Does it Work: Time-saving tool has many problems

This all-in-one cake-pie cutter and server by Sirwolf is a pretty plastic tool that is supposed to cut and serve pieces in a seamless move. A description noted — “no touching cake with fingers, no sharp blades, safe for kids, reuse and easy to wash; and cut perfect pieces of cake or pie.” I was skeptical, but willing to give it a shot.

After inspecting the gadget I was 99% sure the beveled edges would not cut through a pie that had a top crust — and I was right. Instead of cutting “perfect pieces,” a store-bought cherry pie began to flatten as I pushed down on the tool, smashing the top crust and causing the fruit filling to emerge from different areas of the pie.

On top of that, I had to remove the pie from its tin just to attempt to cut it. The tool was an epic fail.

Then I tried it on an 8-inch round cake that was an inch high. After such a horrible beginning with the pie, I was amazed at how easy it was to cut and serve the cake. Although, as a co-worker pointed out, the pieces were rather small because the size of the slices is not adjustable. With this device I didn’t need two tools to serve the dessert. However, after cutting several slices frosting started to collect inside the tip of the server, making it a little harder to release the pieces.

More testing was needed to see if this tool was a keeper.

Next, I tried a custard pie (no top crust). The gadget failed again. Not only did I have to remove the pie from its tin, when I tried cutting a piece the pie cracked — the beveled “blade” wasn’t sharp enough to cut through the thin crust.

I also used the slicer on a taller, layered cake, which exacerbated the problem of the frosting collecting at the tip, and it was even more difficult to extract pieces.

>> How it works: With the beveled side down, position tip of gadget at the center of the dessert and push down.

>> Does it work?: On cakes, yes, but not without a struggle. It does not work on pies.

>> Pros: Pretty, easy to wash, only one tool is needed to cut and serve cakes as opposed to using a knife and cake server.

>> Cons: Too many to list.

>> Cost and availability: Don’t even bother.

>> Worth it?: No.

Got a gadget that you love? Curious about one you’d like us to test? Email crave@staradvertiser.com or write Crave,Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813.