Showing posts with label cookware and more. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cookware and more. Show all posts

Friday, December 12, 2014

Cheap LEM Products Smoked Clear Edible Collagen Casing

LEM Products Smoked Clear Edible Collagen Casing
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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used these for my first attempts as sausage, as I wasn't ready to do sausage AND mess with nog casings.

worked, well, stuffed nicely (using hand powered meat grinder and tube), and smoked well (only burst a couple, and that's because that part of teh grill got too hot. takes a fair bit of abuse, as my first stuffing ended up with me "milking" a lot of sauage down the tube to fill up too loosely packed sections later on got the hang of controlling the movement of the casing off the tube and then got firmly filled links)

excellent handlng, and being edible were no problem. got lots of compliments on the sausage... made both italian sausage and beef hot links.

Very happing with the performance.

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These are just so much easier to use. No soaking, no problems getting them on the stuffer horn. They have worked great for me for both fresh and smoked sausage.

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LEM Products Smoked Clear Edible Collagen Casing (32mm)

Just as expected-they worked fine. Used them to make lamb sausage. Yum.

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I'm sure that this product is as good as any collagen casings on the market. They arrived very quickly and I used them immediately.

They stuffed easily with only one "blow out" in a 6 foot section.

Unfortunately, these collagen casings didn't work out for me. They would not hold the requisite twist needed to make separate sausages no matter what I tried. I ended cutting "sausage tubes" with a razor knife creating open ends. The other problem is that, unlike natural casings, the texture was quite similar to eating sausage enclosed in a plastic bag.

I strongly suspect that this review applies to all collagen casings and not just this offering.

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These casings are easy to stuff, but when you hang them in the smoker they break apart. I stuffed my kielbasa mix into the casings and hung them in the smoker. When I came to check on them they were all on the floor of the smoker. If you're making fresh sausage they work very well. I made breakfast sausage and it came out juicy and fried up great. Just not smoked unless it is supported in some way on a rack, which I will do if I use them again to smoke.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Buy Cuisinox Elite 8 Inch Frypan with Excalibur Coating

Cuisinox Elite 8 Inch Frypan with Excalibur Coating
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $104.99
Sale Price: $67.52
Today's Bonus: 36% Off
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OMG THIS IS THE BEST SMALL NON-STICK FRY PAN I HAVE OWNED. PERFECT WEIGHT SITS EVEN ON THE BURNER.I AM LOOKING FOWARD TO PURCHASING THE LARGER MODEL

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This pan may be expensive but worth every penny. Every other nonstick pan I've ever bought seems to scratch very easy. I handle them with care, never use metal utensils but that don't keep them from peeling. This one I've been using for a few months and still looks like brand new. Picking it up feels like quality in your hand. I recommend this to anyone

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Sunday, November 9, 2014

Best Portmeirion Botanic Garden Pasta Bowls, Set of 6 Deals

Portmeirion Botanic Garden Pasta Bowls, Set of 6
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $195.00
Sale Price: $117.94
Today's Bonus: 40% Off
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I ordered these for my mother and they came in perfect condition. An earlier review scared me off a little originally, as they said the bowls showed up broken. I had no such problem, and the bowls themselves are beautiful and very useful I use them for salads as well as pasta.

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I am very pleased with these bowls. They are perfect for all sorts of things that the teeny, weeny bowls that come with a service of this china are too small to accomplish (must be a European thing.) The bowls are a nice size for tossed salad, soup, stew or pasta (of course.) They are very pretty and arrived extremely well packed with not a scratch on them.

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I also stayed away from ordering this item due to the earlier review, but took the plunge when I read the second review. So glad I did they arrived completely safely, without a scratch. Thank you, Amazon! They're made in Britain and as beautiful and high quality as PBG items should be.

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I have the set of dishes with small bowls, but these are so much better. My husband likes them for soup. They are beautiful and very sturdy. I use them for everyday dishes.

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These pasta bowls were given as a gift. After reading some of the other reviews I was a little concerned about the condition in which they would arrive. They arrived in excellent condition and were very well received. The recipients love them and find them useful for more than just pasta. I might add that they have a large collection of Portmeirion Botanic Garden dishes and say these fit into the collection beautifully.

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Discount Good Cook Set Of 3 Non-Stick Cookie Sheet

Good Cook Set Of 3 Non-Stick Cookie Sheet
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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These are OK they get the job done but they are not great. They warp every other time they are in the oven, which does not fill me with confidence. Also, I have had these baking sheets for about 2 years and they have started to rust. Water collects in the rolled edge and can't escape fast enough to have it dry instead of rust. Luckily I'm getting married soon and can register for a new set of more heavy-duty baking sheets to replace these.

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I bought 2 of these sets hoping to replace too many old and mismatched ones that don't stack and take too much of my limited cupboard space (I can't afford a kitchen remodel). HOWEVER, DESPITE WHAT ANOTHER REVIEWER SAID, these cookie sheets ARE DEFINITELY NOT `heavy duty' so they didn't keep their shape or withstand higher baking temperatures or prevent burning. I realized that even at such a bargain price THEY'RE NOT WORTH OUR MONEY IF WE NEED TO REPLACE THEM TOO SOON DUE TO WARPING, OR WE NEED TO BUY AN ADDITIONAL BETTER SET FOR HIGHER TEMPERATURES, OR IF THEY SABOTAGE/BURN OUR BAKED GOODS because this also wastes our valuable time and energy to prepare the dish, plus the food and the money we spent to buy it all, and the wasted energy to run the oven. My second paragraph details my bad experiences but the actual baking results were bad enough that I'm saving up to replace these after only one use. I have 1 Wilton non-stick baking sheet that REALLY IS heavy duty, it has remained flat and sturdy even at high temperatures, hasn't overcooked or burned the bottom of what I've baked, and has even remained non-stick and easy to clean. I'm hoping that a new Wilton set will be as heavy duty and made as well as my old one because I've finally learned that it's far wiser and cheaper in many, many ways to pay more for GOOD cooking and baking tools that will last and function well for decades.

My experience was: 1The largest of these sheet pans had both warped when I was merely greasing them to season them, BEFORE I had even put them into the oven for the first time (YES, even non-stick pans needs seasoned before their first use). The middle sized ones warped in the oven the very first time I used them and my jelly-roll came out too lop-sided (I'm surprised it didn't spill over the edge and make a big mess in the oven). 2I was concerned that each of these pans weighed less than any of my other equally sized sheet pans because the weight (and material) of a pan makes a significant difference in heat absorption and heat distribution. So, although I took the precautions of pre-heating the oven and rotating my pizza's and biscuits on the oven racks ½ way through the baking time, the bottoms were STILL nearly too burned to salvage. 3I think it won't be too long before the first two reviewers have their pans warp or realize that inadequate pans contributes to their baked goods coming out overdone or burned on the bottoms due to chincy pans. 4Like too many persons nowadays, I'm also on a limited budget and I took a gamble to try to stretch my money, so it's worth repeating that I've finally learned it's far, far wiser AND CHEAPER IN MANY WAYS to wait wait until I can afford to invest in genuinely good, durable and well made cooking and baking tools that will last and keep functioning well for decades.

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I love the pans, no problems with them at all. I have used them for about four months, 2 or 3 times per week. I hand wash them. There has been no warping or discoloration.

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These are pretty heavy cookie sheets and they work well, including cleaning in a dish washer. They are as good as any other I have used and better in most cases.

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You gotta love Amazon for insuring that you can usually find exactly what you're looking for at a reasonable price and delivered within a couple of days!

These pans are no exception. I was getting tired of seeing my wife contnuing to use some older pans that were really getting ratty. So I jumped on Amazon and found these... had them in my hands in two days, and my wife is no longer having to scrape away the food remains from teflon that was so old it no longer acted like Teflon!

Very nice simple non-stick pans that should last for a good while. Recommended!

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Sunday, August 17, 2014

T-fal C774SC64 Stainless Steel with Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Reviews

T-fal C774SC64 Stainless Steel with Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Dishwasher Safe 12-Piece Cookware Set, Silver
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $199.99
Sale Price: $114.90
Today's Bonus: 43% Off
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I have this set for my single apartment, I love cooking a lot and I use them daily. T-fal quality don't need any words.

Mix of Stainless Steel pots and Non-stick pans is a great idea. I don't need non-stick pots, or stainless steel pans and this is the set I just wanted.

5.5 Qt Dutch Oven is pretty large if you are single and you don't cook for a family. But if you cook in large sizes for the whole weeks meal like me, it is very useful.

Various sizes of sauce pots are very useful for many jobs. If you need to boil some pasta or veggies for a single meal smallest one is enough. Or you can use larger ones for any other cooking.

Non-stick pans with thermo-spot are great. Set has one small and one considerably large pans. I usually use the smallest one for scrambled eggs, or making a burger, or cooking some chicken. You can use the saucepot lids to cover it. It wont fit perfectly but it will do the job. However there is no lid, for the largest pan, which is bad I think. But I get used to it.

Interior for the pans are non-stick and they are stainless steel on outside. Pots are all stainless steel.

Handles are pretty cheap, they are soft plastic, but I didn't burned my hands so far. They will block the heat, however handles on lids are not that good, and if you dont hold them properly, you might get some burns.

They come with a slotted spatula, and huge cooking spoon, they are stainless steel but pretty big ones.

Bottom paddings are good, they are not cheaply made.

When compared to cheap non-stick ones this set might be expensive, but they are very useful.

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This is the best set I have ever had...and certainly not close to the most expensive! It really is like the cookware designer sat down with me and asked me what features I would like. Stainless steel pots, nice stainless steel/non-stick pans, glass lids, cool to touch silicone covered handles, large easy to handle cool to touch silicone covered lid handles. I really couldn't ask for more...super happy with this purchase. I would highly recommend :)

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Fantastic buy, great product! The products look better than the picture. Love the pans and would highly recommend it for people who love to cook! This one's a keeper!

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I bought this product for our vacation rental home. It is well made, takes some abuse, and it still works great. I will buy the same product for myself next time.

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I love my new T-fal pots. The quality definitely exceeded my expectations. The red handles match my kitchen perfectly. Cookware looks great on my stovetop!!

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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Progressive International GMMC-68 Microwavable S'Mores Maker Review

Progressive International GMMC-68 Microwavable S'Mores Maker
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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My review on the Progressive Smores Maker! I hope you find it helpful.

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I ordered this for my three kids. We love roasting smores on a campfire but do not get to do that too often. When I saw the low Amazon price, I had my doubts. I was still so excited to try this out. It came in and the kids and I tried it for dessert. It was just as easy as promised. It took only 30 seconds to cook the marshmallows evenly and perfectly. The chocolate doesn't really start melting until you take it out of the microwave which is good. It is less messy that way.

I could not recommend this enough. We use ours very regularly. I have already bought three more as Christmas gifts. Wonderful, simple, inexpensive. What more could you ask for? Go get your own!!

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I bought this for my 5 year old grandson and he loves it. He can make s'mores for his friends on play dates and do it himself. This was a hit.

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I got this as a joke gift (for my pregnancy craving of s'mores) and it actually works well. The plastic arms hold the crackers in place, and all of the s'more was evenly melted--with the crackers still crisp. I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 since it's really not much faster than making a s'more over a burner or fire. Still, the product does what it promises and makes a great s'more.

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It seems like a silly thing but having the water provide steam and the arms tamp down the smore makes it neat and keeps it from burning. No muss no fuss and although it's not as cool as roasting marshmallows over a fire, it makes smores a regular treat. We use this a lot for an easy treat or dessert!

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Sunday, August 3, 2014

Buy Totally Bamboo Kona Groove Cutting Board

Totally Bamboo Kona Groove Cutting Board
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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So far, so good. I have had this cutting boards for several months. I like the concept of bamboo (great durability & no trees have to be harvested). I have owned other types of wood cutting boards in this price range and experienced cracking or warping after initial use. Nothing so far with this cutting board. It is much heavier than I anticipated. Even thought it is heavy, it is thin enough to store easily. I have bigger, heavier cutting boards but this one has become the one I reach for first. Cleans up great. Works great!

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Been using PVC plastic boards, upgraded to this bamboo board so hot stuff doesn't burn the board when it's just off the stove.

Holds up great even with super sharp Shun Blades. Very easy to clean.

It is kinda heavy, good part is it won't move around when you are working on it. Bad part is you can't just pickup the board with 1 hand to clean the bottom.

Minor issue:

Keep the bottom dry, otherwise it'll make a wet wood smell. Kinda nasty. If it happens, stand it against the window and let it dry under the sun. It'll get rid of the smell.

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I love this cutting board! It cleans up very well, no stains, I feel that I am using the most sanitary cutting board available, and I threw most of my others away.

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Update: After about a year, even with oiling, I did get some cracks. However, I repaired them with Titebond III and that has solved the problem. I suspect this will last for years now.

Not sure about the claims of hardness but this looks good, is well designed, and after a few months appears that it will last a long time. Be sure to apply mineral oil or it could split.

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After a few months one of the 'raw bamboo' end pieces warped and started to separate from the 'steamed bamboo' body. Now it wobbles on the counter unless I put a towel under it. The grooved edge seemed like it would be convenient but all it seems to do is make the board harder to wipe clean. On the plus side, the surface has held up very well. I will probably replace it with a flat, solid bamboo board.

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Monday, July 28, 2014

Discount Chef'n SleekStor Collapsible Colander Large 11-Inch Diameter

Chef'n SleekStor Collapsible Colander Large 11-Inch Diameter, Arugula/Meringue
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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I bought this colander for myself several years ago at Target. I love that it's collapsible, making it easy to store, and that I can fold out both legs, 1 leg, or neither, depending on what I have going on with my workspace. My mom was looking for a new colander so I bought her this one for Christmas. She loves it, too!

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I bought this to replace a similar one that brooke after many years of use. It works very well and takes up only a small amount of cabinet space.

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This item is very sleek for storage yet opens up to a huge colander. I love the fold out legs. Only good things to say about this product.

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Very well made. Really folds down just as advertised. Saves so much space in the cabinet, washes easily, drys well.

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I like that it collapses and that I can set it in my sink and pour my cooked pasta over it easy without worrying about burning myself since I have both hands free.

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Friday, July 18, 2014

Review of American Metalcraft PKR20 Stainless Steel Rocker Pizza Knife

American Metalcraft PKR20 Stainless Steel Rocker Pizza Knife, 20-Inch
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $62.00
Sale Price: $46.87
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
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I love it!! Razor sharp & made to last. I just wished it had a hole in the handle so it could be hung. It's way to big to put in a drawer.

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Really awesome pizza cutter. Some complained about it not fitting in a drawer, but if it did fit in a drawer it wouldn't be big enough to cut the pizza's I bought it to cut in the first place. I have it stored on a lazy susan, if you don't have a lazy susan, try hanging it on the wall like some ancient weapon, if nothing else it will definitely catch peoples eye.

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It should have a cover or hole drilled for hanging but otherwise is great! My husband drilled a hole so that it could be hung on the wall.

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sorry for the obvious pun. a bit spendy, but it really works well. very good quality. big enough to cut most any large pizza.

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This pizza cutter works by rocking it from one end to the next. It is long enough to cut medium to large pizzas. Its length and sturdy construction allows enough pressure to be applied that it is effective on hard crust from microwaved grocery store frozen pizza. It is also useful for cutting subs, sandwiches and hard-crusted bread. It cleans fine when placed on the top rack of the dishwasher.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Review of Le Creuset Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 6-1/4-Quart Covered

Le Creuset Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 6-1/4-Quart Covered Casserole/Stockpot
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $230.00
Sale Price: $174.95
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
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I have used enameled cast iron pans in the past, but they are very heavy.

This is a reasonably priced pan compared to other tri-clad pans and I like the form factor (it is high for its width).

I have had it for four months now and use it a lot because it is a great pan.

Still works as new. I have not put it in the dishwasher.

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Review of Le Creuset Signature Phenolic Small Knob

Le Creuset Signature Phenolic Small Knob
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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I've a 3-quart (or thereabouts) enameled cast iron round oven from the rachael ray line (no longer offered, apparently). The handle cracked off and this Le Creuset part fits perfectly, although I did have to buy a different stainless steel machine screw to match the lid's flat inner surface. But here is my confusion: Amazon lists this part as having a 375 F heat limit. However the part is listed by Le Crueset at 480 F. And, the actual part package lists it at 500 F.

As for the handle: The fit is perfect. The relatively soft nature of the handle makes it feel it will not loosen on it's own. I have not as yet tested it in oven use, but for stove top it has performed as expected. If you have an enameled cast iron cooking vessel lid that needs a replacement handle, this should do quite well even for other brands. For Le Creuset of course, this goes without saying.

5 stars for the product, 1 star removed for the lack of clarity.

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A family member recently moved, and I was delighted that in the ruthless thinning down of her kitchen gear, she passed along to me a Le Creuset 5-Quart Oval French Oven that a quarter century earlier had been a wedding present, but that an entire generation of rushed clean-up by a busy family had left marred with multiple layers of well baked-on remnants from many years of wonderful meals.

A quick bit of Googling about revealed that the Le Creuset site has a wonderful trick for dealing with this common enough phenomenon, and considering these units retail for close to $300 these days, I figure the hour or so I spent restoring it's original glory was well worth my time. Besides which, I had long coveted this particular smaller casserole better suited to meals for two to four.

Unfortunately, however, I managed to crack the lid's original knob in my zeal to erase every last trace of oven-fired gunk.

The good news is that while Le Creuset hasn't altered the design or quality of it's cast-iron cookware in living memory, they have found a new knob material better suited for withstanding many years of intense oven temperatures. The change-out took less than a minute, the new knob feels entirely secure, and now the "French" Oven looks so great, it has found a prominent place on the open-shelved side of my kitchen.

Bravo! Le Creuset, not just for continuing to make quality products, but even more for making it easy enough to simply replace a broken knob rather than be strong-armed into re-purchasing a beloved pot. It's sad more manufacturers these days--electronics are the most egregious offenders--design for planned obsolescence than legacy compatibility. For myself, Le Creuset's policy makes me even more inclined to keep buying more of their products. (There's a wonderful Cast-Iron Braiser/Paella Pan . . . )

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I like the knob and the quality, and it does what I need it to do -makes two Le Creuset pots usable again because they have workable covers. The one thing that I don't like is that the knobs are just a bit too big, so I can't get my fingers under the edges of the knob. Are there any smaller knobs? My two pots are very small and had smaller knobs than the replacements.

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I bought his know for a Farberware Induction stove compatible pot. I think this replacement knob probably cost 30% to 40% of the pot's original price, but all the lower-cost covers Amazon carries had bad customer reviews. The screw that comes with this knob is barely large enough that it will not go through the hole in the standard thickness glass cover for pots. Realizing that normal use could put enough stress on the glass cover to cause the it to chip where it's held down by the screw, I found a stainless steel washer that fitted between the bottom of the glass cover and the knob to spread the force over a larger area as I tighten the screw. Le Creuset Dutch Ovens and others like it have thick cast-iron covers covered in enamel, so a small screw will hold the weight of the cover.

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We tried a knob that wasn't made specifically by Le Creuset, and it didn't last very long. This one looks very sturdy and can handle the weight of the pot lid.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Cheap Chintaly 24 Inch Glass Lazy Susan

Chintaly Imports Round Spinning Tray, 24-Inch, Clear
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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This is a first class, top notch spinning tray. The construction of this piece is superior. It is heavy and doesn't slide around when using, and I have had many compliments on it whenever we have guests for dinner. I would easily recommend this piece to anyone interested in this item. I purchased from Amazon because of free shipping. Otherwise, this item would have been double in cost because it is so heavy. Thanks Amazon for your "free shipping offer on $50 or more" standard policy.

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I was pleased when the tray arrived. The tray is beautiful and the glass is much more substantial than it appears in the picture. The tray looks more expensive than it is and performs well.

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Product is of good quality. It does make noises when turning. It occasionally slides on our wood table (maybe i am using too much force?)

Overall, will get the job done.

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This lazy susan is so nice. We bought it as a gift and they loved it! What I like is that it's glass so it matches any table. It also was shipped/delivered on time and arrive in perfect condition. I think it would get 5 stars IF the glass was tempered glass, it's not a big deal but that would make it perfect. Great find and a GREAT price!

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The lazy susan is as beautiful as it is useful. On our 60 inch round granite top, it lets the beauty of the stone shine through while keeping necessaries at hand... Wonderful customer service as well. First one arrived damaged... Customer service was responsive, friendly, and prompt. Replacement was sent. Think we may buy another... It could be useful in several places. By the way, I think the price is fabulous as well..... Looks WAY more expensive than it is....

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Discount Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 10-Piece

Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 10-Piece Cookware Set, Orange
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $255.00
Sale Price: $152.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program UPDATED: See new note at end of the original review.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: This is my first experience with Rachael Ray cookware. When I removed the cookware from the set, I first noticed how light weight it was. I then noticed the attractive orange handles and the beautiful clear lids. It's not high end cookware, but it would be welcome in many or most homes.

I used the skillet to saute tofu and it browned nicely even at a medium heat level. I didn't use any oil in the pan and just let the tofu do its thing. I have also sauteed vegetables using just a touch of water without added oil and it also worked out beautifully.

I heated some almond milk for chai and forgot about it. That could have resulted in quite a mess with some other types of cookware, but it cleaned up quickly and still looked brand new.

What I liked:

* The design is very modern and attractive.

* The glass lids have a sturdy rim that is designed so food will not be easily trapped

* The orange handles are non-slip and easy to grip, and they keep very cool while cooking

* The small size pots are very handy, and the 6 quart stock pot is a nice small-size stockpot that I'm finding a much better size for my use.

* Cleanup was super easy

What I didn't like:

* The pots seem to be about half the thickness of most of my other pots and pans. While I don't think they would dent easily if dropped, they don't have a sturdy, well made feel to them.

* When compared to my Calphalon, they also do not have the same quality hard anodized finish on the outside.

* The nonstick coating doesn't feel as high quality as other brands. So far, so good though!

* The pans do not have a thick bottom, and seem to heat unevenly. My food scorched quickly, so cooking time and technique will vary from my other cookware.

I think this would make a great starter set for someone just starting out on their own. Despite the few flaws (IMO) that I noted above, I am enjoying using this cookware and cooking just became a little more fun!

EDITED TO ADD: I've had this cookware for about a year and a half and am throwing it away. When I started using the skillets more frequently, I noticed that I felt weird. We know that nonstick cookware should not be used on high heat, but I barely used the skillets over medium heat and they emitted chemicals into the air. I've used T-Fal skillets on much higher heat without any ill effects. Every time I used the Rachael Ray skillets, I felt light headed and just weird. I tossed the skillets a long time ago. Now I'm discarding the other pieces. The saucepans and stock pot just haven't held up well. The handles are loose and feel unsafe now. I also got tired of the uneven heating, which I mentioned in my original review. The exterior finish also scratches easily. They feel dinky. To me, the tradeoff of low price vs quality was just not worth it.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program WHAT IS IN THE SET

1Qt Saucepan Plus a Tempered Glass Lid

2Qt Saucepan Plus a Tempered Glass Lid

3Qt Sauté pan Plus a Tempered Glass Lid (The lid for this pan also fits the 10 inch Skillet)

6Qt Stockpot Plus a Tempered Glass Lid

8.5-Inch Skillet

10-Inch Skillet

All these items are made from anodized aluminum, with non-stick inner surfaces (discussed later) and have rubber handles.

WHAT I LIKED

This is a very attractive set, with a lot of attractive features. The orange handles go well with the black anodized surfaces and the black non-stick coatings. The handles are riveted on and appear to be quite well attached, and there is a lifetime warrantee if the handles loosen. There are metallic insert holes in the handles so the pans can be hung up and these metallic areas and metallic rivets and non-coated areas of the handles make a nice contrast with the other parts of the pots and pans. The tempered glass lids appear to be thick enough to resist easy fracturing and should hold in some steam when in use. Being made of aluminum these pots and pans are lightweight and have good thermal properties (they heat up more rapidly and have a better heat distribution than stainless steel). The handles are comfortable. So far the non-stick coating is doing its job and shows no signs of wear, but with any non-stick coating there is always a question of the durability of the coating. It will take some time to fully evaluate this and I plan to update this review when the pots and pans have been in service longer.

CAVEATS

Based just on the above listed features I would give this set five-stars, but there are some caveats that have caused me to only be able to give it four-stars.

The instruction booklet is very brief (actually only a single folded page) and covers many different sets, with do way of identifying which description goes with which set. This is important with regards to the non-stick coating. The booklet describes PTFE (Teflon type material), but does not specifically state which sets are lined with this material. At least one reviewer was under the impression that the "non-stick" appellation used with this set was referring to the anodized coating, but I believe that this is in error. The exterior of the pots and pans are anodized black, on a smooth aluminum surface. The interior is also black, but a bit darker and rough, typical of PTFE coatings. Thus, I believe that the interior is PTFE. If this is incorrect I hope that the manufacturer will correct this impression via the comment section and I will correct this review appropriately. This is very important because if the pans are PTFE they cannot be used under a broiler, as the coating will degrade releasing very harmful vapors. This is a somewhat moot point because the rubber handles also prevent the use of these pans under a broiler. The PTFE coating will also release harmful vapors if the pans are heated without liquid in them or if the liquid is allowed to evaporate and the pans allowed to overheat. Whether or not the pots and pans are PTFE lined is also important because some people prefer not to cook with this material.

The handles are rubber coated, limiting their use in an oven to only 350F. If they were made of silicone then a slightly higher use temperature (400F) would be possible.

The 3Qt Sauté pan does not have a small handle in addition to the primary one. I went to the trouble to look at a number of other sets and find that 4 and 5Qt pans generally have such handles and so do stainless steel 3Qt pans, but 3Qt aluminum pans generally do not. The lack of an auxiliary handle is thus typical, but I still find the lack of such a handle to be somewhat limiting. Three quarts of water weighs six pounds, so a full pan would weigh more than this (because of the weight of the pan and even more if the lid were used). I tried this and found that a full pan was too unwieldy to use without the extra handle. Fortunately, in making sauces one would generally not fill up the pan, but the point is that it is unsafe to try to move the pan from the stove if it is filled with too much liquid.

There is no pouring spout on any of the pots. We have pots that have spouts and we find this to be a useful feature, which I would have liked these pots to have had.

These caveats may not concern you and if so please disregard them and consider the set as rating 5-stars.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I would like to start this review by acknowledging the fact that I do have fairly expensive tastes when it comes to cookware and favor heavy cooper or stainless steel pots and pans, mostly those made in France. However, since my passion for cooking (and kitchenware) is well known to my friends and family I am often called upon to offer suggestions to others seeking their first set of "grown-up" cookware. When I got the chance to try out this Rachael Ray set I was excited and overall, I have been pleased with it.

The Rachael Ray 10 piece set is very attractive with it's stylish lines and colorful handles. It's hard anodized nonstick surface is far more advanced than those that I used when I was younger that had the tendency to scratch, chip, or peel off. Still, I would not recommend using metal utensils with any nonstick cookware. Except for the two skillets each piece came with a well fitting see-through lid and one of them will fit the larger skillet as well. The 8" omelet pan is a favorite size for me and I use it for everything from a simple grilled cheese sammie to a quick sauce. The assortment should fit most small family's needs except for maybe the absence of a roasting pan with a rack.

My only complaint is that they feel fairly light and thin to me. When I sauteed or did a stir fry in the Rachael Ray pans I had to be careful to not burn the ingredients. I had a similar issue when cooking stews in the larger pots. However, when I used less heat than I am used to they worked well, it just took a little longer to finish the dish. As far as value goes, I have to be honest and say that a smart shopper could do better. I am fortunate to live near an outlet mall that has a Calphalon store as well as some other well known brand kitchenware stores. I have found sets with a similar assortment of pots and pans that were heavier and better built for about the same price. However, I would still recommend this set to someone who needs an easily available starter set as they are worth the money and should last quite a while.

Honest reviews on Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 10-Piece

Purchase this from amazon 4 years ago still using it today,still looks like new,would recommend to anybody that likes to cook and likes a quality cookware set

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 10-Piece

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This is overall, a well-made set of pans that has a modern, attractive look most kitchens would be proud to have these on display. The set consists of:

1Qt Saucepan with a Tempered Glass Lid

2Qt Saucepan with a Tempered Glass Lid

3Qt Sauté pan with a Tempered Glass Lid that also fits the 10 inch Skillet

6Qt Stockpot with a Tempered Glass Lid

8.5-Inch Skillet

10-Inch Skillet

The pots are well made and the handles riveted on. They are light-weight (which means they aren't overly thick I am not about to drop one to see if it dents, but I do have my concerns).

The sizes of the pans are well thought out. I like to have the smaller skillet if I am just frying a couple of eggs, or the larger one for sauteing food for a family meal. The stockpot is a decent size and having 3 sizes of pan makes it very versatile. None of the pans has a pouring spout and that would be nice, particularly on the smallest one, that is most likely to be used to heat pourable quantities of liquids.

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