ROB MCCARTHY

I still remember the first time my grandmother handed me her krumkake iron. The smell of cardamom and butter filled her kitchen as she showed me how to roll those delicate, crispy Norwegian cookies into perfect cones. That cast aluminum press had been in our family for three generations, and it sparked a passion that … Read more

Making authentic Norwegian lefse at home requires the right equipment. A dedicated lefse grill provides the large flat surface and precise temperature control needed to cook this traditional potato flatbread to perfection. After testing 12 different electric griddles and specialty lefse grills over three months, our team has identified the best options for every budget … Read more

Finding the best quesadilla maker can transform your weeknight dinners from ordinary to extraordinary. After testing dozens of electric quesadilla makers and multi-function appliances over three months, I have cooked hundreds of quesadillas, paninis, and breakfast items to find which models deliver crispy, evenly melted results every time. Yes, quesadilla makers are absolutely real and … Read more

I remember the first time I tried to cook a steak in my apartment during a snowstorm. The smoke alarm went off, my neighbors gave me dirty looks, and I ended up eating a pan-seared disappointment. That was three years ago, before I discovered indoor smokeless grills. These electric countertop appliances have completely changed how … Read more

Finding the best electric skillet for home cooking changed how my family handles weeknight dinners. I used to struggle with limited stove space when preparing multiple dishes, constantly juggling pots and pans while the stovetop stayed crowded. An electric skillet solved that problem instantly, giving me a versatile cooking surface that works anywhere with an … Read more

Living in an apartment without a balcony taught me the hard way that outdoor grilling is a luxury, not a given. I spent three winters craving char marks on my steaks and that unmistakable grilled flavor you simply cannot replicate with a stovetop pan. That is exactly why I started testing contact grills for countertop … Read more

I still remember the first time my kids begged me for fresh donuts on a Saturday morning. I looked at the deep fryer and thought about the mess, the hot oil, and the cleanup. That is when I discovered the world of electric donut makers. After testing over a dozen models in my kitchen over … Read more

I spent three weeks testing ten different empanada makers in my kitchen, crafting over 150 stuffed pastries to find out which ones actually deliver on their promises. If you are tired of hand-crimping empanadas only to have them leak filling during frying, you need the best empanada maker for your specific needs. An empanada press … Read more

Nothing transforms a simple scoop of ice cream into a memorable dessert quite like a fresh, crispy waffle cone made right in your kitchen. I spent six weeks testing ten different waffle cone makers to find the models that deliver that authentic ice cream parlor experience at home. This guide covers everything you need to … Read more

Fresh homemade pasta transforms an ordinary dinner into something memorable. The smell of semolina and eggs mixing together, the satisfying texture of noodles made just minutes ago, and the knowledge that you control every ingredient going into your meal. After testing dozens of machines and making over 500 batches of noodles in our test kitchen … Read more