About Smart Plate Recipes

Why I Started This Site

I remember standing in my kitchen three years ago, staring at a $300 "smart" blender that had just died mid-smoothie, and thinking: "I fell for the marketing again." I had drawers full of single-use gadgets, warped non-stick pans, and an air fryer that was more trouble than it was worth. I was tired of wasting money on overhyped kitchen junk that promised to change my life but just took up space.

That's when I realized I wasn't alone. Every client I coached, every friend who texted me asking what they should buy, every Reddit thread begging for real recommendations—they all needed the same thing: someone to cut through the noise. Not a corporate buyer pushing sponsored content, but a real cook who had burned herself on faulty handles and scrubbed fifty different rice pots. I started Smart Plate Recipes to be that person. This site exists because you deserve to know what actually works before you spend your money.

About Lisa Hargrove

I graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, but my real education happened in the trenches of professional kitchens where equipment either holds up or gets thrown out. After years of cooking on industrial-grade gear, I moved into meal prep coaching, and that's where I saw the disconnect. Home cooks were buying tools designed for Instagram aesthetics, not Tuesday night dinners. I watched a client struggle with an Instant Pot for six months because no one warned her about the learning curve, and another waste $200 on a "premium" knife set that couldn't hold an edge through a single onion.

For the last decade, I've tested cookware in real home kitchens—my own, my clients', and my mother's chaotic household of five. I've put blenders through three months of daily smoothies, dropped ceramic pans to test durability (accidentally and on purpose), and measured whether that pricey food processor actually saves time or just creates more dishes. I'm obsessive about build quality, warranty service, and whether a gadget earns its cabinet space. When I recommend something, it's because I've already made the expensive mistakes so you don't have to.

What We Cover

This site is for anyone who's tired of guessing in the kitchen goods aisle. Whether you're outfitting your first apartment, upgrading worn-out basics, or searching for the perfect meal prep container that doesn't leak in your bag, I cover gear that solves real problems.

If you cook at home and want tools that last—and you hate reading fake sponsored reviews as much as I do—you're in the right place.

How We Test & Review

Every product I review goes through the same gauntlet: at least one month of regular use in a real kitchen. I don't unbox items, photograph them on a white background, and call it a day. I make Monday morning scrambled eggs in that new pan. I test whether that "dishwasher safe" claim holds up after fifty washes. I check if the air fryer basket actually slides out smoothly when I'm rushing to plate dinner.

My criteria are simple: Does it perform its core function reliably? Is it easy to clean (because life's too short for gadgets with seventeen nooks)? Will it last past the warranty? And most importantly—does it genuinely save time or improve your cooking compared to what you already own?

I do use affiliate links to support this site, but they never influence my ratings. If a product is junk, I'll tell you it's junk, even if it pays a higher commission. My integrity is worth more than a click-through rate.

Get In Touch

Questions about a specific gadget? Want to argue about whether ceramic non-stick is better than carbon steel? Just want to say hi? I'm always happy to hear from readers. Drop me a line at [email protected]—I read every email and do my best to respond within a couple of days.

Questions? Reach us at [email protected]