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I tried 5 'As Seen On TV' products under $20 and found that some were a complete failure

I tried 5 'As Seen On TV' products under $20 and found that some were a complete failure

The Press 2 Paste toothpaste dispenser seemed like a slightly more innovative way to brush my teeth in the morning, so I decided to give it a try.

The Press 2 Paste toothpaste dispenser came with the dispenser, an added toothbrush holder, and instructions.

I was slightly confused about how to put my toothpaste tube into the dispenser but was able to figure it out by inserting it and squeezing until toothpaste was released.

According to the instructions, I should have been good to go.

However, I ran into a few issues.

First, the dispenser refused to dispense any toothpaste onto my brush.

A small amount managed to drip onto my brush from when I squeezed the toothpaste tube into the dispenser, but overall this product seemed like a failure to me.

I barely got a dollop of toothpaste onto my brush.

I ran into another problem when I tried to remove the holder from my wall — the adhesive on the back was so strong and sticky, I had to wet it and pry the dispenser off with the toothbrush. Even still, goopy adhesive residue was left behind. I wasn't happy with this product.

One of the kitchen products I tried was the Perfect Potato Slicer.

For just $3.99 plus shipping and handling, the Perfect Potato Slicer was the cheapest "As Seen On TV" item I tried.

It claims to be able to slice a potato into perfect fry-shaped wedges.

At first, I was nervous about accidentally cutting myself on the blades. However, I quickly learned that wasn't my biggest concern.

As I tried to cut into my potato, which I had already cut to fit the shape of the slicer, I could barely make a dent in the potato, let alone slice it.

No matter how hard I pushed down, there was no slicing happening.

Since the slicer didn't come with instructions, I had no idea whether the potato was supposed to be par-boiled or not to make for easier slicing.

Instead, the blades barely left a mark on the potato.

The blades were so dull, I couldn't imagine how anyone could slice a potato with this contraption.

Thinking that maybe a smaller chunk of potato would work, I cut my spud down to about two inches tall — and it worked.

However, I don't know who would want fries this short. For me, the Perfect Potato Slicer was far from perfect — it was a total failure. In my opinion, you're much better off using a knife for perfect potato slices.

Another product I tried from "As Seen On TV" was the Precise Pedi.

The Precise Pedi device costs $7.94 on the "As Seen On TV" website, plus shipping and handling. It claims to remove hard and dead skin, leaving feet soft instead. Since the average pedicure costs around $20, I was anxious to see if this device could help get rid of my New Yorker callouses.

The device requires two AA batteries that are not included with your purchase.

After putting in the batteries, I gave it a whirl.

As much as I had apprehensions about sharing my callouses with the internet, a before and after showed that the product did a decent job at removing some dry skin.

Looking at my skin after using the Precise Pedi, I didn't think it necessarily looked better. However, the soles of my feet did feel a touch smoother.

Overall, I thought the Precise Pedi was just OK, and it ranked third out of the five products I bought.

I also tried the Rapid Mac Cooker from Rapid Brands.

On Amazon, the Rapid Mac Cooker was advertised as an "As Seen On TV" product and retailed for $6.50.

The Rapid Mac Cooker can supposedly cut down the amount of time it takes to cook mac and cheese, allowing you to make it in less than five minutes in the microwave.

The instructions were very easy to follow. I simply poured my macaroni noodles — I chose Annie's Shells & Real Aged Cheddar since it's my favorite kind of mac and cheese — into the bright blue container.

I then filled the tub with water up to the designated fill line.

The instructions said to microwave the container for 2 1/2 minutes, stir it, and then microwave the macaroni for another two minutes.

After my macaroni was finished cooking, I noticed the water had become frothy.

While the instructions didn't say anything about straining the pasta, I decided to pour out a small amount of the water that was still left in the container.

Then I added the packet of cheese sauce, a tablespoon of butter, and just a splash of whole milk.

The pasta shells looked a little small compared to when they're made on the stove, but they nevertheless appeared to be fully cooked.

I sprinkled some pepper on top of my mac and cheese and dug in.

The pasta was a tad al dente, but overall I thought it tasted just as good as if it had been made on the stove.

For half the time and the option to make any kind of mac and cheese in the microwave, the Rapid Mac Cooker seemed like a great alternative for people with a stove-less office kitchen ... or simply a lack of patience.

But the best product I tried from "As Seen On TV" was the Veggetti Pro.

I purchased the Veggetti Pro for $14.94 plus shipping and handling from the "As Seen On TV" website.

The Veggetti Pro came with a plastic vegetable spiralizer and an instruction manual, which also contained a multitude of recipes on how to use the device.

The Veggetti Pro can make anything from zucchini noodles to curly fries and coleslaw, according to the manual.

The Veggetti Pro also came with three different blades that allowed me to make thin spirals, thick spirals, or ribbon-cut noodles.

The different blades easily slot into the machine, making this product safer than I anticipated.

Overall, I would say the spiralizer was extremely easy to use. I tried making zucchini noodles and was pleasantly surprised by how well it worked.

I tried out every blade on my zucchini and found they all worked perfectly.

I also tried it with a potato to see if I could make curly fries, as the manual claimed.

I was definitely impressed by some of the spirals I was able to make, although others came out as potato shavings. Harder vegetables like zucchini or carrots may work better with this device.

I was definitely pleasantly surprised to find that this "As Seen On TV" product not only worked, but would be something I would actually buy again.

If you're looking for an easy way to make healthy, delicious veggie spirals, the Veggetti Pro is a great tool to have in your kitchen. Plus, the price simply can't be topped.

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