface. Other models like this have existed for years, and some of them do have rubber grips on the bottom. If this design interests you, I’d look for one of those over this model.
Onion Goggles – A Slice Above?
Lastly, I tried out a pair of onion goggles, priced at $21.37, with a look as stylish as any kitchen accessory could hope for. Putting them on, the seal felt snug around my face, which was encouraging.
I wanted to first try a “no cry” cutting method I learned from a Gordon Ramsay video, in which you leave the root and cut around it. I must say that the tears and irritation were minimal with this technique. The real test, however, was to chop an onion without any tear-prevention tricks, and in fact to purposely create as many tear-inducing fumes as possible. I tried cutting onions using different methods: No protection, using a fan to blow the fumes away, wearing the Onion Goggles, and pairing the fan with the Onion Goggles.
Without any protection, the tears and irritation were apparent. The fan diminished the effects by around 50% and I’d say the Goggles took that down by about another 25%. When I paired the Goggles with a fan, however, the irritation and tears were negligible.
In the end, I’d say the onion goggles were somewhat helpful, but they didn’t eliminate the irritation completely. Would I use them again? Perhaps, but alongside a fan to reduce the onion’s volatile effects.
So there you have it – my thoughts on three different kitchen tools that promised much, but delivered mixed results. Whether these gadgets are worth your investment depends on your needs in the kitchen and, of course, your patience for the occasional kitchen chaos. If you’ve used any of these kitchen tools, tell me what you think in the comments below!