Articles by Helen McCue, Freelance contributor

Helen is a freelance writer who specializes in kitchen and home appliances, and has written for some of the biggest home-related titles around. She has been reviewing small appliances, including blenders, air fryers, and vacuums for more than 15 years. When she's not busy testing the latest food and home gadgets, she enjoys DIY and gardening.

Articles by: Helen McCue

how to juice ginger: ginger juice with ginger root

How to juice ginger: we’ve been using a juicer on ginger to give you the lowdown on the best way to do it yourself

By Helen McCue last updated 2 August 22

Forget choking down grassy kale shots. Ginger shots are punchy and zingy, here’s how to juice ginger at home

kitchenaid KFP0921 food processor review hero image

KitchenAid 9 Cup/ 2.1 Liter KFP0921 Food Processor review

By Helen McCue published 19 July 22

A handy food processor that won’t take over your storage space, but serious cooks may be left wanting more.

Eufy HomeVac S11 Infinity being used on hard wood skirting

Eufy HomeVac S11 Infinity review

By Helen McCue last updated 29 June 22

A cordless vacuum that isn’t just for floors, plus it comes with two batteries and an affordable price tag, too.

Cuisinart Grind & Brew Auto Coffee Maker review - header image

Cuisinart DGB-650BC Grind & Brew Automatic coffee maker review

By Helen McCue published 24 June 22

A simple coffee maker that delivers filter coffee from freshly ground beans, with a thermal carafe that keeps coffee hotter for longer.

The Ninja Blender 2 in 1 on an orange background pitted against the Nutribullet Blender on a yellow background

Ninja vs Nutribullet: which blender brand is right for you?

By Helen McCue last updated 22 June 22

Both Ninja and Nutribullet are big names when it comes to blenders. We’ve tested them head-to-head to bring you the key differences.

Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor System and attachments on a counter

Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor System review

By Helen McCue published 8 June 22

A versatile blender that can chop meat, mix dough, and blitz frozen fruits into delicious smoothie bowls.

Nutribullet Rx cooking blender review

By Helen McCue published 23 May 22

This is Nutribullet’s most powerful blender, even able to turn cold ingredients into hot soup – but how versatile is it really?

Magic Bullet Air Fryer on a counter with its user manual

Magic Bullet Air Fryer review

By Helen McCue published 19 May 22

Can this compact air fryer from the makers of Nutribullet rival bigger air fryer brands such as Instant and Ninja?

Nutribullet Go portable blender review

By Helen McCue published 16 May 22

A portable rechargeable blender for making smoothies no matter where you are – but does it deliver the blitzing power of a regular Nutribullet?

The Magimix 4200XL on the left on a beige background and the KitchenAid KFP1319 on a khaki background on the right

KitchenAid KFP1319 vs Magimix 4200XL: which food processor should you choose?

By Helen McCue published 30 March 22

Which is best for chopping, mixing, slicing and shredding? We put Magimix and KitchenAid head-to-head.

The KitchenAid Artisan Espresso Machine KES6503 on a kitchen countertop with all its accessories

KitchenAid Artisan Espresso Machine KES6503 review

By Helen McCue published 29 March 22

An expensive espresso machine that oozes KitchenAid style, but can it make a decent espresso?

Neato D10 review

By Helen McCue last updated 25 March 22

Recommended

Neato’s top-of-the-range robot vacuum comes with more smarts and better, battery life and filtration, but is it worth the higher price tag?

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp on a pink background on the left hand side, and the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-cooker on a green background on the right hand side

Instant Pot Pro Crisp & Air Fryer vs Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 Smart multi-cooker: which should you choose?

By Helen McCue last updated 18 March 22

If you’re looking for a top-of-the-range multi-cooker that can do it all, should you choose Instant or Ninja?

Bean-to-cup coffee machines vs espresso machines: which is best for a caffeine fix?

By Helen McCue last updated 15 March 22

How to choose between these two coffee machines and get the one that’s best to deliver your daily coffee

The Magimix 4200XL on a green background on the left-hand side and the KitchenAid KFP1319 in cream on a blue background on the right-hand side

Magimix vs KitchenAid: which food processor should you buy?

By Helen McCue published 10 March 22

Both Magimix and KitchenAid are big players in the food processor market, so we’ve pitted them head-to-head to discover which you should choose

A coffee being brewed using a bean-to-cup coffee machine

How does a bean-to-cup coffee machine work?

By Helen McCue last updated 3 March 22

Love the idea of a bean-to-cup coffee machine but not sure how it works and what it does? Our in-depth guide will get you up to speed

The Instant Pot Pro on a kitchen countertop

What not to cook in an Instant Pot

By Helen McCue published 28 February 22

Don’t waste food on failed experiments, read our guide on what not to cook in your Instant Pot

The five best things to cook in an Instant Pot

By Helen McCue published 25 February 22

Our favorite things to make in an Instant Pot. These foods always turn out well and you should try them