Review of Rachael Ray Porcelain II Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set

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List Price: $268.00
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I had a previous set of Rachael Ray cookware, and by month three the inside of the pans were flaking, so I disposed of them. Not a satisfied customer, at all. Let's see how this cookware fares in three months.

This set of cookware on first inspection is quite attractive. The set arrived very well packaged, the lids well protected, the pots and pans encased in sturdy, heavy cardboard. All cookware and lids are encased in plastic. I washed each piece in soapy water as instructed before use. The set includes 1-qt covered saucepan, 2-qt covered saucepan, 6-qt covered stockpot, 3-qt covered saute pan, 8-1/2" skillet, and a 10" skillet. All come with tempered glass lids. Two-tone gradient porcelain enamel exteriors in orange. Not my favorite color, but I was surprised how attractive this set is. The interiors are non-stick. Upon reading the helpful hints, the use of non-stick cooking sprays is discouraged. The sprays leave a build up that will impair the non-stick properties. The cookware set is oven safe to 350F.

The 3 qt. covered sauté pan is going to be my favorite pan. It is large enough to sauté any type of meat, and/or vegetables. I can make sauces and, the best part is to sauté onions and peppers. The 1qt saucepan is not something I will use often. The rest of the cookware are all of sufficient sizes that will be very useful. I used the 10"skillet to fry bacon for BLT's for lunch. I used medium heat, and the bacon was crisp, just as I like it. The addition of two cookie sheets are excellent. They are heavy and of a good size. The handles will make it easier to remove the pans from the oven. This cookware set will be used often, and that is the best test of a set of pots and pans.

Recommended. prisrob 07-30-13

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This is a wonderful set of cooking pots and pans with two baking sheets thrown in as well. The baking sheets are a nice touch and really help to make this set everyday workable. I couldn't find information on the size of the baking sheets on the product page, but my calculations show that the pans are 14 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches. Everything works really well on my gas stove, the pots are heavy enough to keep them balanced on the grates without tipping over and they heat up well. My vegetable saute slipped right out after gently braising.

I love the color orange as it brightens up my small kitchen area and I'm keeping the pots out just to show them off. This set gives me just the right amount of everything, including the deep dish frying pan along with two other frying pans and a big tall pot for making spaghetti sauce and soups, etc.

I have noticed that Rachael Ray's products come extremely well packed and are sent in the original packaging. Unfortunately, the large pot I received has a small dent on top where the lid sits and two of the lids are dented. Although it doesn't effect the cooking, I wasn't happy to see that. If I had ordered this set myself, I would have been disappointed and would have contacted the company about this problem. If I had bought this set as a gift, I would have returned it. I don't expect everything to be perfect these days, but another may not appreciate the lack of inspection during the production process.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Well, let's start with the "pros" shall we?

The color is vivid and doesn't fade.

The handles stay cool while you're working.

The lid and pan are both a comfortable weight. Neither too light nor too heavy.

The lids do fit securely without a lot of steam pouring out the edges.

The pans all wash very easily due to the non-stick coating.

They are light weight, so an older person wouldn't have a hard time working with them.

The CONS:

The actual "saute" area on the bottom is a very small portion of the pan. Over half of the surface area is the sloping side, which makes it difficult to turn out a decent sized omelette or fry 4 small portions of meat simultaneously.

It dents and loses shape easily. Hypothetically speaking, if your child were to pretend they were Rapunzel and swing said skillet at say...Flynn Rider...the lid may not ever fit securely again.

The pan can go in the dishwasher, but if you do so frequently, it will destroy the non-stick lining, which is rather thin.

They are not as sturdy as the Farberware brand I used to have for around the same price.

Overall, I'm not unhappy with the pan, and I will be using it again, but I don't feel that it's of any superior quality to a much less expensive brand that I could have picked up at Walmart. No regrets, but not highly recommended.

Honest reviews on Rachael Ray Porcelain II Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set

They are beautiful and durable. No hot spots. Fast cleanup. Bought them for my daughter.Now I want a set for myself.

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Love, Love this cookware. I have already purchased items from this line, durable, lightweight and since the lids are clear I don't end up ruining recipes trying to peek inside. I also love the fact that I can purchase single items instead of only being sold in these sets. It is like having the best of both worlds. Not to mention the resonable price.

Best Ikea Kavalkad Frying Pan Set of 2, Black Teflon Classic Non-stick Deals

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Like most people are, I was sceptical about buying this because it was so inexpensive but I'm glad I did. I've made eggs, bacon, French toast, and a bunch of other food items in these pans and nothing will stick to them. Be very careful about the utensils you use because metal will scratch these easily (minus one star) but if you use nylon then there should be no problem. These are built sturdy also unlike a lot of other inexpensive pans. I recommend giving these a try before dropping large amounts of money on other pans.

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It was missing the screw for the smaller pan.... ugh.

The larger pan is shipped with the screw in it and it appears to be ok.

Buy All-Clad Stainless Roasting Pan with Rack and Turkey Forks

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List Price: $330.00
Sale Price: $156.69
Today's Bonus: 53% Off

The Roti models are not made with a three-ply construction with an aluminum core and magnetic stainless exterior. The Roti models are made in China (not America like the rest of the All Clad pots and pans) out of a non-magnetized stainless steel. They're not designed for use on induction or conventional stove tops (a common step in the preparation of gravy).

A curiousity: The All Clad Web site doesn't appear to list the Roti models. I couldn't find it under any category. This model is an orphan.

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Unfortunately I bought one of these pans because I read this expensive roaster was a tri-ply. It is not and if you put it in a hot oven it warps like crazy. Once I realized that this was not the All-Clad that I was used to I contacted All-Clad. I have an entire kitchen full of All-Clad and they told me to stuff it. So that will be the last "All-Clad" I will ever purchase. There are many alternatives which are multi-ply at a considerably lower cost. As All-Clad does not stand behind their merchandise there is hardly any benefit in buying their products. Read the Cook's Magazine review about this pan if you have any doubts.

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The following is copied from a review found in Cooks Illustrated Equipment Corner:

During our 1999 rating of roasting pans, we decided that the upright handles, roomy interior, and sturdiness of All-Clad's Stainless Steel Roti ($275) justified its hefty price. Since then, however, we've noticed that our top-rated pan has a tendency to warp slightly on the stovetop while browning roasts or deglazing fond. (The Roti lacks the clad construction-an aluminum core sandwiched between layers of steel-that makes other All-Clad cookware so reliable.) So when we saw that Calphalon's fully clad Contemporary Stainless Roasting Pan features a similar design-and for a mere $100-we brought it in for the challenge.

To our delight, the Calphalon did not warp on the stovetop, and its lighter weight made it more responsive to burner adjustments than the All-Clad pan. This new Calphalon roasting pan has everything we want, including a reasonable price.

UPDATE: Our July/August Roasting Pan Update highlights Calphalon's Contemporary Stainless Roasting Pan ($100). In the past, this pan has been part of their Tri-Ply stainless line. Until the Tri-Ply Stainless inventory has run out, look for our favorite roaster under either of those Calphalon lines.

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I recently checked out the All-Clad roaster at Bed Bath & Beyond and decided against it. Three design flaws turned me away from it:

1) It's not tri-ply, only stainless steel.

2) It can't be used on an induction range (I don't own an induction range, but I like to plan for the future).

3) It's not flat on the bottom (raised center), so it will be difficult to use to make gravy.

After a little research, I bought the Mauviel M'cook 1830 large roasting pan. It's slightly smaller than the large All-Clad, but it has five-ply construction, can be used on any range and is completely flat on the bottom. It's a beautiful piece of cookware with a lifetime warranty. Plus it's made in France, not China (like the All-Clad).

I bought mine from and it came with a rack included for $200.

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I shouldn't have assumed that this would be cladded. How can a company like All Clad produce a $160 roasting pan without a sandwiched layer of aluminum to distribute the heat evenly. This is worthless for pan gravy! It is nothing more than a handled serving tray as far as I'm concerned, I am better off with an $30 aluminum roasting pan from a restaurant supply store. What an overrated piece of junk, for the price there is much better out there... I am disgusted by the arrogance of All Clad peddling this garbage!

Reviews of Le Creuset LS2011-3759 Signature Cast Iron Rectangular Roaster

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List Price: $325.00
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This is my first LeCreuset item. I look forward to roasting the turkey for Thanksgiving. The color is great. Look forward to adding additional LeCreuset pans.

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Review of BergHOFF Virgo 10 in. Grill Pan

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List Price: $85.00
Sale Price: $55.07
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Nothing seems to stick so far. I like how the handle comes off. Makes it easy to set flat in the sink. My only issue is that I wish it was or 2 inches bigger.

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berghoff prods. are very good what i'm diputing is the prod.discription it states it a 12in. pan but its only 10in.

Buy Anolon Advanced Bronze Nonstick 9-1/2-Inch Crepe Pan

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List Price: $29.99
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We actually call crepes "blintzes". I make the thin batter myself and this pan is perfect in making them ! Absolutely no sticking, just how you want it ! Highly recommend !

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For those of us who want to steer away from teflon this seemed like a good choice to explore. It has proven to be a handy pan, perfect for breakfast for two, does not stick and it is easy to take care of. Very happy with the purchase.

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Crepes are incredibly easy to make with this pan. High quality, and the non-stick surface does what it's supposed to. They slide right off every time.

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I have the original model of this Anolon Advanced crepe pan from years ago and it is still going strong. I just recently purchased a second one (the pictured item) to replace an old "Crepe Magician" pan that lost its non-stick coating. I like to have two crepe pans going at once when serving a group. The rubber wrapped handle eliminates the need for a hot pad on your hand. This is particularly useful in crepe making when one is moving quickly, swirling batter, flipping the pan, etc.

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I have not made crepes yet but I made omelets. Was able to make them paper thin. The family loved them. Pan is lighter than a frying pan soit was easier to handle.

I have a full set of these pans and just love them

Buy Tramontina 12-qt. Commercial StockPot.

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List Price: $169.99
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Works very well with our new ceramic surface cooktop using minimal energy to get the liquid to a boil. Flat lid makes storage easy and allows its use as a warming surface during cooking.

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Brand new stainless steel stock pot has 2 ugly stains & black spots stuck on the inside on the pot's bottom after paying $100??

Also, everywhere I read, Tramontina is made in Brazil or the U.S. Didn't know that China was in either country. For less money, I could have bought a 12qt multipot made in China without the stains. Also, the pot's interior looks cheap as if a overused wirebrush cleaned it.

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Everything we expected! It would be just perfect if we could get a glass lid but that issue is not a deal breaker.

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This pot is very well made and has the thick and heavy bottom to distribute the heat evenly unlike most of the thin stock pots in this size. It is an awesome upsized dutch oven and cooks without burning. Well worth the money!!!!

Ginsu 04817 International Traditions 14-Piece Knife Set with Block Review

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Suddenly, I feel like cooking again. Chopping onions, dicing carrots, making perfect juliennes with red peppers and mincing the garlic fine for my famous (!) vegetable medley is...effortless. All because of these knives. Ooh they are sharp! So be careful or you may end cutting yourself!

I love the fact that the knives are sharp right out the box. Many people swear by their forged knife blades but that makes the knives heavier. I have another set from Pinzon (Amazon's brand) and yet another from Cuisinart that I barely use as they are heavier and not as sharp as these knives. I think stamped blades are great as they are lighter and thinner like these Ginsu knives. If you cut vegetables more than meat then you need knives like these. For meat you need heavier blades with more balance and "brute force". For slicing a tomato so fine that you can see through it you need a Ginsu. With a Ginsu in your hand you'll end up sculpting roses from your radishes!

Update 11/5/08: I have been using these knives for 1.5 years now. They're still doing fine and are still very sharp. I regularly throw them in the dishwasher and they have not shown any signs of rusting. I love these knives and miss them if I am cooking somewhere else. I use the steak knives as everyday knives for slicing veggies and they work very well. If I ever purchase another set I will go with Ginsu again.

Update: 8/27/2013: Still using these knives after 6 years. Still going strong and are pretty sharp. Although we took to using some as box cutters and for other reasons and lost a few of the steak knives. Luckily, Amazon sells steak knives separately in packs of 4 Ginsu Essential Series 4-Piece 4.5-Inch Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set with Triple Riveted Polymer Handles 4805 so I ordered more.

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We needed some new knives, but I couldn't see spending hundreds of $$$.

Yes, these are at the lower end and there are undoubtedly much better (and more expensive) sets out there.

But these feel OK, are very sharp (as other reviewers reported), seem to be sufficiently sturdy, and have ably carried out the various mundane tasks we've put them to.

For $24.99, what a value!!!

--------------------------------------

Update 11/21/08: We've had these 2 years now. The very sharp edges have gone, but the steak knives still are OK cutting, not great. But, I never sharpen them. I don't like the long thin knife (it's not serrated, so not a bread knife): the blade isn't stiff enough. (Hey, we're talking less than $30 for the set!) I really don't use the others.

I liked the steak knives so well that I ordered a second set of just them. It's a little weird at first doing paring with a serrated blade, but then you get used to it.

I'm still very pleased with the purchase overall and regard it, even as the price has increased a few dollars, as a true bargain.

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We bought this set 2 months back after reviewing them on Amazon. Since this is our first knife set I can not really compare with other name brand products in the market. But these were cheapest among the lot, and we are very pleased with their initial quality. As mentioned by other reviewers they are very very sharp, and easily cut through straight. The blades are thick and the handles look solid. We always wash/dry them by hand right after the use and never put them in dishwasher. We have not seen a single rust spot or any discoloration of handles. I will definitely buy more of these to gift friends and family.

Update on Sept 30, 2007:

After 6 months of use, I still stand by my review. The sharpness is intact and there are no rust spots at all. Very pleased with the quality and super low price. I regret not picking more of these from Sears Clearance, where I bought them for less than $20.

Update on Nov 26, 2010:

Just wanted to give a quick update that these knives are still performing great.

Sept 28, 2011:

Still going strong. No issues. No rust. the two knives that we use every single day, have lost some of their sharpness, but they still have few more years left in them.

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If you are on a budget but need good sharp knives to last you for a little while...these are great! They are sharp and they do their job well. But be warned, these do rust after about 8 months if you aren't careful. I suggest washing after every time you use them and don't put them in the dishwasher to make them last longer. Other than that, they are sharp enough for general kitchen cutting,

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Okay, so we'll be honest here... These aren't the BEST knives ever. They aren't nearly as heavy and solid feeling as some might like.. but for this price you absolutely cannot get a better knife. I bought this set as a gift for someone who has a bit of a love-affair with "sharp knives"... and he was absolutely 100% pleased with this set. They are incredibly sharp and easy to manage. Best knives ever? Of course not-but do they get the job done (meaning, do they CUT well?) absolutely yes!

As a side note-in response to those who are complaining about rust spots-that is what happens when you put knives in a dish washer. All knives should always be washed BY HAND and dried immidiately (regardless of what the packaging says!) Complaining about rust spots after having put them into a DISHWASHER is like complaining about ruining your silk shirt after putting it into the washing machine. With proper care, these knives will not disapoint someone looking for a good, sharp everyday kitchen knife.

Best OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler Deals

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List Price: $8.99
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I peel hundreds of pounds of potatoes every day at our restaurant, and I love my Oxo Peeler. All we make is Belgian Frites, and all we use to make them is fresh potatoes, a deep fryer, some oil, and this amazing Oxo peeler.

This is an excessive amount of use, I know, but under all this stress, only one thing has gone wrong with this peeler. Unfortunately, it's potato-eye remover has started to crack a little bit. I doubt this would happen under normal usage, but two hundred pounds of potatoes a day for a year would put stress on any peeler.

If you are a restaurant peeling potatoes by hand, as we do, buy a few because the eye remover is really useful but it wears out. This feature does make peeling faster, and wastes less potato then just peeling down past the eye. This is definitely the best peeler you can buy, and for normal household use I bet the eye remover would never wear out.

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This is a sturdy peeler with swiveling twin blades and a built-in potato eye remover, which easily pares even the toughest skin of your fruits and vegetables, and carves out blemishes without damage. It produces thin rinds and peel with little or no pulp, and cuts on the first run every single time. Its blade never seems to need sharpening and its hefty body fits comfortably in the hand, making it require less force to operate than the more traditional lightweight peelers do, and keeping you away from any stress-related injuries. You can even use it to quickly julienne vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and potatoes, among others.

Like the rest of the products from the OXO Good Grips line, this one is a great value of superior quality, unsurpassed durability and flawless performance. Its ergonomic design and big, pressure-absorbing, outstanding non-slip grip, complete with flexible fins to accommodate your fingers and an oversized hole for easy hanging, allow you comfortable, daily, wet or dry use.

Its elegant, stylized shape fits seamlessly with the rest of the OXO Good Grips collection. Its easy-to-clean, simple construction and dishwasher-safe, hard-wearing materials make this essential tool one that you will be able to depend on for years, and its stainless-steel metal parts will permanently keep your rust worries away.

After submitting this product to over two years of relentless, everyday use, mine is still just like new.

--Reviewed by M. E. Volmar

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I purchased the OXO Good Grips Peeler back in 2000 and I have been using it ever since with no problems whatsoever. I originally bought it to replace the peeler that came in my Culinary School tool kit. That peeler had broken after only a month of use. But I have used the OXO peeler ever since, going on 5 years now. It feels great in my hands and peels potatoes, carrots and other vegetables perfectly. While I was in school my classmates were constantly borrowing this from me and asking me where I bought it. Even one of my Chef instructors loved it and would use it from time to time. If this peeler were to ever break on me, which it has shown no signs of doing, I would not hesitate to buy another OXO.

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After my 8+ year old OXO Peeler started getting a little dull I thought it would be just a matter of ordering another OXO Good Grip Peeler and it would be the same. I thought wrong, after 3 New OXO Peelers in the last 3 weeks including the Pro-Line these new OXO peelers will barely peel Warm butter much less a Broccoli stalk or stem. I can see 1 being dull but not 3, there is a serious breakdown in the Quality Control Division at OXO. All the places that have sold or given me replacement peelers have had great customer service it's just the sorry product that's the problem. OXO had my 'Brand Loyalty', now it has completely lost it. I took a magnifying glass and compared my old OXO to ALL 3 new OXO Peelers and the angle that the blade is cut is the difference. The old OXO is cut at an angle where as all three new OXO Peelers the blade is cut straight across whereby there is no way it can dig into the skin of a broccoli stem or even a carrot. I tried one last peeler via Amazon made by J. A. Henckels called the Henckels Twin Cuisine Swivel Peeler and it will get 5 stars, it is wonderful, just like my old OXO was when it was new. Spend the extra money and get a great quality peeler and a hell of a lot less headaches, it was a real nightmare!!!!!!!!!

Mike

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I recently bought my second Oxo Good Grips-I bought the first one in 1990 or so...I lost the first peeler (still working perfectly) just recently so I bought a new one to replace it and now I'm sorry to report that this new one is certainly inferior to my first Oxo Good Grips swivel peeler. Maybe the company was sold-something has caused the quality to drop so I have my mind set on a different brand that I'll be getting soon. I wish I were giving Oxo GG a splendid review! I have other Oxo products and though most I got awhile ago, they work well.

Progressive International GMMC-68 Microwavable S'Mores Maker Review

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My review on the Progressive Smores Maker! I hope you find it helpful.

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

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

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

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

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

Buy Old Mountain Pre Seasoned 10101 6 1/2 Inch x 1 1/4 Inch Skillet

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I have two of these pans, & they are great for cooking 2 eggs or anything that doesnt require you needed a big pan. You can melt butter in this pan or warm up single servings of things. They are also for making individual portions of desert. I love having this pan because it comes in handy for numerous things randomly.

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Very nice. It comes "pre seasoned" but I scrubbed mine and seasoned it with lard. Nice quality for the price and perfect for cooking eggs.

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I really bought this pan for my husband since he has two large cast irons and wanted a small one. I found it smaller than I would have liked but it's great for a small meal for one person. It's a real bachelor-type pan that would be good for someone dorming at college. Pair it with a good cast iron cook book and this is a pan for all seasons.

Buy Max Burton 6200 Deluxe 1800-Watt Induction Cooktop

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List Price: $127.00
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The other reviews cover everything else nicely, except:

1. The difference between the model 6200 and the 6000 is that the 6200 has a stainless steel skin, while the 6000 is black plastic. The innards and wattage are identical.

2. If you purchase this with 1-click ordering, you'll miss out on free shipping. Grrrrr. To avoid spending an extra $9.00 on postage, use the checkout cart instead, then change the shipping method to "Free Shipping"

3. If you want an excellent overview of induction cookers, look up the topic in wiki-pedia.

4. (Updated 8-2011). Someone in the comments below asked what the wattages are: When the "Power" mode is selected, Level 1: 200w. 2-500. 3-800. 4-1000. 5-1200. 6-1300. 7-1400. 8-1500. 9-1600. 10-1800w. When the "Temperature" mode is selected, the ranges (1-10) are (in degrees F): 140, 180, 210, 250, 280, 320, 360, 390, 430, 450.

5. (Updated 11-2012). I had not used the "Temperature" mode at all. A friend came over for Thanksgiving with his bacon/watercress soup (thick) and needed to re-heat it. After messing around with the "Power" and "Time" settings, he finally chose "Temperature" at 140. There was much less stirring, and no fussy regulation of a flame (all to avoid burning the soup on the bottom of the pan). He was mightily impressed, and since he is an excellent cook, I was mightily impressed too. Reminder: his excellent soup pot was aluminum, and so it would not heat at all (Error "E0" in the display, after two seconds). We loaned him a nice cast iron Le Creuset pot and all progressed smoothly. Remember that any pot that attracts a magnet will work, and that excludes all aluminum and most stainless steel. Furthermore: the traditional cooks swarming and crowding the kitchen stove on Thanksgiving were just as glad to have him and the induction unit out on the patio, and out of the way.

Please click the "helpful" button if any of this was useful. Thanks.

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I have only had this unit for a few days, so don't know how it will hold up over time, but it works like it's supposed to, and I'm very happy with it so far. I'm not thrilled, however, that the price has dropped by $20 in the few days since I bought mine! Like others have said for others of the induction cooktops, the heat is concentrated in the center 4" of the plate, but this is not a real problem for boiling water, etc. And, if using a pot/pan that spreads the heat well, such as iron or pots with a thick clad bottom, it seems to mostly work out ok for other things. I had a problem trying to make an omelet, but maybe if I heat the pan slower and then add the eggs, the heat might spread out to the edge of the pan better (scrambled omelet wasn't bad, however). It might not work well for everything, but for most everything I've tried so far, it worked fine, and doesn't heat the kitchen up a lot. My 3 different sized steel pots with steamer inserts worked fine 2 are Tramontina (from Walmart I think) as did my iron and iron-enamelled pans, so I probably won't need to buy any pans especially for this cooktop.

After 5 months my unit is still working fine, and I use it for most of my "stovetop" cooking. I wouldn't mind a finer control for very low temps, but the 10 settings provided work pretty well for most everything. For a few things I switch back and forth between setting 1 & 2 or 2 & 3 mainly things like hot toasted sandwiches (which I cook in an iron fajita skillet, with a 2nd skillet on top to weigh it down). I found that a silicon potholder (got mine from Target) works great to put under the pots to protect the cooktop from scratches. I haven't noticed that it matters whether the pan is perfectly flat (maybe the potholder underneath helps this?). Also, the manual says not to use the cooktop on a metal surface because the magnetic heating may heat the metal surface underneath, but I put a large wooden cutting board (about 3/4" thick) over the 2 LEFT burners (oven heat exhausts through the RIGHT rear burner on my stove) and put the Burton cooktop on top of that to cook and have not had any problem with the stovetop underneath becoming warm. I don't do huge amounts of cooking, so with this one on the left, along with the small and large regular burners on the right, I have all my cooktop needs met. I use this, my microwave, outdoor grilling, and a toaster oven & crockpot which I use outside on the porch, to minimize kitchen/house heat from cooking during the summer, which of course is very helpful in Texas.

(Note that there are some very informative reviews for the Burton 6000 model which are relavent to induction cooktops in general.)

2nd update: This unit has performed flawlessly for over a year now. I use it frequently to boil water for when I wash dishes by hand hot water heater is far from the kitchen and no matter how high I set it the hot water is just not hot enough. So, I lowered the thermostat to 120 deg and just heat a small pot of water to add to the dishwater. However, I do not use this burner for some things, such as deep frying, and it doesn't work with my old-school Corningware which I like to use for some things, like making jam, so I would not want a stove with only induction burners; a couple of each would suit my needs better.

Best Deals for Max Burton 6200 Deluxe 1800-Watt Induction Cooktop

... for your learning dollars, that is.

Had this for a month; free-shipped, it arrived intact and within a very reasonable time. Manual is brief and to the point.

Works fabulously with simple time-proven cast iron cookware, but don't expect omelets to come off whole easily might do with enameled cast iron which I do not have. It is great to have minimal heat dumped into the house when you are paying for your air conditioning and it is 90°+ outside. That it worked just fine with some of my older cheaper stainless steel pots that didn't pass the magnet test was a pleasant surprise. I plan to move it to the back porch before I try my heavy-flavored grill-pan fried fish!

Took away the 5th star since (a) heat is so localized over the center that it charred stir-fry veggies and burnt the thin-gauge pan when I got a bit over zealous with the power settings and (b) the temperature preset increments are too far apart for my liking. It shouldn't be a big deal to have more numbers of and more uniformly spaced steps since the controls are all electronic. I would use cast iron cookware exclusively unless heating a liquid, -the thickness helps distribute heat more quickly and evenlybut you will want to be extra careful of the delicate-looking ceramic cooktop surface.

All in all, a great inexpensive tool to learn induction cooking and what to look for before you plonk your money down for that big-bucks 4 or 5 element full size induction cooktop kitchen upgrade. I am happy with the purchase.

Honest reviews on Max Burton 6200 Deluxe 1800-Watt Induction Cooktop

We finally moved to the country where I can have a huge garden, but I almost panicked when I saw how much food I was going to have to put up. Our little chest freezer is no match for it, and my dehydrator can only handle so much and is not good for everything. And DH likes "variety," meaning he grumbles if he has to eat the same thing two days in a row, so I knew I'd have to break down and do some canning. But the thought of adding all that heat on top of our Georgia heatwave was unbearable.

This Max Burton induction cooktop is a godsend. My Fagor 10-quart pressure canner works perfectly with it, and the best part is that I can bring it up to pressure with FAR less heat than electric or gas stoves put out. I just listen for it to come up to pressure, then with just a few clicks adjust the temperature down to maintenance level, set the timer, and walk off and leave it. When the time's up, the burner shuts off, and the heat is instantly OFF. This makes canning so easy and so much cooler that I find myself doing it more often. I can cook a big batch of something for dinner, then can the leftovers without it being a big ordeal. So happy DH, and I still have the economy and time-saving benefit of large-batch cooking. Cleanup is easy.

Another thing, too, is that I'm getting older and more forgetful (or maybe it's because I have a whole lot more I have to juggle now as a "country wife"). I've actually burned up pots on the stove that I've forgotten about while I was busy trying to do six gazillion other things. It's a lot harder to burn down the house when using this cooktop. :)

Other than the induction-ready cookware issue (not a problem for me), the only caveat I'd give potential buyers is that this really needs to be on its own electrical circuit. Our old house has few outlets and iffy wiring, so I do not even attempt to run the microwave and the induction cooktop at the same time because they are on the same circuit.

This induction cooktop has really changed my life. I think everybody ought to try cooking this way. It's got to be more energy efficient. But beware: Once you've familiarized yourself with an induction cooktop, you probably won't want to cook on anything else.

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I bought this induction cooktop for my Mom instead of a standard cooktop because I liked the concept of the surface not staying hot after you take the pan off in fact it automatically shuts off when you take the pan off. She loved cooking with it for the past few months, but then it starting giving error codes and not working last week. We have contacted Max Burton customer service as it is past it's return period for Amazon. Initial response from Max Burton indicates good customer service. I'll update once we see how this all works out. Hopefully this failure is a glitch as the cooktop has only been used since mid-March of this year.

June 18 update. The replacement unit from the manufacturer arrived. Took a bit long to get the replacement unit about 3 weeks since we first contacted Max Burton. Return shipping cost of $20 was my responsibility.

July 8 update. The replacement unit from the manufacturer just quit. Less than a month of use and this new cooktop broke! I'm changing my rating to 1 star because of unreliability.

Best 1 pc Commercial Grade Iron Steak Weight/Bacon Press, 8"x4" Deals

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The quality is a bit crude; it appears as if it was made by a high school student in metal shop. I had to file down the edges to smooth out some imperfections. The wooden handle is "sappy", and I used paint stripping chemical to try to remove the stickiness, but it is still a little sticky. The surface isn't seasoned, unless you count machining oil as a type of seasoning, however, the oil isn't too difficult to clean off, but once it's clean, it starts to rust immediately. I do like the weight of it--over two pounds, so it serves the purpose well, but If I were to buy another press, I would go with a aluminum.

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This is a great item. I use it all the time and it is heavey enough to do the job. I wish I could find a big round one like it.

Best Deals for 1 pc Commercial Grade Iron Steak Weight/Bacon Press, 8"x4"

Work well reduces grease splatter I need a bigger pan. Works great shotens cook time. Came already seasoned looking for a long life.

Honest reviews on 1 pc Commercial Grade Iron Steak Weight/Bacon Press, 8"x4"

If you're looking for a big slab o'weight to drop on top of your bacon on the griddle, then these are a cost effective solution. I personally don't "squeeze" my burgers as I prefer the juice inside of them instead of on the outside (who in their right mind likes dry burgers???), but when I'm frying a batch of bacon on my outside griddle these babies are great.

The wooden handles did get a bit hot after a while, but hey, they were sitting on top of a hot griddle for several minutes so I don't guess it's the handle's fault huh? An unexpected rain shower came up before I had cleaned them and put them away, so they are not covered in a bit of surface rust, but I'm sure once I get that taken care of and give them a nice coating of veggie oil they will be good to go for the next backyard breakfast event. If you're cooking for a crowd, you may want to get more than one set though...

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i didnt notice the rating and review of this item before i made my purchase until after. mine too had rusted after first time use and became a waste of money. avoid buying these at all cost. if you are still interrested in buying these, a little bit of advice would be to wash and "DRY" immediately after use. the rust covers the entire bottom of the press.

Columbia Home Products Stock Pots, Enamelware Reviews

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List Price: $19.95
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As soon as this pot came I was happy and ready to make chicken noodle soup,but there was a chip of white stuff missing. A big enough chip in the bottom to make me rethink owning this pot. If it chips this easily in shipping, will it chip this easy through normal usage? The size was just right and it was pretty, but pretty isn't going to hold up to time. We all know that enameled beauty wears easily and becomes ugly with time. So I can not give this pot a thumbs up. Why is the only tag available recommended? I would not recommend this product BUT AMAZON was excellent to work with in the return of the product and a refund. I recommend AMAZON.

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I needed this for boiling down chicken bones into broth, or simmering large batches of sauces for home canning. Works as you'd expect it to. Thin bottom, so if you need to use more than medium heat with it, I recommend a heat spreader.

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bad quality. Hard to clean heavy dirt. The finish is also not great at all. I would't buy it !

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Though this pot is OK, I didn't like that sides on the top were "unfinished" and cut hands if you pick it up without handlers.

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This stock pot is exactly what I was looking for. It is beautiful and it will get lots of use. I plan to order more Granite Ware because of this transaction. I hope there are a variety of colors because I wish to order another exactly the same size in yellow or tan or sky blue.