Prudent Reviews is a product review website founded by Andrew Palermo. The goal is to help shoppers find the best cookware, kitchen gear, appliances, and home products through real hands-on testing and honest reviews.
Hi, I’m Andrew Palermo, the founder and editor of Prudent Reviews. Since 2018, I’ve personally tested more than 700 home products and published the results in detailed, hands-on reviews. I run every test myself, and I shoot every photo and video myself. Hundreds of thousands of people follow that work across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, where I show the testing on camera.
Where It Started
I’ve loved two things for as long as I can remember: cooking and science. In third grade, I ran my first product test without realizing that’s what it was, comparing microwave popcorn to popcorn popped in a pot on the stove to see which actually came out better. (The stovetop won, easily.) That instinct, to test a claim instead of taking it at face value, never went away. I’m naturally skeptical, especially when something sounds too good to be true, but open-minded enough to give anything an honest chance and let the results decide.
I studied marketing at the University of Miami, and my first job out of college was at a media company, IDG (International Data Group), which produces magazines, websites, and events for IT professionals. From there I moved to the marketing team at Liberty Mutual, a Fortune 100 insurance company.
Those jobs taught me how products get marketed and sold. And once you see that side of it, you start noticing how often the claims on the box, the ads, and even some reviews don’t tell the full story.
I was already the type of person who over-researched everything before buying it. Clutter stresses me out, and I’d rather buy one good thing that lasts than waste money replacing mediocre stuff over and over.
So in 2018, I started Prudent Reviews to answer the questions I had as a shopper. Is this actually worth the money? Does it work as well as the brand says? What are the downsides nobody’s talking about?
At first, I built it on nights and weekends while I still had my full-time job. Four years later, I left that job to run Prudent Reviews full-time.
Why Trust Me
A few things never change here, no matter the product or the category:
I test everything myself. I buy the products I review, put them through weeks of real use and controlled testing, and base every verdict on what actually happened in front of me. You can see exactly how I test on this page.
It’s all real. Every photo and every video on this site is one I shot myself. Every data point comes from a test I actually ran, and every verdict is my own honest opinion. I don’t use AI to generate images, fake test footage, or invent results. When a review says a pan scorched an egg or a knife lost its edge fast, it’s because I watched it happen.
I don’t take sponsored reviews in the categories I cover. I get offers to be paid for recommendations and link placements almost every day, and I turn them down. If I recommend a product, it’s because it earned the spot, not because a brand paid for it.
I’d rather be right than fast. I publish fewer reviews than the sites that churn out content at scale, because doing it properly takes weeks. And once a review is live, I keep it updated as products change, so what you read reflects what’s on the shelf today.
Off the Clock
I live in a Massachusetts suburb with my wife and our three kids, and when I’m not testing gear, most of my time goes to them, usually coaching their sports or finding any excuse to get everyone outside. I’m also a huge college football fan, and a die-hard Miami Hurricanes fan going back to my days at the U. Go Canes!
People always ask what I like to cook. My greatest hits: braised short ribs, a good steak, crispy chicken thighs, ribs, and roasted potatoes.
Have a product you want me to test? Reach out, or find me on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. I read every comment and answer as many as I can.
