Discount Calphalon 1836836 Nonstick 4-Piece Pizza Pan Set, Mini

Customer Ratings:

My wife and I love making homemade pizza from scratch. We make the dough and the sauce from fresh ingredients. We normally use a large version of these pans that you can find just about everywhere but we always had several pieces leftover. I saw these pans in time for Valentines day and bought them to make a stay at home pizza date night for us. The pans are the perfect size for individual servings and are just enough to eat for us. The non stick coating on them is one of the best I have cooked on and the perforations cook the bottom evenly to make a light crispy crust. They cleaned up in a matter of minutes by hand and stack/store out of the way due to their size. The beautifully browned mini pizzas just slid off of them onto the plate. I cannot recommend this pizza pan set highly enough! One note: because of the wonderful non stick coating PLEASE wait till you get the pizzas on the plate to slice them. Make that coating last!

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We like to make personal pizzas with the kids and until now we've just cooked them on aluminum foil on a cookie sheet. That worked fine, but one day Amazon recommended these pans and I took a flyer on them. So glad I did. The difference in the crust is night and day. Now our pizzas come out with a perfect golden, crispy crust. We were all amazed at what we'd been missing.

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These pans are wonderful. I make pizzas in them and put them in the freezer and when I am ready to eat pizza I just take one out of the freezer and put it in my toaster oven. The directions that I received with the pans indicated that the pans shoud not be oiled but the first set that I made stuck to the pan so now I just spray the pans with Pam and the pizzas just roll right off when I am ready to eat them. I also use these in my Secura Halogen oven rather than using the toaster oven. This is a wonderful product and well worth the price.

Honest reviews on Calphalon 1836836 Nonstick 4-Piece Pizza Pan Set, Mini

So far these pans are great! Just the right size for everyone to make theirs just how they want. Pizza does not stick and crusts come out great! They wash up very nice as well.

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Bought two sets to make the family individual pizzas for Christmas Eve this year they came out perfect and everyone had a great time making them.

Paderno Premiere 8 Inch Non-stick Stainless Steel Skillet Reviews

Customer Ratings:

I buy a new one of these every four or five years. They hold up well and look really great hanging on our pot rack.

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We have the whole set of Paderno, received for our 25th Anniversary,my husband is the cook. This is a long lasting set, you will not have to replace in a year or so. Heavy duty, made in USA. You can not go wrong with a Paderno purchase.

Buy Anolon Ultra Clad Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $399.99
Sale Price: $338.41
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

These are made by Meyer Corp, who also makes Circulon, Faberware, KitchenAid, Silverstone and Bonjour products. All their brands are great. I you can get these pans for less than $300 than this is one of the best buys out there for Stainless steel cookware. Consumer reports rates this set very well. It retails for $399.99, which is much to high to pay, but amazon has them at a good $300. This set is tri-ply which means that it has 3 layers of metal. The center metal is aluminum which conducts heat better than other metals. They heat fast and uniformly, which makes it nice to cook anything on/in these. My set came with some minor cosmetic damage, whether due to shipping or manufacturing, but will not effect the performance of the cookware. These tend to be fingerprint magnets as well. Overall they are a great value for what you are getting. I would also recommend one good non-stick skillet for more delicate foods and when you don't want to cook with oils.

They clean up well and unlike the reviewer who said his stained easily they have not had any issues retaining color from anything cooked in them, or changing color. The handles are very sturdy and i can see these lasting a very long time under standard use. The handles are coated in s silicon rubber that stays cool/warm to the touch. They should be somewhat safer to use with utensils than their non-stick counterparts, but I've already put scratches in one of the sauce pans. On top of it all they are oven safe up to 400F in the oven and dishwasher safe as well. I will still clean mine by hand and use wooden or plastic utensils, just because I'm like that. The overall look is nice and they shine when clean and fingerprint free. I use mine on a gas range, but they say these work well on glass and induction based cooking tops as well. I really wanted to get an All-Clad set, but the price just ins;t justified for their product. This Anolon set has surpassed my expectations and I think that you'll enjoy cooking with it as much if not more than I do.

*I'll update my review with more as I continue to use this cookware.

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I ordered this set using my frequent flyer miles. It is the nicest cookware set I've ever owned! My previous sets were non-stick, so it did take a little getting used to cooking with stainless steel (hot pan, cold oil; food won't stick). I've only been using it for about a month but they seem very durable. They are also very stylish! I'm very satisfied with the purchase.

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I received this set yesterday, it's an excellent set of cookware. The pieces seem to be built in a very quality manner, and appear to be indestructible. I cooked a small meal, and can absolutely say that this set creates a very even distribution of heat and cooked everything very nicely.

The only issue is that this set can be bought much cheaper directly from the manufacturer.

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The cookware set was bought for use on an induction cooktop. It meets all expectations and cleans easily. I would like to be able to find other sized pieces to add to my set.

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Consumer Reports rated Anolon better than All Clad and I have been wanting All Clad forever! I was excited to receive it. I have used all of it but the 8 quart stock pot and have been pleased. The pans did show some discoloring but with a green scrubby pad, I was able to get it all off with a little elbow grease. The weight is nice and I like the comfort handles. I have not tried putting them in the oven yet but will.

Nordic Ware Toaster Oven 2-Piece Broiler Set Reviews

Customer Ratings:

It is very poorly made and the non-stick surface starts to flake off after the first washing, and by the 10th washing, it starts to rust.

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I purchased a couple of these and the paint on both the broiler pan and wire rack flakes off after about 5 uses. I, too had to throw it out. I am real disappointed!

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The rack doesn't fit into any type of a groove & when food sticks, which it does, the whole rack comes off. You are constantly having to hold the rack with a pot holder to flip or remove food. It began to chip & flake after a few months and we tossed it in the garbage. Not recommended.

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This thing is a sin. Admittedly, as the good reviews note, this is a non-stick Toaster Over Broiler Pan. As such, it does do what all the good reviews say it will. But of course it does, all non-stick toaster oven broiler pans will.

But that's not the point. The point is to review THIS pan, and as I noted above, this pan is a sin. It does all the good things the other reviews note, UNTIL about an hour after you receive it when the non-stick coating starts to flake off. Wash it, and it gets even worse. The point here is simple, as others noted, the non-stick coating won't even stick to the surface of the pan, and therefore it ain't non-stick for long.

I haven't found another effective solution for my toaster oven yet, but I can tell you that this certainly isn't one. In the words of the immortal Pet Shop Boys: It's a, it's a, it's a... It's A Sin.

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With all the news around about ingesting teflon and the hazzards of this cancerous material, this product should be taken off the market. The first time I washed this item, alot of the black coating came off. And that was withoiut scrubbing it. I can't believe the FDA hasn't pulled it off the store's shelves. Where are they when such a dangerous condition exists?

Reviews of Le Creuset 3-Ply Stainless-Steel 11-Inch Fry Pan

Customer Ratings:

This is a beautiful pan. I own and enjoy many pieces of the cast iron from Le Creuset. However, I prefer stainless steel. I was very happy when they came out with a stainless steel line by Le Creuset. This pan is a nice size for a family of four. I only gave it 4 stars because it would have been nice to have a lid. Otherwise it is a great pan.

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It is a nice size but besides not having a lid, it stained, cooked bacon and it stained, cooked chicken and it is worse. Unfortunately I also bought the set, and after just steaming green beans the pot and steamer are stained. Tried to clean them with scrubby sponge then brillo. Was told to try Bartenders buddy for stainless steel but I don't want chemicals in the pan. It may not effect cooking but for new expensive pans they look awful

Cheap Tramontina Prima Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Saute Pans

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $64.99
Sale Price: $45.99
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

This pan is an absolute steal (no pun intended). I have been cooking with all-clad for 8 years, and just picked up one of these, and I can not tell the difference from a performance standpoint. This thing heats up quickly and evenly, and does everything that I look for in a pan. Now the only remaining question is how it will hold up over time, but I am optimistic that I will support my five star rating 10 years from now.

If you are in the market for this type of pan, I would get one of these before they figure out that they could charge considerably more for this outstanding product.

Also, as another reviewer stated, this does review not apply to the other products made by this company. The tri-clad is well-made, substantial cookware, while the other Tramontina cookware seems to be quite lacking.

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I wanted to buy the whole set, but it was sold out so I settled for just the pan. I'm very happy with my purchase, it cooks everything perfect. The only issue I have is that it is smaller than I expected it to be. Just be aware if you purchase this pan you may be a bit disappointed cause it might be smaller than you want.

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NOTE: I am going to say some complimentary things about THIS pan. PLEASE, do not assume that the same holds true for every pan in this product line, because I can tell you that it does not. Some of their stainless uses the much less desirable "bottom plate" approach, and is not remotely comparable to a clad pan. Evaluate one pan at a time, and be wary of buying sets in order to get a "bargain". Some of the pans will likely be less desirable, and in any case, you will end up with stuff you will never use. That said, Cooks Illustrated did review the Tramontina 8 pc. set favorably in its price class. However, they also suggest you not buy sets, and they have a "build it yourself set" they recommend in order to cherry pick among manufacturers and get the best collection for the money. Look for the article "Essential Cookware" in their July, 2009 issue. It is also on their web site, but that requires membership, so try the library, or a friend who subscribes. The review of the Tramontina 8 pc. set can be found in the May 2009 issue of Cooks Illustrated.

Now for the review:

As I write this, the listing says that this product has not been released yet. But I picked one up a week ago for a little less than half a century at a local branch of the ubiquitous and obnoxious Arkansas based big box place.

I bought the pan with the purpose of giving it to my son, who is trying to ramp up his cooking game a bit. I wanted him to have a decent stainless pan, so he could learn about de-glazing, using fond, etc., and without having to fight uneven heating and all the problems attendant to inadequate cookware.

Having now spent an afternoon cooking with this pan, I have to say that it really isn't bad. It is an obvious knock off of the All Clad tri-ply, and they have done a presentable job, at least at first blush. While it is definitely not as good as my All Clad Copper Core, it is also only about 1/5th of the cost. If you're on a tight budget, and All Clad's prices, even for their less expensive lines, have you in cardiac arrest, this pan might not be a bad compromise. Having spent a little time with each, I would pick this pan over the same type of item in the "Emeril Lagasse Emerilware" line, which is (tragically) manufactured under the All Clad imprimatur, although not here in the regular All Clad plant.

Perhaps the looming arrival of mass market tri-ply provided the impetus for All Clad to develop the D5 line ? I won't be giving up my Copper Core All-Clad Copper Core 12-Inch Fry Pan for this stuff, but it is decent starter ware.

Bon Appétit !

Best Kitchenaid SSA Sausage Stuffer Kit Deals

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List Price: $12.99
Sale Price: $9.99
Today's Bonus: 23% Off

I started learning about sausage stuffing in order to make a good andouille for jambalaya, gumbo, etc. Most decent equipment out there will run anywhere from $-$ for a decent stuffer. Double that total and you can get a grinder as well. If you're going to make consistently large batches (25 lbs or more at a time) then you're probably going to want to invest in those.

However, if you're just learning and starting out and already have a KitchenAid and the associated grinder, then the stuffing attachment for less than $10 is a no-brainer. I've used it a couple of times now and I can say that it makes high-quality sausage without a problem.

I have noted a couple of negative reviews for this product. Not knowing the specifics of how those people used the product, I can note some things I learned on my own, and from a site. That is an excellent site about andouille and sausage stuffing in general (especially with a KitchenAid).

1. When grinding, make sure the blade is in. I forgot to do this on my first batch and it turned the meat into paste and was impossible to get the grinder to work properly (which is why they include it).

2. Make sure you keep the meat very cold. I haven't had to cool the attachments, although that might help, especially when the meat isn't the coldest.

3. Use the coarse grind plate for sausage. You can the fine grind plate (for hot dogs for example), but I would recommend just using the coarse plate and running the meat through multiple times for a finer grind on your sausage. The grinder can get some tissue wrapped around the feeder and it could require some disassembly and cleaning (might take 3-5 minutes), especially with the fine grind plate. After the first grind, the mixture moves through the grinder pretty quickly anyway.

4. Make sure the screw cap is tight. Meat can escape through the cap if you're not careful. It shouldn't in most cases though. If it is, this is a sign something else is probably wrong.

5. I bought the KitchenAid FT Food Tray Attachment for Stand Mixers as well. It's fairly handy for larger batches and I recommend it, but it's not necessary. I ground 15 lbs the other night and it was helpful in holding the larger amounts.

6. You'll see this other places, but I'll reiterate that natural casings are worth the extra (minimal) effort. There's not much to it once you've used them. Collagen is ok and are less likely to break, but natural aren't as fragile as you might think and they look and taste way better. I was a little leery of natural and bought collagen initially, but haven't used them since my first batch. I don't think I'll go back if I don't have to.

I've stuffed andouille and Italian sausage both with the larger of the two stuffer attachments. If I make some breakfast sausage, I imagine the smaller one will come in handy. If you're like me and you've gotten to this point, next on your list will probably be a smoker. I haven't taken that plunge yet, but it's coming soon.

Good luck and happy stuffing!

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Once you realize how it properly is assembled for stuffing, you realize how great a product it is. TAKE OUT THE BLADE AND GRINDING PLATE. If you don't remove these, it will seem impossible to stuff a full length casing. It took me an hour doing this. I dissembled, and removed the blade and plate, replacing it with the plastic spinner in the box, and once I did that, the auger did its job and started pulling the meat through, instead of the vicious plunger stuffing that was needed before.

Once this was done, I stuffed 10lbs in about 30 minutes (50 links). My recipe:

10 lbs pork shoulder

2 lbs bacon (unsliced)

2 lbs ultra-sharp cheddar (shredded)

2 tbs ground fennel

2 tbs ground corriander

2 tbs ginger

1 tbs ground mustard

1 tbs chili powder

2 tbs red flake pepper

1/4 cup water

sprinkling of salt

Use natural hog casings and your all set.

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Sausage making is an artform. It can be difficult to get the hang of, but with the right info you can make wonderful, fresh sausage and feel good about the ingredients inside. This sausage attachment works pretty well. The hopper is a little small, but unless you are making a ton at a time, it's not a deal breaker. It's important to keep the meat really cold throughout the process though or the fat will melt and could hurt your mixer engine. I picked up The Mixer Bible which has about 35 sausage recipes along with 300 other recipes for the mixer and it's other attachments. I really like the book and it walks you through the ins and outs of working with all the attachments.

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I purchased this kit along with the food grinder attachment so that I could make sausage without spending a ton on a separate stuffer. I'm now going to buy a separate stuffer. The kit worked, after a fashion, however...

Being a conversion kit to the grinder, it naturally is elevated about a foot or so above the counter. The means that you cannot allow the stuffed casings rest on the counter as you stuff. The weight pulls the casing off the horn.

Also, trying to feed the ground meat through the machine was messy and difficult. You had to feed meat in, add more meat periodically, control the feeding of the casing, hold the sausage as it filled and, since you're doing all this stuff at once, start and stop the machine periodically. It's nearing impossible and very frustrating for one person to do alone.

Also, depending on the consistency, much of the meat came back up the feeder neck as I pulled the plastic plunger out. This means re-feeding the meat 3 or 4 times before it actually gets through the machine. A /very/ slow process.

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If you have a Kitchenaid mixer with the food grinder attachment, this sausage maker attachment is a neccesity! It is very easy to attach to the grinder. Get some casings from your supermarket butcher department, slip them onto the sausage tube, put the meat mixture in the grinder and turn it on. Sausage comes out of the tube with ease. It never sticks. Just slide the casings off as the meat extrudes. Twist the casing to size the sausages. There is nothing easier. Beats a hand grinder sausage extruder. Get this!

Paula Deen Cookware Sets Review

Customer Ratings:

I bought a 13 piece set in charcoal at Sam's club back in January of 2009 for $75 (last one left so it was discounted) can't go wrong with that. So far the set has held up nicely even after going through the dishwasher a few times through no fault of my own. I read that some people put their RED pots through the dishwasher and that they lost their shine. That did not not occurred with my set at all! The instructions say to hand cleaned only which is what you should do to all non-stick pots and pans. Putting non-stick pots and pans in the dishwasher will cause the teflon to break down over time. Here is a list of some other pots/pans that are NOT for the dishwasher because it will cause discoloraton: Hard-Anodized Aluminum, Porcelain Enamel-exterior, Copper bottom, Plain Aluminum.

These pots are suitable for solid plate, glass/ceramic, radiant ring, halogen and gas stoves. The thing I did learn was not to put a hot pan/pot on a cold glass burner. I have been doing it for years and I never had a problem but after reading that they can become fused to the burner I will stop doing that. The non-stick surface they use in these pots/pans is called Polytetrafluoroethylene which is another fancy name for "teflon". My only concern is that they say on their instructions that decorative pan bottoms may not conduct heat evenly on glass/ceramic stovetop's. I find this strange since the bottoms are decorative and they indicated that they can be used on Ceramic stoves.

I just want to let everyone know I have tested out the pots/pans for quite a few months now. They heat evenly and fast with NO warping, clean up is a breeze and handles stay cool to touch. I absolutely love these pots/pans and they seem to be holding up nicely so far. I know these pots/pans are not very heavy but it makes handling them easier. I have owned heavier pots/pans and when filled with food it was like lifting weights. Not good for people with arthritis in their hands. The only negative I see is that they need to offer more of these pieces individually without having to buy a whole set.

Let me just add after everything I read about these pots/pans it seems to me that people are having the most problems with the red set. It seems that the finish will crack, lose its shine, and the color will run if you accidently put them in the dishwasher. That did not occur with my charcoal set at all. So be careful as to which set color you order.

UPDATE: 12/19/10 I still have the set and in January it will be 2 years. The set has held up and still looks almost new. No peeling, cracking or discoloration. I use it almost every day unless I don't feel like cooking. So for the price I paid I did get my money's worth.

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I bought this set to replace our 13 year old set and have no issues with them so far. Maybe it was my old set but water seems to boil alot quicker with these which is always a help. The main feature that drew us to this set is rubber handles. Alot of the newer stuff has metal handles or mostly metal with a little rubber. We wanted something that we do not need to use a pot holder to move the pots without burning ourselves.

Be sure to read the care instructions; can't not be placed in dishwasher, do not use cooking spray, do not use metal utensils etc...) Not an issue for us but some may be put off by this.

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I bought the set about four months ago and after infrequent use on two of the saucepans, maybe once or twice a week, the red rubber coating started to bubble up and flake off, like old paint. I usually handwash, but now the handles have spots where you can see the black plastic underneath. Th pans are still usuable, but looks terrible and that is the reason I bought the cookware, because I loved the way it looked. Calling the Customer Relations number for the supposed lifetime warranty service only gets you to a recording with an address to ship the cookware back for their INSPECTION. If they deem you did nothing wrong, they may send you a replacement. The postage for the pans would be about half of what it would cost to buy a new ones. But, I don't plan on buying any more Paula Deen products.

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I like Paula Deen, but I haven't been overly excited about these chefs coming out with their own cookware. My husband, however, cannot stand Paula. So when he saw I had bought her pans it was inevitable I got some snickers and snide remarks.

I was surprised when he came back a week later and said he LOVES the pans. They are heavy, but not too heavy, but most importantly they cook very evenly. He also likes how the pans edges curves out a bit; and quite frankly they're very pretty. Red isn't really a color either of us are overly fond of, but these pans look so sharp hanging from our pot/pan rack.

I did not take away any stars for it not being dishwasher safe. Being that it is nonstick I expected that it would not be dishwasher safe. Good product for a reasonable price.

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I received these pots and pans for Christmas from my dad and they're nice, but I was also expecting them to be a little bit heavier. The pros are, well, they're obviously very pretty, they do heat up quickly and seem to cook evenly and they're a pretty good deal for the money. I think I'm a little disappointed because I was expecting them to be heavy heavy. Or at least the bottom part to be studier than they are. I'd give three and a half stars, but frankly I can't give four. I also don't put mine in the dishwasher because I don't want the paint to chip off or get spotty.

Overall, it's a great group of pans for someone in need of an upgrade from a starter kit and for the price (I think they were about 100 bucks at Wal-Mart) they're pretty reasonable.

Discount Cuisinart 726-38H Chef's Classic Stainless 14-Inch Stir-Fry Pan

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List Price: $100.00
Sale Price: $27.65
Today's Bonus: 72% Off

I have been looking for a stainless wok for sometime. I did not want a non stick finish as when heated too hot they produce fumes that can be toxic to pet birds.

I purchased this Cusinart Stainless 14 inch stir fry. It is a great pan. It is good looking, large so you can cook a lot of food in it. It is extremely easy to clean. It comes with a nice glass lid. It is also light weight. I own the set of Cuisnart Stainless Cookware that I bought last year on Amazon. I am very happy with the set. This wok pan is an excellent value, you simply will not find a good quality wok at this price. Buy It!!

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I am aware that there is another review saying the same thing has happened,dated 2009. We bought this pan and really love it, and use it nearly daily for soups and curries, etc. We've had it for some months and have used it with the lid on, quite often. The other day, we had a chana masala dish simmering (medium-low) with the lid on, and the whole lid shattered. It sounded like a shotgun going off, or like a small transformer blowing. There was no glass in the food in fact, it may be a corning-type glass designed to take heat and to break with rounded edges, like windshields.

I have contacted Cuisinart and was told that we would have to pay shipping and handling. I find this outrageous and unnacceptable, and am pursuing the issue further.

What I want to hear is that Cuisinart is aware of the situation and concerned about possible user endangerment. Perhaps this is a rare event; perhaps the fact that there's no vent led to this situation. Maybe there's a flaw in the glass. Whatever the reason, it's been reported twice on Amazon, so leads me to believe that not only could it happen to others, it probably has done so. I do not know whether the previous reviewer told the company, but I would hate to think that two years (at least) have passed with no change to the design of this pot, if Cuisinart did know of the problem.

Cuisinart customer service was prompt and polite, so I have no complaints about that.

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I had shopped around on the internet for a wok like this and this was the best price by far with free shipping too. The quality of this wok is great and we love cooking with it. The see thru lid makes it great to see your food while it is cooking, my old one didn't have that. Would highly recommend this product.

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well! I am chinese and we uses wok everyday. I gotta say this is a really GREAT wok with its price. Light, heat up fast and super easy to clean.

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Truly disappointing. This wok is out of control. Uneven heating, quick cooling, quick burning, food would stick. For authentic Chinese cooking, it simply can't take the heat. I followed the instruction, heating the wok on medium high on my gas range. It's a guarantee the wok will slow your cooking down to the speed of a crawling freeway. Are you ready to sacrfice your taste buds from enjoying the crisp, fresh stir fry and exchange it to the soggy ones?

Desparately, I cranked up the heat to Chinese spec., it would cause a dark, brunt ring above the oil. It's getting darker everyday. The wok does not retain heat. As soon as the vegetable stir fry hit the surface, the heat is gone. It actually takes longer for me to cook a meal now. Yes, this wok "sticks" like crazy.

I am unsure anyone want to baby sit the wok everyday scrubbing the burnt mark with one's busy schedule. I'm using my old iron wok, not bad at all compare to this one. If you are serious about authentic Chinese/Asian cooking, avoid this wok, invest in something better.

Cheap Progressive International Microwavable Fish & Veggie Steamer

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List Price: $15.99
Sale Price: $11.19
Today's Bonus: 30% Off

First I tried Salmon and asparagus and it came out nasty and dried out. But that is because I followed the directions. You almost have to experiment with lower power setting on your microwave. That's when this product proves it's greatness. The second time I tried Talapia at 4 and 1/2 minutes on power level 4. The steam cooks it fast, so you can now use this thing at the normal microwave temperature. Once you experiment and get the time and temp right, this thing can be great. The talipia came out moist and tasty, due to seasoning it.

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I used to steam vegetables in a steamer pan on the stove until I burned it dry too many times. When I tried this steamer, I had to get used to how little cooking time each item required. Once I adjusted to that, I started enjoying the best tasting steamed vegetables I've ever eaten! I have tried potatoes, asparagus, brocholi, peas and the small gourmet carrots. All turned out terrific. You just have to be sure to have 2 tablespoons of water in the bottom reservoir and don't cook it too long!

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This steamer has become one of the most-used gadgets in my kitchen. While I have not tried anything too fancy, I use it almost on a daily basis. While packing lunches in the morning for the DD and DH, I fill this baby up with broccoli, carrots, squash, etc and place a couple of tablespoons of water in the bottom. After microwaving on high for 2 minutes, I let it sit and continue to steam a 2-5 more minutes. Voila! The result: A quick and easy addition to a healthy lunch with minimal effort. I give it five stars for making eating good so EASY!

Honest reviews on Progressive International Microwavable Fish & Veggie Steamer

This thing is WONDERFUL for cooking vegetables which is all I've ever used it for.

Original directions --> rubbery and very unappetizing veggies

My directions:

Add a splash of water to the bottom compartment (you can measure out a tablespoon or two if you really want)

Put the vegetables that you wish to cook in the tray with the holes, season with whatever you care for

Cover the veggies and set the microwave for 4-5 minutes on regular power

Stick around while the veggies cook, once you SMELL whatever you're cooking turn off the microwave

Leave the veggies covered for another 2-3 minutes so that they can finish cooking

Ready to serve!

Taste:it has produced some of the best tasting vegetables I've had since I've started college and my housemates and guests are all impressed by the flavor that is left by this form of cooking.

Durability: I've seen no warping of the plastic though there has been staining from certain seasonings and vegetables like yams (1 month of use)

Health: the whole reason I decided to buy a microwave vegetable steamer was because, using my UC online resources, I found that this method of cooking veggies leaves the highest number of nutrients to be consumed. This is because it take less time than traditional steaming and all steaming methods are better than boiling of any sort. So for those of you that don't trust cooking with a microwave since you've heard that it destroys all of the nutrients in the food many tests have proven this to be a modern day wives tale.

Fish? Since I've never used it to cook fish or anything else I cannot comment on that aspect of the product though other people have stated that it works well for that too.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Progressive International Microwavable Fish & Veggie Steamer

I try to do things with as little effort as possible, so I got tired of cleaning small food particles from the folding, metal steamers that are made for use in a pan on the stove top. I steam small frozen vegetables (corn, peas, carrot cubes, etc.) quite often. I started looking for a way to steam frozen vegetables with easier clean-up, and came to believe that the available microwave steamers would be a better way to go. (I have found that microwave steaming also leads to better flavors than stove-top steaming.)

Recently I bought both the Nordic Ware microwave steamer (Nordic Ware Microwave Vegetable and Seafood Steamer 11 Inch by 8.6 Inch) and the Progressive International microwave steamer (Progressive International Microwavable Fish & Veggie Steamer). I've used the Progressive steamer maybe 5 times, and I've been quite happy with it: it is easy to steam small vegetables and clean-up is easy. It could be a little sturdier, but it is OK. Tonight, I used the Nordic Ware steamer for the first time, and I found steaming small vegetables to be more difficult, primarily because there is no lip around the edges of the steaming tray, which allows small vegetables to easily spill off of the tray. They spill off of the tray as I'm loading it with vegetables, and spill-off of the tray as I'm transferring the vegetables from the tray to a serving dish. Clean-up is still pretty easy, though not quite as easy as with the Progressive steamer.

The base of the Nordic Ware steamer seems a little sturdier than that of the Progressive Steamer, but the Nordic Ware's lid is somewhat flimsy. I suspect that the Progressive steamer will last longer than the Nordic Ware steamer. (I hand wash my vegetable steamers; both steamers may be OK for use in the top rack of a dishwasher.)

For steaming large vegetables and/or fish, which I don't do, the Nordic Ware steamer might be better because steam might circulate better around the edges of the tray when a bunch of the holes are covered, although I have little certainty about this.

Cheap KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Design Series Stand Mixer KSM155GB

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $459.99
Sale Price: $399.99
Today's Bonus: 13% Off

I've been using this mixer for over one year now and have no complaints. I bake part time and use it almost every single day. Clean up is simple, the glass bowl is gorgeous. I like being able to see if any ingredients are not incorporated. I like to leave it on my counter for my guests to admire, its almost like a decoration. Everyone says how pretty it is.

Definitely worth the price.

UPDATE 1/13/2012: The original silver paddle attachment has tarnished after a short time even though I hand washed it. I found this paddle on Amazon and it is far superior to the one Kitchen Aid provides. It scrapes the bowl so there is no more sticking a spatula in the mix while the mixer is on! It was so amazing, i ordered a second paddle. Best part, you can throw them in the dishwasher. As for the metal paddle from Kitchen Aid...I threw it away without regret!

Mixer still runs perfectly. I've probably used it no less than 300 times in the last two years.

Beater blade:

New Metro Design Beater Blade for 5-Quart KitchenAid Tilt-Head Mixers, white grey blades

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I won't lie, this thing makes me smile when I walk into the kitchen. I bought the metal-bowl version (KSM150) to make cookies after my hand mixer started to smoke during a particularly intense doughing session. I've used it primarily for that and pizza crusts. Things that can be mixed with a handheld whisk, I opt for that instead.

Do you need a stand mixer? No, probably not, but it sure takes the grunt work out of stirring and kneading. It also mixes more consistently than I could by hand and classes up the counter.

If you're set on a stand mixer, should you buy this one? Maybe. It's not designed for huge amounts of heavy dough or constant use. It's built well, but it's not an industrial machine. It audibly strains with a double helping of cookie dough (around 25 oz of flour) and kneading wet, thick pizza dough. With that sort of load, there's no speed difference between setting 6 and 10, though of course you'd never knead that fast anyway.

KitchenAid has some mixers that are ostensibly a bit stronger. They're all lift-style: instead of tilting the head back, the head sits higher and you raise and lower the bowl. I prefer the tilt-head style. The paddles never get out of the way with the bowl-lift, getting the bowl to lock in place is a jerky movement, and it takes up a lot of vertical counter space. What you do get for the extra cost of the Pro series is a better dough hook, a metal gearbox, more power, and a slightly larger bowl. Even these higher-power mixers will fall short of alternatives from Bosch and Electrolux for serious breadmaking, however.

If you go the other direction with the cheaper Classic Plus, you lose 1/2 QT of bowl capacity, a handle on the bowl, the splash guard, and color choices besides white. Otherwise, it's functionally identical to this model and about the same power. This mixer also came with a recipe book in addition to the splash guard. I haven't used either. The guard is a fiddly thing, you spill less just tilting the mixer up and dumping your ingredients in. I do think the extra 1/2 quart and the handle are worth something though (especially for double recipes) and could justify opting for the Artisan.

This particular model has a glass bowl relative to the more popular metal style. The glass is a lot heavier and less durable, but it does have measuring units and a pouring spout. The translucency solves a problem that really isn't a problem. Likewise, for measuring, I have my metal bowl on top of a kitchen scale because doughs turn out more consistent if I go by ounces instead of volume. Different recipes may benefit more.

There's a lot of talk about Hobart units. Prior to about 1985, these mixers were made by Hobart, a supplier of industrial kitchen equipment. Later models are made by Whirlpool. There's some debate whether the new models are as good as the old ones, particularly in regard to the gearbox. My take is that if you can find an old Hobart (e.g., K4SS, K5-A, K5SS with a metal 'Hobart' placard) and it runs well, it's likely to keep running well no matter what you throw at it. But it won't be as clean and may not fit certain new bowls, paddles, or attachments.

New or old, these KitchenAid mixers are dead-simple to repair. The motor brushes are replaceable without dismantling the unit ($10 or so and hidden beneath the black circular covers), the speed governor is mechanically adjustable, and the gearbox is straightforward and easily accessible. This means that they're intriguing on the used market. People receive them as gifts and put them in the local classifieds with minimal use or minor flaws you can fix. Typical transaction prices are $125-$175, and I've seen this mixer as low as $75. For new units, Kohls has them on sale quite often.

Here's the full list of KA mixers:

K45SS Classic

* Tilt-head, 250W, 4.5QT metal

KSM75 Classic Plus

* Tilt-head, 275W, 4.5QT metal

KSM95 Ultra Power

* Tilt-head, 300W, 4.5QT metal

KSM100 Ultra Power Plus

* Tilt-head, 300W, 4.5QT metal handle, pouring shield

KSM150 Artistan

* Tilt-head, 325W, 5QT metal handle, pouring shield

KSM152 Artisan Custom Metallic

* Tilt-head, 325W, 5QT glass handle, pouring shield

KSM155 Artisan Premium Metallic

* Tilt-head, 325W, 5QT glass handle, pouring shield

KSM160PS Ultra Power

* Tilt-head, 325W, 5QT glass handle, 3QT metal, pouring shield

KSM160APS Architect

* Tilt-head, 325W, 5QT metal handle, 3QT metal, pouring shield

KSM500 Pro 500

* Bowl-lift, 325W, 5QT metal handle, pouring shield, metal gears, soft-start/auto shutoff

RKG25H0X Heavy Duty

* Bowl-lift, 450W, 5QT metal handle, pouring shield, spiral hook, metal gears, soft-start/auto shutoff

KV25G0X Pro 5

* Bowl-life, 450W, 5QT metal handle, pouring shield, spiral hook, metal gears, soft-start/auto shutoff

KP26M1X Pro 600

* Bowl-lift, 575W, 6QT metal handle, pouring shield, spiral hook, metal gears, soft-start/auto shutoff

KSM7586P Pro Line

* Bowl-lift, 1.3HP, 7QT metal handle, pouring shield, spiral hook, metal gears, soft-start/auto-shutoff

If you'd rather have a more powerful bowl lift mixer, KitchenAid's refurbished store often has the Heavy Duty Series for as little as $175 (if you Google a coupon code). It's a doppelganger for the Pro 5 and includes the superior spiral dough hook. Whatever you buy, try to have it on (even with an empty bowl) for a few minutes at least once a week or two. The oil-leak problem occurs when the oil breaks down from disuse. If the mixer runs with any frequency, you'll never encounter it.

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I bought this product as an upgrade to my KSM150. I know it's not technically an upgrade, as the motor, size, and function are identical, however, it sure feels like it. The glass bowl, paired with the deep blue and high gloss shine, makes it look more like art than an appliance. It was delivered about 36 hours ago, and I am looking for more ways to use it in my daily cooking. I love the marked measurements on the glass bowl (which is thick, sturdy, and not quite as heavy as Pyrex which is bonus). It seems to run quieter and mix more thoroughly than my old mixer (which was bought in 2007). I should mention my old mixer was just fine, ran great, and I never had one problem with it. I don't have any reason to believe this mixer will not last my holiday baking and general use. I did not need it, however, I had to have it, and now I regret waiting the few weeks I researched and waited to order. I checked all the brands out, as I feel this will be my last stand mixer purchase for quite a while, and even though there are a ton of options out there, some offering more options for less money, I have had great success with Kitchen Aid small appliances, and did not want to give up the option of a funky color to save a few bucks, or spend the same with for a design I don't personally like. Though I originally planned to upgrade to the 6qt lift style, I am glad I looked around and found this because I am absolutely in LOVE.

Honest reviews on KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Design Series Stand Mixer KSM155GB

This is my first Kitchen Aid mixer of my own, and how beautiful!

For one, the candy apple looks lovely on my counter top. The nice glossy coating gives a nice shine to it.

I have been using Kitchen Aid mixers my whole life as my mother has always had one, and I have to say that this design is quite elegant. The new attachments are very light weight and the big glass bowl is a fun aspect. It does add a little something to be able to watch the contents mix from the outside.

A wonderful addition to my kitchen!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Design Series Stand Mixer KSM155GB

If you need all metal gears get this:

KitchenAid KP26M1PSL Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer, Silver

All I wanted was a kitchenaid like my mothers. One that is still alive after 20+ years.

I was given this one. Excited as I went off to the races mixing and beating and cooking.

And then it started in the first 6 months. The locking didnt lock well, the gears began to grind, and the top began popping up and down. Further research showed me that these new artisans are NOT the same and have PLASTIC gears that wear down and begin having issues. Mine is only getting worse with time.

I'm so dissapointed overall, especially considering these come with dough hooks AND I always followed manufacturer recommendations of use.

So if you want to spend a hefty amount for something that will begin it's downward spiral in a year, get this. My advice? Spend the money the first time and go for the pro series with bowl lifts rated at 450watts or higher, supposedly these are ALL METAL gear construction. A must have for kneading bread or fast mixing.

Discount Weber 6483 Original Burger Press

Customer Ratings:

The burger press shapes perfect burgers. It is not absolutely necessary but nice to have. Complements our other Weber accessories.

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Do not waste your money on this. No matter what I do it sticks and will not come out. Back to doing it the old way. Put down some wax paper on the bottom add the meat and another layer of wax paper. Push down or use a rolling pin to flatten to desired width then use a large empty veggie can to cut out the patties.

Best Deals for Weber 6483 Original Burger Press

This product is well made but poorly designed. It only took a couple of burger presses to realize that the meat sticks to the top of the press and you have to scrape it out. We ended up putting a piece of wax paper in the top before pressing and then just returning it to the drawer where it has not been used since.

Not recommended. Either do it the old fashioned way or get one that has a plunger to push the burger out after pressing.

Honest reviews on Weber 6483 Original Burger Press

Not an absolute item to have, but it sure makes a nice round burger. The two sided choice for 1/4 or 1/2 lb. burgers is a nice innovation. You can make close to 1/3 lb. burgers on the 1/2 lb. side to. I have had no sticking problems with this item, gently pry on one side and patty drops right out. Also, the lid dimples the burger, so you get a nice flat burger thats not all puffed up in the middle once cooked. Press cleans up easy in warm soapy water. For those that complained of burger falling apart, try rolling meat into a tight ball then place on press. A little olive oil brushed on burger or grill will help eliminate tearing or crumbling of patty

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I just cut a piece of waxed paper for top and bottom, then dropped the ball of burger onto the base and pressed them down until I had all 5 quarter-pound burgers on the plate. The dimple is perfect and the burgers don't shrink up much when grilled. Washes up in a jiffy. Kinda pricey for just 2 pieces of plastic.

Buy Vollrath 3155 16-Gauge Stainless Steel Centurion French Omelet Pan

Customer Ratings:

I am a retired resturant owner and chef. I purchased some of the first centurion that came on the market and am still useing it at my home. I do about 80% of the cooking and still use my centurion almost daily. None better. Glad to see that you sell it.

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