Molly Cleary

Molly is Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor and Certified Expert on Appliances and Cookware. Since she started testing products four years ago, she has evaluated hundreds of small appliances in both controlled test environments at the Ideal Home test facility and in her own kitchen, giving her insight into what actually works for home cooks.

Since joining in 2022, she's worked to apply real-world testing to every piece of kitchen-related buying advice you see on the website, which has involved reviewing everything from ice-cream makers to mixing bowls.

While her expertise spans everything you would want to hand in a kitchen, she's particularly known on the team for her comprehensive knowledge of air fryers, having systematically tested pretty much every model released since 2022. She’s tested bestselling products from the biggest names in coffee machines and cooking appliances, including the likes of Ninja, De’Longhi, Sage, Breville, Russell Hobbs and more.

To stay ahead of the next must-have kitchen buy, Molly regularly immerses herself in the world of kitchen technology, from exploring the research and testing facilities of industry leaders like Ninja Kitchen to attending cooking classes with Le Creuset and heading off to major consumer shows like IFA in Berlin.

Her hands-on approach and deep technical understanding allow her to spot not just what's new, but what's actually going to make a difference in your home when it comes to new kitchen tech. Before joining her treasured Ideal Home, she developed her expertise whilst working on the editorial teams for Real Homes, Homes & Gardens, and Livingetc.

IDEAL HOME TRUTHS

Where’s your happy place?
The beach! I love finding a great new beach but I have a real soft spot for UK ones (rain or shine!) so I'll pick one either in my hometown of Bournemouth or in Cornwall.

What’s your home addiction?
Kitchen gadgets are my ultimate home addiction, even outside of work time. Luckily I have a section of floor-to-ceiling open shelving in my flat where I can stash my favourites, but I still find myself overflowing with sourdough jars and herb keepers. It's a great perk of the job!

What is your next home project?
I need to find a way to display my cast-iron cookware stylishly. The farmhouse-style kitchen of my dreams with open shelving is off the cards for now, so I'm looking for a way to replicate the look in my rental kitchen for a bit less.