Reviews of Circulon Premier Professional 11-Piece Hard Anodized Cookware Set

Customer Ratings:

I have the Circulon Commercial set (Costco) at one house and I had to have another set for my other house (next a set for the motorhome!)I am spoiled...;-) The commercial set is now 8 years old and still works great.

I have had Farberwear (cheap, thin, too easy to damage) and All-Clad which I found to be a huge ripoff. The all clad non stick not only stuck to all foods, it had the worst heat distribution using a glass cooktop. Literally would take 15 mins to warm up on medium to fry an egg.

This stuff is heavyweight and the non stick works well. It cleans up good in the dishwasher too. The new set has nicer handles than the Commercial set.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

After owning my old icky cheap cookware for over 15 years, I decided it was time to invest in something decent, and I was willing to pay some bucks for it. But what did I want? Stainless? Nonstick? Anodized? And I shopped everywhere: pampered chef, williams sonoma, bed bath & beyond, costco...etc.

I am not a chef and didn't think I could handle stainless. And I didn't think my husband could handle nonstick as he does the dishes and I frequently catch him scrubbing pots or putting them in the dishwasher.

So I called my sis in law (who is a great cook) and asked her opinion and she suggested these. Only $200? But that doesn't feel very prestigious to me! I was ready to spend like $1000 on cookware! Let me tell you, you don't need to!

Here's what I love about this cookware:

--grippy handles that stay (mostly) cool (I have a gas cooktop and so this was a big deal for me)

--because of that gas cooktop, this cookware heats very evenly in the saucepans, which for a novice like me was important.

--grippy handles on the lids

--see through lids

--EASY cleanup! I can't get anything to stick to these pans! Even with my worst disasters, a little hot soak and they're good to go!

--no discoloration, not for me so far anyway

I still can't believe I paid so little for this set when I almost bought a set that costs 3x this at another store. It's not as beautiful as stainless or copper, but it does exactly what I need it to do, which is cook food and clean up easily.

My sis in law had a lid crack from her set and circulon sent her a new pot/lid no questions asked.

I don't think you can go wrong with this set.

Best Deals for Circulon Premier Professional 11-Piece Hard Anodized Cookware Set

This set is truly non-stick,they cook very evenly. You can cook with out oil or butter, but I cook on low or medium and allow the pan to warm slowly. They are dishwasher safe but if you use them right they clean up easily. My only dislike is the frying pan set come with no lids that fit but I just use what ever is close in size..

Honest reviews on Circulon Premier Professional 11-Piece Hard Anodized Cookware Set

If you have always wanted something great to cook with, look no further. We have had this set for over 2 months now and enloy it more each time we use it. A friend has a set he got a a gift 10 years ago, he is a trained chef and he lets no one near his. his set came from Costco, ours thru Amazon. After reading all the reviews we opted for the Circulon Premier Professional as there were no negative write ups and justly so!!!! Spoil yourself. BUY A SET!! UNBELIEVABLE

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Circulon Premier Professional 11-Piece Hard Anodized Cookware Set

I purchased the set for my 31 year old son, he told me it was the BEST gift he has EVER received EVER! I guess mom finally hit a home run.

Buy Scanpan CTX Cookware Sets

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,150.00
Sale Price: $899.95
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

Hard to imagine spending this kind of coin for pans, but here we go. I'd gotten a 2qt saucepan to try out and it's so good that I'm back for the whole set. This is the non-stickiest non-stick ever, just a real pleasure to cook with and then clean up. The 2qt is now three years old and the interior finish looks like new. The outside underneath has a little discoloration but our stove is gas so I can't complain -pans are for cooking, not admiring.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

After getting my new Electrolux induction stove I have tried and returned Elo, Calphalon, Cuisinart. In all cases the model set I chose was the most top of that lines "Induction Ready" offerings. In every case the stainless steel must have been paper thin because it took between three and four full minutes to boil my "Standard" two cups of cold water. That is actually longer than my previous Jenn Air stove took so they were all returned.

When these CTX Pans arrived the first thing I did was run the two cup boil test. I was astonished to see a full rolling boil in one minute flat. Then I cooked something saucy. Within four minutes on the five setting the pan was showing little simmer bubbles spread so evenly over the entire pan.

I have now used these pans for a week. They are every bit as incredible as my new induction stove. My only disappointment is that the two saucepans are only 3/4 quart apart. One should be much smaller and the other much larger IMO.

Best Deals for Scanpan CTX Cookware Sets

These pans are awesome! I got a Scanpan saute pan for Christmas and was so impressed I bought the whole set. They are expensive but in my opinion worth every penny. The pans truly are non-stick and they really work great. The surface won't scrape off like other non-stick pans because it's a solid thick lining. The stainless surface on the outside is easy to keep clean with a stainless steel scrub pad. The set comes with plenty of lids and I like that you can see through the glass. The two sauce pans are good sized and nice and deep. Overall, I could not be more happy with this purchase.

Honest reviews on Scanpan CTX Cookware Sets

I purchased a set of these pans about 2 years ago. My husband can't even screw them up!! I've had at least 6 different brands of pans, some quite pricey. None compare (even remotely) to these. I have to admit that they were set aside until my older pans died. Now that I've used them for a while, I wish I had just given my older pans away. I'm in the process of purchasing more of these pans. To the writer that said the pans stained yellow: did you try Soft Scrub? Soft scrub cleans up my stainless stove beautifully, as well as my sink.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Scanpan CTX Cookware Sets

The CTX is one of the latest series of Scanpan products which have always been top quality. Though expensive in comparison to other similar products these are outstanding. The non-scratch non-stick coating makes them the absolute best paarticularly for the new induction stove top that we bought, we tried others , but they had issues of pitting, sticking and handle heat etc. So, my advice is to get over the sticker shock because they are worth every penny! I have since bought other CTX pans to add to this set. They will of course work on any stove top, not just the induction system which we now wish we had purchased years ago.

Review of Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 8-1/2-Inch

Customer Ratings:

I love my R.R. skillets. They are the best skillets I have ever bought. No more

cheap teflon pans for me.

I can use pam spray when cooking an egg and it does wash great. No residue left

on the surface.

Thank you

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This pan is perfect! The handle has a nice grip and feels just right. The pan works as one would want an egg (omelette) pan to, and it also cleans out very well both inside as well as the bottom of the pan. I am very glad I purchased it! Don't hesitate! :)

Best Deals for Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 8-1/2-Inch

I bought this pan because I had the 10 inch pan and loved it! I find these pans to be very sturdy. The finish is very strong and non-stick. I hand wash them because I want them to last forever!

Honest reviews on Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 8-1/2-Inch

This is a nice heavy pan for the money! We use it very frequently and cooks eggs very well! A good value!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Rachael Ray Hard Anodized II Nonstick Dishwasher Safe 8-1/2-Inch

For years, I used all clad cookware, and then some modified all clad cookware, namely "Emeril cookware". One mark of a quality pan is the thickness and material the base is made of. Nice thick bases on pans distribute heat evenly, and generally require some preheating. My cookware is about 10 years old, and is still going fairly strong, although my smaller 8 inch pan was ruined when a friend ran it through the dishwasher, and thus my reason for trying something different.

The Rachel Ray cookware is fairly thin, and is not reminiscent of any quality pan I've ever used. The handle is very stylish and comfortable. Despite the claim of nonstick, I still need to use a light coat of olive oil, although I do not use any sprays as per the instructions. I do find in general that my heat needs to be turned down when using nonstick pans.

For $20, I would say this is above average, so I'm not going to bash the product. I think it's a decent buy for the money. Now, if you want to start comparing it against a $100 all clad, well that's a different discussion, but again, for $20.00 I'd say this is a decent buy.

For someone who doesn't want to spend $100 on a high end pan, I would say the Emeril brand is of better quality (stay away from "sets"), and comparable in price to Rachel Ray cookware. Another outstanding brand is Calphalon. They make a very nice 8" pan.

Reviews of Nordic Ware Large 1-1/2 Pound Loaf Pan

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $16.50
Sale Price: $10.19
Today's Bonus: 38% Off

I decided to return to shiny aluminum baking pans when I discovered that dark, non-stick pans didn't turn out nicely browned baked goods. When it came to a new loaf pan, many of the shiny pans I considered had drawbacks: they were steel, which rusts; they had seams that were hard to clean; they were often flimsy and dented easily, and none was large enough to hold a full batch of batter. Not so with the Nordic Ware large loaf pan. This heavy-duty aluminum pan means business--the larger size is perfect for virtually every recipe, and the shiny surface produces great results and cleans up nicely. I've since added the muffin pan, rectangular baking pan, and quarter-size sheet cake pan to my collection of essential bakeware, and I remain impressed with Nordic Ware's outstanding quality and reasonable price.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

These Nordic Ware loaf pans are the best I've ever seen. Throw all those miserable thin aluminum pans with the dark coating in the trash and order yourself some bakeware that will let your favorite recipes sing. I love the half and quarter sheet pans, too. The pans have a strong rolled edge that has a steel center to prevent the pan from warping at higher temperatures. I am also planning to ditch my newer Wilton cake pans in favor of the Nordic Ware round cake pans, as the quality of these pans is head and shoulders above anything the competition is offering. Your first pound cake or loaf of bread will convince you that the higher cost is worth every penny.

Best Deals for Nordic Ware Large 1-1/2 Pound Loaf Pan

I bake a lot of bread and have for more than 30 years. The Nordic pans are easily the best bread pans I have used. These are not lightweight aluminum. They are heavy enough that you will not worry about them getting banged up and dented. Cleanup is a breeze.

To visualize the size loaf: I make Potato Bread quite often and my bread is just a bit larger than Oroweat's Country Potato Bread.

Honest reviews on Nordic Ware Large 1-1/2 Pound Loaf Pan

This pan is great for baking bread. The bread cooks evenly and turns out perfect every time since I bought these pans. Easy to clean up as well.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Nordic Ware Large 1-1/2 Pound Loaf Pan

I have six of these pans and I use them to make bread every week. The non-stick surface is very durable and I only have to wipe them out after baking to be ready for the next batch.

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

Customer Ratings:
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.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

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.

Best Deals for Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker, 34-Ounce

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.

Honest reviews on Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker, 34-Ounce

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!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press Coffee Maker, 34-Ounce

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.

Reviews of All-Clad Stainless 7-Quart Stockpot

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $270.00
Sale Price: $239.95
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

Heavy cast or rolled aluminum is the optimum material for pots and pans. Based on this fact, Magnalite cast aluminum gourmet cookware was the best you could get from about the 1950's through the '70's. However, there are some problems with aluminum as a cooking surface. Some foods react with it and cause discoloration; it's hard to clean, a fact that became glaringly obvious with the advent of non-stick surfaces. And there have been reported health issues related to cooking food in contact with aluminum (experts currently assess the risks as insignificant).

All-Clad is the heir apparent to the position of "creme de la creme" among cookware. The inner layer of metal is aluminum to evenly conduct heat throughout the pan. The cooking surface is stainless steel, the ideal surface because it is non-reactive, easy cleaning, and more durable than nonstick compounds. All Clad offers a variety of exterior finishes to suit your taste. Finally, this line is WELL BUILT. It will outlast anything else in the kitchen.

This may be the most expensive cookware but it's also the best. For a person who doesn't have the physical strength to handle very heavy cookware, this may not be a good choice. For anyone else who is willing to pay for it, this is what you want to cook with.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Typical for All-Clad, quality is excellent. This is the perfect size for soups. I also use it in place of the 5 quart stock pot for stove top rice casseroles. The extra volume ensures there's no chance of spills or boil overs. And the thing I didn't expect is how easy it is to clean.

Best Deals for All-Clad Stainless 7-Quart Stockpot

No matter how low I set the temperature, chili and spaghetti sauce always stuck to the bottom of my stockpot, which I always thought of good quality. I would handle it with care to avoid acrid burnt tomato sauce from ruining the meal. No longer a problem! Having cooked a huge pot of chili, I can report a clean bottom on this stockpot with no fear of ruining a family favorite. It cooks so evenly, with no hot spots. I am thrilled with this pot.

Reviews of Cuisinart PerfecTemp Porcelain Enameled Teakettles

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $150.00
Sale Price: $71.00
Today's Bonus: 53% Off

I wanted this tea kettle for ages. I waited for the stainless version to come out because I like the stainless look in my kitchen and none of the other colors this came in suited my taste.

My husband finally bought it for Christmas. I like this bigger sized kettle and that it gives me the temp of the different teas that I drink. However, I would really have liked it more if the bottom of the kettle weren't so thin. The thin-ness comes off as cheap...and this kettle is not cheap.

Also, the temperature gage on the front is now clouded due to water getting ON it. It was not submerged...just water from the tap rolling over it when filling. Yeah, this could have been made a lot better, but I still enjoy it.

Update~~01/04/2012

I've had this kettle for a year now. I use it daily. However, since the bottom is thin and seemingly a separate piece, the bit of water that is inevitably left in the bottom of the kettle has caused a rust problem inside where the base meets the sides. This does not make me happy. If I had this to do over, I would try one of the coated enameled kettles NOT the stainless steel one. Even in the pictures, you can see there is a difference on how it is made or put together. Love the temp gauge and fast heating. I hope others have better longer lasting results with the enameled kettles. I'm updating this because I'm shopping for a new kettle.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This teapot is critical if you're an avid tea lover or a Teavana addict such as myself.

This brand makes the only teapot I was able to find on the web with a thermometer on it (I was pretty surprised), and Amazon sells it for the cheapest (expcept for a few other websites that were all linked to the same scam-company out of NY that never actually sends the teapot, thank you google reviews!)

I was weary spending so much on a teapot but I don't regret the purchase one bit, I make tea about every day now.

Best Deals for Cuisinart PerfecTemp Porcelain Enameled Teakettles

The enamel doesn't come all the way to the top, so there is a ring of rust that circles the lid. Unacceptable in a $20 teapot, and ridiculous on one this expensive.

Addition March 9, 2011 Enamel has started to come off the inside bottom, leaving pock marks. Now unuseable.

Honest reviews on Cuisinart PerfecTemp Porcelain Enameled Teakettles

As many other tea lovers have noted, this teakettle is perfect for heating water to that perfect temperature for your favorite brew. It is also an excellent choice if you make French Press coffee as boiling water is too hot and can turn your coffee bitter. With that said, this device does have a few potential pitfalls (as other reviewers have noted) that can be avoided with basic maintenance. Here are some simple steps to keeping the device working properly:

1. Empty out the teapot after use.

Water, especially from the tap, contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, sodium and even iron. If you leave you pot filled with water, these minerals can form deposits on the inner walls of the kettle. This can affect the thermometer's accuracy and potentially open a pathway for rust.

2. Take care not to wash with cold water immediately after heating.

This teakettle (especially the stainless steel one) does have relatively thin walls, but these thin walls allow for a faster transfer of heat. (Having used both the stainless steel and the enamel versions, I can tell you there IS a difference.) The drawback to this is that steel expands and contracts as its temperature changes. If you take a teakettle which has been heated to 200F and pour cold water over it, the metal may contract too rapidly, creating micro-cracks where the untreated steel can oxidize forming rust.

It should also be noted that because the thermometer and temperature gauges are independent pieces, assembled into the kettle, these elements are the most susceptible to damage from rapid heating and cooling. The seal around the gauge can be ruptured and allow steam to get in, clouding the display. My guess is that this is the root of the problem for those who complained of damage to their temperature gauges.

I had the thermometer break in mine as well, but only because my roommate boiled some water, then fell asleep. After all of the water boiled out, the thermometer was exposed to direct flame for over an hour. It probably goes without saying, but this should be avoided as well.

All-in-all, still a great buy in my opinion. I definitely plan to buy another one.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Cuisinart PerfecTemp Porcelain Enameled Teakettles

This is a great tea kettle---for its looks, the thermometer is attention getting to guests and works well for the perfect cup of your favorite tea. I have had it for a couple months now and three times already people who were over visiting saw it and asked if I would make them tea, the only thing I can guess is that they asked cause they knew it would be exactly the right temp i.e. taste like it supposed to...I always had a tea kettle on my stove before and no one has ever asked me to make them a cup of tea until I had this kettle.

The one down side and it is a pretty big one, is that the manufacturer says you can't do what most people do and leave it full of water on the stove when not in use. This corrodes the temp gauge, so you will constantly be filling it up and emptying it out. Less convenient for sure...so that's the trade off...you decide.

Buy Gourmet Chef Professional Heavy Duty Aluminum Fry Pans

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $17.00
Sale Price: $15.99
Today's Bonus: 6% Off

Great, simple pan . . . if you use a grill, gas, or standard coil cooktop. For a ceramic cooktop, it will not work. The long, heavy handle causes the pan to tilt up on the opposite end. It will not sit flat on a ceramic cooktop. So, take your cooktop into consideration before ordering.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Cheap BRUGO 2nd Generation Leakproof Travel Mug with Built-in Temperature

Customer Ratings:

I ordered the slice orange and it is definitely orange. I like the size and found it kept my coffee warm a good while. That is about all I liked about it. First, it is very hard to see the lid choices for "lock", "sip" and "tip and cool". They also do not line up correctly and when I want to just "sip" almost nothing comes out. The "tip and cool" feature is a joke. I promptly got burned the first time I tried it and the coffee had been in the mug for about 20 minutes. (Obviously it keeps it hot!) Also, you cannot take off the lid and just drink from the mug part due to the design. It is also very hard to wash. It has a very narrow opening. The first time I carried this to work I had it in the "lock" position and coffee still spilled. Come to think of it, I only took it one time and will most likely never use again. Perhaps I should just return it.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I really like this travel mug. On Amazon it says 100% leak-proof, on the packaging the travel mug comes in it says "not leak-proof". I found that if you don't over fill the mug and you close/lock it properly, it doesn't leak. My coffee stayed hot for a quite a while and the PTZ was a neat feature. The only problem I have with the mug is that it just doesn't hold enough coffee. It says it holds 16 oz but my old mug held 16 oz and this one is about 4 oz short.

Best Deals for BRUGO 2nd Generation Leakproof Travel Mug with Built-in Temperature

We have tried many travel mugs over the years but these new Brugo mugs are by far the best. Coffee seems to stay hot for ages but with the great tip and sip technology you can drink it whenever you need. No more playing the balancing game of waiting for it to get cool enough to drink but then leaving it too long so it goes cold perfect also for drinking straight away, no more burning lips. Also loving the leakproof lid. As long as you take the final sip from the cooling chamber (we learnt the hard way) it is completely leakproof no more coffee everywhere in the van or car. Can even leave hot drinks on the table outside with the kids running round without the usual spiilage and close burns. Perfect. We are using our matching pair more and more. No more expensive services for us!

Honest reviews on BRUGO 2nd Generation Leakproof Travel Mug with Built-in Temperature

I am a heavy coffee drinker, and love gadgets, so was excited when I got this as a Christmas gift. Despite some initial problems, I have used it as my daily commute mug for about 3 weeks now. My rating is 2 stars, and I'd value the mug around $5.

Good features:

1. Very drip-proof -but not 100% as claimed. There are 2 tiny vent holes on the top of the lid, so it will drip if you shake it around vigorously. But under normal use I really don't do that, so I think it's fairly called drip-proof. This is particularly important given the way you have to tip it for the tip-n-cool feature. So when the top is in the CLOSED position, it gets top marks for being truly closed!

2. Because I feel bad saying there's only one good feature, I'll give it a pro for having a nice comfortable shape, and for sitting in my car's drink holder nicely -it's not so top-heavy as to tip over easily...it can't survive sharp corners, but can survive lane changes at 45mph.

Failures:

1. Tip-n-cool feature gets a C-. Yes it works, but I had many many problems getting even a reasonable drink into the reservoir. I would tip it a little, a lot, and ultimately I had to play around with the angle and direction of the tip to get anything into the cooling chamber. That said, it DOES help cool that bit of the drink. But you really have to experience it as a driver, or worse as a person walking any distance to work: in between every drink you're flipping the mug away from you, finding that angle to get anything in the reservoir. You can't tell if you succeeded until you try to take a drink, so very often I try to take a sip, get nothing tip again, repeat. In the driving context, that also means you're holding the mug a LOT longer than if you just got a complete sip in one try.

2. The lid dial is incredibly difficult to turn. I'm sure it helps keep things sealed up, but I have to have a firm grip on the mug with one hand, and use my other hand to turn it. The problem, as a commuter, is that this means I can't change its setting with one hand -so for my drive to work I can only change it at stop lights, and it's open the whole time I want to be able to drink. With other mugs, I made it a habit to close the lid with my thumb as I'm putting the mug back in the drink holder -I try to minimize the amount of time I'm holding the mug, and don't want it sloshing around in the drink holder. That's just not possible with this mug.

3. The gasket in the lid popped out, and now won't settle back in firmly any more and can be a real pain to get back in place. I don't think it's got any flange on it to "lock" it in place, so if it slips out of its channel, it's like settling a rubber band back in place -get it perfect and it's fine for a while, but it can be infuriating to get it back there sometimes (especially if it's wet).

4. Temperature -really, it's mediocre in this category. In a 35 minute car ride in the winter, my coffee goes from piping hot to slightly cool by the time I reach my desk. I have a Thermos mug that is insane in this area -it'll keep coffee scalding hot for 4+ hours with lid closed...I can't drink my coffee at all in the car if I use that mug because it just stays too hot.

5. Yes, the lip is very very drip prone. I'm not sure it's a big deal, but it's definitely annoying in a $25 mug.

6. One oddball thing -the "stainless steel" finish on the lid is a metal skin. On the inner edge, the metal has a very slight flare INWARD. Not a huge problem but when I turn the dial, I constantly rake either my index finger nail or thumbnail along it and get little scores in my nails...it hasn't ever caught skin, but it's a really aggravating sensation. Amazing lack of consideration for that bit of the finish.

7. And the most infuriating problem of all: there is a small square-block tab on the outer edge of the lid, and a matching one on the mug, so that when you screw the lid down, those two block meet and the lid is perfectly locked down. Nice. However, it's RIGHT UNDER THE MOUTH. Look at this closeup from Brugo's site and you can see it: What's infuriating is that every time I take a drink, that little block of plastic digs right into my bottom lip. And when I'm putting the lid on I have to twist it two full rotations to seal it. If my thumb is by the tab, that means that little block of plastic rakes the pad of my thumb; or if the heel of my palm is there, that gets raked -not a pleasant sensation. That one little bit of plastic must have seemed like a brilliant idea to someone, but then the moron forgot to (a) make it "safer," and (b) move it out of the way of the drinker's mouth!

So the little tab, and the inability to set it with one hand are the big fatal flaws for the mug as my commuter mug. The weak performance of the tip-n-cool feature dooms it the rest of the way since that's the main reason anyone would be willing to spend significant money on this mug. In the end it's a decent $5 plastic mug.

Next I'll begin hacking it to see if I can make it better :-D

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for BRUGO 2nd Generation Leakproof Travel Mug with Built-in Temperature

Just ok, heavy car mug. Difficult to clean. Arrived timely, packaging sloppy with mug half way out of its container and in a too big box.

Discount Ecolution Elements 12 Piece Nonstick Cookware Set

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $79.99
Sale Price: $77.26
Today's Bonus: 3% Off

We have parrots so I am just very relieved that I finally have a safe non-stick set so my husband will quit risking our birds lives every time he cooks something. It's a pretty standard set and has a nice silicone steamer that I can't wait to try out for squash sometime this week. So far everything is great. Had it about a month and doing good.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Bought this item for a new apartment. This is a great set of essential pots and pans. I've used it for about week and am very happy with them. For the price, the quality exceeds my expectation for this cookware. I would recommend this for your daily needs. Extra points for PFOA free coating!

Best Deals for Ecolution Elements 12 Piece Nonstick Cookware Set

Worth the cost! These pans are so easy to clean you don't have to put them in the dishwasher. A cloth or sponge with a little hot water and dish soap cleans the pans easily. The eco-friendly stuff is an added bonus.

Honest reviews on Ecolution Elements 12 Piece Nonstick Cookware Set

I would have liked to contact the seller first, but I couldn't find their contact info. The pans perform QUITE well. The nonstick surface is excellent. With these pans I use minimal oil or non at all. I enjoyed the steam basket to make my tamales. The only issue I have is the handle on the saute pan (med and large) keeps coming loose. My husband tightened them and next time I cooked the handle is loose again (this has happened repeatedly). The large pan with a loose handle and filled with food is definitely a hazard so I've stop using it. For the cost of this set I certainly didn't expect to have that issue. I do believe the pans I have may be defective. Hopefully the company will contact me (will post again).

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Ecolution Elements 12 Piece Nonstick Cookware Set

I needed new cookware & it does what it needs to do.

Though it cooks evenly it still leaves little scratches with the bamboo kitchen utensils.

Best RSVP Universal Lid with Glass Insert UNIVG Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $21.99
Sale Price: $19.95
Today's Bonus: 9% Off

The reason I got this is because I have two saute pans that did not come with lids. Sometimes, I want to turn off the stove but cover the saute pan so that heat is trapped in. The manufacturer of this lid makes several claims suggesting the lid would work well for my purposes. They characterize it as a "universal lid." They say that the lid specifically fits "saute pans" that have a diameter of 7" to 12". They also claim the "inner ridges provide a customized fit." These claims are misleading. After trying out the lid, I now realize that most saute pans, including mine, have a handle that extends upward -higher than the plane of the rim. So when you attempt to rest a wide lid like this on the rim of the pan, the handle is in the way. It will never lie flat. So for my 8" saute pan, this lid is pretty much worthless. My 10" saute pan is big enough so that the lid ALMOST rests flat on the rim. So if you have a saute pan that is more than 10", it might work for you.

By the way, the lid is very flat. The "ridges" really don't seem to change anything in that regard. It's also thin and light. The manufacturer claims the lid is 18/10 stainless steel. That may be, but it is a thin 18/10 stainless steel. I have mostly KitchenAid and All-Clad cookware made of 18/8 or 18/10 stainless steel. I don't consider the stainless steel in this lid to be like my cookware. The quality here is more comparable to the inexpensive pots and pans that you find in department stores. Aside from that, the lid seems to be structurally sound.

October 2011 UPDATE: I've been using this lid occasionally for a couple of years now. I have to say it's held up well. I've gotten kind of used to it as an emergency lid for pots or pans with at least a 10" diameter. I now think it was worth the $20 I spent. Still not happy with the manufactuerer's representations, but I see they've toned down their claims to be a little more accurate. Anyway, I'm upgrading this from 3 stars to 4.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I got this lid because my favorite frying pan did not come with a lid. I found several lids but they either only fit 1 size or were all stainless. I wanted a glass lid and this one was a nice compromise; the steam vent is a plus too. The construction seems pretty sturdy but I'll have to see how it holds up over the years.

The maximum usable diameter of the lid is 12 3/8" and there are steps located at 11 1/2", 10 3/4", and 10" (see my product photo). If your pot or pan happens to be one of those diameters, you should get a nice fit; otherwise, expect some wiggle room. As another reviewer mentioned, lids like these can conflict with the handle on your pan, so before you buy it, make a few measurements to ensure everything will work out.

Best Deals for RSVP Universal Lid with Glass Insert UNIVG

I've had no problems when using this lid for its advertised pan sizes. Its good points are: the glass insert (you can check cooking progress of foods); the handle stays cool; there's a steam vent; it does work with a variety of pan sizes; the stainless steel that doesn't discolor, and it can go in the dishwasher.

Honest reviews on RSVP Universal Lid with Glass Insert UNIVG

Wish I read the top review 'till the end.

BEFORE BUYING: If using it for pans with smaller diamater (8" or 10"), make sure the pan/pot handles are level with the rim of the pan or this lid will not sit flat on it. (HOW TO CHECK: Turn pan upside down on a flat surface, such as a table--if the weight of the pan leans entirely on the rim and not on the handles, then buying this cover is ok)

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for RSVP Universal Lid with Glass Insert UNIVG

Bought this to go with Cuisinart Contour Stainless 12 Inch Skillet with Helper Handle

by Cuisinart

& the fit is perfect, looks great with the skillet too, & I like the cover has a vent hole. Very happy, best skillet cover out there!

Cheap Nordic Ware Cast-Aluminum Nonstick Baking Pan, Shortcake Baskets

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.98
Sale Price: $20.59
Today's Bonus: 31% Off

The first time I used this pan I tried a box of yellow cake mix (the kind with pudding in the mix). I followed the baking instructions for the "Butter Shortcake" recipe that came with the pan, 325 degrees for 20 minutes. I also put a baking sheet under the cake pan. I used Wilton "Cake Release" and let them cool for exactly 10 minutes before I easily removed them. Although they were fully baked, there was no browning on the outside so the basket definition just wasn't there. They looked more like the regular store bought shortcakes. Looking at the picture on the box it seemed to me they used a much denser cake recipe similar to a pound cake. So, for effort #2 I tried the "Butter shortcake" recipe that came with the pan. DISASTER!!! They stuck badly, and again, seemed underdone and pale in color. I finally decided to try my no fail Rum Bundtcake recipe (just google Bacardi Rum Cake) which always produces a nice brown crust. Instead of rum I used Grand Marnier. Baked it at 325 for 20-25 minutes, until the tops were a nice dark golden brown (unlike the previous attempts). I did not use a baking sheet underneath this time. Although the basket pattern is still not as smoothly defined as the photo on the box, they turned out nicely browned and I am satisfied enough to serve them for Mother's Day. I plan to glaze prior to filling them which I hope will help bring out the basket pattern some more. I probably would have given this product more stars had it not taken 3 attempts to get a satisfactory result. Has anybody out there produced a finished product that looks like the one on the box? If so, I would love to hear how you did it!

By the way, I have used the Nordic Ware mini bundt pans with the Rum cake recipe and they always turn out great.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

A bit pricey but after using them I am definitely glad I made the purchase. Make with chocolate cake and fill with chocolate mousse or white cake and fill with chocolate pudding and top with whipped cream and your guests will marvel. Of course, the usualfill with berries, etc., and pipe on a little whipped cream ...all make for spectacular desserts.

A few tips: Make sure to spray well with a flour cooking spray for easy release. Just cover the flat surface with batter if you want a little smaller cake (not as high). If you don't have one buy a large pastry bag and a large head for piping in mousse, whipped cream, etc.. Alsouse half steam pan aluminum trays with the edges twisted up for easy storage of 6 muffins if you like to pipe filling on high.

These will get tons of use. You might want to buy 2 for convenience.

Best Deals for Nordic Ware Cast-Aluminum Nonstick Baking Pan, Shortcake Baskets

I used this pan for the first time today I almost forgot I had it until my boyfriend brought over some strawberries and suggested shortcake. The pan came with a recipe but I already had a white cake mix I wanted to use up. I checked everywhere on-line for tips on using the pan with a mix but to no avail. Here's what happened. I baked the first batch at 350 degrees for 21 minutes a little overdone, but edible. I put a little too much batter and it ran over the top. As suggested here, I used ALOT of floured cooking spray and they popped right out of the pan, but they didn't look much like the picture. The second batch, I used regular cooking spray and didn't put as much batter in, and only left them in for 19 minutes. They came out much better, but still the shape left a little to be desired. I think if I bang the pan down on the counter a couple of times to get rid of the air pockets, they will probably come out much better shape-wise. All in all, I'm please with the pan and hope my review helps others in my situation.

Honest reviews on Nordic Ware Cast-Aluminum Nonstick Baking Pan, Shortcake Baskets

I can"t tell you how much money I have spent on pre-made shortcake cups! This Pan Makes it very easy! Just make sure to grease it well or they will stick! Arrived Very fast!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Nordic Ware Cast-Aluminum Nonstick Baking Pan, Shortcake Baskets

I have made several batches of cakes & shortcakes and the basket definition does not come out on the cakes. You can't even tell that it is a basket which is disappointing to me since the picture on the advertisement of this pan is so cute. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Discount Kaiser Bakeware Kaisercast 9-1/2-Inch Classic Bundtform Pan

Customer Ratings:

I purchased this pan after reading several reviews on different websites. At times, I have had trouble with other bundt-type pans completely releasing the cakes, no matter how well I prepared the pan, but not with this Kaiser Bundform Pan. This pan never fails to release perfect cakes with a simple, elegant design. The slices can be cut at the already delineated angles, and the cake remains lovely after several pieces have been removed. Out of five bundt pans, the Kaiser is my favorite. This was also a great buy, as usual, from Amazon.com.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This bundt pan is superb! It is way better than my other aluminum tube pan. I prepared the pan with melted butter and the cake came right off after I turned it upside down (don't forget the plate to catch the cake :-)

The shape is very elegant. If you cut along the shape, you will get 18 pieces. Usually a recipe for a bundt cake is for 16 servings. So the pieces would be a little smaller. But the quality of the cake is unmatched with the heavy construction of the pan. For the first time, my cake turns out exactly like the pictures in the magazine. Well, the nice browning is probably from the melted butter.

Best Deals for Kaiser Bakeware Kaisercast 9-1/2-Inch Classic Bundtform Pan

This is the best bundtform I have ever used. I made regular and gluten free bundtcake in it and both came out perfect. When it was done I just flipped the form upside down and the cake just fell out.

Even though it's made out of aluminum it is a little bit heavy.

Honest reviews on Kaiser Bakeware Kaisercast 9-1/2-Inch Classic Bundtform Pan

I've never been dissapointed with anything from Kaiser!

The pan bakes perfectly and releases well. It's nice and heavy which is a must for a good pan that you plan to use regularly.

The design of the pan is very unique and far more elegant than the "typical" bundt pans you see everywhere.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Kaiser Bakeware Kaisercast 9-1/2-Inch Classic Bundtform Pan

I love baking and this is a wonderful Bundtform pan form a top quality brand like Kaiser. Never sticks and very easy to wash only with warm soapy water. It is not my 1st Kaiser product and won't be the last !