How I compare products

Finding honest product information is harder than it should be. Manufacturer pages contradict themselves, specifications get copied from one model to another by mistake, discontinued models are still listed for sale, and bold claims about energy savings are often based on tests you can't check. This page sets out exactly how I decide what appears on simply-utility – and what my comparisons can't tell you.

Stage 1 – every product must pass all six checks

Current model – listed on the manufacturer's UK website and not marked as discontinued on the date I check.
Genuinely available in the UK – sold on amazon.co.uk, in stock, with a UK plug, and sold by Amazon or the brand's official store.
Safety – not listed on the UK Government's product safety recall list, and no manufacturer safety notice, on the date I check.
Documented – the manufacturer states at least five of these seven: capacity, power, temperature range, timer, dimensions, weight and warranty.
Established with buyers – at least 100 customer ratings averaging 4.2 or higher on amazon.co.uk when I check. I use this only to decide what's worth comparing; I don't reproduce ratings or reviews on this site.
Warranty – at least one year's UK warranty.

Stage 2 – every comparison must be fair

Products in a table are the same type and a similar size.
Three or four products per comparison, one per brand, and no brand in more than two comparisons in a category.
A spread of prices: budget, mid-range and premium.
Amazon Basics models are included where there's a matching model, as a budget benchmark – they must still pass every Stage 1 check.
No brand pays to be included, and commission plays no part in the selection.
Advertising on Amazon plays no part either. A product appearing as a "Sponsored" listing, carrying an "Amazon's Choice" or "Best Seller" badge, or being on special offer doesn't count towards selection. I look products up by their model number, and they must pass the same checks as everything else.

Stage 3 – how the data is handled

Every figure comes from the manufacturer's website or user manual, and the sources are listed under each table. The only exception: if a manufacturer doesn't publish a figure itself but sells through its own official store on Amazon, I may use that store's listing, and I label it as such.
When sources disagree, I use the user manual first, then the specification table, then marketing copy, and note the conflict.
If a manufacturer doesn't state something, you'll see a dash (–). I never estimate.
I use AI tools to help gather data, and I check the figures against their sources before publishing.
I aim to recheck each comparison every three months. The date it was last checked is shown on every page.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@simply-utility.co.uk. I'll check it and correct it as quickly as I can, usually within a week.

What my comparisons can't tell you

I don't test products hands-on. I can't judge cooking results, noise or long-term reliability.
Specifications are the manufacturer's own. They're self-declared and occasionally wrong or inconsistent.
Popularity isn't proof of quality. Customer ratings are a filter, not a verdict, and they can be manipulated.
Only products sold on amazon.co.uk are included, so good products sold elsewhere may be missing.
Things change. Models are replaced, recalls can be issued and stock comes and goes. Each page is a snapshot from its check date – always check the manufacturer's details and any safety notices before you buy.

The information on this site is provided in good faith as a guide. It isn't professional advice.

"Best" highlighting in tables

Where a higher figure is clearly better (capacity, maximum timer, number of presets, warranty length and the widest temperature range), the highest value is marked "Best". Equal values are all marked. Nothing is marked unless at least two products state that specification. Power, weight and size are never marked, because whether more or less is better depends on your kitchen.