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

I test kitchen appliances for a living, and these are the top 6 blenders I recommend for everything from soup to slushies

By Cat Ellis last updated 2 September 25

Updated Powerful home blenders from big brands, tested with real recipes and rated for power, performance, and volume.

Split image of fries cooked in air fryer, front view of Ninja air fryer, and steak being cooked in air fryer with heat probe

The best air fryer 2025: quick and convenient fryers to feed a family

By Cat Ellis last updated 22 August 25

Updated Air fryers for quick meals in small spaces, tested by our team of experts in real-world conditions.

Stew cooking in Instant Pot, Instant Pot on kitchen counter with ingredients, and fries cooked in Instant Pot

The best Instant Pot 2025: versatile multi-cookers tested and rated

By Cat Ellis last updated 6 August 25

Updated Our experts have picked the best Instant Pot multi-cookers for every kitchen.

Coffee beans in hopper, latte macchiato, and person's hand using bean-to-cup coffee machine

The best bean-to-cup coffee machine 2025: quick and convenient coffee makers tested

By Cat Ellis last updated 30 July 25

Updated We've tested the best bean-to-cup coffee machines to find the best options from De'Longhi, Breville, Ninja, Gaggia and more.

Magimix food processor on purple background

The best food processor 2025: expert-tested processors from KitchenAid, Ninja, Magimix, and more

By Cat Ellis last updated 11 March 25

These are the best food processors for every kind of cook and every kind of kitchen, from big names including Ninja, Magimix, and KitchenAid.

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer review

By Helen McCue last updated 12 November 24

An air fryer that doubles as an indoor barbecue for chargrilled foods – but does it really work?

Kenwood MultiPro OneTouch Food Processor and Blender with accessories on kitchen counter

Kenwood MultiPro OneTouch Food Processor and Blender review: one appliance that can do it all

By Helen McCue published 13 October 24

A a jack-of-trades kitchen appliance, but is it trying to be too many things?

The Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro food processor pictured against a pink background. The accessories storage case is pictured to its left, and the dicing accessory kit is pictured on its right. The stone-effect tabletop that it sits on has apples and bananas on.

Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro review

By Helen McCue, Cesci Angell last updated 12 July 24

A large capacity food processor that has a lot to give, but it'll take up space.

Dyson being used by a person for cleaning

How to clean a Dyson vacuum

By Helen McCue published 23 October 23

Our step-by-step guide on how to clean and maintain your Dyson vacuum.

Woman looking over a broken vacuum cleaner

How to fix a vacuum cleaner with no suction

By Helen McCue published 16 October 23

Is your vacuum losing suction? Don’t panic – you should be able to bring it back to live with these simple cleaning and maintenance steps.

How to buy a cordless vacuum

By Helen McCue published 2 October 23

Our top tips on how to buy a cordless vacuum, including the must-have features to look for

Vitamix vs Blendtec: which of these premium blender brands is best for you?

By Helen McCue published 8 August 23

We pit the two premium blender brands, Vitamix and Blendtec against each other. Which is best for you?

ninja woodfire on patio next to a flower pot

Ninja Woodfire review: outdoor cooking without charcoal or gas

By Helen McCue published 21 May 23

Editor's Choice

Ninja breaks into the world of outdoor cooking with a clever multifunctional electric grill-style BBQ and smoker. We tried it out.

Carrots and parsnips cooked in an air fryer

3 ways an air fryer will help you to start eating healthy in 2023

By Helen McCue last updated 4 January 23

Get Fit for '23 Here’s how to transform your diet and get healthier by using an air fryer to cook all your favorite foods.

ultenic k10 lead image for techradar review

Ultenic K10 review

By Helen McCue published 14 December 22

Ultenic might not be your go-to appliance brand, but this is a capable air fryer at an affordable price.

Vitamix vs Ninja: We put them head-to-head

By Helen McCue published 19 November 22

We're pitting Vitamix vs Ninja to help you decide which one is the best blender for you.

Ultenic K20 review

By Helen McCue published 1 November 22

Ultenic makes only one other air fryer, so will its newly launched dual-drawer model be enough to compete with the big boys?

ShakeSphere Portable Blender E-Lid review

By Helen McCue published 10 October 22

It’s known for its manual shaker cups, but will ShakeSphere’s foray into the world of electrical blenders prove to be a hit?

Ultenic T10 review

By Helen McCue published 6 October 22

Can the self-emptying robot vacuum and mop from new brand Ultenic compete with leading rivals?

Image of Dualit Café Plus Capsule Machine during testing at home

Dualit Cafe Plus review

By Helen McCue last updated 3 October 22

We tried out this simple Nespresso coffee machine from Dualit. It’s easy to use, but isn’t for coffee connoisseurs.

Dualit eco press during use on counter top

Dualit’s new coffee machine offers a solution to the pod-recycling dilemma

By Helen McCue published 2 October 22

The EcoPress from Dualit makes it easier to recycle coffee capsules from home, but is it the best option?

Nespresso Pixie side view on counter top

Nespresso Pixie by Krups review

By Helen McCue published 10 September 22

This entry-level Nespresso machine is compact and robust. We tried it out to see if it can deliver great coffee, too.

Yeedi mop station pro cleaning hard floor

Yeedi Mop Station Pro review

By Helen McCue published 26 August 22

This robot vacuum has a well-designed mopping system that’s one of the best we’ve seen, but it’s not without faults.

MeacoFan 260c Cordless Air Circulator next to a plant pot

MeacoFan 260c Cordless Air Circulator review

By Helen McCue last updated 24 August 22

Is a cordless fan really going to cut it on a hot day? We put the MeacoFan 260c to the test to find out.

The Eufy RoboVac X8 on a black and white chevron patterned floor

Eufy RoboVac X8 review

By Helen McCue last updated 16 August 22

Is Eufy’s top-of-the-range robot vacuum worth the higher price tag?

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