7 Slicing Kitchen Gadgets Tested by Design Expert | Well Equipped | Epicurious 

“Companies would come to me and they would describe to me their ‘average consumer‘ or their ‘average user’ and I would say ‘that’s great, but I don’t care about the average person, I need to know the people who are weakest and strongest, I need to know the tallest and shortest, I need to understand the spectrum.” This. This is brilliant. More people should think like this.

Where the hell did you find such a charismatic kitchen utility designer??

**Goes to car dealership** Dan: can I test drive this car? Employee: Sure. Dan: **oils up hands** Time for the left handed oil test.

3:22 "There are as many younger people as older people that have arthritis when you actually look at the demographics." FINALLY someone older doesn't say 'you're too young to have this problem'

I love how he said on the clever cutter "this product would have been better if the people designing it considered: 1 - thinking"

"Now I am going to strip................ some corn" Dad humor: 5/5

I literally thought he said "Hi I'm Dad" and I just accepted it

I remember seeing the Slap Chop commercial, and they actually made a selling point out of the fact that it "automatically skins onions". Classic infomercial "It's not a flaw, it's a feature!" Logic

"So my solution for this would be to go to Japan where they sell square water melons" Genius.

In terms of enjoyable personality, I would give you a 5/5, extremely likable.

I love how u tested everything with oil on your hands. Every bone in my hands shift. I have a disorder that makes my whole body double jointed. That being said, compared to most people, that's what I look like without oil on my hands 😂. You really helped me find things that I can use so that maybe I can enjoy cooking. I hate cooking because cutting is miserable so thank you.

"That would have been a simple change, and I think that would have been the case if the design team was 1) thinking, or 2) looking at people with smaller hands." 😂

This guy should have his own RU-vid channel, I want more videos like this

Mom: Why are u making a mess and pulling all our utensils out?? Me: TIME FOR THE OILY HANDS TEST

POV you’ve been friends with him for a while but after a dinner party where u got a little bit too tipsy you find a slap chop in the mail from him the next day. He doesn’t really like u.

With the melon windmill, I think that could be something rather safe and fun for kids to do in the kitchen if they want to help

"Time to oil up my left hand and see what I can do. " Frickin legendd

As a young adult with chronic arthritis who was literally thinking "oh my god I could never use that pineapple slicer..." This dude really made me feel thought about

I’m so glad he said that about men being the majority of designers. I am a left-handed, short, woman who cooks A LOT! It’s actually really sad how few items like this take into consideration left/small-handed people.

Girlfriend's dad: "what are your plans with my daughter?" Me: 6:11

Watermelon Slicer: Doesn’t work on round watermelons The guys solution: Go to Japan

I really love how positive all the reviews were. Yes, he pointed out all the flaws, but he didn’t insult any design teams, and it was all about improving the designs, not degrading the current designs

One of my main complaints about slicing gadgets is that there's never a good way to sharpen those complicated blades. A good old chef's knife remains the best tool, but you can always put the edge back on it.

As a Young Person who struggles with mild dexterity issues (some days its just. Hard to hold things) i 1. Thank this guy for acknowledging that dexterity issues are NOT an old people thing and 2. Agree the corn torture device is ineffective

honestly it is such a delight to see someone actually paying attention to arthritis with this stuff.

I appreciate that he emphasized designing things to work for a variety of people. I'm a petite woman with small hands and a very weak grip from chronic pain and I swear I'm always fighting kitchen gadgets (and fitness equipment. and furniture. and appliances.)

If you look at the "Ease of Use" rating on the corn stripper, they used pineapples instead of corn to rate it.

22:05 I really love that quote/thinking. You're completely right. Design for the outliers, the non average, and you'll have a product that works for everyone! And this thinking applies to more than just hand held products. Anything with "design" elements can and should apply this! A bench, a website design, anything

the companies be like : write that down! write that down!

"My solution, go to japan, and get a square watermelon" Me: "Oh, thats it?"

i used that apple peeler daily when i was an apprentice confectioner, must have saved me days of time over the course of 3 years.

Thank to Dan for validating all of us who have been saying "It must have been designed by a man" our entire adult lives when we are up against bad designs in the kitchen! This had me laughing and nodding my head vigorously on so many of these. Dan's sideline commentary was hilarious. It is so refreshing so hear someone who designs for everyone, and not just one type of user. They need a "think like Dan" section in all product engineering coarses. Now to have him show me how to read just my apple peeler so it won't cut so deep. Yeah, the husband decided he didn't like the way it was set.

I love the fact that he thinks of everyone in the kitchen. It's lovely.

“I wouldn’t even buy it for someone I don’t like” - most savage response 2019

When he said corn stripper, I immediately thought of a piece of corn dancing around a pole and saying "Wanna see my kernels!".

Imagine getting g a gift from this guy and watch the video then you find out he doesn't like you

“Now I’m going to strip” *I’m intrigued...* “The corn” *You tease...*

Watermelon Slicer: Doesn’t work on round watermelons The guys solution: Redesigns watermelon

I love to cook, and have taken many classes over the years. My ‘must have’ kitchen utensils: mandoline, immersion blender with cup attachment (for chopping small amounts of onions/garlic, nuts, etc), carbon steel knives (I got mine in Kyoto from Shigehara), fine mesh stainless sieves, funnels, Betty Crocker kitchen scissors from Dollar Tree, hard boiled egg slicer, which can slice strawberries, kiwi, etc. I have to confess that most gadgets end up never getting used!

"Now, I am going to strip............. some corn" They had us in the first half, not gonna lie

wtf is this. i'd definitely watch this guy if he had a whole show of his own

I love his closing statement about designing for the spectrum of consumers, and particularly for those who may have the most difficulty. 🙂

There’s a vintage apple peeler at my parents house and I love it! I used to use it a lot as a kid! But instead of a suction cup, you clamp it over the edge of the counter

18:10 “so, time to oil up my left hand, and see what I can do”

Got sad at all that pineapple juice that he poured out

As someone who isn’t disabled, I still really love that he’s designing for people who have a hard time gripping, or have small hands, I think more companies should think like him!

Once saw the pineapple slicer thing used very creatively by some guys selling ice cream at my university. Basically, they would use the pineapple husk as a container where they would scoop in some ice cream, throwing in some of the chopped pineapple as a topping. It was really cool.

The apple corer/peeler is amazing. If you have an apple tree, you HAVE to have one. But yes, it could need a modern redesign to make it easier to clean. Do that, Dan! I'd buy one. Or somebody could make a sturdier corer that can be used for quince. I'd buy that as well.

„I did it but that hurts.“ Basically me doing anything

He is 100% correct about the pineapple slicer! I own that, and I have arthritis and dexterity problems. Both of his suggestions would make a difference! You know, it's nice to know that there are still people who truly think about the user, about disabilities, and especially about good design.

Ok wow!! I've used that apple pealer corer thing my entire life and im just now learning...at 30 years old...that you can move those parts to not peal or core!! Wow!!!! And knowing that this tool has been around for like 100 years is just awesome!!

Great video. The problem with all these gadgets or kitchen helper tools is that its hard to properly sharpen the blades once the blades get dull compared to a knife that last for decades.

This old man is savage haha "If they were.... Thinking!" Lol

“If the design team was 1 Thinking ” SHOTS FIRED

“I wouldn’t buy it for someone I don’t like” lol

Anyone else who watches these backwards, so Dan goes from working as a product designer for 40 years to 39 years and then 38 years?

As a left-handed person, I really appreciate you showing use of the items with that hand. Most everything is made for right-handed use. If it's specially designed for lefties, it's often twice the price.

"I did it but that hurt" me after finishing college

having grown up in the 70s and 80s, I see the remaining watermelon as an excuse to hand the kids a spoon and get a pre meal snack

6:28 I swear to god TWICE he said "butt pan" ..... I can't be the only one who hears that. 😂

3:22 OMG, THANK YOU. I'm 16 and have awful arthritis and it's extremely hard to cook, clean, and do other things around the house. It's rarely acknowledged, so thank you for saying that.

He should also grade them according to the difficulty of washing by hand.

I love how thorough he is in his tests, and I love this video especially because he explains how to design something that almost anyone can use.

My mom has an old apple corer/peeler/slicer, with a clamp instead of the suction thing. It's SO much better! If you can find one with a clamp, get it.

I love him, he’s like everyone’s cool grandpa.

*corn stripper falls off the table* dan: *staring at it* "oH tHaTs sO sAd!!!" edit- wow 3.3k likes ?! tyyy

Also, while I don't think I'd buy the watermelon slicer because I don't eat enough watermelon to justify it, I was actually really surprised to see how well it cubed. Definitely didn't think it was going to work as well as it did!

I just love the acknowledgement of disability that affect mobility of the hands and dexterity, how common it is in all ages, and how it affects things like kitchen tasks. This is why I use OXO products.

Test driving a car: I'm just gonna oil myself up, hope you don't mind.

Omg this was so enjoyable to watch that i didn’t even realize it was 23 minutes long, good work!

"Now I am going to strip ...." That joke was so corny...

As someone who is only 5’ tall most kitchens have counters that are too high. Thank you for thinking of the shorter users.

Why did this appear in my recommended and why did I then watch the entire thing

As a disabled Army veteran with Multiple Sclerosis, I majorly appreciated Dan's awareness, advice, and advocating for left handed peeps, us disabled folks, and real life kitchen situations. ✊🏼😘🤘🏼 My M.S. affected my right, formerly dominant side, so I've become ambidextrous. Writing, reaching, cutting most of the time now with my left, it's been a major transition living in a world of right handed tools. Kudos for the forethought! 👏🏼💖👏🏼💖

Sometimes, It is more effective and efficient to use a kitchen knife to slice and chop food than to use any gadgets instead. Because these gadgets are designed for a dedicated purpose but a knife is for utility, where the curvature and the edge of a knife allow a fine and clinical cutting movement. Nonetheless, it only benefits people without any dexterity issues and those who could use it properly.

His left hand is just getting stronger and stronger

You've got me questioning all my utensils. I just realized my mug is hard af to pick up with an oily hand.

“Not Worth A Redesign” 🤭😄DAYUM.

for the slap chop thing just get the pampered chef version it comes with a lid for the blades that also holds what youre chopping and blocks the gap and isnt smooth

Re: the slapper chopper, I think it's interesting that the Pampered Chef version of it uses the mushroom-shaped handle design you suggested and seems easier to open. In my experience, it's fabulous for things that you want to chop quickly and/or contain. It's absolutely amazing for chopping nuts and other hard things, because it gets them small quickly without sending them flying all over the cutting board or kitchen. It's nice for onions because it can mince quickly and effectively while reducing tears (and since onions have a shape that makes them difficult to hold the smaller they get, it can be safer, too, and requires less dexterity at speed). Tomatoes, though? No go. That's something that requires a combo of downwards and sliding force to cut (so it's too easy to crush the flesh because it can't slice through the skin).

Watermelon Slicer: doesn't work on round water melons only square watermelons. Me: goes to minecraft

I would totally watch a regular series with this bloke. So many great insights into design, accessibility, and food science.

Netflix: Are you still watching? Someone’s daughter: 8:02

I thought he was actually gonna build the improved gadgets.

I just watched a 23 minute video of a guy testing kitchen products *brilliant*

Would be cool if the creators of these tools would actually see this video and rethink their designs ~

"Oh that's so sad" makes me die of laughter every time

My grandfather got the applepeeler as a gift from my SIL and he absolutely loves it. He makes apple cream a lot every fall and it saves him hours peeling the apples. It might not be super efficient for just the one off apple, but when you need to peel many it's a godsend.

LOVE this guy!! Brilliant idea to test not only left handed but slippery hand too.

The fact that he's taking arthritis under consideration makes me want to cry god or whatever this man believes in please bless this man

This dude is a gem. I'd watch hours of these videos and never tire. He's intelligent, thoughtful, and creative. ❤

Keep giving Mr Formosa work, Epicurious. He's a natural educator and demonstrator.

This video is so RANDOM but so comprehensive and well thought out! This guy is great at his job and I appreciate his attention to detail.

>Struggles to cut everything with the clever cutter *5/5*

As a graphic designer, this guys job excites me lol I’ve done a lot of package design, but actually designing the gadgets themselves would be so interesting! I’m a huge sucker for gadgets and seeing him redesign off the cuff was a really neat exercise :)

He should do the oil test with the knife/conventional methods too - to see how much more the gadget is effective in situations when you're working in the kitchen.

Conscious of the disabled and/or people w/ mobility difficulties, and socio-politically conscious about the design industry - thanks man! Cheeeers!

Its 4 am and i dont care for anything in this video but the old man seems pretty nice and i really enjoyed the whole video 5/5 Edit: wrong rating system

Spongebob just chillin *giant steel pole through his roof Ah Gary I was just watching the sports channel🤣🤣

I love these videos!! I´ve watched a whole bunch of them in the past 2 days, you say at the beginning you have designed kitchen gadgets for 40 years!! I want to know what are some ones you have designed, and have you review them again see if you can improve your own design after a few years!