All-Clad Stainless 8-Quart Stockpot Review

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List Price: $295.00
Sale Price: $255.99
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When purchasing our original All-Clad cookware, we explicitly went for the 6-qt Dutch oven/stockpot, since we are a family of two. While the 6-qt has served us well for several years, I discovered I'd need the slightly greater volume when making some fruit preserves this summer. So I bought the 8-qt.

It's been a joy to own and use. Unlike the 6-qt, whose handles get a mite warm after long stove-top cooking, the 8-qt handles rarely get hot, even after cooking on a gas range for a couple of hours. I don't regret our original purchase decision, but I do like the 8-qt version a bit better than the 6-qt now.

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I'm unnaturally dependent on my All Clad 8 quart -so much so that I bought a second. Soup cooks like a dream in it, and it's great for making stock -wide enough to brown the chicken and onions before adding the water. Unlike my old cruddy Revereware, you don't get great globs of stuck stuff on the sides that forces you to lose arm muscle scrubbing it off. Cleaning is easy with All Clad-a must for someone without a dishwasher. Will this addiction ever cease??!!!

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Both the 6 and 8 quart stockpots are must haves for your All Clad cookware collection. The 6 is great for sauce, a pound of lasagna or rigatoni, soup or stew and the 8 quart is a must have for my favorite meatballs that I cook in my sauce with sausage and steak. At first I didn't think I would need both but now that I do I can imagine doing all the Italian cooking that I do with out them. I can get my sauce and meatballs cooking in the 8 quart and start boiling lasagna noodles in the 6 quart. I love them both.

These pans are made very well, heat evenly, are very easy to clean and are designed to last. All Clad cookware is one of the most expensive lines around and it is worth every penny, it really is lifetime cookware (backed by a lifetime warranty). This pan is a definite must have. Very, very highly recommended! A+++!...

Honest reviews on All-Clad Stainless 8-Quart Stockpot

I own practically everything this company has ever made, even some pieces that haven't been made in years. I have cookware, utensils, canisters, you name it. I generally don't buy designer items, but I try to buy quality. This line has been one of the best investments in my home I've ever made.

Just a couple of months ago, after having a conversation asking if they'd examine some of my cookware (the bottoms on those pieces were not flat enough to use on my glass top range without spinning around), I mailed off 4 of my larger pieces.

Thanks to All Clad, I have brand new, non-spinning cookware items3 qt and 6 qt saute pans, an 8 qt stockpot, and a 12" frypan.

I found them to be very kind, and when it was all said and done, they replaced every piece from the over 17-year old set that I sent them without question or hesitation. They even included brand new lids for the 3 items I sent that use them without requesting the lids from my old cookware.

By that same token, I will continue to support All Clad, and just like they did for me, it will be without question or hesitation.

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This is the 2nd piece of All-Clad I own, and it's fantastic. I looked quite awhile for a stainless stock pot that was big enough and had a wide bottom; many merely get taller. The wide, very flat bottom is perfect for browning meats. It cleans beautifully, but you can't be afraid to use a little oil, this isn't non-stick. And it's easy to deglaze the pan for those wonderful browned bits. I never purchase items because of a label, designer's name or fad. After some consumer research, and actually handling other's products, I concluded this was the best value, even considering price. Not to plug Amazon, but I found this pot for less money on their site, plus paid no tax or shipping. Makes those short ribs taste just that much sweeter!

Best Silit Fresh 9-Inch Deep Frying Pan, Lemon Green Deals

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List Price: $100.00
Sale Price: $77.63
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

In my never ending quest to improve my health, I discovered that the nickel in stainless steel was affecting me adversely. I began searching for "nickel-free" stainless steel, and in a round about way, my Google Searches led me to the Silit brand of "allergy-free cookware". Amazon.com had the best price that I could find, so I ordered the 9 inch and the 11 inch "Fry and Serve Pans".

They are on the heavy side (they weight the same as cast iron). This is a bit of a challenge with the 11 inch Fry and Serve as I am trying to get the contents out and into a storage container.

I was nervous that they would fail to live up to the "non-stick" claim lucky for me, that fear was unwarranted. They are wonderfully "non-stick" (it is like cooking on glass). Clean up is a breeze.

And Wow are they Beautiful! The colors in my kitchen are yellow, blue and green. I may have to buy a pot hanger, and find a reason to buy a blue and a yellow Silit cookware piece so that I can display them coordinating with my kitchen colors!

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Staub Roasting Dishes Review

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Got this to use in my new toaster oven. Wonderful results with an apple crisp.

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The dimensions posted are incorrect. The actual dimensions are 8.6 X 6.4 X 1.1" It led me to believe the product was a little larger than it is. It will serve my purpose, but I would have purchased the 7.5" dish had I seen it first.

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as expected of a cast iron product, holds and distributes heat well. nicely finished, well constructed, great classic good looks. enamel surface has held up well (this was purchased over a year ago).

Honest reviews on Staub Roasting Dishes

These are perfect. A local restaurant used these to serve baked eggs so I bought some for the home. Only downside is the pan gets super hot so I haven't figured out how to bake and cool right away.

Reviews of Chicago Metallic Commercial II Non-Stick 12-Cup Muffin Pan

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List Price: $22.00
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Heavy duty, double coated non-stick, alum alloy...does not rust. Should last a lifetime. Very easy to clean just wipe with a wet rag and hand dry or air dry pan. My wife and I are tired of replacing baking pans that rust after a few years. I have another Chicago baking tray and it has taken a beating, but still looks new. I have had it for about 10 years. Ok to use in dishwasher if you are in a hurry or have room.

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Another great muffin pan that I ordered from Amazon for use in India.

I think they have sent me the newer version, since there is 'II' mentioned on the pack. However, the pan is much, much better-looking than the image shown of the newer version.

The quality is really worth the money, just like the one by USA Pans, which also was bought from Amazon a few weeks back. Both the pans may be a bit on the expensive side, but they are an investment a serious baker should definitely go for.

Thanks, Chicago Metallic, for this lovely pan.

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When I received this pan first, I noticed that its surface is very slick and expected highly its non-stick performance. During the first 5 baking, much to my satisfaction, muffins did not stick to the pan at all, even I did not pre-treat the pan with oil. I was very happy and took care of it very well by hand washing with sponge/mild cleaner.

However, after 5 baking, muffins started to stick to the pan. I treated it with cooking oil before baking with no use. Right now, muffins sticks so hard that it is very difficult to remove muffins from it even with metallic spoon. I did not over-bake; I have baked muffins at 425 F for 15 min.

Now I use paper bake cups, but still it is very difficult for me to clean the pan, even after soaking it in water for a long time. The surface of pan is still slick and no good to handle it safely. Not a good choice with a higher price you pay. I rarely write a review, but I have to at this time.

Honest reviews on Chicago Metallic Commercial II Non-Stick 12-Cup Muffin Pan

These pans are heavy-weight, made for heavy use. I do a lot of baking for my synagogue and having good equipment makes everything come out better. In my opinion, you can't get better baking pans than Chicago Metallic. I also have 9x13 baking/roasting pans and 1 1/2 pound loaf pans that get a lot of use -I bake all our bread. They all stand up to heavy use and turn out a superior product.

People have said the coated pans lose their non-stick quality after a while. I have noticed that some with the bread pans, but only slightly, after heavy use. Some people said they had not used anything in the pans -no butter or spray -which I don't think is the best way to bake and not what non-stick is intended for. It is supposed to make it easier to get baked goods out of the pan, but not to replace greasing the pans in the first place. I have no trouble getting bread out of the pans. If the product has a high sugar content, you will need not only to grease the pan, but coat it with flour as well to get things out easily. That's just normal baking procedure. The non-stick surface helps make this easier. The last muffins I baked in these pans had a high sugar content and came out very easily with just buttering and without flouring them.

I am very happy with the muffin pans, as I am with the others. I hope to replace all my baking pans with Chicago metallic products. .

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Well constructed, more expensive than many others but worth it to have it around longer! Haven't used it a lot, but I'm certain it won't have to be replaced for a long time.

Amco Chop and Mash Review

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List Price: $10.99
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I use this to break up hamburger in the fry pan and to mash potatoes, heavy duty tool will not mar pans.

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Chopper works fairly well when meat is in small pieces to begin with. It is necessary to break ground meat up before using. Until the meat is partially cooked it sticks to the chopper. It is necessary to hit the side of the pan to get the meat off. Pam helps to keep the meat from sticking to the chopper.

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I was disappointed in this product as it is so thick

it does not work well. Just wore me out to use it.

Bulkey and awkward. I will suggest a simple potato

masher instead. It works well, easier to handle and MUCH cheaper!

Honest reviews on Amco Chop and Mash

I recently purchased this and found it to work great to break up ground meat when browning it. So far that is all I have used it for but it would probably work as well for mashing potatoes.

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I had my doubts but it does the job just fine. It is perfect for non-stick pots and easy to clean

Buy Cuisinox Elite 8 Inch Frypan with Excalibur Coating

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OMG THIS IS THE BEST SMALL NON-STICK FRY PAN I HAVE OWNED. PERFECT WEIGHT SITS EVEN ON THE BURNER.I AM LOOKING FOWARD TO PURCHASING THE LARGER MODEL

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This pan may be expensive but worth every penny. Every other nonstick pan I've ever bought seems to scratch very easy. I handle them with care, never use metal utensils but that don't keep them from peeling. This one I've been using for a few months and still looks like brand new. Picking it up feels like quality in your hand. I recommend this to anyone

Review of Maxwell and Williams TP71013 12-Ounce Basics Oven Chef Oval

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Maxwell and Williams 12 Ounce mini casserole arrived safely. It is cute and beautiful. It seems sturdy as well. I can picture this not only as baking tools but also displays during dinner party. I used it as butter dish, condiments, sauces, fresh chopped chilli/shallots bowls etc.

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Lodge LCS3 Chef's Skillet, 10-inch Reviews

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Lodge is my favorite cast iron label because it is well made and inexpensive. Now it even comes pre-seasoned, although it still requires some additional seasoning before it reaches top nonstick form. This can be done by baking it with oil or bacon/ham grease or just by using it to cook a few times. The more cast iron is used properly, the more nonstick it becomes. If one learns to change cooking habits, following usage and cleaning instructions, better results will be achieved in short order.

Unaware of the Teflon industry unethically hiding their toxicity reports from the public and the government for more than 20 years (not to mention the toxins they dumped into the environment), I raised my children on Teflon nonstick pans. None of my food ever turned out with the flavorful browned finish that cast iron provides, but I was lazy and I bought into the idea of the new conveniences. Now that I know Teflon is actually dangerous to not only our individual health but to the planet, I've replaced all of my Teflon with cast iron, bought cast iron for my young adult children, and I'm trying to help them learn to cook on it so they too will learn that it is not only better for their health, but it also produces superior texture and flavor.

I started by going back and remembering how my grandmother used hers. It is all she used until she died at 91-years-old. Her cookware is still entirely useable and has been divided up among relatives.

Grandmother cooked everything on cast iron, and she knew how to use pieces in multiple ways so that she required fewer of them. For example, she used her large fry pan to cook homemade pancakes by turning it upside down on the burner and using the bottom as a griddle! Because she kept an empty coffee can of recycled bacon and ham grease next to her stove (lard) and used it as her cooking oil, she never needed to re-season. Her pans were completely nonstick from all of the use. While most of us will not recycle meat grease and cook with it, we can do the same with the olive and vegetable oils we use.

A contemporary concern often expressed is that it must be unhealthy to clean pans without dishwashing detergent. I remind my children that their great-grandparents lived to just under and just over 90-years-old (neither died from a cancer) and never once washed their cookware with detergent. They used only hot water. Our entire family grew up eating Grandmother's cooking and none of us were sickened by it. Remembering that reminds me that much of our concern with hyper-cleanliness has been marketed to us so we will buy innumerable products we do not really need; products that actually have hurt overall health by inhibiting our opportunities to strengthen our immune systems, and now we have actually introduced too many antibacterial products into our environment as well. Grandmother did dry her pans by placing them over a hot burner and that will kill bacteria, but it is not necessary to dry cast iron that way. Because drying pans over a hot burner uses more energy, I towel dry mine and I've never been made sick by doing so.

Reasons to switch:

1. Food has better flavor and texture

2. No toxins in the air or in the food to worry about.

3. No dishwashing detergent used so it is better for the planet and for the wallet.

4. For good results, cooking with lower heat is required, which means less energy use and that also is better for the environment and the wallet.

5. Less expensive to purchase than nonstick considered "high quality" and much more durable so rarely does any of it need replacing. The same pans can be used by multiple generations. One more reason cast iron is better for the environment and our pocketbook.

6. Small amounts of healthy iron added to our diets without a mineral supplement in pill form.

7. Weight of pieces forces at least a little weight lifting every day which is better for our muscles, therefore our overall health, including contributing to staving off osteoporosis.

8. Because it is easier to wash right after use and needs to be dried right away, pans do not pile up cluttering the kitchen and hanging over our heads as a chore we are avoiding.

9. To stop rewarding the Teflon industry for lying to us with withheld toxicity reports as they sold us products that were actually slowly poisoning our children.

10. To stop rewarding the Teflon industry for dumping toxins into our waterways and releasing toxic gases into the air during the manufacturing process.

11. To hold cookware manufacturers, distributors, and retailers responsible and accountable for what they choose to market and sell to us.

Reasons to purchase Lodge brand:

1. Well made

2. Readily available

3. Inexpensive

4. For those who do not want to go to the store, it can be purchased from Amazon with free shipping.

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This is such a great pan for omlets because of the sloped sides that allow you to slide underneath. This would be a great first peice of cast iron for someone new to using it because of the size and it is pre-seasoned. I use it all the time & it just keeps getting better!

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Nope, it's cuz Lindy stir-frys. Lindy has used cheap non-sticks skillets, expensive non-stick skillets and was considering the ones that cost a bomb in Williams-Sonoma (Lindy like shiny...oooh..., aaah...) when the kindly and knowledgeable saleswoman informed her that there was not a non-stick skillet on the market that could tolerate daily stir-fry even with the temperature correctly set to medium heat (err....yeah....) for much more than a year. This tallied exactly and precisely with Lindy's experience with non-stick coatings, no matter the price.

Sigh. Lindy is not made of money. Sigh.

So at the nearest Wally World, Lindy found this skillet in the clearance section without the instructions for seasoning. Half price. Score!

A quick internet search netted much advice for seasoning the pan.

Update (11/23/12): Here's the classic method for seasoning a pan.

From the Lodge website:

"Re-Seasoning your Lodge Cast Iron

While maintaining the seasoning (as in Step 5 above) should keep your Cast Iron in good condition, at some point you may need to repeat the seasoning process. If food sticks to the surface, or you notice a dull, gray color, repeat the seasoning process:

Wash the cookware with hot, soapy water and a stiff brush. (It is okay to use soap this time because you are preparing to re-season the cookware).

Rinse and dry completely.

Apply a thin, even coating of MELTED solid vegetable shortening (or cooking oil of your choice) to the cookware (inside and out).

Place aluminum foil on the bottom rack of the oven to catch any dripping.

Set oven temperature to 350 400 degrees F.

Place cookware upside down on the top rack of the oven.

Bake the cookware for at least one hour. After the hour, turn the oven off and let the cookware cool in the oven.

Store the cookware uncovered, in a dry place when cooled."

Other internet sites are big fans of bacon grease. Simply put, you will need some kind of solid fat that can take very high heat in order to season the pan. Lindy knows that Crisco will take very high heat and is easier to obtain than bacon grease. Lindy doesn't eat bacon because of her high cholesterol.

Not that Lindy EVER burns food in her spiffy frypan but should this happen to you, scrap/soak/remove as much as possible, then place the pan on the burner set to max heat. The heat will burn off the crud and the pan will not rust. You can add salt to the pan and use it as an abrasive to help scrub off the food bits as they carbonize. Re-seasoning at this point is useful but not utterly necessary. Lindy would like to give credit where credit is due and report that Lindy's Mommy taught her this trick.

If you don't re-season, you'll just need more oil than usual until the seasoning builds up again. Once this happens, eggs don't stick. Steaks sear on the outside and are juicy on the inside. Lindy can break her diet and make fried rice. Use one of those plastic bottles with a tiny tip to drip oil in as needed and your food won't be too much fattier than using regular non-stick.

But Lindy is very scared for her toes if she ever drops the pan. Never use one hand to move it.

Update 11/23/12: Here's the method using flaxseed oil that is sweeping the foodie blogosphere:

Use flaxseed oil (from healthfood, or vitamin store) to season the pan. Be warned flaxseed oil is amazingly expensive; the price on Amazon is less than the healthfood stores but not by a whole lot. Some people note the chemical similarity between flaxseed and the very cheap linseed oil but LINSEED OIL is TOXIC. No substitutions.

Ventilate the area. The smoke is mild but it builds up as you keep working.

Strip off any old seasoning using procedure mentioned above. The salt reduces smoking as you burn off the coating. The cast iron will turn a silvery gray as the seasoning is removed. Let cool.

Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees.

You want about 5-7 coats of oil on your skillet, so repeat this as many times as needed. Don't think about trying this with 1-2 really thick coats of oil. It won't season evenly or smoothly. You'll lose a lot of your costly oil as it drips off the pan during the baking procedure.

Coat your pan with the thinnest possible coat of flaxseed oil. Try to apply evenly. Avoid any drips, if the oil sets inside your oven or other equipment it will be a nightmare to remove. Put a sheet of disposable aluminum foil in case of drips below the skillet.

Bake the skillet for 1/2 hour.

Repeat for however many times as you desire.

By the last coat, the seasoning will have a soft, tacky feel, like you could scrape it off with a metal utensil. If you turn off the oven and leave the piece in place until the oven cools off on it's own, it should have hardened into a black and very, very shiny layer. It will be as shiny as black nail polish.

Observations about flaxseed oil seasoning performance.

1) It's hard but not indestructible. I was unable to scratch it with the back of a knife but scouring with steel wool did remove some of the seasoning eventually.

2) You can leave it sitting it water and it is protected. No rust.

3) you can clean the pan in the dishwasher. Not sure how many times you can repeat this before you need to re-season.

4) The surface has a smooth non-oily feel but it is not non-stick. You must use a little oil to prevent sticking. Clean up is very easy, stuff come right off. The pans have not been in use long enough to build up a second layer from bacon/crisco/daily use.

5) The flaxseed surface sticks more than the traditional seasoning surface. This may be a highly unfair comparison because the flaxseed surface is only a few days old and the traditional seasoning surface was a few years old. I will update this comparison if performance changes over time.

Honest reviews on Lodge LCS3 Chef's Skillet, 10-inch

Is not fully seasoned out of the box but within a short time will be a non-stick HIGH heat saute pan. Lighter in construction than other lodge pans it handles well. The casting ridges are not ground down but you will be using a potholder. Great tool period.

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This is the most incredible skillet I have EVER used! I use it every single day to cook for my large family.

Can't believe I 'fell' for the teflon-type or anodized skillets; I was purchasing a new one every 2 or 3 years as they do not stand up to daily use. The one improvement we made to both our 15-1/4 and 10-1/4 inch Cast-iron Skillets was to subject them to some serious sanding with our orbital sander. We started with 80 grit and worked up to 220 grit took more than an hour, but boy was it worth it! The pan finish is now like glass and is 100% stick free!

Discount Totally Bamboo 20-7930 3-Piece Cutting Board Set

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I have a set of these cutting boards. However most boards need proper care. Never put them in the dishwasher. I clean mine with a qt size spray bottle with 1/2 teaspoon bleach in it. I spray the board then sprinkle my cheapest salt on the board and then scrub rinse with warm water and then dry well with a towel. After dry once a week I wipe them down with food grade mineral oil on a cloth wash cloth. Not to worry as they have mineral oil in every grocery store or drug store. This will keep all of your cutting boards in good shape. I use certain boards for meat and others for veggies. I write with a marker on the side so I am never confused which is which. They will last for years and years. I have a board that was my Great Grandmothers that I use for veggies only and it still is a good board. I also have a board that I use for making bread pizza dough an pastries. This set I use for fish and one for sandwiches, one for one meat. They say we should do this and that is why I bought this set. Thinking of getting a few more sets to give as gifts. Hope this helps everyone.

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I had never used bamboo cooking boards...so I used it for the first time...and the wood started peeling off! I washed it...and it shed worse. So I did some investigation. You have to cure the wood with mineral oil. When I say have to...I actually mean HAVE TO. BEFORE USE and often for the first month. Monthly after that. Wood is better for knives, which is why I got them, but be prepared. Use the mineral oil on it....before you use it.

Follow up: Over a year later...

I've had these for over a year now. They are doing well and holding up well. The first month was a little bit of work...but you can tell when they are starting to dry out and need to be re-oiled, I don't find it to be very high maintenance. I researched and from what I discovered, mineral in the drugstore section is the same things as the expensive ones made for curing bamboo. So I buy the cheap stuff and it works just fine. Just be sure to not leave the board submersed in water(my daughter did that on accident and the board warped, after a couple months it dried out and flattened again), and wipe off the extra oil after curing it.

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We bought these and were pretty excited to get them. We are always cutting fresh vegtables and fruit and ended using these daily for a few days. We loved the handles and strudiness. However, after washing them a few times, they began to crack and spilt. Then they even deformed so they didn't lay flat. We ended up having to return them. I do agree with another customer review that the smallest cutting board is too small to really do anything with also.

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After a single use all the third boards started peeling off. Even when mineral oil was applied they continued to have small fibers coming off. I returned them.

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I liked it when I first received them. Light weight and the sizes are perfect for my small kitchen. But after only two weeks of use, the largest one has changed shape and it's not flat any more. I am very disappointed. I am returning them.

Buy Prima Stock Pot with Lid Size: 16 Qt.

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List Price: $220.00
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Perfect heat retention, although I wish the lid was a see-through glass lid but the stainless steel lid works just fine. This is the original 'Made in Brazil' version and not the cheap 'Made in China' version you can buy in walmart for $50.

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Review of DeLonghi ECAM23210SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte

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List Price: $999.00
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We bought this after a couple of months looking (unsuccessfully) for a replacement for our 15-year-old krups drip brewer which we loved until it finally pooped out and started leaking like a sieve. At some point in our search we said "maybe we should get serious." This is the first super automatic espresso machine we've ever owned so I can't compare it to anything but I will say this: we love it.

We knew enough to know that "super automatic" is important if you don't like the actual manual process of making espresso (we don't) and since this one doesn't actually say "super automatic" but rather "compact automatic" I was a little confused but eventually learned that compact automatic just means it's a super automatic with a smaller footprint. For those really ignorant like us: Super Automatic means you fill the bean bin and the water bin once every so often, and then it's ready to go. When you want a drink you turn it on and press a button single espresso, double espresso, single lungo, or double lungo. Then you watch as it makes a bunch of interesting noises then fills your cup with beautiful, steaming hot frothy coffee. Then you drink it. Super automatic.

The benefit of a compact super automatic is the smaller footprint of course. The downside is that you have to fill the bean and water reservoirs (and empty the dregs basin) more frequently than "regular size" super automatic. For us it is about twice a week two adults home all day and we like coffee. We're actually probably going through more than normal right now because we're enjoying playing and experimenting with strengths, mixes, quantities, etc. It has been a few days and already I've figured out my tastes but it's still fun trying new things.

If you love coffee and want to treat yourself this is a winner. The small footprint is nice it doesn't look like a commercial espresso machine sitting on our counter (though it's bigger than a regular drip maker). Again I don't have anything to compare it to since this is our first one but I can't think of anything about it we don't like. You have to remove the outside part of the steamer/frother to clean it, or you can leave it off when you froth and avoid that cleaning step. But I don't do any frothing anyway (wife does).

It's super. It's automatic. It's compact. It makes incredible espresso, americana, lungos, long blacks, cappucino, and lattes. We are very happy. I will post back after our first full cleaning.

August update: It has been 8 months and we love it just as much as when we first got it. We cleaned it once it was trivial. No issues except that one bag of beans we purchased from Trader Joes were a little oily and they got stuck in the hopper another reviewer also mentioned this. I removed the little cap from over the hopper (2 philips head screws) and left it off not sure how or if that can hurt anything but it has worked fine since.

Seriously we love this thing. There is nothing like feeling an urge for a cup a joe and 3 minutes later having one in your hands with nothing to do or clean up. And it is goooooood stuff. We were talking the other day and decided it's the best luxury gift we've ever given ourselves.

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PROS: Makes very good coffee and lattes. Sleek, good-looking appliance. Works as you would expect.

CONS: (very minor) Chrome "heating" plate doesn't get warm enough to heat anything (who cares?). Beans on the "oily" side don't always feed smoothly from hopper to the grinder.

I've owned several automatic machines over the years from Saeco and DeLonghi (most recently the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine) that have acted as our go-to small office coffee makers. (I'm a latte-holic myself, 4 to 5 a day, and admitting that is the first step toward recovery I'm told...) I have a tendency to wear them out in 2 to 3 years because they get a lot of use, 5 days a week. But that is to be expected, at least by me, as these really are intended as home-use machines. That being said, this is a fine machine for it's job which is to keep me in lattes!

It makes very good, tasty shots of espresso for those lattes, steams my 1% milk great with a nice, dense foam, and the regular coffee drinkers are very happy with their full coffees.

Tip: Best way to froth the milk?: swing the frother arm all the way to the left and stack your steamed-milk container with your cold milk in it on top of an empty coffee mug off to the side on the counter. That way your milk container is high enough to just sit there with the wand in it as it steams. You can walk away for a couple of minutes and do something useful. Just don't go too far away and "forget" it's steaming what a mess! But the frother "froths" really well all by itself, doesn't over-bubble and spill over the side like some past machines have done. Well-designed.

Right out of the box, it made a great-tasting first latte for me. One of the best, actually. I left the grinder on the factory setting, and set the rotating knob to between 1:30 and 2:00 o'clock position (just guessing) and it made both a great double-shot of espresso AND a great-tasting regular coffee on my first two tries (I used the "double" buttons on both the espresso side and coffee side that'll make more sense once you see the machine and read the instructions).

I've only had it about a month, but so far so really good. The only minor issue is that bean hopper "con" above. It's a bit shallow in slope, so my slightly oily beans (Costco/Kirkland espresso, roasted by Starbucks beans) get stuck sometimes during the grinding portion of the process, and I have to lift the lid and stir them a bit with a spoon to make sure they get down where they need to go not a huge inconvenience.

I've had a couple of the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnificas DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine mentioned earlier, and they are GREAT machines! (that's the one I have at home for weekend use). I'm hoping this latest DeLonghi for the office lives up to that model's standards. By the way, the model number for replacement water filters is: SER 3017. Google "Water filter SER 3017" though, to find it online, because it doesn't show up on Amazon. And DeLonghi customer service was no help at all via an emailed question about the filter, which should be a concern to them I would imagine. Hey Amazon, how about linking to the company that sells the filter?

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Bought this machine and right out of the box it was not drawing the beans into the grinder.Tried calling the manufacture and all I got was we can return it for repair.

It's only a day old.So I got on Amazon.com and looked at the reviews and see I am not the only one having this problem.So here is the fix.List off the cover to the bean bin and remove the mushroom cap inside the bean bin where the beans go into the grinder.This can be done by removing two little phillips screws and pulling the mushroom cap up and out of the bean bin.Save this piece just in case you would need warranty work for something else.Now there is no problem with beans feeding into the grinder.My guess is that it's a safety thing so one would not reach in and put there fingers into the grinder.Hope this helps someone else.

Honest reviews on DeLonghi ECAM23210SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte

I purchased this machine in July 2012 from a local department store. Following is my original review from August 2012. Scroll to the bottom for updated (and much less positive) feedback.

Original Review:

I purchased an ESAM3300 4 years ago and I love it. I recently moved it to my vacation home, and I purchased a new ECAM22110SB to use in my main home. I have had the new machine about 1 month, and I love it even more than the old one. I purchased my machine locally, so if there were any problems, I could exchange it with no hassles. Fortunately, it performed perfectly right out of the box. I use both machines primarily to make cappuccino, and occasionally to make coffee. I use Peet's beans, which are oily.

Both machines make great tasting espresso and coffee. Note that the coffee is "Americano", i.e. diluted espresso, but it tastes great. Both machines are easy to clean. The milk frothers on both machines are idiot-proof, and work great with 2% milk. However, if you are a barista who likes to make Latte Art, then you should choose a different machine with a traditional steam wand.

The things I like the most about my new ECAM23210B as compared to my old ESAM3300 are:

1) After a break-in of about a week, I got perfect espresso and coffee with the machine left at its default settings. During the first week the results were a bit weak, and I needed to crank up the strength dial. Now I have it back at the middle setting and get perfect results.

2) It is much smaller.

3) It makes much less noise.

4) It has pre-sets for coffee and espresso. The old machine had separate dials for water and ground beans quantities, but required experimentation to figure out where to set them for coffee and espresso. The pre-sets on the new machine are much easier to use.

5) The milk frother is easier to use. The old machine would spit water out of the frother until it heated up, requiring an additional pitcher to catch the water. The new machine emits only steam (unless you specifically request hot water).

6) The beans hopper cover makes a tight seal, keeping the beans fresh longer.

7) Although both machines purge water into the drip tray, the water in the drip tray in the new machine remains clean with no coffee residue. The old machine collected water mixed with coffee in the drip tray, making it harder to clean.

Things I don't like about the new machine are:

1) Oily beans don't feed well into the grinder. I think this is due to the incline of the hopper interior being steeper, and the entry area to the grinder being larger, on the old machine. However, if I manually push the beans into the grinder opening during the grinding cycle, then the new machine grinds perfectly. I haven't tried removing the mushroom cover as suggested by Steve, but that would probably help as well. If you use drier beans than I do, you may not have this problem.

2) When the grounds hopper is full and needs emptying, the new machine usually indicates this when I first turn it on in the morning. The old machine would do this immediately after brewing. When I get up in the morning and I badly need a caffeine fix, the last thing I want to do is clean my machine first.

3) The cover of the drip tray on the new machine is shiny like a mirror, and scratches easily. I prefer the matte finish of the drip tray cover on the old machine.

A note on service: My old ESAM3300 did require service once under the warranty. Fortunately, there was an authorized service center in the city I live in. They were able to repair my machine in 2 days, and then it was as good as new. Many of the reviews for Delonghi espresso machines on Amazon complain about their mail-in service. You might want to check for service availability in your area before purchasing this machine.

In summary, I much prefer the new ECAM22110SB to the old ESAM3300, and I am very happy with my purchase.

Update May 2013:

About a month after I published the above review, I started to have problems with the "ground too fine" error indication coming on. The manual states this is due to the grinder being set to too fine a setting, which prevents water from flowing through the machine. However, I got the error during rinsing and steaming milk, never during brewing. I called Delonghi, and was told this error can come on any time insufficient water is flowing, even when not brewing. There was always plenty of water or steam flowing when the error occurred, so I think the error was being falsely triggered. Delonghi gave me some things to try that didn't help. So I took the machine in for service to my local authorized service center.

They cleaned and adjusted the machine, and it worked fine for a month, then the error reoccurred. This happened 2 more times. The 4th time the error occurred it persisted even after cleaning and adjusting the machine. So the service center replaced the electronics and the pump. It took 2 months for the parts to come in from Delonghi. I was not pleased.

I had high hopes that the problem was really fixed, but two months later I started getting "ground too fine" errors again. By this point I had enough. I persuaded the department store I bought the machine from to take it back and exchange it for a new one. They assured me that if I have problems with the new one, they will take it back for a full refund. They said they have sold hundreds of these machines, and mine was the first to be returned.

I don't know if the original machine was a lemon, or there is something I am doing that sets off the error. I don't see any other reports of my specific problem online anywhere. I really hope the replacement machine works. I love it when it is working. If the replacement machine continues to work, I'll update the review and increase the star rating. Please wish me luck :)

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for DeLonghi ECAM23210SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte

I have used other automatic espresso machines and I find this Magnifica to be better for many reasons.

1) settings to control strength, temperature, coffee grind coarseness, auto-off time interval, and cup size

2) small footprint in terms of machine size

3) easy to access the water bin which can slide out partially and be filled while it is in place. Very nice feature considering you add water daily like you do with all machines.

4) machine auto-rinses. Some machines make this an option which is really about maintaining the machine.

5) perfect user interface. Easy to use

6) Great coffee.... Great coffee

7) Excellent frother. Many machines (Jura) don't stack up

8) easy to clean! The brew unit comes out and it doesn't require service at the factory. Look for this feature!

9) by-pass doser option. Many machines have this but not all machines in this price range

10) Decent price range and reputable company

11) Nice looks; It is a value blend of plastic and metal where needed. Sure it could be all metal but that would only drive up cost with little to no benefit.

I am happy with the purchase and I have had this for 4 months at this point.

Cheap Cuisinart CTP-11AM Copper Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 11-Piece Cookware

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List Price: $859.00
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Some quick background about me... I cook almost daily. Prior to this Cuisinart set, my daily pans were a set of commercial non-stick anodized aluminum and a few pieces of Calphalon copper cookware (chef's pan, 3 qt. saute). I see my pots and pans as tools and not really works of art so my copper pans lost their brilliance years ago.

I wanted to write a review immediately but decided to make sure I got some real cooking time with them to see if there were any surprises. This review represent about two weeks of twice daily cooking experience with the Cuisinarts. I'll try to break this review down into the various components. If you have questions, I'll do my best to keep up with this review to answer them. I'll try to keep basic kitchen knowledge to a minimum but I feel that for a proper review a few things have to be mentioned. I'll sometimes compare them to my Calphalons when I feel it's appropriate.

Pans Interior & Cooking:

* If you're used thin bottom steel pans and/or teflon coated pans, be prepared for a very different way of cooking with these. It's not difficult. In fact, I'd say it's much better for most styles of cooking. But you'll almost definitely go through an adjustment period.

* The inside steel cooking surface on the Cuisinart's is very smooth. So much so that the sides of the skillets are like a mirror. The other interior surfaces are a nice "brushed" finish.

* As I mentioned earlier, these are not "non-stick" pans but cooking an omelette was easy with a generous amount of butter. Flipping the entire omelette with a flick of the wrist was effortless. Eggs are probably the only thing that I would still consider using non-stick for but, as mentioned, it's entirely doable if you want to stick with just this set.

* Heat distribution seems to be excellent. I don't have any fancy scientific equipment to measure but melting butter on the pans doesn't show any particular spots burning the butter faster than any other spots.

* The edges of all of the pots and pans are flared so pouring is super easy with hardly anything dripping down the edge of the pan. This is very well done.

* Cleaning has been effortless. A quick shot of dish detergent and some soaking when I encounter something stubborn is all it takes to clean them up. I haven't had any major burning incidents to test charred remains but if I do, I'll update this review. (If they're anything like my other coppers, it will take a little elbow grease to scrub out really bad burns but you probably won't be burning things often because these pans do such a good job of distributing the heat. Just something to keep in mind.)

* The bottoms of the pans are perfectly flat. No distortions.

Handles:

* I was initially concerned about the handles getting hot. In my first two evenings with the pans, I noticed that the handles would get noticeably warm when I cooked. However, both of those nights consisted of recipes where the pans weren't heated for long periods of time.

Fortunately, in the last few days, I've been able to test with longer cook times. The 5qt. saute pan served up a nice curry and was under heat for an hour while things simmered. The handles performed fine. They still get warm but never to a point that was anywhere near "hot."

* Unfortunately, the handles are very uncomfortable to use. The ends of the handles are very squared off and if you are in the habit of reaching near the end of the handle the sharp corners dig into your palm. I do not like this at all and feel that the more contoured end of my Calphalons are much better designed.

* On the flipside, the squared ends allow for a nice sized holes which makes hanging them from a hook super easy.

* This isn't necessarily a big con but I also feel like the rivets used to hold the handle to the pans are a bit wimpy looking. I doubt it will affect long term performance but it's definitely something I noticed right away.

* The handles have a nice curve to them which your thumb rests in. This makes it very easy to turn the pans to pour things from them.

Lids:

* The lids are my biggest complaint, by far. They feel so thin and flimsy. This is not something that has impacted the cooking in any way. However, every time I wash them I am concerned about placing them vertically in my drying rack. It feels like one misstep or accidental push while they're wedged in the rack and the rim of a lid might bend.

* A quick comparison to show how drastic this is: I weighed the Cuisinart 5qt saute pan lid. It weighs 540grams. I weighed the Calphalon 3qt saute pan lid. It weighs 538grams. There is a considerable size difference between the two but they weigh almost exactly the same. Unfortunately, I don't have a micrometer to measure the thickness of these but holding the two lids together you can visibly see how much thinner the Cuisinarts are. For a set of pans this expensive, I do expect every part to feel more sturdy. This complaint extends to every lid in the set.

* The lid handles are nice and big. They are easy to grasp even if you're using a towel or heat pad to protect your hands. The shape is easy to work with. Zero complaints about the lid handles.

Upkeep/Finish:

* Out of the box, these pans are gorgeous. The copper is beautiful and spotless and shines like a mirror.

* If you've never cooked with copper pans be prepared for a color change after the first few heat cycles. They will start to change to different colors. Mine took on a beautiful purple tone. If you like this, great. You're done. If you want that beautiful copper color back you will need to occasionally use a mild copper cleaner. Cuisinart included a nice quick instruction on how to do this with some household materials (vinegar, salt, etc). There are also premade cleansers you can buy. They'll all work fine and get the shine back. I mention this because I've read many people who are new to copper pans think that something is wrong with the pans or they've messed them up. This isn't the case, it's just how copper works. If you find this troubling, you might consider pans with an aluminum or steel exterior.

Size/Selection:

* Overall, the selection of pan sizes is nice. It's a pretty personal decision what pan sizes you need. I am very excited to have a 5qt. saute pan. It will hold *a lot* of food and because it's so wide you can reduce things very quickly. I also love the 8" skillet. It's easy to wield and even my rather tiny wife can flip it easily. The sauce pans are a bit small in my opinion but, again, this comes down to your personal needs. There is nothing "wrong" with the sizes. The 8qt. stockpot is pretty much the gold standard size for these types of pots.

* Personally, I feel the steamer basket is a bit of a waste. You can pick up a cheap steamer almost anywhere and it will be just as effective. I wish they'd taken the steel from the steamer and used it to make thicker lids.

General Thoughts/Final Conclusion:

* A very good set of pans for the money. I am sure they will serve me well for decades to come. My two biggest complaints are the uncomfortable handles and the razor thin lids. If not for those, I'd easily give five stars.

* Should you get this set of copper pans or a competitor's set which costs almost exactly the same? There's no easy answer here. If I were making this decision, I'd take a close look at the individual pieces and decide which sized pans I need the most and use that as my main criteria. The quality of all the cookware in this range has gotten incredibly close to each other.

Anything I missed about this set? Please leave a comment and I'll do my best to get you an answer.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Took me a while to do a comprehensive review of the Cuisinart CTP-11AM Copper Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 11-piece Cookware set. Running the whole 11-piece cookware set into its cooking paces take a while to do, but the cooking results will satisfy your cooking endeavors. It is the best cookware I have every used.

My impressions:

DESIGN: the Cuisinart CTP-11AM Copper Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 11-piece cookware set is designed just like any other modern, conventional cookware as far as the shape is concerned. But this is where the comparison stops as far as shape design for there is one VERY HUGE difference -the exterior (bottom and side walls) of the cookware (except for the steamer) is coated with Copper. If you remember your periodic table of elements, Copper is a metal with a very high thermal and electrical conductivity. This means that when this cookware is subjected to conventional household cooking heat, whether it is gas or electric, it absorbs heat pretty quickly. With the Cuisinart CTP-11AM, heat is distributed evenly on the cookware's exterior, allowing the food to cook without raising the heat. The high thermal conductivity of the copper coating allows you to utilize high heat at a lower setting. The cookware's interior surface is reflective, non-stick stainless steel. There is a drawback however with the surface: you have to use plastic utensils to avoid scratching the surface.

COOKING: the Cuisinart CTP-11AM Copper Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 11-piece cookware set can be used in both gas and electric burners. With the exterior copper coating on the bottom and sides of the CTP-11AM, it is even oven-safe up to 500 degrees. My real-world cooking test exceeded my expectations in every way. The pans does not take a long time to heat and the heat is distributed evenly throughout cookware. Low heat setting is all it needs. The copper coating utilizes and absorbs heat easily and evenly, cooking time is reduced considerably.

MAINTENANCE/CLEANING: the non-stick stainless steel interior of the Cuisinart CTP-11AM is very easy to clean: hot water, dish washing soap and a soft sponge is all it takes to remove any after cooking residue. To preserve the stainless steel finish, do not use pads that are metal or has rough surfaces. If the residue is tough to remove, let the pan sit on hot water to soften the residue. Once softened, rub a soft sponge with detergent and rinse it with hot water. This should remove any kind of tough residue. Cuisinart does not recommend cleaning the Cuisinart CTP-11AM in a dish washer because of the abrasive chemicals in detergents made for dish washers.

I am very happy with how the Cuisinart CTP-11AM Copper Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 11-piece cookware set has performed and exceeded my expectations. Aside from the fact that it is sturdy and well made, it is also appealing the copper coated exterior easily catches your eye. I am sure this set will last me a long time. Highly recommended!

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program We have been happily using our Cuisinart pots and pans for the past three weeks. The first thing I noticed about quality cookware is how heavy it is and how well built it is. These are beautiful pieces that look great in our kitchen. The great thing about cooper is that it is a better heat conductor than the $20-a-piece pots and pans we have owned the last 10 years that we bought from a retail store. We feel like we are using real cookware now and our food cooks faster and more evenly.

The stainless steal makes clean up a breeze as well. We have no complaints about this set and are very happy with our purchase.

Honest reviews on Cuisinart CTP-11AM Copper Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 11-Piece Cookware

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This is probably the end all cookware set for someone who puts a premium on the aesthetic quality of your posts more than anything else. These are the show-stoppers, the big kahunas, the pots you want hanging from a cage over a center island in that million dollar house you are currently staging. Real estate agents should definitely have a set of these in their trunks. I've never really considered storing pots and pans outside of a cabinet but these can become the centerpiece of your kitchen.

The copper changes color after some use and I've been Bar Keepers Friend® Cleanser & Polish: 12 OZ to keep them clean. These pots heat up real quick and I can't tell if they are non-stick or not. Food does not seem to really stick them but they aren't as food-free as non-stick pots that I have so I'm not 100% sure. These take a little bit of getting used to because you don't need to cook on high heat with them. The copper conducts the heat throughout the whole pan and it does its job very well; these heat up quick. The handles aren't super comfortable but they never get too hot which is nice. The lids are thin which is a bit off putting but I don't think actually affects anything. Glass lids on copper might be strange but I do like being able to see into whatever I'm cooking.

I've never had a small 8 inch skillet before I actually like using for cooking things like a single chicken breast or two sausages, very handy. Also the angles of the handles coming out of the pan are perfect for hanging.

Overall I'm very happy with this set and would recommend them to anyone willing to put in a bit of work to keep the exterior clean.

Review of T-fal/wearever 9882000mw 12, 16 & 22 Quart Pressure Cooker Gasket

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List Price: $15.49
Sale Price: $10.59
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Yes folks, this gasket does fit a Mirro model #0406 16 quart canner/cooker. The gasket fit the lid of my pressure cooker almost perfectly. I say almost because when I first placed it inside the lid there was what seemed to be a definite excess of gasket material that I thought would likely cause problems. However when the cooker built up pressure for testing (15 lbs) it held that pressure for 30 minutes with no leaks as the excess material was forced out around, and against the canner, and lid.

I gave it 4 stars because I've no idea how many years, or uses I may, or may not get out of it. However I suspect that it will last as long the canner itself. If so then I perhaps should have given it 5 stars huh. But if not, then what? 3-2-1? Only use, and time will tell.

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Bought three of another one that wont let the canner close.I only ordered one of these but it fits and works like its suppose to.Ordered 2 more.

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I purchased this pressure canner gasket to replace one in a Mirro pressure canner that I have had for 25+ years. It fits well and I have used it multiple times this summer and it is doing very well. The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is that I'm not sure it will last 25+ years like the original one did but time will tell.

Honest reviews on T-fal/wearever 9882000mw 12, 16 & 22 Quart Pressure Cooker Gasket

Important Information

* If your model number is M-0512, M-0512-11, M-0522, M-0522-11 and if your model was made before Jan. 1983 then you need the 3440 Gasket.

Thankfully, Amazon accepted return.

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This is what i wanted. Fit my pressure cooker and worked just fine. I ordered one for each of my canners.

Best Paula Deen Signature Dinnerware Whitaker 16-Piece Dinnerware Set Deals

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List Price: $140.00
Sale Price: $88.32
Today's Bonus: 37% Off

I ordered two sets of these and they are absolutely beautiful. When I opened up the second box, however, there was one broken bowl. I called Amazon and they immediately took care of the problem. I have used these dishes now for more than 2 months and have not had a single breakage issue, and my family is not easy on dishes. The glazing on them is not only beautiful, but holds up in the microwave and dishwasher with no crazing or crackling (I've had more expensive dishes crackle before). The color is perfect for casual or more formal dining, and the pattern on the edge gives it a lace-like effect. I highly recommend these dishes.

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I LOVE THESE plates they are nicer then the image actually

glad I ordered them

the mugs are of nice size and the bowls arent HUGE

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I absolutely love this set. I enjoy the size and weight of the dishes as well as how durable they have been so far.

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We haven't eaten off these dishes yet, but they are beautiful and substantially made. The color is soft, and the raised design around the pieces is very pretty. They have a nice, heavy feel to them. The pieces are quite large because of the wide edges on the plates. I especially like the mugs instead of cups and saucers.

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I was pleasantly surprised they arrived quickly safely and are very nice dishes nice raised pattern but not over done looks French country. So pretty. If you are looking for small dinnerware this is not for you. The plates are large the bowls deep and a great size cup for my morning coffee.