Bryan Vu

Editor

Bryan is our cooking and kitchen expert, with more than 15 years of experience of cooking and testing kitchen products. When outside of the kitchen, he enjoys woodworking, photography, videography and figuring out how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. He thoroughly enjoys discovering the best, whether it’s ingredients or equipment, and finding products that can stand the rigors of daily use.

Bryan is our cooking and kitchen expert, with more than 15 years of experience of cooking and testing kitchen products. When outside of the kitchen, he enjoys woodworking, photography, videography and figuring out how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. He thoroughly enjoys discovering the best, whether it’s ingredients or equipment, and finding products that can stand the rigors of daily use.

Bryan's articles

  • long flight essentials
    19 Long Flight Essentials to Carry On

    Travel pillow

    We’ve been on many flights over the years and have narrowed down what I think are essentials specifically for long flights. The nice little extras for first-class and business-class travelers are nowhere to be found for the rest of us flying in economy. If you’re embarking on a long flight, you should pack into your […]

  • ClassPass logo
    How Does ClassPass Work & Is It Worth It?

     

    Since 2013, ClassPass has changed the exercise game by offering people access to studios and workouts without the pricey commitment of dedicated monthly memberships to one gym. This lets you explore many types of gyms to see what you like, or for continued variety of your workouts. Read about how we tested ClassPass for several […]

  • Universal Studios - Express Pass tickets and cash
    The Express Pass at Universal Studios: Is It Worth It?

     

    On the fence about spending extra on Universal Studios Hollywood’s Express Pass? I spent an entire day at Universal Studios during peak season in July to see if this ticket was worth the price to bypass the standby lines for rides, attractions, and shows. After spending a total of 15 hours at Universal Studios Hollywood, […]

  • best cat scratching posts
    The 8 Best Cat Scratchers

    SmartCat - Ultimate Scratching Post

    Save your furniture and buy a cat scratcher for your favorite household member. Scratching for cats helps groom their nails and mark their territory with scent. We tested eight popular cat scratchers to see which stood up to the test with six cats and their humans.

  • Litter-Robot 4 vs 3
    Litter-Robot 4 vs. 3 Comparison: We Tested Both!

    Litter-Robot 4

    After our positive experience with the Litter-Robot 3 Connect for many years, we were excited to test out the new Litter-Robot 4 to see if it could get any better. We tested the Litter-Robot 4 for over six months and compared this experience with our original Litter-Robot 3 Connect to see if it was worth the hefty price hike.

  • Litter Robot 4 setup with cat and litter
    Litter-Robot 4 Review: Cat-Testing a $700 Litter Box

    Litter-Robot 4

    Cleaning the litter box is one of the worst cat parent duties, but this self-cleaning litter box, Litter-Robot 4, will lighten that load. Whisker created the Litter-Robot to scoop up dirty litter automatically, so you don’t have to, and they even built a custom app that monitors your cat’s litter box usage and health! After using the Litter-Robot 3 Connect for over three years, we tested the Litter-Robot 4 for three months since October 2022 to see if it was worth the $699 price tag.

  • group of best glass water bottles
    The 9 Best Glass Water Bottles

    Ello - Syndicate

    Glass water bottles are a great option for getting hydrated if you prefer cleaner-tasting water and want to avoid plastic. We tested nine glass bottles and tumblers for several months to find the best-designed and easiest-to-use glass water bottle.

  • best cat toys
    The 19 Best Cat Toys

    Cat Dancer

    Playtime is important for all cats–you get a chance to engage and bond with your cat, but it keeps them healthy and active. We love to spoil our cats, but not every toy is made for every cat. After years of buying toys for our cats, we’ve finally narrowed down our favorites.

  • best travel accessories
    The 18 Best Travel Accesories & Gear

     

    I’ve been traveling a lot in the last five years both internationally and nationally and have gotten a chance to rethink and refine what and how I pack. Much of my travel is fueled by a love of food, exploration, and many of these trips are to visit loved ones. No matter the reason for the trip, they each required a careful packing of luggages and backpacks with essential gear, electronic accessories, flight-specific amenities and weather-specific clothing.

  • group of pruning shears, snips
    The 10 Best Garden & Pruning Shears

    Felco - F-2

    Good quality tools aren’t too hard to come by but you need to know what features to focus on when you’re buying them that fit your gardening needs. Pruning shears are one of the garden's most used tools. We reviewed ten bypass pruners and thinning scissors over three months to see which brands and tools worked best.

  • best packing cubes
    The 9 Best Packing Cubes for Travel

    Eagle Creek - 3 Piece Pack-It Starter Set

    As avid travelers taking 34+ flights over the last two years, we know how much work packing takes. Packing cubes can keep your clothes from getting wrinkled during transportation, make unpacking in your hotel room easier, and allow you to bring more options with compression bag features. We tested over half a dozen packing cube sets for several months on various kinds of trips to find the best options.

  • the best cat litter mats
    The 7 Best Cat Litter Mats

    CatGuru - Heavy Duty Cat Litter Mat

    We love our furry friends, but keeping an indoor cat means handling their bathroom waste. Litter tracking is part of most cat owners’ lives and is based on each cat’s behavior. If you’re a cat parent, you know litter tracking can be a nuisance. But some accessories help alleviate this, like litter mats.

  • best cat nail clippers
    The 10 Best Cat Nail Clippers

    Shiny Pet

    Outdoor cats typically will have their nails or claws wear down as they walk outside, and climb trees. But indoor cats’ claws don’t wear down as much even if they’re routinely using cat trees or cat scratchers. So to keep the nails at bay, and so we don’t get scratched up from our furry friends, […]

  • the best cat trees
    The 7 Best Cat Trees

    Armarkat - 72-inch Cat Tree & Condo

    Cat trees are more than just toys or a place to sleep for a cat, but it actually gives them a host of health benefits including exercise and a hide-out spot. Our cats found the best cat trees on the market which they thought were just purrfect.

  • indoor watering cans
    The 7 Best Indoor Watering Cans

    Fasmov - 1-Gallon Plastic Watering Can

    As avid plant lovers who have grown hundreds of plants from seed to rich greenery and ripe fruits, we know that keeping the soil adequately watered is an integral part of gardening. Indoor watering cans are an essential tool for watering your plants. With indoor watering cans, we wanted a watering can that is easy to use, was nice to look at, and had a longer spout.

  • group of outdoor watering cans
    The 8 Best Outdoor Watering Cans

    Novelty - 2-Gallon Plastic Watering Can

    We’ve extensively the most popular products to find the eight best watering can for the outdoors. We loved the ease of use with the Novelty - 2-Gallon Deluxe Watering Can for larger containers or plants and the sleek design and durability of the Best Choice Products - 1-Gallon Steel Watering Can for smaller, medium-sized planters.

  • The 20 Best Tesla Model Y & Model 3 Accessories

     

    Tesla omits many accessories I feel should have already been included with the car that just about everyone would benefit from, so it's frustrating that you even have to buy these essential accessories. The other type are upgrades--it enhances comfort, usability or visual appeal of the car in a way, in a more personalizing type of way.

  • pouring water into Ember Mugs
    Ember Mug² Review

    Ember Mug²

    If you, like many other people, are prone to ‘coffee sipping,’ you probably don’t finish it before it turns warm, then lukewarm, then undrinkable. Microwaving your mug is the go-to solution, but it never manages to get that ‘freshly brewed’ taste back. The Ember Mug², however, is the solution that can buy you time. At […]

  • Parachute linen sheet set
    Parachute Sheets & Bedding Review

    Parachute - Linen Sheet Set

    Parachute is one of the most well-known bedding brands to come onto the market since 2014. Parachute Home started as an online-only, direct-to-consumer brand that sold thousands of bedding sheets. We tested one of their most popular linen bedding sheet and duvet sets to see how well they hold up after months of use. Why […]

  • Tesla Model Y unpacking for camping
    Tesla Camping in a Model Y: Accessories & Planning

     

    We’ve done a lot of car camping in Southern California so are relatively well-versed in normal camping gear and setup but we’ve never actually slept in a car for camping. We went into it with a few new unknowns and did our best to plan for them knowing we’d sleep in a Tesla – Model […]

  • Coffee Ratio Calculator

     

    Brewing coffee is an art form. But, understanding your taste is the first step to making a quality cup. Determine if you like your coffee strong, medium or light, and then use our calculator to customize a cup with the perfect coffee-to-water ratio. To use our calculator, fill out how many cups of coffee you […]

  • closeup of a portable AC's vent hose with wire grate
    Can You Run A Portable Air Conditioner With No Exhaust Hose?

     

    Many new owners of portable air conditioners are surprised to see the large exhaust vent hose included in the box, since they’re often missing from photos of the air conditioner unit in advertising. Whether you’re shopping for a portable air conditioner or setting one up for the fifth summer in a row like we are, […]

  • the best reading lamps group photo
    The Best Reading Lamps

    Ominilight

    We bought and tested lamps to find the best reading lamp for desks, reading in bed, and larger floor lamps for use with larger chairs too.

  • The Best Car Phone Mounts

    iOttie - HLCRIO125

    We tested eight of the most highly rated car phone mounts in five different styles to determine which was the best car phone mount for holding a phone securely and was also the safest to use while driving.

  • Illustration for tea stats
    Tea Consumption & Industry Statistics in 2021

     

    It’s almost unfair how much tea dominates the market in terms of popularity, revenue, growth, and emerging new specialty categories. But given it’s been around since 2700BC, it’s not surprising how much tea’s popularity has spread around the globe, and how much it has become part of people’s daily lives and spending. We dove deep […]

  • couple hugging in front of burned land
    Ultimate Guide for Homeowners Living in a Fire-Prone Area

     

    Table of contents What causes residential fires? How can fires threaten my home? How can I reduce the threat of fires? Should I prepare in case of a fire? What to do if a fire ignites in my area? What to do if I’ve been evacuated? Should I invest in home fire insurance? Whether you […]

  • person in wheelchair reading paper
    Home Remodeling for People with Disabilities: The Ultimate Guide

     

    Table of contents Legality Funding Planning Modifications Checklist According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are over 40 million Americans living with a disability, which represents 12.7 percent of the total civilian non-institutionalized population. There are several resources available to help individuals living with a disability to not only have a comfortable home, but the […]

  • baby crawling with dad
    Extensive Guide to Babyproofing Your Home

     

    Whether you’re preparing to expand your family, or are expecting a little visitor, you’ll want your home to be equipped with the correct safety measures before their arrival. You never want to underestimate the importance of baby proofing your home, as little fingers have the potential to get into some unexpected areas. Follow our guide […]

  • boy going through recycling
    Ultimate Guide to Recycling in Your Home

     

    Do you recycle at home? According to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, 94 percent of the U.S. population has a recycling program available to them. Therefore, if you make recycling a routine for your entire family, it’s easy to create a more sustainable household. Learn more about the dos and don’ts of recycling, how to decode […]

  • group of car vaccums on floor
    The Best Car Vacuums

    BLACK+DECKER - BDH2000PL Pivot

    We spent weeks testing the top car vacuums in the grimiest cars to figure out which cleans the best. Ultimately, the BLACK+DECKER - Pivot did the best job of getting our vehicles clean. Another great cordless model is the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser.

  • The 9 Best Coolers

    Orca - 40 Quart Classic

    We spent an entire summer prepping lunches and transporting nine coolers to parks, beaches and other destinations. The Orca kept ice the longest, and it's our top pick.