Reviews of Norpro 1062 Taco Rack

Customer Ratings:

Lightweight but sturdy.

Makes filings tacos so much easier and faster.

The only flaw is that the rubber handles aren't oven safe.

All in all a worthwhile purchase.

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This is the best taco rack for the price. I don't like the rubber coating on the handles because I put it in the oven to crisp up the taco shells. But I set the oven at 225 and the low heat doesn't bother the rubber and the shells come out nice and crispy. I had to bend the handle in slightly to fit in my oven. All in all, it's a great buy. I would've given it 5 stars were it a little shorter and no rubber.

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We eat a lot of tacos (crispy shell) so oven safety was not an issue. I put a long strip of paper towels under thisworks a treat. I just love this. It holds the tacos at just the right angle for filling, and I can make six at a time. So this has really sped up my meal prep.

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Well, it works. It's long, longer than a cookie sheet, but it works. They should send a taco serving platter with this. It is cheap enough to buy and it does hold taco's well.

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I bought this for my husband and I slipped on the ice in the dark while taking presents out of my friends trunk and didn't realize that I had dropped this item on the road until 2 days later. I found it on the side of the road and it was obviously run over. I gave it to my husband and he was able to use a pair of pliers to bend it back into shape. It works great!

Reviews of Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 9-1/2-Quart Oval French Oven

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List Price: $490.00
Sale Price: $379.95
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

I was skeptical when my wife asked for this for Christmas. It's so huge! But she was right. Since then she has made quite a few recipes in this dutch oven, and we all love it. It's gigantic, so it works great when we have company or if she wants leftovers. Everything comes out moist and tender. Yes, it was expensive, but with care it should easily last at least a lifetime.

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The product arrived in a torn manufactured box, but that didn't matter to me, it is a great cooking tool, for cooking on the stove top an then placing in oven. The lid on mine is a little loose but I think they all come that way. I have yet to see one that isn't loose.

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What a wonderful vessel. My Roast came better than ever. Such sturdiness. Every bit of flavor was condensed into one beautiful meal. This Roaster does the trick!

Anolon Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set Review

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List Price: $450.00
Sale Price: $299.99
Today's Bonus: 33% Off

I am not one to usually post reviews of anything, yet I felt the need to let everyone know how incredible this set of pots and pans really is. My wife and I are avid, amateur chefs. We love to cook and are always in the kitchen concocting something. When we received the set, we were immediately amazed at the high quality and beauty of the pots and pans. They are all really well crafted. The nonstick coating is remarkable and the comfort in the handles makes transferring dishes from pot to plate easy and safe. In my time, I have spilled one too many dishes because the handles were either cheap or slippery. Not so here!

One of my favorite aspects of the cookware set is the depth of the pans. I am so used to other skillets with shallow bottoms that help to create havoc on your stove top. With the pans in this set, whatever you are cooking stays exactly where it needs to go, in the pan and then onto your plate! I am not the cleanest of cooks and having a deeper pan with sides that keep the food cooking has been really great for me.

Overall I am so happy with the set. The quality and beauty of the product, coupled with the ease that it puts into our cooking makes this the perfect set for absolutely anyone. When you add in that these pots and pans have the size that you need for whatever you are cooking while at a great price, it is completely evident that this is a deal not to be passed up!!!

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[Update]

After a year and a half of use, I am ready to finalize my review below.

Everything I said below still stands.

With these additional inputs :

* The exposed handle metal near the pan does indeed get VERY hot. Hot enough to burn you if not careful.

* The lighter weight of the pans makes for 'hot spots' during cooking. This is most evident in the larger pans and pots. In addition, I am finding that the coating is also thinner on these pans. I still have my old set, and pans that are showing wear on the new set do not show any wear on the old set. I have been using the new set for a fraction of the time I used the old set.

* The non-nonstick riveted point in the pans has proven to be a major problem in the smaller pans. These smaller pans often have food that gets on to those rivets and 'cooks' onto their surface and into the joint area at the rivetpan interface. It is VERY difficult to effectively clean these areas with cloth and/or brush. It is so bad on the small skillet I purchased that I have gone back to using the one from my earlier set that is welded.

This will probably be my last Analon set.

The quality is just not there anymore.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sorry to rain on the 'We Love Analon' parade, but there are a number of design flaws in this offering that folks should be aware of. These flaws apply to pretty much all of the Advances Hard Anodized line, and may extend to other lines as well. I cannot comment on longevity, as if they are as good as my previous set, it will be a long time before I can say they are as good, durability wise. But, there are issues:

* Tall lid handles prevent lids from sitting flush when upside down in Deep Skillet pans. This includes the largest of the Deep Skillet pans as well. This makes stacking and storage very difficult. Previous lids had the single button type handle; since they fit the new line, I may just use those instead of the "New & Improved" model lids.

* The Open Skillet (French type Saute) pans now have curved and bowed sides. This makes using wood or hard nylon straight edge spatulas innefective as they cannot scrape cleanly going up/down OR side-to-side ! Plan on changing over to curved tools and/or flexible tools.

* The pan handles have a heat insulated covering that does NOT extend fully over the whole handle. There is an inch or so of bare metal at the tip of the handle and at the base of the handle. My experience is that the metal tip part does not get hot, but that the exposed metal at the base may get hot. This will depend on the length of time cooking and the temperature. Still, the insulator->metal transition is flush, so one has to be careful where one places the hand.

* These pans are somewhat lighter weight than my previous set. It is tough to determine exactly how much lighter, but it is noticable when you pick up and examine the same capacity pot. Such as the 2qt one.

* Worst for last. The attachment of the handles to the pots is very, very bad. Not that they are loose; it is the way they are attached. My previous set, the handle attachment points were either welded or cast outside as part of the pot. Then, the handle is attached to those points. The interior of the pan was clean and smooth. On these pans, there are holes drilled in the pans and bolts are passed through the pans to create the attachement points for the handle. Now, this may be fine for Stainless cookware, where pan and bolthead are the same material; no harm, no foul. BUT, on non-stick cookware, this is a disaster. You will spend 5x as long cleaning food out from around and off these boldheads than you will spend cleaning the pan proper!!! Food will stick to them. Food will get into the small crack where the bolthead meets the pan surface. And, these boltheads are NOT coated; they are raw stainless. To make matters worse, they prevent effective scraping down of the side of the pan near the boltheads.

I really don't know who thought these were good design choices. But, those folks should probably be encouraged to go work for the competition.

All the above not-withstanding, I would still purchase these pans. In fact, I expanded my set an addional two pieces AFTER getting and examining the set. Despite all the flaws, most of which can be worked around or 'lived with', my feeling is that Analon still makes some of the best non-stick cookware available.

I just wish that the folks that make decisions on changing a design would actually be USING the product in a real-world home kitchen setting. And not just taking the advice of 'experts' that may have no real-world knowledge or experience using the product in a normal home setting.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This Analon non-stick cooking set features impressively well-made kitchenware for an affordable price.

I've been using this set for about a month now and would start by arguing this isn't a set for everyone. If you're a beginner cook, or a bachelor that rarely uses more than one pot or pan, then I'd still advise you to purchase a useable non-stick set in the $100 range. However, if you're looking to graduate from your first set of pots and pans to a "real" cookware set, I would highly suggest you consider this Analon collection.

The individual pots and pans from this set all have a great heft to them. These aren't items from the cheap $100 sets. The metal has a somewhat smooth finish on the outside, but an unfinished, yet highly polished underside. The inside bottoms all have a unique non-stick coating that has a very fine texture. The non-stick coatings have worked like a charm so far, with the only exception being that it took some time to wash the edges of a skillet after some sauce had reduced down to a sticky film. Not unusual. They claim that you can use metal utensils on these surfaces and they will maintain their durability. I only spot-tested this with a metal spoon on occasion and did not actually try to assault my set with a metal fork. From what I can tell, it seems like one can indeed use metal on the inner surfaces, but I wouldn't risk regular metal use it if you can avoid it.

The handles are outstanding. They all have a rubberized grip that is very comfortable to hold. In addition, each handle also has a loop at the end, which gives you the option to hang your pots and pans on a kitchen wall and is a welcome feature. Analon also claims that the set is safe in the oven up to 400 degrees. While I have not tested that extreme of temperature, I have cooked dinner in a skillet on the stove and then moved it into the oven at 225 to keep dinner warm until company arrived. There was no noticeable loss in durability.

There is a complete set here, that's for sure. The somewhat amazing thing is the depth of each piece. This is great for cooking large meals, especially ones that encompass a sauce or broth. While this is an advantage for almost everything, I did find the impressive depth on the small saucepan to occasionally be an annoyance when trying to use a whisk. I was unable to angle the whisk enough for my liking due to the tall saucepan walls. However, this was the only--very specific--complaint that I had.

If you are looking for a real cookware set, I would not hesitate to recommend this Analon collection. Sure, you pay more than the cheap $100 sets, but the quality here shows and at this normal Amazon price, it's an excellent value.

Honest reviews on Anolon Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set

I bought my Analon Advanced set several years ago and enjoyed them when I first got them. I followed the instructions that came with them and never used sharp tools, the dishwasher, Pam spray, etc. I took very good care of them. However, after a few years, as non-stick usually goes, the finish started to deteriorate. No worries, I thought! There's a lifetime warranty. So I paid shipping to send two of my pans in for replacement. After 5 weeks my old pans were returned to me without the warranty being fulfilled. The box that was checked on the return form said that the warranty was invalid because I used "high heat". What?! Pans that you can't use heat on? What good would that do? Their warranty is horrible. So, if you buy them, don't expect Analon to stick by the warranty (no pun intended). You'll just have to buy a new set in a few years.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Good value for this 11 piece Anolon set (works out to good price per pan cost). I already own some Anolon pans before I got this set. Pans have very good build quality and my old ones have held up well over time. The pans in this set look nice and come with quality glass lids as well. The non-stick coating works well for me, better than some other "non-stick" I have tried in the past. Due to coating be sure to handwash (no dishwasher) and avoid high heat.

Overall I give this set 5 stars for price/value, happy cooking.

Discount Margaritaville DM3000 Tahiti Frozen Concoction Maker

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $499.99
Sale Price: $497.00
Today's Bonus: 1% Off

Ok, so like almost everyone who is reading this review...my first thought was "Why am I going to pay THAT kind of money for a hyped up blender!" I can sum it up in two words...snowball fight!

Seriously though, I took the plunge and am not upset that I did. This makes a great addition to any party, whether it's a couple of friends, or a crowd. And nobody's walking around chewing on ice chips from their blender drinks! My kids love the shaved ice to play with, and it makes great snowcones/slushies.

Setup is easy, cleanup is easy (seriously), the only problem that I have found so far is creating the right recipes for the drinks. It comes with some standards...but I like to play!

Originally, my wife wanted to get a professional maker, but we found they were thousands of dollars. After buying the DM3000, we could care less about the profession model anymore...this one makes 3 different drinks in a cycle, is fun to watch, and easier to maintain! It is quick and effortless, especially if you pre-mix your drink ingredients and have them on standby.

In my opinion, if you have the extra money to spare, and you like to have friends over or have kids, this is a great product!

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The unit works as advertised but the fit and finish is not what the marketing leads you to believe. The entire unit is plastic including the jars. I sent an email to the manufacturer voicing my disappointment and they said they can't control the descrptions placed on third party web sites. Well, the description is the same on their web site. For the price, I was expecting this unit to be built like my Kitchen-aid mixer, but it's not... it's cheap.

That being said, I decided to keep it because it does make three different frozen drinks all at once and it is fun to watch. It is a great conversation piece, just don't mention what you paid for it or your guests will think you lost your marbles paying that amount for a hunk of plastic.

I'm giving the unit three stars. I subtracted one for the build quality and one for manufactures customer service.

UPDATE 12/2/2010: I figured since I was critical in my review I should update this since I've had it for some time and used it for multiple parties. My major complaint was the fact the unit was all plastic other than the knobs, switches and blades. Well, I must say that it has held up very well. It's super easy to clean and there have been a couple times I was glad the jars were plastic instead of glass or else the party would have ended. I've had tipsy buddies spill drinks everywhere on this unit and it always cleans up and looks great. Guests love watching as drinks are being made and I'm now glad I made the decision to keep it.

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Bought this for a Fourth of July party and it was an immediate hit! How fun to make three types of perfect frozen drinks at once. Have even adapted other recipes including some great non-alcoholic ones. Keeping bags of ice on hand in the freezer makes the best tasting drinks. I love this thing!

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IT DESERVES A HUNDRED STARS!!! When I first saw this, I didn't know that it automatically deposits the ice in each picher. I saw a video of this being demo'd and I was mezmorized. My wife wanted one of these for Christmas and it was the coolest thing I ever bought. The ice is amazing and I can't look away from it when it's running. Everytime we have used it the whole crowd is fascinated by this marvel of engineering. It would be worth the money at twice the price! THIS BABY IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The prooduct works great. It is the perfect addition to an outdoor living area by a pool or any back yard bbq. We had a big party and it worked well and it was fun to be able to make three separate drink mixes at a time.

Reviews of Secura Halogen Infrared Turbo Convection Countertop Oven, Deluxe

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List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $96.95
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I just got this and have already cooked chicken which comes out crispy golden brown on the outside and juicy on the inside just like it says it will, and pork bbq ribs, which I used to cook the pork until almost done, then switched over to my crock pot where I added bbq sauce and cooked slowly for 3 hours. PERFECT!

It's easier to clean than I thought it would be it really does just rinse out with a quick swish. I got this model because I wanted the manual control knobs rather than the digital and I have no problems with them at all. It is quiet, only the timer and fan make noise and they are both really quiet.

I was most surprised at how quickly and perfectly that golden brown crust formed on the chicken and the pork. I also cooked some steak fries and they browned quickly and cooked quickly as well.

I plan to get one of these for each of my kids to use as well.

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A friend of mine has a Flavorwave Oven and he loves it. He uses it daily. After seeing it in action myself on several occasions and eating the beef, chicken and fish cooked in it I decided to get one of my own. I searched Amazon.com and found this Secura Infrared Tabletop Turbo Oven Pro S-777MH. It looks very close to Flavorwave Oven but costs only 2/3 and with a free Extender Ring. It has a five star review, though only two reviews. I decided to give it a try.

I have made beef, chicken, pork loin, sausage rings, chicken thighs and fish in here, as well as some veggies. The meat/fish/chicken is so juicy, flavorful with no fat or oil when it comes out of the cooker the first time. Re-heated in the cooker still yields a moist piece of meat, not like what happens when reheated in a microwave or regular oven. Processed foods like pizza rolls and breaded butterfly shrimp turned out perfect in about 10 minutes.

The glass bottom cleans easily in hot soapy water when needed; many times, a wipe-down with a wet paper towel is all that is needed to clean the inside sides. I keep a foil on the bottom, so that's easily removed and replaced. If you're cooking something really splatters, you can line the entire bottom with foil, up to within an inch of the brim.

The free expander ring adds a couple of inches to the height of this unit and makes it look very decent.

All in all, I am very glad I got it. It is an awesome, stylish and healthy appliance.

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I bought this oven in July 2010 and loved it. We use it probably 2-3 times per week, sometimes more. I had a NuWave turbo oven for 3-1/2 years prior to the Secura and the plastic cover cracked. Since it couldn't be replaced we searched for one with a glass cover. I did a lot of research and found good reviews on this oven so I got it. Last night, I put in burgers to cook and when I turned the unit on it started making funny noises. I was still standing there but by the time I could reach out to turn it off it started sparking and caught fire. By the time I reached over to unplug it I had flames and smoke(at least the glass contained the fire). I called Secura today to notify them and see if it was covered under the manufacturer's warranty and they said "nope". That is all they would say!! I'm out $100 bucks for something that didn't work for even 1 year and the company won't stand behind their product. Even though the NuWave has a plastic cover I'm going back to it. At least it lasted over 3 years! This may have been a fluke but beware. It caught on fire so fast! I am so thankful that I was standing right there.

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Received the oven approx. 8 weeks ago.

Shipping was OK, whole handling of order was w/o any problems.

I was impressed: nice glass bowl, whole setup of good quality.

One small problem I noticed initially : Cooking recommendation were in Degrees Celsius, but oven top showed Degree Fahrenheit. I would recommend that the manufactures changes that ( should be easily done).

First time use : cooked some chicken : cooking was o.k, meat came out juicy, nice browning.

So far so good , oven seemed to be as promised.

But then at second time use : .... nothing the lamp was not working/ no heat.

Contacted Lafraise , they responded immediately and addressed the problem. After review I received without any problems a brand new replacement unit. I am impressed and this unit now works works fine.

Some tips for convection oven cooking in general you need lower temperature settings.

I would recommend as a general guidelines to start with 325 F , then play around with time features and settings ( high or low rack) . It also helps to get a convection oven cookbook (if you never cooked with this type of oven before)

As a conclusion : the oven gets 4-5 stars as I use it as a second unit for smaller meals -

but Lafraise gets 5 stars for their customer service and this is for me the most important factor. There can always be a glitch in a manufactured product but this was easily solved as the company stood behind their product.

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Ordered the Secura to replace our older Morning Ware. Love that it is made of glass instead of the plastic that cracks after a few years. Simple to use but the directions are in C and the temperature guage is in F so you will have to do some conversions. In case you do not know here are the formulas C = 5/9(F-32) and F = 9/5C + 32. I checked out the Flavor ware and the nu wave but they were a lot more expensive and were not made of glass. So far everything works just fine.

All-Clad 10-Piece Stainless Gourmet Cookware Set Review

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List Price: $877.78
Sale Price: $699.95
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.

Just a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.

Thanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12" frypan.

I found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.

By that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.

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I am no one special. I'm just your average guy who really likes to cook and eat. I've gotten very good at it after a lot of practice. And if I can, anyone can. Good cookware can be a huge component of this, and I am about to urge you to spend more money on a set like All-Clad, which I believe is as good as cooking gets. No one likes having his or her food come out burnt on the outside and undercooked on the inside, or one side being more cooked than the other due to burner `hot spotting'. Good quality cookware with a more even heating transfer is one of the easiest ways to avoid this. But "good quality cookware"...what is that? You can spend under $10 or over $5,000 PER-PIECE...there is a ton of variety and so many different materials it gets confusing fast. So here is what I have learned from my humble experience...

When friends see I have a very large collection of All-Clad Cookware, they often ask be who these things are made for? Professional chefs? Rich yuppies? Good ole boys who appreciate a good meal? I would say essentially anyone and everyone. Yes, they are stupid expensive...but think of it this way. If you enjoy cooking and you cook better, chances are you are going to cook for yourself more than eating out. It also presents an opportunity to eat healthier food as well. $1,000 on a set of standard All-Clads, a few niche pots for your favorite food types with a steamer, and a nice cutlery set (Shun or Mosimoto, for example) is something that will last decades where as spending $10 a day on lunch doesn't last long at all, but it sure adds up fast. The durability of these over the models costing ¼ to ½ the price is also pretty substantial. The lifetime guarantee is a plus, because this is the set you will have for life. And if you move to a place with a different stove, you can take comfort in knowing that All-Clad cookware excels with gas, electric, induction, side-heat, and open pit cooking. Buy it once, and enjoy it for life.

All-Clad makes a variety of different cookware lines. The standard lines, the Stainless and MC (Master Chef) are the least expensive. The Stainless is what All-Clad is most known for, as it is a timeless and iconic look that has been imitated by many. The Stainless and MC2 are traditional clad, which is a 3-ply construction of aluminum between American-made 18-10 stainless, which is a very beefy steel. You will notice that the most obvious different of the Stainless and MC is that the Stainless has a high-polish outer finish on the cookware and lids, where as the MC is brushed. Having used both, I can say both are very durable and easy to upkeep. They also have higher end models using 5+ ply clad and more cosmetic embellishments. For most users, the Stainless and MC will offer the best blend of value, performance, and durability. Mine are all from the Stainless series.

Is a clad cookware set right for you? It's very possible given how versatile they are. It is important to understand clad and its purpose. Clad is literally a compromise of multiple traditional pan types because some guy was unhappy with the limitations existing pans and decided to combine multiple elements into a single cookware build. Iron is inexpensive, heats evenly, and is durable...but it is heavy as hell, easily rusts, takes a lot of care (season it), and takes forever to heat up. Aluminum is an amazing heat conductor but weak...aluminum pans dent easily and do not hold up. Stainless is durable but a crappy heat conductor and heats unevenly. Exotic cookware such as enameled iron, carbon steel, carbon fiber, ceramic, and organic materials all have some positives, but weaknesses at the points of either costs, durability, heat conductivity, upkeep, or a combination of the above...and these issues are enough to exclude these from fitting the needs of most people. Additionally, most cookware types are best suited for only one or two of the following cooking types: gas, electric, induction, or open flame.

Enter clad, the great compromise. Stainless on the outside, aluminum on the inside (and with All-Clad's higher end models, add copper and multiple cores). The aluminum betters the heat transfer, and the thick stainless encases the aluminum. Ideally, the stainless is high chromium with nickel to add to the `stainless' abilities of steel. Also, ideally, the stainless is hardened to point to give good impact resistance from things like dents, but is hard enough to resist scratching and warping. When done right, you are left with a pot that heats faster than iron, has the even heat transfer of aluminum, and has the durability of stainless. Not surprisingly, clad has established itself as a staple in a chef's cookware arsenal.

What are the biggest downsides? Weight and price, mainly. While not as heavy as iron, the best clad cookware is going to still be pretty heavy...and you will pay well over twice that of iron, if comparing the best iron to the best clad. The cost of making the sandwiched ply layers is a lot more than casting a 1-piece. Also, many people note that the rivets on the handle of All-Clad makes cleaning in the area somewhat difficult...and I agree. However, I do not think this is a downside because these oversized rivets are what gives structural durability. The rivets are massive and as soon as you pick up a pot and run your finger over them, you will see they are heavy duty. The little extra cleaning effort is worth this level of durability as those rivets will give decades of great usage.

There are at least five top-end makers of clad cookware. All-Clad is most certainly one, and probably the best known. You pay a premium for the name, but they are fantastic. Their hardening is perfect, the stainless is durable American 18-10 and it is very corrosion resistant. The thick plates allow the cleaning with a use of an abrasive such as Bar Keeper's Friend. The stainless also responds very well to polishing. As others have noted, after use they will not look 100% new unless you use a high quality wading cloth, but there really is no reason for this. A 30 second clean with Bar Keeper's Friend will make them looking consistently good with minimal effort. If they show a few scratches, who cares?...it's a device used to make food, not an art museum display.

A lot of people consider anti-stick pans with coatings. I don't like these, and if you spend a lot on cookware, I would advise NOT buying anything that is labeled as non-stick and a coating is what is used to give non-stick properties. Why? Primarily, coatings wear off and leave a pan of little value. You cannot use stainless utensils, you cannot clean them with steel wool or wading cloth, and you cannot clean them with abrasives. If you are thinking about clad, get the stainless surfaces as it will be easier to maintain, last longer, and can withstand incredible abuse. Also, cooking practice makes it easier to reduce sticking with stainless cookware...for example, something like olive oil and slightly lower heat does wonders.

So now you must be thinking, "why the hell did I read this bloody long review?"...if so, I apologize for the length. I hope my experience can help you in your decision. If you do go All-Clad, I promise you that you will not regret it. They are a great investment.

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Since i bought this All Clad set i feel that i am cooking with tools rather than pots and pans. They are wonderful. I have learned to cook on medium rather than high heats (recommended), this has improved the quality of the food i cook.

Certainly an investment, but worth it for sure. No more teflon bits in your food...

Also, because they are expensive and it is not recommended they sit in water for too long, it makes me clean my kitchen more quickly! Bonus.

UPDATE 09.01.12 -

I've had these pots and pans for several years now and i love them more today than i did when i first bought them. Taking care of them over the years (giving them an occasional scrub down with a choreboy) has kept them looking just like new! Absolutely the best cookware around. If you never want to buy pots and pans again, buy All-Clad. These things are built to last!

Honest reviews on All-Clad 10-Piece Stainless Gourmet Cookware Set

Just bought the 10 piece All Clad set for my husband who wanted All Clad stainless fry and saute pans. I had resisted buying All Clad because I have been very pleased with the various pieces of Le Creuset stainless sauce pans and Staub saute and fry pans that we have purchased over the last couple years. When shopping, I found the All Clad handles to be ridiculously uncomfortable. It is a turn off to me that All Clad advertises its brand to be made in the US when, in fact, quite a few pieces are made in China. My husband is very thorough at researching before purchasing anything so after pricing the several pieces of All Clad that we wanted, we decided that the 10 piece set was actually a better deal. After using Le Creuset stainless for more than a year and using All Clad stainless for less than two weeks, it is very clear that we'll be using a lot of Bar Keeper's Friend to try to keep the All Clad looking as good as the Le Creuset. After ONE use, the All Clad pans show streaks on the inside and show wear on the outside bottom. More importantly to me, as much as the handles are uncomfortable when empty, with the added weight of food in them, they are actually painful to handle. MOST IMPORTANTLY, at least, what I think would be most important to any consumer, All Clad cooks as well as, but NOT better than other high end cookware but at a much higher premium price. (Triple the price we paid for Le Creuset stainless.) So, before you plunk down a whole lot of money, take a few minutes to shop around a bit. You may very well decide on All Clad stainless but before you do, check out your other options.

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I like to cook and had All-Clad cookware in the past, so I was familiar with the quality. Very solidly built, and will last a lifetime if you take care of them. They are not non-stick, but still clean up nicely, especially since they work well with low heat.

Reviews of Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel II Nonstick 9-1/4-Inch and 11-Inch

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $29.98
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

I was very excited about owning my first set of Rachel Ray pans! The color is fabulous and the handle is just the right size with good grip. I have cared to these pans just as instructed; hand wash, low-medium heat, no oil. I was very disappointed when the nonstick finish began to chip off within weeks of use. I'm glad I did not invest in the larger cookware set.

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love them...special the color......great product!

no complains..food don't stick, easy to clean. i will recommend the product o all my friends

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The skillets seem to be good skillets. Nothing out of the ordinary they are easy to clean and they work, so what more can I say.

Honest reviews on Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel II Nonstick 9-1/4-Inch and 11-Inch

I love my new skillets. I use them every day for breakfast and dinner. So glad I ordered them. Thanks.

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Christmas Eve my large non stick pan stopped sticking I thought the crab cakes were ruined, then I remembered I had the pans in the box. Needless to say the crab cakes were saved. The pans worked perfectly and cleaned up nicely. I would absolutely recommend these pans!

Cheap Lodge 5TP2 Tall Boy Tripod

Customer Ratings:

The tall boy tripod is good quality and is the right size for using dutch oven cooking. I mistakenly ordered the 43" one because the ad didn't give the size and I thought lodge only carried a 60" one. Amazon was great and took it back and paid for the shipping because of the lack of sizing in the ad. I think the smaller one is too limiting and the tall boy gets the Dutch oven high enough to keep a large fire from burning your meal or keeping things warm. I would highly recommend this tripod with it nice long and heavy chain.

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The first one I received had the chain missing. Amazon took care of this without delay. When I received the second one and set it up, I was very disappointed in the quality of the product and how weak and shaky it was when set up.

When I ordered the tripod, I assumed that the half inch diameter of the legs would be sufficient. Where the three legs come together at the top there is too much room, and when the tripod is set up, it is very easy to collapse it. Without any weight on the tripod, it will just about fall over by itself. When in use, you need to be very careful when adding the kettle or taking the kettle off of the chain hook.

I will keep looking for a better tripod than this. The label on the leg, Made In China ,was a clue to me that this was not going to be the quality that I am use to from Lodge.

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Paid 3 times the price for this tripod because it was Lodge brand, and the Lodge website says all their products are made in America. I was steamed when it arrived in a box marked 'Made in China'. Texsport makes a better and cheaper one, and at least they admit it's made in China in the description.

Country of origin matters these days (probably should have always mattered, but it really matters now).

Honest reviews on Lodge 5TP2 Tall Boy Tripod

I bought a large Lodge dutch oven and wanted to suspend it above the fire to cook beans all day. This device does the trick. Came with a heavy duty chain with hook. I can adjust the cooking by raising or lowering the chain. Not much to it... but when you need a tripod, this one will exceed your expectation.

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First let me say if youv recently been to a pioneer days and see someone cooking with a BIG twisted wrought Iron tripod and decided that you just had to have one of your own.. well, this is not that. this is a 60 inch tripod (5-feet tall) but once its open and set up it more like 4 feet tall. its NOT the super thick Iron you probably seen. the metal is (or atleast looks) painted or coated in something, and it doesnt look nearly as quality as the Lodge logic 8 quart cast iron pot i ordered with it. once set up its fairly sturdy but you better set it up right. I ordered the 8 quart pot with mine and frankly i dont think id feel comfortable putting much more on the chain than this 8 QRT pot (2 gallons) For the price its a fair deal and i wouldnt call it junk, its just not he same cast Iron as the pot. Mine did include the chain and im sure it will provide years of service. Im giving it four stars as its not the same cast iron as the pot. overall i think its going to be a good product but i dont expect it to last nearly as long as the Pot.

Discount Nordic Ware Compact Ovenware Loaf Pan

Customer Ratings:

I have all of the pieces in the Nordic Ware Compact oven pan set. They are all an absolute joy to use and the foods turn out perfectly. The interior finish is the most durable non-stick finish that I've ever encountered on bakeware and all the pieces feel sturdy.

Unfortunately there is an annoying problem with rust creeping out from under the folded seam around the lip of all the pans. I'm confused by this because I thought the pans were all aluminum so why the rusty crimped seams? Nonetheless, I love the pans and recommend them for their size, performance, and durability.

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Review of Pillivuyt Porcelain Small 3-Cup, 9-1/2-by-5-Inch Rectangular Baker

Customer Ratings:

This is a great little dish for baking and serving for 1-2 people. The shallow depth makes it perfect for roasting vegetables in small amounts. I also love it for smaller sides at thanksgiving or larger meals because it doesn't take up much oven space. I use it for vegetables, serving bread, storing leftovers... It goes from fridge to oven/microwave to table. Love it!

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I love the quality of this line. I have found this size to be very useful. It fits well in the microwave and also is a great serving dish for small portions.

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We love Pillivuyt. They make great quality products for the kitchen. We use this small dish to brown sausages for breakfast. Very useful.

Reviews of Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 8-Inch Bread Knife

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $50.00
Sale Price: $49.95
Today's Bonus: $0.05 Off

if you like bread and don't cut it 24h hours a day, buy this knive instead of the 4 star version.

why?

the twin select are nice sharp knives

it is a bread knive, you don't use it so often like a chef knive!

the handling is fine

it's cheap

I own 2 twin selects and 4 4 stars. And must say the handling of fourstar is better and you want to have the filet knive or chefs knive from this series, or better some japanese knieve ( way sharper, but hard to maintain, I'm lazy), but for cutting bread, go with this one, the handling is not so important for cutting bread, and it does'nt squeeze my ciabatta or french bread!

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I sent this knife to my son who is a baker by profession--he loves this knife. It doesn't mash the bread and cuts through crusty crusts! I higly recommend it to anyone.

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If you're not a professional chef, then this is probably the most expensive bread knife you've ever looked at. But if you slice bread (or, say, watermelon) on a daily basis, it will quickly pay for itself. It's sharp, has a good feel, and will last a very long time. If you only slice bread occasionally, then you might want to consider the J.A. Henckels International bread knife instead.

Honest reviews on Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 8-Inch Bread Knife

Was pleased that the Henckel Twin Signature Bread Knife met the quality and craftsmanship expected of this manufacturer. Cuts easily thru bread and is excellent for slicing tomatoes and onions. Excellent buy

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My son requested this as a gift. He researched it and chose it. He is very happy with his choice.

Reviews of Medelco 12-Cup Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $8.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

I bought this kettle strictly for heating water for French press coffee making. Since this kettle is glass there is no chance of it imparting off flavors to the water (then the coffee). I got tired of my metal kettles becoming discolored and rusted, even with proper care. I love the idea of glass for coffee making and this kettle by Medelco is indispensable for coffee making!

It is also easy to clean (dishwasher safe) and looks wonderful. It holds 64 ounces of water when filled to the bottom of the rim, however DO NOT boil that much as it will erupt and shoot steaming water up out of the lid. I feel safe however boiling 50 to 55 ounces of water, which is more than enough for even the largest French presses.

I like to use a probe thermometer to monitor the water temp and stop at 200F, which is the ideal temperature for coffee brewing. This kettle does have a whistling lid that I use (I simply insert the thermometer into the whistling hole). The plastic handle is sturdy and remains cool (remember you can't use HIGH heat and expect the handle to stay cool, I like medium-high heat) to the touch and pouring is easy (the lid must be removed to pour). All the componets are thick and durable (especially the glass). With minimal care this kettle should last a lifetime.

All the features I wanted in a coffee kettle and add to that a fantastic price. Although inexpensive this kettle does not feel cheap. A wonderful value!

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Yay, no more metallic-tinged water! The pot comes with a wire coil shaped like a 3-leaf clover to place on electric burners, to diffuse the heat contact to the glass. I'm not completely convinced that the breathy whistle qualifies as 'piercingly loud,' but it gets the job done. The lid has a handle to minimize the risk of steam burns while removing it in order to pour (no pouring through the lid), and a shaped pour-spout minimizes drizzling. The "Diner-Flair" style is either cool or slightly disappointing, depending on my mood, but I don't drink straight from the kettle, so 'tis okay! Very good product; made in Connecticut. Medelco Inc. (not to be confused with the medical equipment makers) has a website, too.

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I purchased this glass tea kettle for use with my Bodum Chambord 12-cup coffee press. Although I am not a "coffee snob" I do like a very good cup of coffee, and the best coffee (and tea) is made in glass because there is no chance of tainting your coffee with metallic substances or Teflon.

This kettle is easy to use and easy to clean (you can even put it in the dishwasher if you like). It comes with a heat diffuser for use on electric ranges, but I suggest using it even for glasstop ranges as well. The whistle works well, but is a little more throaty than the high-pitch whistle on your standard metal tea-kettle. I use a probe thermometer and place it in the whistle hole, and let the water get between 200-205 degrees Fahrenheit which is the proper brewing temperature for the best cup of coffee.

The kettle has a clean, retro design and is very well-constructed. Some reviewers have noted that the handle heats-up. I believe this is most likely because they are using the "big burner" on their stove and not the smaller one that is the proper size for the tea kettle (thus the handle is over the outside of the burner and causes it to heat-up). So just make sure to use the smaller, more appropriate-sized burner to prevent over-heating the handle. Regardless, the handle is pretty strong, and the entire kettle is solidly-built. The kettle is made in Germany, according to the documentation that comes with it (though the company is based in the USA).

I use glass almost exclusively for all of my cooking (like Corning Visions pots and pans, this Kettle, and so on) and if I can offer some suggestions to make sure your glass cookware (like this kettle) last you a lifetime, make sure that the outside is clean and dry when you place it on the burner, and turn the burner on low temperature for a few minutes and then turn it to medium to heat-up. Gently easing-up the temperature like that allows the glass to expand slowly and prevents cracking (which happens when you heat fast though only rarely). Another tip I mentioned earlier always use the heat diffuser! You probably won't need it for gas ranges, but for electric and glass-top ranges, use it to be on the safe side. When you take the pot off of the hot burner DON'T place it on a cold burner or on the counter this causes the glass to contract quickly and could possibly cause it to crack eventually. Instead, place it on a folded, dry towel or on a pot holder or two. Let id cool before you rinse it or clean it.

All-in-all, this kettle is an EXCELLENT buy! The level of quality of craftsmanship is superb and for the price it's unbelievable!

Honest reviews on Medelco 12-Cup Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle

I've used this kettle for about a week on an electric, glass stovetop using the supplied metal trinket for heat distribution. Here are my observations so far:

It takes much longer to boil the same amount of water vs traditional kettles

The handle feels flimsy, and just by its design of coming down over the pot so close to the glass, it *DOES* get very warm. I wouldn't go so far as to say the handle is hot, but some people may not feel comfortable with it's temperature once the pot is boiling.

I feel like this kettle pours water ineffectively. The water does not splatter on it's way out, but it is not in as nice a stream as other kettles I've used.

Other reviewers have stated their kettle does not whistle. My kettle does whistle, but it is nowhere near as loud as a traditional kettle; I cannot hear the whistling unless I am in the same room as the kettle.

I do like the fact that it is easy to clean and I can see that it is clean (versus other kettles where you can see discoloration inside the pot)

Overall, it get's the jobs done, but if you're coming to this kettle from a more traditional kettle, I think you'll be disappointed.

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I have to note a couple of things. First off I research a lot of the stuff I buy this kettle included. In some of the reviews customers mentioned hot handles and having to use two hands to pour because of the lid. One review mentioned off setting the kettle so the handle isn't in the line of fire/heat. This worked amazingly, the handle was quite cool. As far as the lid issue, perhaps the design has changed? The lid has in big letters remove lid prior to pouring, I remove the lid before taking the kettle off the stove to pour. I have uploaded a picture of my kettle sitting off center on my electric stove. Everything else about the kettle is true; loud whistle, easy to clean, fast boil. In short THIS IS A GREAT KETTLE FOR UNDER $15. I had an electric plastic kettle but I am phasing out all plastic that is used with heat.

Cuisinart GG26-30H GreenGourmet Hard-Anodized Nonstick Stir-Fry Reviews

Customer Ratings:

As a professional chef I run across all sorts of cookware and kitchen gadgets that are supposed to be the latest and greatest for the kitchen. However, this wok just so happens to be the next best thing, and I picked it up at my local Le Gourmet Chef in Hagerstown, MD.

This wok does the job of providing even heat throughout your cooking process. The surface is super slick but gives you a nice foundation for stir fry's, stock reduction, or working up Pho Noodle bowl recipes. Cleanup is a breeze, with paper towel no less. The nicest feature is the stay cool recycled stainless steel handle. Some of the key features are:

* Exclusive Ceramica nonstick technology is PTFE/PFOA and petroleum free ceramic-based nonstick interior helps to reduce oil consumption and preserve the environment

* Hard anodized pan construction provides superior heat conductivity, requiring less energy to achieve desired cooking temperature

* Riveted stainless stick handle stays cool on the stovetop and is made from 70% recycled stainless steel

* Packaging is made from 100% recycled materials and is printed with soy ink

* Oven and broiler safe for

The deep rich browning created by this pan is uniform and flavorful. Don't let the competition sway you, cooking till black is not the new brown! So, if you are going green, get this cookware, it's certainly your next step! Simply put, the ultra smooth non-stick surface is smoother than glass; thus cooking requires little if no oil and clean up is a breeze with a simple rinse and wipe. I've been using this pan for several months now and can honesty say that it has stood the test of time even with my younger kids helping out at the stove. The finish is still in great condition without any pits, nicks or scrapes.

As long as you stay away from aerosol sprays you will have an enjoyable experience with this cookware or any cookware for that matter. If you must spray in your oil then I suggest you buy an oil mister because spraying from a can simply adds residue that ruins pans and takes away from the flavor of your food after buildup occurs.

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This is the first thing I grab when I need to cook something. The nonstick surface is really great. It's way safer than the teflon nonstick coating and way more durable than the ceramic nonstick coating from the kitchenaid cookware that I have. I'm gonna be switching all my cookware to Cuisinart GreenGourmet pretty soon.

Update: After 6 months of use, this wok sticks like a stainless steel pan. EVERYTHING sticks to it. You can forget about cooking eggs in this one.

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This wok is terrific. You don't have to use any oil when cooking, it heats evenly and clean-up is a breeze.

Honest reviews on Cuisinart GG26-30H GreenGourmet Hard-Anodized Nonstick Stir-Fry

For reference we had some pretty badly burned out old Teflon Calfalon pans so there was a lot of room for improvement when we bought these. We also have a hot point electric stove we cook on so the heat is controlled by turning the heating lights on and off at different intervals to modulate the lower heat temperatures (Not a steady heat source). The first part of the instructions for these pans was that you can cook effectively at lower heat levels. Absolutely true! We have stir fried and braised beef for stew with the heat on medium. It takes a little longer to heat up but once hot the temp seem to be more stable than the old Pans So far cleaning these pans is super easy. We almost don't need to because nothing sticks to them. A little hot water, a squirt of soap and some swirls with the soft brush and you rinse and done. My family feels better that we are not cooking with Teflon and we are not suffering our cause.

I would give them 3 Thumbs up if I had an extra

The only down side is the size of these pans. This is more a personal preference for our 3 person family. The saute pan and stir fry pan are more family sized than we are used and the 10" flat griddle is a little small for 4 pancakes. A 12" Flat round griddle would be a better for pancakes and French toast.

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First time giving any review on any product... Certainly NOT HAPPY about this product.

It was great when we first got it. Although we took extra care when using it, after a month or so, it started to get sticky... We do cook almost everyday, but this is still too fast... Now it has been about 3 months and it gets even worse... I thought this is a good brand for a non-stick wok, but guess I am wrong on this... Certainly not recommend if you cook a lot and want a real non-stick wok.