5 Cutting Kitchen Gadgets Tested by Design Expert | Well Equipped | Epicurious

Design and usability guru Dan Formosa returns to evaluate and improve upon 5 gadgets designed to cut through any obstacle in the kitchen. From a contraption meant to help kids to a specialty potato maker, watch as he puts each device through the gauntlet commenting on what works, what doesn't, and what he'd do to improve their design.

Check out the products Dan reviews in this episode:

When you buy something from our links, we earn a commission.
--
Director: Chris Principe 
Editors: Shandor Garrison, Andy Morell
Director of Photography: Kevin Dynia
Producer: Frank Cosgriff, Ness Kleino
Assistant Producer: Michael Cascio
Culinary Producer: Denise Ginley
Culinary Assistant: Allison Furey
Camera Operator: Paige Wollensak  
Audio: Lily van Leeuwen
Post Production Supervisor: Stephanie Cardone
Associate Director, Post Production: Nicole Berg

Epicurious Video Team
Jonathan Wise
Ali Inglese 
Dan Siegel 
Rhoda Boone 
Carolyn Gagnon 
June Kim
Holly Patton 
Myra Rivera
Billy Keenly


ABOUT EPICURIOUS
Browse thousands of recipes and videos from Bon Appétit, Gourmet, and more. Find inventive cooking ideas, ingredients, and restaurant menus from the world’s largest food archive.

5 Cutting Kitchen Gadgets Tested by Design Expert | Well Equipped | Epicurious

[epicurious]

Check out the products Dan reviews in this episode:

When you buy something from our links, we earn a commission.

[nc]

I wish that they would do a "washability" category, they all look like a pain to wash/put in the dishwasher, then the usual kitchen utensils.

[smileysatanson]

i agree, the mandolin only had a few non important flaws honestly, way safer than the traditional one, i would buy

[marcgoodman]

Moving blade mandolin appreciation thread for everyone who's cut their fingers on a regular mandolin.

[cybermarb]

What I’ve learned from this series is mostly that a good kitchen knife is going to be the most worthwhile purchase of your life.

[MakersMuse]

Such a good series on how important mockups are in industrial design. How many of these "products" went straight to production and marketing!

[abouidabouid]

This man is my ultimate gadget for falling asleep. I watch him every night and he helps me a lot. Thank you

[lostreality]

Please add "washability" as a category since some products tend to be difficult to wash

[DesmondDentresti]

I for some reason loved "I'm redesigning the watermelon, which could help-" that is such a fantastic piece of dialogue.

[SynthD]

It’s refreshing to see someone give solutions rather than just criticism

[woodworkerroyer]

"Maybe they designed it in the winter when they couldn't find watermelons?"

The most savage jab Dan has made so far!

[Ravenscrft]

Normally, I hate kitchen gadgets. But having struggled with a regular mandoline slicer and even cut my finger open on one, I really want that moving blade slicer. Where can you get it? Thoughts about putting links to gadgets that get 5 stars?

[monkinator]

That mandoline is easily the best gadget I've seen on any type of gadget review on youtube. That just seems like a super smart design.

[sweetlorikeet]

There's always waste with a regular mandolin, I love how the moving blade mandolin allows you to safely cut all the way to the very last bit of vegetable.

[Aedos]

Another problem about the hot dog cutter thing is that the blade that cuts the hot dog is made out of plastic and not metal, plastic has been proven to not be very effective when it comes to cutting tough things like a hot dog or even cake.

[hengyuan]

I am wondering if Dan could have a series of gadgets he worked on. 1) conceptual design, 2) iterations of design / prototypes and what changes are made, 3) challenges of production / cost, 4) compromises made, and 5) final product etc. As a geek, it would be really fun to watch. And wannabe inventors could learn a thing or two.

[noneofyourbusiness]

I would love to see Dan critique different types of Jack-o-lantern carving gadgets before Halloween! Compare different pumpkin saws (with different blade lengths and handles). Compare the best pumpkin saw to a kitchen knife and a electric jigsaw or drill. Compare how effective a large tablespoon is vs a pumpkin scoop. Then compare the better choice to one of the elongated metal beaters that attach to a electric drill to clean innards out of the pumpkin shell. This would help many people with dexterity issues enjoy and be able to participate in pumpkin carving fun with children. This would be one of the few times Dan could compare Halloween gadgets vs traditional kitchen utensils vs power tools. Nothing fancy, just a simple Jack-o-lantern face using a small to medium sized pumpkin. Please?

[toebeans]

I wanted to quickly thank Epicurious and Dan for demonstrating and showing a moving blade mandoline, I had no clue these things existed and I am about to get one for parents for Christmas. :)

[legoshane]

Wow, I have been watching this series for a long time now and I think the movable blade mandolin is the first perfect 15 I've seen Dan give, so satisfying!

[KennyKakes]

Dan is like the Gordon Ramsay of Kitchen Gadgets. When he gives something a 5/5 you know it's good.