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The Kitchn shopping writer Micki Wagner tested seven under-cabinet lights in her kitchen over two weeks, judging brightness, installation and use, and durability. She named the corded, touchless MYPLUS light her best overall pick; five lights stayed attached during her adhesive test.
The Kitchn’s Micki Wagner tested seven under-cabinet kitchen lights in her own kitchen and selected the corded MYPLUS Under-Cabinet Light with Hand Wave as her best overall pick. The two-week product test focused on brightness, installation and durability, offering shoppers a practical comparison of adhesive-mounted lights without requiring permanent installation.
Wagner said she wanted brighter counters than her overhead and stove lighting provided, but did not want to drill or use a screwdriver to install a fixture. She ordered seven lights and evaluated each for light output, ease of installation and use, and durability. Five of the seven passed her test of staying attached with their included adhesive stickers.
She also left each light on for more than two hours to check whether it became concerningly hot, and tested how well it illuminated her counter and how its additional features worked. The source does not report detailed temperature readings or identify which lights failed the adhesive test.
Wagner rated the 16-inch MYPLUS light 4.5 overall, citing its brightness, strong adhesive and touchless controls. A hand wave turns it on, while holding a hand near the sensor dims or brightens it. It costs $16 according to the report and uses a cord rather than batteries; the writer said that suited her kitchen because it has outlets nearby. The model is also available in 24- and 36-inch versions.
Bright Counters Without Drilling
The comparison addresses a common trade-off for renters and homeowners seeking task lighting: adhesive mounting avoids drilling, but a fixture needs to stay attached and provide useful light. Wagner’s results offer firsthand observations about both points, while her two-hour heat check adds a basic durability consideration.
The top pick is not a universal recommendation. The MYPLUS light’s power cord may limit placement where outlets are scarce, while battery-powered puck lights avoid a cord but may be dimmer or cover a smaller area. The report’s value is in showing those practical differences rather than establishing that one model suits every kitchen.
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How the Seven Lights Were Compared
The Kitchn article is a product-testing report by shopping writer Micki Wagner, who says she has reviewed home and kitchen products since 2022. She describes testing hundreds of kitchen products, but the article’s specific findings here come from a two-week trial of these seven lights in her own kitchen.
Alongside the MYPLUS pick, Wagner highlighted two puck-light options. The Energizer Battery-Powered Puck Lights, priced at $10.50 for two in the report, were easy to install and operate, but Wagner found them dimmer and said their domed light did not cover the counter evenly. The BLS LED Puck Lights with Remote Control offer six lights, a remote, 13 colors, adjustable brightness and 30- or 60-minute timers. Wagner said this set gave the best illumination among the puck lights she tested, with coverage and no dark spots.
The article lists prices as accurate at publication and discloses that The Kitchn may earn a commission if readers buy through its links. These are the writer’s assessments from a home test, not laboratory measurements or a broad survey of users.
““I am so impressed by this under-cabinet light.””
— Micki Wagner, The Kitchn shopping writer
Limits of the Home Test
The report does not give objective brightness measurements, exact heat readings, or long-term results beyond the two-week trial. It says five of seven lights passed the adhesive test but does not name the two that did not in the supplied material. The article also does not establish how the fixtures perform across different cabinet surfaces, room layouts or extended daily use.
Product prices and availability can change after publication. The source excerpt ends partway through the BLS review, so its full list of drawbacks and the complete results for all seven products are not available here. The headline’s “use forever” phrasing is the writer’s personal preference, not a claim of a guaranteed product lifespan.
Check Fit Before Buying
Readers considering the MYPLUS model can compare its 16-, 24- and 36-inch lengths with the area they want to light and check that a nearby outlet can accommodate its cord. Shoppers choosing puck lights can weigh battery operation and simpler installation against the reviewer’s observation that some provide less even or less extensive coverage.
The article offers no announced follow-up testing or next product milestone. Any decision should account for current pricing, mounting-surface compatibility and the kitchen’s lighting needs; the review’s two-week findings do not confirm long-term adhesive performance.
Key Questions
Which under-cabinet light did The Kitchn name best overall?
Writer Micki Wagner chose the MYPLUS Under-Cabinet Light with Hand Wave. She praised its brightness, adhesive mounting and touchless dimming controls.
How many lights did Wagner test, and for how long?
She tested seven lights over two weeks in her own kitchen, checking illumination, installation and use, durability, and whether each became concerningly hot after being left on for more than two hours.
Does the MYPLUS light use batteries?
No. The model Wagner selected is corded, so it does not require battery changes. She noted that the cord could be inconvenient in kitchens without a nearby outlet.
What were the other highlighted lights?
Wagner also named the Energizer Battery-Powered Puck Lights her best puck-light pick and the BLS LED Puck Lights with Remote Control her best multi-colored option. She described the Energizer lights as dimmer, while the BLS set provided the strongest illumination among the puck lights she tested.
Does the test prove the adhesive will last long term?
No. The test lasted two weeks, and five of the seven lights remained attached during the adhesive check. The report does not establish performance over months or years or identify the two lights that failed in the supplied material.
Source: thekitchn.com
