Oxo International 1071536 Good Grips Spatula, Black Silicone, Small Reviews

Customer Ratings:

We have all 3 sizes. The small and medium began to tear after a few months just where the tip tapers. These are metal coated with silicone. The design does not stand up after flexing so many uses and begins to split exposing the metal inside to your nonstick surface. We loved these and are so disappointed. The largest omelet spatula is still going strong!

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Granted I love this smaller size spatula, but I go through one a year it seems. It's probably the most used kitchen tool in my house but over time, the metal becomes exposed and it's time to replace it.

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Skip the cheaper oxo nylon version and go with this silicone turner. This is a fantastically useful tool when baking (removing cookies from the baking sheet or the smaller loaves from a baking stone), sauteeing or stir-frying (turning and moving vegies and meats in the frying pan), flipping pancakes, and aiding in clean up, when scraping the sticky leftovers from the pan into the garbage or disposal. I use this turner with the larger model instead of a pizza peel to get pizzas off the baking stone, with a lot of success.

This tool is so handy that I've got one in each size (regular and large), and I need one more to have on hand when the others are in the dishwasher. I accidentally left my turner at a friend's house while baking cookies. I quickly got it back, but she'd already used it a few times and fell in love with it. I told her to try Amazon and get the 4-for-3 discount. And unlike the nylon version, this one handles heat without melting. The only problem with silicone is that it sometimes holds smells after washing, but luckily, it doesn't transfer smells.

Honest reviews on Oxo International 1071536 Good Grips Spatula, Black Silicone, Small

These Oxo appliances are excellent, and make cooking much simpler. However, bear in mind this particular model is the smaller one. They have another bigger model.

They are both great for their independent purpuses, though.

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Love this spatula, but in one year, have thrown away 2 already when the metal broke through the silicon at the curved edges. Used only for turning omelettes and saute veggies. It should last longer!!

Rachael Ray 9" x 13" Stoneware Rectangular Pans Review

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List Price: $100.00
Sale Price: $44.99
Today's Bonus: 55% Off

I love the color and the ease of cleanup. A few minuses: the sides are very tall which makes it difficult to store. It's slightly larger than an average lasagna pan so your favorite recipe won't turn out quite the same. If you also use it to store, the height of the sides makes it hard to fit in the fridge, plus you have to cover the handle openings too so your food won't dry out.

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In February of 2012 I purchased this lasagna pan. I loved it when I received it; it had a nice heavy weight to it, solid handles, and a beautiful color that looked great during baking and on the table. In fact, I liked it so much, that I requested the whole Rachel Ray line for the holidays and was planning on buying one for my Mom, who saw it and loved it. Since February I used it a handful of times, no higher than 400 degrees, always hand washed and never subjected it to extreme temperature changes. This weekend, as I was using it, I heard a very loud POP. When I inspected the pan to see what had happened I saw a large semi-circular crack running along the bottom, which within minutes began leaking. Shocked that this happened under normal circumstances I called Amazon, who told me to call RachelRay.com, which I did, who told me to call the manufacturer, Meyer Corp. After calling each company and having them refer me to another, I reached a Meyer representative. After explaining the situation, the representative explained to me that they only guarantee quality upon receipt, meaning, they will refund/exchange an item if it is damaged upon receipt. Once you put it in the oven, even if used under the conditions that they recommend, if the item breaks, or is damaged in any way, they are not responsible. Well, my recommendation to future purchasers of this item and probably this line, is if no one guarantees this item once you use it as it is intended, then don't buy it. I now have an expensive piece of garbage.

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The picture is deceptive. The pan depth is only 2.5 inches at it's lowest point. That is only half an inch deeper than a standard 9x13 pan.

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I believe in giving feedback on Amazon products. Since we cant' see this item in person. I know Rachel Ray has a QVC relationship. However, beyond the flex pay option, Amazon prices are cheaper. I purchased this as a portion of the 4 for 3 promotion. So getting this was a part of the promo deal.

The size of the pan, is astounding. This pan is HUGE. It can easily make 21lb boxes of Lasagna or Ziti. The weight is very good. As well as the color is simply bold and beautiful. Storage may be a bit of a challenge. For someone who does not have a buffet/hutch. Or tons of cabinet space. I suggest, stacking the "bubble and brown" items, inside the "lasgna lover" pan.

I am a very loyal LeCrueset customer. I tried these because of the size and the pot holder handles. I must say the potholder feature is superb. You can easily fit your silicone hand mitts through the holes.

Also, this pan makes an awesome fruit platter, chip dish.

Again, this is a great buy, and even better when it's on sale.

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I love the ease in cleaning and have received alot of good comments on how nice this pan is. Only drawback is when I carry somewhere I can't cover.

Reviews of Imperial 14 Piece Hammertone Cookware Set With Bonus Griddle

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List Price: $86.99
Sale Price: $60.49
Today's Bonus: 30% Off

We like this set a lot, just be careful with the lids, the lifting knobs seem to break easily, if dropped. You get a good selection very inexpensively.

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Libbey Classic 16-Piece Glassware Set, Smoke Review

Customer Ratings:

I own nothing but Libbey glass because it's really thick and extremely well made. I've NEVER,EVER EVER had one break and I have two children under the age of 5 using them as well. They don't break in the dishwasher or the sink and I've tapped them together several times, ranging anywhere from a light tap to literally dropping one on top of another in the sink. Not a ding, scratch, chip or crack in any of them.

These glasses are beautiful and they don't hold water spots at all. The black smokey color fade makes any drink look special, especially pink lemonade or orange juice.

Like the title says.. If you're having problems with a Libbey glass breaking, you must be seriously abusing it. Sometimes I can't believe the beating that these glasses can take.

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My husband and I received a set of 12 of the tall ones, in this same color. The minute I opened them I fell in love. There is something so unique and elegant about the smokey black color and clean style. We have black leather furniture so they go nicely with our decor. I am hoping to find matching plates. Theses glasses are sturdy and heavy without being too heavy and are a good size and very functional. I would highly recommend them.

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The Good:

+ Attractive glasses

+ Made in USA

+ Available at Dollar Tree, so you can easily replace all the ones you break. And you WILL break them. Tap the glass against another glass? Crack! Tap the glass against the kitchen faucet? Crack! Wash the glass in warm water, then stack it on another glass? Crack! Scowl at the glass, knowing it's going to betray you and crack? Crack!

The Bad:

For having such a hefty base, these glasses are INCREDIBLY thin on top and on the sides, and seem to crack so easily. We bought this set for our first kitchen, and have already lost four. After we replaced two (thanks Dollar Tree), we decided we'd let the rest of this set meet its untimely end, then replace it with something sturdier.

These glasses are really unevenly weighted. It makes them feel ungainly, in my opinion.

Honest reviews on Libbey Classic 16-Piece Glassware Set, Smoke

I was very skeptical about buying these because of the others reviews, but these rock! When I took them out of the box I fell in love, as did my roommates. I have to say, I am very happy. Yes, is you drop one they will break (I dropped out about 5 feet on to tile and it broke) but they do not crack easily at all! We stack them, drop them on the tile and into the sink wash them in warm water, etc. and none have cracked (except for that one I dropped). If you want something invincible don't buy anything made of glass, but if you want something that makes every drink look elegant and classy, get these!

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These glasses are awesome. They look gorgeous and they're extremely high quality (the glass is fairly thick), so they are very durable and would be difficult to break. This set is a perfect and inexpensive way to stock your kitchen with excellent glasses that will last for a long time.

Cheap Healthy Steps Portion Control Dressing Cruet

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List Price: $9.40
Sale Price: $8.92
Today's Bonus: 5% Off

The packaging on this product said that it was top rack dishwasher safe. So I did as directed to clean it. It came out of the dishwasher distorted and would not fit together. I waited over 2 weeks for a response from the product representative. He responded by telling me that some of the older products were produced with plastics that would melt. He said a representative would contact me so that I could get a new product. I never received a contact.

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Seeing this on Dr. Oz I thought it would be great as a portion control as well as storage, allowing me to make my own dressing and being able to dispense it for several days. First off the little green device on the 'straw' that goes down to the bottom did not work. Second, when I squeezed the green top to 'bring up the dressing' as instructions said, almost nothing comes up. I ended up just taking the entire top off as you would with any dressing dispenser that you get at the supermarket by packages for making your own dressing. I was doubly disappointed that it would be shown on Dr. Oz, as I trusted his 'opinion' thinking surely they must test the products they show? save your money.

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Bought 5 of them, thinking what a perfect little gift for Christmas. Disappointed. Bottle soft plastic, and you suppose to squeeze it "gently" to pump the dressing into upper portion chamber. Pump, top spitting dressing through the tiny air hole if you pump too hard. If you do not pump hard, nothing gets up the straw into the top. Lousy item. The fact that Dr. Oz promoted it, does not make it worth the money.

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I love this portion controlled salad dressing cruet. It makes it easy to not overdo the dressing on my lovely salads. Great tool for a healthy new year

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So I have to be honest, I didn't get this product for me. I make a home made oil suppliment for my dogs to pour over their food in the mornings. It gives them the fish oilds, etc that they need. Part of the problem is we go through it so fast because we don't really have a way to measure it out. So I seen this on a review on Yahoo, and figured, why not give it a try. Boy am I disappointed.

First, when the oil/dressing gets down to a low level, you have to find the "sweet" spot to squeeze it to get any of the oil to come out. If not, it is just air, and when it gets to that point, it is pretty hard to squeeze.

The plastic feels very flimsy. I am scared when I squeeze it that it is going to break. I'm not saying it is flimsy, because it has yet to break on me, but I can say for the money spent on it, I would think they would get something that feels a little more sturdy.

Lastly, whenever you pour the oil out of the measuring cup, it runs down the side of the container. So everyday, I am wasting oil and wasting products to clean it up.

After all is said and done, I just went to a local store and picked up some condiment storage containers that you usually see ketchup and Mustard in and I think for the $1.29 that I paid for them, they work a whole lot better!

Buy Bodum Santos Stovetop Glass Vacuum 34-Ounce Coffee Maker

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List Price: $120.00
Sale Price: $79.95
Today's Bonus: 33% Off

The Bodum Santos Vacuum Coffeemaker makes excellent coffee. Smooth, full flavored, hot. This model requires more interaction than a percolator or drip coffeemaker. If you're not willing to participate in the coffee making process, don't purchase this coffeemaker. However, the end result is well worth the few extra minutes required. Some tips that may be useful:

1.) Use coarse grinds to avoid clogging the filter;

2.) When placing the upper chamber on the lower carafe, make sure there is a good seal between the two globes, as this will help in the vacuum process;

3.) Always make sure there is at least a centimeter or two of water remaining in the lower carafe, otherwise the carafe will crack;

4.) Allow the water and grinds to mix together in the upper chamber for a minute or two before removing from heat source (coarse grinds produce a weaker flavor compared to finer grinds, so allow a bit more time for the water to extract the flavor of the beans while in the upper chamber);

5.) Remove the entire coffeemaker from the heat source and carefully place on a cool surface, keeping in mind that the coffeemaker will be top heavy and hot;

6.) If the coffee remains in the upper chamber and doesn't completely drain to the bottom carafe, return the entire coffeemaker to the heat source again for a minute, then remove again to a cool surface;

7.) Purchase a good thermos or insulated carafe to transfer your remaining coffee to (Nissan Thermos is a good brand, check out reviews on Amazon.com).

8.) Coffeegeek.com and Coffeekid.com have additional information on vacuum brewing.

Pros: Coffee is hot, full-flavored, and not bitter. The process is fun. Clean up is easy, if done soon after brewing. Affordable from Amazon.com when on sale. Reusable filter. Coffee is hot, full-flavored, and not bitter. (It's worth mentioning twice.)

Cons: Capacity is only 8 cups (32 oz.). Filter can sometimes be unreliable. Uses more grinds than average peculator or drip models. Extra caution needed when using, as most of the coffeemaker is made of glass. Instructions are scant.

Five stars for a wonderful product.

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I purchased my unit about a year ago from Amazon.com and after about a month of frustration with the filter constantly clogging, I put it out of sight (out of sight = out of mind). When I could get it to work properly, it was great because the coffee tasted the way it smelled wonderful. But, it was simply not worth the time and effort to get one pot out of 15 to brew properly. I tried burr grinders and the inexpensive type grinders. I tried coarse grind, medium grind, fine grind and everything in between with no success.

About two-months ago I remembered I had the Bodum Coffeemaker and so I decided to revisit the task of trying to make a 'perfect cup of coffee and it worked perfectly!

I use the Bodum Coffeemaker almost every day now and it works as advertised 100% of the time. I have developed a system that works for me by taking suggestions from several of the reviews from Amazon.com and from some helpful advice from a Barnies' sales representative about how to store and use coffee beans.

The one thing that I was probably doing wrong the first time was that I listened to a friend who thought he knew about how to store coffee beans. If you want to go from coffee beans to coffee dust, freeze the beans or keep them in the refrigerator I guarantee you that this will work. It does not matter what your grind setting is on your burr grinder because you will get so much dust that the Bodum filter will clog and coffee cannot get sucked back into the lower chamber.

I now keep my coffee beans in an airtight container in the pantry, grind them as needed and then follow these additional procedures to get great tasting coffee every time.

Make sure the seal is clean and dry and the top is pressed firmly down onto the lower unit. I use a gas burner at a medium-high setting and do not use a diffuser. I think that the diffuser may be recommended to help keep the handle cooler in case you do not center the pot over the flame. Also, be sure you put the lid on top of the upper unit. And, do use caution, because the handle does get very warm.

I keep the burner on the same heat setting for 30 seconds after all of the water (except what is below the tube) goes into the upper chamber. There is still a little water left below the tube in the bottom chamber that will continue to boil. Turn the burner off after about 30 seconds, remove the upper chamber lid, and you can do one of two things at this point. If you do not want to move the coffeemaker while the top is full, just leave it on the burner and in a couple of minutes, the burner grate will cool enough to create the vacumm in the lower unit. If you want to cut a minute or two off of the procedure, use a oven mitt to hold the handle with one hand while you use the other hand to 'stablize' the top and move the coffeemaker to an adjacent cold burner.

I can actually hear air being sucked into the lower chamber after all of the liquid has been removed from the upper chamber, which takes less than 10-15 seconds once it starts. I then use an oven mitt to hold the handle, remove the top chamber and put it in its neat holder, and pour my eight cups of great tasting coffee into my twenty-five year old Stanley stainless steel thermos. I now have great tasting coffee all day long.

After the top and bottom units have cooled, I remove the filter and clean both chambers being careful to not bang them against anything hard. The glass is thin, which it has to be, but seems pretty durable.

I give the unit five stars because I am the one who caused most, if not all, of the original problems by improperly storing the coffee beans which resulted in a lot of dust when they were ground. The taste of the coffee made by this unit warrants five stars.

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I cannot rave enough about this treasure made in Copenhagen. I have used every conceivable type of coffee maker in the past, but this one is simply the best I have ever used. It is beautiful to look at, very easy to use and clean, and makes the best cup of coffee I have ever tasted. I ordered the electric version of this brand, but when it arrived, it had a defect, so I returned it immediately. I am so happy I didn't order the electric one because it was twice the amount of money that I paid for the non-electric one. I am going to tell all my friends about it--unfortunately you can't buy it in any stores, only through Amazon.com. Congratulations on carrying this absolute gem of a coffee maker!! Joanne Evens, Granite Bay, CA

Honest reviews on Bodum Santos Stovetop Glass Vacuum 34-Ounce Coffee Maker

This is really the way to make the best cup of coffee on a machine that costs less than $1000 dollars. I'm not kidding. When this device works correctly, it give you the best tasting, clearest (no sediment) and prettiest cup of coffee you have ever tasted Even Using The CHEAPEST Beans or Grinds!

PROBLEMS:

1. The spring loaded filtering device, although increadibly simple and easy to use and maintain did not work consistantly for me. Sometimes I would get a lot of sediment, sometimes crystal clear rich brown red coffee (perfect). Sometimes the top globe would drain completely (as it should) and sometimes only half way. I tried various grind coursness, filter adjustment, etc and never could get consistancy.

2. The handle needs to be longer and rounder. It is too short for the weight and feels awkward in the hand because of the way the bottom is cut out and shaped in general.

3. Glass broke on the bottom of the 2 pots. I left it on the stove and boiled out all of the water. 2 pots of coffee later a thin long crack developed leaking the coffee out on to my burner. Would like to see a little thicker glass.

4. Instruction book too skimpy especially for a coffee making technique that few have been exposed to.

5. The plastic stand for the upper glass globe should have a wider base to prohibit tipping.

GOOD THINGS:

1. The glass, although thin is pretty durable (in spite of it cracking on me after leaving it on the burner too long). It is really beautiful glass, even rings when you dry it with a microfibre cloth! Has a high clarity and shine.

2. It is easy to clean. Comes apart in seconds, rinse out, dry (works best with a microfibre cloth I found) and your done. I leave it out because I like the looks of it and people always ask what the heck it is!

3. It is easy and fast to use. Takes a few minutes to dump in the coffee and water (in separate glass globes/pots) and put together and start the coffee making process. It takes a few more minutes to have the coffee sucked into the lower pot and be ready to pour. Probably a 10 minute process total.

4.It's inexpensive! 40 bucks!

5. Makes the one of the best cup of coffee you've ever had even using the cheapest beans or grinds! In fact, I made better coffee at times using cheap grind over using custom roasted fresh expensive beans ground right before I put them in the pot. My suggestion, buy Kroger's brand standard beans (right from the grocery store at about $2.50 a pound), grind them right before you're ready to make your coffee and enjoy.

Summary, Bodum needs to tweak this product a bit. I'm searching on-line for another brand of vacuum pot today to replace my broken $40.00 bodum so I can compare.

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I live with a former barrista and coffee guru. He makes the coffee in our house, and he has that magic touch. According to my bean baron, the Santos is the best coffee maker he's ever used. I tend to agree; the Santos gets the most out of the bean's essence and preserves the delicate oils and acids that make for a superb cup.

Some caveats with this pot: this pot is made of GLASS. That's a good thing--plastic is less desirable as it tends to grab coffee oils onto its surface. Glass is about as inert as you can get. So, being GLASS, this pot requires care in use. It is a bit top-heavy and the tube leading to the lower chamber is apt to chip if you are careless with the spring-held filter device, which separates the upper brewing chamber from the lower serving and heating pot.

And this is a stovetop device, requiring attention to the flame or temperature of your electric element. No plug-and-play here, so this is best for entertaining or weekend enjoyment. For weekdays, I stick with our electric filter machine, which the Guru sets up for me the night before so I can stumble into the kitchen at dawn and press a button to get my caffeine dose. But...when we want exquisite gourmet coffee, this is the one we pull down from the shelf.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR CAREFUL COFFEE ENTHUSIASTS

Cheap Cuisinart Chef's Classic Half-Circle Wall-Mount Pot Rack

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $120.00
Sale Price: $59.95
Today's Bonus: 50% Off

This is a very nice rack. Solidly built, nice finish, and the half circle shape looks nice.

A quick note about mounting this. A previous reviewer said it is not possible to mount this on wall studs. This is only partially correct. This rack has three holes: two on the half circle, and one on the middle bar (the part that extends vertically). The two holes on the circle are spaced exactly 16 inches apartthis is the correct spacing for wall studs. The third hole is right in the middle of the other two holes so unless you have some strange wall studs you will not be able to attach this to a stud. Although the instructions say that you need to attach all 3 points to studs, the rack hangs absolutely fine if you only attach 2/3 points. Just make absolutely sure that that you attach both points to studs (this is a must!) and that you use a *toggle bolt* for the third pointthese are very strong bolts that can hold 200+ lbs by themselves. We've mounted ours with two wall studs and a toggle bolt and it is 100% sturdy. We can fully load it up with six heavy pans and it's very stable.

So, don't be afraid because of the other reviewer's comments.

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This unit works very well in an area that does not have a ton of room. I installed this in my apartment very easily and it works great. If I had more room I would have gone for a ceiling mount, but this is perfect for a wall mount unit. The area I installed it in had no real studs to drill in to as they are metal and framed on the edges of this wall spot. I used 3, 200 lb toggle bolts instead and it holds fine and is very sturdy .

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I love my half circle wall cookware rack! I measured my space and explored many options for cookware racks and this one suited my needs the best. I have it hanging above my kitchen window so it doesn't interfere with traffic in the kitchen. It is heavy, sturdy and supports all my cookware beautifully! Sam, Minnesota

Honest reviews on Cuisinart Chef's Classic Half-Circle Wall-Mount Pot Rack

The package comes with all the hardware you need to install, 3 lag bolts and a 3/16" toggle bolt (in case you can't find 3 studs in the right places). I purchased my own toggle bolts after reading other reviews, but it turns out I didn't even need it. It feels sturdy enough to easily hold the weight of 6 pans (I have two 12" skillets, two 10" skillets, and two large saute pans hanging on mine). Installation was simple enough to do by myself. The brushed stainless steel finish goes beautifully with SS cookware. The only reason I knocked off a star is because it seems pricey for what you get but it's fine functionally and aesthetically.

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This rack is the right size for the wall space I had available. It looks great with the stainless steel finish that matches my cookware. I am very pleased with the quality and strength of this product.

Garcima 24-Inch Carbon Steel Paella Pan, 60cm Reviews

Customer Ratings:

Was impressed with the weight of the pan, good value.

Made paella for Fathers Day and it was a hit!

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Haven't received this one yet…but I ordered two of the exact same from another site and they are fabulous. We are doing an outdoor party, and this is exactly what we need for Paella on the BBQ.

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I wanted an awesome size pan to showcase my awesome paella and that it did! My guests gathered around the grill and seemed amazed at the size of the pan and the variety of ingredients. Most of my guests had never had paella prior to this. I bought the pan from Amazon because I trusted the company and coincidentally the pan was on sale and came with free shipping! Would you believe, the pan arrived at 11:15 in the morning (when I expected it) and my party started at 3:00 p.m.! Thanks, Amazon!

Honest reviews on Garcima 24-Inch Carbon Steel Paella Pan, 60cm

Spreads heat well across all the surface. Works great with 3 ring burners. it is true that serves up to 19 people but if they are hungry people you will serve 15 and not really 19, which is normal, at least with my friends/family :-)

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Much higher quality than I expected for the price. Sturdy and thick metal. Our first batch of paella was cooked to perfection, the pan cleaned up nicely and looks like new again.

Best Concord 80 Quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot Cookware Deals

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List Price: $219.98
Sale Price: $99.98
Today's Bonus: 55% Off

This is a great stainless steel stock pot for the price. It shows that it was seam welded down one side. The seam is slightly visible on the outside, but polished and smooth on the inside. Great riveted handles and crimped edges on the top and lid. Has "Concord 80qt" painted on both sides in basic black paint that can probably scraped off.

The thickness of the steel is good, but if your planning on drilling through it put in a valve or bulkhead, it will work fine, but does not feel as secure as some other thicker pots.

Definitely worth the money though.

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I posted pictures when I first got the kettle, but I reserved my review for after the first time I actually used it.

This is a great stock pot/brew pot for the price. I'm using it to brew beer, I'm happy with my purchase, and I plan on purchasing another one soon.

One thing I will do, and recommend to anyone who is using this for more than a 5 gallon boil is putting in a weldless ball valve and thermometer kit. (or at least making sure you are brewing with a strong friend).

I would definitely recommend this item for home brewers.

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You get what you pay for. Nice and shiny with a pin hole in the side. Patched it with some JB weld. Waiting for the next leak to show up

Buy Cuisinart 66-10 Chef's Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 10-Piece

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $400.00
Sale Price: $134.86
Today's Bonus: 66% Off

I bought the 10 piece Cuisinart set about a month ago and ever since I've been expecting it to fall to pieces, burst, turn to dust, explode, vanish in thin air, etc. etc... anything that would give me a reason for the low price of 140$ which is 400$ in stores. The truth is, it's too good to be true. But it is! This is the best cookware set I have ever seen by far. Nothing will ever be able to stick to these lovely pots and pans, no matter what you do, so be ready to say goodbye to all the non-stick sprays, oil, butter and soaking and scratching. They don't even need harsh soaps for a moderate cleaning up. It is true that they can burn food, but the instructions say that these are not meant to be used at high stove-top heats anyway, use a low to mid heat and everything will turn up wonderful. They are really good for slow cooking and can also go in the oven up to 500 degrees, which is required for some food I like to make. The glass lids are useful when making rice or seeing the color of vegetables but they can spill if nor handled properly due to the design, which could certainly improve since they are, unlike the pots, not very easy to clean. My handles have never got too hot unlike my previous Faberware set. I adore the small skillet which is just the right size for a 2 egg french omlete, in general, the sizes are logical and all come in handy. It does say they are metal utensil safe, which is not exactly true since it's OK with a fork or spoon, but any hand held electronic gadget can scratch the interior a little. Also, although the dark gray outer finish is beautiful, it seems that the colour will be wearing of in time.

To sum it up, if you're willing to give some extra attention to this good-looking set (drying after hand washing, preferably hanging and keeping the lids clean) this is a deal you must not miss. BTW, It arrived very quickly and was packed great by Amazon. You won't be able to use any piece in this set at high stove top heats, so get a cheap large skillet for that kind of job, give away your old set and buy this one like I did. I doubt anyone will ever regret it. I would give 4 1/2 stars if I could due to the not-so-good lid design facor. Still, I love my cookware set, will probably be using it for at least 10 years to come and recommend it fully to anybody.

EDIT AFTER 6 YEARS

I've just gave away this set after 6 years of daily use. So, they didn't last for 10 years as I was predicting in my initially overly psyched review, but I still think it was a great deal for the price. Now that I have more money to spend and need a more professional level cookware set, I've replaced them with stainless steel Fissler pots and pans, which in my opinion, are the best you can get for any price, anywhere.

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I have had the similar 7 piece set for about a month and have had a chance to use them enough to have an opinion. They are well balanced and perform well, especially the sauce pans and stock pot. The 8 quart stock pot is large enough for a family of 4-6. Cuisinart advertises you can use metal utensils, but when you read their recommended use card, it says metal utensil will scratch the surface. That is a misleading marketing gimmick in my opinion.

My main complaint with the Cuisinart cookware is they heat up very quickly due to the thin 3 mm thickness. The fry pans are the weakest items of the set. After side-by-side comparisons against Emeril's All-Clad Hard Anodized, I much prefer the Emeril brand. The Emeril pans are 5 mm thick and seem to cook more evenly and are not near as temper-mental as the Cuisinarts. They also have a feel of quality, unlike the Cuisinart pans.

For not much more money, I would look at the higher quality Emeril Hard Anodized 10 piece set (retails for $200); and sorry Amazon, the best deals for Emerilware are currently using one of those 20% off coupons at Bed Bath and Beyond or Linens N Things.

Best Deals for Cuisinart 66-10 Chef's Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 10-Piece

After 9 months of owning this set and cooking with most of them almost every day, I can give an honest opinion of how they worked out for me.

Pros:

Excellent heat conduction. Stays hot, cooks evenly, and transfer from oven to stovetop and back is very convenient. Good, tough pots and pans at a great value. I like the large skillet and pots, especially.

Cons:

The nonstick coating is not really there anymore for the two frying pans. Though these have never been in the dishwasher or been scrubbed with anything heavier than a sponge, the nonstick coating has slowly burned off in patches, and now, though it hasn't peeled or flaked, there are spots where the food will stick and nonstick spray or oil must be used. Unless I use some kind of spray, pancakes, for instance, must be made in the large 2-handled skillet.

This is a pity because I was very careful not to overheat the pans--they have really been babied. I will probably buy Cuisinart again, but these two pans will need to be replaced within a few months. They are not really useful anymore for anything except veggie burger patties.

Honest reviews on Cuisinart 66-10 Chef's Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 10-Piece

The interior of the pans is NOT anodized aluminum, but "Quantanium". It's an excellent non-stick surface, and so far my set works fine. However, if you're concerned about overheated Teflon and the chemicals being released into your food, you'll have to pay more to get a real anodized aluminum set.

Quantanium is not safe over 500 degrees F. It does contain PTFE, the same chemical in Teflon, which is potentially carcinogenic. Fumes from cooking are harmful to animals. And lastly, the non-stick layer is very thin, and will eventually come of. I bought my set thinking I was getting hard-anodized aluminum for a steal, but it seems you DO have to ante up for Calphalon or a more expensive brand to get the real stuff.

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I was very happy with this set when I first purchased it 2 years ago. They are easy to clean and cook evenly. After a year of heavy use small patches of the nonstick coating started coming off. These pots and pans have never been in the dishwasher, used over high heat, or had metal utensils used on them. This is a set that won't last very long if you use it everyday.

Discount Waechtersbach Fun Factory II White Mugs, Set of 4

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List Price: $33.00
Sale Price: $29.58
Today's Bonus: 10% Off

After a few accidents, I had a need to replace some mugs I had bought at linen and things years ago. Linen and Things no longer sold them. These match perfectly and appear to be made as well as the original ones.

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I ordered these mugs to add to the white Waechtersbachs that I already own because I have found those mugs to be ideal in size, shape, weight, and handle proportion. Unfortunately, these new guys are not identical to my originals. And while the variations are certainly not dramatic (i.e. the new ones are only slightly heavier), I was disappointed that I didn't receive the product I expected.

Best Deals for Waechtersbach Fun Factory II White Mugs, Set of 4

These mugs are a delight to have. They hold at least 12 oz and are great for my pour over coffee. Despite all this, they're not cheap.

Best StoneDine - PFOA Free Non-stick Stone Cookware - 12.6" Diameter Wok Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $140.00
Sale Price: $99.00
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

It's easy to create a sensation with infomercials and get good reviews based on the first impression. I was almost set to buy this item but then I noticed all these excellent reviews occurred in the recent months of 2013 while a cookware of this grade should have a long enough history of excellence to prove it. Also I read somewhere in Amazon that StoneDine actually shipped products made by StoneLine. I don't know exactly how StoneDine is related to StoneLine, but StoneLine shipped some products, e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Stoneline-Eco-friendly-Coated-Non-stick-Frying/dp/B005GXPJZW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383581822&sr=8-1&keywords=stoneline, which failed to live up to its claim of lasting non-stick coating and about which people have experienced bad customer service. Is StoneDine actually formerly StoneLine and an effort to make people forget its subprime history and start over with a fresh start?

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This works like a wok. Just a little too large for myself...but when I am cooking for my grandchildren it is fine. I would definitely recommend this new innovative design!

Best Deals for StoneDine - PFOA Free Non-stick Stone Cookware - 12.6" Diameter Wok

All of the Stonedine cookware we have is impressive. Have had the others almost a year now and they continue to perform flawlessly and as advertised. The real truth will be when we get into years 4 and 5. Looking forward to many more years of good service from these pieces. The wok works just as efficiently and it matches the set.

Honest reviews on StoneDine - PFOA Free Non-stick Stone Cookware - 12.6" Diameter Wok

the best piece of cookware I ever owned.

Nothing sticks to it! It is light, the cover fits and the whole assembly delivers.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for StoneDine - PFOA Free Non-stick Stone Cookware - 12.6" Diameter Wok

Very convenient to use, and very easy to clean, also the food it cooked are sooooooooooo so delicious. I like it so so much!!!!

Buy Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 14-1/4-Inch Woks

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List Price: $320.00
Sale Price: $249.99
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

I know this review is going to get trashed, with people howling about what Amazon reviews are 'supposed' to be. But with this review I may very well save some people a big chunk of change, so onward.

See, this product is a good example of the problem with Amazon reviews anyone who really knows how to use a wok wouldn't even consider this product, much less buy it and post a review. So this product gets very high reviews from happy but misled customers, and much better woks costing 1/5th as much get slightly more mixed reviews from people who know what they're doing but compare one decent wok to another.

Reasons this is a poorly thought out product:

Heavy weight hinders you when tossing food. Tossing food is not just for show it's an essential part of the main school of wok-based cookery. It exposes food to extremely high heat in brief bursts but at the same time moderates the heat and keeps food from overcooking or burning. This is crucial for getting that flavor that only comes from proper use of a wok.

Enamel doesn't season anywhere near as well as bare carbon steel. Seasoning is critical both for the proper flavor and to keep foods from sticking

The cast iron pan doesn't heat as fast or as hot as carbon steel. High heat is also crucial for majority of wok-based cooking. Slower heat response is also less-than-ideal for a wok.

I have severe doubts that the enamel coating would stand up to the extremely high heat of a real wok burner, in case you ever get a chance to use one.

It costs five times as much as much better carbon steel woks

When you buy this pan, you are paying for a very expensive and pretty pan in a wok shape. But it's not a wok. And I can't really think of a good reason to make a pan in a wok shape when it doesn't work well as a wok. It's like genetically engineering a housecat with antlers sounds cute, but expensive, and it's just going to give you problems.

If you want to spend big money, buy another of Le Creuset's pots. Their dutch ovens are nice. Or put money aside to one day buy a real, high-output wok burner. But if you want to buy a wok, go carbon steel. Read up on it, learn to take care of it -it's all part of the deal. There is no substitute, and this pan isn't even close.

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I was not sure this wok would measure up to my standards of Chinese cooking. I have two other traditional Chinese steel woks that I use a lot. But, what I found with this wok is that, even though the heat source doesn't have to be on high, the mass of iron in this wok generated much more heat and my Chinese dishes came out fantastically. I have been totally shocked at how this wok performed.

The surface needs to be gently seasoned, as do the surfaces of Le Creuset's grill pans, but, once that is done, food rarely sticks to it (or, the grill pans). I usually let some water soak in the pan after I've taken the food out, and after that, stuck-on food easily come off. I highly recommend this pan.

Best Deals for Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 14-1/4-Inch Woks

Product Dimensions:

Le Creuset Wok measures: 14 x 14 x 4 inches ; 14.1 pounds -

Limited lifetime warranty

Staub 7-quart Wok measures 14 inches in diameter; 15 pounds -

Lifetime limited warranty

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Le Creuset claims their wok is "Dishwasher safe" However, one should not place seasoned woks in a dishwasher as the detergent will break down the pan's seasoning and "wok hay". That is after all, one of the desired characteristics of a wok.

Le Creuset is oven safe to 400 degrees.

Staub 7-quart Wok: Hand washing recommended by Staub. Although their new cooking surface is less tenuous than the Le Creuset's matte surface due to Staub's superior enameled interior, in addition to their exterior surfaces being enamel-coated.

Staub is oven safe to 500 degrees.

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The Staub wok is ready to use immediately.

My Le Creuset, while also enameled, it performed best after it was seasoned.

Both will become better cooking surfaces with continued use and proper care.

Of note however, both woks receive identical use in my kitchen. The Staub's cooking surface holds up better, and significantly out performs the Le Creuset.

The later tends to flake, pit, and lose its structural integrity as used in my kitchen.

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Staub enameled cast iron products are highly durable. They do not discolor or rust, they resist chipping, and do not require seasoning.

Le Creuset enameled cast iron products are also highly durable. The lighter colored enamels will occasionally discolor, and etch when cooking acidic foods, there are sometimes rust issues if improperly maintained, they resist chipping, and their wok requires seasoning for best preformance.

Staub's interiors, as well as the exterior surfaces are enamel-coated iron. The durable black ---matte--finish enamel interior does not require initial seasoning for use. The more you use your Staub product, the better it gets! Oils used when cooking will penetrate the pores of the ---matte enamel finish--and create a natural, smooth, nonstick surface, just like a finely seasoned non-enameled iron pan. The smooth enameled exterior is easier to clean.

The almost impervious black coating found on well-used woks takes time, care and lots of cooking before a wok develops this patina. The ultimate goal is for the wok to impart "wok hay", an elusive pan flavor and aroma that is associated with Chinese restaurant dishes. Actually, wok hay comes from cooking over extremely high heat in a well-seasoned pan.

Commercial wok burners have as many as 140,000 BTU's. Professional-style home ranges have a maximum BTU rating of 17,000. Regular home stoves' BTU rating is only 7,000 per burner. It is therefore difficult for home cooks to prepare restaurant quality stir-fry. The thick iron construction of both Staub and Le Creuset help compensate for this BTU deficiency by collecting and retaining heat from the burner in order to produce memorable Chinese meals.

Once a wok imparts wok hay, it is respected like a finely-tuned instrument. As the patina builds up, less cooking oil is required making foods more healthy. "A wok must be very hot for stir-fries to have the grilled, smoky flavor that is so distinctive of wok hay," says Chinese cooking authority Ken Hom.

According to Grace Young, people tend to be very superstitious in Hong Kong and "wok hay" is so coveted that "when a customer is served a stir-fry void of wok hay, it is often interpreted as an ominous sign of bad luck."

Staub made a wonderfully functional design decision to coat the interior with a matte surface, while coating the exterior of the pan with the traditional smooth surface. For this reason, I prefer to use Staub when liquids are involved due to their rust-free coated interior surface.

Le Creuset has it over Staub when it comes to style. My Le Creuset is Chinese Red (what else?) and it is a gorgeous utensil that is certain to turn everyone's attention.

Le Creuset and Staub are each capable of excellent performance and wok hay if properly maintained and well seasoned.

~ Final Added Note Regarding my overall personal preferences I have collected over a dozen Staub cookware items. My Le Creuset collection does out-number my Staub pieces by four or five times. I own both woks and find that the Staub out tested the Le Creuset in my application.

Honest reviews on Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 14-1/4-Inch Woks

I've used carbon steel and stainless steel woks in the past. The Le Creuset is an excellent wok, but for the money carbon steel is the way to go. I suppose the advantage of the Le Crueset enameled cast iron is that it really holds the heat well, but preheating is required to get best results. Cast-iron is great for home kitchens because you can use it at lower temps. The general advice for stir-frying is to use medium-high heat or high heat, but Le Creuset warns against this when using cast iron:

What you do want to do though, is let your cast iron wok slowly heat up. This will help you get more heat to the sides of the wok rather than just the center. Woks are not like flat-bottomed fry pans, so the sides should be cooler than the bottom-center... but you don't want them to be totally cold either... nor do you want to start cooking while the bottom is still just lukewarm. So don't just put this wok on the burner and start cooking after 30 seconds. I set it on a low flame for several minutes to let the heat slowly work its way up the sides, and then I increase to medium. that may not sound like enough heat for stir-frying, but the longer you leave cast iron on a low to medium flame the hotter it will get (same is true for any material, but the iron seems to hold the heat better). You may be surprised at how quickly the oil starts shimmering and then smoking.

I have made many stir fries over the last four years using our Le Creuset wok and it cooks extremely well. The matte enamel finish on the sides, as well as the gradual slope, makes it easy to move some ingredients out of the hot zone if you want to. It also lets you fit a lot of vegis in for steaming. This wok is also very easy to clean... although it is quite heavy (like all cast iron cookware). Definitely expensive, but it's a beautiful wok that will be a family heirloom. Ours was a wedding gift though, and if I were going to purchase a wok on a budget this would not be the one. A Le Creuset wok is definitely a want more than a need. If you use it correctly (following their instructions for use), you will be happy with the way it cooks... and it will definitely be one of the more striking pieces in your Le Creuset collection. If you just want a good wok and not specifically a Le Creuset, there are many good options...some only costing about 1/10th the price. Whatever you get... just make sure you know how to use it and care for it to get the best results.

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I debated on purchasing this wok for several weeks. Our family already owns a large set of Le Creuset because we prefer to cook with cast iron cookware for health reasons. My hesistation on this purchase was ONLY the price. I did search high and low and could not find this under $199. The fact that Amazon offers free shipping is a huge bonus. After weeks of delay, I finally made this purchase and could not be happier. Le Creuset as a whole is an outstanding product with so many beautiful colors. My set is Red and Cherry.

This wok cooks excellently. I have used it at least once a week for asian dishes and even deep frying. The wok sits nicely on my electric burner and cleans up beautifully. If you are considering buying this wok, hopefully the price is the only concern. You need not be concerned about this products durability, appearance or performance, they are all winners. In regards to the price, just remember that quality will beat out price 99% of the time. This is lifetime cookware and is definitely an investment.