Tabla de contenidos para July 2013 en Shop Smart

Stuff you don’t need Bugs, egg yolks, dryer lint. What do these things have in common? There are gadgets devoted to them—and almost anything else you can think of. Creepy crawlies? Put down that shoe! Bug vacs are the “clean and efficient” way to evict Mr. Spidey, according to ads online. And if you ever stood over the sink with cold, slimy egg dripping between your fingers, you’ll be happy to know that someone has invented yet another contraption to separate the whites from the yolks. For dryer lint, there’s the Lint Lizard, which we covered a few issues ago. Our labs have tested lots of oddball gadgets over the years. As you’ll see on page 84, in the 1970s we tried out automatic hair combers. In this issue, you’ll…

The returns blacklist There’s no official list per se, but companies do keep track of the number of returns customers make and use that data to accept or deny future returns. It’s meant to stop folks who steal, use, or wear items and then bring them back, which resulted in an estimated $8.9 billion in losses last year, according to the National Retail Federation. But even if you don’t make the “list,” you will feel its impact; some stores now require identification for returns as a theft deterrent. The Retail Equation’s Verify Return Authorization System is one way stores track returns. The company won’t disclose its clients but claims 10 of the top 100 retailers use its service. Here’s how it works: When you hand over your receipt or ID…

Great reads for less On a lazy summer day, there’s nothing more delightful than jumping into a juicy new book. Here are four sites that can help you create your summer reading list, whether you prefer paper books or electronic ones. Each site meets our requirements for privacy, contact-info disclosure, and customer service. Of course, Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com are still go-to sites for bookworms, and Goodreads is great for discovering new titles. Audible.com BEST FOR audio books. A subscription to this Amazon-powered service gives you one or two audio books each month at up to 70 percent off. The free app makes it easy to play audio books on Android, Apple, and Windows devices. Kindle users can use Whispersync for Voice to switch between reading and listening; just buy an…

Noticed anything unusual in your BJ’s, Costco, and Walmart aisles recently? Along with the big bags of Doritos and giant jars of peanut butter, you might spot offers for credit cards, insurance policies, and mortgages. Should you make room for them in your cart? Our money experts checked out seven financial services offered by these discount retailers to see whether they’re worth it. Here’s what to buy, what you should consider, and what you can skip. WALMART EXPEDITED BILL PAY: Buy OMG! You suddenly realize that if you don’t pay your credit card, mortgage, or auto loan by tomorrow, you could get hit with a late fee of up to $50—and even your bank’s online bill-pay service won’t get it there in time. To avoid the penalty, you can use…

There’s more to decorating a room than choosing sofas, chairs, tables, and lamps. You need stuff on the walls. “Framed art helps a room look complete,” says Greg Perkins of Larson-Juhl, a custom frame-moulding maker in Ashland, Wis. “Without it, a room can look empty even when it’s full of furniture.” The way you group pictures can also help mask a room’s flaws. “It can make a small space feel important or make a large space feel more intimate,” says Mark Addison, an interior designer in New York. “It can also visually trick the eye into thinking something is skinnier or wider, shorter or taller than it actually is,” says New York-based designer John Call. Wall art does that by attracting attention to a chosen focal point, such as a…

This is plastic?! At first glance the plates, pitchers, and cups shown here might look like real china and glass, but they’re not. Right now many stores are stocked with unbreakable plastic versions of classic tabletop items that you can use for outdoor cookouts and poolside parties. Some look so much like the real thing that you could use them to set a smart-looking table any time of the year. So if you want to skip disposable paper and plastic items and invest in something durable and reusable, it’s a good time to shop. Just keep in mind that heavier pieces are usually of better quality. Also, if the item is patterned, check the clarity of the design and color. Bulbs that save big bucks The prices of super-energy-saving LED…

Think that granola and snack bars are good for you? Turns out, not all of them are so healthy. Along with the nutritious stuff—oats, nuts, fruit, whole grains—some bars pack almost as much fat and sugars as chocolate chip cookies, and not much more fiber. And some have a long ingredients list with unpronounceable additives (see “That’s in There?!” on page 42). Another bummer: The better-for-you granola bars aren’t the yummiest ones, according to our taste testers, who tried three flavors—chocolate, peanut, and strawberry. Still, they’re a convenient snack when you’re hungry and on the go. So we broke down our Smart Picks into two categories: best for taste (chocolate and peanut) and best for nutrition. As you’ll see on the facing page, two brands didn’t cut it in either…

Make your own tasty snacks Our original recipe is yummy and rich. But it took some experimenting to get the recipe just right for the light version, which cuts fat and calories. When we replaced all of the butter with a little oil, the bars fell apart. We finally came up with the ideal mix of butter, dried fruit, chocolate, and almonds to make them chewy and tasty. Original chewy granola bars with chocolate chips • Makes about 36 bars • 170 calories and 10 grams fat per bar 4 cups oldfashioned oats 1½ cups chopped walnuts 1 cup light brown sugar ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened ¼ cup light corn syrup ¼ cup honey 1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup chocolate chips, divided 1. Heat oven to…

When you buy sunscreen, odds are you shop by number. Well, it turns out that what you see isn’t always what you get. We test sunscreens every year, and this time we found that you can’t always trust the SPF stated on the container. In our latest tests, many of the sunscreens provided less protection than what their SPFs indicated. Also, you can’t buy by brand or price. Some products that did well last year landed at the bottom of our ratings this time (see “Not So Hot” and “Also Tested” on the following pages). And some of the cheapest sunscreens we tested were among the best. It’s hard to explain what changed this year. So our advice is to stick with our Smart Picks (shown at right). Or at…

The best way to test sunscreens is to see how well they work on people. And it turns out people are willing to help us try them out. Here’s what we put them through, plus other stuff our testers do so that you can stay safer in the sun. •WE CHECK THE SPF. The SPF indicates how well the product protects against UVB rays. For our UVB tests, lab technicians draw rectangles on volunteers’ backs and apply a measured amount of sunscreen. Then they expose five spots to differing amounts of UV light, which mimics the sun’s rays. The next day the techs check how well the sunscreens protected skin from burning. For UVA protection, we look for tanning instead of redness. And for products claiming broad-spectrum coverage, against UVA…

If you saw “5 miles” next to the large order of french fries on a restaurant menu—indicating that’s how far you’d have to walk to burn off all of those calories—would you still order them? How about another 3 miles for a cheeseburger? That’s exactly the type of situation researchers wanted to create in a study recently published in the journal Appetite. The results can help you lose big. A group of 802 volunteers, mostly women, were told to imagine that they were at a fast-food restaurant and then to select items they would order. The menu included typical grab-and-go fare: burgers, fries, crispy chicken sandwiches, Caesar salad, apple pie, soda, and milkshakes. The participants were given one of four menus. One had just the food items listed; one had…

The controversy about energy drinks has spread to food. You can now buy caffeine-laced jelly beans, waffles, and even maple syrup! Wrigley came out with Alert Energy Caffeine Gum last spring, then quickly decided to stop selling it in light of the Food and Drug Administration’s announcement that it was looking into the safety of caffeine in food products. The agency is concerned about caffeine’s effects on kids and teens. The last time it explicitly approved the addition of the stimulant in food and beverages was for soda back in the 1950s. If you’ve ever had one cup of coffee too many, you know how easy it is to overdo it. With food, it’s even easier because it can be tough to judge how much caffeine is in what you…

Something bad has happened,” actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth confessed to David Letterman on his late-night show last February. She was sporting dark sunglasses and was visibly drowsy from taking Benadryl. “Here’s the problem,” she said, “the glue has formaldehyde in it, and I’m allergic! … I swelled up, and I’m sneezing. … It looks like I have lips on my eyelids.” She’s not the only one who has suffered because of eyelash extensions, says Orly Avitzur, M.D., one of our medical advisers. And as the trend grows, Avitzur cautions, so may the bad reactions. False eyelashes aren’t new—they were in fashion in the 1960s, thanks in part to actress Twiggy. But the trend is exploding again, and everywhere you look, women are looking back at you through superlong, lush…

Hitting the road? No matter where you’re headed, you’ll probably want to keep in touch (at least some of the time). We have advice on what to do before you take off, how to connect while you’re away, and what to pack. Here’s how to stay on top of things when you’re not at home. Before you take off PACK THE RIGHT STUFF. You don’t want to lug too many gadgets, but you also don’t want to be caught short when you want to connect. Before you pack, think about what you’re planning to do. Lots of work stuff? Better pack the laptop. Web surfing, a few e-mail messages, and lots of reading? A tablet will do. Really don’t want to carry anything extra? You won’t have to if you…

Today’s powerful cameras let you shoot more like a pro than ever. Many are quick enough to capture almost any moment, even in bad lighting. And in many cases, all you have to do is push a button—just like a smart phone, only with much better results! Here’s a peek at some of the most exciting cameras in our labs now. Capture the split second SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-HX50V SUPERZOOM, $450 It fires off up to 10 shots at 10 frames per second to get that image of the exact moment your son hit the ball. Its top shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second and 30x zoom help, too. Get better shots in bright light CANON REBEL T5I SLR, $900 It’s sunny and you’re photographing friends by a window. Because…

You’ve probably seen lots of ads and headlines about super-fuel-efficient cars. Some of them can get the equivalent of 100 mpg or more. One example is the all-electric Tesla Model S, which recently earned the highest score on our test track of any car—ever! Electrics, hybrids, diesels, and even some of the latest conventional cars can not only help you save money but also cut emissions and reduce our country’s dependency on imported oil. But each type has its pros and cons. And some may fit your lifestyle better than others. For example, with electric vehicles, you can say goodbye to grimy gas stations. But they take many hours to charge and because of their limited driving range and the lack of public charging stations, EVs are only practical for…

BEYONDTHERACK.COM It recently launched a plus-size fashion site, MyCurvyCloset.com, as a section on the main site. When we checked recently only one clothing sale was active, but we’re hoping it will grow. C21STORES.COM Century 21, the New York City-based discount store, expanded its flash-sale site to include a full online retail experience. You can score designer duds for 40 to 65 percent off. GILT.COM The grandmother of all flash-sale sites has extended far beyond its fashion and beauty roots to include city-centric deals (GiltCity.com) and even food (GiltTaste.com). Last fall it launched a children’s clothing label, Little Gilt. And you can even go to live.gilt.com to see what other shoppers are buying in real time; an item counter alerts you when the supply gets low. MYHABIT.COM Amazon.com’s flash-sale site has…

NEWS AND TIPS FROM OUR EXPERTS IN 1974 WHAT’S OLD IS NEW The perils of platforms Like the disco ball, mood ring, and leisure suit, the platform shoe is an iconic symbol of the 1970s—but unlike those other things, it lives on! Platform pumps and wedges are as hot today as they were in the era of “Saturday Night Fever,” when Bianca Jagger dangled her Rolling Stones backstage pass on a platform shoe (shown at right). It was also a time that Consumer Reports’ ever-practical safety experts were warning readers about the perils of platform shoes. They included corns, calluses, backaches, poor posture, and aching feet, not to mention sprains and broken bones. We even reported that these groovy shoes could displace the pelvis, possibly interfering with childbearing. You could…

1 Tweet for freebies. An easy way to find out about great giveaways is to follow freebie bloggers on Twitter. A few good ones to get you started: Gimmie Freebies, I Crave Freebies, and Twit Freebies. Also search “birthday freebies” on Twitter to find special deals just for you on your big day, as well as promos that businesses are offering on their own birthdays. For example, Piperlime offered an additional 20 percent off on its birthday, and the flash sale site Zulily featured special deals when it turned 2. For more awesome freebies, turn to page 16. 2 Save on movie tickets. The best way to see the summer’s blockbusters is with discounted tickets. You can get vouchers for cheap seats from AAA or AARP or purchase passes in…

FOOD AND BEVERAGE BRAND NAMES THAT ARE A MOUTHFUL Fage = FA-yay It’s the Greek verb for “to eat.” And if you think you know how to say Dannon Oikos (Greek for “house”), here’s a surprise: It’s pronounced EE-kohs. Ghirardelli = gear-ar-delly Drawn to America in 1849 by the gold rush, Italian immigrant Domingo Ghirardelli struck gold with chocolate. But his name is so tough to say that ads used to include the phonetic spelling. And in case you’ve ever wondered how to pronounce the French chocolate Vosges, it’s “vohj.” Yuengling beer = ying-ling Yes, the “u” is silent. It’s the German family name of a six-generation brewery founded in Pottsville, Pa., in 1829. Freixenet = fresh-eh-net This Catalonian company is known for its bubbly in black bottles. Sparkling wine…

GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS More than 5 million e-books, some free. Read online at play. google.com. Works on Android, Apple. iBOOKS Share favorite passages on Facebook and Twitter, and get free updates when new editions come out. Works on Apple. KINDLE Amazon’s app lets you read a chapter of each book before you buy it. Works on Android, Apple, BlackBerry, Windows. MOON + READER One of the bestloved e-reader apps for Android, it supports many formats and lets you customize your view. Works on Android.…

There’s only one thing better than a bargain, and that’s a freebie! You won’t believe all of the great stuff you can get without paying for it—we’re talking restaurant meals, snacks, pampering, repairs, professional advice, tickets, classes, and more. Read on to find out where and how to get your giveaways. In last year’s freebie issue, we told you about our favorite sites for snagging product samples, including Freeflys; Hey, It’s Free; and Money Saving Mom. Here are some other great sites we’ve recently discovered: Free Sample Monkey, which aggregates the aggregators; Poshly, where you take quizzes and are entered for beauty-product giveaways; ILoveGiveaways.com, a collection of online promotions; and Etsy Giveaways (etsygiveaways.blogspot.com), the place to score handmade items for nada. Tip: Protect yourself from spam by creating a separate…

We asked our own DIY guru, Peter Sawchuk, who tests drills, saws, and other tools, to tell us the 10 must-haves for tackling simple projects around the house. His main advice: Don’t cheap out on tools. Sawchuk points out that the Sears Craftsman line carries a lifetime warranty. Screwdriver with changeable tips If you use it for nothing else, keep this tool on hand for changing batteries in toys or remotes and for hanging pictures. Look for a pumpaction design and a magnetic tip, which makes it easier to change bits. Tip Size the screwdriver tip to the screw or you’ll risk stripping the screw or damaging the tip. Craftsman Auto-Loading Multibit Screwdriver, $18, sears.com Tongue-andgroove pliers Longer handles offer better leverage, and the adjustable grip covers a wide range…

If you’re eating more salads for your health and starting to OD on the same old green stuff, we’ve got some tasty, new ideas for you. Based on our interviews with top chefs and cookbook authors known for their inventive salads, we learned that there are five basic formulas that can turn pretty much the same ingredients into completely different flavor experiences. It’s all in how you cut things up and present them on a plate, says Mindy Fox, a chef and food editor based in New York City and author of “Salads: Beyond the Bowl” (Kyle Books, 2012). Take the radish, which is really peppery—thinly shaved, it has a much subtler flavor than if it’s chopped or popped whole into your mouth. “Playing with those kinds of variations can…

CHOCOLATE • Cascadian Farm Organic Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars • Fiber One 90 Calorie Chewy Bars Chocolate • Kashi Dark Mocha Almond Chewy Granola Bars • Nice Oats & Chocolate Fiber Chewy Bar (Walgreens) • Quaker Chewy 90 Calories Low Fat Chocolate Chunk Granola Bars STRAWBERRY • 365 Everyday Value Strawberry Cereal Bars Low Fat (Whole Foods) • Kashi Ripe Strawberry Soft-Baked Cereal Bars • Kellogg’s Special K Pastry Crisps Strawberry • Market Pantry Strawberry Cereal Bars (Target) PEANUT • Fiber One Chewy Bars Oats & Peanut Butter • Great Value High Fiber Oats & Peanut Butter Chewy Bars (Walmart) • Kashi Peanut Butter Chewy Granola Bars • Kellogg’s Special K Protein & Fiber Granola Bars Chocolatey Peanut Butter • Luna Nutz Over Chocolate Whole Nutrition Bar • Quaker…

Sriracha sauce This Asian hot sauce, pronounced sir-ratch-ah, is a secret ingredient among professional chefs. Although you can buy it year-round, its zingy combination of hot chilies, garlic, vinegar, salt, and sugar comes in particularly handy for summer cookouts. It adds a nice, spicy kick to burgers, wings, slaws, mac ’n’ cheese, and more. • PICK A GOOD ONE The most widely available U.S. brand is Tuong Ot Sriracha (nicknamed “rooster sauce” because of the picture on its label). It has a bolder flavor and thicker consistency than Thai varieties, which are harder to find in the U.S., says Randy Clemens, author of “The Veggie Lover’s Sriracha Cookbook” (Ten Speed Press, 2013). • SIZE IT RIGHT A little goes a long way, so you may want to buy a smaller…

Banana Boat Sport Performance SPF 30 was one of our top picks last year, but we didn’t include it this time. That’s because the company pulled the product off shelves last fall due to safety concerns about its spray nozzle and the new version wasn’t available in time for our tests. The spray was recalled because of flammability risks. Yes, your skin could get burned if you went near a flame before the sunscreen dried! But that caution goes for any spray—let it dry before you head toward that grill.…

Yeah, sunburns happen! Maybe you forgot to reapply sunscreen at the beach or you stayed longer than you’d planned. Or maybe your better half, who applied the goop, missed half of your back. Whatever happened, the result is the same: You’ve got a hot, painful, red, itchy burn, and you need relief. So what to do? We asked dermatologists for their advice on treatments that can help you heal, plus ones to skip because they might not be worth it. The secret to relief: Treat yourself quickly—from the inside and on the outside. And avoid doing it again! Too many burns can lead to early skin aging and skin cancer. What to try • PAINKILLERS. Sunburns hurt—they’re really a kind of injury, says Naomi Lawrence, M.D., director of dermatologic surgery…

To keep on top of your blood pressure, it’s a good idea to check it yourself regularly. In the past, we’ve found that light and portable wrist units were typically less accurate than arm models. The good news is that in our latest round of tests, the Omron 7 Series BP652 wrist monitor (shown below) was a winner. It aced our tests for accuracy, ease of use, and comfort. It costs $60, but see if your insurance will cover the tab. One big plus: It beeps when it’s in the sweet spot for taking a reading, right over your heart. And it works fast, giving you your numbers in less than a minute on average. Other handy features include memory storage that saves results for more than one user and…

The hype about DHEA, high doses of vitamins, and other so-called anti-aging treatments make it seem like turning back the clock (even getting rid of gray hair!) can be as easy as popping a pill. And science is making advances that might one day alter the entire experience of growing older. Researchers at prestigious universities and institutions across the country are working to discover the secrets to living not just a long life but a healthy one. Still, the leap from a scientist’s laboratory to your medicine cabinet is enormous. And all too often what works in lab animals doesn’t work in humans, so we need to wait for more studies. ANTI-AGING TREATMENTS “Research in a variety of species ranging from yeast to mice has shown that the process of…

There’s nothing better than a fresh manicure, spray tan, or tooth whitening to make you feel like your beautiful best. But that feeling doesn’t last long—manicures chip, tans fade, and whitened teeth stain from wine, coffee, and soda, sometimes in just days. The tips on these two pages can save you time and money by helping you stretch the time between beauty treatments. (In our next issue, we’ll cover how to make haircuts, blow-dries, and other salon services last longer.) manicure/pedicure HOW TO MAKE IT LAST • Focus on color, not cost. “Just because a polish is expensive doesn’t mean it will last forever,” says Erica Marton, a celebrity manicurist in New York City. “Some of the best polishes are the drugstore brands.” Her secret when it comes to a…

computers tiny Mac APPLE MACBOOK AIR 11-INCH Price $1,000 Portability It’s thin and weighs a mere 2.4 pounds, and the battery will last most of a workday. It also comes in a 13-inch version if you want a bigger screen. Pitfalls It has no memory card reader or optical drive for CDs or DVDs. Windows to go DELL XPS 13-1000SLV ULTRABOOK Price $800 Portability This 13-incher weighs just 3 pounds. You’ll get 8¼ hours of battery life. And it should do everything a larger laptop does. Pitfall The display was just OK; others are much better. ultra-portable VIZIO CT14-A4 ULTRABOOK Price $700 Portability The 14-inch screen is a bit larger than the others. But you don’t sacrifice portability because it weighs only 3½ pounds. Battery life is 6 hours. Pitfall…

Do you lock your doors when you go out? I thought so. (I hope you answered yes!) Now think about all the data you keep on your smart phone. Have you locked that down? If your answer is no, you may be putting yourself at risk of ID theft and other crimes. Almost 40 percent of smart-phone users don’t take any steps to protect their phones, according to our latest national survey covering Internet security. But it’s not hard to do, and it’s worth the effort if you’re storing a large amount of sensitive data. Here’s how to keep your info safe: SET A STRONG PASSCODE. Only about a quarter of those we surveyed used a four-digit passcode to lock their phones. And even that’s not good enough. With the…

Buying a car that saves on gas no longer requires having to settle for a model with no oomph or one that makes you feel claustrophobic when you climb in. Prodded by high gas prices and increasingly tough fuel-economy standards, automakers are building efficient cars that don’t penalize the driver. Still, at our test track we see models that get really poor gas mileage. Below are the worst we’ve tested in various categories, plus some smart alternatives that can save you hundreds a year on gas. The overall mpg figures are based on the results of our real-world tests, which can vary from Environmental Protection Agency figures. small car SCION XB This small wagon gets good performance from its four-cylinder engine. But the xB hasn’t been redesigned since the 2008…

Did you buy it? LASAGNA PANS THE RECALL: About 148,700 Giada De Laurentiis ceramic 9x13-inch lasagna pans sold exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com from January 2009 through October 2012 for about $22 for individual pans and $35 to $50 for six-piece sets. The pan can break, resulting in sharp edges that pose a laceration hazard. Target has received 39 reports of the pan or its handles breaking or cracking during normal use. Cuts and lacerations were reported in six incidents. IF YOU OWN ONE Return the pan to any Target store for a store credit. Consumers who purchased it as part of a six-piece set should return only the lasagna pan. Call 800-440-0680 for more information. FOOD DEHYDRATORS THE RECALL: About 14,600 five-tray dehydrators with a digital timer…

New stuff we love SAMSUNG GALAXY S 4 Price $150 to $250 with contract Why it’s hot We’re not done fully testing this new Android phone, but our experts are smitten with its cutting-edge features. One of the useful extras is Smart Stay, which keeps the screen on as long as you’re looking at it. You can also use the screen while wearing gloves or even without touching it, by waving your hand in front of it. Where to get it AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon* More stuff we love GE CAFÉ FRENCH-DOOR REFRIGERATOR CFE29TSDSS Price $3,000 Why it’s hot We spotted this hot-and coldwater-dispensing fridge last spring at a trade show, and now it’s in our labs. The water comes out piping hot for a quick cup of tea. And…

PLUCK YOLK SEPARATOR VS. A WATER BOTTLE You can separate an egg by using the broken shell to drain the white from the yolk. But we paid $12.99 plus $7.50 in shipping for the Pluck egg yolk extractor, a silicone gizmo that you squeeze like a turkey baster (or come to think of it, a nasal aspirator) to suck out the yolk. Here’s how it works: Place it over a cracked egg, squeeze the bulb, and release it a little to slurp up the yolk; then give it another squeeze to plop out the yolk. It’s a cool trick, but it’s not worth $20.49, especially when you can use an empty water bottle to get the job done in a similar fashion. Follow the same directions. See a video at…

Q The label on the English breakfast tea I buy says it’s ‘naturally decaffeinated.’ What does that mean? In theory, it means the tea was decaffeinated using a substance found in nature, usually ethyl acetate, a plant-based solvent, says Gayle Williams, deputy health editor. That might be done by adding water to the leaves along with ethyl acetate, then evaporating it, which removes most of the caffeine. But there’s little consistency in how “naturally decaffeinated” is defined, and you’ll find the term on products decaffeinated in other ways, such as with a synthetic form of ethyl acetate. So don’t put too much faith in the “natural” part. And remember that decaffeinated blends can still contain a small amount of caffeine—up to 12 milligrams per 8-ounce serving. So you should stick…

If you only use your microwave to heat leftovers, you’re missing out on some delicious dishes. And because the micro just heats the food—not the whole kitchen—you can cook up a storm without breaking a sweat. There are foods that microwaves handle with ease and some things you may never want to put in there (see page 24), despite what some recipes say. But no microwave meal will be great without a good, reliable oven. The latest models have more shortcut keys that can take the guesswork out of cooking times for foods like fish and veggies. Some have elongated trays that can fit large dishes. And some offer browning, grilling, and slow-cook modes. But our tests found that you can pay up for those perks without getting the even…

The latest models make ironing easy and fun—well, almost! If you hate ironing or skip it entirely (as most of you probably do, based on our new Facebook poll), read this! It will make the job a lot easier. Buying the right iron and using just a few of our expert tips will make all the difference, whether you’re just trying to get the wrinkles out of shirts and table linens, or you’re using it for crafts and sewing projects. After pressing dozens of dry, wrinkled tablecloths with more than four dozen irons, our testers found three winners. The scores factor in the number of passes it took to get the creases out—the fewer we had to make, the higher the score. All of our winners were strong steamers and…

fruit “Fruit shines in salads,” says Fox, who teams blueberries, mint, and feta cheese, and cantaloupe with sweet-spicy Cubanelle peppers and mild ricotta. Chandler likes dried cranberries for a not-too-sweet note. grains Fiber-rich cooked barley, faro, quinoa, spelt, and wheat are inexpensive grains that add protein to a salad, Hastings says. Some chefs swap croutons for quinoa, which is gluten-free and has a nice, nutty flavor. legumes Black, garbanzo, kidney, and pinto beans, as well as edamame, are low-fat and protein-rich, Hastings says. They’re available canned and frozen, so keep a variety on hand so that they’re ready to go. nuts “Nearly any kind of nut will add texture, flavor, and health benefits thanks to the protein and fiber,” Chandler says. To bring out flavor, Fox lightly toasts them in…

There’s a reason you might pick granola bars as a snack over a candy bar or chocolate chip cookies—they seem like they’d be better for you. But don’t be fooled by their healthy image; some may be no more nutritious than candy bars. So get in the habit of reading ingredients labels to see what’s inside. Here are some things to watch out for: • TROPICAL OILS If palm, palm kernel, or coconut oils is one of the main ingredients, stay away! Those oils are high in cholesterol-raising saturated fat. • LONG INGREDIENTS LISTS They usually include multisyllabic additives like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which are added to packaged food to extend shelf life. The shorter the ingredients list, the better; one of our Smart Picks, Nature Valley Oats ’N Dark…

TREND WATCH Mighty microgreens Baby greens may be tiny but they’re nutritional giants. The itsy-bitsiest versions, which are popping up in trendy restaurants and some grocery stores, have four to six times the nutritional clout of their larger, grown-up cousins. When researchers from the Department of Agriculture and the University of Maryland compared 25 types of microgreens—including arugula, pea tendrils, celery, and spinach—with their mature versions, almost all of the mini veggies came out way ahead in terms of nutrients. The highest amounts of vitamins C, K, and E were found in red cabbage, garnet amaranth, and green daikon radish microgreens. These young leaves are nutrient-dense because they were “designed by nature to be an energy storehouse for the growing plant,” says Gene Lester, a plant physiologist at the USDA.…

DO put on sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you head outside to let it set in. DON’T skimp. Use at least 2 to 3 tablespoons, or two coats of spray, to cover your body. DO buy new sunscreen at least every two years. DON’T use sunscreen spray on your face. Spray it into your hands and rub it on. And don’t let kids use sprays at all to prevent them from inhaling the fumes. DO cover up. Using sunscreen isn’t enough. To protect yourself, also wear a coverup, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed, tightly woven hat.…

What to buy to make you feel better Should you take Excedrin or Advil for that headache? And does it matter whether you chew a Tums or pop a Prilosec for heartburn? If you don’t already need those medications when you go into a drugstore, you might by the time you walk out after trying to figure out which drug to buy. To take the guesswork out of shopping for over-the-counter drugs, we asked our experts to choose the best treatments for 12 common ailments, including allergies, chronic pain, gas, and nasal congestion. In some cases, we discovered, products are fairly similar, so you can just go with whatever is cheaper. But more often, choosing the right drug can be the difference between feeling better and wasting your money. The…

You’ve probably seen the headlines about a new study that uncovered heavy metals in lipsticks and lip glosses. Researchers at the University of California School of Public Health in Berkeley said their tests found eight lipsticks and 24 lip glosses that may contain aluminum, cadmium, chromium, lead, titanium, and/or other metals. And it’s not the only study to make that discovery. The authors of the new study say their findings suggest a potential public-health concern. But our safety experts say that the lipstick research is inconclusive. The Food and Drug Administration checked lead levels in lipstick in 2007 and 2011, and its experts concluded that the amounts found didn’t pose a safety risk. Now the agency says that it’s “evaluating whether there may be a need to recommend an upper…

REALITY Given the number of vitamin-store shelves lined with bottles of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplements, you’d never guess that your body produces the stuff on its own. DHEA levels begin to decline around age 30, about the same time as age-related changes such as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density, and cognitive impairment start to crop up. Anti-aging enthusiasts argue that you should make up for reduced levels by taking synthetic DHEA. But research suggests that that won’t help. A 2006 Mayo Clinic study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, examined the use of DHEA supplements in older adults over two years and found that they didn’t really slow aging. Yes, DHEA levels went up to the same levels found in younger people, but that didn’t translate into anti-aging…

Stores will be loaded with dressy shorts this summer, including shorts suits with matching jackets. And they’re as far from denim cutoffs and Bermudas as you can get. The new versions have a more figure-flattering A-line shape, and because many come in dressy fabrics like eyelet and silky rayon, they take a casual look up a notch. “Wear these when you want to be comfy but a little more dressed up,” says Genevieve Yraola, our consulting stylist. They’re perfect for parties and even work, depending on the vibe in your office. HOW TO WEAR THEM First, find a shape and cut that works with your body type. Looser A-line shorts in longer lengths (3 to 5 inches) are the most figure-flattering style. And nix the tight tops. “Looser, blousey tops…

CHARGER HUB. If you’re traveling with multiple gadgets, pick up a device that lets you charge several items at once. Some have a number of USB ports plus a charging dock for an iPod. The Cyber Power USB Charger Hub, $25, which weighs less than a pound, comes in handy at home, too—no more scrambling for available outlets. (We didn’t test this gadget.) TABLET KEYBOARD. If you’re using a tablet for work or to send a lot of e-mail messages, you might be hampered by the virtual onscreen keyboard. Most separate keyboards weigh just around a pound, and many double as charging docks. They won’t eat too much into your travel budget, either. One we recommend for iPads is the Apple Wireless Keyboard, $70. For Android tablets, try the Targus…

In a new poll about Facebook by Cornell University, almost half of the people said that they have deactivated their accounts, temporarily or permanently. Maybe you’ve considered taking a break or cutting ties with Facebook, Twitter, or similar services because of privacy concerns, or you want to free up time. Or maybe you’ve realized that you never actually speak to your family and friends anymore. Although it’s easy to sign up at social media sites, it’s not so easy to figure out how to leave. A couple of websites can help: Delete Your Account (deleteyouraccount.com) and AccountKiller (accountkiller.com). If you decide to stick around, though, here are a few tips: 1. Check your privacy settings. And recheck them often because they change. It’s the only way to know how and…

Flash sales combine the sport of combing sales racks with the adrenaline rush of racing the clock. Act fast and you can get great deals. Sites that feature flash sales are hot, and they’re constantly adding new services and exclusive offerings. We checked out eight of the freshest sites, as well as seven we’ve reported on before, to update you on the latest developments. (We screened all of the sites for customer service, privacy standards, and contact-info disclosure, as always.) Before you dive in, here are some tips: Check prices online (use price-comparison sites such as PriceGrabber.com and travel sites such as Kayak) before you jump on a sale to make sure you’re getting a real deal. Watch out for final sales and shipping fees and times. Also know when…

THE ISSUE Distracted driving is a deadly epidemic on our roads. In 2011 more than 3,300 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, according to the Department of Transportation. Some of those crashes occurred when drivers were talking on a cell phone or texting. And automakers continue to add more technology for dashboards, such as Internet browsers and social media connections. Touch screens and control buttons are getting more complicated, and that can be seriously distracting. WHAT WE THINK New federal guidelines are advising some restrictions on gadgets to limit the amount of time drivers take their eyes off the road. The guidelines urge automakers to make it impossible for some functions to be used unless the vehicle is in park. We think that’s a good step toward…