Review of Mauviel M'Passion 4180.55 Canele 2-Inch Mold, Tinned Interior

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If you wish to make the French pastry Canele de Bordeaux (also spelled/called Canneles Bordelais), the proper way to do it is using these traditional, tin-lined copper molds. Copper molds produce results that are far superior to that which can be achieved with Silicone molds by creating the requisite, carmelized, exterior "crust". Copper is an excellent conductor that is why copper pots and pans distribute heat so evenly and quickly. It is also why electrical wire is made from copper. Silicone is not a good conductor and accordingly does not transmit heat readily that is why oven mitts are often made from silicone and why, in electrical applications, silicone is sometimes used an insulator. As a result, silicone molds can produce a blonder or unevenly carmelized crust. In addition to that, copper molds are simply more fun to use than a floppy, synthetic mold. After all, the act of cooking can be enjoyable as well as eating what is created and these beautiful, copper molds help make it more so.

These molds are the traditional 2.1 inch (height) size. Smaller, copper molds are available, but this is considered the appropriate sized mold for Caneles. Be sure to season the molds before the first use coat interior with vegetable shortening (e.g. Crisco) and heat in oven at 350 for one hour; flip upside down and heat for five minutes to drain oil; leave molds in oven as it cools down. Then find a good recipe and create these wonderful, handheld desserts. Martha Stewart's "Baking", Paula Wolfert's "The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen" and Pascal Rigo's "American Boulangerie" all have recipes, each of which differs slightly from the others. It is worth noting that Martha Stewart's recipe for caneles in the book "Baking" is different than the Stewart recipe found online. Try using the "Look Inside" feature for the Stewart and Wolfert books on Amazon and run a search for "canele" to get a peek at the recipe.

Wash using water only so as to ensure the tin surface stays seasoned with oil (soap would remove it). Soak if necessary to remove hardened sugar crust from Canele batter. When the molds have been properly seasoned as noted above and are then oiled before each use with a mixture of beeswax and sunflower oil or just oil, the Canele should release, but if does not, gently go around the top edge and/or down the ridges with a toothpick or wooden kebab skewer to release any part of the crust that is sticking to the mold. Do not use metal since this will eventually scratch the thin coating of tin from the copper. If after much use the molds smell rancid, boil the molds and season then them as done when new.

The molds are expensive and given the long cook times (up to two hours), you will most likely wish to have at least eight molds, and possibly twelve or more, but after you produce your first batch of Caneles, you will quickly forget the cost. Pictures I posted in the customer Images section provide an idea of the results that can be achieved with these molds.

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When I first tried Caneles, I was studying abroad in Bordeaux. Several years later, I ran across Paula Wolfert's recipe for these tasty treats and decided to try making them myself. Originally, I tried to make them with the silicon molds as $20 a piece seemed a high price (even with the Mauviel name attatched). I had a modicum of luck with the flavor of my French pastries made in silicon molds, but to be excellent, I knew that I had to use beeswax and real copper molds; otherwise the outer shell was neither crispy nor did they have the almost bitter taste of burned sugar.

I bought 10 of these molds as a serious investment in my favorite dessert and have been more than pleased with them.

I have made several batches in the past few weeks and every batch has been as good as those I remember tasting in France.

Be sure to properly season the molds before first use and equally important is to not use soap and water to wash out the inside after use.

These are a great buy and worth the money if you love caneles.

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I really love this copper mold then the ones that I bought in a local store which the seller claims that it came from France. I bought 4 of them from Amazon and it works like wonders, it doesn't stick and my cannelés turn out nice and perfect~~even i am thinking about buying more to replace my other set~~A MUST BUY!!!!

Honest reviews on Mauviel M'Passion 4180.55 Canele 2-Inch Mold, Tinned Interior

Best canele mold. Tried silicone one and was very dissappointed with the texture. This mauviel mold makes the outside of the canele crunchy and the inside creamy. I own 12 of them and it's an investment but well worth it.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Mauviel M'Passion 4180.55 Canele 2-Inch Mold, Tinned Interior

My son gave me four of these molds as a wonderful birthday gift! They are beautiful and their use resulted in a perfectly crisp, carmelized crust, with a creamy, custardy interior. As for baking with them, I highly recommend watching Albarock's YouTube video on making cannelés! (It is in French, but there are some English translations and you can get the gist of what he means, by watching.) He says to use lots of non-stick cooking spray on the molds and to be sure to tap the cannelés out while hot from oven. (Use oven mitt!) That technique worked perfectly for me! I didn't season the molds, the cannelés popped out and nothing was left behind. But go watch the video -it will make you confident and lead you on the path to making amazing cannelés!

Discount Le Creuset Stoneware Cream and Sugar Set, Cherry

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List Price: $60.00
Sale Price: $44.95
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

I knew I liked the color of this set as I collect the Le Creuset Cherry items, but I absolutely love the size of this set. They are on the smaller side, but it's just my husband and I that drink coffee, so no need for a quart of sugar on the table. The lid nicely sits on the sugar dish and there isn't a slot for a spoon, which I like because I wouldn't want ants to be able to get in. LOVE IT.

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This product is better looking in person than in the pictures. The size of the creamer and sugar bowl..... perfect. The color (cherry red) is a great match to my other Le Creuset items.

I am very happy with my purchase. 5 stars!!!

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When I purchased the Le Creuset creamer and sugar bowl set it was to go with a new dinnerware set. The colors are vibrant and coordinate and complete the table setting perfectly. I'm looking forward to setting the Thanksgiving table this year!

Honest reviews on Le Creuset Stoneware Cream and Sugar Set, Cherry

These are great. The quality is great and they look awesome. If you are looking for a set like this and the color matches or even if it does not. Buy these and feel safe about your purchase. I mix and match my colors. These do not match my dishes but accentuate their colors.

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What you see is what you get. If you're familiar with Le Creuset, you already know about their reputation. These pieces aren't any different. Top notch construction, glazing, etc. If you're ok with the dimensions and color, you can't really go wrong.

Reviews of Joyce Chen 21-9971, Classic Series 4-Piece Carbon-Steel Nonstick

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List Price: $44.95
Sale Price: $34.57
Today's Bonus: 23% Off

This is the "4 pc. 14 in. Xylan Nonstick Wok Set" From the description on the Amazon product page I was expecting the "4 pc. 14" Carbon Steel Wok Set"

The pan looks nice, but has the handle problem others described. There is a metal component that goes through the wooden handle and screws into the part bolted onto the wok. That bolt is too long so if you hold the wooden handle the pan will spin upside down. Not a good thing to happen when cooking hot food!

I'll likely be returning this since a natural carbon steel wok is more authentic and cooks hotter and I don't feel like cutting down the bolt to get the handle to actually function properly.

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Using a wooden spoonscratched on the 2nd use. I was browning cashews, so maybe that did it. I paid just 12 at Amazon warehouse, but still not worth it.

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Update: Sis used the Seasoning recommended prior to use (I had reminded her of this from the Ebook Sample I downloaded). She had no cleaning nor sticking problems, just the food was too spicy for hubby and teenager.

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I purchased this as part of a list my Sister gave me for Christmas. I went more by reviews than the price of the item. I also asked if she wanted one for the stove, or an electric plug in device.

Turns out this was THE PERFECT Wok. After purchasing some books (in particular Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge previewed it first), a carbon steel wok is the best to cook with. I also wanted to introduce her to some e reading.

She enjoyed that there was more than just the Wok in her package. Since her Hubby was a little stingy (Scroogy?), she claimed this was her most favorite gift.

So far, this earns a 5 star review. She says I'm invited over sometime next week for Stir Fry after that if I need to edit the stars .... ;-)

PS for her hardcover tastes, and those beginning lessons I also included Wok Cooking Made Easy: Delicious Meals in Minutes (Learn to Cook Series)

Honest reviews on Joyce Chen 21-9971, Classic Series 4-Piece Carbon-Steel Nonstick

The teflon started to peel away after a little use. I would not recommend. I expected better than this base on what I had read about the product in the first place.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Joyce Chen 21-9971, Classic Series 4-Piece Carbon-Steel Nonstick

After less than two month's use, large portion of the non-stick layer have come off. This layer is HARMFUL for body. Have to buy a new wok to replace this one.

Best Cuisinart GGT-10 GreenGourmet Tri-Ply Stainless 10-Piece Cookware Deals

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List Price: $630.00
Sale Price: $299.95
Today's Bonus: 52% Off

I would buy this again as I have purchased single items before and love having a full set. However, the omelet pan chipped in second week. I never dish-washed or used anything but soft utensils so not sure what happened or if seller would do anything about. Contacting the seller is one of my many "to do"s on my list...

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We have a flock of six birds two Congo African Greys, two Green Cheeked Conures, a Sun Conure, and a Cockatiel. As many people know, most non-stick cookware gives off PTFEs which are fatal to birds at a certain level (and probably not good for them at ANY level). When we got the babies, we disposed of probably close to $500 in 'non-stick' cookware, one set being an almost brand new set of Cuisinart that was NOT Green Gourmet. We were told initially that it was okay to use non-stick as long as we did not overheat it, and as long as we used the range vent while cooking. I began to research and found cases where bird owners shared stories of pans that were not overheated yet their birds died in their arms. And who can guarantee they won't forget a pan on the stove? A Teflon-type pan, overheated, can kill birds in minutes, with no way to save them. I was not taking any chances. It all went. From bakeware to my pots and pans. We were looking around for cast iron, when I stumbled upon Green Gourmet which is completely free of PTFE and PFOA. I even wrote to Cuisinart to be sure it was safe for birds, and they were kind enough to promptly reply and set my mind at ease. The cookware is great practically wipes clean. I am very careful with it, using only bamboo or plastic utensils. We have two types. This set with the stainless steel exterior, and a hard-anodized aluminum skillet that my mother-in-law bought. All of it works great and looks great. I even burned a pan of cranberry sauce you know the stuff cranberries, water and SUGAR, in the small saucepan! (All I could think was that if this had been my OLD cookware, the birds would have likely died from this mistake!) The sugar was a black crust on the bottom and was hard as a rock. I have burned sugar in cheap pans before and had to toss them. Not this stuff. A few minutes in a hot soapy sink full of water, and I scraped the crust off with a plastic knife. I am very impressed at how easily food washes off. We have had these since September 2011 (they were my birthday gift) and they look just as good now as they did new. I would recommend these to anyone but ESPECIALLY to bird owners as a safe alternative to other Teflon-type non-stick!

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It is the most amazing thing and the cleaning is simple. These pans cook so even and the covers fit tight

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Pans use less heat and cook everything better. I threw my old pans away because these pans are so much better!!!!

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Great. No chips on this set. The tri-ply 12 inch Everyday Pan had two chips in the ceramic coating. Had to return the 12 inch pan.

Discount Fiesta 497 Salt and Pepper Set

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List Price: $24.00
Sale Price: $14.44
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

I have these on the table when it's just me or a few friends. Because of the size, they need to to filled often. The good thing about the size is that they aren't obvious when they're on the table. They also don't take up a lot of table top space. The shape is a little odd, but it fits well in your hand, so you don't have to worry about dropping it.

On the plus size, they match all of my Fiestaware! They really aren't that bad. They are functional and are great to have on hand for eating popcorn on the sofa or on the table when there are a few people over.

Should Homer Laughlin China, Company improve on these, I would make them a little less like the candlestick holders and perhaps more like a smaller version of the stove top S&P shakers.

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These are the cutest salt & pepper shakers ever! I had read that they were way to small and required frequent refills. However, unless you prefer the taste of a salt lick to food or are serving dinner to entire hockey teams, you should be fine. They are actually a little on the large side for a dinner set. But at any rate you can't beat the great mushroom shape and wonderfull colors. A must have for anyone who loves Fiestaware!

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What a nice addition to your table! They're quite pretty and very easy to grab, especially for those with arthritis and for toddlers, without them spilling all over the place. They look really "retro" and can start quite a conversation at the table. I've found them to be just fine, size-wise, but you do have to refill them quite often. Great product though goes from the table to the dishwasher (top rack) without problems.

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These shakers are adorable. Very small and cute... BUT, unless you look closely at them, it's very easy to mix them up. My husband has fits over them and swears he'll find a way to mark them "S" and "P" if I don't switch them out. Often we'll use the larger range shakers by Fiesta instead of these. Buy the range shakers instead of these if you can find them. I bought mine from Amazon.

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These are really great shakers. They're pretty small though so don't plan on serving corn on the cob to 10 people and expecting it to last through the dinner. They look fantastic on a table display and really add flair to your decorating. They're functional, but they really could stand to be a little bigger. I'm happy with them though the plum are just gorgeous!

Best Stanley Classic Vacuum Food Jar 17 ounce/.5 liter Deals

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The Stanley 17 oz is perfect for lunch or a hike. The bottle looks well made and rugged like my older and larger stanley thermos. I was surprised however that this Stanley product is made in China. That does not take away from the quality but I have associated Stanley products with "Made in the USA". The other issue is that this bottle does not have a handle as decribed in the advertisement it has no handle at all. The circumferance is just manageable by a medium sized adult hand. A handle would be nice when you have several things to carry otherwise this bottle needs to be in a bag or other container.

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As happened to another reviewer, I bought one of these, it worked fine for a couple weeks, then could not keep soup hot even for a couple hours. I noticed vertical hairline cracks around the lip of the bottom section, where it meets the main body. (I had hand washed it, no dish washer or microwave, etc.) I assumed those cracks ruined the vacuum barrier and any heat retention.

As I loved the size and apparent sturdiness, I tried another. When I bought it, the bottom piece was smooth and shiny. (I checked carefully.) Then in just a couple weeks the same thing happened, hairline cracks and no heat retention. The "cracks" appear to be thin vertical cuts, pretty uniform in depth and spacing. To me it looks like instead of working with precision parts, they ram on the bottom cap with pre-cut notches to make it fit (sort of), then cover over the thin cuts. I'm about to send the second one back (as I saved the receipt), but given the other reviewer's experience with the highly touted "lifetime warranty," I'm not optimistic.

Too bad a once reliable brand has gone cheap. Do not buy.

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Yes, no handle and made in China. Other than that, this product keeps food hot. I found this thermos in Target with clearance price ($8.98) and I am very happy. It keeps food hot for hours. Regular price at Walmart and Target is $17.98.

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I've tried several thermos jugs for my kids' lunches but their soup would be barely warm by noon. This Stanley will keep soup HOT for at least 6 hours and very warm for longer than that. I have been very pleased with this purchase.

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I bought this Stanley food jar in order to bring hot soup to work. As recommended, I conditioned it daily with hot water prior to filling it with soup, but in less than one week it would no longer keep the soup hot longer than one hour. I emailed Stanley regarding their "Lifetime Warranty" I received an automated response stating they would get back with me. I've waited two weeks, still no response. Returning the bottle to Amazon makes no sense considering postage and Amazon's restocking fee. Bottom line: This bottle proved to be junk, and Stanley's "Lifetime Warranty" is worthless.

IMUSA GAU-18200 Elecric Espresso / Cappuccino Maker with Milk Review

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List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $28.79
Today's Bonus: 28% Off

I ordered this to replace a Bialetti stove-top maker. I have had it a couple of months and it is great. I saw some reviews about some machines within this price category being flimsy and unreliable. The Imusa is terrific. Easy to clean (Bialetti was awful!), and makes up to a quad in under 5 minutes. It is lightweight, but sturdy; and makes thick rich foam, even with skim milk. I am a former chef and have had some fancy machines that cost thousands of dollars in my kitchens, Imusa gets it done for me at home. I even went back and ordered a second as a gift.

Adding on to this review: If you haven't been using your old espresso/cappuccino maker because it isn't easy, or a pain to clean up, then this is the machine for you.

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I'm going to start out stating I am no barista.

But I love coffee and simply don't like paying $4+ a cup and inconveniencing myself in the morning making an out-of-the-way, time-consuming stop during my commute.

That said, this is my first espresso machine. As with many things I don't know if I'll ever use again, I purchase the absolute cheapest low-end model, and if I like it, I research and splurge (or ask Santa.) I feel I really lucked out with this machine since it cost half of other machines I was looking at, and it works. I followed the directions (and a youtube) and with some trial and error (actually only the first try was really bad) I am able to make espresso mocha's in the morning for my wife and I.

I've gotten so good at it that I can make two cups with ~2 shots each, a squirt of chocolate syrup each, about 10oz steamed milk, and clean it all up in under 10 minutes.

Notes and experiences about this machine:

-When you first receive the machine, fill and drain the machine numerous times with hot water (by filling and turning the entire machine upside down.) Mine had a bunch of metallic flakes inside the steam chamber left over from manufacturing. These could definately clog the machine or worse, end up in your espresso.

-Use mildly fine grounds and tamp softly. I wasn't getting any crema until I used a burr grinder on a medium-fine setting. This machine has NO control over the brew group pressure, so the only way to control extraction is with the grounds and tamping pressure. I was using too fine of grounds for the first week or two and was getting weak extraction. If tamped too hard the grounds overheat and the extraction is bitter. Ideally each shot should take 20 seconds.

-The control dial has a "dead zone" where steam continues to come out, but the boiler is off. It is between OFF and LOW STEAM settings. This allows you to safely release pressure in the boiler chamber when you're finished. Never leave the machine sit with pressure in it. The instructions don't mention anything about this 'hidden' setting, but you will find it and use it every time you use the machine for one reason or another.

-Tamping the grounds is important. At first I used my fingers. Then a spoon. Finally I got a tamper. All of them were effective but a tamper makes me feel like a pro and its definately the fastest/easiest. 50mm is a good fit. Not perfect, but good enough; in reality its probably a 51mm or 52mm.

-Don't use the rubber guard for the frothing wand. It's hard to clean. Not just hard, impossible. Also, if not removed and cleaned after every use, it will for sure trap bacteria; it obviously needs to be removed to clean your frothing wand, which you want to clean while its hot so stuff doesn't cake on it, defeating the entire purpose of protecting you from burns since you need to deal with the hot wand, anyway. Just throw this thing away.

-Clean it while its HOT. I rinse and wipe everything right after a session. The steam wand, grounds cup and locking cup, the collection cup and the waste tray all rinse clean with no soap when they're hot. The steam wand takes about 10-15 seconds of wiping to get milk residue off; everything else takes a few seconds.

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For the money, this is one great little machine. It heats quickly, foams the milk easily and promptly, is easy to clean up, and looks cute on the counter. This is our fourth (and least expensive) cappuccino maker it is also the best.

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Especially for the money, this is a great little espresso machine! I've never had an electric espresso machine before. I have several manual espresso makers but no way to easily froth hot milk so I ordered this one. I received it yesterday and made a wonderful latte last night for the first time in my life! It's easy to use, looks cool and has a small footprint so it's great in a small space. (It did not say anywhere to remove the soft black plastic 'cover' on the steaming rod but I did...I don't want ANY plastic of any kind near my food, especially steaming hot plastic. I'm assuming you remove it else there's no way to clean the rod...) It's a perfect 'treat yourself' gift to yourself when you know you deserve it!

If anything goes awry, I'll certainly update this review but I feel good about it and it works just like I've seen my daughter's much more expensive coffe/espresso/cappuccino maker. I'd NEVER consume name brand commercial coffe store, overly sweetened and overly fat and chemical ladened products, and I cringe when I see so many people putting that inside their bodies, but if I were one of those people, this would pay for itself within a week! (Can you tell I'm a cancer survivor and that I want to keep it that way!)

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The metal water basin contains lead. I recently purchased this espresso maker and at first really liked it as it does the job, and I made delicious decaf lattes with it. The plastic on the outside is number 5 which is considered generally safe, but I was unsure about the metal used on the inside. I recently bought some lead test kits and decided to test the metal on the inside of the opening where you pour the water in. I highly doubted that it would be positive, because who would put lead in a machine that makes beverages especially that part that holds the water you drink?!!! But, because I am pregnant, I decided to check it just in case. Anyhow the test turned red which means it has a dangerous level of LEAD! I am so angry that they have this product on the market. Not only did they put lead in my body and my babies body, they are poisoning everybody who uses it. I already drank 3 lattes using this machine before my lead tests arrived in the mail. Amazon, please do not sell this product.

Buy All-Clad 3013 Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick 13 by 20-Inch Double

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List Price: $180.00
Sale Price: $99.95
Today's Bonus: 44% Off

I have tried several stove top grills, so I feel qualified to comment on this one. First I bought the non-stick aluminum Nordicware grill, which worked ok till the non-stick peeled. Next I tried the LeCreuset, which was sooooo heavy, hard to clean, and began to develop rust spots. Next was the Lodge Logic, which was similar to the LeCreuset, but cheaper. (Too heavy and hard to clean.) Finally, I purchased this All-Clad Grande Grille Pan, which is the largest of the lot. It cooks evenly over two burners on my gas stove and cleans up easily with a little soaking. So far, this grill out performs any of the others and I am finally HAPPY with my purchase! (If you are a Foodie, you may notice Giada DeLaurentis using this same grill on "Everyday Italian".) If you are in the market for a quality stove-top grill, this one won't disappoint you.

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It's important to realize that this grill pan won't heat up like your outdoor charcoal grill, retain heat like cast iron (le creuset or lodge), or even cook fish, chicken, and steak the same way as a gas grill. What this incredibly easy to use (both for cooking and cleaning) piece of kitchen ware is great for is finding that perfect balance for light grilling when you dont have the time or convenience to do it the old fashioned way.

I am a purist when it comes to certain cookware. Cast iron just does some things better. But cast iron isn't for everyone. It's heavy, doesn't 'clean' the way many people are comfortable with, and takes some adjustment to understand its slow cooking properties. This grill pan is great if you're looking to do the following:

1. Grill up some salmon or swordfish steaks without worrying about leaving a 'fishy' residue on that precious, seasoned grill you have

2. Tenderize and cook to near perfection some chicken you have

3. Grill vegetables with, or without olive oil (the wonders of non-stick make the pan virtually a no-fat cooking device. Think of it like a much, much higher quality non-electric george foreman grill)

What it's not so good with:

1. Strip steak

2. Hamburgers (fat tastes good, lets face it folks)

3. Slow cook BBQ (you need real charcoal or at least cast iron to cook these babies nice and slow when you don't have your own smoke house)

So bottom line:

If you're more of a meatier eater/cooker, stick with the original (and less expensive cast iron or outdoor grills). If you're into fish, veggies, and chicken, consider adding this to your arsenal of essential All-Clad supplies.

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Actually, had to buy two because I had the misfortune of leaving our old one inside of the stove in our previous apartment! Well the new renters surely got a fabulous housewarming gift. This grill is easy to clean and wonderful to handle on two burners. We put one burner on medium for cooking and the other on low for keeping the finished food at the right temperature (handy when doing protein and veggies at same time). Also, if your oven is big enough, you can sear the meat on top of the stove and move it into a 450 preheated oven to panroast (the stainless handles make this a cinch). We've used Creuset as an alternative, and it's just not as easy to clean and maneuver. If you buy it on Amazon it's 99.95 plus free shipping (and whatever bonus is running--like today another $25.00 0ff with a small additional purchase in kitchenware). However, if you buy it at Williams Sonoma you can get it with shipping of 10-15 dollars but you do get garlic paste and stainless steel skewers). So you might want to see what works better for you.

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This pan is EXACTLY what I was looking for. After buying two different brands of cast iron grill pans, I have finally found one that does the trick.

All of my pots and pans are All Clad, but I didn't want to spend the big bucks for an All Clad grill pan so I order two different cast iron pans and both of them were awful. Food sticking (even after much seasoning) and the pans were really heavy and cumbersome to use.

Then I found an incredible price on this All Clad grill pan on Amazon.com and bought it.

Should have bought it in the first place!

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I just purchased this grill last week & don't know how I survived without it. It is absolutely wonderful. It fits perfectly over the 2 burners on my gas stove. I lightly seasoned with vegetable oil just before using (as recommended) and clean up has been a breeze. It easily holds 8 NY Strip steaks & could probably hold 10-12 burgers. If you like to grill inside, this is so much better than a George Foreman grill. I ordered mine from Williams Sonoma because for the same price listed here, you get free All Clad skewers (6) & a jar of roasted garlic paste marinade. Some might think it's a bit expensive, but it's something you'll only have to buy once. I felt just like Rachael Ray using mine! It's definitely a must have!

Review of 20 Qt. Stainless Steel Stock Pot, Induction Ready 3-Ply Clad Base

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The stock pot arrived on time and in good condition. I have used the stock pot twice since it was delivered. I find the pot distributes heat very evenly and is great for making large quantities which I then freeze in multiple containers. I would recommend this pot to anyone that likes to make a large quantity of items like soup for freezing for later use or for a large party.

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When we built a new house a few years ago, we opted for an induction cooktop. Day to day pots had been replaced immediately, but we felt the lack of a large pot for doing "big-group" sized stews, etc. When this pot arrived last week, it was immediately put to the test when I made a triple-sized batch of green chile pork stew.

That recipe calls for browning the pork in the bottom of the pan. I was particularly pleased with the excellent heat distribution across the bottom of the pan a good match for the 11" circle on our induction cooktop.

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MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE TO GROW OUR GARDEN AND CAN OUR PRODUCE... SO WE NEEDED A NEW POT FOR THIS PROCESS... AND I ALSO LOVE TO COOK SOUPS, SPAGHETTI SAUCE, AND SO FORTH IN LARGE QUANTITIES AND THEN EITHER FREEZE IT OR CAN IT FOR LATER. SO OFF I WENT ON THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE WEB AND SEARCHED FOR MY DREAM STOCK POT... AND I FOUND IT... AND ORDERED IT... AND AFTER USING IT WE ARE HEAD OVER HEELS WITH THIS POT... AND PLAN TO BUY MORE SIZES AND SO FORTH FROM THIS SAME COMPANY AND THROUGH AMAZON... THE PRODUCT IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AND THE PACKAGING WAS FANTASTIC. NO BENT LID OR HANDLES OR ANYTHING.... THE POT WAS IN PERFECT SHAPE AND AS ALWAYS THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF ORDERING FROM AMAZON WAS AMAZING. WE ARE SO VERY PLEASED WITH OUR PRODUCT WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.... AND HAPPY CANNING Y'ALL!!!

Best Circulon Contempo Hard Anodized Nonstick 4-1/2-Quart Covered Saucier Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $80.00
Sale Price: $49.99
Today's Bonus: 38% Off

The great thing about this piece of cookware is that you do not have to scrape the bottom of the pot to be sure you get everything mixed together.

Circulon is an excellent brand. But, ultimately, what can one say about a pot. It works. It exceeds all demands. I bought it at about 1/2 price down from regular retail (don't you just love Amazon). Other than the fact that the design of the lid's and pot's handle is a bit screwy, it is a small complaint.

Oh, they say you shouldn't put this in the dishwasher. Actually, just don't put detergent in the machine if you do. The detergent causes the anodizing to discolor which leaves a milky or bleached appearance to the exterior. It does not affect perfomance in any way. It just doesn't look as nice. They got a lot of complaints when people would put them in the dishwasher, so they added that warning. Personally, I do it all of the time. I just don't add detergent. I just loosen anything that is stuck-on and then run the machine on the anti-bacterial cycle (KitchenAid). Comes out looking great.

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The handle is hallow and the connection to the pot is not sealed. When the pot is washed the handle fills up with waqter. It then leaks out into the drawer or worse when the pot is heated it will squirt water all over the stove top.

Best Deals for Circulon Contempo Hard Anodized Nonstick 4-1/2-Quart Covered Saucier

Works great and nothing sticks! Awesome product that is totally worth the price. Evenly heats and my electric range doesn't mark up the bottom. I hand wash my hard anodized cookware. Be aware if you place them in the dishwasher and two hard anodized pots scrape, they will damage one another.

Honest reviews on Circulon Contempo Hard Anodized Nonstick 4-1/2-Quart Covered Saucier

This has been a work horse of a pot for my family .

I use it for frying which is not what most nonstick surfaces are for.

It has performed flawlessly for three full years and its ctoninuing to.

No handle issues but due note it is a long one. Hanging ring is smartly embedded in the end of its rubberized tip. The fact that the pot has two handles helps when trying to remove oil for straining.

Lid has survived nicely thanks to most manufacturers smartening up and giving glass lids that steel band.

Now to remove oil from that band or anywhere on this pot's exterior I suggest a great Brillo pad and some Swiss cleaner Kuhn Rikon Swiss Cleaner--Paste 7-ounce be on hand as Walnut and Corn oil both adhere to any surface (including arteries) like mad.

For such a low price I can't say anything bad about this cooking tool.

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Easy to use easy to clean spreads heat evenly lid has stayed clear and the nonstick is really nonstick great product

Reviews of Mauviel M'Heritage M250C 6501.00 5-Piece Copper Cookware Set, Cast

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,230.00
Sale Price: $884.95
Today's Bonus: 28% Off

COMPARISON BETWEEN FALK AND MAUVIEL:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good luck and Happy Cooking!

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

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Copper cookware is a luxury, not a necessity. Having said that, there is definitely a difference in how it performs compared to all other cookware. I'm not going to pull out a copper pot to boil water or heat soup, but for sauteeing, sauce-making, or slow roasting I've found it unbeatable. All of my copper is Mauviel 2.5 mm (purchased in France when the dollar was at its strongest) and it performs flawlessly. As for cleaning, a little Barkeeper's Friend on a very wet sponge maintains the interior and exterior in like-new condition, although some people like the look of well-used copper (like an old penny). In short, if you plan to splurge, you really do get extra performance for your money with 2.5 mm copper.

Best Deals for Mauviel M'Heritage M250C 6501.00 5-Piece Copper Cookware Set, Cast

Working through an issue with customer service. With a lifetime warranty (and high price) I'd expect the process to be smooth as silk. It's not.

**UPDATE**

They did eventually 3 months (with biweekly emails/phone calls) after I requested they honor their lifetime warranty agree to repair the pan, that has an MSRP of $300

Apparently they have one american based representative who has to get approval from their manager before they can honor the warranty. The representative stated, we'll be glad to send you a product equal to what you paid. I purchased my pan from an upscale store that discontinued the brand (for obvious reasons). So basically my pretty but defective copper pan, would be replaced with a non-defective stainless steel lower quality pan. I highly recommend you either 1 find defects within the return period and return if needed, or 2 avoid Mauviel cookware.

Honest reviews on Mauviel M'Heritage M250C 6501.00 5-Piece Copper Cookware Set, Cast

This professional cookware [2.5 mm copper clad] from Mauviel is of superb quality and functionality. It is heavy as it should be, so for some this might create a problem requiring the lighter 1.5 mm copper thickness. The stainless cook surface cleans easily. The decorative appearance hanging in the kitchen is very pleasant. The product is expensive and worth the money. Amazon pricing was excellent. If you want quality which will last forever consider Mauviel. The French should definitely be proud of this product.

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I got this set for my wife for Christmas. She is super happy with the set and cooks with it every night. It is amazing what a difference high quality cookware makes. These seem pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for. Very high quality, unbelievable craftsmanship. Its nice to know that there are still some things that are well made. Amazon was perfect as usual. The set at Williams Sonoma was not as nice.

Buffalo Tools BBQDC Double Beer Can Chicken Cooker Reviews

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This is a great item, very solid, well made and strong. We have been cooking two chickens at a time, with four ears on corn on one side and four potatoes on the other side. Using two charcoal fires, one at each end of the grill. The heat stays at about 300 degrees and in two hours everything is perfectly cooked! The can holders are the perfect size and work extremely well.

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this is a heavy duty well made beer can chicken/potato/corn cooking rack. this rack seems to welded good and is easy to clean but be very careful the part that holds the potatoes/corn are VERY sharp. there are plastic protectors over the points for safety that can be removed and should be removed before placing rack in the oven/smoker/grill because they will melt. the part that holds the cans works great the chickens stay standing upright. this rack works very well and was worth what I payed for it.

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We love this. No, really. We love it. It's so much easier than how we used to prop up the chicken during cooking and hope we didn't bump the grill and knock it over. We probably use this once a week.

It fits two regular sized full chickens perfectly with the can underneath. It's 100% stable. It's easy to remove the chickens from the cooker as well, leaving the can behind so it can cool before being thrown away.

We've used the metal skewers on the side for potato or veggies and it's great to have it all cook in one place at one time.

Can't recommend this one enough if you are looking to make beer bum chicken cooking easier.

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good price ,nice size ,two birds is better than one ,sturdy but if you do corn on the cob dont put it on at same time wait till chicken is closer to being done

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This rack does a great job keeping the beer can & the chicken upright. There is enough space to fit 2 birds on it at a time. My DH forgot to remove the black caps that protect errant fingers from getting poked on the potato spears, so they did get melted during the first use. Now we just have to be careful.

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.

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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!

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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.