Which? experts share myth-busting secrets on popular products from air fryers to oven cleaners
Consumer champions Which? test thousands of products every year in their quest to inform buyers to make good choices when shelling out their hard-earned cash.
Their product testers tried out more than 3,000 products across 200+ categories in 2024 and made more than 1,000 Best Buy, Great Value and Eco Buy recommendations. And along they way, their experts have gleaned valuable knowledge that the buying public might be unaware of.
Their 2024 insights include whether ‘craft’ gin is a superior product, misleading information on air fryers and dishwasher fast-wash cycles coming at a price.
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Harry Rose, editor of Which? magazine said: "Every year, Which?’s rigorous and independent tests uncover secrets and bust myths to help people make the right buying decision and get value for money.
“By keeping our testing insights in mind, consumers can cut through dubious marketing claims and spend their hard-earned cash on items that will serve them well in the long run.”
Here are their key finds for 2024:
Don’t assume ‘craft’ gin is a superior product.
As with ‘bespoke’ and ‘master distiller’, the experts said these terms aren’t protected so don’t guarantee quality. Test the waters with a mini bottle of gin so you can try before you splash out.
Don’t let olive oil sit around
Which? experts say olive oil can go past its best before date quicker than you think. Dark bottles and tins will preserve it longer compared to clear glass or plastic. Also, store it in a cool, dry place that isn’t next to your hob or oven.
Branded foods aren't always the tastiest
You don’t always need to spend more on branded food and drink to get the tastiest products. Which?’s blind taste tests have uncovered plenty of brilliant budget own-label products that have beaten big brands. They triumphed across a range of categories and include Aldi Bramwells Baked Beans, Asda Everyday Tea Bags and Tesco Finest Sweet Chilli Crisps.
Air fryer capacity can be misleading
The consumer champion’s reviews give a realistic representation of air fryer capacity. Most models advertise their capacity in litres, which can sometimes be misleading as not all the internal space is usable. Which?’s lab test measures the capacity of food in grams and has found that the true capacity is usually between 60% and 80% of what’s claimed by brands.
Manual knife sharpeners might be a bad investment
Handheld manual knife sharpeners will struggle to save a fully dulled knife. They should be used after every few hours of chopping to maintain the blade’s sharpness. An electric knife sharpener or whetstone would be your best bet for a very dull knife.
Soup makers are a cheap appliance to run
If you were to make soup once a week using a soup maker, it would cost between £1.51 and £5.13 of electricity a year under current energy prices (24.86p per kWh)*.
Your washing machine's fast cycle is more pricey
The time saved from using the fast-wash cycle on your dishwasher comes at a price. In the tests, fast-wash cycles cleaned and dried worse, used more energy and water, and cost more than main or eco washes.
The same with quick-dry cycles on your tumble drier
Quick-dry cycles on tumble dryers have drawbacks too. They can often use more energy per kilo of fabrics compared to the standard programs. They don’t get clothes completely dry either, so if your dryer has humidity sensors you’re better off using a standard program.
A dedicated oven-cleaner is best
Bicarbonate of soda and vinegar, or a dishwasher tablet, do a decent job of cleaning an oven. However they required a lot more effort to apply and clean up compared to shop-bought oven cleaner.
‘All-purpose’ sprays often don’t live up to their name
Many of those tested only excelled in either Which?’s kitchen or bathroom tests, so it’s worth checking the reviews before you buy to avoid having to buy a second cleaning spray.
Not all washing-up liquids are effective
Tests reveal a big difference in the effectiveness of washing-up liquid. The highest-scoring washing-up liquid can clean more than three times as many plates as the lowest scoring one before you need to change the water.
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