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The Best Tinned Fish

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Is there any food as versatile or varied as seafood in a can? Depending on what’s in it, a tin of fish could be equally at home on a camping trip, at a cocktail party, in a lunch box, or served at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Maybe that explains the recent surge in popularity in the US (elsewhere, it never went out of style). Maybe the pretty packaging has something to do with it too. Maybe it’s all that plus the simple truth, already well-known to many, that good tinned fish can be a treat on the level of expertly crafted charcuterie or finely aged cheese. That’s the kind of tinned fish that this guide covers. It does not include plain tuna and plain sardines , for instance — though you can find truly special versions of these, too. They are staples in their own right, and have their own dedicated guides. For now, we’re focused on tinned fish that feels special or doesn’t fit neatly in a category. In all I, along with several other members of Wirecutter’s kitch...

6 Very Giftable Bags We’re Eyeing

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In this edition of The Gift, we share very cute bags we love, including a structured leather handbag, a fun-loving tote, and a slouchy purse that checks all the boxes. Is there a sartorial staple more intimate than a bag? Cradling my side, mine holds the keys to my life — literally and figuratively. Variably, its contents include cash, credit cards, government identification, dog-eared books, at least three lip balms, and a shameful mess of faded receipts. Sure, your underthings may hold your private parts, but a bag carries sustenance and secrets. I’m not losing sleep if some bikini bottoms go missing. What a pity then that my current everyday bag is a situationship gone on far too long. Back during a moment of mass disruption, out of office and out of a job, I purchased an affordable and practical black nylon Baggu Cloud Bag . It does the job, but my heart doesn’t skip a beat. I intended it to be a holdover until it made sense to invest in a more soigné leather o...

Is Trader Joe’s Skincare Actually Good?

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Listen and follow The Wirecutter Show Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio Trader Joe's is beloved for its quirky snacks and frozen meals, but its beauty aisle has quietly become a hotspot for budget-friendly skincare and viral "dupes". This week, beauty writer Neha Tandon shares the results of her extensive hands-on testing of Trader Joe’s moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens. She reveals which $10-and-under products are high-performing gems and which popular items missed the mark. This episode covers The $4 Holy Grail: Why the Rose Facial Toner is a highly versatile, multi-use must-have for refreshing skin, setting makeup, and even reviving curly hair. A $7 designer "dupe": How the single-ingredient Marula Facial Oil performs just as beautifully as luxury versions costing six times as much. The absolute misses: Why Neha suggests skipping the "Pine-Sol-esque" tea tree oil cleansing pads ...

The Best Accessories for Your USB-C Laptop

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We've spent dozens of hours testing the best cables, hubs, adapters, and dongles to help you connect your monitors, peripherals, and accessories to your new laptop, even if it has only USB-C ports. Live that dongle life. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/4oe9a2i via IFTTT

The Best 4K Blu-ray Player

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Physical media is struggling , having lost major ground to streaming media over the past several years. As a result, the market for 4K Blu-ray players has shrunk, and few new models have been introduced since 2021. But if you want to take full advantage of a higher-end 4K HDR TV or 4K projector , as well as a higher-end audio system , there’s still no better match than a good 4K Blu-ray player. We recommend the Panasonic DP-UB820 because it offers excellent video quality and a ton of useful features for the price. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/W3pbuh6 via IFTTT

The Best Chicken Coop and Accessories

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Raising chickens is a joy. Hens lay colorful, delicious eggs, they’re delightful to be around, and they’re very photogenic . I often have a few hens surrounding me while I garden, and my daughter’s favorite likes to be picked up for cuddles. But my husband is less charmed. “I’ve spent some of the most disgusting moments of my life in that chicken coop,” he once told me. Behind every glossy photo of a fluffy hen in a spotless designer coop, there are gritty realities that usually involve poop and a lot of expenses . Anyone considering a small backyard flock needs to understand the good, the bad, and the smelly before committing. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/5Jj78p9 via IFTTT

The Best Combination Square

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If you’re planning on doing any carpentry–successfully–you’ll need a way to mark a straight line. After researching at least 20 combination squares and testing six during the final phase of a whole-house remodeling project, we’re convinced that the best option for most people is the Irwin 1794469 12-inch Combination Square . You can find pro versions of this all-purpose marking tool that cost hundreds of bucks, but the Irwin model is a solid alternative that works well for a fraction of the price. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/bBi4d3v via IFTTT