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Savings Experiment: Does the Slap Chop beat a regular knife?
Filed under: Saving Money
We put the Slap Chop to the test against a standard kitchen knife and an electronic food processor. Who won the day? Watch this week's savings experiment and find out, plus read the full review below!
The product: Slap Chop
The price: One and one "free" for $19.95 plus $7.95 each for shipping and handling, bringing the total to $35.85.
The claims: Chop up vegetables, nuts, & fruits, quickly and easily
The Buy-o-meter rating: 1 out of 5
That headset-wearing guy Vince who is slapping and chopping with great excitement must know some secret trick or have had some kind of special advantage with the food he was using. Maybe it was pre-cut. Who knows? But outside that studio, WalletPop put Slap Chop to the test -- both in a regular kitchen and the kitchen of someone who chops for a living.
The result: not so good. Slap Chop couldn't cut through the outside of a tomato. It left a tomato cut-apart inside while still held together by a cut, but not cut-through skin. Other items on the chopping block, such as an onion -- unlike Vince's experience -- had to be prepped so much for slapping, it was hardly worth the bother of adding another tool to the mix. Slap Chop did work well for chopping nuts in its little cup attachment -- but that was no great advantage over simply putting the nuts in a plastic bag and hitting them a few times with a kitchen hammer or the bottom of a pan, for that matter.
To really put Slap Chop to the ultimate chopping challenge, we brought the contraption to the kitchen of Emma Acevedo, who makes salsa fresh every day at Sol of Mexico, a tortilla shop she owns in Worcester, Mass. The 40-year-old business owner has been making salsa since she was a young girl in Mexico.
Emma put Slap Chop up against her traditional tool, an inexpensive chef's knife (about $15), and a food processor (about $100).
The food processor had one clear advantage over the knife and Slap Chop in the making of salsa -- which involves chopping tomatoes, onions, garlic and cilantro -- speed. Acevedo said when she makes a batch of salsa using 50-60 tomatoes, it can take her 45 minutes to cut and then chop them with her knife. With the food processor, it takes just a few minutes. But the resulting product did not meet her standards. And, she said, customers complained about it.
The reason: The tomatoes became too watery and the cilantro browned after going through the food processor. Watery salsa doesn't taste as good and, Acevedo said, it spoils more quickly.
Using the knife -- an eight-inch chef's knife that is regularly sharpened (she uses an inexpensive manual sharpening tool) -- takes some practice. But Acevedo said in short order anyone can get the hang of chopping and achieve an acceptable speed working with far fewer tomatoes than she does.
Between the knife, the food processor and Slap Chop, Acevedo said it was no contest. The winner: the $15 knife. Second place, the more expensive, but faster food processor, with a lower quality end product. And in last, Slap Chop, which she found annoying and ineffective and could not justify the $19.95 list price or the nearly $36 actual price tag if you including shipping costs.
For more Savings Experiment videos, see our main page.
The product: Slap Chop
The price: One and one "free" for $19.95 plus $7.95 each for shipping and handling, bringing the total to $35.85.
The claims: Chop up vegetables, nuts, & fruits, quickly and easily
The Buy-o-meter rating: 1 out of 5
That headset-wearing guy Vince who is slapping and chopping with great excitement must know some secret trick or have had some kind of special advantage with the food he was using. Maybe it was pre-cut. Who knows? But outside that studio, WalletPop put Slap Chop to the test -- both in a regular kitchen and the kitchen of someone who chops for a living.
The result: not so good. Slap Chop couldn't cut through the outside of a tomato. It left a tomato cut-apart inside while still held together by a cut, but not cut-through skin. Other items on the chopping block, such as an onion -- unlike Vince's experience -- had to be prepped so much for slapping, it was hardly worth the bother of adding another tool to the mix. Slap Chop did work well for chopping nuts in its little cup attachment -- but that was no great advantage over simply putting the nuts in a plastic bag and hitting them a few times with a kitchen hammer or the bottom of a pan, for that matter.
To really put Slap Chop to the ultimate chopping challenge, we brought the contraption to the kitchen of Emma Acevedo, who makes salsa fresh every day at Sol of Mexico, a tortilla shop she owns in Worcester, Mass. The 40-year-old business owner has been making salsa since she was a young girl in Mexico.
Emma put Slap Chop up against her traditional tool, an inexpensive chef's knife (about $15), and a food processor (about $100).
The food processor had one clear advantage over the knife and Slap Chop in the making of salsa -- which involves chopping tomatoes, onions, garlic and cilantro -- speed. Acevedo said when she makes a batch of salsa using 50-60 tomatoes, it can take her 45 minutes to cut and then chop them with her knife. With the food processor, it takes just a few minutes. But the resulting product did not meet her standards. And, she said, customers complained about it.
The reason: The tomatoes became too watery and the cilantro browned after going through the food processor. Watery salsa doesn't taste as good and, Acevedo said, it spoils more quickly.
Using the knife -- an eight-inch chef's knife that is regularly sharpened (she uses an inexpensive manual sharpening tool) -- takes some practice. But Acevedo said in short order anyone can get the hang of chopping and achieve an acceptable speed working with far fewer tomatoes than she does.
Between the knife, the food processor and Slap Chop, Acevedo said it was no contest. The winner: the $15 knife. Second place, the more expensive, but faster food processor, with a lower quality end product. And in last, Slap Chop, which she found annoying and ineffective and could not justify the $19.95 list price or the nearly $36 actual price tag if you including shipping costs.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
10-26-2009 @ 5:41PM
skippie said...
The $15 knife wins with 'regular sharpening'. How much is it to sharpen the knife? Or, how much is a good knife sharpener? How often is regular sharpening? So, that part is a little misleading. What is the true cost of the $15 knife.?
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 7:11PM
Clayton said...
Agreed on use of the knife above all other tools. A little training and people can learn to use an 8 inch chef's knife for most any cutting task in the kitchen. Although the 8 inch knife from Global in the demonstration actually costs about $130, this is a quality tool that is worth splurging on. However, I recommend the Wusthof classic line for its weight, balance and high carbon steel.
Knife sharpening should be done 1 or 2 times a year, easily with a 2 stage sharpener for about $20. http://www.cookswarehouse.com/productcart/pc/W%C3%BCsthof-2-Stage-Knife-Sharpener-21p1224.htm
10-27-2009 @ 5:29PM
Bruce Watson said...
Clayton-
Actually, Cooking.com is currently charging $99.95 for the 8-inch Global chef's knife, and Amazon has a comparable price. Like you, I love the Wusthof -- in fact, it's the other knife I show in the video. However, in terms of weight, ease of use and wrist fatigue, I have to go with the Global.
Thanks for writing in!
10-30-2009 @ 8:14AM
fondots said...
if you own a sharpening steel your knife will always be sharp. after you are done cutting w/e it is you are cutting, a several strokes across the steel on both sides of the blade will keep it just as sharp as the day you bought it. or you could use seraded knives, that never need to be sharpened, and as a chef for 11 years id reccomend serraded for tomatoes anyway.
10-30-2009 @ 1:35PM
San Diegan said...
P...lease, a mini electric food chopper DOES NOT cost between $40 to $100 unless perhaps you buy a Cuisinart. You can find several at Target for under $10. By far the easiest and cheapest way to chop foods. I use mine to chop onions, garlic, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, herbs, etc. So much faster than using a knife and all the parts are dishwasher safe. I love mine. I highly recommend them.
10-30-2009 @ 1:54PM
Pastor Mark said...
A knife sharpener can be bought at a Dollar Store. (Called a Steel) The are easy to use. To ask how much they cost is like asking "How much is a car?" It depends on what kind you buy. Electric ones cost more, but are not as good as the steel. They are just easier to use I guess... (smile)
Pastor Mark Wilkinson
www.SalvationFirst.com
10-30-2009 @ 2:10PM
hookmrl said...
Duh I have been using a regular knife for 40 years take you plastic shit cop back to where ever it came from
10-30-2009 @ 8:11PM
Masenko said...
err... this thing has been around for a while, and things like it have been around for years. and no, its not that great.
10-30-2009 @ 11:48PM
jj said...
A steel does not sharpen a knife it hones the edge. You need to have any descent knife sharpened PROFESSIONALLY often depending on use never sharpen a knife yourself because you can end up doing alot of damage to the knife.
11-01-2009 @ 10:46AM
Travis Hoffmann said...
You're wrong. A ceramic steel is about $10. It will actually sharpen the knife is used correctly.
11-06-2009 @ 12:06PM
Robert Martin said...
You need a knife sharperner anyway. What are you thinking?
11-06-2009 @ 1:43PM
Hugh said...
Ok, kids, I'm seeing a lot of bad info here, so listen up. A steel will help maintain the blade's edge, but a periodic sharpening (depending on usage) is also required if you own a good quality high-carbon steel knife. I use two whetstones, one coarse - one fine, and my knives are all razor sharp. Learn to use a whetstone. You'll save money and have sharp knives. Dull knives are dangerous. BTW, anyone who bought the SlapChop SHOULD be slapped.
10-27-2009 @ 9:13AM
Amber Tyler said...
Love This Experiment! Keep Them coming
Reply
10-30-2009 @ 12:58PM
Cyna said...
These types of reviews of infomercials are becoming the rage. I found a website called notinfomercial.com. They rate many of the products seen in infomercials.. I think it's worth looking at.
They agreed about the use of a knife.
10-30-2009 @ 1:23PM
cyna said...
sorry........... should be infonotmercial.com............ the site is great.
10-30-2009 @ 6:59AM
Christine said...
I have a Zyliss (make in Switzerland) chopper which is similar to the Slap Chop. i LOVE it. There is a little prep work involved, but no more than you would for a food processor. It's quick and easy and I take it apart and put it in the dishwasher. I think one of the reasons the Slap Chop did not test well is because you were not hitting it hard enough. I pound the daylights out of mine with quick and strong strokes. Not only do I get my onion chopped up before the tears start, but it is a great way to get out some frustration :-)
Reply
10-30-2009 @ 7:12AM
suz said...
well, i was one of the gullible ones who fell for the "buy one get one free", and believe me.... they lied and said i had hit the "deluxe" set with cutting board and cheese grater, and with shipping and handling, i ended up paying 63 dollars for a lousy product... yes, the chef's knife is much quicker and easier to clean... they had charged me 28 dollars just for S & H !!! when i called, they offered $15 to spare me the headache and cost of returning it... at that point, i didn't trust them to give me a refund, so i took the 15... and now have thrown everything out... could not, in good conscience bring it to goodwill and give someone false hopes of a nice gift. they should really be called out on their scam! Thank you for letting me vent! and thanks for doing this test... good to know that my findings were mirrored in your test.
Reply
10-31-2009 @ 1:45AM
hammerclaw3 said...
If you use it like he does (watch the video ) he is usually pushing it down not slapping it that dowes not work --of course the one that vince offer sells might be not to good but zyliss and oxo are great --couldnt live without one -for me it beats a knife hands down once you size the pieces but you have to slap it not push it like he is doing.
10-30-2009 @ 7:07AM
Michele said...
Quick comment on the Kinoki Foot Pads. You note how the pads do turn color....that doesn't really prove or mean anything as they could be treated with something that would cause the pads to change color by reacting to something such as body heat, creating the illusion. I'd be interested to know if the color is the same throughout all the pads or if it lessened as you used them, which I imagine if they were removing toxins, the toxins would lessen so as the color should also. Just a thought.
Reply
10-30-2009 @ 10:26AM
Marty said...
I read a report that tested those foot pads after use. No toxins were found on the pad. They are useless.