Tabla de contenidos para November 2013 en Shop Smart

Recently, my nephews Max and Jordan stayed over for their annual Aunt Lisa and Uncle Bill weekend. It’s a two-day spoil-fest filled with activities like slot-car racing, movies, go-karts, the zoo, T-shirt tie-dying, and double-milkshake lunches. This year, our weekend featured a shopping spree at the local crafts store. We loaded up our basket with clay, markers, stick-on eyeballs, and paper skulls to decorate for Halloween—everything you need for a Sunday afternoon art project. But just as we were getting ready to leave the store, Jordan, the 9-year-old, spotted a model airplane and said he wanted to buy it with his own money. I was intrigued. When he got up to the register, he realized that he didn’t have enough to cover the tax. So Aunt Lisa came to the…

SAMSUNG GALAXY S 4 ACTIVE Price $200 with a two-year contract and rebates Why it’s hot in addition to having a super-sharp screen and cool tools for accessing and sharing web content, this phone is truly water-resistant. after we dunked it in about 3 feet of water for 30 minutes, it worked fine and showed no visible signs of water damage. and beach fans and snorkelers will love the “aqua mode,” which lets you take pictures and videos underwater. Where to get it at&t stores CALPHALON STAINLESS-STEEL TWO-SLOT HE200ST TOASTER Price $60 Why it’s hot this sleek stainless-steel model out-toasted the cuisinart cpt-420, which has been the reigning toaster champ for almost four years running! the calphalon rose to the top of our ratings by popping out evenly browned bread…

Have you ever stopped to really read product labels and ads? Humunga Stache THE AD SAYS SHOPSMART SAYS Fido thought bubble: “Sure, go ahead and laugh at me now—wait until later when I leave a big poop in your shoe!” Cottonelle toilet paper THE AD SAYS SHOPSMART SAYS Yes, let’s talk about wiping your bum. And while we’re at it, why not talk about wiping your nose, and how about belly button lint and ear hair? Because it’s gross! Shower cap THE LABEL SAYS SHOPSMART SAYS Calling Anna Wintour! Finally, a runwayready shower cap!…

BLUSH FOR WINE Tell this app what wine varietals you like and use your phone to scan bar codes in stores to get recommendations. Works on Apple CHEFS FEED Top chefs, including Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali, dish on where and what they love to eat in more than 20 cities. Works on Apple FOODSPOTTING See menu items that others love—no more asking diners what they’re having! Works on Android, Apple, BlackBerry, Windows NESS It recommends restaurants based on what you like, what you’re in the mood for, where you are, and even time of day. Works on Apple…

You diligently charge all of your groceries, gas, clothing, travel, and almost every other purchase on a particular credit card to rack up points for cash back or travel rewards. But it turns out that if you want to make the most of rewards programs, one card isn’t enough, according to our number crunchers, who reviewed more than 60 rewards cards and a variety of spending scenarios. Whether you’re a frugalista, serious spender, small-business owner, retirement saver, or part of a typical American family, dividing purchases between the right two cards can earn you hundreds of dollars more in annual rewards than using just one card. For example, we found that a frequent flyer who charges $3,000 a month on two credit cards could earn about $2,420 worth of travel…

FramedAndMatted.com BEST FOR framing art for less. Upload an image of the painting, print, or photo you’ve been meaning to hang, specify the dimensions, then try combinations of frames and mats until you discover the look that makes your art truly sing. Frame styles range from ornamental to sleek; the mats from bright to neutral. We like the fact that the price updates as you go so there are no surprises at checkout. It even sends a DIY mounting and hanging kit with your completed piece, so there’s no excuse for tucking your creation away until you’re ready for a project. DON’T MISS Fabulously affordable frames all the way up to 40x32 feet. SHIPPING Free. RETURNS No; only replacements for damaged or incorrect orders. LittleBlackBag.com BEST FOR scoring surprise designer…

Old standbys add movies and more ... AMAZON The retail giant, which already sells pretty much everything, is now pushing its own movies. Prime members will soon be able to stream original programming, and the company has 24 movies in development. Its recently launched Amazon Collections aims to replicate Pinterest, letting users share photos of what they like, want, and recommend. And in August Amazon.com/Art debuted. It features fine art from more than 150 galleries. EBAY Its same-day delivery service, eBay Now, is available in San Francisco, San Jose, and parts of New York City. Users can receive their orders in about an hour for just $5. GOOGLE The Google Wallet payment system is slowly being phased into Gmail; look for a dollar sign in your attachment options. When you…

WHAT’S NEW As more Wi-Fi-enabled appliances hit our labs, we’ve been testing the apps that come with them. The apps are designed to work with your smart phone, turning it into a remote. Recently, we tested a wall-oven app that GE promises can control oven functions, such as changing settings and checking the progress of your roast while you’re folding laundry. WHAT OUR TESTS FOUND The GE remote-control feature (available on the model at right) is cool and easy to use. We downloaded the app on our smart phone and used it to preheat, set, and monitor cooking time, and change settings on the oven. It works only with a home Wi-Fi network, not from some coffee shop. That’s a smart safety measure. The GE model’s other smart features include…

LG LRE3025S Price $1,250 Why we like it Overall, it’s very good, earning top scores for baking, self-cleaning, simmering, and delivering fast cooktop heat. It also has a roomy oven. Bummer The time savings of the infrared broiler weren’t so great. The LG LRE30235 delivered better broiling for $250 less. Where to get it Best Buy, Home Depot KENMORE 92803 Price $850 Why we like it If you’re into broiling, this nice-priced model not only aced our broiling tests but also offered super simmering and fast cooktop heat, making it a standout. The large oven turned out evenly browned cakes and cookies and has convection. Where to get it Sears…

WHAT’S NEW Big, beefy professionalstyle ranges are still kitchen status symbols, but they don’t have to cost big bucks. In the past few years we’ve seen prices on some makes (Kenmore and Dacor) trickle down to less than $4,000. But the $2,000 NXR pro-style we bought at Costco has the lowest price we’ve seen. WHAT OUR TESTS FOUND It did better in our tests than certain Thermador, Viking, and Wolf models that cost more than twice as much. But for this price you won’t get the cooking performance of the top-rated KitchenAid, shown below, or extras such as self-cleaning. SHOULD YOU BUY IT? If you want the pro-style look for less, go for it. NXR DRGB3001 Price $2,000 Why we like it Superb simmering, a convection oven, and lots of…

TREND WATCH BEADING FRENZY Raised hobnail beading, a centuries-old trick for dressing up dishes, glassware, and flatware, is showing up on trendy tabletop sites and in stores. The look is both fresh and timeless. “You can add beading to your table with a single piece—such as a bead-rimmed charger—or by layering together several different pieces with beading,” says Jane Dagmi, a stylist and design writer based in the Miami area. “Beading is a way of getting visual interest and pattern onto the table without bringing in a lot of color. Plus it just feels good to the touch.” Beading is often featured on high-end wares like silver and china. But you can now find it on lots of affordable home accessories, too, including candleholders and glass bowls. lab update Old…

Which bacon brands should you bring home? Let’s face it, bacon is the ultimate anti-health food. It’s mostly fat, and it can be loaded with sodium—not to mention the nitrites (see box below). But bacon is having a moment. The crispy, salty treat is showing up everywhere—in pizzas, salads, entrées, and even desserts. The good news is that with high-quality bacon, a little goes a long way (see “Testkitchen tips,” on page 41). So our expert tasters put 15 pork and turkey bacons, including pre-cooked products, to the test to find the best. The results: Nothing beats pork bacon. Turkey bacon’s lower calories, fat, and sodium are a plus, but we didn’t find any that could fool your taste buds. And the fully cooked pork bacons we tried were kind…

13. OSCAR MAYER Price per 12-ounce package $3 Cost per serving 14 cents (one slice) Calories 35 Fat 3 grams Sodium 180 milligrams Tasters’ notes These bacon strips have a strong smoky, slightly sweet flavor, and were the best of the turkey bunch—but not by much. 14. JENNIE-O Price per 12-ounce package $3 Cost per serving 14 cents (one slice) Calories 30 Fat 2.5 grams Sodium 130 milligrams Tasters’ notes It’s meaty, with plenty of smoky flavor, but you wouldn’t mistake it for pork. And like the other turkey products, the strips’ texture is slightly rubbery. 15. BUTTERBALL ORIGINAL Price per 12-ounce package $2.75 Cost per serving 11 cents (one slice) Calories 25 Fat 2 grams Sodium 135 milligrams Tasters’ notes It isn’t quite as smoky-flavored as the other turkey…

17 TESTED ✓ 2 SMART PICKS KNORR HOMESTYLE CHICKEN STOCK (concentrate) Price per package $3.46 Price per serving 25 cents Calories 10 Fat 1 gram Sodium 750 milligrams Tasters’ notes Our No. 1 stock has a pronounced, clean chicken flavor. SWANSON CHICKEN STOCK Price per package $2.97 Price per serving 99 cents Calories 20 Fat 0 grams Sodium 510 milligrams Tasters’ notes This one also has a nice, strong chicken flavor. And it’s not too salty. But it’s the most expensive product per serving we tested.…

Chicken broth can make bland, diet-friendly food taste great. We asked chef Aaron McCargo of “Big Daddy’s House” on the Food Network and Marissa Vicario, a New York City-based healthy-cooking coach, for tips on how to use this pantry staple. CUT THE BUTTER. Substitute chicken broth for water when boiling starchy foods like potatoes and noodles. That will give sides and salads extra flavor without more calories, so you can go lighter on the butter, mayo, and other high-fat additions. Just reduce or skip the salt called for in the recipe, McCargo says. MAKE PLAIN VEGGIES MORE APPEALING. McCargo uses broth instead of plain water to blanch vegetables. Heat the broth to boiling, then drop in veggies (mushrooms, asparagus, and broccoli are his favorites) for about 30 seconds. Remove them…

Serve up safer cheeses It’s the season when supermarkets are loaded with nice selections of soft, gooey cheeses, such as Brie and Camembert. But before you stock up for holiday feasts, keep in mind that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises looking for “pasteurized” on the label. According to the CDC, soft, creamy cheeses made with raw milk are 50 to 160 times more likely than pasteurized soft cheese to lead to Listeria bacteria-related illness. Listeria infection is most dangerous for older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and anyone with a weakened immune system, says Benjamin Silk, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the CDC. If you’re in a higherrisk group, skip all raw-milk soft cheeses. Even if the label says pasteurized, it could still be a problem. Recent deadly Listeria…

If your sex life isn’t what it used to be, hormones, aging, or boredom in the bedroom might not be the problem; it could be the drugs you’re taking. Some of the biggest sex-life killers are antidepressants, but common prescriptions such as blood pressure meds and even remedies like Advil can cause problems too, as you’ll see below. What to do Even if the likely cause of your sexual problems is a drug you’re taking, there are things you can do to try to get yourself back in the groove. In addition to considering the tips here, don’t be shy about having a frank talk about the issue with your doctor. You may have a health problem, such as sleep apnea or diabetes, that is affecting your sex drive. •…

The germiest spots in your kitchen Think you know where germs are hiding? When researchers at NSF International recently asked people to rate items they thought harbored the most bacteria, they were way off the mark. See whether you do any better: Of the 14 items listed below, circle the 10 germiest. (Don’t peek at the answers at right!) 1. Microwave keypad 2. Strainer 3. Flatware storage tray 4. Pizza cutter 5. Refrigerator water dispenser 6. Rubber spatula 7. Blender 8. Refrigerator vegetable compartment 9. Refrigerator ice dispenser 10. Refrigerator meat compartment 11. Knife block 12. Food storage container with rubber seal 13. Can opener 14. Refrigerator insulating seal ANSWERS according to NSF International’s latest germ study, the top 10 germiest items, in order, were numbers 5 through 14. They…

Even if you don’t need a new coat, you might be tempted to buy one of this season’s gorgeous colorful styles. Blues, pinks, purples, and yellows—in delicate and bold shades—are hot. If you’re color shy, look for a face-flattering pale pink. “It makes all complexions a little rosier,” says our consulting stylist, Genevieve Yraola. What’s also new this season is fuller shapes. Oversized coats can work for all body types, Yraola says. But if you’re small, go for a petite size so that you don’t look like you’re drowning in fabric. You can also offset the volume of a fuller coat by cinching it in at the waist with a belt. And keep in mind that for the most flattering fit, the shorter you are, the shorter the length should…

Forget planning your evening around the TV listings: With streaming boxes, it’s easy to create your own personal prime time and watch movies and TV shows on your schedule. You can get great picture quality—Netflix’s Super HD and Vudu’s HDX formats approach that of Blu-ray—and programming from Netflix, Hulu Plus, and others. By putting so many viewing options at your fingertips, those services are redefining home entertainment. With some services, you pay a few dollars to rent or buy every title you watch; others require a subscription, usually around $8 per month. Pay-per-view services tend to have more new titles, but costs can add up if you watch a lot. Subscriptionbased services let you watch all you want but have few new releases. Don’t forget YouTube, which is free. In…

Alloy wheels? Variable valve timing? CVT? Double-overhead cam? That last one sounded like an Olympic skating routine to us! Buying a car is stressful enough without having to worry about cryptic car lingo, so we went to our auto experts to help decipher some key terms. The truth is, many words that car salesmen and ads toss around are confusing and intimidating. They can also push you to buy extras you don’t need. With lots of high-tech features being introduced every year, the car vocabulary problem can be particularly annoying if you haven’t bought a vehicle in a while. Getting up to speed on the latest car terminology before you head into a showroom can help you prepare for the hard sell and get the best deal. Continuously variable transmission…

Did you buy it? BLENDER CONTAINERS THE RECALL: About 165,000 Vitamix 64-ounce low-profile blender containers on Professional Series 300, Professional Series 750, and Vitamix 7500, and sold individually at major retailers nationwide and online at vitamix.com from April 2012 to August 2013. Affected models have blade part No. 103208 A with date codes from March 2012 through July 2013. Vitamix has received 18 reports of blades breaking. No injuries have been reported. These blenders have generally earned excellent overall scores in our tests. And Vitamix has assured us that the problem has been fixed on all models currently for sale. So we are continuing to recommend them. IF YOU OWN ONE Stop using the container immediately and contact Vitamix at 888-350-4386 or go to containerbladerecall.com for instructions on how to…

1 Beat the rush on Black Friday. Rather than camping out in the parking lot all night, look for retailers that hand out vouchers allowing you to enter the store at a specified time and nab “doorbusters” and other specials without having to queue up at the crack of dawn. Best Buy, Sears, Target, and Walmart did that last year, and we expect others to follow suit this year. But if you’re one of those people who loves to camp out, look for stores that hand out bonus cards or scratch-off tickets entitling you to discounts and other perks. We saw that last year at H&M, Sports Authority, and others. For websites that preview Black Friday promotions, plus more tips, turn the page. 2 Let the deals come to you.…

BABYGANICS DISH DAZZLER DISHWASHER DETERGENT, $7 We weren’t dazzled with this green detergent that promises “squeaky clean sippy cups and bottles.” It didn’t clean our dirty dishes and was one of the worst detergents we tested. It left a white haze buildup on our clear dishware after only 20 wash cycles. ShopSmart says If you want a green dish cleaner, go with Seventh Generation, which left no filmy buildup. Cascade Complete was the top powder. STREAM CLEAN, $10 PLUS $7.95 SHIPPING AND HANDLING Don’t believe this carpet cleaner’s infomercial claim: “Just stream it on and the stain is gone!” In our tests, the color of the stain vanished, but it left a visible residue that we couldn’t remove. And wait, there’s more! The bonus mini black light shown in the…

THE AD The infomercial shows a woman scraping burnt chicken off a metal baking sheet and claims that the silicone insert will prevent this “dining disaster” because food rests on the points of the pyramids instead of on the pan’s surface. That supposedly allows air to circulate under the food and fats to drip away, leaving food crisp, juicy, and evenly baked every time. THE CHECK Our testers cooked chicken, fish sticks, pizza, puff pastry appetizers, and french fries on baking sheets with and without the Pyramid Pan liner. It worked great as a nonstick cooking mat, but greasy foods were still greasy. Because the food didn’t make contact with the pan, the bottoms came out less cooked than the tops. French fries and fish sticks, for example, were not…

Q Is drinking vegetable juice as good for me as eating whole veggies? —G.B., Collegedale, Tenn. Not really. Store-bought vegetable juice is convenient, but it’s not a replacement for whole vegetables, says deputy health editor Gayle Williams. For starters, many of the nutrients and a lot of the fiber are lost when the pulp and skin are removed to make the juice. Also, processed juice may have added stuff that you don’t want, such as sodium. For example, V8 packs 650 milligrams in an 8-ounce serving; the lowsodium version has 140. And juice isn’t likely to fill you up the way whole vegetables can. But with whole-food juicing—peel and all—you get your fruit and veggies in liquid form without losing good-foryou nutrients and fiber. We tried a recipe earlier this…

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good bottle of wine! Here’s where to look for deals. AT RESTAURANTS Order the leastexpensive or second-lowest priced bottle you prefer on the wine list. The reason: That’s often the most popular choice, and restaurateurs generally don’t want to disappoint. AT COSTCO Prices tend to be lower here than at other stores, and its private label, Kirkland Signature, can give you great values (see page 36 for more on store-brand wine savings). So if you want to experiment, Costco is a great place to do it. The retailer is licensed to sell wine in 36 states. OVERSEAS The cost of producing wine in many regions of the world can be a lot lower than it is in the U.S., so…

Barneys Warehouse.com BEST FOR luxe for less. Welcome to the upscale store’s new clearance closet. Head here for last season’s big-name collections at up to 80 percent off. You’ll find women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, shoes, and accessories, and home items. DON’T MISS You can shop by designer, but we’re fond of shopping by price. That’s how we found Current/Elliott skinny corduroys for just $39 (regularly $218) and $269 Lanvin “Bow D’Orsay” platform pumps (72 percent off) at press time. SHIPPING A flat $12; free for orders $150+. RETURNS No. Look.com BEST FOR kids’ clothing for a song. Look.com brings together 100-plus brands, including biggies like Carter’s and Stride Right. No more chasing little people around the mall; outfit them here for less. Sort by age, size, brand, price, fabric,…

Bondsy Get rid of your unwanted stuff easily; no visits from creepy strangers required. This app helps you sell to or trade with your friends and friends of friends, so you can be assured that it finds a nice home. WORKS ON Apple CheckPoints Scan grocery-product bar codes, play games, and watch videos to earn points. Then redeem them for gift cards, frequent-flyer miles, Facebook game credits, gadgets, or charitable donations. WORKS ON Android, Apple EcoBonus Earn rewards for buying with the environment in mind. Scan your receipts and enter product codes for wholesome brands such as Annie’s Homegrown and Seventh Generation, then redeem points for stuff or donate them to charity. WORKS ON Android, Apple Goodzer No more running from store to store in search of just the right…

WHAT’S NEW Certain LG electric ranges have a new-style broiler called “InfraGrill.” LG claims it heats up faster than a conventional electric broiler. WHAT OUR TESTS FOUND To test this speed claim, our testers pitted an LG range with an InfraGrill against one with a standard broiler. Both ranges served up seared and juicy burgers. And the InfraGrill’s speed-broil option was about a minute faster, but it can cook only a few burgers or steaks at a time. And when we tried broiling larger amounts of food in the appliance, the standard broiler was better. SHOULD YOU BUY IT? There’s no reason to pay extra for this technology. Tip: To make cleanup easier, line your broiling pan with foil, but don’t cover the grid itself, or the fat won’t drip…

WHAT’S NEW Self-cleaning ovens can save you the bother of scrubbing out greasy gunk. But cleaning cycles can be long, hot, and smelly. As an alternative, some manufacturers are offering spot-cleaning options and self-cleaning systems that take less time and use less heat. WHAT OUR TESTS FOUND We tried LG’s EasyClean option for light messes, which takes only 20 minutes, but it didn’t seem easy to us. We had to spray the walls with distilled water and pour some onto the bottom, and when the cycle was done, we had to soak up the water, then scrub. Maytag and Whirlpool claim that the AquaLift technology on certain models uses less heat, creates no odor, and cleans ovens more quickly than conventional self-clean cycles. As promised, it didn’t create odors, and…

It’s your go-to pan for just about everything, so you want a skillet to conduct heat evenly, clean up easily, and have a comfy handle that stays cool to the touch. Those are some of the qualities we looked for when we put dozens of pans to the test, cooking up pancakes and fried eggs—tricky foods because pancakes can cook unevenly and eggs can easily stick. We also put pans through a tough scrubbing test to see how well their nonstick coating held up. Though some cooks swear by cast iron, the Lodge pan we tested didn’t cook as evenly as our experts’ nonstick picks below. Another surprise: Two store-brand pans were champs! Best cookware 35 TESTED B7 SMART PICKS skillets SCANPAN CLASSIC Price $90 Why we like it This…

If you’re not already loading up on store-brand foods, here’s a new reason to give them a try. In addition to staples such as coffee and corn flakes, store brands are branching out into upscale goodies, including fancy cookies, ethnic sauces, prepared frozen meals, packaged salads, and a lot more. Buying those items instead of their brand-name equivalents can save you as much as 50 percent, depending on where you shop (see page 38). Even better, most of them taste pretty good. Our expert tasters judged five out of 10 upscale store-brand foods as good as or better than big-brand versions. If you don’t see your local grocer’s brands here, many stores have upscale lines, including Kroger’s Private Selection, Safeway Select, Sam’s Club Artisan Fresh, and Schnucks’ Culinaria. They’re all…

15 TESTED ✓ 1 SMART PICK the winner 1. KIRKLAND SIGNATURE REGULAR SLICED (COSTCO) Price per package $14 for four 16-ounce packages Price per serving 47 cents (two slices) Calories 80 Fat 7 grams Sodium 300 milligrams Tasters’ notes It’s the only bacon that met our ideal: It crisps up well and has a nice balance of meaty, salty, and fatty flavors with just the right amount of smokiness and sweetness. But it only comes in a giant four-pack. Tip: You can freeze unopened bacon for several months.…

Cut the fat, not the flavor! Adding a little bacon to diet-friendly veggie, fish, OUR EXPERTS and lean meat dishes is an instant way to go from boring to yummy—without adding a ton of calories. Bacon’s flavor is intense, so you don’t need a lot, says Maria Rama, co-author with Peter Kaminsky of “Bacon Nation” (Workman Publishing, 2013). Try these flavor-stretching tricks from Rama and our test-kitchen pros. • SPRINKLE IT ONTO VEGGIES. Crumbling up one strip of crisply cooked bacon is a great way to amp up the flavor of super-healthy but often bland dishes such as lentils and beans. Or scatter a teaspoon or two of bacon bits over steamed or grilled veggies. • MAKE A BROTH. To make a tasty poaching liquid for plain fish and shrimp…

KITCHEN BASICS ORIGINAL CHICKEN STOCK Price per package $2.94 Price per serving 74 cents Calories 20 Fat 0 grams Sodium 430 milligrams Tasters’ notes Not quite as chickeny but has some nice veggie notes (onion, celery, carrots). KIRKLAND SIGNATURE ORGANIC CHICKEN STOCK (Costco) Price per package $1.92 Price per serving 48 cents Calories 10 Fat 0 grams Sodium 440 milligrams Tasters’ notes It was also lighter on chicken flavor, but less salty than some others. COLLEGE INN CHICKEN BROTH Fat FREE & LOWER SODIUM Price per package $2.19 Price per serving 55 cents Calories 5 Fat 0 grams Sodium 420 milligrams Tasters’ notes Flavorful and less salty than most others tested. TRADER JOE’S ORGANIC FREE RANGE CHICKEN BROTH Price per package $1.99 Price per serving 50 cents Calories 20 Fat…

Yukon Gold potatoes THEY HAVE PINK EYES. Two quick ways to spot a pile of Yukon Gold potatoes is to look for their pale-yellowish skin and rosy indentations around the “eyes.” THEY WON’T DARKEN IF YOU DON’T COOK THEM RIGHT AWAY. Unlike other varieties, their lower starch content helps to preserve their color. THEY’RE MORE NUTRITIOUS THAN WHITE POTATOES. Their golden hue comes from carotenoids, the same health-promoting antioxidants found in carrots. THEY HAVE A NATURAL BUTTERLIKE FLAVOR. With their slightly sweet flavor and creamy texture, Yukon Golds don’t need as much seasoning as other spuds. For fat-free mashed potatoes, skip the butter and cream and add some of the cooking liquid to fluff them up. For healthier fries, just spritz with a little olive oil and bake. They’re not…

It might be eating and drinking season, but the latest fitness gadgets make it easier to stay on track. That’s because you can’t fool a Fitbit One (shown) or any of the other activity monitors we tested. They tell you how much you’re moving, or loafing. Put one on—there are models that you can wear on your waistband, wrist, or arm—and the sensors get to work keeping track of things like steps taken and calories burned. Some even measure how well you sleep. Half of the activity monitors we tested give you feedback as you go; for the others you have to sync up the tracker to your computer, tablet, or smart phone to see how you’re doing. (Warning: Not all of these fitness gadgets sync with all types of…

Food packaging is basically advertising. It’s all about making the stuff inside as tempting as possible. And often that means playing up claims that make the products sound good for you, such as “low sodium” and “no high fructose corn syrup.” But not every food is as wholesome as the label would have you think. Manufacturers are responding to shoppers who are looking for more healthful foods that are lower in fat and sugar or free of artificial or highly processed ingredients. That might sound like a plus. But sometimes when they give us what we want, they trade one publicly panned ingredient for another. For example, you might be shocked to see how many unpronounceable ingredients are in a package of food described as “natural” on the label. And…

Put blueberries, grapes, pears, and apples on your grocery list! Adults who ate plenty of those fruits were less likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes compared with those who didn’t eat much fruit, according to a new BMJ study. The BMJ researchers based their findings on health information from three studies of health professionals who filled out surveys on what they ate. But go easy on the fruit juice, which actually increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes, you know it’s important to keep tabs on your blood sugar. In our latest tests of 25 blood glucose meters, we found nine Smart Picks. (And yes, we use real blood from our volunteer staffers for these tests!) Two of our top picks are store…

Ever wonder where top stylists get their best stuff? We did. So we asked fashion pros who dress celebs, models, and actors to cough up their favorite sources for nicely priced basics (sweaters, shirts, T-shirts) as well as on-trend—but not crazy expensive—designer shoes, bags, dresses, and more. They turned us on to lots of great sites. They also shared new tricks for shopping old faithfuls like J. Crew and L. L. Bean. In addition to the sites below, take a peek at bonfaire.com for hot-off-the-runway looks and shopzoeonline.com for edgier styles. They’re expensive but great for fashion inspiration. Halsbrook BEST FOR Designer clothes and accessories geared to women over 40. PRO’S PICKS New York fashion stylist Genevieve Yraola likes the site’s statement jewelry and work-to-evening investment dresses. HOW TO SHOP…

Still playing Angry Birds while you wait for the kids at soccer practice? I love that game, but there are so many clever new ways to make the minutes fly by when there’s nothing better to do. All of the apps here are free and work on Android and Apple except for Globe Photo, which is Android-only. And yes, I’ve tried and rejected a bunch that I consider not worth the time, which is why you won’t catch me playing Candy Crush Saga, Farmville, or Fruit Ninja. GLOBE PHOTO Create your own little worlds with this app, which turns your photos into miniglobes. Take a picture of a horizon or a group of friends, then let Globe Photo work its magic. DOTS Picture those little dots of candy stuck to…

Like most drivers, you probably want to stretch your fuel dollars and do what’s right for your car’s engine, too. But a lot of what you might have heard about saving gas and your engine isn’t true. Here are common myths and the truth from the experts at our auto test track. MYTH Blasting the heater or air conditioning wastes fuel. TRUTH Unless you’re driving an electric car, turning on the heat will not affect your car’s fuel use. In a gas-powered car, the warmth gushing from the cabin heater comes from waste heat generated by the engine—heat that is otherwise dumped outside. The A/C does put a greater load on the engine, which can reduce your overall fuel economy—a few years back, we measured a Honda Accord running at…

Late-night TV In the beginning, watching TV late at night could really put you to sleep—or in a trance. Before Leno and Letterman, there was the test pattern. When people were buying their first sets, we published this warning: “Don’t expect to be able to turn on your television set at any hour of the day or night and get a program, as you can with radio.” Back then, when folks said there was nothing on TV, they really meant it! Not-so-fondly remembered: Mercurochrome Seems like every kid in the mid-to-late 20th century ran around with orange-red-stained knees. Turns out, not only was Mercurochrome unsightly, it wasn’t even that effective at killing bacteria, according to our 1948 report. But what ultimately got it pulled off the market in 1998 was…

IROBOT ROOMBA 760 Price $450 Why it’s hot Finally, our experts have tested a robotic vac that we can recommend. The new Roomba sucked up all the paper, cereal, sand, and rice we threw in its path. It also found its way out of tight spots and around extension cords; in the past, robotic vacs got stuck behind doors and under furniture. And you can program it to run when you’re not home. But don’t toss your regular vac just yet; the Roomba can’t pick up dirt stuck deep down in rugs. And it’s better on larger flat-weave carpets than on shag and area rugs.…

Cash mobs What do you get when you marry flash mobs with shopping? The answer is cash mobs, which are a fun way to discover and support local businesses. They’re like a big shopping party. You’ll meet new people and maybe even score some cool giveaways. Cash mobs organize 50 to 100 people to meet up and shop at a worthy independently owned business. Created by Chris Smith, a blogger based in Buffalo, N.Y., the first one was held at an area wine shop in August 2011. The idea caught on, and cash mobs have been held in 500 cities on six continents. Smith estimates that they have generated $700,000 in sales. There’s even a National Cash Mob Day, which was April 27 this year. THE RULES They vary, but…

Delicious inspiration Tired of making the same old holiday dishes or bored with your week-in, week-out meal rotation? The sites below feature gorgeous photos of delicious food designed to get your creative sauces flowing. Each meets our requirements for privacy, contact-info disclosure, and customer service. Find more inspired dish ideas at TheKitchn.com. Of course you could also turn to Pinterest.com for drool-worthy recipes; just search for a dish or ingredient (for example, “pumpkin pie” or “leeks”) and click the photos for instructions. CookTasteEat.com BEST FOR improving your skills. Learn how to make restaurant-quality meals and hone techniques that will make you a smarter, more efficient, all-around-better home chef. Try an inexpensive online class (starting at $12), such as “Cooking Perfect Steaks, Every Time, with Chef Michael Mina.” Or browse the…

A few questions for autos tester Mike Quincy What’s a typical day like for you at work? I drive a different car daily as part of our testing program, plus I work on our car coverage up at our Auto Test Center. It’s not unusual to hear screeching tires while you’re writing a blog or looking at a car in the garage. We joke that some people get a cup of coffee when they hit that 3 p.m. lull. We hop in something fun, like a sports car—the Scion FR-S (shown) or Subaru BRZ, for example—and take a few laps around the track to get energized. Do you buy the cars that you test? Yes, I’ve bought more than 100 cars and I always try to negotiate. Here’s my advice:…

Our team is always on the lookout for new ways to shop and save money. But once a year, we sweep the Web for a special roundup of the latest and greatest shopping sites and apps. This year’s roster includes tools to help you pick the perfect party dress (that no one else will be wearing!) and tell you whether that couch on sale works in your living room. But before we get to those, check out the money savers below; they’re great for the holiday shopping rush. Each site meets our requirements for privacy, contact-info disclosure, and service. 8 tools all bargain lovers should know Bing.com/explore/rewards BEST FOR automatic rewards for shopping. The search engine’s new rewards program gives you points for just doing Web searches at the site…

Julibox.com SENDS cocktails. This party-in-a-box comes with the liquor and mixers to make four fab cocktails from recipes created by veteran mixologists. PRICE $40 per month. ArtInABox.net SENDS original art. Use three words to describe your taste and get a new piece of art each month. PRICE $50 a month (minimum 3 months). EcocentricMom.com SENDS “green” mom and baby stuff. Yes, there’s even a box for moms-to-be! It makes a great baby-shower gift. PRICE $21 a month. Goodies.co from Walmart SENDS new snacks. Get five to eight newly created munchies fresh from Walmart’s innovation lab. PRICE $7 a month. JustTheRightBook.com SENDS books. New reads picked just for you. PRICE $49+ a quarter (plus a shipping fee of $3.99 per book). Pawalla.com SENDS pet treats, toys, and supplies. Surprises that suit…

Today it’s not enough for a range to simmer sauces without burning or to evenly bake cakes and cookies. Manufacturers know you’re busy, and they’re including high-tech features that can help you get dinner on the table faster. New Wi-Fi-enabled ovens even let you change settings with a smart phone! Other trends we’ve spotted as new ranges and cooktops roll into our labs: bigger-than-ever oven capacities and smaller price tags on steely pro-style ranges. But not every wow feature is a winner. Turn the page to see what’s really hot—and what’s not.…

WHAT’S NEW Capacities are getting humongous; some we’ve tested are claimed to have more than 6 cubic feet, but that includes space you can’t use. So don’t focus on small differences. We count only usable capacity. WHAT OUR TESTS FOUND The Frigidaire Symmetry, at right, offers two same-sized ovens, each of which was roomy enough for us to cook a hefty 26-pound turkey. Kenmore’s single-oven range 92163 (far right) also has lots of space, with a warming drawer that’s convenient when you’re waiting for hungry stragglers to arrive home. SHOULD YOU BUY IT? Sure, especially if you have a large family or entertain crowds. FRIGIDAIRE SYMMETRY FGEF302TNF Price $1,400 Why we like it This 30-inch electric smoothtop range has two roomy same-sized ovens. It’s very good at baking and broiling…

WHAT’S NEW Superfast induction cooking has been around for a while, but refinements always catch our attention because nothing beats this technology. In our heating tests of a pot of water, induction was usually 25 percent faster than a regular smoothtop. So when Thermador recently came out with a unique induction-cooking surface that allows you to put your pots anywhere—not just in the designated circles as with other models—we were intrigued. WHAT OUR TESTS FOUND No matter where we put our pans, this cooktop provided fast heat and superb simmering. And when we lifted a pot and moved it, the cooktop “remembered” the setting. Cool! But you can’t heat more than a set number of pots (see below for details). SHOULD YOU BUY IT? Time-starved cooks will love the shape-sensing…

If you’re hungry for new recipe ideas, the last place you might think to look for inspiration is an appliance maker’s website. But those sites are no longer boring, spec-heavy storefronts. Lots of appliance makers’ blogs, Facebook pages, and YouTube channels are loaded with helpful info. Want low-cal smoothie recipes to whip up in your Blendtec blender? Or maybe you’d like to talk with other KitchenAid stand mixer users about their favorite dough-making techniques? You can find all that and more on those sites, including lots of info about new products. Yeah, you’ll also find plenty of ads and other brand propaganda. But if you’re a big fan, you’ll be in good company, and maybe you’ll learn a thing or two. KitchenAid The Kitchenthusiast (blog.kitchenaid.com) BEST FOR Seasonal recipes and…

WHOLE FOODS MARKET GARLIC HUMMUS, $2 (25 cents/oz.) VS. CEDAR’S GARLIC LOVERS HOMMUS, $3.75 (47 cents/oz.) SAVE! 47% per ounce Why the store brand wins The Whole Foods hummus has a nice balance of tahini and lemon flavors, but just a hint of garlic and toasted notes. The Cedar’s has a harsh, bitter garlic taste—and it costs almost twice as much. But it has half the calories. TRACKERS CROSSING 365 2011 CHARDONNAY (Whole Foods), $7 VS. BOGLE 2011 CHARDONNAY, $9 SAVE 29% per bottle Why the store brand wins These are close, but Trackers Crossing’s mix of clean, tart fruit flavors and buttery notes edges out Bogle, which is more intense and a bit sweeter. ARCHER FARMS THAI PEANUT SAUCE (Target), $3.55 (26 cents/oz.) VS. A TASTE OF THAI PEANUT…

2. OSCAR MAYER THICK CUT Price per 16-ounce package $5 Cost per serving 42 cents (one slice) Calories 60 Fat 5 grams Sodium 220 milligrams Tasters’ notes If you like your bacon on the fatty side, these large slices are for you. They have a wood-smoke flavor with some sweetness. 3. GREAT VALUE LOWER SODIUM (Walmart) Price per 16-ounce package $4.30 Cost per serving 43 cents (two slices) Calories 80 Fat 7 grams Sodium 173 milligrams Tasters’ notes This store brand has a nice balance of fat and meat and smoky-sweet flavor, and is a smart choice if you’re watching your sodium. 4. WRIGHT APPLEWOOD Price per 24-ounce package $7.20 Cost per serving 55 cents (two slices) Calories 90 Fat 7 grams Sodium 270 milligrams Tasters’ notes If you like…

Chicken broth is a cooking staple, but who has time to drag out the stockpot and simmer bones and vegetables all day? Besides, the ready-made stuff is cheap and pretty good, as our testers recently found. After sampling 17 products, they decided that any one of them would be fine in most recipes. But our two Smart Picks came closest to the homemade recipe we used for comparison. Nutritionally, all of the tested products were pretty similar—calories ranged from 5 to 20, and fat from 0 to 1 gram per 1-cup serving. Most had around 500 milligrams of sodium or more per serving, about a quarter of the maximum recommended for a day. But some had a lot more and were kicked off our list (see “Also Tested”). We taste-tested…

Although many of these are as tasty as our runners-up, Market Pantry, College Inn (regular), Great Value, and Family Gourmet were knocked out because of higher sodium counts. The others listed below came up short on taste. Swanson and Pacific had soapy and sour notes, respectively. Knorr and Better Than Bouillon were also quite salty. • Market Pantry Chicken Broth (Target)* • College Inn Chicken Broth* • Great Value Chicken Broth (Walmart)* • Family Gourmet Chicken Broth (Family Dollar)* • Swanson Chicken Broth* • Knorr Chicken Flavored Bouillon (cube)* • Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base (paste) • Emeril’s Organic Chicken Flavored Stock • Pacific Organic Free Range Chicken Broth…

Jimmy Dean Delights English Muffin: Turkey Sausage, Egg White & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich, $7.50 for four WHAT’S IN THEM We’ve been searching for a healthy heat-and-eat breakfast sandwich and were intrigued by the TV ad from newcomer Jimmy Dean. It shows a woman who is about to eat a puny bowl of cereal for under 300 calories, then she’s offered one of these sandwiches for about the same calories. Made from real egg whites, cheese, and turkey sausage, each sandwich contains 250 calories, 8 grams of fat, 650 milligrams of sodium, 2 grams of fiber, and 17 grams of protein. Nutritionally, it’s close to other breakfast sandwiches we’ve evaluated, including take-out versions from Dunkin’ Donuts and Kellogg’s Special K Flatbread Breakfast Sandwich, which isn’t very tasty. But the Jimmy Dean…

H ave you ever mumbled to yourself on a particularly stressful day, “This job is killing me”? If you’re always stuck behind a desk, you could be right. Australian researchers recently confirmed that you shouldn’t sit for prolonged periods. They studied more than 222,000 people and found that those who sit for 8 to 11 hours a day are 15 percent more likely to die (from any cause) in the next 2.8 years than people who sit for 4 or fewer hours per day—even if they’re a healthy weight and they exercise regularly. Sitting for more than 11 hours a day increases that risk to 40 percent. We just aren’t designed to sit for long periods, says American Council on Exercise spokeswoman Shirley Archer. Prolonged sitting can leave you stiff…

After the Affordable Care Act was signed in 2010, we bet not too many folks actually read through the whole thing. It’s thousands of pages; when stacked, it’s about a foot high! But now that the most important parts of the law are going into effect, you probably want to know what it all means to you. The good news: Our reporter Nancy Metcalf did the homework for us. She’s been answering questions on our sister site, ConsumerReports.org, for months. Here are her answers to some of the most common questions so that you’ll be informed when it comes time to make your elections this year. We also developed a free online tool you can use for more customized advice. (See page 59 for details.) QSo what exactly is happening,…

Men might complain about shaving, but all they have to do is their face. We have to shave our legs, which make up about half our body—plus our armpits (and sometimes other parts). And buying all those razors, blades, creams, and other products can really add up. We wanted to find out where you can get all of your hair-removal supplies for less. So we sent our secret shoppers to price 24 items at drugstores (CVS and Walgreens), mass retailers (Target and Walmart), and online (Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, and Harmon-Discount.com). We also spot-checked Costco and Sam’s Club. The results: It pays to order online. Amazon was the big winner. Some stores came close, but the highest prices were often much higher, especially at CVS. Best deals For our scan, we priced…

Bored with the same old TV shows or tired of paying for cable or satellite service? Then head on over to the Internet, where you can stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix and other online services whenever you want to watch them. All you need is an account (more about the services in “What to Watch,” on page 72) and a streaming media player connected to your television. Many of these sleek little boxes cost well under $100. (You can also use a Blu-ray player with streaming capability, or a gaming console such as the Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Wii, or Sony PlayStation. And some TVs even have built-in streaming capability.) We recently tested 16 players. All can deliver great picture quality (provided you have a fast broadband connection to…

LAB UPDATE THE BEST TV EVER! OLED is here—a brand-new TV technology (it stands for “organic light-emitting diode”) that promises to be a game-changer. It combines the deep blacks, high contrast, and unlimited viewing angles of plasma TVs with the bright images, slim designs, and energy efficiency of LCD sets with LED backlights. Our lab pros checked out one model, the Samsung KN55S9CAFXZA, $9,000, and say it’s the best TV they’ve ever seen. It has a distinctive design, with a curved screen that Samsung claims creates a more immersive viewing experience. The next OLED TV we’re testing is the LG 55EA9800, which uses a slightly different type of technology. Its expected price is also up there, at $10,000. But stay tuned. As with all brand new technologies, prices start sky-high…

Who wouldn’t want to sign up for a store loyalty program? They reward you for shopping. Not surprisingly, a recent survey found that Americans average about 22 loyalty program memberships per household. We reviewed programs from nine national retailers to figure out which are best for what benefits—plus the fine print you need to know. (Some programs require you to sign up for a credit or debit card; those are noted with an asterisk.) Target REDcard* BEST PERK 5 percent off in-store and online purchases HOW IT WORKS Just shop and pay with your card. WHY JOIN? In addition to 5 percent discounts on just about everything, you get free shipping on online purchases, plus 30 extra days for returns. The debit card gives you all the perks and none…