Vasconia 3.75 Quart Non-Stick Aluminum Caldero with Lid Review

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List Price: $23.99
Sale Price: $22.94
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

I've been married 34 years and only recently had to throw out my favorite 3.5 quart enamel pot received as a wedding gift. I use this size pot for everything from soups to rice, macaroni to mashed potatoes -and I needed a quick replacement. I liked the style of the Vasconia pot, as well as the fact that it was non-stick.

This is definitely not a high quality cooking pot. It is lightweight and when it arrived there were already scratches around the rim where the non-stick surface meets the edge. Something that the photo doesn't show, nor does the item description state, there is an open release valve in the lid of this pot. I'm not sure how it's going to work for rice with that unwanted feature.

The pot does sit and cook well on my flat cooktop, so it does have that going for it. But it's lack of weight and thinness of the metal sides concerns me. I seriously doubt it will last for more than a year or two. Luckily, the price reflects the quality of the pot.

You get what you pay for. This pot will serve it's purpose, but it's not a high quality product.

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Vasconia 3.75 Quart Non-Stick Aluminum Caldero with Lid

I feel this is a good value for the money.It is neither too big nor too small for my intended purpose.Seems well-constructed,has a glass see-thru lid which is a plus.The only drawback to this little pot it the open vent (which I didn't realize it had).I would have preferred a sealable vent to help keep the steam in.I also highly suggest using hot pads as the handles get hot enough to "brand" and blister your fingers.But all in all I think it will serve it's purpose well.I would recommend it to others and would not hesitate to buy another if need be.

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LIGHTWEIGHT POT FOR EVERYDAY COOKING WHICH I WOULD PURCHASE AGAIN WHEN THIS ONE IS PUT TO REST.

Anolon Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick 11-Piece Cookware Set Review

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

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

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

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

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[Update]

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

Everything I said below still stands.

With these additional inputs :

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

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

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

This will probably be my last Analon set.

The quality is just not there anymore.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy Paderno World Cuisine 10.25 Inch Blue Carbon Steel Crepe Pan

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List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $24.95
Today's Bonus: $0.04 Off

I bought this as a birthday present for my wife, but wasn't expecting it to really perform any better than any other pan for making crepes. Blow me away, the blue steel finish took on seasoning beautifully and the high heat retention of the steel seared crepe batter beautifully. Recommendation follow the Cook's Illustrated crepe recipe; including instructions for 20 second sear test with a drop of batter for perfect results every time. Like any uncoated metal, the blue steel can rust if not properly seasoned so follow the same maintenance rules you must use with cast iron: never leave soaking in water; smear oil over it with paper towel after washing and heat til dry on burner or in oven to draw the oil into the metal. I've used this pan dozens of times with perfect results. In retrospect, looking at this thin little pan I find the results shocking. Center to edge heat distribution is superior to my All Clad pans when making crepes. Sear is better too. This pan is just ideal for crepes. Great value too.

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After properly seasoning the pan it works like a charm. One of my favorites to use. Would take a whole set if they manufactured them.

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This was an excellent buy. You can make a lot more in it besides crepes. It is perfect for basically any breakfast food. It comes to you as basically a big hunk of steel, covered in some oil that looked strange, so we wiped the oil throughly off in case it wasn't an oil we'd want to eat and seasoned it ourselves. It is important to season a pan like this properly right off the bat. If you don't know how, look it up online. I read this article right around the time I was seasoning the pan:

If you have never made crepes before, I suggest the first thing you make in this pan is a fried egg. Caution: this pan cooks QUICK. I was surprised at how fast I cooked my egg at medium heat. It was completely done in 30 seconds basically. This pan is basically like cauterizing your food, which is part of the beauty I think. My only complaint is that its not easy to flip stuff, so use a nice silicone or wooden spatula the first time to make sure you don't burn the thing you're cooking by accident trying to flip it.

Otherwise, enjoy the pan!

P.S. buy a cast iron pan handle mitt along with it or you will most certainly burn yourself.

Honest reviews on Paderno World Cuisine 10.25 Inch Blue Carbon Steel Crepe Pan

This is a perfect crepe pan. I was initially going to get the smaller pan, but am happy that I went with this slightly larger one. Quick cleaning and seasoning and it was ready to go. The first crepe even came out perfectly.

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I'm french and make crêpes very often. This pan works fine for me. I don't like the tefflon types, so the blue carbon steel is a better choice for me. It is heavy though and not absolutly flat. But the crêpes are good easy to make and cook fast and well evenly.

T-fal Simply Delicioso Express Stainless Steel Dishwasher Safe Review

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This is a nice pressure cooker, but it only reaches 12 PSI. If you are new to pressure cooking, all recipes you will find will follow a default PSI of 15 PSI for High Pressure. So if you use a T-FAL Pressure Cooker you will need to increase the time by 20%. This obviously defeats the purpose of saving time and in turn you run the risk of burning meat on the bottom and loosing flavor and energy because of the extra cooking time. Try and go for a cooker that reaches 15 PSI.

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I have always used a pressure cooker as did my Mom before me but I had always had an aluminum one. I have decided to upgrade all my cookware to stainless steel to avoid any issue that cooking with aluminum may cause. I was pleased to find a steel pressure cooker made by Tfal since it is a brand that I knew as a quality brand. I have used it several times since I purchased it and have been very pleased with the way it works. I like that it has two settings, basically a high and low that other pressure cookers don't have. It is quieter than other pressure cookers since it does not have a weight that jiggles while it is cooking. I would definitely recommend it as a quality product.

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This is the first pressure cooker I ever used and I was a bit nervous at first. I read the instructions over and over and when I did the initial water boil, I realized how easy it was going to be and man was it ever. The pot roast and vegetables turned out great too. Great buy and really super easy to use and clean. I will say that it is a bit on the heavy side and I bought the small one. If you are cooking for a family, get a larger size. Perfect for two.

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I was surprised at how heavy and well built this cooker was. Easy to use and does a great job. Clean-up is a snap too. I would recommend this product. The quality and price makes this mid-size pressure cooker a good buy. I'm sure you will like it.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The Package

One of the Product Features for this item is, "Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging." What this means is they take the box containing the pressure cooker off the shelf, slap a mailing label on it, and stick it in the mail. My box came looking like they played football with it, but the contents were fine. If yours comes this way and the pot is dented DO NOT use it. Exchange it. Note: I only mention the packaging because it is listed as a "feature" in the product description.

The Pressure Cooker

There is little to distinguish this pressure cooker from most of the others on the market, and that's not a bad thing. It has heavy stainless steel construction with a thick disc bottom which is induction capable. The handle is comfortable and the helper handle is conveniently placed. As with many other units, a steamer basket and trivet are provided. Though I would never buy cookware on style, I must say the maroon plastic bits on this unit are nice looking.

I compared this cooker with my Fagor UCook which I have had for four years. Like the T-Fal, the Fagor is dual pressure. Unlike the Fagor, which is 8/15 psi, the T-Fal is 7/12 psi. Most pressure cooker recipes are written for 15 psi cookers, so in theory the T-Fal should take a bit longer to cook things. In reality, not so much.

The lid on the Fagor locks automatically when you rotate it into place. The T-Fal lid must be locked manually. I thought this would be a safety concern, allowing the pot to operate with the lid unlocked. I discovered, however, the pot will not pressurize with the lid unlocked. When there is pressure in the pot, a small pin pops up to let you know. On the Fagor, this pin is a contrasting yellow and extends above the surrounding plastic so it is easily seen. On my T-Fal this pin is the same color as all the other plastic bits, and even when the pot is under pressure this pin is below the surface of the surrounding parts. You really have to look for it.

The safety valve comes out for easy cleaning, but requires a bit of fiddling to get it in and out. The Fagor's goes in and out smoothly.

The food I prepared in this pressure cooker came out just fine...the same as with my other ones.

Recipe Booklet

While it comes with over 50 included recipes, only 5 are Ingrid Hoffman's secret recipes.

Celebrity Endorsed

With few exceptions, celebrity endorsed products tend to have a short shelf life, making parts hard to come by in the future. J&R already appears to be closing out the line. Also, part of the price of the unit goes back to the celebrity, so it is not as good a value as a non-endorsed brand.

I don't know who Ingrid Hoffman is. So much for being impressed with her endorsement.

Bottom Line

There isn't anything that really sets this pressure cooker apart from any other one on the market today. It cooks as well as any other and has the same basic features. Overall, though, I would not recommend you or anyone else buy this brand. Why?

Warranty. While the pot is warranted for 10 years, the rest of the parts are only one. Even a Presto for about half the price is fully warranted for five. Others in this price range are 10 or more.

Warranty service. T-fal doesn't list this or any other pressure cooker on its Web site, so I wonder about service and the availability of parts.

Replacement Parts. T-fal recommends replacing the gasket yearly. I was unable to find anyone on line who carries replacement parts for this unit.

Imusa Victoria Cast Iron Tortilla Press, 6-1/2-Inch Reviews

Customer Ratings:

My husband is Mexican and is very picky about tortillas. We only eat corn tortillas and don't eat the preservative-laden tortillas in supermarkets. With a bag of Maseca, you can make as good tortillas as it is possible to obtain in the US outside of a huge Mexican enclave with a real tortilleria. We were stuck with an aluminum tortilla press for years and it's a total waste of time -you cannot get thin tortillas with it at all, because the press is simply too light. This one is terrific. You must use some type of liner, like a slit plastic bag ( a filmy produce bag works great) or wax paper to place the dough between, but you can get super, super-thin tortillas with it. If you have an aluminum tortilla press, give it to a kid to pretend making tortillas with Play-Doh and buy this one. You will not regret it. This is one of the best kitchen purchases I have made in the last ten years and it's an essential in our house.

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I bought this item from target yesterday and couldn't be happier with my purchase. I use this to make Indian chappati/roti bread.

All you have to remember is to keep the dough ball inside the plastic sheets. This is also written on the box and the reason is very simple ... this is made of cast iron and if it is exposed to moisture it will rust.

Just remember that this is basically 6 inches in diameter !

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This thing WORKS. My big drawback is it arrived in a HUGE box and arrived BROKEN the handles had been knocked off. HOWEVER, Amazon replaced it rather quickly, and the second one is great. As everyone else says, it is coated in oil, and that is all right. I washed it off and coated with with olive oil, like all my cast iron stuff (living in a humid environment, everything here needs a good coating of oil :-)). It works, and using the plastic bags is a good thing.

So, if you need one, and cannot live without fresh tortillas, get one. I missed Texas for a looooong time because of the tortillerias there....fresh tortillas at all restaurants and the food but now, I have learned to make salsa, fajitas, and a myriad of other good foods, so I am not so homesick :-)....especially since I can have my OWN corn tortillas!

Honest reviews on Imusa Victoria Cast Iron Tortilla Press, 6-1/2-Inch

I received my press yesterday and went right to work making tortillas. This was exactly what I needed.

Taking the advice of other reviewers here, I used a cut zip lock back with all sides split except for one to line the press.

The little dough balls need to be slightly to the back of the center of the press, closer to the hinge than the center.

Close the press, and wiggle the handle a bit from side to side to get them even thinner than just by pressing. I made both corn and flour tortillas and was very happy with my results.

The press had some sort of black grease on the inside of it, so when you first get it, wash it and carefully dry the edges that contact the plastic lining or any possible food! I'm sure they did that to keep rust down.

Perfect size for making chips or tacos or rolling up an enchilada. I think it should make nice pastry circles too perhaps for small pot pies. I played with one tortilla and one of the small corning rounds. It fit well.

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I received my Imusa Victoria Cast Iron Tortilla press and it was in good condition. It seems like a high quality, well constructed item made of durable iron which looks to be chrome plated or coated with something because its a lot shinier and nicer looking than natural iron. I tried it out immediately after receiving it and was very impressed with how it worked. I saw other reviews that said people broke it when pressing tortillas but I'm really not sure how they did that. Its well made of solid iron with good hinge pins and takes practically no pressure at all to press even the thinnest tortillas. I knocked out about a dozen or so tortillas and it worked great on all of them. I would recommend washing it before use as it does arrive coated with oil or something but you should do that with any food prep devices anyway. I highly recommend this product. Definitely well worth the $$$

Buy Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Oval French Oven

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List Price: $295.00
Sale Price: $234.95
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

This purple French Oven was a totally unexpected birthday surprise from my soldier son, who knew how long I'd wanted one and sent it to me for my birthday this year ~ needless to say, I cried buckets!! :) Not only did he remember, he took the time to go and order it from Amazon while in the midst of one of the most dangerous places on earth, Afghanistan. I could not get over it.

Besides the emotional aspect ... this covered French oven has turned out some of the most fantastic, delicious dishes I could ever hope for. I highly recommend it and routinely pack it into the dishwasher for cleaning, so that may be why it hasn't scratched as the previous reviewer stated I don't use any kind of cleaning pads on it, just a cloth to remove any solid bits, and it's come out clean as new every time, very happy about that also I make sure to use the Le Creuset silicone spatulas and spoons with it, which helps as well I'm sure. I cannot say enough good things about this beautiful piece of cookware!! :)

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A few months ago, I was given this fantastic french oven and I still love it. It is a functional statement piece for any kitchen.

This french oven is really a dutch oven. I believe they call it a french oven because it's made by a french company but it performs all of the tasks normally performed by dutch ovens. This product is perfectly suited for soups, chillis, stews, etc. It heats evenly but be careful not to use too much heat because it's easy to burn food since it's made of cast-iron.

The color, Marseille Blue, is gorgeous. The outside of this french oven is covered in the vibrant blue enamel, while the inside is a tan color. The enamel makes it really easy to clean with soap and water (I've really put this to the test as I accidentally burned a lasagna in it).

My complaints about the product are as follows: because it is made out of cast-iron, it is really heavy to pick up, especially when food is in it. Secondly, you have to use oven mittens to hold it because it gets really hot as the handles, which are also made of cast-iron, retain heat just like any other part of the pot. These problems are not such a big deal to me but what really bothers me is that the black knob that comes with the dutch oven is only oven safe up to 375°F whereas the rest of the french oven is safe up to 500°F. The appeal of a french/dutch oven is that you can use it both on the stove and in the oven and this product, as it arrived, was not sufficiently oven safe for many of the meals I intended to use it for. Le creuset markets Le Creuset L9403-45 Stainless-Steel 2-Inch Replacement Knob that is safe for oven use and I purchased it but I like the look of the black knob better so that was a let down.

In the end, I rated this item 4 stars because despite the problems mentioned above, I love it. It's stunning. It cooks amazingly and clean up is a breeze.

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I can't say it's the best French oven made since I haven't used every one made, but I have used Le Creuset cookware for years and I have never been disappointed. This one is a great size for casseroles etc for a family of 4, or fewer if you like leftovers. All Le Creuset enameled cast-iron cookware heats evenly and is a breeze to clean. They are heavy, but as expected for cast-iron. Yes, Le Creuset is expensive, but you get what you pay for. If you get one, likely you'll never be satisfied with another brand, so beware!

Cheap Anolon Advanced Bronze Nonstick 11-Inch Covered Deep Round Grill Pan

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List Price: $50.00
Sale Price: $42.49
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

As with other Analon cookware I own this grill pan does not disappoint. Whether you are cooking on the stove top or finishing something in the oven with it this pan works great and creates those awesome grill marks we all like. As with other Analon Bronze Collection cookware the best part about this pan is the cleanup! Nothing sticks to these pans and hand washing them is a breeze. I definitely recommend this product!

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I like this pan. It doesn't replace my favorite, but is a good daily purpose pan. It cooks evenly and requires less cooking oil.

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I really like the pan and it is easy to clean. The pan heats up quick and doesnt burn food.

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The last time I purchased a set of cookware, I bought the entire set and then wasn't happy with it. This time I decided to purchase just one piece and see how I like it, BEFORE purchasing an entire set and spending a lot of money on something I don't even like. I will be buying the entire set of this cookware!

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I recommend this product to anyone who does a lot of cooking. The teflone spreads the heat as advertised. Good

Reviews of Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 7-Quart Chef's Casserole with Lid

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I currently own about 7 pieces of Calphalon cookware. I have been very pleased with the quality, and I try to pick up additional ones whenever I can. I was happy when I saw an Amazon offer for a Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 7-Quart Chef's Casserole with Lid set for $60, down from $190. The few customer reviews were mostly favorable so I ordered one.

I did note some issues people were having with the Calphalon Commercial Hard Anodized 12-Quart Stockpot with Lid. To summarize it was noted that the pot was not made in America, was flimsy and thin in construction, and the finish quality was substandard. Being that I had already ordered, I waited to see what would arrive.

I opened the Amazon box and took out the plain white box whose only markings were "Made in China." Nowhere did it even say Calphalon, so this was an object never intended for normal retail sale (at a Macy's etc.). The pot was indeed flimsy with comically puny handles. I scratched at the surface with my fingernail and appeared to slightly mar the surface. I then walked to my computer, clicked return, and printed out the return authorization.

I think what disturbs me the most is if Calphalon is calling this piece of junk commercial quality, how can I possibly order one of their products unless I can physically touch it before I commit? Claiming a 68% savings on the price of this pot is ludicrous. This is more like one of those infomercials that packages 50 cents worth of plastic and says it's a $20 value. This flimsy pot would be expensive at $20. Calphalon may very well have lost me as a customer.

I grabbed my caliper and took a couple of quick measurements of the thickness of several of my Calphalon pieces.

My truly professional fry pan: 0.19" (4.8mm)

Calphalon Contemporary pan: 0.179" (4.4mm)

Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 7-Quart Chef's Casserole: 0.10" (2.5mm)

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This is a great pot if you know what you are getting. First of all, Calphalon's Commercial Hard Anodized line is NOT non-stick in the traditional sense, they make other lines that are, but this one is not. That said, if you follow the instructions, it does things a non-stick pot/pan can't do and cleans up very easily. It's especially good at searing and creating flavor in deglazing. At this point though I use this pot mainly for things like stews or chili. It does make a great pot roast too if that's your goal. I took one star off because it's not the same really heavy gauge as most of the other pots and pans I have from their Commercial Hard Anodized line. It's still a good pot, but noticeably lighter gauge. None of the this line is dishwasher safe either, if that's an issue for you.

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I bought this to work as a dutch oven. I've made soups and roasts in it so far.

The sides of the pot are a bit thin for my tastes, although the bottom is comfortably thick. There are no hot spots on the bottom at all. Cleanup is a snap since it's hard anodized. Since it's not teflon, you can make pan sauces from the fond.

It's not cast iron, so it won't substitute for your Lodge or La Creuset. On the other hand, it doesn't weigh 15lbs either.

All in all, a very good pan for the money ($ on sale). I recommend it.

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I love this pan. Very durable and it is very lightweight comparativly to its size. It cleans fairly easily, but it is not dishwasher safe. I think it is a fantastic product.

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The pot is lightweight and definitely not Commercial grade as indicated in the description. There are only two good things about the pot as far as I'm concerned: the domed lid and the size. Over-all, I'd rate it poor quality and I would never have made the purchase if I'd touched it. If you're a serious cook -don't buy it.

Buy Rachael Ray Tools Round Splatter Screen, Orange

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List Price: $16.99
Sale Price: $12.97
Today's Bonus: 24% Off

I'm thrilled with this purchase! Since I need to be gluten free I have found myself pan frying my own chicken strips (made with a gluten free blend for the breading of course). After a dinner like that my stove would be a nightmare of oil splattered everywhere. Similarly with bacon, my stove would be an absolute mess.

Now I just plot this splatter screen over my pan, let the oil do the cooking and quickly lift it up to flip them over. The huge mess is nowhere to be found when I have finished cooking.

This splatter screen is very durable, the mesh on the top is definetly going to stand up to very high heat for long periods of time. It's also pretty quick and easy to clean. I haven't had it for long, but have used it numerous times so far. I have read about other products that have started to rust after a couple of uses, that has not happen with this splatter screen and I do not anticipate it happening.

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I really love this. I use it any time I'm cooking and something has grease. This really is a must have item.

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I've had this product for about six months now. It hasn't let me down yet! Simple design, fits all of my pots and pans. It is a must have in any kitchen!

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This does what you expect, but the quality is excellent. I have purchased similar items in the past and found them to be flimsy this one is very sturdy and well-made. Very satisfied overall.

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Fits my T-Fal fry pan perfectly. Good heavy quality. It should last a long time. If only it came in red to match the other items in the line I bought.

Royal Industries (ROY SS SAPT 3) - 3 1/2 Qt Induction-Ready Review

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List Price: $32.80
Sale Price: $23.41
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

I have been shopping for month, years really, for affordable and high quality stainless cookware. I shopped the department stores and the others around the mall but they all had over priced home stuff. Being a former chef and still a restaurant operator I wanted something that would last, I wanted what our kitchens use. THIS IS IT!! It's maybe a touch lighter weight than that in a commercial kitchen but it's pretty close, and I don't have a commercial stove at home so this is perfect. Exactly what you need if you're looking for commercial quality home cookware. I have 12 pieces and they're all great. Best home purchase EVER!!!

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I like the look and feel, but it's kind of hard to grip the handle when full. Also, the lid holds a huge amount of water when you remove it. You have to remember to drain in pot before taking it off, or water goes everywhere

Cheap Fagor Futuro Pressure Cookers

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List Price: $159.99
Sale Price: $159.00
Today's Bonus: 1% Off

I am one of those people that has always liked the thought of "nutritional, home cooked" dinners. By the time I think about cooking the stews/roasts/whole chickens/etc. it is already too late in the day so there they sit in the freezer while I am running to the store for something quick. It's really sad to see beautiful, fresh stew vegetables (along with great intentions) go bad in the refrigerator. Well, NO MORE!!!!

If you are thinking about buying a pressure cooker, go for it! Mine came in the mail yesterday and I made Tortellini Stew last night oh my gosh it was the most tender stew meat we've had in years. It was even better than sitting in the crock pot all day! I did not pressure cook the little tortellinis :) but everything else cooked so easily. I put the stew meat in with garlic, olive oil, tomato paste and about 2 cups of stock. That pressure cooked on high for 10 minutes. Then I released the pressure (my husband calls it "releasing the aromas" because it smelled soooo good) and added in the mushrooms, carrots, celery, spices, and more broth. I brought that up to low pressure and let it go for about 3 to 4 minutes. Then, added in the tortellinis with the lid off for a couple minutes and we had a dinner in MINUTES that used to take literally HOURS!!!

I decided on the Fagor 10-quart futuro model for several reasons:

1. It's stainless steel. I don't like cooking with aluminum.

2. The 10-quart size is awesome and it is not too big. It's just right for my family of four because we like leftovers and have company for dinner often.

3. I like that this model is made in Spain rather than China.

4. I liked the steamer basket/grater that came with this.

5. The easy handles on the lid. I went back and forth on this one, but after using it am SO GLAD I went with this handle design. It will store nicely and it really is super easy.

6. The two pressure settings of 1 and 2. It will be nice having a lower pressure setting when I cook tender vegetables.

It was so intimidating that first go-round but it was so easy! You should see the steam fly out when released. It's amazing how the cooker can sit so quietly on the stove. I was not expecting the big rush of steam, so it made me jump the first time but these are totally safe and really make cooking fun and GOOD! I had no problems taking the lid off when the pressure came down. I was a little nervous about that, too, but it was no big deal whatsoever!

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I received this model as a wedding gift and have never looked back. I was scared of pressure cooking the burning of things, the exploding lids, the "is it done yet" questions. This pot has never failed me. I use it all the time to cook up legumes and veggies. No more store bought beans for our family. It cooks about 2 times as fast as my friend's cheap aluminum one, so it holds pressure well. The lid is easy to set up, the safety features don't get in the way, and as long as you remember to line up the marks on the lid with the ones on the handle, you will never have a problem. I've had it for over 2 years, use it very often and I'm yet to replace the gasket. Could not be happier.

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I bought a Fagor 10 quart pressure cooker about 3 weeks ago and so far the only quibble I have, and it's not a big one, is that it could be a little easier for newbies to tell when the thing is up to its cooking pressure. The manual, and the video that came with the PC both say that it's up to pressure when the little yellow button pop up. That's not actually true. When the button pops up, that means that the pot is pressurized, not that it is up to 15 psi. It is up to full pressure when wisps of steam start coming out of the relief valve.

Today I made Lentil Soup with 10 minutes of cooking time. If I had started timing when the yellow button popped up the lentils would not have been done because it took (I'm guessing here, I didn't time this part) an extra 2 or 3 minutes from the point where the yellow indicator button popped up to when stream started coming out of the relief valve. If the steam is hissing out then you need to turn down the heat until wisps of steam gently escape.

I have an electric stove so there's that issue of "thermal inertia" where I make an adjustment to but it takes a short bit of time for it to respond. It is just the nature of the beast for electric ranges. A good tip from a PC cookbook said to use two burners, one to heat the PC up to pressure and a second burner turned on at the same time to a lower setting so all you have to do is move the PC from the high temperature burner to the lower temperature one.

I had an "El Cheapo" stainless steel old-style (first generation) PC and the setting on my stove for cooking was the letter "M" on the word Med. on the dial. With the Futuro all I need is the "m" on word Wm on the dial. This is a much lower setting. It is surprising how little energy is needed to maintain pressure with this PC.

The build quality is excellent one reason I bought the Futuro is that this model is still made in Spain. I've had enough trouble with Made in China gear that I wasn't about to trust our well-being to Chinese quality control. (This is a whole other issue but I now look for alternatives to Chinese made items whenever possible). If they are willing to add a poisonous material (melamine) to milk to make it test higher in protein and kill a handful of babies and sicken thousands more how much could they care about me standing in front of a stainless steel pot pressurized to 15 psi? I shouldn't have to worry that my PC is an I.E.D.

(Taking a breath now)

The bottom of the pot is very thick and spreads the heat well. As I said earlier, I made Lentil Soup today and I realized as it was nearly done that I added the lentils first so they were sitting on the bottom of the pot and I added the other ingredients on top of them. I use highest heat setting to bring the PC up to pressure (an electric stove will boil a pot of water quicker than a gas stove) so it is a very high heat. I was worried that the beans might burn a bit because I'd forgotten to stir the ingredients before heating up to pressure. But when I emptied the pot there wasn't the slightest evidence of that. The soup is delicious!

I like the short handles on the Futuro, it is easier to store. The operating valve is simple to remove and clean and the silicone gasket is easy to remove and it makes no difference which side is up when replaced so there is one less thing I can screw up. I bought the glass lid for $10 from Amazon and now I've got a very high quality 10 qt. pot for non-PC usage.

A couple of days ago I made Pulled Pork for sandwiches from a 4.5 pound piece of boneless pork loin (lower fat, ya know) that turned out wonderfully in the PC. We're having that again tonight with a cup of Lentil Soup. This has changed the way we do much of our cooking.

I'm sorry if I'm burying the lead but the new generation of pressure cookers is very, very safe. They are nothing like the ones that your mothers or grandmothers had. I'm assuming that most people who are looking at these fairly expensive PCs already know quite a bit about them so you probably know that but I felt I should make the point for newbies.

Buy a couple of good PC cookbooks when you buy your PC and you'll get a ton of good advice about using them, including how to adapt your family's favorite recipes to the PC.

Good grief! Did I do 800+ words about my PC? I need an editor after only one margarita.

If you're looking for a PC you can't go wrong with the Fagor. Enjoy!

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I picked the futuro because I like the small footprint of the handles. I've had it about 6 months and was using it for beans, desserts (makes a great cheesecake and creme brulee!!), but kept finding that a lot of steam was coming out of the handle area and it was taking about 40% longer to cook to cook things then the recipe called for, so was not totally happy. One day I was reading through the instruction manual and saw instructions on how to tighten up the handles (take a phillips screwdriver and voila!). I checked, and one of my handles was very loose, so I tightened it up and now my Fagor works perfectly! So, if you get one and it doesn't seem to be working as it should, check for a loose handle. This is my first pressure cooker and I really love it! I checked out several pressure cookbooks from the library, but ended up buying The Pressure Cooker Cookbook by Toula Patsalis. Her cookbook is great if you like Mediterranean inspired food. I made her lamb meatballs last night FABULOUS and cooked in only 5 minutes!!!!!

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Love, love my pressure cooker! Cooks well and fast. Compatible with induction cooktop. Easy to wash. This size is for a small family. If your family is larger than three, you are better off with the 8-quart size. Instruction booklet is easy to read, really. Definitely worth every penny. Made in Spain.

Buy Luigi Bormioli Set of 2 Duos Double-Wall Mugs, 14 oz.

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List Price: $27.00
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The whole point of double walled technology is to insulate while remaining light to hold. These clearly meet these requirements. In the brief time I have had them, I have used them for hot and cold beverages, microwaved them and washed them in the dish washer. The mugs functioned without incident. In addition, these have a timeless contemporary appearance. Good bye and good riddance ceramic mugs!

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These glasses are incredibly light! When I took one of them out, the first thought that came in mind was: "Is this plastic?" I read the box again to make sure that it says glass and it does. I'm not sure how easily they will break, but they seem to work pretty well. I tried using it for cold drink and the double-wall kept the glass from sweating. Overall, these are pretty pricey, but work well.

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Style and quality were first rate easy to hold, beverages stay warm, not ideal for cold beverages where ice in necessary as the thin layer may break if ice is dropped in. Perfect for latte's or tea/coffee.. look and feel great on the hand. A nice gift. Priced right. Shipping when free from Amazon is VERY slow.

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I have been using these coffee mugs for a few weeks now and I am completely satisfied with them. 14 Ounces is the perfect size mug and hot drinks stay hot for a long time. I think that the price is fair and I find the glasses to be very durable and easy to clean. I had other double walled glass mugs from Starbucks and they broke very easily. Double wall plastic mugs do not break but they are just too hard to clean to be practical. Coffee and tea stains are almost impossible to remove from any non-glass product no matter if it is polycarbonate, Tritan or whatever. These mugs are hand blown in China and the quality is as good as I have ever seen. Every surface is very smooth and the handle design is just right. Also, unlike many glass mugs these fit in car cup holders. I will definitely order more Luigi Bormioli double wall glassware.

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If you are complaining about the moisture between the walls, the bodum version which costs twice as much as a silicone breathable seal which has never given me that problem, but I like that this glass holds an extra 4 oz which is perfect for my morning 4 shot latte... Bodum Bistro Double-Wall Insulated Glass Mug, 15-Ounce, Set of 2 This one has a much clunkier shape. The assam shape was nice but did not have a handle, while the canteen bodum's don't hold as much again, and also don't have a handle. These are perfect! the same light feel with the handle. And I like that they keep my coffee at the right temp for the 15 to 20 min it takes me to drink the cup. The Bodum assam glasses which seem to be discontinued are one of my favorites too, but hold much less than this one. I didn't like Sun's Tea(TM) 16oz Strong Double Wall Thermo Glass Pilsner/Tumbler/Glasses for Beer/Cocktail/Lemonade/Iced tea and other beverage, Set of 2 because they weigh as much as say something that was stoneware, and thats awkward since they don't have a handle.

Buy Farberware Aluminum Nonstick 8-Inch, 10-Inch and 11-Inch Skillet

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List Price: $25.99
Sale Price: $17.99
Today's Bonus: 31% Off

Love this set. Perfect sizes and the non-stick is what I need for everyday cooking. Be sure to use plastic or rubber utensils so as not to scratch the finish. Great buy for the quality.

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We go through non stick pans really quickly. The surface always scratches, burns, gets gunked up with baked on oil. These pans are amazing. Even when the teen over cooks his eggs without oil.

The cooking surface has a slight texture and I think this helps a lot. I was pleasantly surprised, and these are still holding up beautifully.

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Step-Mom loved them! Very light and easy to clean. The color is also great and they are to stack and put away.

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Farberware is very reasonably priced line of products that almost always gets to you as you would hope them to be, well made and durable...

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I bought these to replace some old cookware that I had since they were old and worn out. So far they look great and cook great. I havent had any issues yet. I do have some other Farberware cook ware that I have bought in the past so I thought that I would try these. I also have some Calphalon cook ware bought since these came with all three sizes I decided I would buy these for now. I would recommend buying these skillets especially if you are on a budget and they do cook great. Thanks Farberware and Amazon for the fast shipping.