Saturday, February 1, 2014

Mrs. Anderson's Baking Aluminum Pie Crust Shield Review

Mrs. Anderson?s Baking Pie Crust Shield, 10-Inch
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $6.99
Sale Price: $4.55
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My Pyrex pie plates are larger than standard. They're 10" pie plates instead of the usual 9" plates. So I figured that a 10" pie crust shield was what I needed: 10" plate, 10" shield, right?

Wrong. This 10" shield between one-half and one inch too small in diameter to fit what's called a 10" pie plate -which I learned, after getting out a ruler, is actually 11 inches from outer edge to outer edge. A 10" pie plate apparently has an *interior* measurement of 10 inches, and if the crust goes up onto the edge, then the crust ends up being more than 10" across.

So I'm going to keep looking... hoping... trying to find a substitute for making little tents with aluminum whenever I put a pie in the oven. Wish me luck: I think I'm going to need it.

Meanwhile, it will cost as much in return shipping as I paid for this pie shield, so I'm going to see if one of the neighbors wants it.

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I bought these because I was sick of creating foil shields on the pies I bake. I love that these slip perfectly on and off. However, I've found that since they're made of metal or aluminum, they actually conduct heat and cause the crust of the pie to darken faster than the center--which is exactly what I DIDN'T want it to do. That said, I have to admit that while the edges of my pies look darker than the rest, it hasn't come out burnt as it would if I were to bake the pie without any sort of shield.

I'm planning on buying another brand's--something made from silicone instead.

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I LOVE this product! I have been waiting all week for it to arrive, and it finally did today! I baked my pie (I've been anticipating this moment for days), and when it came out of the oven, there were no spills to clean up! And my crust, lets just say it was a perfect golden brown, light and flaky, mmmmmmm.......

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The shield is top quality and does a fantastic job. However, I'm using the 9" shield with my 8" pie plates. For a 9" pie plate, remember to order the 10" shield. But, I no longer have burnt pie crusts.

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I am a long time pie baker and usually make at least 20 pies around thanksgiving time. I used to use strips of cloth (old sheets etc) that had been wet and then wrapped around the fluted edge of pies to keep the fluted edge (usually on two crust pies) from getting too brown. But that sometimes ripped the edge off when you removed it. Then I used strips of aluminum foil, but those had trouble staying on. After that I had some disposable aluminum pie shields that someone gave me, but they were for 10" pies and my pies were 8 or 9" so I had to fold them down. After using each one many times, they were really cruddy. So when I saw these I thought I would try them. They came through great this thanksgiving and they washed up really well as well, so they should stand up to many uses. My only complaint (hence the 4 stars instead of the 5) is that they do not fit over the fluted edge of a 9" pie! On a pie, the fluted edge (properly done) is not inside the edge, but sitting ON the edge, so the pie shield needs to be a bit bigger than the size of the pie tin. These are 9 1/4" so you think this would be fine, right? But, no...if you measure a 9" pie tin, it is 9" from the inside. If you measure from edge to edge of the outside, it is closer to 10". So these shields worked great on my 8" Marie Callendar pie tins, but did NOT work on my 9" pie tins. The moral of the story is, you need to order the 10" size for your 9" pie plates. I have glass 9" pie plates and also the wonderful stainless steel pie plates that Amazon sells so inexpensively. Hope this helps.

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Progressive International 6.75 Inch Bamboo Steamer Baskets Reviews

Progressive International 6.75 Inch Bamboo Steamer Baskets
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $11.99
Sale Price: $11.25
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This is perfect for one or two people. You can put a decent-sized serving in each of the two layers, and the food comes out nicely steamed. If you're cooking for a family, go with a larger steamer.

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Exactly what I was looking for.... Bamboo steamers for individual use are hard to come by. I needed one that fit on top of the pan I use for boiling water. I had tried several Kitchen Supply Shops without success. I was so pleased when I found it on line.

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Living alone I did not need a large steamer. This one fits the bill just fine. Has allowed me to try some new recipes...

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Excellent quality for the money. I wish it would have come with instructions. But I easily found thousands on the web. Recommended for vegetables and fish.

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very good. i uses to love cooking chinese food and i still do. it fitted perfectly with my collection of pins. i wouldnt mind buying from this seller again someday.

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Eucalyptus Stoneware American Made Ceramic Bread and Fruit Basket Reviews

Eucalyptus Stoneware American Made Ceramic Bread and Fruit Basket, Round
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $51.00
Sale Price: $36.95
Today's Bonus: 28% Off
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Very happy with bowl. Looks like the picture. Nice size for fruit or whatever. Looks great on my kitchen table. Good quality and made in USA.

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This is just as pretty as it looksit is SOLID, not that delicate. it was shipped without a ton of packing, and it made it here without a crack. Don't think of using this on a small tableunless you use it as a centerpiece. It is not that small. I love it thoughI got a lovely sage color and it will go with almost all the china I have.

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Wilton Nonstick 12-Cavity Pan Review

Wilton 12 Cavity Nonstick Harvest Whoopie Pie Pan
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $11.99
Sale Price: $11.68
Today's Bonus: 3% Off
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While eating a bowl of strawberries last week and wishing I had pound cake and whipped cream to go with them, I had an epiphany for what to serve at my daughter's wedding open house little bundt cakes with strawberries and whipped cream! But did such a thing as a mini-bundt pan exist? I searched online and found that such a pan did indeed exist. I then armed myself with 40% off coupons for my two local craft supply stores, both of which are well stocked with Wilton pans. I quickly discovered that the mini bundt pan was apparently the only Wilton pan neither store carried :o( Thanks to Amazon, I could still get my pans and in only two days with free-super-saver shipping (the speed of shipping surprised me as usually super saver takes over a week) :o) I have made three different cake recipes using this pan. Two recipes gave me a thick batter that I had to spoon into the cavities. The third was a runnier batter that I poured in. According to the use directions that come with the pans, I sprayed the cavities with cooking spray before baking. When the cakes were done baking, I immediately inverted the entire pan on a cooking rack for 10 minutes. When I lifted the pan, I had varying results, based on the batter type. The thicker, spooned in batters worked great and there was absolutely no sticking. The thinner batter told a different tale. Even with the spray, many of the cakes stuck in the pans, completely or partially. These are great little pans for thick battered cakes but I do not recommend them for use with normal, runnier cake recipes.

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This is a fun product that results in beautifully shaped mini-flute cakes. Easy to fill and easy to release.

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For this to be an effective "sandwich" maker, the engineering and design should have been such that there were bunnies going the opposite way. You end up with a bunch of bunnies that are puffy on one side/flat on the other (as whoopie pies are supposed to be), but no way to sandwich them since they're all going the same way. You have to level one side of half the bunnies in order to sandwich them. I wish I'd thought about this before buying and using these pans. The cuteness overcame me, and I didn't stop and think. Hopefully you will and just avoid this product altogether until Wilton re-engineers it. It is not a good design concept to think you can make something as intricate as a bunny shape for a sandwich cookie design and not consider how they'll come together in the end.

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I used the family rum cake recipe to make mini-cakes over the holidays for friends. The pan only needed to be prepped with a light shot of PAM and the cakes fell right out after they were cooked. I've always had good results with Wilton products. Clean up is simple.

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Thought this would be great to make cute little champagne cakes in but even with non stick spray the little cake tore apart. Not happy with this product at all!

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Buy All Clad T220 Stainless Steel Double-Sided Liquid Measuring Beaker

All Clad T220 Stainless Steel Double-Sided Liquid Measuring Beaker with Measurements in Ounces, Cups and Millimeters, Specialty Cookware, Silver
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $34.99
Sale Price: $34.95
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I received this beaker for Christmas and am very happy with it. It is much bigger than the photo indicates and has measuring capabilities on both sides. I won't put it in the dishwasher for cleaning, but it's very easily cleaned with sponge and hot soapy water.

I only take a star off because it is another All Clad item that is made in China and not the U.S.A. I don't understand why All Clad ships off their specialty items to China for production.

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This cleverly designed beaker replaced my glass measuring cup. I love being able to fill and see the line from above instead of bending down to fill as I did with the glass beaker. Easier on my back. It says it's dishwasher safe but I only hand wash it. I wouldn't dare put it in the dishwasher. I don't want any of the measurement marks to fade off. I need a jeweler's loop because I can't tell if they engraved or stamped ink.

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I received my measuring beaker today, I love it, and I know it's going to have lots of use. I've had my eye on these for a long time, the price was right and ordered it right away. The reason I love it so much, is because many years ago my mother had a beaker like this, but hers had blue paint on the outside and it wasn't stainless steel. I wish I was as good a cook as she was, her beaker was noticably worn from years of use, her favorite measure I'm sure.

I love everything about this beaker, the quality is excellent, it looks attractive and I like the two ends for measuring. With a straight sided measuring jug, you can't look down at the measurements, like with this. Here are the measurements on the beaker.

SMALL END OF BEAKER

CUPS

1 tablespoon, 1/8 cup, 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup.

OUNCES

1 oz, 2 oz, 3 oz, and 4 oz.

ML

25 ml, 50 ml, 75 ml and 100 ml

LARGE END OF BEAKER

CUPS

1/2 cup, 3/4 cup, 1 cup, 1 1/2 cups and 2 cups

OZ

4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz, 14 oz, and 16 oz

ML

100 ml, 150 ml, 200 ml, 250 ml, 300 ml, 350 ml, 400 ml, 450 ml and 500 ml

On the box it says that it is dishwasher safe, and has a lifetime warranty. This makes me confident that the numbers may not wear off. They don't look painted, but when I run my finger along them, they feel smooth like the rest of it, no engraving. I can't wait to use it.

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Clear, clean, simple to view measurement graduation and use. Nice design, metal work and finish. Rolled lips pour liquids smoothly and provide easy control. I believe the measurement lines are laser etched on the metal but I may be mistaken. They appear to be accurate, high contrast, and are cleanly done. I expect this measuring beaker will be very well maintained with hand wash and dry. In the dishwasher your mileage may vary. Recommended!

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I LOVE All-Clad and own their Copper-Core line. I like this Double-Sided Measuring Beaker, but I failed to notice the product Dimensions and was expecting the item to be much smaller. Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 5.3 x 6.7 inches ; 9 pounds

It's nice, and I'm sure I will still get use out of it, however it doesn't have the same All-clad feel to it. It's made in China

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Buy Max Burton 6530 ProChef 3000-Watt Commercial Induction Cooktop

Max Burton 6530 ProChef 3000-Watt Commercial Induction Cooktop
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $408.00
Sale Price: $266.18
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Pros:

Cooks/Boils things very quickly.

It does run cool and is easy to clean.

Not outrageously priced.

A fantastic hot, fast, heat.

Cons:

I bought this based on claims induction cookers compare to gas. NOT SO, this unit at least. Not even close. Sure, I hate waiting for pots to heat up. But I also want to do things like slow cook, hold items at temp for serving, etc. So, what's wrong with the picture?

It will scorch, even on lowest power and 140F. You can't hold anything for a period of time without regular stirring, except water.

It will auto-shutoff, even if you do not have the timer set. Nothing cooks for more than 170 minutes, period.

All power settings below 1800W are "pulsed".

Overall:

I bought this because I miss gas and it is not available in my new home. I wanted to do slow cooking, mostly. Set the pot at 180, low, and let it go. Alas, it can't be done. I'd even go so far and turn to a double boiler, but no, auto-shutoff put a solid end to that idea.

I think accurate temp hold is be a rather important detail in the Commercial environment. I also don't know any commercial outfit wanting to fiddle with their equipment as much as this unit demands.

I really WANT this thing to work. It just isn't all that it should be.

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I have used this for 3 months now, installed a 220v outlet in my kitchen to get the extra power that 3000w affords. It makes a HUGE difference. This is a well made unit for a VERY reasonable price and works exactly like professional induction cooktops from CookTek etc at a fraction of the price. The ONLY thing I don't love about it is the touch glass controls which require multiple presses to get the setting you want. A good old fashioned dial is the best control. However that doesn't take a star off of this workhorse that literally boils water in 10 seconds. This is a godsend for boiling water for pasta (which takes ages on a gas or electric stove), and for deep frying to keep the oil perfectly hot even as you add more food. When purchasing pans for this unit, make sure to bring a small magnet with you to test the bottom of the pan for ferromagnetic compatibility. I have purchased SEVERAL pans from local stores that SAID they were stainless steel, but did not work at all with this unit. Iron fry pans always work well, though.

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I have the Max Burton 1800 watt unit and is the only thing I use, I have had it for 3 years now with not one issue. I thought I would upgrade to the 3000 watt unit and I did, the unit is very solid, gets things hot and boils large amounts of water like you would not believe, but the display was not clear as the picture shows, but when I complained to the company at that time they were prompt in their response and offered on with a good display (that was not a deal breaker for me) actually their customer support was what anyone would wish for.

One of the reasons I returned it is what another reviewer mentioned and that is 1800 watt setting and below is pulse and I believe it is 1800 watt hot per pulse, and the reason I say that is when comparing boiling water in equal size pans and amounts of water on the 1800 watt unit and the 3000 watt unit at low temps the smaller unit does not cause nearly the boil the large one causes.

The other reason which for me was the deal breaker was the fact that the units heating area was very small, if you use a 12in skillet and heat water in it you will see a 5 to 5.5in ring that produces the heat and that is a ring that is no more than 1" wide, it is not even a solid circle of a heating area, that to me is a flaw I could not deal with, I could have dealt with the pulse issue if the heating area was like 10" and solid, I would have not worried about it then. The current configuration is a great one for many I am sure but for controlled/even cooking I don't believe this works well.

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This is a great way to cook, but only if you take the time to learn how to use it. I have been using it for about 3 weeks and have been discovering new approaches with each use. This is not like cooking on a regular cooktop. Upon purchase the first thing that I did was to test how fast it would boil water. Using a half liter of water and the same pan I boiled water with our gas range that has a 15000 btu burner. It took 5min 45 seconds. With this cooktop it took 1 minute and 30 seconds or 38% of the time for the gas burner. I also spent time boiling water with various pots and pans to get a sense of how it performed. Its strong point is it speed and control. Start boiling water and turn it off and almost immediately it stops boiling. it is not perfect. The digital controls are not quick. you have to press the up button 9 times to bring it up to high speed. It also has a tendency to concentrate the heat to a 4" circle in the center, even with cast iron pots. To use effectively with delicate foods you have to start with a very low setting and bring the temperature up otherwise you will simply burn the item. For recipes thing that require a large pot of boiling water like pasta it has no equal. I am very glad that I bought it.

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This product is very powerful. I've used it a couple of times and it has treated me well. I'm glad I purchased it. The only issue I had was the plug. It was not what I expected. This is a standard 20 amp plug. Up until now, I didn't have one of these receptacles in my house. After having an electrician over for a quick switch all is well.

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Review of Mirro A7979784 Get A Grip Aluminum Nonstick 10-Inch Fry Pan / Saute

Mirro A7979784 Get A Grip Aluminum Nonstick 10-Inch Fry Pan / Saute Pan with Glass Lid Cover Cookware, Black
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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It's really good product. It fits to my pans' set, and to electric range I use. Through glass cover I clearly see the meal under frying, so I can control process easily. Teflon cover inside pan is strong and pan cleaning is very simple.

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The pan works well. But the handle gets loose, and wobbles no matter how well you tighten the single screw that holds it in place.

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This pan came with its bottom screwed up...did not turn it back cause I am lazy to do so.

I notice that on the heat, the teflon cover started to have small bubbles and after few times using it, the teflon started to come out...as I know, teflon could cause cancer. I throw it away. Hope to find a better pan.

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I wanted a nonstick fry pan with a glass lid and plastic handle, and found it surprisingly difficult to find one. There were plenty that were part of sets but I could not find an individual one, until I came across this Mirro product.

It has performed perfectly. The knob on the lid is conveniently large, it has a nice depth, and the handle is comfortable to use. The pan is also remarkably light.

The instructions advise not putting it in a dishwasher, but I have ignored that, due to inexcusable laziness. I suppose I will get less use out of it as a result, but that's my choice.

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Bought it as a replacement for the same Mirro 10" pan purchased 7 years ago. When compared side by side, the new pan is 1/8" smaller in diameter, the wall is 30% thinner and the whole weight is reduced by 30%.

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