Cheap Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 3.5-qt. Pour and Strain Sauce Pan

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List Price: $110.00
Sale Price: $78.49
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

I've been a big fan of Calphalon products for years, they're built like tanks. As long as you're careful with the non-stick coating, these pots should work for a lifetime.

Purchased this model specifically for the pouring notches. With the cut-outs on the lid, this design works perfectly. And the cut-outs are centered with the direction of the handle, so you always know where they are, you can keep them closed to keep the inside sealed for heating, or turn them 90 degrees to vent/pour.

Highly recommended.

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This is my 7th Calphalon purchase and I'm hooked. Their pans are incredible, well made and easy to clean. This pan is thick, keeping a very uniform temperature and cooking everything just right. It's really nonstick, allowing me to decrease the amount of oil in my recipes, which is healthier. I love that it has the pour and strain feature, so l can use it for a lot of things: pasta, broths and sauces. It's very practical.

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The pour spouts and straining holes in the lid are fantastic! No more trying to strain my noodles and hoping I don't move the lid too far and lose them down the drain! I would defniitely recomment this pan. The only small drawback is that it is kind of heavy, like most of Calphalon's pans.

Honest reviews on Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 3.5-qt. Pour and Strain Sauce Pan

Bought this piece for my wife to use on our gas range. Our old stainless cookware had handles that would get so hot you couldn't pick them up without a pot holder. These handles stay much cooler. The nonstick coating is great, and the strainer built into the lid is great for boiling vegetables, pasta, etc.

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I was looking for a larger sauce pan than came with my Calphalon set. This sauce pan is perfect for cooking pasta or large quantities of vegetables. It is definitely not one that I use every day, but one that comes in handy. This is the same great quality as the pots I bought for a lot more money.

Noritake Colorware Dinner Plate Review

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List Price: $26.00
Sale Price: $22.99
Today's Bonus: 12% Off

This is a tough review I do like my dishes and use amazon to fill in the set when one gets broken or chipped I like the fact that I can "fill in" and that's one reason to purchase higher end and or patterned type dinnerware. But the downside to these dishes is that they mark up quite easily on the face of white of the plates and bowls. This marking comes from the silverware (and I have good Oneida flatware as well) and it leaves very visible grey scratch like marks all over that do not come off in the dishwasher or by hand, which in turn makes these look like bargain basement discount dinnerware rather than the $ 60-70 place setting they are. I use a product call Bar Keepers Friend (oxalaic acid) to get rid of the marks every 3 or 4 months, a pain in the rear but it does work.

Also the bowls, both cereal and rice type, chip pretty easily due to the thin rim design, it's just a trade off of design over function but they do chip the plates do not seem to have the same problem. I've had this dinnerware for about 8 years and use it as my everyday dinnerware.

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We got these for our wedding three years ago, I chipped one recently on our granite counters. My wife made me buy another to replace it. I'm glad they are still available and reasonably priced.

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The Noritake Colorware Cream Dinner Plates purchased through Amazon complimented my existing set of Noritake dishes. I am thoroughly satisfied with my recent purchase through Amazon.

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I love the sturdiness of these plates and that they blend with various other colors and still look good. Great buy!

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Product arrived safely and in time. Packaged very well. I will order from this source again. I am very pleased.

Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker, 34-Ounce Reviews

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List Price: $27.00
Sale Price: $19.99
Today's Bonus: 26% Off

This was my first French press. I have always enjoyed this type of coffee, particular after dinner. However, I was attracted to the plastic framework surrounding the carafe, as I can be clumsy at times.

This press has worked just as well as the more expensive, more traditional looking French press pots. I set the coarsest setting on my Braun grinder, and no grounds get through the screen. It is just perfect. I haven't ever run my press through the dishwasher, it isn't necessary with the easy cleaning with this one. I just put hot soapy water in the carafe, up-and-down a few times with the plunger and it's all ready to use again. I have heeded the warning not to stir with a metal implement; I use a wooden spoon.

I would heartily recommend this model of Bodum for someone who would like to experience French press coffee at home, inexpensively.

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Let's face it, dumping coffee grounds into a bucket of hot water is nothing new. The Bodum Press is a refinement of the cowboy coffee brewing method, minus the campfire & straining it thru a sock. In My world, there is no such thing as "too Strong" for coffee. There IS, however, too bitter & too acidy. The press does what perking, dripping and steaming ground coffee cannot do: produce a stout, yet smooth cup of coffee just like the stuff made around decades of my campfires.

Model Brazil, made in Denmark by a Swiss Company & called a French Press. No wonder the confusion over exactly how many cups this actually makes. The Euro-instructions for the press say 4 oz. per cup, but even my fine Bavarian China cups (from when I lived in Munich) are 6 ounces.

Just look at it this way: It holds 32 ounces of water.

The instructions on your roast coffee container usually say to use 1 TBSP per 6 ounces of water (NOT 4 ounces & NOT 8 ounces). Again, in MY world, 32 ozs. makes about 2 cups of coffee.

I toss in 6 or more scoops of ground coffee, pour in hot water & wait the obligatory 4 minutes. The result is a smooth coffee that you can drink by the quart without that nasty heartburn/reflux side effect.

It's ideal for work, where the office sissies are afraid of offending anyone with REAL coffee, so they make it weak. I simply step up to the hot water spigot & take the Press to my desk.

Now, you, too, can have coffee the way you like it at work without having to cover up someone's botched brew with that foo-foo Vanilla, Hazelnut, Irish Cream or other phoney-flavored faux creamers.

Cleanup? Swirl around some soapy water, & dump the grounds down the sink just be sure to have the water blasting & the garbage disposal running, so as to not plug up the sink trap.

Even if you already have the coffee-brewing apparatus of your dreams, buy the Bodum 32 oz. model. You won't be disappointed.

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I have two Chambord models, and this one. I prefer the features of the Brazil's keyed lid, and secured plastic frame to the Chambord models. I've had this for about 3 years now, use it every day, and it's held up perfectly. Great press.

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This is a very simple, easy-to-use and easy-to-clean French press. I couldn't be happier with it. Brewing with a French press generally results in much more flavorful, rich coffee than using a conventional drip coffeemaker.

Though it makes very good hot coffee, I especially like using it to cold-brew homemade iced coffee. Ever notice how when you try to make iced coffee at home by brewing some with a regular coffeepot and then sticking it in the fridge till it cools, it never tastes right? That's cause most good coffeeshops cold-brew their iced coffee, which results in a smoother flavor. When you cold-brew, you use time rather than heat to brew the coffee.

In case you've never cold-brewed coffee, here's how I do it: I take a grinder-ful of fresh-ground premium beans, toss them in the press's pitcher, fill it up the rest of the way with cool, filtered water, let it brew 12-15 hours at room temperature, then press the beans down, stick in the fridge for a while, and serve in a glass with some ice cubes. Delicious! Add sweetness and cream to taste. I'll save a fortune by brewing my own iced coffee from now on. (By the way, the directions for brewing hot coffee are the same, only you use hot water rather than cool, and the heat makes it brew in about 5 min rather than 12 hours.)

If you're a coffee nut like myself, whether you prefer it hot or cold (or either, depending on the weather), you owe it to yourself to try a French press, and this Bodum can't be beat for the money!

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Had this item about a month now (8-cup size). I use six level scoops for a full 'pot'of strong coffee. Makes about 3-4 "American cups" (8oz +). More than I can drink in a day, so I share with office-mates.

PROS:

1)Coffee tastes better from this than from my drip coffee maker, IMHO. This is of, course, the number one reason for getting any coffee maker -otherwise we'd all drink instant and save the trouble of brewing and cleanup. Reading some reviews here and foodie-type sites, the great taste is because the 'natural oils' from the beans are not filtered out by a paper filter. I don't notice 'oily' coffee or any other change in texture but I do notice the upgrade in taste and that earns four stars right there.

2)(YMMV on this)My office has a hot-water spigot at the water cooler so I get hot coffee slightly faster than the generic drip coffee maker where I have to wait until all dripping's done to get my one cup cleanly. If you don't have a ready source of hot-water, more time will be added waiting for water to heat up.

CONS:

1)You'll still get some 'silt' (micro grounds), even when you coarse grind your coffee. This is mostly due to my grinder, I guess, but a work-around is that I've started to use a small strainer as my scoop. Using this, most of the silt is discarded -but some still gets through.

2)Keep in mind that the round-ball press handle prevents the mesh part from reaching all the way to the bottom of the container. Because of this, if you put 4 or less scoops (i.e. making a only a cup or so), there's still some space leftover and you don't get that extra squeezing out of flavor from the grounds. Also, I think I got a little more 'silt' when trying to get the last drops out than I got from a full load. Perhaps a packed set of grounds traps more silt than a loosely packed mound.

3)Cleanup is pretty messy, and is my biggest CON for me. As AZshooter recommended, I also use a stream of water to get out the grounds. Works WAY better than trying to scrape them out dry into the trash bin. This, of course, requires a drain and water source. Also, a few grounds always get stuck in the metal frame that holds the mesh in place. I have to use a toothpick to get them out.

Lastly, be sure to drink all the coffee quickly OR separate it from the gounds by pouring the coffee into another container (e.g. thermos). The acidity of the coffee grounds begins to taint the flavor of the liquid above if you leave them together for an hour or longer. This and CON #2 should weigh into consideration as to which size French press to buy.

KitchenAid Pro Line Series Waffle Baker Review

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List Price: $249.99
Sale Price: $186.95
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

I take this unit on vacation with us I use it at home I take it to over nighters anywhere.

I see some reviews that say it has no temp adjustment well, it simply would be useless if it did.

Pour in the batter and set the timer for 3 min 45 seconds and two waffles are done to perfection each time and everytime. It has never failed after hundreds of waffles

I also see some noise about it being large and bulky well, if you want a heavy duty machine that will out last you, this is what you get. I have no trouble taking it everywhere.

The best unit ever!

PS: The very best waffle mix is the malted mix from Williams Sonoma wow! I am going to make some now . . .

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KitchenAid Pro Line Series Waffle Baker

I recommend the purchase of this waffle baker.

I purchased the baker from Amazon.com using bonus points on 12/18/10. S&H was included which is one of the reasons I like using Amazon. Plus, the price was right.

I received the unit via UPS in three days after ordering. Even though it was Christmas time, Amazon was just as fast as I usually find them. The packaging was excellent and the package was received unscathed.

Cons.

The unit is made in China. I find that a little disappointing as the stainless steel and workmanship is good, but not the same quality as products made in the USA.

There were a few small scratches on various places to the unit. But, not to the extent that it is worth returning for a different unit.

The waffle make unit does not sit level in the cradle and has to be adjusted to insure that it is level. When turning the unit it will go just a little beyond level.

Although most of the unit is metal there are still plastic components. The plastic around the hinges causes me some concern. I'll just hope for the best.

Pros.

The unit is larger than most waffle makers for home use but, it doesn't take up much room on the counter and looks good. It is the size unit that you'll find in most hotels/motels. Be aware that it is, also, heavier than most waffle bakers.

It took about three minutes to get hot from the time I plugged it in until ready to cook. After that, the unit was ready to cook within seconds of removing the waffles.

The ready light and thermometer work well and leave no doubt of the unit's ready status.

I find the alarms helpful in reminding me of the unit being ready to cook or the when waffles are finished.

It is easy to clean after use. Just a damp rag for washing and a drying rag is all that is needed.

If you read the instruction booklet and follow the instructions, the waffles turn out great with a couple of minor exceptions listed below.

The waffles are a good size. I doubt if you'll want more than one as the waffles are that big.

It is easy to use. Just set the timer and wait. The controls are clearly marked and easily operated.

I found when pouring the batter that it took only about ¾ cup to make a waffle and not the full cup recommended in the instruction booklet.

I also found that 4 minutes is a good time to cook the waffles to the doneness that my wife and I like.

I am looking forward to getting a lot of use out of the unit. If you're looking for a unit that makes really good Belgian waffles than this unit is a winner. I would get this unit again.

I gave it a four stars instead of five primarily due to having to insure the unit is sitting level in the cradle.

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We have a couple of other Kitchenaid products, so I knew this waffle baker would be built like a tank. The instructions were well written and pretty straightforward. It is simple to operate and the waffles I made this morning came out great. I used a basic waffle recipe (you can get mixes, but it only take a few minutes to make it from scratch). I started out with the timer (which is very simple to operate) set to 4 minutes; this was good but the waffles wanted to stick just a tiny bit, so I tried setting at 4.5 minutes, which was perfect.

The waffles were delicious, and HUGE. Yes, you can make a lot of waffles very quickly, but really, you only need to make a few of these waffles to feed a crowd. I made 5 waffles this morning for six people (four young kids, two adults), and had one whole waffle left over. The waffles separate into quarters very easily, and one quarter is definitely a good bit for one plate. If I could give it 6 stars, i would.

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Like others, I read and was blown away by the numerous highly rated reviews of this waffle maker. Our UNO had finally given up the ghost after many moons of Daddy breakfast waffles. We decided to take the plunge ($200 for a residential waffle maker is a plunge by our standards) and buy the Kitchenaid. From the opening of the box until the first set of waffles, we were VERY pleased. This machine is really well suited for mass waffleage! It is big and you need to consider that before purchasing. It is also heavy, so consider that as well. I liked the timer, build, two waffles at a time and theoretically, the auto shutoff. Herein lies the reason for three stars. We made our batch of waffles and left for the day. The waffle maker was turned off. No lights were on. When we returned, the house smelled odd and I realized the waffle machine was on and burning full power. Still, no lights on the machine. I heard a little hum, so I knew current was flowing. Of course, the machine was hotter than blazes which was a better indicator it was on after 12 hours of no one at home. I have since tried some experiments and essentially, the off button does not turn it off, nor does the auto shutoff circuit work. You must unplug our machine for it to turn off. Although this is how we usually work our waffle makers, we have never had one with an on-off button so I expect it to perform as stated in the manual. I have now seen other reviews with the same problem, so this is not isolated. Other than this, this machine works great. I will also point out the waffles are huge. Get ready to overfill yourself or split them with a neighbor! We did not buy another since it seemed that others were having the same problem. I bought the Calphalon and been really happy with it.

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OK, first of all, I have owned a much smaller Cuisenart Waffle Maker (Model WMR-C) for several years. Although it worked OK and made decent waffles, I always craved the big thick, crusty on the outside, fluffy on the inside waffles I would get in various restaurants. My older waffle maker would also stick a lot more (even with various non stick products used) and was also dificult to clean.

Anyway, I saw this waffle baker advertised on one of the "deal" websites I visit often. After researching it, and reading all the rave reviews, I was convinced and wanted to buy one. I shopped around and found the best price (with 5% off for joining their email list and free shipping) at ABT Electronics. Final price $142, which I think was a good deal and well worth it. I'm not sure if they're still running this deal.

Anyway, when you first start using this waffle baker, it does give off a strong chemical odor which they mention will happen and happens with most items like this at first. However, I just about wasted a full batch of waffles using this the first time because of the odor and an aftertaste even after throwing out the first 4 waffles (I was using both sides). So after using it the first time, I left it on and partially filled (carefully) both sides, one at a time with water and tried to "boil" out the smell and aftertaste effect. Then I thouroughly wiped it clean. The next time I used it, I didn't have that problem.

The waffles came out nice and golden brown. Slightly crusty on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This waffle baker (when using both sides) also does the job very quickly. I made about 7 huge waffles in about 10 minutes. It is also very non stick. I used no spray or anything. I just put the batter in, turned it over and did the other side. I gave each waffle about 3 minutes, and used a plasctic serving fork to pop the waffles out, with very little or no sticking.

After using it, I let it cool a little, and wiped it out easily with a damp paper towel.

Just a note: This waffle baker seems to be very well made and would even be good for professionals. Because of this, it is also pretty big and heavy. So keep that in mind, if space and weight are an issue for you. I have reserved a spot in my pantry closet for it, so I move it from my counter after using it, but I guess it would be fine to leave out, if you have the space.

Bottom line; if you would like professional, restaurant syle waffles, this waffle baker is for you. Of course, it has a hefty price, but for me it seems worth it. Especially if you shop around and get a deal. I think I shall probably have this one for the rest of my life, because it seems like it will hold up that long.

Bialetti Aeternum 2-Quart Covered Sauce Pan Reviews

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List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $29.76
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The Bialetti Aeternum series is amazing! The coating is ceramic, which is non-stick and rinses out perfectly clean. The pan is great for browning things; it also seems to distribute the heat evenly, resulting in perfectly cooked food every time. If only they made a 3-quart sauce pan!

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I have been searching for and researching ceramic cookware for months. I came across these and, even though there are vey few reviews, I decided to give them a try. I got the 2qt saucepan, the 10 1/4" frying pan and the 8" frying pan. So far they are all wonderful! The heat is very evenly distributed. I have used the saucepan to brown ground turkey & onions, for spaghetti sauce, heating up vegetables, and other things, and so far everything cleans up easily. I am very happy with the Bialetti Aeturnum pans! I just wish they had a few more sizes!

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When I first bought this in Oct 2011 I was so thrilled. The ceramic coating is way easy to clean. I love the red, which spices up my kitchen.

Unfortunately, the coating has started to chip badly around the top, and even on the bottom now I've discovered a chip within the past week.

I don't abuse my pans. I use nylon or wood cooking utensils. I wash by hand.

It's really too bad that it's started to chip like this. I was going to buy a cast iron pan (there are two brands here on Amazon) but was not pleased with the reviews. I use this pan almost every day for soup at lunchtime and veggies at dinner. It has to be sturdy but light enough for me to handle.

Well, the time limit has expired for return, so today I bought a nice stainless steel pan to replace this pan. Wish it could have lasted longer. :(

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I purchased a Bialetti Aeternum skillet and absolutely fell in love with it. So we purchased the 2 qt covered sauce pan and love it too.

Tonight whilst washing dishes (no dishwasher here except the 2-legged variety) we noticed that one of our Paula Deen skillets had teflon peeling off the bottom of it. I immediately threw in the garbage can without hesitation. I had 2 of the Paula Deen stockpots and finally returned them to the store.

Anyway here I am tonight ordering another Bialetti Aeternum skillet. Now we have 2 of the skillets and the 2 qt sauce pan.

What is even more wonderful is that they are red...............all our cookware and dishes are red!

Husband will be in trouble if he tries to ferret this Bialetti Aeternum cookware out of the house to the hunting camp!!!!

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It could actually be an elegant piece of engineering, but in person it looks like a pair of chinese-knockoff-$5-sunglasses.

Cons:

1. The finish does wear off on the inside, and chips on the edges.

2. It got slightly mishapen during shipping.

3. The metallic finish looks cheap. It is cheap, plastic coated metallic paint. It ruins what would basically be an elegant design. Really not classy, gross in fact. To be clear, I keep this hidden from view with guests around.

4. The handle is made of cheap bakelite plastic. If you heat it up, it will begin to smoke it will smell like, burnt plastic and death.

Pro

1. Stuff really does not stick to the sides. And I guess it is not toxic.

2. having a white backdrop to your cooking is interesting.

3. there are no Rivets connecting the handle to the inside of the cooking.

3. There are few other options on the market.

Bialetti, please put a bit more effort into using higher quality materials for the handle, edges and finishes.

Reviews of Cuisinox Elite 11 Quart Covered Stock Pot

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List Price: $229.99
Sale Price: $100.87
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I was looking for a heavy pot to cook my marinara sauce in one that wouldn't scorch so easily on the bottom. I make a huge pot of marinara sauce twice a month and I was tired of scorching the bottom and trying to salvage unburnt sauce into another pot, which really never works because the scorched taste is still there. Maybe I am not attentive enough, but this happens regularly with all my other pots, Calphalon, Cuisinart, Farberware, etc. I can't use my Lodge cast iron because it is not big enough for the amount of sauce I want to make. Since All-Clad is so expensive, I decided to try Cuisinox. OMG! I love it! It is heavy, heavy, heavy really substantial and my sauce doesn't burn. Mind you, you cannot walk away for 20 minutes while the sauce boils, but with a reasonable amount of attention, this pot gets the job done. I then purchased a Cuisinox Elite 7.8 Quart Covered Dutch Oven, and this weekend, I cooked beef burgundy in it to perfection! Cuisinox is a Canadian company and they explained that their Elite line is thick 3-ply stainless steel on the bottom AND the sides of each pot, whereas their Gourmet line is only 3-ply on the bottom. So, stick with the Elite line and you will a heavy stainless still pot that rivals any other top of the line cookware.

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Reviews of Demeyere Atlantis 8.9 Quart Casserole with Lid

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List Price: $370.00
Sale Price: $359.95
Today's Bonus: 3% Off

I like the uniformly heating base and relatively cool sides of this pot that maximizes energy efficiency. I considered the copper core All-Clad stockpot, but Demeyere custom configures their multi-layer configuration for each pot/pan configuration while All-Clad features the same core design on all their pots, compromising the performance of their saucepans and stock pots.

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Review of TeChef - Art Pan 11" Frying Pan, Coated 5 times with Teflon Select

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List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $36.99
Today's Bonus: 63% Off

I have tried many non stick frying pans and this is the best so far. I am happy with the quality of non stick finish and the inside does NOT have the handle screws which is a benefit because it makes clean up easy.

I love this pan and highly recommend it.

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We love the pan so much we are now in the process of replacing our other pans. It is a beautiful and solid addition to our kitchen.

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The no-stick qualities of this pan are very good. The pan heats very evenly on a gas range. Makes great omelettes.

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After realizing that PFOA was in my old skillets, it was time to upgrade to non-PFOA teflon skillets and after some quick researching on DuPont's website I was sent here to Amazon for TeChef. Upon reading other reviews and seeing these beautiful skillets I had to have one. The color is a deep gorgeous purple, the little oil measurement marks in the middle are an excellent touch, the handle is well built and the Teflon "Select" coating works wonderful. Everything slides off this skillet and the heat is well distributed for nice even cooking. I highly recommend this skillet and would definitely make the same purchase again. The price is right!

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Worst Induction pan I have EVER usedwould not give this to my worst enemy. This thing does not ever heat well enough to seriously consider. I am only getting low simmer on high! And I own the top-rated induction range! Also purchased here.

Discount Chicago Cutlery 1063947 Magnetic Knife Storage Strip

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List Price: $21.00
Sale Price: $10.57
Today's Bonus: 50% Off

Do not purchase a more expensive knife strip.......this one is a fantastic value. The only problem I have with this product, and I do wish I could give 1/2 stars, because I would give it 4.5 stars, is that there are no installation instructions included, but it is fairly simple to install: (it comes with 2 screws which act as tabs, and there are black platic slots on the back, which slide out. Simply mark where the screws will line up and screw them into place, take out one of the tabs, slide one side of the strip onto one of the screws, then slide the tab you took out back into the strip and over the screw "tab". Done.) Still, installation instructions should should have been included. This product holds a 8 inch chef's knife, a 6.5 inch santoku, 2 9 inch slicers, a 9.5 inch bread knife, and about 3 paring knives (about 2.5 inches each) and a serrated tomato slicer (about 4 inches or so). The magnet is very strong and effectively holds the knives in place. This is a much safer method for keeping knives (do NOT store knives in a drawer) and will help to keep them sharper longer. Plus, this is more sanitary than a knife block in my opinion.

So, don't spend more on another knife strip. Get this one, you will not regret it.

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Having started a real knife collection with Wusthof cutlery, I was told by one of my friends who's wife works at Williams-Sonoma that a magnet strip is one of the best way to store your knives. Plus it looks awesome when you use one and it's full of knives too.

Deciding to use my retailer of choice (Amazon), I did a search of Knife Strip on Amazon and got a list of several. Some reviews were good, some bad on each one. What concerned me is that I wanted one where the magnets were strong and the installation was simple, yet sturdy.

I finally decided to go with the Chicago Cutlery one because of several reasons. The first reason is because past reviews mention that the magnets were very strong strong (a plus, you don't want them falling randomly... could be a potential disaster). The second reason is the price... other magnet strips have prices from $21+ and I didn't want to spend that much.

Although there are no instructions with this thing, anyone who is savvy with hardware & home improvement can mount these with relative ease. These come with 2 philips screws with drywall anchors if you don't have any available studs in your walls. Luckily using my studfinder, the length of this strip matched the exact width of my wall studs. I ended up using my level, a pencil, and philips screwdriver and mounted this flush against my wall. The endcaps of this knife strip need to be removed and despite the other review of how they are flimsy and fall off easily, my endcaps were as tight as a prison cell.

After about 10 minutes of installation, I had a very strong magnetic knife strip that holds my knives very securely, is mounted very tight (no leeway or flimsiness), and now my wall looks awesome as if I'm some kind of blacksmith hanging his knife collection on the wall.

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I really like this product, however I don't use it for knives I use it in my sewing room to keep all my scissors at my finger tips! Great product for sewing as well as cooking! The magnetic strip is really strong. I would recommend this product.

Honest reviews on Chicago Cutlery 1063947 Magnetic Knife Storage Strip

Bought this item several months ago. Last month, I pulled a knife out, and one of the magnets followed, detaching itself from the holster. The problem with the product is that the magnet is glued into the plastic holster, which you then fasten to the wall. A large knife with a lot of surface area (like a meat cleaver) pulls the magnet quite forcefully. There needs to be more than just glue, and I'm gonna makeshift a solution into my model (screws or something else).

The good thing is that I called Chicago Cutlery and they replaced it free of charge. Didn't even need to mail the broken one back. I'm gonna figure out a way to fasten the magnet in there better, but I'll be careful in the meantime.

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Great product clever mounting system that allows full use of the entire strip length. We are very satisfied with this product and would recommend it to anyone looking for a secure, practical way to store their kitchen knives.

Reviews of Rogar Black Rectangular Pot Rack with Grid 30" x 15"

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List Price: $79.99
Sale Price: $69.75
Today's Bonus: 13% Off

I just had this pot rack installed and it looks great in my small kitchen. It's sturdy and functional. The finish is matte black with chrome grid, hooks and mounting hardware (all the hardware needed is included... even the ceiling hooks which are not included with some racks). The description here at amazon doesn't say how much weight it can hold. It's made by Rogar and you can get extra hooks at their website. For the price this one can't be beat... I even got it with free shipping from Target. I recommend it to anyone with limited cabinet space.

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This pot rack was a perfect fit for a rather small kitchen. It is solidly built at a fairly reasonable price, especially compared to other pot racks. The simplicity of design was just what I was looking for; not only are other potracks sometimes excessively decked out in wrought iron, copper, etc., but this seems to be one of the few rectangular pot racks out there (or that I could find). The chains may be a bit short for taller ceilings (brownstones, for instance). A trip to the hardware store could easily fix that, though. My ceilings are about 9 feet high, and I can comfortably maneuver pots on and off.

The only thing you have to be prepared for is the installation. The rack itself, not to mention the pots it will carry, is quite heavy, and as such must be anchored into wooden structural members in the ceiling. If you have a drop-ceiling, you can't just use heavy-duty wall anchors; the rack is likely to rip down your ceiling. If your ceiling is concrete, you may just have to substitute some of your own hardware to allow you to anchor hooks into the concrete. This would be adventurous, but not impossible. A drop-ceiling, however, is probably out of the question.

This is a nice addition to my apartment. I only hope future apartments I live in will have the right structure to put it up.

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Luckily for me, the previous owner of the house had a pot rack, so the hook was already in place for immediate placement of the rack to hang from the ceiling. Since I have a high kitchen ceiling, I got some additional chainlink so it would hang down low enough, and voila, it was up and holding 8 pans/pots. I only needed the 8 hooks that go along the perimeter, but they include some additional S-hooks which I haven't used. I have no complaints it does what it's supposed to do.

Honest reviews on Rogar Black Rectangular Pot Rack with Grid 30" x 15"

Its cheaper then a lot of hanging racks.

Its made in the USA.

Its of superb quality.

I am so glad I purchased this hanging rack. Installing it was a breeze and the look and feel to my kitchen now is very homely.

Word of advice, buy a good stud finder. I had the cheapest zircon model and was getting very frustrated. Your ceiling can be made of different materials then your walls. Plus, ceilings have a lot of wiring and insulation. The zircon was giving me false readings and was constantly becoming uncalibrated. I opted for the Stanley stud finder which was only a couple bucks more and made all the difference.

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Item arrived packaged well and all parts were accounted for. Installation was easy and it looks good in place. This isn't a high end piece but you do get what you paid for and it is a good product.

Le Creuset Silicone Round French Trivet, 8-Inch Reviews

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very cute kitchen decor, nice design, wide enough to accommodate large pots and fry pans without touching counter, feels substantial and of good quality, haven't retained any discoloration or burns from hot pots or pans

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Buy Lodge Logic Black Dutch Oven

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I received my eagerly-awaited Dutch oven a couple days ago and made some chili to try it out. It works great, with excellent heat retention... good for browning beef at higher temperatures, and bubbles merrily away even at low heat. Great for anything you want to simmer long and low for the best flavor.

An added bonus the lid from this Dutch oven also fits the Logic 10-1/4" skillet if required.

To clean, I fill it with hot water, boil a bit to lift the grease, then rinse with hot water and wipe with a paper towel, using a bit of nylon mesh from an onion bag for any stubborn bits, then dry and re-oil.

A couple notes:

If you receive a Logic Dutch oven and find a couple gobs of sticky, brown, almost rust-colored stuff on the handle flange, it is likely NOT rust. Because of the shape of this pot, the pre-seasoning process sometimes leaves a bit of extra, thickened oil in this location. If this is the case, it can be easily rubbed off with a fingertip, much like rubber cement.

The pre-seasoning is very effective, but the inside of the lid, well-designed to keep moisture inside the pot, is a vulnerable spot. Depending on what you cook, the inside of the lid will likely require additional seasoning; I only oiled the cooking surfaces and the first use (no tomato, but enough water to simmer the chili) removed much of the seasoning between the self-basting points. No rust, so it was a simple matter of wiping the inside surface of the lid with peanut oil and putting it in a 450 degree (F) oven a couple times. I'd suggest doing this to the lid before use, and any time the seasoning in this location appears to be thinning. I did not lower my rating for this, as its simply the nature of the beast, not a design or manufacturing flaw.

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There are so few "cons" to this pot, it's hard to write a review that doesn't sound sappy.

I have a full set of Ultrex, a snappy modern line sold by a company that makes pans for many big names found in department stores. 55 year warranty, they work fine... But they're non-stick and I've started to worry about that.

Not long ago, a study came out that suggested eating foods cooked in Teflon pans left molecules of something or other floating around in the person's blood for FOUR YEARS. I thought twice about this and decided it was time to look into other pans. It might turn out to be benign but what if it isn't?

I was addicted to good browning, was used to it from Cuisinart pans and Ultrex. I tried Calphalon hard-anodized aluminum. One burning incident and that pan was RUINED, totally ruined, nothing would clean it.

I've cooked in this Lodge Logic pre-seasoned for a dozen meals now, meat and fish, vegetables too. I've used all types of fats olive oil, butter, corn oil. Tonight it made a gravy to die for using heavy cream and mushrooms.

You do have to get used to its different heating cycle. It heats up slower than some other materials. It cools off slower too. But it is fuel efficient and you can do a lot of cooking on Low.

My #1 demand was that it brown meat well. It does that SPLENDIDLY. Really beautiful. Heat the pan for 5 minutes on near High. Throw in two tablespoons of olive oil, throw in stew meat and it will brown in four minutes, magazine picture perfect. Stir with a wooden spoon. Throw in vegetables once the meat's browned. A few cups of water, put the lid on, turn it down to Medium for 15 minutes, Low for another 15 minutes -it will look like a magazine cover stew. Browning a roast is even easier -and you can put it into the oven after browning.

If I had to complain of anything, it would be that cast iron is heavy. I'm not sure how much of a problem this will be. This is still a small enough pot to handle for most people. You can roast a whole chicken in it so if that's the quantity you cook, buy this right NOW, you can't go wrong.

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This was one of the first pieces of Lodge cast iron that I ordered. I had to admit that the price was the first thing that lured me in, but with that also came the questioning of quality. I was expecting a lightweight dutch oven, but being that I didn't have one, I figured I'd give it a try. The weight of the box it arrived in was the first clue to its quality. The entire piece has a nice weight to it, and the handle is sturdy and comfortable to the hand. I couldn't wait to break mine out of the box and make a pot of chili. The dutch oven browns beef beautifully, yet keeps it moist since it has an even heating surface. Once I added the other ingredients I was amazed at how nothing seemed to stick to the pot. Of course the chili was out of this world, but cleaning up was what I expected to be the payment for such good taste. I couldn't have been further from the truth as it was a breeze to clean up. I simply added hot water to the pot while it was still on the stove and let it simmer for a couple of of minutes. The water must be hot so that it does not crack the iron. Then I used a sponge to wipe out the remaining debris after emptying the water. The main thing to remember is that you should NEVER use soap on a preseasoned pan. I also spray the pieces with vegetable oil after using while they are still warm. An important part to pay special attention to is the inside of the lid. This has not been seasoned and with moisture can be prone to rust. A quick spray before cooking and after cleaning will keep this piece in great condition. I've made numerous pots of chili and beef stew, and the quality of the pan has had plenty of time to prove itself. Dish after dish Lodge has shown that they know how to produce quality cast iron.

Honest reviews on Lodge Logic Black Dutch Oven

Getting in the kitchen, and cooking is very popular these days. Especially with the advent of cable, and the plethora of channels showing cooking, and food travel (i.e. Food Network, Travel Channel, PBS, etc.,) people not only want to try cooking new things, but desire having the latest greatest cooking utensils. With that said, you can not possibly consider your kitchenware complete without at least a basic cast iron dutch oven, an iron skillet, and a cast iron fryer.

I don't care how much you paid for your caphalon, all-clad, anolon, or scan pan... NOTHING DUPLICATES CAST IRONS HEAT RETENTION AND DISPERSMENT QUALITIES! Some things like browning beef for chili, frying good old fashion chicken or catfish can be done with other cookware, but not even close to the same taste or appearance.

It use to be that cast iron was too much of a pain, due to the long tedious seasoning process. Logde Logic has not only done that for you, but whatever process they use, makes it work like nonstick, and cleans up with hot water and a nylon brush.

Cheap, Free shipping, and easily the best cookware you will buy, no matter what big names you have in the kitchen.

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If I were stranded on a desert island with only one cooking utensil allowed, it would be a very hard choice between my Wusthof chefs' knife and the Lodge Dutch oven. I cannot begin to describe the versatility of this pot without sounding like an ad. Suffice it to say that it never leaves my stove top, except when I put it in the oven. Browning, braising, stewing...whatever, this is my weapon of choice more often than not (and I have a decent selection of pots and pans). Add to that the fact that abusing it on campfires only makes it better and what is left to say? As far as I'm concerned, a cast iron Dutch oven is the most utterly useful kitchen pot ever devised, and my kids aren't getting mine until I'm totally non compos mentis.

Buy Bella Flame 12" Green Ceramic Coated Nonstick Fry Pan w/ Glass Lid

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List Price: $59.98
Sale Price: $32.95
Today's Bonus: 45% Off

I have discovered Ceramic coated fry pans and LOVE , Love < LOVE them.

So easy to use and no hard cleanup , just a quit wipe out and there you go!

I have several brands and this one is one of my Favorites..You cant go wrong with this Fry pan.

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If I could rate more than 5 stars on amazon, I would rate this Fry Pan 6 stars!!

This is one excellent fry pan, heats up quickly, cleans easy, looks delicate with all the etching inside and outside of the pan.

Not only do they look artistic, they also help disturbing heat evenly all over the pan.

I am so glad I bought this fry pan.

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This pan was falling apart within a couple of weeks. The green part of the handle fell off and a lot of pain chipped off on the back. It works well otherwise but I think it should have held up longer than a couple weeks.

Honest reviews on Bella Flame 12" Green Ceramic Coated Nonstick Fry Pan w/ Glass Lid

This pan is so much prettier in person. It has hearts on the bottom and a nice pattern on the nonstick coating. The best part is it's so easy to cook and clean with. Even scrambled eggs can rinse right off. I'd buy all my kitchenware by this company.

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We've used this pan for about a month and LOVE it so far. I was skeptical about its non-stick abilities before receiving it, but its non-stick abilities are far superior to a more expensive non-stick pan we purchased from Williams Sonoma.

I'll try posting an update in a few months for an update on how the non-stick has been holding up.

Review of Mauviel M'Heritage M250C 6501.21 3-1/2-Quart Saucepan with Lid

Customer Ratings:

COMPARISON BETWEEN FALK AND MAUVIEL:

Falk and Mauviel are the top two copper cookware competitors, and both manufacture 2.5mm thick copper cookware (but Mauviel does manufacture some lines of cookware with much less copper; see my notes below). Falk only sells directly to the public via their US distributor's website (you can search the web, and find their direct sales online at their website).

I purchased a 1.3qt Mauviel saucepan with lid and a Falk Sauciere 1.4qt with a lid. This was not a scientific test, nor was it a comparison of equals the sauciere is 7" (almost 7.5") in diameter, and the Mauviel saucepan is deeper and narrower, with a 5.5" diameter. I filled each with 3 cups of cold water, and timed their boil on low heat (warning high heat will discolor the copper!) on a large gas Jenn-Air cooktop (propane gas). With lids on (but checking frequently after the first 10 minutes), the Falk boiled at 14 minutes and the Mauviel at 14 minutes 30 seconds essentially a tie, since the Mauviel was deeper.

The Mauviel boiled more evenly throughout the pan, while the Falk boiled in only three spots. I did not wait for a roaring boil from either (I needed to boil the water to make iced tea, not just test the pots). I was impressed by the even heating of the Mauviel ... not just the bottom of the pot, but the sides of the pot were heating and producing bubbles evenly, as well. Very impressive, and shows the Mauviel experience in producing chef-level copper cookware.

EASE OF USE: Both items are HEAVY. You will build upper body strength just lifting these saucepans and I'm speaking of the smaller pots! If you have any physical limitations (e.g., slipped discs in your neck), then consider buying a lighter set of pans, such as the non-stick Calphalon. With these copperware makers, you're paying for the heft which will ensure even, constant distribution of heat. These pots are professional quality items.

COPPER FINISH: This Mauviel saucepan has a mirrored or brightly burnished copper finish, unlike Falk which has a brushed or matte finish. I GREATLY PREFER FALK'S MATTE OR BRUSHED COPPER FINISH EASY TO CLEAN, and NO FINGERPRINTS OR MARKS! Mauviel's bright finish, so subject to fingerprints and smudges although brand new it is a typical bright beautiful copper makes me wince to even look at, much less use. I gave the pot only four stars because the mirrored copper finish is so difficult to keep looking nice, unlike the Falk. Falk is a copperware you won't mind using on a daily basis.

EXPENSE: All copper cookware, if the copper is 2.5mm in depth which is what you should buy due to the greater conductivity is expensive. Falk is no different. My comparison shopping for Mauviel at Amazon showed similar prices, but look closely I'm sure it's intentional that the pan/pots offered by Mauviel and Falk are NOT the same size, varying by .1 to .3 quarts in most cases, to avoid direct price comparisons. Word of warning: If you find inexpensive "copper" pots, you can rest assured that the copper is applied in such a thin sheet over stainless steel that the copper is for aesthetic (looks!) reasons only, and will provide little or no conductivity improvement.

BIG PLUS FALK HAS ONLY ONE COPPER COOKWARE LINE, unlike Mauviel, which has started at least one (and maybe two) less expensive (which equals less copper) cookware lines. If you want Falk you have to buy from Falk directly, so you know you're getting the "real deal," not a knock-off AND not a less expensive line of copperware. If you buy Mauviel from Amazon, BEWARE and be careful to pick the correct pieces if you want the top of the line 2.5mm Cuprinox. I found many Amazon listings to be confusing as to Mauviel line/copper thickness.

Good luck and Happy Cooking! You won't go wrong either way, in all likelihood.

Update as of 6-23-09: The Mauviel pot tested in this review has developed serious water spots on its surface. The Falk still looks great even though we use it more often than the Mauviel. We only handwash our copperpots, we never use a dishwasher on them. The spots mostly disappear when the Mauviel pot is polished, but who wants to handwash AND constantly polish? I continue to prefer Falk for aesthetic and practical reasons.

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I have had several of the Mauviel pans for about 6 months and I am amazed at how nice they are to use. Even heat perfect every time. I was surprised at how easy they are to clean (hand wash obviously) I have no compulsion to shine my copper cookware but I understand the other reviewers preference. Dont mess about with cheap stuff if you like to cook go with the best.

Best Deals for Mauviel M'Heritage M250C 6501.21 3-1/2-Quart Saucepan with Lid

Solid, extremely well made, top of the line item. Can't be beat, but too pricey to have many of these around. Very heavy, so not suitable for someone with insufficient strength to hoist such a pan round the kitchen.

Honest reviews on Mauviel M'Heritage M250C 6501.21 3-1/2-Quart Saucepan with Lid

The first time you use this copper pan you'll see there is no comparison to any other one. [Okay, of course, there are copper pans lined with tin that I hear work better, but they are not offered by Amazon and, from what I read, they have to be tinned again.] Great tools don't make great chefs, but I find that this pot makes the job so much easier.

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Candies are a snap. General cooking made so much easier. A pot actually becomes beautiful.

Do I really need to produce 20 more words?