Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jump to content
Sign up to our newsletters
Independent
More
Voices
Best
TV

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Rachael Penn

@rachaelphillips

Rachael Penn is a journalist writing about product roundups, lifestyle, travel, tech and food and drink. She has been writing for IndyBest since 2021, covering tech, kitchen gadgets, food, drink and household appliances, from air fryers to pet vacuums and microwaves to floor mops. She writes reviews, buying guides and features for a range of publications, including The Spectator, Real Homes, Gizmodo, The Evening Standard, Metro, TechRadar and CreativeBloq

<p>I used these heaters all over my home</p>
Household Appliances

Best electric heaters 2025, tried and tested by an expert

<p>From bacon to chips, the humble air fryer can do it all</p>
Kitchen Appliances

Best air fryers for 2025, tried and tested by an expert

<p>As well as being functional, the best draught excluders can add character, colour and fun to your home</p>
Furniture

Best draught excluders 2025, tried and tested

<p>I’ve been using a slower cooker for years</p>
Kitchen Appliances

Best slow cookers for low-maintenance homemade meals, tried and tested

<p>You may want to opt for a cordless model, to help you zip around the house more easily</p>
Vacuum Cleaners

Best vacuum cleaners for pet hair in 2025, tried and tested

<p>I set about testing two- and four-slice appliances to suit different households and budgets </p>
Kitchen Appliances

Best toasters 2025, tried and tested for the perfect slice

<p>Wood, tile and vinyl flooring scrub up a treat with the right tools</p>
Household Appliances

Best floor mops 2025 for sparkling results, tried and tested

<p>I used fresh dough, the same pizza sauce and the same cheese to test these pizza ovens fairly</p>
Kitchen Appliances

Best indoor pizza ovens 2025, tried and tested

<p>These cool boxes can keep your drinks chilled for days</p>
Outside Eating

The best cool boxes, tried and tested on hot days

<p>I tested a range of microwaves to find the best microwaves for fast reheating and cooking</p>
Household Appliances

8 best microwaves 2025, tested by an appliance expert

<p>Both machines work in a similar way, so is a £150 difference really justified?</p>
Kitchen Appliances

Ninja creami deluxe vs Cuisinart freeze wand review – which is best?

<p>I tested freeze-first and self-freeze machines </p>
Kitchen Appliances

The best ice cream makers for refreshing desserts, tried and tested

<p>Smooth gears and a sharp, piercing blade are essential</p>
Kitchen Accessories

Best can openers that make light work of tough tins

Kitchen Accessories

Best can openers that make light work of tough tins

<p>Smooth gears and a sharp, piercing blade are essential</p>
<p>We creamed butter, whisked egg whites and kneaded dough, to find the ones that stood out </p>
Kitchen Appliances

Best hand mixers 2025, tried and tested

<p>Some of our picks come complete with sharpening tools and cutting boards</p>
Kitchen Accessories

Best kitchen knife sets 2025, tried and tested

<p>During testing, we used the woks to cook a variety of dishes, including rice, vegetables and meat </p>
Kitchen Accessories

9 best woks for cooking up a storm, from carbon steel to aluminium

<p>From hearty stews to delicious, slow-cooked meats, we tried the dishes on the hob, in the oven and under the grill</p>
Kitchen Accessories

10 best casserole dishes for stews, chillies and other wintry delights

<p>From hearty stews to delicious, slow-cooked meats, we tried the dishes on the hob, in the oven and under the grill</p>
Kitchen Accessories

10 best casserole dishes for stews, chillies and other wintry delights

<p>We tested for multitasking and gaming abilities, as well as how comfortable it was to use on the go </p>
Laptops & Tablets

Lenovo ideapad flex 5: A hefty but reliable convertible laptop

<p>While dual-screen laptops remain in the minority, Asus is absolutely dominating the sector</p>
Laptops & Tablets

Asus’s ZenBook pro duo 15 laptop review: Two screens better than one

<p>We put it through its paces with work tasks such as using Microsoft Office and Google documents and using the tablet for note-taking and editing</p>
Laptops & Tablets

Samsung Galaxy book pro 360 review: The tech giant’s best laptop yet

<p>At this price you couldn’t ask for a better battery life – expect to get in a full day of work on just one charge</p>
Laptops & Tablets

Dynabook’s satellite pro laptop is a worthy remote working companion

<p>We looked at a whole host of different elements that we think make the perfect laptop such as build quality, audio, and performance</p>
Laptops & Tablets

Honor magicbook pro review: Can it really rival the Apple MacBook pro?

<p>Basic but brilliant: The lightweight red casing is stylish and more colours are on the way </p>
Laptops & Tablets

Avita Liber V review: A speedy laptop that falls flat on battery life

<p>Basic but brilliant: The lightweight red casing is stylish and more colours are on the way </p>
Laptops & Tablets

Avita Liber V review: A speedy laptop that falls flat on battery life

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in