Reviews of Kuhn Rikon Hotpan Braiser 4.5 Quart, Green

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List Price: $220.00
Sale Price: $199.97
Today's Bonus: 9% Off

it is a fantastic pot, and i love it. It can save more energy.

my sister and i highly recommend it!

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My friend recommended this pan to me. So I went ahead and bought one. It is wonderful, even my husband loves it. I don't have a braiser type of pan. This works great. It keeps food hot all afternoon. The beef was tender, by the time I took it out. I will get another one, in the near future.

Review of Anolon Chef Clad Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

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List Price: $425.00
Sale Price: $279.95
Today's Bonus: 34% Off

I wanted the Clad pans with the outer Anolon cover. LOVE the pans. Heavy, thick, nice looking, clean well and cook great. Was a little worried since I couldn't find but one review of these. But very pleased that they will last a long time.

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I have a couple Anolon Advanced pieces that I picked up at BB&B, the 8" skillet and the "Ultimate Pan" to be specific. I was impressed with the quality of these products, but noticed like on most teflon or non-stick coated surfaces they could be damaged by heat, using a metal spatula, or being washed in a dishwasher. Well, Capholon is typically overpriced and the quality doesn't seem much different. Others seem inferior or out of my price range of what I wanted to spend.

So, looking on Amazon and the Anolon website I found this set. An aluminum set with a stainless steel inner layer? I don't think I've ever seen that combination but it made a lot of sense. Aluminum is only surpassed by copper as far as cookware goes for distributing heat evenly. The steel inside acts as the protective layer, making it easy to clean and last for years to come. And, I can put them in the dishwasher!

If you are looking for a set that is reasonable in price, but don't like the fact your non-sticks are peeling and chipping and/or can't put them in the dishwasher: You cannot go wrong with this set!

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Cookware is worth spending a lot of money on. Good cookware that's properly cared for will last a lifetime, if not longer. With the exception of cast iron, good cookware is typically expensive because the materials cost what they cost -everybody is paying the same price for metals; nobody can sell them cheaper than someone else.

Anolon keeps costs down by having only the cooking surface of the pans -the interior -be stainless steel. The outside of the pans -except the bottom which is stainless -is aluminum. The reason All-Clad stainless steel cookware is so expensive and praised is because the exterior is completely stainless steel (the interior is aluminum). That, combined with their construction, makes them pretty much indestructible. The aluminum exterior of the Anolon will be more susceptible to damage from impact with objects and especially heat than pans that are completely stainless. You must be very careful not to allow a heat source to come into direct contact with the aluminum sides of the pans -that means never using the smaller pots on large gas burners.

I spent a week using this set to make everything from sautéed vegetables, to risotto and soups. Overall the performance was pretty good. The pans heated pretty fast and fairly evenly; the benefit of the stainless steel interior is that you can stick sharp objects into the pan -it's very hard to damage the surface.

My main complaint is that these pans are fairly heavy -noticeably heavier than my All-Clad stainless and Calphalon hard-anodized. If you're cooking something that requires tossing or moving the pan around a lot, it could make things a bit more difficult. That's why I removed a star.

While the pans are advertised as being dishwasher safe, I would never do that because dishwasher detergent tends to be pretty abrasive. The easiest way to clean stainless steel is with Bar Keepers Friend. Just let the pans soak for a little, pour out the water, sprinkle some BKF in, and clean with a wet spong. They'll look brand new.

Overall this is a good entry-level set for someone who wants the benefits of cooking with a stainless steel interior. The price really is quite good for the quality. More experienced cooks will want to save up for All-Clad.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The brushed aluminum finish really makes these look great, but looks aren't everything...unless you don't plan on using them...then looks would be pretty important.

But if you do plan on using them, there are a few quirks.

We compared these against a nice Kitchen aid set, and the Anolon seem weighted heavy.

Well Balanced? -

Heavy cookware can mean quality, but it's not that the Anolon were heavier it's that the way the handles are placed, they just doesn't feel properly balanced between the handle and the pot. It was a very noticeable difference when we picked them up. Maybe the angle of the handles are too steep and don't distribute the weight very well. Not sure. They just are not as easy to hold as they should be.

Hot Handles? -

The lids are pretty good. They don't have the rubber along the edges which can actually make a seal and lock the top on to the pot. But, the handles do get hot, just FYI. Other pots will have a rubber or silicon grip to the underside of the handle. These don't.

Brushed Aluminum for show? -

The Cookware look great with the brushed aluminum, but I thought Aluminum was being removed from antiperspirants over health concerns.

Wanting to see what the fine print said in the notice that came with the pots, it looks like the aluminum is just a coating on the outside. But what's interesting is the warning that it states if you let a pot boil water until dry (not a good idea at all, but accidents do happen), and since the aluminum is just for the distinct look, it's interesting to see what the care information states for the Aluminum with stainless or copper base:

"In some cases, cookware with an aluminum core base or cookware with a base container copper that is allowed to boil dry, may melt and separate from the pan body resulting in severe personal injury and/or property damage. If your pan boils dry and you see molten aluminum, do not pick up your pan. Turn the burner off, allow the pan to cool, then remove from the burner and discard."

Doesn't give me a lot of confidence there. Maybe that can happen to any old pot or pan, but our old set is stainless steal, not covered in brushed aluminum.

Some people will care about that, and some won't but I wanted to mention it for those who might want to look into it before buying.

-A tip --

After a little bit of use, one thing we noticed were white spots in the base of the pan. Scrubbing didn't do much, but the care instructions said a little vinegar would do the trick, so we scrubbed with a little vinegar, and it worked.

So, if you're going for the look, they are elegant looking. They don't feel well balanced, but that's a matter of preference and will be different for each person.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I've been getting good use out of these and trying to get a sense of how they hold up. The company happened to send them to be reviewed just before Thanksgiving, so it was a good opportunity to test them out.

These have been extremely easy to use. They've been cooking things very evenly, and I've been impressed by how easy it's been to clean them up thus far. They don't have the bolts for the handles that are flush with the surface of the pot, so you occasionally have to scrub around that area with just a little extra care to make sure it's getting clean. Nothing that's especially troublesome though.

I've particularly liked how well the handles do at remaining cool even when something has been cooking for a long time. I was really paranoid about burning my hands for the first couple of days but it seems like they just aren't getting all that hot.

In person they look like they'd be very much at home sitting next to a computer or monitor made by Apple due to the finish. If that's an aesthetic you happen to enjoy, you're very likely to be pleased with them. They feel a bit heavy, but I suspect that's because I'm used to pots with plastic handles and the additional metal adds weight.

On the whole, you can obviously do better quality-wise if you get something like All-Clad, but I'm really impressed by how good these are given the price point they're sitting at. They're much better than the various pieces I've been using previously that are in about the same realm for cost.

Cheap KitchenAid Gourmet Silicone Scraper Spatula with Cherry Wood

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List Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $8.58
Today's Bonus: 14% Off

The silicone on my spatula head started chipping after 4 months. I called the company, and they sent a replacement (hence the three stars, instead of one star). Hopefully the new head works better than the old one did.

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Cheap Nespresso Aeroccino Plus

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I really love it! You fill cold milk into it, push the button and after about a minute you get warm and very stiff cappucino-milk foam.

The newer Aeroccino Plus is an improved version of the older Aeroccino (no plus). It works great and honestly there is no reason to buy the old Aeroccino anymore (i own both)!

The Plus is larger, the milk doesn't burn to the floor of the kettle anymore, it can now be submerged into water (but no dishwasher!) and it can also do cold milk foam which looks great and stiff (hold the switch for about 2 seconds the light turns blue instead of red).

Finally cleaning is really easy and can be done with water, sometimes a little soap and with the hands there is no burned milk anymore (as with the old version). They also improved the coating so nothing sticks anymore.

If you love cappucinos or cafe-lattes, get one!

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We bought the Aeroccino Plus with a Citiz 110 Nespresso machine. We love both, but the Aeroccino Plus might be the better buy. We strongly recommend the Aeroccino, no matter what kind of coffee machine you have.

The Aeroccino froths milk either hot or cold, and has two attachmentsa wire whip that produces a whole lot of stiff foam for cappuccino, and a plastic mini-paddle that produces whipped milk with less, but richer, foam for lattes. We prefer the latter lattes.

It heats milk quickly and silently, and the froth is just great. You store the attachment you don't use in the lid, where it is held on by a clever magnet.

Clean-up is a breeze. The no-stick interior works really well-no burnt milk, only a little foamy residue to rinse out. Cleaning is a three second job.

Our only minor quibble is that the milk heats nicely, but it could stand to be just a little hotter. It would be nice to be able to adjust the temperature. We also wish that the Citiz Nespresso machine had a temperature adjustment control-it needs one more than the Aeroccino.

This is a great product, and we are very pleased with it. It is a little pricey, but probably worth it. The bottom line is that it is a great little appliance if you enjoy delicious, easy-to-make lattes or cappuccinos.

UPDATE: 7/24/2010. Our aeroccino died after about three months. We treated it with kid gloves-it has never been immersed and had never been in the dishwasher. Nespresso said the problem might have been leaving the mug on the base unit, although the owners manual does not say anything about that (it does say that you should not store the mug on the base if you are not going to use it for an extended period of time, but we use ours every day). This indicates a certain fragility to the product, if not a design flaw.

Because of the premature death of our aeroccino, I deducted one star from my initial five-star rating. The good news is that Nespresso was very good about respecting the warranty, and sent us a new unit immediately w/o any fuss at all. We don't have to return the old unit, which is good in terms of cost and convenience. They asked us to recycle it, if possible, which happily is no problem here. It really is a nifty little machine, so we are hoping that the replacement proves to be more durable.

UPDATE II: 8/2011. Our replacement aeroccino is still going great after a year. We no longer store it on the base unit, which is mildly irritating, but otherwise we still love it.

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I received my Aeroccino Plus on Friday and have been testing it the last couple of days. I'm an experienced barista and take my espresso, latte and cappucino seriously. First, you can't beat a traditional manual espresso maker with a good steam wand. Using the steam wand on my machine, I get good consistent micro foam which brings out the natural sweetness of the milk. The trouble is that it takes a good 2 to 3 minutes each time which adds to prep time in the mornings before work. Also, when you're having a party and everyone wants a cappucino, I spend more time in front of my espresso machine than with guests. I wanted to try the Aeroccino plus as an alternative knowing it couldn't replace the steam wand on my Ms Silvia.

Aeroccino Plus comes with 2 milk "stirrers" spun by a magnet under the bottom of the insert. One stirrer is whisk-like which whips air into the milk for a thick foam used in cappucinos and the other stirrer is just a paddle which incorporates minimal air while the milk is being heated. The big plus is that time is reduced dramatically. In less than one minute, the milk is frothed and heated which cuts down on prep time. The frothing is not bad but as suspected not quite micro bubbles. Using the whisk like stirrer, the milk comes out rather thick...good for cappucinos. The one criticism I have is the capacity of the machine. The holder is marked with 2 levels (one for each stir application). The first time I used it and filled to the lower level and stirred with the whisk stirrer, I found you could not put the lid on because soon after the stirring started, the milk over flowed and spilled out. This means you can add barely enough milk for a single shot. The second time I tried it, I filled it to the higher level marked for the paddle stirrer. The milk heated fast but the micro bubbles didn't quite happen...the milk came out a little thinner than ideal. But overall, for the convenience and speed, I really can't complain. I've resigned to use the convenience and quickness of the Aeroccino plus on week days when I'm rushing for work but sacrifice a little on quality. Then on weekends when time is not as much as an issue, I'll go back to the manual steam wand on Ms Silvia for my perfect latte. I know the Plus has a higher capacity than previous version but I would have liked to have just a little more capacity.

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I just received the Nespresso Aeroccino Plus for Christmas and I agree with all of the previous reviews. This milk frother is amazing! I have used a La Pavoni espresso maker for years and the steam wand has worked just fine. However, the Aeroccino Plus has several advantages over a steam wand. I add a shot of flavored syrup for cappuccinos to skim milk before I froth it. Now the foam is flavored which tastes like whipped cream and has the same consistency. The manufacturer recommends whole or semi-skimmed milk which may work even better. The foam does not collapse as with a steam wand. Also, since I am not using steam to froth the milk, I can make three more espresso drinks before I need to refill the La Pavoni. I am able to make espresso drinks more efficiently and faster since I do not need to spend time steam frothing. The milk is frothing automatically at the same time the espresso is being made. The Nespresso Aeroccino Plus will also froth soy milk if you are so inclined, better than the most experienced barista. I froth with the lid off making the clean up easier because now there is no need to clean the top or the lid seal. The milk is very hot and does not spill out the top. I bought the Nespresso on Amazon not just because of price but also because I could not find it in any mall store or coffee shop. It is not a kitchen gadget and retailers are making a big mistake by not stocking this well designed and elegant product. It is worth the money and I recommend it highly.

Update 09-19-10: Just frothed Almond Milk and it worked perfectly. I have had zero problems with the Aeroccino Plus and it still looks like new. It never burns the liquid and clean-up could not be easier. All the Best!

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The new Plus version is a significant improvement over the original and a real pleasure to use. It's froth is more dense and with much less unfrothed hot milk. It's much easier to clean and has additional features (cold froth for iced versions, and the whisks have a handle so it's easier to remove/insert). The surface no longer causes milk to stick and get brown as in the original, so it's much quicker and easier to clean. Major improvement: the base is now sealed and waterproof, so one doesn't need to worry about getting water on it when cleaning, though it's not dishwasher safe, but there would never be a need to use a dishwasher. I haven't had it long enough to have any problem, nor do I anticipate any on this one, though I had many problems with the original. To be safe, it would be wise to buy it from Nespresso directly, or be sure it's registered with them in some way, so their warranty allows a simple exchange if it does malfunction.Nespresso 3192US Aeroccino Plus

Anolon Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick 1-Quart Open Saucepan Reviews

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List Price: $50.00
Sale Price: $25.49
Today's Bonus: 49% Off

I received this pan today and used it to make gravy for dinner. It's the perfect size for making gravy, heating soup, cooking hot cereal for one or two, etc. Initially I was looking for a "butter warmer" and decided to check Anolon Advanced and came across this little pan. Perfect!!

I also own the Anolon Advanced: 3 qt. covered saucepan w/strainer lid; 2 qt. covered saucepan; 1.5 qt covered saucepan (have had these pans for a few months now). These pans are great and worth the money. Water/liquids come to a boil quickly and the pots heat evenly. They are heavy enough where they do not spin around on my glass top range.

I also like the fact that these pans are deeper than the standard saucepan so there is plenty of room if things begin to bubble up a little bit.

One other thing to note: The cover of the 1.5 qt saucepan fits perfectly on the 1 qt. open saucepan so I can use that lid for either of the 2 small pans! Perfect!!

I always hand wash these pans (no effort to cleaning these up) and I do not use metal cooking utensils in them. I don't put the lids in the dishwasher either but I guess one could do so if desired.

I would recommend these pans to my family and friends.

If you need new saucepans and are considering these, do not hesitate.

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nice small pot that is good for warming up 1 can of product (i.e. baked beans, etc). love the whole anolon advanced pot/pan collection, and this is a nice addition that gets used quite a bit for heating up smaller items.

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Purchased in January 2012.The pan is only used to make oatmeal.

Surface looks OK but food began to stick about 1 month ago (Sept. 2012).

Update My wife has oatmeal for breakfast almost every day. It is a pain to clean up. I got her this Anolon non-stick pan (Purchased January 28, 2012). It was used only to make oatmeal. It was only hand washed. After about 4 months it seemed to be less and less non-stick. Surface did and does look fine. I e-mailed Anolon and asked if there was some way to restore the non-stick surface. I thought that maybe cooking oatmeal (with milk) had somehow clogged up the surface. I was told to just send them the pan. I paid the shipping and sent the pan to them. The same pan came back. They said that the warranty was void because we had put it in the dishwasher and damaged the outside surface. Get that, the outside surface. 1) We did not put it in the dish washer. 2) We did not complain about the outside of the pan (which looks the same to me). Not buying any Anolon products ever again.

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This is one useful saucepan for small jobs such as gravey. The only problem I found is that it doesn't come with a lid.

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This small 1 quart Anolon pan is just what I needed. It is the perfect pan for sauces, and the pour spouts make serving them so easy. I could not find this pan anywhere, and then I checked Amazon, and now I am a happy cook. Their overall quality is among the best for the consumer kitchen.

Best Konitz Coffee Bar 10-Ounce Mugs, Set of 4, White Deals

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List Price: $20.51
Sale Price: $19.34
Today's Bonus: 6% Off

I've had a set of these for several years now mixed in with all of the mismatched coffee cups/mugs that have accumulated in the cabinet over the years. These are always the ones I grab for first. I think they have a very classic modern style Not too heavy, not too dainty, with a slightly taller, slightly narrower profile. They feel nice in your hand. I am no expert on porcelain, but the quality on these seems very good. None of these cups have broken or even chipped and as I stated, I've had them for several years and use them daily. You're probably not going to bust out these mugs when the Queen of England comes to visit, but as a set of coffee mugs for everyday use, I think these are better than average. I recommend them.

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These are well made mugs. The primary reason I purchased them is that I like a CUP of coffee, not one of these 16 to 20 oz bowls or vases with handles that so many people drink now. These are a great size and the proportions are right all around. Real sturdy and great looking. Buy if you enjoy hot beverages in reasonable amounts.

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Perfect just perfect as advertised and somehow the coffee tastes better, must have something to do with the way the cup is shaped helps hold the aroma. Very good quality nice handle. I am pleased to have purchased these cups. Update December 14th 2012 still using these great cups every morning still enjoying them just as much.

Honest reviews on Konitz Coffee Bar 10-Ounce Mugs, Set of 4, White

We bought 3 sets of 4 mugs, and were very pleased with the quality. We bought them along with porcelain paint pens, and over the holiday, our adult kids (and their +1s) personalized their own mugs. The mugs will stay here for use on return visits. It's a fun way to welcome the new visitors (and cut down a bit on dishes, too!).

These were inexpensive enough to buy in quantity, and the quality is much like other very nice coffee/hot chocolate mugs we have. I'm ordering another set bc my husband wanted to be sure we'll have enough for future guests.

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Not sure what I can say about these other than that they are a nice size and appear to be solidly made.

10/23/13: Edited to note that they are very slippery. I dropped one the other day over some other dishes and broke a bowl.

Best Le Creuset 5-Tier Cast-Iron Cookware Stand Deals

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List Price: $475.00
Sale Price: $399.95
Today's Bonus: 16% Off

I have mixed feelings about this item. I had seen the stand displaying various sizes of Le Creuset at Williams Sonoma and felt I must have one especially because my Le Creuset collection, at least one piece of which we use almost every day, was taking up way too much room in my cupboard. Though pricey, I made the purchase online. Upon delivery, I excitedly opened the very heavy box only to discover two very important pieces of information NOT OFFERED IN THE DESCRIPTION: 1)the bars that appear to run along the outsides of the stand are not three long pieces, but rather, each bar is comprised of four small pieces held together by a rather ingenious but not exactly confidence inspiring method featuring pieces of threaded plastic that you have to hammer down into the small pieces of metal tubing, which, when assembled, give the illusion of being three, long, single pieces of cast iron. The tubing itself is not uniform in height, but rather of two different lengths. This means, the second shelf IS NOT TALL ENOUGH TO FIT ANYTHING LARGER THAN A VERY SMALL SAUCE POT--equivalent to 1-1.5 quarts, American. My second disappointment was in the stand's actual height. I hadn't really paid enough attention to dimensions when ordering, as I had the mental image of what I had seen at Williams Sonoma. To my great disappointment, I found a disclaimer included in the instructions informing me that most people and businesses will purchase TWO cast-iron cookware stands and put them together. I live in California--earthquakes R Us. Not only did I doubt that the plastic strips provided to anchor the unit to the wall were adequate, but if I did put two units together, it would likely be just tall enough that it would be dangerous to put cast iron cookware on it! Remember those little pieces of threaded plastic are all that is holding the piece together. NO, I would NEVER trust two put together, not in my home. (Williams Sonoma can deal with that potential problem, if it happens)! But one alone would fit in a playhouse! THIS WAS NOT WHAT I HAD IN MIND AT ALL. Besides--purchase two? At this price? I was already splurging to purchase one! While, assembled, the stand is handsome, and the shelves ARE made of cast-iron (and say LE CREUSET, if that is what is important to you), I must admit that I felt a bit idiotic that my splurge wasn't turning out quite as I'd hoped. My sons and I had a good laugh when I likened the proportions of the completed stand to the set of 'Stonehenge' built for the big American tour in THIS IS SPINAL TAP--dancing midgets not included. (Please accept apologies for this very un-PC joke). I am keeping the stand--but had I known what I know now, I must be honest and inform you that I would NOT have purchased it. LIVE AND LEARN. Staub, anyone?

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I can't say enough good things about this rack.

Storage I use the bottom 4 shelves for pot storage, the top shelf for ramekins and a plant. If needed, smaller pots can be nestled inside the larger pots, I have 6 pots and a grill pan on mine. Makes it so convenient to retrieve.

Appearance black matte cast iron shelves, I have had mine for 5 years, looks like it did when it was new. This is a great way to display Le Creuset pots, the colors just pop.

It is very stable, I wasn't sure what to expect, but there have not been any problems, even made it through a California earthquake and remained upright. Although the description states the shelves are adjustable, it is very limited in that regard. The shelf depths are fixed by the length of the posts provided with the unit, what you can do is arrange so that the deep shelves are on either the top or the bottom. I recommend the deep shelves be on the bottom, as shown in the picture.

This piece is made with the quality you would expect from Le Creuset.

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I have two stands/shelves for my Le Crueset dutch ovens which are the back bone of my cookware. This stand does not hold any of my ovens over 5 quarts. The other stand holds my 9, 6 and 5 quart dutch ovens and this one holds ovens that range between 2-5 quarts. It's solid, attractive and does look great with the small-medium cookware, but will not fit the larger sizes. Because we live in an earthquake area, the sturdiness is really important -heavy dutch ovens seem very safe on these shelves!

Honest reviews on Le Creuset 5-Tier Cast-Iron Cookware Stand

The support columns are some sort of black painted metal, not cast iron.

The support columns are held together by plastic components and headless bolts.

After assembling the stand, I lifted it up by holding onto the middle shelf, and what do you know, the columns lifted right off their plastic holders.

I am very disappointed in Le Creuset for selling this rickety thing. I love Le Creuset cookware and bakeware. I had no idea that they would dare to make such a shoddy structure and then sell it at a list price of over $400.

Included in the package is a plastic "wire-tie-esque" anchor for anchoring the shelf to a wall. But there's no screw for that included so you better have your own screw.

The cast iron shelves have some extra iron tips at the 90 degree corners, as if to say "This used to be a really sturdy shelf structure until we decided to cheapen it out and use sheet metal and plastic columns, but hey--we've already spent the money on the shelf molds that have these little tips for the old cast iron column support structure, so let's just keep making the shelves the same old way."

The cast iron shelves have a lip on the bottom. To prevent damage to your floor, you would want to install the bottom shelf upside down (i.e., turn the "Le Cruset" brand name to the floor).

Pay attention to the measurements. The shelves may be smaller and divider columns may be shorter than you would think.

I returned this item because in the product description, there was no mention of the plastic and non-cast-iron columns that are critical to the support structure. I wish I had read Paulina's review in more detail before I purchased this item in the first place.

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I wanted to give it a 4 star but I didn't because its really a nice piece & very easy to assemble. my only problem is that its alot smaller then it seems in the picture so I would say measure what ever you are going to put on it before you buy it...

Discount KitchenAid FGA Food Grinder Attachment for Stand Mixers

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List Price: $64.99
Sale Price: $47.49
Today's Bonus: 27% Off

Given all the concerns about e-coli and mad cow, we decided last year to start grinding our own beef and lamb. This grinder does the job perfectly. We grind right into the short round Ziplock boxes (about a hamburger's worth), which go into the basement freezer, and then we turn out the frozen "hockey pucks" onto a plate to defrost in the microwave, or right into the pot for bolognese sauce or sloppy joes. ("Honey, would you bring me up a couple of hockey pucks for dinner?)

Assembly is easy and cleanup is easy (put a slice of bread through after the meat to make it even easier, or grind up an onion if you're making meatloaf anyway). The knife and both plates store inside the screw cap, so I don't worry about losing them (though KitchenAid sells replacements, as does goodmans-dot-net). The grinder even comes with a handy wrench-thingy to help take it apart if it tightens up.

The knife and plates are not stainless (which wouldn't hold an edge), so you do have to dry them off right after washing, but I put everything, including the wooden stomper, right in the dishwasher, and after more than a year nothing has had a problem.

this isn't an industrial tool! You can't set the mixer speed above three or four when grinding (less if the meat is gristly), and you've got to cut up the meat small enough to fit in the feed tube (the instructions say one-inch cubes, but long strips work too). Treat this right and it will return the favor.

About the only thing that would make this more perfect is a cylindrical brush to clean out the horizontal and vertical shafts, since the dishwasher spray can't really completely reach both, and the horizontal shaft has a screw thread that tends to catch crud (Right now I'm using a folded sponge, and the abovementioned bread slice).

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I work in the food industry, so I'm unfortunately comparing this to its commercial counterparts. If you have small batches of meat to be ground at a time, this grinder is so much better than the crank grinders and gets the job done in a quarter of the time. I still use it, but here's what I don't like about it:

The blade is junk. It doesn't cut the meat at all, and is more prone than ever to getting silver skin and grizzle wrapped around it, forcing you to stop and clean it regularly throughout the proccess. More so than most other grinders.

Stomper: They call this a stomper? Are you serious??? I have the new model that does not come with a wooden stomper, but instead has a plastic contraption that acts both as a wrench and a stomper. It's not solid in design, and is quite smaller than the hole so it tends to pull more meat up when you pull it out than it pushes down to begin with.

Since there is no gasket that comes with this and everything is plastic, the seals aren't real tight, and meat tends to squirt out around the plate quite often. This isn't a real big deal unless you're looking for a specific texture, as for sausage.

Horrible grind. Based on all the other faults with this machine, you'll never reach that beautiful solid grind that you see with commercially ground meat. It's more of a squishy mess, even with the large dye plate.

Good luck stuffing sausage. I spent thirty minutes fighting this machine to get ground meat into the casing with very little luck. I managed one link in that amount of time, gave up, and immediately ordered a Grizzly sausage stuffer (which is absolutely amazing, but that's another review).

I am very happy with the ease of clean up. One of those bristle wands that you use for scrubbing cups works great for getting in the grooves of the attachment as well as in the holes of the grinder plate. Just don't forget to hand dry the metal parts immediately or you'll have rust everywhere. I store all my parts in a zip lock back with some rice to keep them together and dry.

So if you just need something small to make a quick batch of burgers or meatloaf with very little effort, this is a great deal. But if you are trying to make large amounts of sausage of the same quality that you would find in a meat market, you may want to keep looking.

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I've used this attachment more times than I ever thought I would. I've used it to prepare food items for my family as well as food items for crowds as large as 200 and regardless of what it is I've been making, this attachment has rolled through it without complaint. In combination with other pieces such as the sausage stuffer or the fruit attachments, you may well find that this single attachment stays on your machine the longest.

I am absoultely stunned at how easy it is to put together and how simple it is to get wonderfully ground items out of it. I've had no trouble grinding any cut of meat (marbled or lean), type of meat (venison, beef, pork, chicken), or state of meat (cooked or raw). Things like chickpeas also get ground just the way I like them. The two, differently sized grinding plates give you just what you need in texture. My biggest pleasure in using this attachment is during hunting season when my husband brings home more than one deer. Venison burger meat and sausage processing never went faster. No more late nights with a hand-crank grinder!

When you're done, there's nothing simpler in the cleanup. Nothing seems to stick to the plastic (plus, it's dishwasher safe!) and the metal pieces wash up quickly by hand. Even the little wooden stomper cleans well (and I've felt lost without it when I couldn't find it during sausage making). I think this attachment is the easiest to use of all of the ones I've tried.

I'll never regret the purchase of this attachment.

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Hi,

I love my grinder and have not any problems with it. After I slice the meat into strips, I partially freeze the meat before grinding it. When I have finished grinding, I take a piece of bread and grind it to push the rest of the meat through the grinder. I then take the grinder apart and rinse it out and soak it for about 5 minutes in a dishpan of hot soapy water with about a tablespoon of bleach. Wash and rinse the grinder thoroughly and lay on a terry towel to dry. I hope this helps anyone having trouble cleaning the grinder.

Delores

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I bought this attachment at the same time I bought two or three other attachments, and this is the one I use all of the time. I found that grinding meats to be very useful. I have a mother who is 88 and she prefers everything tender and juicy. So unless it is cooked until it is super tender, she doesn't eat it. With the Kitchen Aid FGA that is all solved. For example I buy chicken in large quantities when it is on sale, and grind it up. Adding shredded rye bread, some Italian seasoned bread crumbs , rosemary, and oregano in the mix, and I make a hamburger(chicken)-meat loaf, or meat balls that are tender. Without the food grinder, I would have to buy preground meat.

Their are those who find that the best way to buy chicken is whole, that way you can inspect the whole bird. By buying parts, they are able to cut out the unsightlies, and sell the parts. With preground meat that is even more of a concern. With the Food Grinder attachment, you have the option of handling that item whichever way you may choose.

Clean up is a snap. It almost falls apart, disassembly is that easy. Cleans up easily with some soap and warm water, or by putting it into the dishwasher. The cutting blades are handwashed. They appear to be high strength steel, and I am concerned about them getting lost in the wash, and degrading the finish. They clean up in only a minute. The rest of it goes into the dishwasher.

Even though the FGA is made out of plastic on the outside, the internal components are metal. It is very durable, and works without a snag. No jams, no problems. It attaches easily to the front of your Kitchen Aid stand mixer, and sits very securely. I expect it will last for a very long period of time.

Best Kitchen Craft Microwave Cookware Egg Boilers, Set of 2 Deals

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I have been using this product for years and whenever a friend sees them a d tastes the cooked eggs, poached is my favorite, I usually order more to give as a gift.

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Reviews of Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless Open Skillet

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List Price: $100.00
Sale Price: $28.24
Today's Bonus: 72% Off

This pan, like all the Cuisinart pans, is my favorite to use when I need a 12" skillet. It's a heavy-duty even-heating pan like it's "sisters and brothers"! If you already have any Chef's Classic pots or pans, the lid that fits on any pan with item number ending in 30 will fit on this pan. (Item number is on the bottom). With all the Chef's Classic pans, you usually don't have to turn the heat up as high as a cheapy pan; instead of high, use medium-high, for example. Since this does not have a non-stick coating, you'll often need oil for cooking. Here's a tip: hot pan, cold oil. Let the pan heat up before adding the oil. Also, these pans heat up FAST so watch your food! If anything gets burned-on badly, the pans just need a little soaking (maybe an hour, not overnight). Or, add water to the pan and "boil" the burned-on food off. I also use Barkeepers Friend cleaner to keep them shiny and looking new! Take note: if you've ever purchased a set of Cuisinart from a discount warehouse (i.e. Sam's Club, Cosco) there are not individual pans available that will match your set exactly. I called Cuisinart and found out that particular pan style is available only in sets from discount warehouses. BUT, the Chef's Classic line matches very closely, it's the closest match available.

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Even though this pan has the "disc" of aluminum in the base rather than all the way up the sides, it heats very evenly. You can't beat the price. It's big enough to be very versatile for major frying or lighter sautéing. It's also big enough to use a grill for small to medium items.

I do miss having a lid so on those rare occasions where I needed a lid, I just covered it with some aluminum foil. Hokey, I know, but until I purchased another pan for my dishes that need simmering, that was the trick I used.

As long as you watch the heat, cleanup is not too bad. I have rarely had to scrub this pan.

Since it would be great with a lid, I gave it 4 stars. This pan really should not be sold without one.

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Like most of this line, the 12" version of this pan is an excellent pan and value, and seldom leaves my range top. The 14" however is a disappointment because its material/construction is not nearly as heavy-duty. Notably, unlike the 12" pan the 14" is NOT stamped "18/10". Another telltale is that the 14" weighs only 4 oz. more than the 12". Result: relatively lower thermal mass, less even heat distribution and retention, more hot spots and burning. In fairness, the larger diameter will put the much thinner sides farther away from most ranges flame, but I wish they'd made the base at least as heavy dutyas the 12". Caveat emptor!

Honest reviews on Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless Open Skillet

This is a great skillet for lots of dishes from ommelet, to stir fry, to steak. I do own a couple non-stick skillets for making crepes and scrambled eggs, but this is the one I use the most. This skillet WILL NOT stick if pre-heated with low or med heat for most dishes. If I'm sauteing chicken or cooking steaks, I'd pre heat it with high heat before adding butter, then add the room temperatured meat (not frozen), then lower the heat to med-high and I'm all set for a good piece of steak. Deglazing the pan create thick, delicious sauces, something that can't be achieved with a non-stick pan. My fried eggs come out fried, and not steamed like it would with a non-stick pan. The discoloration (called heat marks) on some S/S cookware can be easily cleaned with S/S cleanser.

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I bought this pan on a special sale and it gets used almost every day. Without a non-stick surface, spray a little Pam and it cleans up very easily. Let it soak for 5 minutes and use a non-steel scrubbing pad (one side sponge, one side a mild abrasive). Steel wool will scratch the surface.

Cooks evenly on medium or low heat. Can also go into the oven.

Without the non-stick surface, stainless steel pans and pots last virtually forever and always look and feel great.

Best Circulon Infinite Hard Anodized Nonstick 8-Inch Skillet Deals

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List Price: $40.00
Sale Price: $24.99
Today's Bonus: 38% Off

I bought the 8" skillet to supplement my 10 piece circulon Infite set. Non stick and dishwasher safe is for me. So far it's lived up to the advertising. I just toss the the cookware in to the dishwasher and it comes out great. Circulon Infite is non stick I can't figure out how they do that but omletes come out without sticking without being sprayed and without use of oil or butter.

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This review is for the infinite, 8" skillet.

I swore off all non-stick pans ages ago after realizing I was eating eggs sprinkled with chemical teflon flakes. I finally broke down to get something non-stick and small after breaking the 100th fried egg in an all-clad 6" stainless steel skillet (which are top of the line pans).

Pan received, immediately washed with soap, water and then....the tests!

Test 1: Put pan on stove, gas, moderate heat, broke one egg in pan, no oil, no nothing, salt, pepper. Used a plastic spatula to flip and on purpose was not careful, either cracking the egg or flipping. Another minute on other side and simply "slid" the egg from the pan to plate. Surprise! Egg was perfect over easy, Not broken at all, not even a risk of breakage, evenly cooked, white done, yolk "yolky", exactly as you'd get from your favorite greasy spoon, but....without the grease. Wow.

Test 2: I pre-make frozen hamburger patties with 93% lean and pre-spiced. 93% lean is notorious to be dry but it can make a super tasy, juicy burger if cooked right. I used super high lean to avoid the fat of burgers. To the pan test pulled one patty out the freezer and threw it in the pre-heated pan, medium heat, like a slug. Let it cook for 4 minutes. Hambuger bottom perfectly carmelized, flipped, top perfectly carmelized, inside medium and beyond belief tasty. All of the juices stayed inside the burger, moist, flavorful, blowing away in taste, juicyness, any "fat burger" that one might crave.

Test 3: Cheesy max grilled ham and cheese with grilled tomatoes. Put tomato slices in pan, they slid out after a little sear. Created sandwich, very little butter on outside bread, now tomatoes inside. Bread perfectly grilled, even brown, toasted, not burned. My favorite thing is to squish the grilled ham and cheese to ooze out the cheesy goodness from the side and make sure it all melts to lovely cheesey everywhere. Guess what, none of the cheese burned or stuck to the pan, yet was all melted. Wow. Cheesy, stringy melted cheese, out the sides of a grilled sandwich, no burn on cheese or bread, ham cooked, little sear when going past the bread of the sandwidch, the entire ham & cheese was perfectly grilled and nothing stuck to the pan. Nothing better than a gooey stringy grilled ham & cheese with grilled tomatoes inside.

This pan is a keeper! I have put it in the dishwasher as advertised and so far, so good, like new. This is not a typical nonstick, there are no fumes, no funky smell, no nothing (visible or to the nose), the nonstick is super strong, seemingly "bond" or has some sort of binding integrated into the other metal of the pan construction. Most nonstick to me looks llike someone hit a cheap pan with a spray can of coating and this one isn't constructed like that at all. It also washes with two strokes of a sponge, which sure beats chiseling out stuck cheese, eggs, brunt grease and so on with other pans! We'll have to see how long the pan lasts but this sure isn't your typical non-stick so far. Other features, clearly well conducting on heat and the heat is even too.

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I bought this pan because of all the excellent reviews, but I don't reach for it much. It's a nice pan, heavy, very non-stick, would be excellent for low fat diets/cooking. My guess is with the reviews of under 3 stars, they probably used oil or butter in it rendering it un-usable. The directions clearly state NOT to use butter or oil. That's where my biggest issue comes in as I eat low carb and can have butter and oil, but I can't if I use this pan and want to keep it nice. So, I've tried some eggs, they slide right out of the pan with no effort what so ever, but to me, without the added butter taste, they were kinda bland. Don't really have an interest in sauteeing veggies without butter or olive oil, so that's out. The pan's rather small, thought it would be larger, so can only cook small amounts in it. I've used it about 4 times, once it was too small so what I was cooking was going over the edge when I was gently stirring it, and once, out of 4 times, the handle got hot (wasn't over another lit burner or anything). The other 3 times the handle was fine. It really is a nice little pan if you are trying to remove some fat from your diet, it's just not for me.

Honest reviews on Circulon Infinite Hard Anodized Nonstick 8-Inch Skillet

Beautiful high quality constructed pan. Works as advertised with my induction cooktop. Very even heat distribution, great browning and easy clean up due to the non stick surface. I'm so happy with this that I've purchased the 12" and the 6 Quart Saute. Just follow their recommendations on washing and cooking and it works great.

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We decided on the Cirulon Infinite cookware after looking at a lot of other brands. The quality and versatility makes this affordable (a relative term, I know) line of cookware a great value. After 6 months of heavy use, we are more than pleased with the durability and performance.

* Very Thick Bottoms Allows for even heating of cooking surface

* Great Nonstick Surface Really nonstick, no issues at all DO NOT use nonstick sprays or "heavy oils" as these will ruin the nonstick properties (read the instructions)!

* Requires Less Oils We were able to cut way back on the amount of cooking oils we use

* Durable

* Oven Safe

* Dishwasher Safe

*Important* Follow the manufactures instructions and you will have great results.

Highly Recommended!

Discount Le Creuset French Onion Soup Bowl

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List Price: $30.00
Sale Price: $24.95
Today's Bonus: 17% Off

I do love these crocks, but there one characteristic which drives me nutty. The handles are hollow, with a small hole in the bottom. The handles collect water in the dishwasher. Because of the angle, the water is hard to get out. The handle will get extremely hot in the microwave. At $20 a crock, this is annoying. I purchased Le Creuset dishes because I wanted quality dishes that wouldn't get hotter than my food in the microwave.

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Bitterly disappointed to open package & find 3 of the 6 ordered with handles broken off right at the bowl this was despite them being well packed in bubble wrap and enclosed in a good sized box for a tight fit. Close examination of the handles yep, they are hollow! Such a poor design which is amazing as Le Creuset is justifiably famous for manufacturing well designed cookware that lasts a lifetime. Sadly these little guys, although cute and red, have not been designed to withstand transit to Tasmania let alone normal use in a domestic kitchen. So, photographed them, packed them up to return and was told by our Australia Post that it would cost $50 to return them "due to new US border protection rules" so clearly not worth the cost. I have been investing in Le Creuset for over 40 years and would recommend their products every time with the exception of these little guys.

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We purchased 2 of these and they are nice but the color is not the same deep rich gradient as other pieces described as Cherry or Cherry Red. They do gradiate in color just not as much as some lovelier pieces we have, these ones have more regular red than dark cherry. The bowl function is terrific, the capacity is large and the handles are what makes these bowls so great. They are heavy duty and durable and can go in the microwave and oven to melt/bake cheese if you like french onion soup. I am sure these will last a long time. I am considering getting 2 more so they will be like a "set" of soup bowls. These are super easy to clean up either by hand or dishwasher. We have had wedding soup, chicken noodle, vegetable beef, pea soup, chili with cheddar cheese melted-in, beef stew and even a large portion of oatmeal from time to time in these great bowls. Highly recommend.

Honest reviews on Le Creuset French Onion Soup Bowl

Ordered 4 in different colors. Three arrived broken. Sent those 3 in for replacement. Two of the three replacements arrived broken.

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I LOVE THIS BOWL. Don't let the "French Onion Soup Bowl" name fool you....this bowl is absolutely perfect for tons of stuff....soups, salads, pasta, cereals, yogurts, just everything! And its just the cutest looking bowl ever! Microwave AND oven safe...a total plus. I am very happy with this and will be purchasing more! The color selection is vivid and bright and I am very pleased all around!

All-Play Stainless Steel Set Review

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When I opened the box that this cookware came in, I was very dissapointed. All of the pieces were so small. I had hoped to set up my girls playhouse table and kitchen like a real one, but none of the play food that I bought would really fit into the pots and pans. Had I known how small this cookware was, I would have just bought cheap plastic pots and pans that would atleast have held the pretend food. My girls(ages 2 and 4) don't seem to notice, but I was quite unhappy with the set. It is very durable, but not practical for pretending.

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I bought this cookware set for my 3 year old for Christmas. I bought this set because of the diversity of the items offered and the price seemed reasonable. My intention was for my daughter to use this with her toy stove/oven. We bought several of the Melissa & Doug wooden food sets thinking she could use them with the cookware.

This cookware is unreasonably small. She can not fit any of her food into the pots and pans. Although the quality of most of the items were reasonable, the utensils are very flimsy (all but 2 of ours are already broken and we've had the cookware less than 2 months).

Since my daughter can not fit her play food in this cookware she rarely uses it. I ended up buying a set with fewer pieces (one pot, one pan, and 3 utensils) from Pottery Barn. The pieces were sized so that she could use it with her wooden food and the quality was excellent (although it was a bit pricey).

All told I would not recommend this product if you want your child to be able to put food into the pots and pans for 'cooking'.

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This cookware is great. It is very well made, heavy gauge stainless steel. These are beautiful replica's of my own cookware, and meet all of our needs. My boys are ages 4 and 3 years old and love to cook with me and in their own kid-kitchen and in mine. I can teach them how, when, why to use the various pieces that fit perfectly in their curious and busy hands. Great buy. The potholder/apron/oven mit were not as well made, but very cute.

Honest reviews on All-Play Stainless Steel Set

This toy is a fabulous value if you want an all-inclusive cooking set without having to buy all the pieces separately. My only complaint is that the pots are a tiny bit small for a normal play-kitchen but since there are so many pieces, it's just as well because it would be hard to store it all otherwise. Anyway, this cooking set lets you mock play all of the steps of cooking including sifting flour (I don't even own a sifter!), washing in a strainer, cooking, and frying, and the little hanging rack for the utensils helps teach tidiness. The photo doesn't show it but there's even a matching apron-and the colors are gender neutral. The only missing items are measuring spoons/cups and a timer, and I recommend getting cheap grown-up versions rather than the ones geared for kids (or just letting her use your own). My daughter is 5, has been using this set for nearly 2 years, and still pulls it out at least weekly. I bought the Melissa and Doug wooden veggie chopping set to play with these and even though the sizes are all off, my daughter hasn't noticed and the two sets combined have provided hours and hours of fun.

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i love this pot and pan my kids would like this a lot to i like this to they going to have fun with this to.