Which skillet is best?

If you spend any time in the kitchen, chances are you rely on a skillet for cooking many types of food. Occasional cooks and skilled chefs alike appreciate the versatility of this useful tool when it comes to stovetop cooking.

When you find the right size, material and price tag, your new skillet will likely become your go-to cookware essential, whether you’re frying up a quick lunch for one or preparing a dish for the family. Our top pick, the All-Clad Fry Pan, can survive high oven temperatures and is dishwasher safe.

What to know before you buy a skillet

Frequency of use

Budget-priced pans are okay for occasional use, but durable, high-quality skillets will withstand frequent cooking.

Lid vs. no lid

Not all skillets have lids, but models that do are worth it for cooking dishes that need to be covered while on the stove.

Size

Skillets come in different sizes, and some of the most common are 8, 10 and 12 inches.

Location

It’s no surprise that skillets are made for cooking on a stovetop, but some are made of materials such as stainless steel or cast iron that you can use in the oven. However, keep in mind that some skillet handles are not oven-proof.

What to look for in a quality skillet

Materials

Aluminum: These pans are affordable and lightweight, but some have longevity concerns. Leaching of the metal is also an issue, especially if the skillet isn’t anodized.

Stainless steel: Stainless steel skillets are strong and made to last. Some can even be used in the oven, provided the handles aren’t coated in plastic. Although food sticking to the surface is a concern, some modern skillets have finishes designed to prevent this.

Copper: These skillets are pricey, but they look as good as they cook. However, they aren’t quite as durable as pans made of other materials.

Nonstick

Although nonstick surfaces are prone to scratches, they’re popular because they’re easy to cook with and clean. Many nonstick pans are also quite affordable.

How much you can expect to spend on a skillet

Regardless of the material you choose, you can find a quality skillet for $20-$50, with some higher-end models falling in the $80-$120 range. The exception is copper, which is typically priced at $50 and up.

Skillets FAQ

Is there a skillet that can easily go from stovetop to grill grate?

A. Not all skillets can handle the intense direct heat of a grill, but one made of cast iron can. In fact, these pots and pans have been used to cook over open flames for centuries because they can withstand temperatures well over 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

What are some tips for maintaining a skillet with a nonstick surface?

A. To extend the longevity of your nonstick skillet, you can use only utensils made of nylon, silicone or wood to stir and serve food. In addition, washing your skillet by hand with a soft sponge and mild dish detergent will help protect the finish.

What’s the best skillet to buy?

Top skillet

All-Clad Fry Pan

What you need to know: This well-made, versatile skillet has a lid and a justifiably higher price tag, considering its features.

What you’ll love: It is crafted of durable stainless steel and aluminum with a surface that resists sticking. It can handle high oven temperatures and be cleaned in the dishwasher. It includes a limited lifetime warranty.

What you should consider: Frequent overheating can discolor the pan.

Top skillet for the money

T-fal Nonstick Fry Pan

What you need to know: This is the best pick if you need a decent pan at a price that won’t break the bank.

What you’ll love: This is a practical skillet at the lower end of the price scale. Most foods easily slide off the nonstick surface.

What you should consider: The curved surface isn’t ideal for all foods, and the nonstick coating can scratch.

Worth checking out

Lodge Skillet

What you need to know: With proper cooking steps and care, this quality cast-iron skillet won’t disappoint.

What you’ll love: The cast iron is pre-seasoned and manufactured by a company known for quality cookware. It is built to last, even when cooking at high temperatures.

What you should consider: Using it takes a little trial and error if you aren’t used to cooking with cast iron. Food can burn or stick fairly easily.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Which mini projector is best?

If you’ve always wanted the full cinematic experience without having to spend a fortune on a custom home theater, a mini projector is the perfect alternative. These space-saving and portable devices can connect to most smartphones, laptops, tablets and other modern electronics to project high-quality videos and images.

A mini projector’s small size makes it great for tight spaces or apartment living. If you’re in the market for one of the best mini smart projectors, the LG PF50KA Wireless Smart DLP Projector is a highly rated choice.

What to know before you buy a mini projector

Usage

Mini projectors aren’t strictly limited to watching feature-length films and TV shows. Many people will actually utilize these handy devices to display slideshows, reports, briefings or their computer screen in office settings.

Depending on how you intend to use your mini projector, you can base your purchasing decision on the features that make most sense for your lifestyle. Higher-resolution models are often better suited for at-home entertainment purposes.

Image size

Every projector states its maximum image size that can be achieved without sacrificing resolution. The majority of mini projectors have a “screen size” between 60 and 170 inches. This is always measured diagonally from the top to the bottom corner. Be sure you have adequate space to accommodate the projector’s image.

Display location

Since there is no physical screen, a mini projector will need a clear, blank, flat surface to project images. Some people prefer to set up a separate projection screen to maximize quality, while others prefer to simply use a large blank wall.

What to look for in a quality mini projector

Resolution

The higher the resolution, the clearer and sharper the display. For the best HD quality resolution, look for models that have a native resolution of at least 1920 x 1080. This will allow them to project in full HD. Others may support 1080p resolution videos but end up reducing the quality to meet their more limited capabilities. You can occasionally find high-end mini projectors with 4K resolution.

Ease of transportation

One of the best parts about mini projectors is their ability to be moved from place to place. If you plan on traveling with your projector or changing its location often, pay attention to the size and weight so you can find a model that easily fits in your bag or luggage.

Device compatibility

There are plenty of mini projectors that feature wireless connectivity so you can pair your device effortlessly. Other ways to connect your device directly to the mini projector include USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, VGA and other common connection ports.

Some options may also allow you to control the device using a convenient smartphone app.

Brightness

A mini projector needs to be bright enough to effectively display your videos or images, which is why you should pay attention to the lumen rating. Most models will have between 100 and 1,000 ANSI lumens. The higher the lumen rating, the easier it is to see in bright settings.

Battery life

Certain mini projectors will be powered via a rechargeable battery, while others may need to be plugged in. Some may have the ability to utilize both power methods. If using a battery-powered mini projector, make sure the battery run time is sufficient for your needs.

Speakers

It is not uncommon for mini projectors to feature built-in speakers, which can come in handy for anyone on the go or those who don’t want to connect external speakers. However, built-in speakers sometimes lack the desired audio quality.

How much you can expect to spend on a mini projector

The cheapest mini projectors can be bought for under $100, while you can expect to spend between $200-$300 for midrange models. High-end mini projectors can retail for well over $500.

Mini projector FAQ

Can you use a mini projector outside?

A. Yes, you can use a mini projector outdoors as long as the display brightness is suitable for the setting. Watching a movie outdoors will likely be better at night or in shaded areas.

How long do mini projector bulbs last?

A. Every mini projector should state the expected lamp life, which is represented by the total number of hours. Many will sport a lamp life between 1,500 and 5,000 hours, while others with efficient LED bulbs can run for up to 30,000 hours. Depending on how often you use your projector, it can often last several years before needing a replacement.

What’s the best mini projector to buy?

Top mini projector

LG PF50KA Wireless Smart DLP Projector

What you need to know: This mini projector from a well-known and reliable brand can produce HD images no matter your location.

What you’ll love: Weighing just over 2 pounds, this highly portable model connects wirelessly so you can easily stream TV shows and movies. Plus, the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio and 100-inch screen size make for a truly cinematic experience.

What you should consider: Users have noted that the zoom function on this projector isn’t the best.

Top mini projector for the money

Kodak Luma 150 Pocket Projector

What you need to know: The affordable Kodak Luma 150 is a thin and compact projector that is great for travel.

What you’ll love: By using an efficient LED light source, this projector has a life span of 30,000 hours. It also makes it easy to connect your device via wired HDMI or USB connections or through its wireless compatibility.

What you should consider: If you’re looking for HD resolution, this may not be the best option.

Worth checking out

Anker Nebula Apollo Projector

What you need to know: This Anker model is a reasonably priced projector with a long battery life for extended viewing.

What you’ll love: Users will enjoy the compact, sleek design and high-quality built-in speaker function. The accompanying smartphone app gives you complete wireless control over this mini projector.

What you should consider: The resolution quality is slightly lower than expected.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Which Nest cameras are best?

If you want a connected home, you may already be a fan of Nest products. The company makes smart devices to help you keep tabs on the many goings-on that occur when you’re not there. Nest of surveillance cameras live up to the company’s reputation for providing well-designed, attractive products that interface easily with a smartphone app. Peace of mind is just one benefit of having a Nest camera in your home. Read on to learn about the other benefits of owning a Nest camera.

What to know before you buy a Nest camera

Nest benefits

Nest cameras offer many advantages over some competing security cameras, including ease of use and clarity of video. What’s more, users can record 24 hours a day without interruptions — many other home surveillance systems only offer recording when movement is detected.

You can access your Nest camera remotely through your Nest phone app. With this feature, you can hear and talk to people or pets on the other side of the camera. With a subscription service, Nest will hold your video feed for up to 30 days. The company also gives you three-hour “snapshots” of what has been going on in your home.

Nest Cameras have a reputation for durability and reliability. Perhaps that’s one reason why they range in price from about $200 to $350, which is slightly more expensive than other surveillance camera options on the market. A Nest camera on the lower end of the price range could double as a baby or pet monitor; it’s easy to set this up with a simple plug into a wall outlet. Higher-end Nest cameras work with an “IQ” that enables them to identify human faces. Nest also offers a service called Nest Aware that can tell the difference between human movement and other movements. It can also learn to identify faces.

Nest camera FAQ

Q. Will a Nest subscription cost me more if I have more than one camera in my home?

A. Yes. With a subscription, Nest requires you to pay for each camera. However, after the first camera, each additional camera can be added to your service at a discounted rate.

Q. Does a Nest camera work with Alexa?

A. Yes. Nest builds connected devices. If you have the Amazon Echo Show, you can access your feed by simply asking Alexa to show you the area of your home it covers.

What’s the best Nest camera to buy?

Top Nest camera

Google Nest Cam Outdoor or Indoor, Battery – 2nd Generation

What you need to know: This Nest camera is made to withstand outdoor weather conditions (though you can also put it inside) and provides a high-quality image.

What you’ll love: It’s attractive and compact, can handle being outdoors, is wire-free and includes a magnetic mount. It’s also easy to install. If there’s an outage of power or Wi-Fi, it will store up to an hour of recorded events.

What you should consider: Though the battery makes installation convenient, some users say it can drain quickly.

Top Nest camera for the money

Nest Indoor Security Camera (2nd generation)

What you need to know: This camera is unobtrusive, easy to set up, and not exorbitantly expensive. It’s a great unit for someone on a budget who would like to keep tabs on home (kids, pets, and so on) when at work or away.

What you’ll love: It works with Alexa. The built-in mic/speaker combo allows you to chat with those at home and also monitor them.

What you should consider: Some customers had difficulty with the camera not recording all events.

Worth checking out

Google Nest Cam with Floodlight

What you need to know: This camera not only provides wide, clear views, but also acts as a security floodlight.

What you’ll love: This particular Nest camera can distinguish between a person, an animal or a vehicle and send alerts to your phone via the Google Home app. You can also customize the light settings and talk through this camera.

What you should consider: It’s the most expensive Nest camera.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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By MEAD GRUVER

A judge sentenced a former Colorado county clerk to nine years behind bars Thursday for leading a voting system data-breach scheme inspired by the rampant false claims that fraud altered the 2020 presidential outcome.

Judge Matthew Barrett handed down the sentence after jurors found Tina Peters guilty in August for allowing a man to misuse a security card to access to the Mesa County election system and for being deceptive about that person’s identity.

The man was affiliated with My Pillow chief executive Mike Lindell, a prominent promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from Trump.

At trial, prosecutors said Peters, a Republican, was seeking fame and became “fixated” on voting problems after becoming involved with those who had questioned the accuracy of the presidential election results.

A one-time hero to election deniers, Peters has been unapologetic about what happened.