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

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.

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.

Neato D10 review

By Helen McCue Published 22 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

A woman adding raspberries to a vblender which already has soft fruits in it

Can a blender be used as a food processor?

By Helen McCue Last updated 11 February 22

If you’re struggling to decide whether to buy a food processor, find out whether you can use a blender instead.

A food processor with blender pitcher on a kitchen countertop next to a bowl and sieve ready to make cake batter

How does a food processor work?

By Helen McCue Last updated 11 February 22

With sharp blades and lots of parts to assemble, food processors can be daunting appliances, here we explain how they work and why you need one

hand wearing rubber gloves holding a spone with water running from a tap in the sink

How to clean a food processor

By Helen McCue Last updated 11 February 22

Don’t let dirt and grime build up in your food processor, here we explain how to get it clean.

Sage the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro on a kitchen countertop

Sage the Kitchen Wizz 15 Pro review

By Helen McCue Published 9 February 22

Best in Class

This food processor is definitely up to the job, but it’s an investment that may be too much for some

KitchenAid Food Chopper KFC0516 review

By Helen McCue Published 8 February 22

Recommended

A small chopper with a whisk for those who don’t have the space for a food processor, but capacity is limited

A slice of cheesecake cut from a whole cheesecake and drizzled in caramel sauce

I made cheesecake in an Instant Pot and I’ll never go back to my usual method

By Helen McCue Published 6 February 22

Looking for Instant Pot inspiration? Try making a cheesecake, it’s a low fuss way of preparing this delicious dessert

The Magimix 4200XL being use to grind beef

Magimix 4200XL review

By Helen McCue Published 3 February 22

Recommended

This pricey food processor can do everything you’d expect, and more, but is it worth the counter space?

Slice of carrot cake on plates next to a bundle of cinnamon sticks

I used an Instant Pot for baking cakes and cookies but I'll never do it again

By Helen McCue Published 30 January 22

An Instant Pot is ideal for cooking a multitude of dishes, but when it comes to cake and cookies, we won’t be ditching our usual method any time soon.

The Tineco Pure One S12 Pro EX being used to clean a carpet

Tineco Pure One S12 Pro EX review

By Helen McCue Published 25 January 22

Recommended

For cord-free cleaning of every surface in your home, this vacuum also features smart technology and dust sensors

How does an Instant Pot work?

By Helen McCue Published 21 January 22

Wondering what all the fuss is about? Here’s the full lowdown on how Instant Pot and other multicookers work and what you can use them for.

A bowl of mashed potato on a wood surface surrounded by potatoes and garlic

I made mashed potatoes in an Instant Pot, and it was far easier than usual

By Helen McCue Published 23 January 22

Love mashed potatoes but struggle to get it right every time. We made mashed potatoes in an Instant Pot and found it was easier than ever before.

The Ninja Cold Press Juicer on an orange background and the Nutribullet Juicer on a yellow background

Juicing dual: Is the Ninja Cold Press Juicer or the Nutribullet Juicer better?

By Helen McCue Published 23 December 21

If you’re looking for an affordable juicer should you go for the cold press option from Ninja or Nutribullet’s centrifugal model? We’ve pitted the two head-to-head to find out

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