What is the best vanilla extract? To find out, we baked sugar cookies and vanilla cupcakes with a dozen of the top vanilla extracts. Which tasted best? Budget-friendly? Organic? FYI: Vanilla extract must have 35% alcohol to be called an extract. Anything less is a vanilla “flavor.” This article explores both vanilla extracts and flavoring with vanilla extract. FYI: we’ve been doing baking taste tests since 1994, reviewing and rating products for families, children and the home. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review (we purchased the vanilla extract tested here with our own money.) Our work is 100% reader-supported!

What are the best cashews? To find out, we tried 9 different brand in a blind taste test. Which were the best lightly salted cashews? Raw cashews? What about organic brands? Here are the ones we thought were best. FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!

What’s the best yeast for baking? For bread machines? What about nutritional yeast? We fired up the bread machine and tried out different yeasts to find the best bets. Here’s what we recommend. FYI: We’ve been reviewing and ratings products for the home, families and kids since 1994. To keep our reviews independent, we don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported. Thanks for reading this article!

It’s hot outside! What are the best sprinklers for kids? To find out, we asked actual kids to try out sprinklers on the lawn! Which were most fun? Here are the ones we’d recommend! FYI: We have been reviewing and rating products for children, families and the home since 1994. We don’t take money or freebies from the brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported.

What are the best trampoline? We surveyed the readers of our parenting books (2 million copies in print) to find the best trampolines. We looked for trampolines that were easy to assemble, durable and, of course, FUN! Here are the ones that are the best bets. FYI: Since 1994, we’ve been rating and reviewing products for families, children and the home. We don’t take money from the brands we review. Our work is 100% reader supported, so we appreciate you reading this article.

What are the best ping pong paddles? We spoke with 17 ping pong enthusiasts among our book readers (1.3 million strong!) to find out their favorite ping pong paddles. Which were best for beginners? More advanced table tennis fans? Best budget-friendly finds? Here are the ones we’d recommend to you! FYI: Since 1994, we’ve been rating and review products for families, children and the home. We don’t take money or freebies from brands we review—that keeps our reviews independent. Our work is 100% reader-supported . . . so we greatly appreciate you reading this article!

What’s the best gas can? To find out, we tried several brands. Then we asked our parent readers for their favorites—especially those folks who’ve been through a hurricane or two! That’s when gas cans become a hot commodity. After all that research, here are the ones we’d recommend. FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!

What are the best pops and candy for pregnant women? We took 20 of the most popular ones on the market today and asked a panel of pregnant women which ones they liked best. We ranked them on quality, flavor and value. FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!

What’s the best premium sunscreen? You’ve probably seen these brands touted on social media. But how do they work in the real world? To find out, we took out a second mortgage on our house and purchased some popular premium sunscreens. To keep it fair, we did a blind test—we slathered on samples without knowing which brands were which! We then talked to a dermatologist to their take on the ingredients. Here are the ones we’d recommend. FYI: We’ve been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don’t take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!