
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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What is a Kamado grill? We explain the hype behind these cult charcoal BBQsWe explain all about this unique charcoal BBQ so you can figure out whether it’s the right choice for you
By Helen McCue
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Are side burners on a BBQ worth it?Some gas BBQs come with a side burner that’s essentially a hob ring, but do you really need it?
By Helen McCue
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Struggling with the cost of grilling crisis? The affordable Vonhaus 4+1 Burner Gas BBQ might help to beat itEasy to use and practical gas BBQ for summer entertaining
By Helen McCue
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Portable vs freestanding BBQs - which should you buy?We delve into the differences and find out what each is suitable for
By Helen McCue
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The Vonhaus pizza oven is a total steal right now for £150 - here's why it's Ideal Home ApprovedHomemade pizza will never be the same again after you set up the Vonhaus Outdoor Pizza Oven in your back garden
By Helen McCue
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Big Green Egg vs Weber - which BBQ brand should you buy for this summer?Which American BBQ brand should you choose?
By Helen McCue
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BergHOFF Tabletop BBQ reviewForget struggling with sub-standard disposable BBQs - invest in this compact tabletop BBQ from BergHOFF instead
By Helen McCue
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Is it worth paying £20 more for the Henry Xtra vacuum? We tried it to find outThe Henry Xtra is an upgrade on a standard Henry. It’s ideal if you’ve got a larger home or a variety of floor types to vacuum.
By Helen McCue
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We tested the most famous pink vacuum cleaner on the market and we think Henry's got some competition...We tried out Hetty to see if this legendary cleaning appliance can still cut it in the fast moving world of vacuum cleaners
By Helen McCue
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GoodHome Malay 9000BTU air conditioner review – tried and testedThe GoodHome Malay 9000BTU Air Conditioner is a big, heavy, white box, but it’ll keep you comfortably cool on hot sticky days
By Helen McCue
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Is the Big Green Egg BBQ worth the price? We put the entry-level version to the testIs the Big Green Egg MiniMax worth £800? We find out
By Helen McCue
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We went back to basics and tried the iconic affordable Weber Kettle BBQ - here's why it'll always be a classicWeber invented the kettle barbecue and the Original Weber Kettle is a design classic
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'tGet 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 outThis 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 ovenWhether 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 reviewThe 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 reviewMake 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 worktopThe 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 juicingThe 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 whyThe 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 BraunThe 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 £70The 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 reviewIn this Tefal EasyFry 3in1 air fryer review we tried the multi-functional air fryer that's well-suited for family use
By Helen McCue
