Helen McCue
Helen is Ideal Home's expert kitchen appliances tester, with a wealth of experience that spans a Home Economics degree and a stint at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Over the last three years, she has tested dozens of products for Ideal Home from her home in Buckinghamshire, including a long list of air fryers, blenders, bean-to-cup coffee machines, vacuums and sleep essentials. Helen is our go-to kitchen expert and tests out every kitchen appliance with a range of delicious recipes.
Latest articles by Helen McCue
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Super cute and super affordable - why this £200 BBQ won over our hard-to-please reviewer...
Whether you have a small patio or a small family, this compact gas barbecue will fit the bill and make al-fresco cooking easy and stress-free this summer.
By Helen McCue
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Surprising things you can cook in a pizza oven - and things you definitely can't
Get more from your pizza oven and elevate your outdoor cooking experience
By Helen McCue
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Are countertop ovens the next air fryer? We tried one from Lakeland to find out
This small oven can provide additional cooking space at times when your ordinary oven isn’t big enough.
By Helen McCue
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Ten tips to get the most out of your pizza oven
Whether you have one already or you’re thinking of buying one, here’s our advice on making the most out of a pizza oven
By Helen McCue
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Ooni Fyra pizza oven review
The Ooni Fyra is a standout, 5-star pizza oven. It feels like there's nothing it can't do
By Helen McCue
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Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven review
Make super-speedy crisp and tasty pizzas without the hassle of keeping a wood fire burning with the Ooni Koda 12
By Helen McCue
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We tried the GreenPan one-pot cooker to see if it’s worthy of space on your kitchen worktop
The GreenPan OmniCooker is a plug-in cooking pot that can make virtually anything you’d usually cook on the hob, from stir fry to bolognese
By Helen McCue
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We tried the Ninja Cold Press Juicer - it's perfect for entry-level juicing
The Ninja Cold Press Juicer is an entry-level budget-friendly slow juicer
By Helen McCue
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The Magimix Juice Expert 3 is our new favourite appliance - here's why
The Magimix Juice Expert 3 is one of the best centrifugal juicers you can buy
By Helen McCue
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Looking for a new juicer? We've found a great choice from Braun
The Braun J700 is a professional looking juicer for hard fruit and veg
By Helen McCue
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We tried the Philips Viva Centrifugal Juicer, which can do everything expensive juicers can for just £70
The Philips Viva Centrifugal Juicer is probably the best compact budget friendly juicer around
By Helen McCue
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Tefal EasyFry 3in1 air fryer review
In this Tefal EasyFry 3in1 air fryer review we tried the multi-functional air fryer that's well-suited for family use
By Helen McCue
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Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 air fryer review
In this Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer with ClearCook review we tested Instant's latest air fryer
By Helen McCue
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Vax ONEPWR Evolve cordless vacuum review
The Vax Evolve is a bargain cordless vacuum with a removable battery and large dust bin, but it’s just for floors
By Helen McCue
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Is this the ultimate time-saving food processor? We tested it to find out
A small food processor that’s capable of big things
By Helen McCue
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Lakeland Digital Compact air fryer review
The Lakeland Digital Compact air fryer is a space-saving appliance that’s perfect if you’re cooking for one
By Helen McCue
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Drew and Cole Cleverchef Pro Multicooker review
Drew and Cole Cleverchef Pro Multicooker to the test to see how it compares to top multi-cookers
By Helen McCue
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Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP350UK review
We put the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP350UK to the test, using the air fryer lid to make chips and pressure cooking a whole chicken. Here's what we thought.
By Helen McCue
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Magimix Power Blender review: a premium blender for soups and more
We put the Magimix Power Blender to the test, making smoothies, soups, and even sorbet
By Helen McCue
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Best mini chopper 2024: for effortless chopping, mixing and pureeing
Buy the best mini chopper to take the elbow grease out of food prep with our reviews of Ninja, Russell Hobbs, Kenwood, Magimix and Salter choppers
By Helen McCue
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Instant Pot Pro review: a smart and stylish multi-cooker
The Instant Pot Pro is a smart and aesthetically pleasing multi-cooker
By Helen McCue
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Sage The Fast Slow Go review: we tried Sage's latest multi-cooker
We put Sage's latest multi-cooker to the test
By Helen McCue
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Ninja AF100UK air fryer review: small, yet powerful
In this Ninja AF100UK air fryer review we find that Ninja's smallest and cheapest air fryer is still a big hitter
By Helen McCue
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Best hand blender: for blending smooth soups, shakes and sauces
Buy one of the best hand blenders to blitz away lumps and create silky smooth recipes
By Helen McCue