Clara Evans
Family Kitchen Tester
ABOUT
A note from Clara.
I cook for a family of seven, so most kitchen equipment in my house gets used hard. Three meals a day on weekends, breakfast and packed lunches on weekdays, full dinners most nights. The thing I can report on usefully is what happens to a piece of equipment after a year of that.
I'm not a chef and I don't write like one. The things I pay attention to are practical: how many parts go in the dishwasher, whether a lid actually seals at full speed, whether a stand mixer can do a triple batch of cookie dough without walking across the counter. If an appliance is popular but can't make it through a normal week of real use, I'll say so. That tends to be more useful information than a side-by-side spec comparison.
FROM THE DESK OF CLARA EVANS
Read Clara's most recent publishes.
The latest guides and reviews, fresh from weeks of testing.
Nespresso Vertuo Plus Deluxe: A Pod Machine Built to Last
The Vertuo Plus is the rare single-serve machine that feels engineered for actual daily use rather than planned obsolescence.
Top Meal Prep Containers: The Three That Actually Earn Their Space
After feeding a family of seven for years, I compared 13 meal prep containers on seal reliability, dishwasher survival, and stackability — here are the three worth buying.
The Breville Mini Smart Oven: Does It Actually Replace Your Full-Size Oven?
After four weeks of weeknight cooking, the Breville Mini Smart Oven proves it can handle roasted vegetables and pizza for a small household—but size limits matter.
The Best Baking Sheets That Actually Hold Up
After testing 14 baking sheets over three weeks, one $21 pan earned every batch I threw at it.
Best Kitchen Scale for Baking: Escali Primo, Ozeri Pronto, and OXO Good Grips Tested
After testing 14 kitchen scales over two weeks of real baking, three earned a permanent spot on my counter — here is which one belongs on yours.
The Breville Barista Express: Honest Espresso for the Morning Rush
After four weeks of daily pulls, the Breville Barista Express earns its $690 price for anyone willing to learn the craft without the fuss.