Discount Wusthof Silverpoint II 4-Piece Steak Knife Set

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List Price: $50.00
Sale Price: $39.95
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

I did a lot of research on the popular, better knife brands before buying. I was torn between the two most well known: Wusthof and Henkels. I saw a lot of reviews regarding Henkels about them not lasting long or living up to expectations. According to Wusthof's website, all their knives have the same blades in them, in all their knife lines. Perhaps I misunderstood their descriptions, but this is the meaning I took away from their own website. That being said, the only difference between their cheaper and most expensive (Classic) lines is the handle. I purchased a set of the Classic line for cutting and chopping. They are definitely superior to these steak knives. However, since I am using the steak knives only for dining and not every day, these are more than adequate.

The blades are very sharp and cut easily through all meats. The only thing I can really say isn't perfect, are the handles. They could be better quality. I personally felt, for the amount of use I get from the knives, the handle quality vs. price is worth it. You can spend $100 on a set of Classic line steak knives that you use twice a week, but I think most people would be highly satisfied with this set.

As others have mentioned, nicer blades like these should be treated a little bit differently. Do not put these into dishwashers. They will bang around and become dull, quickly. The heat will also damage the handles. Hand wash and towel dry immediately after use. The steel will rust quickly, otherwise. These are great knives, and they need exceptional care to last.

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I have slowly been filling a knife block with Grand Prix II knives for my girlfriend, and it came time to get steak knives. We wanted a good quality knife, but when my girlfriend saw the price of the Grand Prix II steak knives, she said they were just too pricey. I came across these silverpoint knives and decided for the price, I'd give them a shot. If they're not that great, I didn't have a lot of money invested in them, so I ordered them.

We're not disappointed. They are extremely sharp and cut through steak like butter. The handles match the Grand Prix II handles, so they keep the look in the knife block. The only difference I've noticed so far is that they stain if you don't wash them right away, which hasn't been an issue with the Grand Prix II knives she has. I would recommend these knives for anyone who doesn't want to cough up the dough for the Grand Prix steak knives. Just make sure you wash them immediately after dinner.

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My wife has been using these knives for a couple of months now and she loves them! Not only are they light weight, but they are very sharp. She told me that we've been married 60 years and you finely bought me a set of knives that I can cut with.

Honest reviews on Wusthof Silverpoint II 4-Piece Steak Knife Set

I have wusthof knives that are more expensive. They have the more expensive handles. I purchased the Wusthof Silverpoint II knife set and steak knives for my daughter and one for my son. They work great. They both appreciate having a nice steak knife set. The old ones were dull and worthless. Great knives! Stay sharp a long time. Get the steak sharpner and they will be just like new after using this sharpner. Be careful not to cut yourself, using new sharp knives are a hazard after having dull knives. They cut right through food, veggies and you want to be careful to keep your fingers out of the way!

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I love these knives and use them every day. They're worth every cent. I've recommended them to everyone I know.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's what I love about this cookware:

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

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

--grippy handles on the lids

--see through lids

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

--no discoloration, not for me so far anyway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quattro Stagioni Replacement Lids (Set of 3) Review

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UPSIDE: I recently received my QUATTRO STAGIONI canning lids...

I am THRILLED with these lids, mainly because of the PEACE of mind-of knowing that these lids are BPA-Free!!!

(It's the Only reason why I purchased them. I don't want to be thinkling about whether I'm poisoning myself

or others when I give them some food item or jam-preserve with a BPA lid...would you? (well...

some die-hard Ball-Mason/Kerr fans are STILL selling BPA to us. At local Farmer's Markets,

Farm Ranch Co-Ops etc. Say NO to BPA in Ball-Mason & Kerr lids!! and PLEEEEZE get the word out)

Sure their are PLASTIC "tattler" lids that have NO BPA...but who wants PLASTIC?? I do Not.

This Italian maker Bormioli Rocco NEVER had BPA! These are made of Stainless Steel and a ONE-Piece construction.

This is so much More Cost-Effective than replacing ALL your canning jars with

the WECK* brand (*All glass lids AND jars-that are NOT interchangeable)

DOWNSIDE: Some venders here on Amazon have different pictures than

what they are actually selling.(Check with them to be sure)

*** But I can say with CERTAINTY that what you want is the 70mm size or 2-3/4"--for the REGULAR Ball-Mason/Kerr(Yes. Kerr too)jars.

For WIDEMOUTH Ball-Mason/Kerr jars you want 86mm which is the same as the 3-3/8 ones being sold

at Goodman's.

P.S. Quattro Stagioni also sells a 56 mm lid. This size ONLY fits THEIR jar. It is SMALLER

than Ball-Mason's Regular size lid.

Since the QUATTRO STAGIONI lid IS a one-piece lid, it will actually measure larger than the

center piece lid of Ball-Mason's. But they all fit, and that's what you need to know. : )

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My wife loves the Quattro Stagioni jars she received as a gift. She uses them to hold the milk she gets from our goats. Unfortunately, the lids are not available locally, but fortunately, they are through Amazon in a timely manner. The downside is that the shipping is over twice the cost of the lids.

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I wish they had plastic instead of metal so they wouldn't rust. Otherwise a good deal. Shipped very fast and in good condition.

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We love the bottles -bought elsewhere -but the lids kept mysteriously disappearing. It was hopeless going back to the original merchant for more lids; all they had was the larger ones. Mirabile dictu, Amazon had them

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These jars and lids are for canning, with one time use lids that seal in a hot water bath. I have been using them to pour milk and so ours are rusting too due to multiple uses. It would be nice to can with them but they are pricey.

Buy Back to Basics 285 Jar Lid Wrench

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Over the years, I've developed a bit of carpal tunnel syndrome which flares up now & then, so I have to be careful not to overly strain my wrists when opening a tight jar or bottle lid.

This Jar Lid Wrench by Back to Basics is a life-saver! I use it for for opening vacuum-packed lids, lids that my hubby has screwed on too tightly, and even for the caps on soda pop bottles.

The two sizes on the lid wrench fit everything, and I've even used the long handle area to open the tiniest bottles, like a pill bottle.

I love this product so much that I now own TWO of them, and am going to order one for my daughter's hope chest. (Does anyone even remember what a 'hope chest' is? *smile*)

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I've had one of these for over 10 years now, and I'm sure I use it at least once a week on average. Especially now, in my feeble 50s, I have much less strength in my right hand because of an old injury, and the injury gets easily aggravate when I try to grip really hard to open things. This device works better than the rubbery grip pads (which I also own) because the design provides tork -the pads are helpful but you still have to grip hard. I'm so happy to have found this gadget again because we have to equip a second home. So much help for very little money -and pretty indestructable.

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I was sure that this would help me open stuff. The arthritis I have in my hands was hampering my normal life! This slid off of every lid I tried to open. I cannot understand how it works for you folks, but for me it did not do the trick. Had to return it. First Amazon return, by the way, and it was easy.

Stay away from this one if you have weak hands.

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I do not need something complicated to open a dang jar. I just need something that works! This is it.

It works with enormous jars, tiny jars, every size. Takes very little pressure to open the jars ... just a gentle squeeze and turn does it.

I looked at other openers to replace the old one I had (which was an old one from the 1940s handed down from relatives) and this filled the bill nicely. HIGHLY recommend this.

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I have arthritis in both thumbs and found it very painful attempting to open jars of any kind. I bought two of these (one to hold the jar, the other to remove the lid) and have totally eliminated this painful task from my life. These are sturdy and efficient kitchen tools for anyone to use.

Best Trudeau Mirror 17-Ounce Vacuum Insulated Bottle Deals

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List Price: $11.99
Sale Price: $9.58
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

I have had one from thermos brand so was hesitating to buy this one. It perfectly works well. My tea stays hot for upto 9 hours. Haven't used beyond that time so maybe it works for 12 hours as the label says. Pouring is very easy and safe as it doesn't let spill.

Update: 05/24/2012

After using it for almost an year, it started acting weird. When I would wash it after using it for tea, dirty water would keep coming no matter how much I would rinse it. It was driving me nuts. Eventually I discovered that the content was leaking into the vaccum space. I realized there was corrosion in the bottom which I had been thinking was dried stains. Thats why the trapped left over tea would leak back to contaminate the rinsing water through the corrosive holes. Obviously its of no use anymore. Very disappointed.

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For the first month or two we used it, and it was fine if we didn't need the water to stay warm long. Keep in mind it is not a thermos.

However, when we realized the inside had filled with corrosion we returned it and Amazon as always handled the return professionally. So if you want chemically enhanced lukewarm food or drink, this barely 'vacuum insulated bottle' that isn't a thermos is for you!

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I've been using this thermos for a couple months every weekday for cold drinks. Works great for my purpose. Normally I use the contents anywhere from 3 to 6 hours and my drinks are always still icy.

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It works and just what I was looking for. I had one before this order that I purchased at a street fair. But it must of taken a beating in my bag so I got rid of it and purchased another. I believe this one is better, attractive too. It actually keeps my tea hot for many hours. I purchased 2, so that I can give one as a gift. Now I just need to get off of Amazon and find a friend to give it to.

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For a little over $10, when I bought it in June 2011, not bad value for what you get. It just recently developed a leak which I can only determine is due to the rubber gasket having gone past its useful life. Too bad you cannot just get a replacement gasket, because it does do a good job of keeping my coffee steaming hot till I'm ready for that second cup.

It was good for what I needed it for when I bought it, but I think I'll try a different model/manufacture this go around to see if I can't get a little more life out of the next one.

Discount Fissler Solea Frypan With Low-Fat Novogrill Surface, 9-1/2-Inch

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List Price: $195.00
Sale Price: $154.95
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

excellent pan! made in germany and solidly built. the ignorant review from the other person on here doesnt do no justice. Its not meant to be Nonstick. everything i bought from fissler so far c+S cooking set, vitavit pressure cooker is supreme stainless steel quality, it blows anything away when it comes to other cookware brands. BUY IT!

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This is my second Solea Frypan. I purchased the 11 inch frypan first. The original reason why I purchased these Pans was because I bought a Induction stove. I could have used the Cast Iron Pans that I own. I have every size you can think of but they are heavy and they need to be kept seasoned. Your not supposed to wash cast iron under water etc..

I really love these pans but make no mistake about the claims that these are non-stick. They are kind of non-stick but there is no comparison to Teflon coated pans. That is only as far as their non-stick capability.

For these pans to work as Non-stick you must be very conscious of the temperature. Too hot and your having a problem. When you sear a steak it will initially stick to the pan but give it a minute and it will release very easy. It will sear a steak too perfection. I like it so much that I am not even using my BBQ this Summer for Steaks. They come out way better in the Solea Pan. Just watch your temp settings.

OK fry an Egg in Olive Oil. If you get the oil at the right temp they will not stick. What Temp, it's for you to figure out. Just try using a low temp to start. I am still figuring this out myself. I am happy with the results. If the temp is too high then the egg will pass thru the oil and hit the SS bottom and stick. So basically I am giving you an idea of what to expect cooking one of the most delicate dishes possible. I am going from one extreme to the other ( Steaks to Eggs). You must use oil with Eggs. Steaks you really do not need oil. I rub my steaks with a little oil and season before cooking in this Solea Frypan.

Cleaning is not that bad. Not as easy as Teflon remember. I soak my pans in hot water and use Bar Keepers Friend. I have no complaints. Heat Retention is excellent also. Just like Cast Iron or at least very close with out the weight etc.

I like these pans so much I may purchase another 11 inch frypan. Just watch your temperature settings and you will be a fan too. Good Luck!!

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AN EXPENSIVE DISAPPOINTMENT. THIS ITEM IS CERTAINLY NOT NON-STICK. ON THE BACK OF THE PAN, IT SAYS 'INDUCTION', WHICH I ASSUME MEANS IT IS MADE FOR NON-DIRECT FLAME. THIS WAS NOT SPECIFIED WHEN PURCHASING. GLASS LID? NOT INCLUDED. EXTENSIVE SURFACE DISCOLORATION AFTER COOKING. PERHAPS THEY SENT THE WRONG THING; DIFFICULT TO TELL. DOCUMENTATION DESCRIBES MORE THAN ONE ITEM, AND NOTHING IS PROVIDED TO SHOW ME WHICH ONE I HAVE.

WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS ITEM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

Best Chef's Choice Multi-Edge Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener Deals

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List Price: $35.00
Sale Price: $21.67
Today's Bonus: 38% Off

Bought one of these recently to replace an older model that had been well-used. (These do need replacing every once in a while, as the diamond grit wears down.) Thought I'd share some tips here.

First, let me point out that the turning wheels in the center are a guide to make you hold the knife upright. The wheels may not be turning throughout your "swipe" if you are using a thin-bladed knife.

Second, you should use a feather-light touch when "swiping." The cutting edge of the knife is very thin, and you do not want to push it down in the groove and damage it. Use a long, sweeping stroke, light and smooth.

Third, to get the best use of this sharpener, every so often you'll have to clean out the metal dust that collects in the grooves. If the bottom of the groove is silvery-shiny when you look down at it, take a small, stiff, clean brush and whisk the groove until the original gray appears again.

I believe that the two slots on this sharpener correspond to the last two (and most gentle) slots on the manufacturer's three slot electric sharpeners. Thus, the first slot sharpens and the second slot hones. The first slot won't be used as often as the second slot.

The edge you get with this gizmo probably won't be as nice as the edge you'd get from an expert hand on the whetstone, but it will keep the family kitchen knives cutting well for many years.

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I'm an avid semi-professional cook/chef and have an extensive collection of knives and sharpeners, including an electric Chef's Choice. I bought this sharpener as a gift and had to try it out first (against my wife's express order). I sharpened one serrated and one regular knife just to see if this would do a good job. Today, I'm ordering another one to send as a belated Christmas gift to my son since I kept the one I tried out. If you need a sharpener, buy this -you will not be disappointed. It's easy (fool-proof!) to use, doesn't take up space, and puts on a razor-like edge in seconds (OK, maybe a minute or two). If your knife has a decent edge already, it hones with just a few strokes. This is a winner.

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I'm hopeless at knife sharpening, so I was shopping for something idiot-proof. I decided to go with the model 460 because it can sharpen serrated knives. Although the logistics of this didn't make a lot of sense to me, I went with it on the general principle that more features must be better.

Now that I have it in hand, though, I'm fairly certain I will never use the serrated feature. So I'm left worrying--what's the difference with this model? If I'm only going to do straight blades, would I be better off with the 450? Does this model compromise in some way to accommodate both types of blades?

Even for straight blades, it's not as easy to use as I expected. I thought it would be a simple matter of drawing the blade smoothly through the slot a few times. In practice, though, the blade catches and doesn't pull smoothly at all (although it did get better after many passes--you should definitely practice with a cheap knife before working on the good stuff). It's also difficult to keep the blade in the proper position. Or, I THINK it's difficult--according to the instructions, when everything is working right the little wheels will turn as you pull the blade through. At best I get one to turn at once, and even then it's usually stop and start. The instructions are hazy on whether this is a problem.

Actually, the instructions (and the company website) are hazy on a lot of things that seem like pretty reasonable questions. For instance, it says stage 1 and stage 2 sharpen at different angles, but nothing tells you WHAT angle, or says anything substantive the "arch-shaped" edge it creates. I'm left wondering if that's something I really want--it just seems to create a "fat" rather than razor edge, sacrificing maximum sharpness for durability.

It says that very dull knives may take many strokes in stage 1, but doesn't tell you how to know when it's ready for stage 2, other than it will be "sharp enough to cut through the skin of a tomato." I should keep tomatoes on hand for this?

Finally, the curved tip of the blade is extremely difficult to sharpen. At that point the rollers are no longer useful as a guide. The instructions offer no hints on how to deal with this.

It's definitely not the easy solution I was hoping for, and I still have a lot of questions about it. But, if you're not going to put in the time and effort to learn to use a whetstone properly (and I already know how much damage I can do with one of those), I'd say it's the best option.

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I bought one of these for my mother in law as a Christmas present. Her knives were so dull that you couldn't cut hot butter with them. After a few strokes, what a differece. Her knives sliced thru a ripe tomato with ease. She has trouble using the simplest of tools(she refuses to read or follow directions), but this was so easy, even she could sharpen her knives with ease. I was so impressed that I bought one for my self. I keep an edge on my good knives, but this helped with some of my old knives that were beyond using on a steel. I definitely recommend this product.

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Maybe this sharpener isn't as foolproof as I'd like it, and I admit readily to having two left hands, but my knives didn't come out razor-sharp, at all. They come out sharper, that's a fact, but I wanted more. Maybe my knives (a Japanese chef's knife, a Spyderco with half-serrated blade, a Herbertz with a 440 blade) were too dull to begin with.

The tool itself is nicely constructed. Even though it's made of really light plastic it's stable enough, and easy to work with.

But I wonder about the two rollers that supposedly guide your knife. After sharpening, it was pretty obvious that the blade was sharpened unevenly (certainly those of my pocketknives). The rollers, of course, are fixed, and thus don't allow for varying thicknesses. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong (although I'm following instructions to a T), and I'll keep trying, but so far I'm not wildly enthusiastic about this tool.

Best GSI Outdoors Small Tea Kettle (Green) Deals

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List Price: $62.95
Sale Price: $27.29
Today's Bonus: 57% Off

This is a perfect tea pot for 1 or 2 people. There is only one thing I wish was different. I wish that the lid stayed on securely when you pour. Other than that, it is great. It doesn't whistle, so if you're the type of person that tries to do other things while your water is heating up, and then gets distracted and forgets about your tea, this might be a problem. I would recommend doing things in your kitchen while it heats or don't leave it alone for too long.

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I looked for a green tea kettle on a lot of sites and finally saw this one. It is so cute. It is small which is what I needed to heat water for an occasional cup of tea. I really love it.

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This doesn't take up much room, looks great in my kitchen, thanks for the wooden handle. . . and it really works!

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Love the style, love the color, and wanted to keep it, but it's not practical for me. The lid won't stay on and it doesn't whistle. I decided to return this and get a whistling tea kettle with a locking lid.

Best Paula Deen Signature Enamel on Steel 2-Piece Mixing Bowl Set Deals

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I love this set and although I haven't had them long, I have used them many, many times. I use them to hand mix and to serve out of. They have a nice weight and the finish feels and looks very high quality and they are good sizes. I just love the design of Paula's products although I have never seen her show and don't follow spokesperson endorsements I saw her products in our local dpt. store and was impressed by them. They just have a vintage, sort of old-fashioned feel to them, a little kitchy maybe. Love them !

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Obvious good Paula Deen quality. I like the size for smaller projects. Heavier than expected, which shows the good quality. Well worth the price.

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I have the pans in orange to match my kitchen, so I really wanted the bowls since that color is now hard to find. I wish they were larger. Too small for the price.

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I really love these enamelled bowls by Paula Deen. The orange is such a great colour. I would recommend this product.

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orange has become my new favorite color and these are great for just the color! they have a nice flat bottom so don't tip. wish they had a bigger size too.

Imperial Enamel Stockpots Reviews

Customer Ratings:

This pot looks real sturdy out of its box. Quantanium by Whitford non-stick coating. There are some controversies about Teflon and this non-stick coating stating that it would emit fume. Well, my cooking would definitely emit fume if I let it burnt. I read the info online and did my mini research and believe that it's safe. And it should last a long time even with my abuse. We shall see. The coating is over steel and not aluminum which people said that it can cause Alzheimers and other diseases. Threw all my aluminum cook pots out a while ago and not sure if that would fix my impending debilitating mental state. It can be used on any kind of cooking stuff including induction, a real plus for me not having to stick with all steel pots that would stick to things! I bought the "rose" design and do like the purple design better but a sale eliminated all doubts. Rose looks a bit cheesy to me.

Probably Made in China although I looked everywhere for such mark and could not find it. Other countries have no problems displaying the origin of their products. China does.

I like this pot and do recommend it when on sale. Probably very easy to clean. Quite heavy. Enamel on the outside, so harder to clean on the outside. My guesss that with time the lid will have tiny rust line at the enamel steel rim like other enamel steel pots that I had. Just a guess though and this should not hurt much of anything. I have always removed the rust with steel wool and keep rust away by drying such item after washing.

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Reviews of Staub 4.25-Quart Oval Cocotte

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List Price: $249.99
Sale Price: $199.95
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

I own the predecessor of this Staub pot, the same model but with a domed lid. I received it as a gift a couple of years ago. I am a serious cook-have taken some culinary classes and enjoy cooking immensely. This pot is quite simply the best roasting pot I have ever owned. It is a very heavy cast iron pot which has been double coated with enamel. The lid and pot fit together perfectly. The craftsmanship is excellent. There are dots protruding from the inside of the lid that essentially channel condensed moisture (steam) back down as liquid onto whatever you're cooking-sort of creating your own little rainforest in the oven. (You can also use the pot without the lid if you prefer dry heat.)

The design of the lid ensures moist cooking, which tenderizes meats. Cooking a whole chicken (and this pot easily accommodates a very large roaster) with spices and vegetables results in fall-off-the-bone moist, flavorful meat. Cooking a roast of beef or pork? Ditto-the meat is tender, and the spices are roasted in. Vegetables more your style? This baby makes perfect stews, either on a stovetop or baked.

Best of all, if you season your pot correctly before you use it (instructions are provided), cleanup is a breeze. Just fill the pot with warm soapy water for 15-30 minutes and then wash with a nonabrasive utensil (so as not to scratch the enamel). Even the worst baked on sauces come off easily. Love it.

One word of caution: cutting anything with a sharp knife in your pot may ruin the enamel coating. It's okay to slice into something to test it as long as the knife tip doesn't hit the bottom or sides of the pot. To me, this slight trade-off of convenience is well worth it, given how well the pot works.

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Last weekend, I wanted to give the famous No-Knead bread recipe a try. For those who don't know what I am talking about, the New York times created a sensation about 4 years ago by publish articles and videos from a famous Hell's Kitchen baker, showing how to make the best and easiest bread you've ever made or tasted.

The recipe does include the use of a Dutch oven, French oven, or Cocotte. Call it what you like, the three pieces are nearly identical. You can use naked iron if you like, but the video tutorial clearly shows the master baker using porcelain-enamel cast iron. He liked the non-stick surface.

The only problem with trying this recipe was my clear lack of such a cast iron piece. Off I went looking for my item. I began with the notion of buying either Le Creuset or Lodge. Instead, I bought Staub. Why?

Both Le Creuset and Lodge shared a common problem: Plastic knobs. The no-knead recipe calls for 500-515F baking temperatures. Both plastic knobs melt-down past 400 degrees. Le Creuset offers a 18-10 stainless-steel replacement knob, and this knob will fit Lodge also. However, I could not fathom why a $300 piece should have anything made of plastic on it. They *_should_* make the 18-10 stainless knob the one-and-only knob. Being expected pony up $300 and $10 more was irksome.

Further, there was a better alternative. I could buy this lovely Staub with a nickel knob that was already safe for +500F temperatures. Further, I could have it cheaper than Le Creuset, and I could have a pair of nice little Cocottes tossed in for free. Now can you beat that? I love rustic cast-iron look, with the easy-to-clean nature of enamel.

I've already done two no-knead loafs in this Cocotte, and a Mac-n-Cheese. This thing is a fantastic performer. Everything has come out just fine so far. I've had exceptionally good luck with it so far.

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It arrived a few days ago and I'm using it to prepare every evening meal. I've never seen a cooking pot of such quality: everything about it displays superior craftsmanship and intelligent design. As a post on a web forum put it:Le Creuset is for the masses;Staub is for those in the know.

No, I didn't know--in fact I never had heard of Staub--but a bit of research convinced me to give it a try. I'll never look back. There is no Dutch oven better than this. Bonzer, Mate!

Oh Yes, one other point: Its great to open a box and NOT see those three horrible words: Made in China!

Honest reviews on Staub 4.25-Quart Oval Cocotte

My husband gave this to me for Christmas and I've already used it a few times. It was a breeze to season and I can tell it heats extremely evenly. I really like the brass knob as opposed to the plastic one on Le Creuset. The seal holds great and I know it will last a lifetime!

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Each brand may have its own adherents, and I use both, but I have found that in those instances where there is product overlap between Le Creuset and Staub, Staub is the better choice. Staub's signature item is its cocottes. The basic difference between Staub and Le Creuset is the interior enamel: Le Creuset's being shiny (when new) and beige while Staub's is a matte black. With years of use (and both brands will definitely last years) Le Creuset's enamel loses its shine and some of its anti-stick properties, and has a propensity to stain. Staub's, on the other hand, does not stain and its anti-stick tendencies (which start out very well to begin with) seem to improve, almost like a cast iron pan that is being seasoned with each use. Staub really specializes in the cocottes--it does not make saucepans, gratins, roasting pans, or some of the other items Le Creuset does. Another detail: the metal knobs on the Staub lids are more heat resistant than Le Creuset's composite knobs. I can't say that one brand cooks food better than the other but my experience leads me to conclude that when it comes to dutch ovens Staub has an edge in terms of convenience and appearance. I am agnostic about the little dimples on the underneath part of the Staub lids: I can't say whether they do or don't make a difference.

Review of Stansport Cast Iron Cooking Tripod

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List Price: $70.89
Sale Price: $28.15
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I recently had the opportunity to use this on a camping trip over Thanksgiving weekend. The shipping was timely, and the tripod worked as expected. The Tripod and chain was sturdy and held the weight of my 12 quart dutch oven and its contents.

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The tripod is made of durable steel and is a perfect height for using my dutch oven over a campfire. The chain is adjustable to hang various types of pots. I bought it to take on our next camping trip.

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This is made of heavy steel rods and chain as well. It can hold heavy pots. It will out last my life time.

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Looked at many other tripods but a lot of them were of questionable quality. These are truly cast iron and will last you a life time as long as you take care of them. The storage bag is a huge plus so that you can store it nicely without losing the chain.

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Received item completely different than described. Much cheaper item. Should be 45" tall cast iron but instead was 18" tall stainless steel shock corded poles such as a tent would use. http://www.stansport.com/index.php/outdoor/stoves-and-grills/15997-77.html

Item had barcode label stuck over correct bar code with "cast iron" typed on it. Hopefully really stupid human error but had an air of deception to it.

Amazon has promised to resolve, customer service very helpful. I will add to this once/if I get correct item.

Review of Lodge P12SG3 12 in. Pro Logic Square Griddle

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I ordered this griddle to replace my Teflon one trying to replace all my teflon cookware piece by piece. I'm VERY happy with it. It came pre-seasoned and ready to use, and I've used it a dozen times already; for pancakes, for quesadillas and most recently, for grilled cheese sandwiches. It does take some "getting used to". It is very heavy for one. And it takes a while to pre-heat, because you don't want to heat it up too fast. I usually start it out on low heat (around 3 or 4 on my electric range). I pre-heat for about 5 minutes. This way, the heat gets evenly distributed. If you start cooking too soon, yes, it will be unevenly heated. Once you bring it up to heat, you need to watch it to make sure it doesn't get too hot. I leave it on 3 or 4, closer to 3 for pancakes, closer to 4 for grilled cheese and it has cooked everything perfectly. Cleans up like a professional non-stick item and is tough, tough, tough. I use my steel pizza cutter to cut through quesadillas right on the griddle before serving them something you definitely CAN'T do on Teflon!

Admittedly, a few drawbacks the weight, the long time to pre-heat. But once you get used to it, you will love it just like I do.

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I have a collection of Lodge pans in the kitchen "tool box" so it was a no brainer that getting this griddle would be an exciting addition. It showed up in perfect shape and was even pre-seasoned. I was sure that cooking would be a snap but was quickly very disappointed. After mixing up some delicious home made pancakes, I quickly ruined the first pan full by the pan burning the ones in the middle and under cooking all the others. We use a state of the art G.E. gas stove with very good ratings. The burners all are very even and heat perfectly. After shifting the griddle around to other burners, there was no change. This problem usually stems from poor materials and inconsistent construction. For any other griddle, I would take it in stride but for a Lodge product, this was surprising and unexpected. For comparison purposes, I put on the large skillet and cooked up a perfect set of pancakes. I've never had such an experience and couldn't believe it! This shouldn't stop you from buying their skillets but I can't believe the handling of this griddle. Very disappointing. Very unexpected.

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I wanted to love this griddle because I have other Lodge pans and the size is great. That said, even with preheating, this griddle does not heat evenly the center gets much hotter than the corner areas. For pancakes, I rotate them just to have some even browning. A disappointment.

Honest reviews on Lodge P12SG3 12 in. Pro Logic Square Griddle

Okay, it's a square griddle. And it's Lodge Logic.

Both of which are good things it's bulletproof, pre-seasoned, and nothing sticks to it. I've got plenty of Lodge Logic cookware and love the stuff.

However, like most griddles, it's significantly hotter in the center than at the corners, at least on an electric range. Making a consistent batch of, say, hash browns, is possible only with attention... just like any other griddle. I'd really hoped for a thicker bottom with enough thermal mass to give more even heating over the entire surface.

That said, I like to use it in the oven unheated for garlic bread and mini-pizzas to keep the crust from browning before the cheese, and pre-heated for fries and such to minimize/eliminate the need for flipping them exquisite browning, no oil required. In these applications, this pan surpasses anything else available.

For most things on top of the stove, I'd be more inclined to use my 12" round Lodge Logic skillet.

If I had to pick *one*, I'd choose the 12" round skillet over this griddle... but if you really want a griddle, this one still works better than ordinary non-stick and does some amazing work in the oven.

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I thought this would perform like the Lodge skillets that get glowing remarks but this is a griddle which to me makes a difference.

Positive:

Sits flat on gas range (doesnt rock) and it has a smooth cooking surface (no bumps that need grinding)

Negatives:

Food sticks to the surface even though I only use it to cook bacon over low heat. I have to use a spatula and scrape under the bacon in order to flip it over which tears the bacon and makes a mess. And yes I always season the pad with oil after cleaning it.

It doesnt heat evenly, even after 1/2 hour on low to medium heat. The middle gets hot, the sides and corners stay much cooler, so the bacon gets burnt in the middle but is still fatty on the ends.

I wanted a flat cooking area of 12"x12". The entire surface area with the lip is 12x12 but the flat cooking area is only 10x10. Not technically wrong but something you should be aware of

Returning it for a 12" Lodge griddle