J.A. Henckels Twinshear Kitchen Shears Reviews

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List Price: $46.00
Sale Price: $31.50
Today's Bonus: 32% Off

After over 10 years of use, my Henckels shears look and function the same as the day I bought them. They have yet to need sharpening, and the semi-matte sheen of the handles is in pristine condition.

Two points to remember: Don't try to cut metal items with them, it will ruin their cutting edge, and dishwasher use is not recommended.

The blades are great for everything from plant stems to raw fish and chicken, and the tips of the blades are very sharp and will get into tight places. For instance, it's the perfect instrument for preparing artichokes, from neatly cutting the thorny tips, to getting inside to the fuzzy center.

Being left-handed, I appreciate its balance, and ambidexterousness, and I think no matter what your hand size, your fingers will fit comfortably.

A function I use a lot is the serrated inner grip for opening bottles and small jars...it does the job better than anything else I've used.

For garden, kitchen, or workplace, they will cut just about anything non-metallic, they're easy to clean, attractive to look at, and will serve you well for many years if used as intended.

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I use these at least once a day. One of the more useful qualities of the scissors is that you can easily take them apart for a thorough cleaning and then reassemble them.

They've stood up well to two years of cutting apart chickens, trimming flowers, slicing boxes and all around opening of food packaging.

On top of that, I took them in for sharpening with our other househpold scissors and was told that the edge was fine on them and they didn't really need to be worked on.

Another fine quality product from Henckels.

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I have had these shears for over 10 years they have withstood everything. I put them in the dishwasher regularly without any problems. They are as sharp as the day I bought them. I have had other less expensive shears and scissors during the same time they just don't stand up to the use/abuse that these do.

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We have a complete Henckels Four Star knife set put together over time. There is not a better kitchen tool set available at any price.

The Kitchen Shears were the last item we added. They compliment the knives perfectly and work just as well. Feel solid and secure in your hand and can cut everything from coupons in the Sunday paper to heavy string or plastic. Hold their edge very well.

An excellent kitchen tool.

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These little things from off the rack at Target can't be beat. I was all set to buy a set of forged, high end shears for triple the price. Glad I bought these on a lark. Never fail, always strong, cant be beat. Handles are confortable, and I don't worry about pinching any skin when I use them.

Review of Breville BJE820XL Juice Fountain Duo Dual Disc Juicer

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List Price: $499.99
Sale Price: $388.45
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

Dual disc juicer when compared to 800JEXL is superior in features in many ways. Just to list a few

1) Motor is 1200 watts against 1000 watts in 800JEXL

2) Rotary speed dial with speeds 1 to 5Higher for harder fruits & vegetables compared to flip switch achieving two speeds in 800JEXL

3) Ability to make soft fruit smoothies in dual disc in addition to juicing anything

4) 3.5" dia feeder compared to 3" in 800JEXL.

I use it daily for vegetable juice on week days and fruit smoothies on weekends.

I use those vegetables in juicing which otherwise I generally donot eat.

For example

One large tomato, two stems of celery, one large carrot, half lime or lemon and a small piece of ginger

With lime, I donot need to add salt. With this pure juice, I have stopped taking V8 juice.

For week end, I use smoothies made from banana & seasonal fruits like berries and non fat milk and if needed, I add mango pulp.

Very fast in juicing and very easy to clean even during week day before work.

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My wife and I are "first time juicers"Why didn't I try this years ago? :)

I wanted a well-made, high quality juicer that was easy to clean and did the job well. I didn't want a marginal unit I'd have to trade up from. (Hint from others: Buy a good one the first time.)

This model Breville works VERY well. Thorough clean-up and drying takes five minutes max and assembly and dis-assembly is cake: Pop the big chrome bail arm 90 degrees and the top shroud comes off, revealing the cutter assembly and stainless juicer shroud. All pop loose and wash easily. After rinsing, I wipe the parts down with a dish towel and leave them sitting on a Sham-wow to dry while I enjoy my juice. My wife finds it easy to use and juicing up a huge mound of veggies and fruits takes maybe a minute once the items are ready to go. My wife thinks it's actually fun to use this machine. Me too.

The motor hardly sags under even the hardest fruits (green apple seems to be the tougher of the fruits we have tried) but, when it does, the speed sensing circuitry adds power to the motor to keep it at the set speed. The speed control knob is an infinitely variable type. Most of what we do works very well on low speed. The motor assembly is nicely heavy and this adds considerable stability when juicing harder fruits and veggies. (The last small piece of an item may slide under the juicer shroud and into the basket which momentarily puts the basket out of balance. That is normal.) The weight of the machine never makes the unit "wobbly" or unstable. Yet, the machine is not too heavy for my wife to move around the counter easily. (Comments about the gap between the chute and basket edge are not exactly correct. You have to have a space between the chute and the basket/grinder to allow ground material to exit the grinding process and pass into the basket where the juice is extracted. We have found the number of large pieces in the waste bucket few and far between.)

The plastic parts are extremely well made and heavy duty. The clear lid is thick and strong. The waste bucket fits nicely under the lid, holding it in place so you never get "veggie parts" flying around your kitchen. This model comes with a nice clear juice pitcher (not pictured in the web pic) that nestles under the angled juice spout (tube).

As one rater above recommended, "Just buy this one and you will love it." I did and I sure do. Haven't tried the other cutter head for smoothies yet but it's so easy to change heads.

Again, if you can swing this model, buy in confidence. This thing is heirloom quality and will work for decades. The quality work on the stainless juicing shroud alone is a work of art (for techno geeks).

(I am a tech and tool guy who appreciates the quality of a nicely designed and manufactured tool. I have been a wood worker for 40 years, using all types of power tools and machinery. But, even if you aren't, you'll find this device easy and fun to use. My wife enjoys using it and finds it easy to operate and clean.)

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This is one of the best purchases I've made at Amazon. The Breville BJE820XL Dual Disc Juice Processor is an upgraded Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite which doubles as both a premium quality juicer and juice processor.

I decided to get into juicing again after a multi-year hiatus due to having a baby girl and wanting to wean her off formula. Note that in 2003 I owned the ever-popular Jack Lalanne Power Juicer which ultimately was a disappointment and took me away from juicing for several years. I spent over two weeks researching different brands, makes and models of juicers before deciding on this product. Although it is somewhat more expensive than many of the centrifugal juicers on the market, if you intend to make good use of your juicer, you will not be disappointed.

When I unpacked the product from the box, I was immediately impressed. The Breville BJE820XL assembles and disassembles easily in 5 steps that are clearly explained in the owner's manual. The juicer base (which houses its powerful 1200-watt motor) is a heavy, brushed metallic stainless steel construction. The juicer can be assembled to operate as a centrifugal juicer, which will separate the fibers contained in fruits and vegetables from the juice, or as a juice processor, which liquifies soft fruits without separating the fibers. My father has always said that to maintain your health you should "eat your fruit and drink your vegetables." With this appliance, you can stay true to this saying but have the convenience of drinking both!

The Jack Lalanne Power Juicer doesn't hold a candle to the Breville BJE820XL. The Breville's rock solid construction, stainless steel material, powerful motor, ultra-wide feed tube and easy assembly / disassembly make it worth every penny. This juicer has five speed settings -although Breville only recommends using the lowest setting with the puree assembly. It is fairly quiet at the lowest setting, used for soft fruits like grapes and citrus; but at its highest setting, it sounds like an industrial strength power drill. This isn't a problem in my book as I'll take the power over quiet any day. With such a solid product, my only real complaint is that I wish it came with a longer warranty. Unless you buy an extended service plan, you are only covered under Breville's one-year limited warranty.

If there is one thing I'd like to highlight about this product is how easy it is to CLEAN. Each part separates from the base easily and cleanly, and you can clean the entire thing by rinsing, EXCEPT for the juicing disc which requires soap and the included brush to ensure it stays free of lingering fiber. In the mornings, it takes me a grand total of fifteen minutes to prep the fruit, juice it using the Breville BJE820XL, and clean up after myself. With fifteen minutes, my 14-month old daughter has FRESH FRUIT JUICE ALL DAY!

Can't recommend it any higher! Five stars!

Adam

Orlando, FL

UPDATE 3/17/12: After almost a year, this device is still going strong with heavy use. I now also have a 2-month old baby boy who isn't enjoying juice quite yet, but in about six months I will let him try!

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program In today's world, the term "commercial grade" is tossed around very casually. Often it's just a marketing tool to make you think an item is built to a higher standard than it acutally is. However, in this case, even though Breville does not use the words, I could think of no better term to describe this beast.

You know you have a real product here when you take it out of the box. It's HEAVY. Not ridiculously heavy, not too heavy to move, just sturdy and well made. When you turn it on, you can hear and almost feel the power this device is going to bring to the task at hand.

The juice this makes is great, you can control the pulp that you get, or don't get.

We have owned cheaper juicers in the past, but honestly that is like comparing apple juice and orange juice (pun intended) there is simply no comparison.

You will not regret for one moment making this purchase! I recommend this juicer without hesitation or reservation.

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I had high hopes when I ordered this juicer but I can state here that I am not impressed by the performance once I received it. I bought mine "refurbished" or should I say 'returned'? from geekdeal, one of the Breville authorized dealers, on ebaY. It came with one year manufacturers warranty and frankly does not look like the previous owner used it at all. There was a note pasted under the motor housing that says "tested and Cleaned".

Now I know what you might be thinking: gee if it was refurbished it must have been defective. But no this machine works just like similar Breville machines I have seen.

The Positives:

This machine is thoughtfully designed and everything assembles and fits perfectly. It can win an award in the aesthetic category. The stainless steel finish makes cleaning a snap. It even comes with a brush that also doubles as a spatula but I prefer to clean the screen with OXO Good Grips Soap Squirting Dish Brush. Juice container cover has a built in froth separator. The wide feed chute make juicing less of a hassle as you can juice a whole fruit without cutting it to smaller pieces. It has 1200 watts motor with variable speed which makes it a very fast juicer. The puree disc works as it is supposed to even though I doubt most people would ever use it.

The Negatives:

This juicer is less efficient than my 12 yrs old Juiceman JR which cost considerably less when I purchased it. The Breville leaves much of carrot, celery and greens unprocessed. The main reason for it I believe is that this machine and indeed much of the Breville elite lines (at least the ones I have checked out) has a wide gap clearance between the end of the feed tube and the juice disc. This is a fundamental design flaw. This is excerbated by the high revolution rate of the juice disc which invariably throws much of the fruits and veges into the pulp basket unprocessed (See some of the images I uploaded in the customers image section). There is also a loud slapping sound towards the end of the juicing cycle whenever you push the last fruit all the way through. It produces a lot of foam and hence the need for the froth separator.

Another negative which may be inherent in the power of this machine is that it is very loud when processing at the full speed. I thought my Vitamix Super 5000 is loud but boy this Breville is definitely louder at full speed.

Final Thought:

If I had paid full price for this juicer I would have returned it for full refund. I am sure the reason there is a lot of refurbished Breville juicers for sale is because a lot of buyers are dissatisfied with their performance overall. In my opinion they are not worth the full price but if you can buy them used or refurbished then go for it so long as you are aware of the aforementioned limitations. Better still buy the less expensive Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite 1000-Watt Juice Extractor

What I have done to improve on the performance is by selecting one speed less than the recommended setting and to not push the pusher all the way through till the last batch of fruits and veges are inserted into the feed tube. This later maneuver greatly reduces and postpones that annoying slapping sound till the end of the juicing cycle.

I will keep this Machine but will eventually upgrade to Super Angel 5500 Stainless Steel Living Juice Extractor Machine Super Heavy Duty Juicer: Juices Fruits, Vegetables, Leafy Greens, Wheatgrass

If I am in the market right now for a new stainless steel centrifugal juicer I would purchase the less expensive 1000 watts Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite 1000-Watt Juice Extractor instead.

I posted some pictures on the product main page.

Pyrex Easy Grab 4-Piece Value Pack, includes 1-ea 3-qt Oblong Review

Customer Ratings:

Several of you have blasted Pyrex concerning their "shatter" problem and stating they would now be switching to Anchor Hocking.

I suggest you read this first, particularly paragraph 5.I will repeat the relevant paragraph.....

"The End of Borosilicate the Start of Exploding Pyrex?

Corning currently licenses the use of the Pyrex brand name to World Kitchen LLC for sale in the United States, having sold its Pyrex cookware manufacturing to Borden KKR in 1997. The other main competitor in this field is Anchor Hocking Glass Co., which has made a similar soda lime silicate glass product for over 60 years. Both World Kitchen and Anchor Hocking now use the soda lime silicate glass instead of the original Pyrex borosilicate glass composition."

I read another article on MSNBC less than 2 weeks ago that devoted time to a discussion of the "instructions" for using this glass cookware and just how easy it is for those who fail to heed these instructions to end up with shattered glass.

I am not suggesting that all instances of shattered glass are user error but I personally know people who have misused this cookware and had it explode. The most common problem is attempting to roast a chicken or other meat by adding NO or insufficient liquid to the cookware. If the bottom of the cookware becomes dry, yes, it could explode. Glass cookware is not the same as a roasting pan.

One should either heed the instructions carefully or should consider not buying glass cookware at all. It is obvious our glass cookware, Pyrex or A-H, is not the same as years ago and the rules have changed.

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I was diffident about making this purchase, considering some of the negative reviews about the so called "new Pyrex" and its propensity for breakage, or as some people so graphically described it, explosions. Eventually though, it was the competitive price point, the covers, the sizes, and of course, the brand that made me risk it.

And I'm glad I did. I've been using it for a solid month or so now, and pretty frequently at that. No breakage, no damage, no cracking, no overheating, no destroyed meals or lacerated body parts. Just good, evenly heated, food. And a nice looking cooking utensil.

About the covers not fitting, again, something I did not experience. Maybe I got lucky, I like to hope that happens some times, but if my experience were any indication, it might be worth taking the risk. Shipped quickly and in perfect condition.

P.S: I hope I haven't jinxed it.

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Purchased this two months ago. Baked with it twice. But today, while cooking a chicken in a conventional oven the glass baking dish exploded into many pieces. What a shock. My mother used Pyrex and never had this happen. Just grateful it didn't explode around the kids. After this happened, found it online as a common occurrence. Pyrex should not be able to sell their exploding bakewear to unsuspecting consumers.

Followup: Pyrex has a designated hotline taking phone calls from distressed customers. The person is nice, compassionate and sent me extra items besides replacing the dish. However,

I don't think there should be ANYTHING in our kitchen that could shatter glass everywhere without warning and possibly injure someone. They have known about this for a long time.

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I was quite pleased when I came across this two pack. I've yet to be disappointed by the quality of Pyrex products and I felt that being able to purchase two casserole dishes for under $20 was a nice deal. One thing that initially put me off about them was the unusual design of the plastic lid, but after one use with the 3qt oblong made me realize that it does a good job of what it was designed for. Keeping things in. They do tend to sit fairly close to the top of the casserole, if you are making something that fills the dish and is particularly messy, you may want to keep that in mind. In general, I'm happy with the purchase.

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First use of this "Pyrex" 3 Qt Oblong purchased through Amazon involved preparation of a simple dish of scalloped potato with pork chops. The "handle" section of the dish made it too large for the 3 quart oblong to fit in my large microwave. Had to use an old Pyrex 3 quart dish to do the microwave cooking. Put the 2 quart in the pre-heated oven on bake at 375 degrees bake the chops and finish off the meal preparation. At approximately 5 minutes, the sound from the oven, a small explosion, told us all was not well. We ended up with a chunky glass scalloped potato mix coating the racks and interior surfaces of the oven. My old Pyrex dishes and bowls have been used in the same manner with never a hitch. Perhaps I mis-understood and this "Pyrex" product is just an expensive substitute for tupperware and intended for storage use in the refrigerator only!

Buy Bayou Classics Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Aluminum Basket

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List Price: $110.00
Sale Price: $92.99
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

Got a fantastic deal on this with FREE SHIPPING. Whoo-Hoo! (This thing weighs a ton.)

Well made and solid. It does have a tendency to list a bit (off balance) when lifted by the handle (assuming you could, in fact, lift it when full).

This works great on open fires, grill, gas and electric burners, and especially our induction cooktop. I can cook corn on the cob for a whole party (and have on numerous occasions). Its great for gobs of chili too.

Haven't used it for deep frying. Too much oil to fill it (i.e., haven't had the need yet).

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This would be a great product, if you can actually get one UNDAMAGED from Amazon. I received the first pot, with a small crack in the lid, so I requested a replacement from Amazon (Ohh and the first pot had been returned and re-sent to about a half dozen people, as indicated by the half dozen different UPS labels all over the box.. Beware of Amazon resending damaged goods!)

The second pot came in, RUSTED and with a HUGE crack down the entire side. OK, Amazon, get a clue. Obviously the thin cardboard box these 50lb pots come in is NOT enough padding to prevent shipping damage.

You can get these same pots for the same price from Target or Home Depot, so maybe I'll try there since all Amazon would do is refund my money after pot #2 came in damaged..

These pots are not pre-seasoned, which is a bit of a pain (and hence, my 2nd pot came in with lots of rust.)

And, Amazon, re-shipping damaged goods to other people, hoping they won't notice the "small" crack, is really unethical.. Buyer beware of Amazon :< I never realized they would do something like that, and it really dropped my opinion of Amazon.

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We have been looking for a Dutch Oven this size for about 5 months. We really liked the Bayou Classic because the lid is actually functional. The reason we have not purchased before is the shipping was almost as much as the oven. Super Saver Shipping saved the day. Oven is of good quality, not quite like they used to make them in Grandma's day. We have been pleased so far.

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This is great heavy duty pot for a very low price. I've used it so far to cook a pineapple upside down cake on coals and stew. It worked very well, even without the usual camping legs. This made in China pot has many minor pits and defects in the cooking surface but cooks well after two rounds of seasoning.

Here are a few minor issues I had with the pot that caused me to give it 4 stars. The lid has a loop handle that is really set up for a lid lifter. Removing the lid with a pot holder is risky, since the lid is so very heavy. The pot comes coated with wax to prevent rusting in shipment. It is very hard to fully get the wax off, requiring several cycles of heating and soapy rinse. The thin wire handles are the only secure way to lift the pot when full but its awkward and painful.

The pot is great but the difficulty of the first cleaning has me looking at preseasoned pot for the future.

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This dutch oven is made well. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that the thickness on the sides is a little inconsistent. It appears to be a little thicker in some areas. This doesn't interfere with the use of the product nor the quality of items cooked.

Review of Microhearth 1.5-Quart Nonstick 4-piece Everyday Pan Set

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List Price: $49.95
Sale Price: $37.82
Today's Bonus: 24% Off

I have a MicroHearth Grill that I purchased a month ago and I loved it so when I saw this set I decided to try and and I am more than statisfied. I haven't tried the baking pan yet, but I love everything else. The boiled eggs come out great and are so easy to make. The sandwiches are perfect and no messy clean-up. No splatters on the stove. I now use my microwave for more than popcorn and heating water. The price at Amazon was lower than any other place. The recipe book has lots of recipes. My next thing is going to be the pizza.

Shirley

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I do like this product very much--it just isn't quite as versatile as the description indicates. I have a 1300 watt microwave, which means that I burned my first few attempts at using the pan. Not a huge problem, but a bit wasteful. The main "wish it were different" issue is the amount of steam that collects in the pan. One layer of potatoes cooked in oil should crisp, but after I turn them, they are a bit soggy if browned, and not browned if cooked for less time. I can live with that--this pan allows me to have roasted food without overheating my kitchen with a regular oven. After doing without roast veggies last summer, this pan is worth the money for that dish alone.

T-fal Simply Delicioso Express Stainless Steel Dishwasher Safe Review

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This is a nice pressure cooker, but it only reaches 12 PSI. If you are new to pressure cooking, all recipes you will find will follow a default PSI of 15 PSI for High Pressure. So if you use a T-FAL Pressure Cooker you will need to increase the time by 20%. This obviously defeats the purpose of saving time and in turn you run the risk of burning meat on the bottom and loosing flavor and energy because of the extra cooking time. Try and go for a cooker that reaches 15 PSI.

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I have always used a pressure cooker as did my Mom before me but I had always had an aluminum one. I have decided to upgrade all my cookware to stainless steel to avoid any issue that cooking with aluminum may cause. I was pleased to find a steel pressure cooker made by Tfal since it is a brand that I knew as a quality brand. I have used it several times since I purchased it and have been very pleased with the way it works. I like that it has two settings, basically a high and low that other pressure cookers don't have. It is quieter than other pressure cookers since it does not have a weight that jiggles while it is cooking. I would definitely recommend it as a quality product.

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This is the first pressure cooker I ever used and I was a bit nervous at first. I read the instructions over and over and when I did the initial water boil, I realized how easy it was going to be and man was it ever. The pot roast and vegetables turned out great too. Great buy and really super easy to use and clean. I will say that it is a bit on the heavy side and I bought the small one. If you are cooking for a family, get a larger size. Perfect for two.

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I was surprised at how heavy and well built this cooker was. Easy to use and does a great job. Clean-up is a snap too. I would recommend this product. The quality and price makes this mid-size pressure cooker a good buy. I'm sure you will like it.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The Package

One of the Product Features for this item is, "Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging." What this means is they take the box containing the pressure cooker off the shelf, slap a mailing label on it, and stick it in the mail. My box came looking like they played football with it, but the contents were fine. If yours comes this way and the pot is dented DO NOT use it. Exchange it. Note: I only mention the packaging because it is listed as a "feature" in the product description.

The Pressure Cooker

There is little to distinguish this pressure cooker from most of the others on the market, and that's not a bad thing. It has heavy stainless steel construction with a thick disc bottom which is induction capable. The handle is comfortable and the helper handle is conveniently placed. As with many other units, a steamer basket and trivet are provided. Though I would never buy cookware on style, I must say the maroon plastic bits on this unit are nice looking.

I compared this cooker with my Fagor UCook which I have had for four years. Like the T-Fal, the Fagor is dual pressure. Unlike the Fagor, which is 8/15 psi, the T-Fal is 7/12 psi. Most pressure cooker recipes are written for 15 psi cookers, so in theory the T-Fal should take a bit longer to cook things. In reality, not so much.

The lid on the Fagor locks automatically when you rotate it into place. The T-Fal lid must be locked manually. I thought this would be a safety concern, allowing the pot to operate with the lid unlocked. I discovered, however, the pot will not pressurize with the lid unlocked. When there is pressure in the pot, a small pin pops up to let you know. On the Fagor, this pin is a contrasting yellow and extends above the surrounding plastic so it is easily seen. On my T-Fal this pin is the same color as all the other plastic bits, and even when the pot is under pressure this pin is below the surface of the surrounding parts. You really have to look for it.

The safety valve comes out for easy cleaning, but requires a bit of fiddling to get it in and out. The Fagor's goes in and out smoothly.

The food I prepared in this pressure cooker came out just fine...the same as with my other ones.

Recipe Booklet

While it comes with over 50 included recipes, only 5 are Ingrid Hoffman's secret recipes.

Celebrity Endorsed

With few exceptions, celebrity endorsed products tend to have a short shelf life, making parts hard to come by in the future. J&R already appears to be closing out the line. Also, part of the price of the unit goes back to the celebrity, so it is not as good a value as a non-endorsed brand.

I don't know who Ingrid Hoffman is. So much for being impressed with her endorsement.

Bottom Line

There isn't anything that really sets this pressure cooker apart from any other one on the market today. It cooks as well as any other and has the same basic features. Overall, though, I would not recommend you or anyone else buy this brand. Why?

Warranty. While the pot is warranted for 10 years, the rest of the parts are only one. Even a Presto for about half the price is fully warranted for five. Others in this price range are 10 or more.

Warranty service. T-fal doesn't list this or any other pressure cooker on its Web site, so I wonder about service and the availability of parts.

Replacement Parts. T-fal recommends replacing the gasket yearly. I was unable to find anyone on line who carries replacement parts for this unit.

Cheap Anolon Advanced Bronze Nonstick 11-Inch Covered Deep Round Grill Pan

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List Price: $50.00
Sale Price: $42.49
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

As with other Analon cookware I own this grill pan does not disappoint. Whether you are cooking on the stove top or finishing something in the oven with it this pan works great and creates those awesome grill marks we all like. As with other Analon Bronze Collection cookware the best part about this pan is the cleanup! Nothing sticks to these pans and hand washing them is a breeze. I definitely recommend this product!

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I like this pan. It doesn't replace my favorite, but is a good daily purpose pan. It cooks evenly and requires less cooking oil.

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I really like the pan and it is easy to clean. The pan heats up quick and doesnt burn food.

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The last time I purchased a set of cookware, I bought the entire set and then wasn't happy with it. This time I decided to purchase just one piece and see how I like it, BEFORE purchasing an entire set and spending a lot of money on something I don't even like. I will be buying the entire set of this cookware!

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I recommend this product to anyone who does a lot of cooking. The teflone spreads the heat as advertised. Good

Cuisinart CROW-25B Oval Cookware Rack Reviews

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List Price: $160.00
Sale Price: $67.99
Today's Bonus: 58% Off

Among pot racks, some hang from the ceiling and others mount on the wall. This Cuisinart Oval Rack mounts on the wall and is exactly what I wanted since I'm still apartment-living (I don't have a big kitchen). In other words, it's a great space saver and fits almost anywhere. I've hung it over my stove once, and now have over my sink. The rack is made of solid stainless steel and is strong enough to hold any pot, so long as it is mounted properly. Make sure it is mounted into the studs inside the wall. So, installing it can be tricky if you're not familiar with a drill and stud-finder. The one problem is that the unit has three predetermined holes for mounting and you'll be lucky if two holes match the location of the studs. I'm extra cautious (and I live in earthquake country) so I mount to a solid somewhat longer peice of wood, then mount that wood to the wall. The unit comes in two pieces and is shiny and sleek. It gives a "Gourmet Cook" impression. It comes with five or six pot hooks (I can't remember) but that's plenty giving the overall size of the unit. I would buy it again.

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Love the size and simplicity of this pot rack for my medium size kitchen. Looks better in my kitchen than the picture. Very durable and easy to install. I spent waaay too much time researching this product, and this was a great price.

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I really like this rack a lot. It suited my needs. I have high ceilings so had to find one that went against the wall as apposed to hanging from the ceiling. It holds 5 or 6 pots and pans easily and looks nice and organized. It is very simple and not bulky.

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We are moving into a house with a small kitchen and it was great moving our pots and pans out of the cupboard. We ordered extra hooks (6 just wasn't enough) and even hang our lids!! The rack is very sturdy-we have cast iron fry pan hanging on it.

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Sturdy and attractive system for displaying my finest stainless cookware. Easy to install by even the most novice. Still shine after months of use.

Best Waring Pro DHR30 Professional Dehydrator Deals

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List Price: $130.00
Sale Price: $67.99
Today's Bonus: 48% Off

This dehydrator is especially easy to use, and handles a very wide range of products. It's well made, quiet in operation and attractive enough to leave out on the counter.

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the 1st day i got this machine i dried bananas, pineapples, apples and mangoes...the result was awesome. so the next time i did plantains, pumpkin and five finger(starfruit)and i was excellent. i told everyone about it! it works well, isnt very noisy and is very easy to clean. gonna do some veggies next then try a fruit leather :)

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I have been meaning to write a review for this product i LOVE LOVE LOVE it! my fave are the kale chips, but i have made apples bannanas and tomtoes. Its quite and easy to clean. It comes with a fruit roll up sheet which I have not used yet but I will update as soon as I do.

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I bought this dehydrator locally because it was almost $20 cheaper, but at the time it was in my cart here in Amazon. I got this as a replacement dehydrator because the Nesco one I did have was just too noisy and got to the point that I didn't want to use it because of the noise level. The Waring Pro dehydrator is very quiet compared to other dehydrators I have heard in use. It doesn't take as long time wise for the drying to complete and is easy to clean up. Well built and very sturdy. My old dehydrator we had to use on the top of the stove because it would heat the counter top and left a dull mark, this one does not heat the counter and leaves no marks where it sits either.

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Item just as described. Simple to use and instructions easy to understand.Dehydrator is easy to clean up after use.I would recommend this product to my friends.

Reviews of simplehuman Slim Dishrack, Stainless Steel

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Overall we loved this dishrack at first... very sleek, and didn't find the problems mentioned in other reviews (size of rack vs. plastic sheet that catches the water and directs it to your sink). But after about 10 months we ran into what we consider the BIG problem with this rack: the drainage "gutter" underneath, which directs it to the stainless steel lip that directs the flow of water into the sink is IMPOSSIBLE to clean adequately. YOu can removed the stainless steel piece to clean it, but the gutter-type think itself is hidden under the plastic grooves. Gunk and mold have built up, forcing us to buy a new one after less than a year!! I even tried using an old toothbrush to carefully clean it out, but after a while the build up is disgusting. Very disappointing and an incredibly stupid design choice. When considering a new one, we like some of the newer designs by simplehuman, but they all seem to have a similar drainage system, which will lead me to buy something else.

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Funny that I am SO excited to write a review on a dish drain, but this is really a fantastic design. I hand wash my pots & pans, so the flat bottom base works terrific for me. It has full length ridges to hold cookie sheets or trays, plus deeper cut-outs for your plates. Now, with that said, it was almost an instant fail as initially it did not drain properly as my high sink-lip made the water collect back into the middle of the rack. A simple solution has it draining beautifully and working like a charm! I used the packing "twist-ties" that came with it and tied them in the two outer corners. I laid back the plastic bottom/base and it now had a great slope and it was actually FUN to first see the water flowing so quickly and neatly into my main sink! Do note: this fix did however effect the fit of the utensil tray on the "higher" raised side, but my preference was to keep the interior empty for the pots & pans, so I put it on the outside (sink side) and to my delight, it naturally sat with a perfect slant so the water of the utensil rack drained right into the sink too! I did secure it with a separate twist-tie as it would have been a bit unstable otherwise. I did not use the knife slot although it was a nice idea (just my preference). It is easily removable if you too didn't want it. I cannot imagine a better design for a dish rack...unless of course they factored into the design "adjustable sloping" to accommodate various sink types.

Click/enlarge on the above photos to bring up all of them! (I posted many)

AND SIDENOTE: To the poster that wrote about "scum" build up.... you may not have enough slope with your unit. If you try my modifications, you should not encounter such problems.

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Overall, this is a solid, if pricey, dish rack. We've had this rack for almost 2 years now and there are no signs of rust anywhere. It has held up well, with the exception of the drainage spout (more on that later). I like the knife holder and the dish rack is solidly built (mostly) and is plenty big for holding a good load of dishes.

However, I echo the comment about the drainage "canal" which is a mold/mildew breeding ground since it tends to take a very long time to dry. We need to do a major cleaning every few months, but because the slats and the bottom tray are glued together, you can't really get into the "canal" to clean it properly. This is clearly a design flaw and the bottom tray and slats should be separable to allow for proper cleaning.

My biggest complaint is that after a few months the plastic bracket that holds the metal spout in place started to loosen to the point where the metal spout would fall out. Eventually one side of the plastic bracket broke completely. Now the metal spout just sits on the counter underneath the rack to catch as much of the dripping water as possible and redirect it into the sink. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Why the spout is made of a heavier and stronger material than the bracket that holds it in place is beside me? It seems almost guaranteed to break over time.

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This is a fantastic small dishrack EXCEPT that it has poor drainage. Scum tends to build up in the drainage canal/spout. Because the pieces are connected, it is very difficult to clean. The only method I've found is to use a butter knife and paper towel to wipe the scum out of the drainage canal. It works sort of...

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The design is wonderful. The water really does flow through a channel directly into the sink, eliminating the standing water that gets moldy and discolored in the bottom of the rubber drainers. It's bigger than I expected which is great since I don't have a dishwasher.

One picky thing because the bottom of the drainer is solid, which is what directs the water into the channel, there isn't the airflow that's present in the wire ones and the dishes need a little swipe with a dish towel where they touch the bottom.

However, I wouldn't go back to the wire type for anything I love this drainer because of the way it drains directly into the sink, even a sink with a lip. It's also great looking and very sturdy.

Discount Star Crafts 10 Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set

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These pots are very good...they cook a lot quicker than the ones I have had in the past. Excellent heat conduction for cooking. My only little setback is once its cooking for a long period the handles start to warmup.

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To be honest, I only bought it because the price was great considering how many pieces you're getting. I never expected that the quality would be so great. Thick high-grade steel, terrific heat conductivity (it heats up fast and even), handles don't get warm for a very long time, the sizes are perfect. Get this set it doesn't look like much, but will prove to be a pleasant surprise!

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This set looks cheap and, yes, certain aspects of it are, but it actually cooks pretty well. The lids and sides are thin but the bottoms are thick and heavy; 9mm. The bottom is where all the heat goes, so this set is actually well made (it's fortified where it needs to be). I'm not sure if they are encapsulated, but they do disperse heat evenly. The interior of the pots is, for the most part, smooth. Some of the handles have been welded a bit too hot and just slightly warped the interior, but this hasn't affected cooking or cleaning. The set has a mirror finish inside and out, with the exception of the fry pan, which is Teflon lined. It's worth noting that the mirror finish is only a coating, so clean with a synthetic scrubber only. Don't use steel wool. The mirror finish will also show water spots if you don't towel dry or use a good dishwashing detergent. The bottoms have a brushed texture. The lids seat snugly. The short handles do get hot, but as for the long handles, they rarely get hot when cooking with less-than-extreme heat. Although there is no information or recommendation as to whether this set can be used in an oven, I have baked with the big pot and it withstood 350 degrees. The fry pan is the bad apple, though. It's Teflon coating is a bit rough and doesn't give award-winning non-stick performance. You'll still need to lightly oil it. Overall, this set has a handsome "campground" look and feel, but performs like a home kitchen set.

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New Years Dinner was a smassing sucess. All cooked in in this cookware. rostbeef, cabbich, Blackeye peas,sweet potato ect. family an friends all enjoyed the holiday.

Cheap Pyrex Easy Grab 11-Piece Bake-and-Store Set

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List Price: $39.99
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I have a little more experience with glass than the average consumer, and I also own "new" Pyrex and a set that's ~25 years old.

I make glass beads as a hobby. It's well-known in that world that COE -coefficient of expansion -will tell you everything about how glass will perform under temperature changes. Borosilicate, or hard glass, has a COE around 30. Soda lime, or soft glass, has a COE between 90 and 110. When glass expands or contracts, it breaks. To use an example from my glassworking experience, I can put a large rod of borosilicate glass at room temperature directly into the flame of a torch (temperature between 1500 and 2000F), and it won't shatter. Try the same thing with a soft glass rod of the same size, and you'll have shards of hot glass all over your workbench.

Also, you can't mix different COEs of glass in the same piece; it renders it structurally unstable. So Pyrex has to be either hard glass or soft glass; it cannot be a mixture of the two.

Similarly, I got a set of Pyrex bowls for my wedding that lasted for years before succumbing to breakage (via drop). I still have one of them. I also have a newer set of the same size bowls. One of them chipped on the bottom almost immediately. At that point I wasn't aware of the differences in glass, so I didn't know why, but now I do.

Borosilicate is far more expensive than soda lime glass. I'm quite sure the change was made as a cost savings. Personally, I'd gladly pay more (and it would probably be double, at least) for a Pyrex set made of borosilicate.

One more tidbit: glass pieces of any size must be annealed in a temperature controlled kiln to ensure structural stability, long life, and shatter resistance. That includes both borosilicate and soft glass. I would never sell a bead to someone that hadn't been annealed; a piece like that can break under any tiny stress. So Pyrex's assurance that they heat-treat their glass is undoubtedly correct, but I'd wager they always have.

Caveat: I don't own this set but am considering purchasing it with the knowledge that it needs to be treated like it's made of glass.

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I've bought some of the modern pieces and frankly, I am really skittish about using them. I only use them to store food and never to cook or warm food. It's not worth the risk. If you're like me and have any of the older Pyrex, you can feel the difference by handling both types of pieces. (I've been using Pyrex for over 30 years and the "new" stuff is definitely different than the Pyrex I bought when I first got married.)

Buy the old stuff made from borosilicate glass even if you have to go to garage sales or eBay. (I've found some awesome vintage pieces on eBay, but they're not cheap since so many savvy shoppers are looking for them.) Don't buy this modern soda lime glass version. The old Pyrex is wonderful and practically indestructible.

But don't just go by subjective sense or just what I'm saying. Read up on what World Kitchen / Pyrex glassware is made of now (soda glass) compared to then (borosilicate glass). Google

consumer reports pyrex soda lime breakage

And go to the Consumer Reports article where they analyze the breakage, the stories, and the switch Corning made from borosilicate glass to soda lime. There are several other articles out there in addition to this article.

You can also find articles that talk about how aggressively World Kitchen has denied responsibility for any breakage, blaming everything on consumer misuse, glass bruises, etc., and how they have ignored those who have been injured, no matter how well documented. And note how carefully World Kitchen words their disclaimer on the soda lime / borosilicate changes on their website. The truth is, the glass composition probably changed before or when World Kitchen bought Pyrex.

"It's not clear when the switch occurred. Anchor Hocking spokeswoman Barbara Wolf says borosilicate glass was phased out by the industry by the early 1980s. World Kitchen vice president Jim Aikins says Pyrex glass bakeware sold in the U.S. has consistently been made of soda lime glass that has been strengthened through thermal tempering at the Charleroi plant for about 60 years.

Sarah Horvath, a Corning spokeswoman, says Corning made Pyrex out of both soda lime and borosilicate at several locations before selling the U.S. business to World Kitchen in 1998, but provided no more details. P. Bruce Adams, formerly an executive scientist at Corning, says that borosilicate was still being used to make Pyrex when he retired in 1987." (From Consumer Reports, January 2011)

Research this product thoroughly before you expose this modern soda lime Pyrex glassware to temperature changes and thermal shock. It's very clear that even handling modern soda lime Pyrex per the company's instructions, you can have dangerous breakage and the threat of serious cuts and burns.

If enough consumers buy borosilicate glassware from Europe and hurt World Kitchen's bottom lime, maybe they will return to borosilicate glass and caring about their customers.

Edit: for those who are saying folks are trying to break this glassware or subjecting it to thermal shock as warned against in the instructions. Read the articles. Empirical research shows this glassware breaks while being handled carefully per the instructions provided by the manufacturer. While some breakage may be due to misuse, research and documentation of reported breakage show that it is breaking when it is being handled carefully and correctly. It should not be breaking/exploding, but it does. Hence all the warnings.

Best Deals for Pyrex Easy Grab 11-Piece Bake-and-Store Set

I bought the 19 piece set just before Christmas 2012. The only difference appears to be that these lids are red and mine are blue. Maybe this means they have corrected the problem I'm having. The concept is good, but the execution is pathetic. None of my lids fit properly on the rectangular dishes and one of them pops off its dish in about 20 seconds. It has nothing to do with the way the lids are placed on the dish either, in case you're thinking this phenomenon might be caused by trapped air. That would be impossible since the lids do not offer anything close to an airtight seal. The price I paid for my set was attractive too, so buyers beware. I have contacted Pyrex twice and received no replies. I notified Amazon just so they could be aware of this problem. They immediately responded and offered a full refund even though the original packaging was discarded. We kept the set despite the useless lids. The dishes are ok, and if we store anything in them, which doesn't happen that often. we just use aluminum foil. Pyrex must know there's a problem with these lids and I think it's pretty sad they won't even respond to a customer's feedback.

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No complaints, these pyrexes are the best items in my kitchen. Goes in the oven, dishwasher, cleans easily, lids fit nicely. Good assortment of sizes3 bowls, a 9x13 baking dish, 8x8 baking dish a 9 inch pie dish

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It's Pyrex and I think everyone is pretty familiar with it by now. They are great and the two rectagular bake and store containers with the handles are GREAT with one caveat. The lids do not fit snugly. That's the downside of the handles in that the lids can't snap around the entire container. I would rather have the handles on these than not have them so it's a compromise I'm willing to accept but if they could solve this issue they would get 5 stars all the way. As it is, I still give them a strong 4 stars (and would go 4.5 if Amazon allowed 1/2 stars).

Cheap Paula Deen Signature Nonstick Bakeware 13-Inch-by-18-Inch Cookie

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I don't usually purchase brand-name chef's overly-expensive cookware. However, the size was what I needed and I splurged. I love this pan. Nothing cleans up like it does and it really is pretty. It is pretty enough to use on the table or buffet. Great purchase.

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Great product. Purchased them as a gift for my sister. She rants and raves about them. Nice seeing people happy. Recommend to anyone.

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These baking pans are really great ! High quality, the perfect size, easy to clean and a wonderful non-stick surface.

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the finish is superior and the baked items turn out very nice. I would recommend it highly to anyone. I support Paula Deen and will buy her cookware anytime.

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This is my second cookie sheet from Paula Deen. I have tried several such as airbake and this has been my favorite overall. Cookies never burn and they just slide off the sheet. Never sticks!