by Furnishly | Jan 2, 2023 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
I don’t know about you, but I love a good snack. My go-to? A classic bag of microwavable popcorn. However, dear reader, I do have a confession to make: I often have a very hard time finishing this delectable snack. I know, I know, who can’t finish a bag of microwave popcorn? To quote one Taylor Swift, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” My solution for the longest time was to buy loose kernels and make a smaller portion on the stovetop. However, more often than I’d care to admit, I have been left with both scorched popcorn and a scorched pan. As a result, I resigned myself to the fact that when I wanted popcorn, well, some of it was going to see the bottom of my trash can. Luckily, it seems there may just be something out there to solve this problem: the Joseph Joseph Single-Serve Popcorn Maker.
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Designed with small snackers in mind, this silicone popcorn maker is about to change the game for popcorn lovers everywhere. It couldn’t be easier to use: Simply pour an ounce of popcorn kernels into the cup (there’s even a handy measuring guide in the base of the popper to help you out), close the flaps, start your microwave, and wait for the flaps to open up as the popcorn reaches the top. Best of all, this popper requires no oil or butter (though, hey, no one’s stopping you) meaning it’ll make a healthier portion of popcorn while you’re at it, too.
Amazon shoppers are loving this find with one customer raving, “I looked around at so many microwave popcorn poppers before deciding on this one, but I’m super happy with my final decision. This one just hits all the marks. It pops a perfect single serving, there’s only one piece (no lid to mess with or lose), it’s dishwasher safe, doesn’t take up much space in the dishwasher, and pops popcorn beautifully! Love this thing!”
One common thread we noticed in reviews is people are loving the ease of these poppers. “Popcorn is kind of my thing and since I like eating it almost every day, this popcorn maker is a lifesaver,” shared one reviewer. “No oil necessary, so healthier than stovetop and I’m able to make a single serving without all the fuss.” Another went on to say, “These were so easy to use and clean. They have held up so well. So glad they popped into our lives and made popcorn making a breeze.”
Coming in at just $15, the Joseph Joseph Single-Serve Popcorn Maker Set features two single-portion popcorn makers (in classic Joseph Joseph hues!) so you and another popcorn lover can get it on the fun. So, whether you’re looking to snack a little healthier or be a little less wasteful with your popcorn, pick up this popper — it’ll change everything. Now if you excuse me, I’ve got an order to place.
by Furnishly | Dec 30, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Holidays and the cold weather months mean one thing: dinner parties. And, while you’re almost always sure to have a good time when you’re a guest (did someone say, “no cleanup?”) — hosting can end up being the most stressful part of winter. Besides tidying up, setting up, and curating the perfect playlist, you’re also on the hook for the main event: the food. Since roasts, whole birds, and braises often lend themselves to large-format dining, you have to be extra careful to make sure you don’t under- or overcook your meat. Of course, you’ll definitely want to have an instant-read kitchen thermometer on hand, but if you’re hosting, you can’t be hovering over the oven every few minutes to check the temperature. Plus, constantly opening your oven can cause huge heat fluctuations. (You know what they say: “If you’re lookin’, you ain’t cookin’.”) That’s why my recent pickup of the MEATER Plus, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless temperature probe, has been such a huge boon during these stressful times.
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Now, I don’t have an outdoor cooking area (or an outdoor area of my own at all), but if I did, this thing would make grilling and smoking meats a serious breeze. That’s because the MEATER Plus has a 165-foot connection range, so you can pop your roast or steak on the grill, and duck inside to escape the weather while being able to check on your meal’s temp the whole time through the free app. (You can even use the app to set up custom alerts and notifications based on temperature and cook time.) The MEATER Plus also features dual temperature sensors, which monitor the internal and external temperature, up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit and 527 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. And — after you’ve cooked your meal to perfection — you can just toss the probe into the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
A few features that stuck out to me when I tested out the MEATER Plus — which helped me make delicious, succulent, oven-baked pork ribs, I might add — were the case, the easy-to-use app, and the range. The case houses everything you need in a small, wooden box that, get this, sticks magnetically to your fridge. And, the case also charges the probe while not in use from a single, easily removable AAA battery. The app is also super intuitive, even for a Luddite like myself, and there was no hassle getting the probe synced — just make sure you set your probe up well before cooking time, since it needs two hours to charge before its first go. As for the range, unless you’re planning on taking a jog while your prime rib is in the oven (Pro Tip: Don’t), the connectivity radius is more than enough.
With a 4.5-star average rating from nearly 30,000 reviews, it’s safe to say I’m not the only one who digs the MEATER Plus. “Although I do have an Instant Read probe that I still use to verify doneness of proteins, the Meater Plus is so much easier to use and you don’t have to constantly check the food so it doesn’t get over or undercooked,” one reviewer writes. “I am an experienced cook, but as you know foods can look done on the outside, but you can’t see how well done they are on the inside. This MEATER Plus is the perfect solution for perfectly cooked proteins and other foods.” So, if you’re looking for a gadget that can help take some of the stress out of your holiday season (and dinners in general), pick up the MEATER Plus — and thank me later.
by Furnishly | Dec 30, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
Sarah M. VazquezCommerce SEO Editor
Sarah writes about all things shopping for Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, and Cubby helping you find the best deals and the best products for you and your home. A Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl, she loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and her family (but not necessarily in that order).
by Furnishly | Dec 29, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
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It’s labeled as a cheese grater, but this little device can take everything from zucchini and carrots for cakes (or salads, if that’s your thing) to ice-cold butter for … well, cakes … and get it shredded cleanly, quickly, and safely. Ingredients go in the grater’s top vessel, and with a little pressure from one hand (and the included attachment!) and a gentle crank of the rotary with the other, you’ll have what you need grated, shredded, or milled in seconds. Quite literally, “this product shreds cheese faster than anything,” one Amazon reviewer says.
It can also handle slicing potatoes for gratin or homemade chips, nuts and cookies for toppings or mix-ins, and Brussels sprouts and other delicate veggies for chopped salads. “Let me tell you that this product is a life saver,” the reviewer continues, “and I only regret that it took me so long to purchase one for myself. The suction at the bottom is strong enough to hold to any countertop surface without any slipping … and the fact that it comes with three different rotary adapters depending on the cut you are looking for it makes things easy.” Yep, it comes with attachments to grate, shred, slice, and mill your ingredients, hard or soft.
What is more, the device is totally dishwasher-safe. “All the pieces snap together and come apart with ease for cleaning,” the reviewer advises. With its current discount and over 8,500 5-star ratings, I (and plenty of Amazon shoppers) recommend grabbing one for yourself, and maybe a couple as gifts, before they go out of stock — or worse, don’t arrive before Christmas!
by Furnishly | Dec 28, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Regularly cleaning the microwave should be a top priority for every home cook. If you’ve ever walked into someone’s cooking space and noticed weird smells emanating from unknown places, there’s a good chance one of the perpetrators is this fast-heating oven. Not only that, but once flecks of food dry inside, the microwave becomes such a pain to scrub. You have to crouch down and bend your arms at unnatural angles — it’s a whole ordeal. That’s why the best solution is to prevent splatters in the first place.
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Personally, I’ve long used paper towels to cover plates, but this method has its flaws. Sometimes the curved bits of paper roll off during longer cook times. In other cases, the towel will sink into the bowl, becoming drenched in sauce or cheese. (The struggles I go through for my TV dinners.) Not too long ago, though, we discovered an Amazon product that eliminates all of these problems, and you can get it for less than $8!
Meet the protective microwave mat by Progressive. This gadget will help protect your appliance against food explosions and hard-to-clean soup spatters. It’s essentially a round silicone mat that you can place atop your plates and bowls before microwaving them. It’ll not only keep the food inside the dish, but the mat also helps evenly distribute heat to all areas. (No more cold centers!)
But that’s not all this item good for! Silicone serves as a great protective material against high temperatures. Therefore, you can use one mat to cover your meals and buy another to use as an oven mitt. This tool is way better than a traditional fabric mitt, however, as it won’t stain or tear over time. Whether you’re removing a roast from the oven or lifting a pan from a hot stove, this mat will keep your hands safe.
It’s not hard to see why Amazon shoppers can’t get enough of this product. It has more than 6,700 five-star ratings, and that number is sure to increase thanks to its many uses. “We recently moved into a new apartment and now have a glass-top stove,” one reviewer wrote. “We also have two cats that are very curious and like to be on the counters… So we’ve been using this to cover the burners after cooking to add a small protective layer in case they decide to walk across the stove while we’re not looking. We’ve also been using this to put under pots after cooking to protect the counters.”
Other buyers use their mats as a spot for dirty or freshly washed dishware, place them under cutting boards for a secure grip, or use them to open stubborn jars and bottles. Basically, there’s almost no limit to how you can use the protective microwave mat. You haven’t seen versatility like this!
