How We Test and Evaluate Products
Our Mission
As Taste of Home’s shopping editors, we cover products that make everyday life better. Through extensive research and hands-on testing, we strive to deliver thorough and trustworthy product reviews, recommendations and inspiration.
Our Team
Our team of shopping experts and product reviewers has more than 25 combined years of experience in professional product selection and testing. But we’re also everyday shoppers who aim to purchase the best products for the lowest price. Meet our team:
- Katie Bandurski, Deputy Shopping Editor
- Nicole Doster, Head of Editorial
- Mary Henn, Shopping Editor
- Emily Way, Shopping Editor
Why You Should Trust Us
We’ve built a testing program that showcases our commitment to authenticity and rigorous review. Our team of on-location testers methodically yet authentically put products through their paces so that our audience can click “add to cart” with confidence.
Our team’s biggest responsibility is to our readers. You can trust that when a product appears on our site, it’s been hand-chosen by one of our shopping experts, each with years of experience under their belt. We’re truly fans of every single recommendation we publish—we’ll never push a product we find faulty or unworthy of coverage.
We’re always on the lookout for the latest products and brands that can make your lives easier and your days brighter. We also consult leading professionals in the fields of food, kitchenware and home to incorporate their tips into our work.
How We Select and Test Products
As shopping experts, we consider testing products one of the most important—and most fun!—parts of the job. After all, how can we recommend products in good faith without getting our hands on them ourselves?
Whether we’re sampling meal delivery subscription boxes or pitting toasters against one another to see which achieves the perfect shade, we treat each product with the care and journalistic curiosity it deserves.
When possible, we test products side by side with similar competitors. This ensures we are comparing qualities our readers care the most about, such as price point, accessibility, durability and design. We also factor in reviews from across the internet from real, everyday people to form a more complete picture of a product’s worthiness.
Some of the key qualities we evaluate:
- Packaging and Delivery: When you order a meal delivery service or coffee subscription, you want the product to taste good, but what about the company’s shipping speed, customer service or packaging?
- Set-Up: Does the product require assembly, installation or initial setup before use? We evaluate how intuitive the process is, how long it takes and whether instructions are clear and easy to follow.
- Performance: We know marketing claims don’t always measure up, which is why our most important tactic is to assess how the product performs in real-world use. Our testers use each item for multiple days in a variety of conditions.
- Care: How easy is the product to clean, maintain or store? Does upkeep require special tools, replacement parts or ongoing maintenance? We answer these questions so you don’t find out the hard way.
- Price: Not every product is worth your hard-earned money. That’s why we compare product prices and ensure the quality, performance, and overall experience justify the cost.
- Longevity: Most products need to work more than once, and even more still should last for years. In addition to our rigorous initial evaluations, we keep testing products, incorporating those vacuums, espresso machines and kitchen mats into our lives to see how they hold up to continuous use.
How We Make Money
Our website participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase or take certain actions through links on our site. However, it’s important to note that our participation in these programs does not influence our editorial content.
We maintain editorial independence and the inclusion of any product or brand on our lists is based on our assessment of their quality, value and relevance to our readers. We are committed to transparently sharing products and services that we believe will be of interest and benefit to our audience.
To learn more, see our editorial team’s comprehensive policies and procedures.
Awards
- Winner of CAPS Fastest Growing Publisher, 2022
- Nominee for CAPS Best Evergreen Article, 2022 and 2023
Work With Us
For all partnerships and editorial inquiries: [email protected]
For more information about TMB: https://www.trustedmediabrands.com/
