Showing posts with label non stick cookware sets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label non stick cookware sets. Show all posts

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Review of Rachael Ray 10-Piece Porcelain Enamel Cookware Set

Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set, Blue
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $160.00
Sale Price: $121.95
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
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I purchased the Rachael Ray 10-Piece Porcelain Enamel Coodware Set in Blue at the end of December 2007. The handles are securely attached. The pans are just the right weight....not too heavy and not too light. The stay cool handles are terrific. The non-stick surface is awesome...the food slides right off. The see-through lids are great so you can keep an eye on whats cooking. It has the look and feel of expensive cookware but is very reasonably priced. The only thing that I didnt know before I purchased this item was that it is not recomended to cook on high with a glass top stove. I guess the enamel can fuse to the cook top. I have a glass top stove and at first I was concerned. I cook with this cookware set on Medium High instead of high. I have not had a problem at all. In fact, I used to burn meals in my old cookware but now that I dont use high heat to cook with I have not burned a single meal! If you are looking for great cookware with outstanding quality then I highly recomend the Rachael Ray 10-Piece Porcelain Enamel Cookware Set.

******And just to add a note to my original review back in Februay 2008.......I have now owned this set for a little over 2 yrs (its now 2010) and it is still just as great as it was when I first purchased it. I am very careful that I dont use metal utensils with this set. I only use wooden or nylon (plastic) utensils which I think contributes to the long life of any non stick cookwear set.******

######And yet another update.....It has now been 4 yrs since I first purchased this cookware (its now 2012) and it is still like brand new!!! ###########

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I was really excited to buy these, loved the color and loved the silicone handles. Unfortunately I have discovered the porcelain enamel rubs right off, even with just plain old water.

I noticed the first week I bought the set that the most of the pans already had minor smudges exposing the metal of the pan under the green paint. Then one day I was toweling off a pan I HAND WASHED and noticed the green enamel rubbed off all over the towel. I simply washed the pans with warm soapy water, nothing harsh.

I am extremely dissappointed with the quality of these pans. It is a great design but they are evidently made with very cheap workmanship.

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I have the blue set. This cookware is very affordable for what you get and so nice to use. I love the rubber handles that are angled upward and the see-through lids. My only complaint is that this set is not dishwasher safe. If you run these through the dishwasher, the color will fade. I have not done this because the paperwork included said not to do so, but I have heard complaints of the color fading after cleaning in a dishwasher. This is an excellent beginner cookware set!

Honest reviews on Rachael Ray 10-Piece Porcelain Enamel Cookware Set

I got the green set about a month ago and have experienced NONE of the negative issues others have mentioned.

I use these to cook all of my meals, and am not particularly careful about them... they're pots and pans after all.

I've had no trouble with the color scratching or rubbing off or turning black on the bottom as others have mentioned. They are still in nearly perfect condition. The enamel is just a bit scuffed on the bottom edges of the pan where it rubs up against the grates over my burners, but it's not even noticeable and I expected that. In fact I expected some discoloration from the heat and flames but there's NONE.

My lids fit great and nothing was warped or bent.

The nonstick coating is PHENOMENAL. I typically leave my pots and pans overnight and wash them in the morning or on my lunch, and even the most notorious meals for sticking on like glue and needing a serious soak wipe right off with just a tiny bit of soap and hot water. I've had no scratches or chips of any kind from the nonstick coating.

I know one person complained that they stained the inside of their dishwasher, but it says right in the description, on the box, and in the pamphlet that comes with them that they are not dishwasher safe... so I don't put them in there!

I've used the saute pan and sauce pot in the oven with excellent results and no damage of any kind to either.

I recommend that anyone who DOES have some issues take advantage of the lifetime guarantee! There're bound to be a few mistakes and duds with these as with any mass produced product. No one to blame but yourself if you don't ask for a replacement!

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I bought this set just three months ago and I am so dissapointed to find scratches on two pieces already. Other cheaper brands last me longer than this. I found scratches on the smallest pot which I used mostly to boil water! I never used metal utensils when cooking so I really dont understand why scratches appear so fast and so easy. And it became even worse when scratches did not stay as scratches at all; they allowed a big piece of the top layer to come off. Now one piece is junk. I purchased this set because it looked beautiful and because it relates to the famous cook. Now I better search for a real quality product other than basing my purchase on just the look and the name.

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Friday, December 19, 2014

Reviews of Outset QJ91 Jackson Stainless-Steel Steakhouse Knives with Rosewood

Outset QJ91 Jackson Stainless-Steel Steakhouse Knives with Rosewood Handles, Set of 4
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $40.00
Sale Price: $34.79
Today's Bonus: 13% Off
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This is a well-balanced, serrated, steak knife with a wooden handle. It is quite substantial meaning very heavy. The wooden handles are not sealed so I would suggest washing these by hand and oiling the handles until they season. They slice well and are perfect for the larger cuts of meat. I think these knives were heavier than I anticipated but in terms of length, in line with other steak knives on the market. They are definitely worth what was charged. I am giving them 4 stars because they are a bit on the too heavy side, but that is really my taste. This is where on-line shopping is a disadvantage as I have never seen these knives anywhere else so there was no way of knowing how they felt in hand.

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Solid and impressive. Enhances the steak eating experience. Nice looking and a nice weight and handling in your hand. Do not hesitate to buy.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Starfrit 031072 Everyday Basix Saucepan with Lid, 2.4-Quart Reviews

Starfrit 031072 Everyday Basix Saucepan with Lid, 2.4-Quart, Stainless Steel
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
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I needed a 2 quart sauce pan and decided to go with this brand. It seemed pretty decent from the picture and the price was affordable. Nothing too exciting the quality is a bit cheap; however it gets the job done and was worth the "price".

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This is a hard to find size in a stainless sauce pan. I got it and used it immediately. I love it. If you live alone or just cook for one person a lot, this is the pan for you. Easy to clean and a wonder to cook with. I love mine!

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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Best Fox Run 4-Cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter Deals

Fox Run 4-Cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $19.00
Sale Price: $13.63
Today's Bonus: 28% Off
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This Fox Run 4 cup sifter is a very nice, small size sifter. For the low price of $10.57, when purchased, I was surprise at how well made it is. The opening at the top is 4 1/2" wide, it is 6 1/2" high, which includes a 1/2" high extension at the bottom. This extension curves inwards, reducing the opening to 2 3/4" wide, and funnels the sifted flour coming out. The extension doesn't show in the angle the product photo was taken.

The sifter has double wire hoops attached to a shaft/crank handle (with a nice turned wooden knob). This shaft is about 5/32" thick, the hoop wires are right under 1/8" thick; all four hoop wire edges make contact with the fine mesh sifter screen. These double hoops are also centered on the shaft inside the sifter. This sifter makes fast work of sifting flour. You have to tap it a little when the sifter is almost empty, to get the last bit sifted, but that is the same as any sifter I've used.

I haven't had this Fox Run long enough to know how well the stainless steel will hold up against rusting, but it seems like a nice quality. I am very happy with this purchase.

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I was impressed with the quality of the design of this sifter.

First, at 4 cups, it's just about the right size for any baking or cooking.

Second, the bottom of the sifter is slightly funneled so that you have a good chance of getting the sifted material into a one cup (or larger) measuring cup. (I think this is great since the secret to most recipes is to sift the material many times this is especially true for soufflets and cakes).

Third, the stainless steel makes this a snap to clean, and keep clean. It also doesn't allow flour or powdered sugar to stick to it so much that you can't shake it or knock it off with a few raps of your hand). The stainless steel is heavy compared to the ones I looked at in the supermarket.

I'd give this five stars except for the chintzy revolving shifter mechanism, the chintzy crank handle and the wooden knob. I actually really like the wooden knob, but, it won't stand up to the dishwasher.

In all, I'm pleased with it.

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Your basic sifter. I like the turn handle models a lot better than the squeeze handle ones. This one is somewhat flimsy. The handle is attached with a cheap bolt and nut that comes off easily so check the handle often and tighten as needed. Mine came off when I was sifting flour into a bowl and the nut fell into my ingredients.The bolt and nut also rust so make sure you dry it thoroughly. I replaced the bolt and nut with ones that are rust proof and sturdier; used a locking nut so it would stay on better. Required a trip to the hardware store but given the price I can't really complain. You get what you pay for.

Honest reviews on Fox Run 4-Cup Stainless Steel Flour Sifter

A good size and easy to operate easy to wash up and does not corrode in the sea air the handle is suited to people with arthritis

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I've gone through several of these type of sifters and this one is so much sturdier and solid. I had the kind of sifter where you squeeze the handle and it broke after six months of use, plus it rusted really quickly. This one will last!

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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Lodge L Series E6D50 Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Apple Green Reviews

Lodge L Series E6D50 Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Apple Green, 6-Quart
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
List Price: $149.95
Sale Price: $102.99
Today's Bonus: 31% Off
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I have always wanted a cast iron enameled dutch oven but as with many people could not justify the price of the leading French brand (even at the outlet!) I carefully researched this product & others for several months, and after much pondering, decided to order this from Amazon (try and find it at a lower price with FREE shipping, it is just NOT possible)

I have been using this for a month now & decided that I should post a review for all those other folks trying to decide if the cheaper one is "just as good" My simple answer is "YES!!!"...... I have used this for EVERY crockpot/slow cooker recipe & it has performed MUCH better than any electric slow cooker that I have ever owned! So good, that I have gotten rid of my electric slow cooker forever, this is soo much more versatile. Good cooking is all about having the right tool, well this one has been missing from my kitchen until now. I have cooked roasts, BBQ, soups, chili etc it all comes out perfect EVERY time! I have even used for making really sticky things, like rice crispy treats, easiest cleanup ever.

I will go over a few key points.....

-follow the directions for use, someone took the time to write them, let's respect the author

-yes it does take a little while to heat up BUT it retains that temp for hours & quite consistently

-let it cool completely before washing & HAND wash it, yes it is heavy but clean up really is a breeze. Soak in some warm soapy water & voila!

-you can use this stove top or oven

-beautiful handle on top is VERY functional & easy to grip

-side handle are wide & easy to grip as well

-maybe only "complaint" would be MAKE more colors to compete with the"other brand"

If you are "on the fence" about buying a "cheaper" enameled cast iron dutch oven, don't hesitate ANY longer, get this one & you won't be disappointed!

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Have run into the same problems others have. Cooked with it only three times before enamel started coming off. Was very careful in handleing and cleaning but the enamel is chipping already. Go with le creuset or others.

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No I can't afford the expensive dutch oven I might have wanted. That's true.

However I could afford this for my birthday last year. It's now over 8 months later. I've used this wonderful thing several times.

I've confronted it with gentle care and accidental neglect. It's held up to all my use admirably.

First of all... the color is pretty true to the picture. It's beautiful. A mix of lime-green and olive-green to create, apparently, a bright, glorious apple-green color.

Mine arrived with a few minor flaws which I documented with photos in case it got worse over time. These were essentially cosmetic but could be potential weak spots for chipping later.

This thing is heavy as all quality dutch ovens are going to be... but I can lift it adequately, even filled with many pounds of meat and vegetables.

I find this bakes things beautifully. For whatever reason there is a bit of sticking when I use it on my stove top, I always use it on the correct heat settings but I do cook with less oil than the average cook probably does. It has never once caused an issue though.

I love how easily it goes from stove to oven. I love how huge it is. It holds a lot of food. The lid is snug and secure. The handle I thought was beautiful but was nervous about how it would be to hold such a curvy thin handle. I found it to be surprisingly comfortable. Only once when I was in a rush was it even mildly difficult to hold.

This is a really great product and I'd recommend it to anyone. I did a lot of reviewing and extensive product comparison before I purchased this Lodge L Series Enamel 6 Qt Dutch Oven and I found that this had the best ratio of price, enamel layers, quality workmanship and customer service. I did write Lodge before I ordered this and all of my questions were answered. I read through the Care Info before using this and I'm glad I did. I now only use wooden and soft silicon utensils with this and do not scratch it. This precious thing is washed and dried lovingly by hand and is a lovely bright bit of Green on my shelf. I have to say... if I had a million dollars I might just buy Lodge again.

Before I purchased this, when contacting customer service, I discussed a review about a customer having issues returning a faulty or damaged Lodge product that was purchased from Amazon.com and they assured me that they were VERY willing and able to accept those kinds of returns if there was an issue. I feel confident that if I had a problem, Lodge would do what it takes to make sure I'm satisfied.

If you want this product to last and last... take care of it because your children could easily be using this dutch oven long after you're gone from this Earth.

Honest reviews on Lodge L Series E6D50 Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Apple Green

I am not going to go into detail of all the pros and cons of this pan. I think they are well listed by the other reviewers however, if you are looking for this pan and wondering why the price has jumped drastically, it is because Lodge has temporarily discontinued the "L" Series (enameled cast iron) and the "Signature" Series (cast iron with stainless accents). You will not find these again till they re-introduce them with new look and design tentatively late 2013. So if you love the signature series buy them while you can or wait till they come back. I personally dont recommend the "L" series over the "Color" series which is not being discontinued but if you really wanted an "L" series get it while you can. (EXCEPTION: the apple pots are not being discontinued)

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I'm so disappointed in this dutch oven. I received it as a wedding gift, love the green color, and use it about once a week. Despite my careful care (handwash only), after two years it has several one inch chips to the outside green enamel on the bottom. This was usable (despite the fact it was starting to rust) until a one inch piece of enamel chipped off on the inside cooking surface with flaking edges. This dutch oven isn't even that much of a bargain at over $100 dollars. Spend a little more and buy a better pot, this one will not last.

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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Reviews of Oneida Stainless Steel Saucepans

Oneida Stainless Steel 3 Quart Covered Saucepan
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $79.99
Sale Price: $43.01
Today's Bonus: 46% Off
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This is a very pretty, durable 3-quart saucepan and should probably get 5 stars except for the price...you can buy it from Oneida.com for $29.99 instead of $44 through Amazon...I definitely should have checked there first! :/

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I had a hard time deciding between this pot and the Cuisinart in the fifty dollar range. Couldn't really tell what the different was and figured that with nearly a twenty dollar difference in price, I'd try this one out first and if I didn't like it, I could always send it back. Happy to say that it has been used three times and I really love it. It feels very durable, yet is lightweight enough to pick up with one hand while full of liquid. I liked it so much, I just ordered another one. I have only hand-washed mine, so I cannot speak to how it holds up in the dishwasher. I suspect I will be ordering a third one very soon as all my old pots are about ready for donation.

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While the price was very good, I was surprised, upon first use, when the inside bottom surface began to pit. I've used it several times, now, and the pitting has taken on a discolored appearance (black). I knew it wasn't burnt food, as I only boiled potatoes in it. It does not come clean. When I replace this pot, it won't be an Oneida.

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Pot is of the same apparent quality of my cuisinart pots. Can't beat the price. Handle stays cool much longer than hollow handles of cheaper pots.

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This has a great handle and lid, but wasn't as heavy as I had hoped. The extra mass holds and distributes heat better. This will do everything we ask, but I have a Duxtop tri-ply on order. We have been spoiled by a smaller Calphalon tri-ply purchased years ago at a very attractive price.

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Sunday, November 2, 2014

Cuisinart PowerEdge 1.3 Horsepower Blender with 64-Ounce BPA Free Review

Cuisinart CBT-1000 PowerEdge 1.3 Horsepower Blender with 64-Ounce BPA Free Jar, Brushed Stainless
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $365.00
Sale Price: $178.98
Today's Bonus: 51% Off
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I looked at what seemed to be a million blenders. I do a lot of vegan and raw foods but I didn't want to spend upwards of $400. I love this blender! It has handled everything I hoped it would, including frozen fruits for smoothies. It is very quiet for a blender. I like the die-cast base, the simple controls (who really needs 14 settings?), and the pulse setting. The only minor flaw is the difficulty in getting out the last 1/4 cup of whatever I've made. Overall, I very much recommend this blender.

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After my 15th cheap blender in the past 4 years, I decided to quit buying garbage and put my money to better use and bought the cuisinart CBT-1000 poweredge 1000watt Die Cast Blender. Sure it cost $$ compared to the ones I had bought, but I wanted something durable and THIS thing IS durable! It has a really large 64oz jar that's made of a nonbreakable BPA material. Normally I would say glass or nothing, but realizing that a jar that size in glass would be highly unwieldy, I decided to let that slide.

Operation of the blender is simple. There aren't 20 buttons to sift through to try to find the perfect thing. Honestly, how many of us know the difference between puree, cream, and whip functions anyhow?!? It has HIGH, LOW, SMOOTHIE, ICE CRUSH, and Pulse. That's all you need! It also has a tiny digital counter that counts UP how long it's been blending. That's a good thing to know when you are trying to decide the perect consistency of a smoothie or even a frozen margarita.

Our first time out, we deicded to go full steam and make smoothies for the family. Having a family of 7 means that I don't have time to waste making smoothies then cleaning out and making MORE smoothies and cleaning out and making MORE smoothies. So the pitcher size is great! Right now one batch can cover the entire family since all 5 children are 10 or under and that means a happier smoothie making parent! So our first smoothie was a chocolate green protien powder,chocolate milk, and ice. The smoothie came out beautifully. In one cycle, we had perfectly blended smoothies, with no ice chunks. It was so smoothe, it was like a really good milkshake. Although, since I DID use a lot of ice, I chose to go with the ice function over the smoothie function. I'm sure the smoothie function could have handled it, but I think that if something contains large cubes of ice, it automatically means ice function. After a month of near daily smoothies for the family, the machine is STILL cranking them out just as smoothe and delicious as the first time.

We also decided to give our blender a whirl at making several other frozen treats like margaritas! They came out perfectly frozen and blended smoothe as well. I haven't had a really bad experience with this blender yet. The closest thing was that I wanted to make a blizzard type ice cream treat with ice cream and oreos and the blender was so powerful that it turned the cookies into utter dust in a mere 2 secs! In the future, I'll whirl the ice cream and then mix the cookie bits in by hand or something, but even though it didn't look very appetizing, it tastes really good and there were no white spots, to show where it hadn't blended well. Milkshakes come out perfect every time. Even if you like them EXTRA thick and dreamy!

After using the blender, cleanup is a breeze. The entire bottom with the blades screws right off and a simple rinse in soapy water is all it takes to clean. Be warned, don't get your fingers or tongue! anywhere near the blades! They are blood hungry! My husband who NEVER listens when I warn him about the dangers of licking the blades, actually cut his tongue pretty bad on the blades and while washing his dried on bloody mess off after returning from the ER, I actually cut my finger(although no where near as bad)using a scrubber on them. My advice is to first of all(don't bleed on your appliance by doing stupid stuff) but if you do, just put a little warm soap water in the blender and turn it on for a few secs and let the power do the cleaning for you.

All in all, I'd definitely reccomend this blender to anyone who is looking for a good blender with power that gets the job done and who isn't afraid to pay a bit more for it. I love this blender and will probably look to cuisinart for the next tabletop appliance I plan to buy.

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This review is from the standpoint of a smoothie maker. It is all I use it for so my review will be constrained to how it functions as a smoothie maker only.

Every day this blender makes a perfect smoothie for 2 to 3 people in one batch.

It is a high quality, extremely well made and designed, high quality blender.

It is high power and is not one of those that runs very fast.

It does not emit any electrical odors, even when run at high speed.

The blades are very thick and well made.

The plastic jug is made from a high quality, restaurant grade plastic.

It has a smoothie setting. Click it and in less then 30 seconds, this blender easily auto makes a smoothie out of these typical ingredients.

12 oz bag of rock hard frozen strawberries

16 oz of Yogurt

3 bananas

3 oz whole oatmeal (the unprocessed thick kind)

Handful of raw almonds (about 25)

Orange juice

TIP: I add juice last and have to poke a hole through the yogurt to allow the juice to flow down to the blades. Otherwise, they just spin. When done, a perfect smoothie results. I like to blend it on high an extra 8 seconds. 8 seconds in this blender is a long time and a lot of work is done.

TIP: The blade assembly screws on very tight and seems almost impossible to get off the blender jar by hand. A simple solution I found was to put the entire blender jar and blade assembly on the blender base. Then, turn the blender jar counter clockwise while the blade assembly is securely engaged on the base. The blade assembly then comes right off with little effort.

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***EDITED AFTER 3 MONTHS OF USE***

After 3 months of use I feel like this blender was absolutely not worth the money. I fear that the oil leaking means this will be dead within the next 3 months. Here is my list of cons.

CONS:

I noticed OIL leaking from where the blade connects to the base. This can't be a good sign.

Very loud. The pitcher sits on a plastic base with no vibration dampening. If you don't hold the top down while blending it is even louder.

The pitcher does not lock into the base. I fear if I don't hold the top down while blending then it's going to jump off and spill everywhere.

The o-ring does not form a good seal. No matter how tight the blade is screwed on the o-ring always gets dirty and sometimes leaks onto the base.

The blade and o-ring are difficult to remove, and must be removed after every use for cleaning. It actually looks like they planned on including an accessory to tighten/loosen the blade because there are two slots on either side of the blade. Unfortunately there isn't one.

The grooves on the inside of the pitcher cause large objects to get stuck. For example, frozen bananas will get stuck and rest above the blade because of the grooves. I have to cut frozen bananas into smaller pieces before blending.

Thick frozen smoothies tend to create an air pocket above the blade. When this happens nothing is blending. I have to shake the pitcher while blending to release the air pocket.

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Looking for a blender with great power and finesse, without paying over $300 for a Blendtech / Vitamix monster led me to the Cuisinart CBT-1000. On the whole I'm very satisfied. This blender has excellent power and performs quite well in a wide variety of circumstances. It's also very attractive. However there are few minor issues:

Hots:

* Power within shouting distance of the heavyweights and more than enough power for anything I do with a blender.

* Large high quality plastic jar. I was looking for glass but above 48oz jars you don't see glass anymore. The reason is weight. The jar on the CBT-1000 is a beauty with a large 64oz capacity and excellent engineering for blending liquids.

* Beautiful die cast motor housing. The brushed steel base is heavy and looks awesome on the counter. This unit is probably the most attractive blender in my opinion way more beautiful than the leaders Blendtech and Vitamix at half the price of their intro models.

* 6 razor sharp blades get good action once there's enough liquid down in the narrow neck area (see caveat below).

* Built-in pulse feature. You can turn on pulse at either power level and it will pulse automatically, showing you time elapsed.

Not so hots:

* Cover is a bit difficult to get on and off. This is a dual edged sword. The upside is that it doesn't pop off accidentally.

* The jar / base interface isn't damped, so motor vibration causes the jar to make noise which can be eliminated by holding the jar with your hand. This could have been eliminated with some compliant material where the jar and base meet. I might hack this myself at some point. This is a quibble, but a missed opportunity for some engineering polish by Cuisinart.

* The shape of the jar is wide on top, tapering down to a narrow funnel down near the blades. This concentrates the cyclonic action of the blades in a liquid, but prevents chunks of solids from getting down to where the blades are easily. In practice this means that frozen chunks can have trouble getting down to be blended into the smoothie unless enough liquids are added. Vitamix uses this deep funnel shape, but integrates a tamping paddle to push things down. Blendtech goes with a wider jar, sacrificing some liquid cyclonic action in exchange for chunks integrating more easily. So this design decision on the part of Cuisinart is a dual edged sword too. It means you either use more liquid or stop to tamp down a bit more often. This isn't a big deal. The power of this unit means that once the chunks start moving the whole thing gets integrated very quickly. But the narrow funnel shape at the bottom of the jar can delay the start of the integration if your starting point is mainly solid chunks.

* The way the buttons work is you turn the unit on or off with the power button. Then, once power is on, you select a speed and it starts to blend. Additionally you can select one of the 3 "pre-programmed" buttons (pulse (2 seconds on; 2 seconds off), smoothie, or ice crush). This arrangement means you are pressing a minimum of two buttons to get action sometimes 3. This isn't a big deal either, and enhances safety. However, my preference is for one button operation.

* As another reviewer notes, this unit is 16 1/4" tall, assembled with lid; not 15" tall as the specs say. I have to stow it under my cabinets (15" high) with the lid off in order to fit. I wish they had given the correct dimensions on the site.

Bottom line, all my complaints are fairly minor. In the most important ways, this is an excellent blender and I have been very happy with it.

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Best Sitram Profiserie 31.7-Quart Commercial Stainless Steel Stockpot Deals

Sitram Profiserie 31.7-Quart Commercial Stainless Steel Stockpot
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $382.00
Sale Price: $259.50
Today's Bonus: 32% Off
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I wanted a very large pot to make batches of homemade soup for freezing and for cooking dozens of ears of corn at the summer cookouts. This pot suits my purpose. It is a beautiful, heavy duty stainless steel. It may be a little bit pricey especially since you have to purchase the lid seperately, but this pot gets an A+ for quality.

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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Best Revere Copperclad Bottom 1-Quart Covered Saucepan Deals

Revere Copperclad Bottom 1-Quart Covered Saucepan
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $24.97
Today's Bonus: $0.02 Off
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The difference in quality and weight of newly manufactured (overseas) Revere saucepans and those made in America half a century ago is obvious when placed side by side. I am STILL using several 1960's pans, and they remain in BETTER shape after all these years of use than the "new" ones I bought that dent so easily. Young owners of the "new" Revere will not know the difference, making "ok" or "acceptable" the new standard. How sad is THAT?!

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I have used Revere Ware copper clad pots and Farber aluminum pots for 42 years of marriage and two young girls who were hard on the pots. The Farber aluminum clad pots all buckled from the differential expansion of the aluminum cladding relative to the steal body of the pot. This took many years of use before all the aluminum clads became useless. My Revere Ware copper clad pots are all as good as the day we got them in the 1960s! So two weeks ago I decided to replace the worst of the buckled pots with new Revere Ware copper clad pots. What a mistake that was. Niced and shiny steel pots with a copper cladding for even heating. After a few day I finely used them both, I put two inches of water in the two quart pot place some frozen vegetables in also. Within minutes of heating the pot it suddenly buckled worse than any of my aluminum clad pots and of coarse heating took a long time due to the uneven base of the pot. Unfortunately, I discarded the boxes etc before ever using the pots and now have to determine if Revere will replace. On the bright side my three quart Revere Ware pot has not buckled yet.

Here are two observations, the China made pots from Revere are made of thinner copper and steel components and Revere has lost its reputation for producing quality products. It is my fault for not having read the prior reviews before considering purchase of these pots. If Revere is willing to degrade its flagship product of the last century for a little extra profit then how are we to trust any of their products. It is sad to see fine American brands degraded like this.

With the above said, lots of excellent products come from China, so this is not a China versus US made issue, its about what US manufactures are willing to do in order to make a bit more profit by sending proction oversas and reducing quality standards. All my current computers and many other high tech items are made in China and they are excellent, this is about Revere Ware and its loss of quality. Revere 3514027 2-Quart Covered Saucepan

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Our older Revereware pans are great, and part of the reason they're great is the really heavy bottom, which distributes heat evenly and extends the life of the pan.

This pan has a nice copper bottom, which is good for heat distribution I guess, but it's disappointingly thin. It's not the quality it used to be, or so it seems to me.

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This pan is not good quality. It is much lighter than the olds ones that were made in the USA! This is made in Indo-China and that should explain it all. Too bad that a product named after an American Patriot left the US to save money.

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While I will agree, my 20 year old pan is a bit heavier, this is still a very nice pan. It is fairly heavy. The lid fits nicely and the handle is firm. While we long for the past quality of goods, we can still recognize a quality item.

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Sunday, September 21, 2014

Buy Nordic Ware 3-D Cake Mold

Nordic Ware Easter Bunny 3-D Cake Mold
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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Hi everyone! I would like to share some info. This is my favorite pan to make the lamb cake and also lamb (paska) breads. I have used my old molds for 40 years. This mold is especially nice to use with sweet yeast dough. The breather hold on the top makes it easier to tell when the bread is risen. Depending on your dough, only fill 1/4 to 1/3 full and keep an eye on when it is risen. When the dough is almost fully baked, flip the pans over and remove one side to continue baking and make the front and back of the lamb more uniform in color. I use raisins for the eyes. If they fall out, use a little egg white to cement them.

For the cake, it is best to use a pound cake recipe (mine is a Bakers chocolate recipe). When you remove the cake, reinforce the head with long toothpicks (warn the family not to eat the toothpicks). My head NEVER falls off. I use the fluffy icing recipe, also in my old Bakers chocolate booklet, and apply coconut.

Do NOT put this in the dishwasher, hand wash!

Good Luck! and Happy Baking!

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I bought this for my 13 year old daughter so she could try to make her mom a special cake as a surprise. And guess what, she surprised me at how well she made it all by herself. And this was her first try at baking a cake. The images above on RHS are of her cake as proof that it works well and makes a nice shaped little lamb!

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This is a great pan! Be sure to do a test for the first use to get the timing figured out. The test area of the pan is in the head which is much smaller than the center of the cake. On my first cake, I was afraid it would be over cooked but I under cooked it. My test came out done, but the center wasn't done. Also, be sure to both grease and flour the pan.

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I have been looking for a lamb mold that was just like my mother's and grandmother's. Wilton has one but it looks nothing like a lamb. This mold is perfect. Traditional style and you can make a cake and 12 cupcakes with the batch. Very easy to use and the price was wonderful. Many places were charging $60! Make sure to use Crisco and flour every space so nothing sticks.

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This worked great! We used a standard cake mix. I followed someone's advice to use three cups of batter; that filled the mold pretty close to the edge. We had to wing it on the baking time; I used the instructions for Bundt cake and checked it about 10 minutes early, but the toothpick was still wet, so it stayed in almost the whole time.

One mistake we made was that we left it in the mold too long. I let it sit for a few minutes, then flipped it over, but then we got distracted and it sat in there for over 10 minutes. When we took it out, it was a little soggy from the condensation (just like any time you leave a cake too long in the pan). So be conscious of that time frame.

I used a whipped canned frosting and used Alton Brown's method of "press-and-pull" frosting decorating to make the sheep's "curls" (the episode, "The Icing Man Cometh", can be found on YouTube). The final product image can be seen on this page.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Infinite 2-qt. Saucepan with Lid Review

Infinite 2-qt. Saucepan with Lid
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $65.99
Sale Price: $49.99
Today's Bonus: 24% Off
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I love this pan and the fact that it can be used for induction or regular cooktop cooking is super. I have an individual induction burner. This pan was just the right size for cooking small amounts and the strainer lid is great with the small and large holes on each side for draining. This also was a great value. Cannot go wrong buying this product.

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This is an excellent pan and the drainage works perfectly. Yet the handle design is terrible and makes tipping it especially difficult if the pan is 2/3 or more filled. I even considered returning it but decided this would be too much trouble as I am strong enough to muscle it when I need to do so.

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I ordered this product to replace a dishwasher-safe, non-stick pot with a straining lid we owned for a while. My main complaint is that the lid handle is not heat resistant (minus one star point). You'd think with a straining lid they would have given a little more thought to the fact that the lid will be used more than on other pots, so it should be heat resistant. I had to use a pot holder while handling the lid to strain the water out of it. While it is an attractive pot, the handle of the pot should also be larger in diameter for better comfort if you have larger hands or arthritis(minus one star point).

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If you are looking for some good cookware, this is the ticket. I keep looking for more in this line. Really great nonstick and awesome for induction cooking.

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This is very high quality pan!! Perfect for induction burner, great nonstick. The lid handle can get hot, but I expected that. When straining u have to hold lid. When u pick it up that's what u feel (quality)!! Very nice appearance arrived perfect, this is only piece in my set that was purchased new! Others were like new, which I've bought a lot of. I purchased all the pans available, without purchasing the full set. This worked out for me. These pans heat very evenly on Nuwave PIC, though burner is only 1300 watts these pans spread heat to out side edge of pan. U can probably tell I love it!!

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Friday, August 22, 2014

Review of Moroccan Tagine Free Shipping by Treasures Of Morocco

Moroccan Tagine Free Shipping by Treasures Of Morocco
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $27.99
Today's Bonus: 7% Off
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This tagine is far better that I had hoped it would be. It seems to handle high temperature cooking wonderfully, which is not always the case with tagines. Clean up is super easy and it is a lot of fun to cook with because it can go from stove top to oven. I wish I had gotten an extra large instead of a large though. If you are planning on cooking for four people or more I would recommend the extra large.

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I became interested in tagines (the food) while going through one of my cook books trying to find something "good" to make for dinner. The tagine is a very flavorful stew type dish that is simmered slowly in a tagine (the vessel). The end result is meat/beans etc. that melt in your mouth. The seller described the clay vessel as made in Morocco by hand as it has been for years. It is beautiful to look at and does an amazing job of cooking tagines. This item was the first tagine I had ever purchased so I was little sceptical about putting it directly on top of my glass cooktop. However, the functionality was as described. The vessel browns food nicely and clean-up is easy. Because it is made by hand the appearance is not perfect but for me, the small imperfections add character and uniqueness. One thing to note is that seasoning the vessel requires several hours of submersion in water and then several more hours in an oven so don't expect that once it arrives you can open the box and use immediately. One other thing to consider is that the small one is not large enough to prepare food for six. If you are planning on cooking for more than four I would suggest the larger size.

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I bought this tagine after getting interested in Mediterranean cooking. I have a cookbook for tagine-based recipes Tagines & Couscous: Delicious Recipes for Moroccan One-Pot Cooking and I wanted to try it out. The tagine arrived well packed and protected. I found out that it is an authentically made tagine from Morocco (great) but not suitable for a gas stove (oops). You will need a diffuser or some large metal plate if you want to use this on a gas stove.

Tagines are simply one-pot cooking on a stove. This tagine cooks very well but is a bit small for a family of 5 you can't fit all the ingredients into it for a meal that large and that's why I gave it 3 stars. Other than that, I recommend it.

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The tagine is both exotic and functional. The one I received did not have the painted embellishments on it, but still cooked us a delicious meal. It would be helpful to have the care, seasoning, and suggested recipes for the tagine included with it. I'm very pleased with the size, the shape, and availability for the price!

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it did and the flavor was as I expected I've had clay pots from Peru I'm now trying to find something larger with a top at least 10 inches

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Saturday, June 28, 2014

WMF Sealing Ring For All WMF pressure Cookers & Pressure Frying Reviews

WMF Sealing Ring For All WMF pressure Cookers & Pressure Frying Pans,  Large
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
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I purchased this sealing ring for my parents who have owned he same WMF pressure cooker for over 30 years. They had not changed the ring on it for almost 5 years and were still using the cooker on a weekly basis. They were going to wait til their next trip to Germany to get a replacement ring because they thought that's the only place they could get one. I decided to take a chance and do a Amazon search for it since they really needed a new ring because the pressure cooker was starting to leak. I was amazed that they had it but was a little skeptical that it would fit their pressure cooker since it was sooo old. I decided to purchase it anyways since it was only $10. Shipping was quick and it fit the cooker perfectly. Thank you amazon for saving my parents a trip to Germany and now they can change the ring more often.

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This ring makes the pressure cooker seem like new. I use mine every week. Thank you.

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Quality rubber ring for years and years of excellent, fast and tasty cooking in the WMF pressure cooker(-s). We have 6 WMF pressure cookers in all sizes and can put the meal on the table in less than 30 minutes from absolute scratch. 50% of the job is the tools! And this is a mighty fine cooking tool!

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Excellent replacement that is almost impossible to find. WMF pressure cooker was originally purchased in Germany over 20 years ago. Seal ring fits perfectly and now it's back in use. Thanks to Amazon.com for their quick delivery (item was originally out of stock) and outstanding customer service. We are very pleased.

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This was the exact sealing ring (part number:) Ersatzteil-Nr. 60 6855 9997 & 60 6855 9990 , which fits all 22cm diameter pots. This is our second replacement seal for our circa 1985 pot. They only last about 10 years on a gas stove. Burner size selection is key. If you burner is too big for the pot the flames will slowly roast your new seal, shortening it's life. It's great that you can still get a replacement for a such an excellent pressure pot. Thank you Amazon and WMF!

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