Today we’re debating the beloved Scrub Daddy. Plus: the best dish soap and a great deal on our favorite portable charger.

Elissa Sanci/NYT Wirecutter

Since its debut on Shark Tank over a decade ago, this smiling sponge has gained a cult following. But as uniquely adorable as the Scrub Daddy may be, it also costs up to 10 times more than a regular ol’ Scotch-Brite sponge, a tried-and-true Wirecutter favorite.

To see if it’s truly worth the price tag, we pitted it against a Scotch-Brite to see which could scrub scorched skillets, scuff marks, and dried dirt better.

The winning sponge→

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Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

After more than 65 hours of research and testing nearly 30 different dishwashing soaps, we’ve found one that cuts through grease better than the rest—and rinses clean from sponges without leaving a mildewy scent.

The dish soap we use daily in the Wirecutter test kitchen→

The 15 best gifts for spicy-food lovers Spicy-food enthusiasts of all levels will delight in (and sweat over) these hot sauces, noodles, condiments, and more→

Hotel hair dryers are notoriously bad. This travel dryer is better. It’s lightweight, quiet, and folds down to be quite compact→

The best cutting boards Including a beautiful wood board that’s gentle on knives→

Photo illustration by NYT Wirecutter; source photo by iStock/Ruangrit

It’s OK to reach for the food sitting in the back of your freezer, says Emily Weinstein, editor-in-chief of New York Times Cooking. Opting for something pre-made, then making it your own by adding rice or a pack of noodles, can help take some of the pressure off cooking every night.

This week on The Wirecutter Show, Emily chats with our hosts about how to overcome the monotony of weeknight dinners and how to deal with picky eaters. One tip? Start with an ingredient that everyone (for the most part) enjoys, like pasta or chicken. Then find a recipe that’s easily customizable.

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter, Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter

Our experts have spent hours upon hours testing the best gear to get your devices charged fast—and we’re seeing two of our favorite recs on sale right now.

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