Cheap Chef'n SleekStor Nesting Spoons

Customer Ratings:

Mostly good design needs important improvements

Summary

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This disappointing measuring spoon set is marginally useful at best, due to shortcomings in the set's design that are not readily apparent from the product's description nor photograph.

This measuring spoon set has 3 major negative characteristics that far out-way the 7 positive, highly desirable characteristics.

Cons, Major

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* The scoop part of the spoon is made from a material that has a strong tendency to make powders stick to it; particularly fine grain powders. The spoons must be washed in-between uses to prevent one ingredient from contaminating the source of another ingredient (when ingredients are scooped from a container).

* The gap in the ring that holds the set together is much too large. The spoons often slip off the ring without being intentionally removed. This creates more cleaning work for the user if the spoon falls onto an unsanitary surface like the floor, or a cutting board that was recently used with raw meat.

* Leveling the contents of spherically shaped measuring spoons is quick and easy using a single hand, if the user pours the contents of the spoon into the center of the scoop, then gives the spoon a quick, brief, horizontal shake. In contrast, leveling the contents of this set's spoons with a single hand is quite problematic, due to the elongated shape of each spoons' scoop. When pouring powders into the scoop of this set's spoons, the powder can not automatically distribute evenly within the spoons' scoop; making the horizontal shake method of leveling the spoon highly ineffective at best.

Cons, Minor

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* As reviewer "moi surtout" mentioned, both the tablespoon and teaspoon are marked inside their scoops as "1". If one were to rely on the larger, more readable measurement markings inside the scoops as I initially did, discerning which was the teaspoon and which was the tablespoon was confusing due to the size of those scoops being rather similar when looking straight down on them. The identical measurement markings in the teaspoon and tablespoon scoops would be much less of a problem after one learned which color corresponded to which measuring spoon.

Pros

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* The thin, elongated spoon shape enables scooping ingredients directly from small containers like common spice jars.

* Measurement amounts will always be visible and never fade or wear-off like paint, due to measurement amounts being molded into 2 separate locations on each spoon. This characteristic also has the benefit of being potentially helpful to vision-impaired people.

* The spoons are well made from apparently durable materials.

* In the case of the "Trend Color Set" model I bought, the unique colors assigned to each spoon enable quick, correct identification of each measurement amount in the set without looking at the numbers molded into each spoon (assuming one repeatedly used the set to facilitate memorizing the color to measurement-amount correlation).

* Measurement amounts are indicated on each spoon in both Imperial and Metric units (Imperial is like "tablespoon", and Metric is like "ml" or "milliliters")

* The curved shape of the spoons' handles makes them very easy and natural to hold.

* The spoons work well with liquids.

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One thing I didn't realize about these is that they aren't white, but more of a very light beige. They look a little dirty next to my pristine white measuring cups from a different maker. They come on a plastic ring with a slot for removal, and they often slip off. I'd rather they were just on a normal closed ring. They nest into each other, provided you can keep them in order when they're always slipping off the ring.

Measurements are easy to read on the handle; not sure why they felt it necessary to put them in the bowl of the spoon as well, since that just gets covered when you use it and makes it harder to clean. Also, both the tablespoon and teaspoon are marked inside as "1". What's the point? The inside is also textured, which makes no sense to me at all.

These work well enough but I will probably replace them with a better designed set in the future. They aren't that bad, but I probably wouldn't purchase anything else from this maker.

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These look great in my green-accented kitchen. They are sturdy, cute, and functional. They slip easily on and off the ring for use, and sit nicely in the drawer thanks to the flat-bottomed design. My one complaint is that I wish they had more of the in-between sizes...and a 1/8th teaspoon would be really helpful as well. I don't want to knock a whole star off for that one minor thing, though. Overall this is a great set.

Honest reviews on Chef'n SleekStor Nesting Spoons

I live in a small house, with limited space for storing things and these little nesting spoons don't take up much room in the drawer and match my green themed kitchen.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Chef'n SleekStor Nesting Spoons

Slim and able to reach into those darn baking soda boxes. Excited to use these in my travel trailer. Lightweight and compact for all RV'ers.

Chantal 10-Inch Copper Fusion Fry Pan Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $170.00
Sale Price: $119.95
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

I bought a GE induction range & wanted something a little lighter than my cast iron cookware, so I bought this as a test for Chantal's Copper Fusion cookware. Overall, I am pleased. Many previous reviewers were unhappy with the non-stick coating. I have not had the same negative experience. I pre-coat the pan with a cooking oil spray each time I use it. When done, eggs will pour right out of the pan. A valid criticism in previous reviews is the pan size. I have a Calphalon 10" tri-ply stainless steel fry pan. The Calphalon pan top rim i.d. measures 10", while the Chantal pan measures 9-1/2". The Calphalon pan bottom cooking surface diameter measures about 8", while the Chantal pan measures about 7-1/2". I have not yet found a cooking lid that properly fits the Chantal pan. I used an infrared temperature sensor to measure the temperature on various points of the pan's cooking surface. There was a difference of only about 20 degrees F between the center & outside rim of the cooking surface. This was a lower variance than the Calphalon pan, which registered cooking surface outside rim variation of between 20 & 50 degrees from the center. The Chantal pan is heavier than the corresponding Calphalon pan but, with all the enamel, I expected that to be the case. Although the Copper Fusion line is a little pricey, I will probably purchase additional Copper Fusion cookware based upon the performance of this pan.

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It is heavy, pretty and best of all, non-stick as long as you cook properly. I used it make pancake, stir fry meat or vegi dishes, scramble eggs (of course you should add oil and a little water), etc, and it never had a problem. Its handle is very comfortable to hold; it stands out easily in my kitchen and already replaces several other pans that I owned. Strongly recommend it. It is your wise investment.

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This pan was supposed to be a healthier and revolutionary version of non-stick pans which often release chemicals into the food as they break down. It has been recommended by several well respected chefs. I have now used this pan for a month and followed the directions diligently. Yet every single time the food has stuck somewhere on the bottom of the pan whether its an omelette or a pan roasted fish.Chantal Copper Fusion 10 Inch Fry Pan, Chili Red The worst part is that it is difficult to clean the particles off even with a hot water and soap soaking. The coating on the pan was supposed to make this simple. It did not. I am still waiting for the company to respond to my email since they do not have any "live" person to talk to the customer. A big disappointment that was also not cheap.

Honest reviews on Chantal 10-Inch Copper Fusion Fry Pan

Food sticks to the pan.

Too heavy; my wife found it was too heavy and did not want to use it

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I bought this as a gift for my father in law and had to hear him complain for weeks about how he was burning everything... and he was blaming it on the pan!!! Funny now that he is retired we just had a conversation about it and he loves it. Low heat and coconut oil... take your time, don't rush and you will love it too!

Cheap Ecolution Evolve Fry Pan, 11-Inch, Red

Customer Ratings:

I feel I need to be cautious, however, and maybe will review this Review several months from now. I had purchased one of the 'green' type of pans (ceramic?) earlier this year and right after purchase I could not say enough good things about it. However, after just a couple of months, it kept getting stickier and stickier (regardless of conditioning with oil) and in maybe 4-5 months after purchase it went straight to the trash.

These 'Ecolution' pans feel great, look great, and so far they cook great seems to be even heat, the handles are silicone and do not get hot, and they are truly nonstick. If their nonstick-ness (?) wears off quickly I'll come back and update the rating and review, but so far I'd have to say I am quite pleased with the purchase. Oh, and they look great too!

My only possible complaint would be that the color of the photo on Amazon seems a really deep red, almost a reddish-purple. The pans aren't quite that deep in color, maybe more of a deep red, almost a bit of a brownish-red as opposed to a purple-red. Not a big deal, they are still red :) but I have no other 'con'.

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Ecolution manufactures environment-friendly cookware. Environment-friendly how? Well, until recently a lot of non-stick cookware used PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) in its production. This chemical is considered to be toxic and a carcinogen, and takes a very, very a long time to break down in the environment. Ecolution uses a water-based system that eschews PFOA.

So far, I have been very impressed with this pan. It is nice and heavy, and so far it works beautiful with no sticking when cooking. It heats up quickly, and the silicone handle is comfortable and stays nicely cool. What can I say? I like it!

(Review of Ecolution Evolve Fry Pan)

Reviews of Farberware Millennium Nonstick Aluminum Twin Pack 8-Inch

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $26.68
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

We purchased the larger Millennium Skillet and have been so pleased with it because the bottom of the pan is HEAVY, so its not prone to warping, especially on our glass-top stove. When we received the these smaller skillets they looked nothing like the Millennium skillet we are using, the bottom does not have the heavy base and they just felt like they would warp the first time and appeared cheaply made. If you are expecting a smaller version of Millennium heavy bottom skillet, these are not for you. Using Amazon's no hassle return process, we've sent these back.

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I gave these only two stars due to the flimsiness of the pans they are NOT the old heavy-duty Farberware. One fell to the floor about a five foot drop and dented in the side. I mean a large dent, enough so my existing glass cover would no longer fit on it. I simply took a pair of pliers and bent the side back out that's how cheaply these are made now. I decided to keep them, as they do clean up easily and I already had two glass lids that would fit them, which was the reason for my purchase. These two pans were to replace my heavy old LNT 8 and 9 1/2" pans, from which the teflon finish had finally disappeared after many years of service. However, I don't see these two pans being worth $30, especially if you have a family and plan on giving these a lot of use, which does not apply in my case.

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Two-pack makes this an excellent buy! Smaller is just perfect for scrambling a few eggs, or preparing foods for 1-person meals. Very easy to keep clean,. and a very attractive color. Non-stick surface is excellent. Handles are very comfortable, and do not get hot. They are also nice and long to keep your hands away from the heat.

Honest reviews on Farberware Millennium Nonstick Aluminum Twin Pack 8-Inch

Bought my first Millinium pan years ago. It's surface has lasted very well. The best part of this set is the insulated handle. Cleans up easily.

Cheap Kuhn Rikon Hotpan Braiser 4.8 Quart, Orange

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $220.00
Sale Price: $188.32
Today's Bonus: 14% Off

It is nice to have one at home to save energy.

Easy to clean and useful. However, the price is high to pay . That will be the only to consider if you are looking for a cheap one.

Very good quality from Swiss!!

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I have been using kuhn rikon cooking pans for more than 30 years. The quality has been improved since then.

Cheap T-fal E918SC64 Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick Expert Interior

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $199.99
Sale Price: $104.86
Today's Bonus: 48% Off

I was looking at the specific details of my cookset on here (I purchased mine at Kohl's for $30 MORE than amazon, silly me) but I noticed only one review and that it had but a single star.

This must be remedied.

First off, know that I cook A LOT. I love to cook, my family has a history in the food industry, and I currently work at a very highly rated restaurant. I know food, and I know cookware. I go for top quality or I throw cookware out of the kitchen.

I've always had the issue of never finding true quality in non-stick cookware. Many wanted to go aluminum to heat more quickly, but this left pans warping and sliding about on the kitchen top. Though my biggest problem was finding durable non-stick surfaces.

Secondly, this is the MOST durable non-stick surface I have ever seen (I have tested over a dozen different companies including many competitors including but not limited to Calphalon). I test these by taking my trusty titanium spork with me everywhere I go. If it can't scratch it (95% of the time it scratches straight to the underlying metal), then nothing I do in the kitchen will.

Also, this set heats amazingly well. I never get overburning, though I will warn you that the center (red dot) does heat slightly faster (but not hotter) than the surrounding areas, so be aware to avoid it when pan-searing meats and such.

Lastly, I know that it is marketed as dishwasher safe (I'm more than certain it is), but I highly recommend not doing so. This goes for ALL non-stick cookware. It is a coated material and I don't understand why you would anyway...the MOST effort I've ever had to do was to run water over it with dawn and a brush for less than 30 seconds, then dry with a single paper towel...It's done. Why would you risk shortening the life of your cookware.

In conclusion, This is a great product that I would recommend to anyone. It's durable, well-weighted, and (in my house) has put out some of the most beautifully cooked culinary dishes ever eaten by a privileged wife =)

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These are the very best pots and pans I have ever had. There is nothing I can say bad about these T-Fal pans, I absolutely love them. Even my husband likes cooking with them.

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I love these pans!! They are very sturdy and have a lifetime warranty. I love that if someone uses metal utensils in them they will not scratch :) They are super easy to clean too! I bought a Wok to match!

Honest reviews on T-fal E918SC64 Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick Expert Interior

I have had this cookware for about a year and absolutely love it. It is the best cookware set I have ever used. We normally wash them by hand but I love that they can go in the dishwasher, unlike my MUCH more expensive Calphalon set. I would definitely recommend this cookware!

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The T-fal anodized cookware has performed above expectations. I was somewhat leary to purchase higher end products from T-fal which has a name for lower priced products. However A friend alerted me to this set at a local dept store since they know I was looking. I found the Amazon price $110 including S&H as opposed to $150 (sale price normally $199) plus tax.

The great fun started the first time I used the small skillet to cook fluffy scrambled eggs. The eggs slid out of the skillet whole. All I used was some spray oil b4 the eggs. Next I used the sauce pan (with lid that fit) and made home-style green beans excellent. The large skillet is used to cook country and city breakfast ham with no sticking and even after it sat overnight, all I needed was to spray with warm water and it looked like new again. My favorite is the dutch oven for chili. It simmers great and the left overs are stored easily in the fridge and just a quick reheat for great chili left overs. The lid for the 3 qt sauce pan fits the small skillet. The only disappointment was the dutch oven lid was too small to fit the large skillet. I do have a lid from my old set that covers the new skillet, but only sets on top and not "fit" like the others.

Discount Insect Fruit Fly Cup and Lid

Customer Ratings:

These cups are excellent for raising fruit flies. The price is very low, and shipping was cheap. If you buy more than one, they combine shipping for you. The fabric that covers the holes in the top was of good quality, and the overall thickness of the plastic on the cup and lid was what I was expecting.

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i am very satisfied with these cups and lids to culture fruit flies. they are sturdy and just the right size.

Discount Presto Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $46.00
Today's Bonus: 23% Off

I bought this cooker 6 months ago from amazon for $35, and frankly, although the reviews I read on this product all said that it's great, I was very skeptical about the $35 price tag and was not expecting much. On top of that, both my mother and my mother-in-law warned me that cheap pressure cookers are dangerous, and I *must* buy something more expensive for safety reasons. I am just very glad that they were both wrong!

This is definitely one of the best purchases I have made on amazon. I still cannot believe they sell this for $35! The pot does not feel cheap at all. It has very sturdy handles, and a thick, heavy bottom, which holds in heat well. I like this pan so much that sometimes I use it instead of my skillet to sautee meat, because of the deeper pot + the cover, less cleaning up for me :-)

I love making soup and stock, but it usually takes up so much of my time when the stock is simmering. With this pressure cooker, I can make a meat-fall-off-the-bone soup in an hour!

Some might find this pot to be a little on the small side, but this pot works great for my wife and I. Although we have guests over regularly, I find the capacity of the pot to be very good. I would guess that this pot would work well for up to a 4-person family.

Pros:

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Cheap, at $35, it's hard to beat

Sturdy, I was afraid that the plastic handles would break easily, but they are in fact quite strong

Stainless steel makes it great for browning meat pieces for stew or stock, and it heats up fast and holds heat well.

Safe, you cannot open it when it's pressurized.

Dish washer safe, though I prefer to wash it by hand.

Cons:

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The handle can be tricky to hold with one hand. My hands are small, and when you've closed the top, the handle is kind of big. Luckily, I don't need to do this very often, and when I need to move it around, I just use both handles.

The top cap can be tricky to clean. I usually soak it in hot soapy water, and then clean it thoroughly with Q-tip.

Watch outs:

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The handle curves in a way that it catches any dripping liquid, I've hurt myself once when I wasn't careful at opening the cover.

Do *NOT* remove the cap while it's blowing! The steam from inside is extremely hot and as soon as you remove the cap, the hot steam will shoot up faster than you can move your hand(s) away.

Tips:

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I keep some water bottles in my freezer, and when I need to cool this off in a hurry, I can make a bath of cold water in my sink, put the hot pot inside, and throw the froze water bottles in. This usually cools it down very fast, great when I want to refrigerate it overnight to skim off the fat, and didn't want to wait too long for it to cool down.

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This is nothing fancy, but it works wery well. Replacemenat parts are easy to buy. You can't open it if it's under pressure because it has a lock by the handle (safety feature). Actually I think it's very safe as it has other features as well.

I think one of the most important things to look for is what it's made of (after safety of course!). This is stainless steel which is good because you don't want aluminum (aluminum will stain and get eaten away with acidic food such as vinegar or lemon juice...).

Another thing to consider is that it takes time to heat up and cool down so even though all pressure cookers say it takes a lot less time to cook, they don't take the heat-up cool-down time into consideration, even though they are correct about the actual cooking time.

Good pressure cooker.

EDIT

In 2007, I bought a Kuhn-Rikon pressure cooker and I'm even more pleased with that.

It's quite a bit more expensive (4-7 times?) but a *lot* quieter as it relies on an internal spring to maintain pressure as opposed to gravity for the Presto. The Kuhn-Rikon also allows less water to escape. I keep both of them but I haven't used the presto for 4 months now. Considering I bought the Presto in 1999, it's amazing that it works perfectly even though it got heavy use. I even put the rubber seal and the lid in the dishwasher every time and it still held up. It's my backup cooker now as I can't let go of something that still works fine.

Best Deals for Presto Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

This is an excellent pressure cooker. I also have the 8-quart stainless steel model by Presto and I don't like that one as much as this one. I like the little rocker on top better because I know exactly how much pressure it has. It is super easy to carry this extremely lightweight pressure cooker to the sink, run water over it, and in 5-10 seconds the pressure is down! It is not heavy or hot. You just have to be careful when you do this. I actually prefer this method of quick cooling to the method used in the 8-quart, which is to open the little weight and let the steam shoot out the top. That method takes about a minute, plus there's steam all over the place. That seems more dangerous to me than going to the sink.

This model is a smaller version of the 6-quart, so if you think this one is too small, that one would work for a family. This size is just right for one or two people. I always make very small quantities of food in it anyway as I don't like to have a lot of leftovers.

Cleanup with this product is very fast and easy as it is so lightweight. Another nice thing is that replacement parts are very easy to obtain (rubber gasket and overpressure plug).

I highly recommend this pressure cooker and the 6-quart stainless steel model as well.

Honest reviews on Presto Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

I own three pressure cookers, I reach for this one the most. I use the bowl within the pot method to cook brown rice (I am too lazy to clean, this allows storage of the rice directly into the fridge.) After cooking brown rice in a pressure cooker, don't know how people have the time to wait around for a rice cooker. I like the audible rocking noise it makes, this way I know pressure is being maintained when I cook. I make mostly beans and brown rice, I cook for one and the bowl method allows me to have rice all week (using the 4qt Presto) I like this one best out of all three, because it seems not to clog like the others.

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This is a no-frills pressure cooker. It could be a little bigger, but it does the job very well.

When 'boiling' food in a traditional pot, the food cannot exceed 212 degrees F (the temperature at which water boils). Under pressure, the boiling point rises... in this pressure cooker to about 250 degrees F. This means, of course, that food cooks faster (the reason people normally think to buy a pressure cooker), but the higher temperature also allows other 'reactions' to take place while cooking... For instance, the tougher fibers in meat will convert to gelatin, making the meat more tender. As a result, pressure cookers are great for braised dishes with tough meats, such as chili. For these purposes, this pressure cooker rocks.

Larger pressure cookers can also be used for canning (because the higher temperatures can kill more bad things. This pressure cooker really is not large enough for this task. If you are not a canner though, compare the prices of this against those larger models... I think you will be back looking at this one.

Reviews of Swiss Diamond 10 Piece Set: Ultimate Kitchen Kit

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $900.00
Sale Price: $574.95
Today's Bonus: 36% Off

I really wish that people would not leave comments on cookware that they have had for less than a year. Of course when it's new, it's great. However, please note that the reviewers who have had theirs for more than a year are telling you it DOES scratch easily. This is a very expensive set for nonstick. I took very good care of mine because it was so expensive, I always handwashed my cookware and did not abuse it. But it still scratched after 3 months. Fortunately the company that I bought it from stood behind it and took it back, because Swiss Diamond's warranty is awful! Look at some of these reviews and you'll see that people who had to deal with the company are saying that Swiss Diamond keeps claiming "abuse". How convenient and shady of the company. The nonstick was great and it cooked nicely, but when mine scratched, I contacted the company and was given, in an email, "this warranty does not cover stains, discoloration, scratch marks, or dents". HUH??? What DOES it cover then? And once a pan is scratched it's ruined. So since it scratched so easily and the company does not stand behind their warranty, I decided to return the entire set rather than get stuck with a $500 set that will be just like any other nonstick set within a few years. Don't listen to reviewers who have only had theirs a short while look at the reviewers who have had theirs for awhile or have had to deal with the company. They are all saying the same thing it DOES scratch, get pits, and stains and the company does not stand behind it.

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We spent a lot of money ($150) on the 12-inch sautee pan which is advertised as "virtally indestructable". We have been very careful with the pan. We don't use metal utensils, put it in the dishwasher, or use abrasive cleaners or scrubbers. The non-stick coating is pitting, flaking and coming off after only eight months.

The company told me that we could send it back (at our expense) and someone at the company would examine the pan and decide if they would repair the pan, give us a replacement or return the pan as is.

We are planning to return the pan, but we aren't too hopeful.

Having recently read quite a few reviews of other companies' non-stick cookware, it seems that this is a common problem. Caveat emptor!

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I bought a Swiss Diamond Cookware Set about five years ago and some of the pans that I use daily are really starting to show "wear and tear." I contacted their Customer Service Department who seemed VERY interested in helping me decide whether some of the set needed replacement. I was asked to send pictures online and full documentation on when I bought them etc. etc. I responded immediately with what they asked for!

THEN, NO RESPONSE! I even sent an email to the person who originally contacted me...NO REPLY!

This cookware is VERY EXPENSIVE! I do NOT recommend it because NO ONE FROM THE COMPANY answered my questions regarding whether it was SAFE TO USE IN REGARD TO WEAR!

Honest reviews on Swiss Diamond 10 Piece Set: Ultimate Kitchen Kit

I've been bragging to everyone about how lovely this 8.5 qt. stock pot is because clean up is a cinch and the non-stick quality is superior. Recently, after cleaning the pan I noticed a scratch that revealed the silver-colored metal underneath the non-stick surface as well as several other aggravated areas on the rim. I couldn't imagine how that happened. After examining its glass lid, I noticed the metal band that goes around the circumference of it (and comes in contact with the pot's rim) joins together and creates an unconnected, albeit close, seam. When I touched it, it felt sharp. Ah-hah! This must be what caused the damage. It seemed logical to me. The representative from Swiss Diamond looked at it and claimed it was caused by a metal utensil being banged against the rim. User error. Needless to say I'm disappointed. I don't recall banging a metal utensil against the rim. It seems obvious to me that, as absurd as it may sound in theory, practically speaking, the pan damaged itself. I sure hope the damage doesn't spread. The other thing I've noticed is some of the non-stick surface on the bottom is pilling. I'm bummed out. I feel angry, but I can't fight "city hall". I just hope this isn't the beginning of further degradation of the pan I love so much.

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I've been cooking for 50 years and have tried them all. This is the best line of cookware ever. It has all the right features: can be used in the oven, proper balance, excellent conductivity, totally flat bottoms, great non-stick (both inside and outside), the handles stay cool, just the right weight. However, don't believe the claim that you can use metal utensils. They can be scratched if you don't use wooden, silicone, or plastic utensils. Treat them with care and they'll be your favorite cookware.

Discount Metrokane Velvet Champagne and Wine Sealer

Customer Ratings:

I bought this since I'm not a casual wine drinker so I wanted something cheap that I could use every now and then. I used it about 4 or 5 times and on the 5th time I guess I unscrewed it a little too hard and the twist top popped up too much. After that, the inside stopper stopped expanding no matter how much I twisted either which way.

How I fixed it: I simply pressed the round part in the stopper while twisting it clockwise, then counter-clockwise...and it worked the same way again!

Hope this helps anyone with the same problem.

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I work in the wine industry and am always looking for a sealer that keeps champagne and other sparkling wines sealed completely. This is the best; stays tight enough, even when I'm driving around all day and my wine is riding in my trunk. I have used it with about every bottle red, white, etc.

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When I used to drink wine with my wife, I had 2 options drink the rest of the bottle or throw it out. I have been using this device for the past 3 months, and I am glad I did. Now I can enjoy a single glass and drink the rest later. I have kept a bottle of champagne for up to 2 weeks and the last glass is as good as the first. I just had a glass of wine that I opened 1 month ago and it still tastes the same. The ease of use and its cost is an advantage in addition to its primary function. I strongly recommend this product. It should go with every bottle of wine that you take to a friend's house for dinner.

Honest reviews on Metrokane Velvet Champagne and Wine Sealer

I have just received my wine sealer by Metrokane.

I sealed the first bottle right after pouring my first glass of wine. the next day, it tasted just as fresh as the first day. Noticeably much better than it would have if it had just been sealed with the cork. On the third day (sunday) i had the wine again, and it was still surprising good. one could tell that this was not the freshest of wines but it was not bad either. it was still very drinkable and most of the favors and greatness of the wine from the first day were still there.

Additionally, I have had my father try the wine on all three days and when asked how it tastes on the third day he said its quite fine. On the 8th day after the wine was first opened we taste tested it yet again. We were all very surprised to find a tasty wine, still rich and full!!!

I bought two of these and an looking forward to be able to enjoy wine at my own pace as opposed to being pressured to consume the entire thing in one day.

great product. one really should go with every gift of wine!

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This little device will make it a lot easier to keep my New Year's resolution to drink champagne more often!

After hosting an open house on Christmas, I had one half-finished bottle open and decided to test this little gadget, which had been lingering in the drawer, unused. Lo and behold, yesterday (almost 2 weeks later), I decided it was time for a glass of champagne. I twisted the top open and the champagne was still in excellent condidition, with plenty of efferevescence.

Discount Ecolution Heavy Weight Eco-Friendly Saucepans

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $22.90
Sale Price: $21.96
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

I run a small restaurant. This purchase was to replace a pan that was ruined with a stainless scouring pad. No fault of the pan.

It's size and shape are excellent for making small batches of sauce, or reheating. The guage of the metal is excellent for retaining heat. The quality meets those pans that are highly advertised and overpriced. Quality does not have to cost a fortune.

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I have had this saucepan for several weeks. Its appearance is very attractive, which is nice since we keep our cookware on a pegboard. The saucepan has a solid feel of heavy aluminum. I have used it exclusively for cooking oatmeal. The non-stick quality is important for such cooking and has been excellent. While I find this to be a perfect saucepan for my purposes, my wife says that she finds the slightly curved handle to feel a bit strange and the saucepan somewhat heavy to lift.

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doesn't have a lid, but i just put a plate on top, love cooking and knowing i'm not harming my family

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I use it for so many things. It's also very easy to clean. I hope it holds up well

JB

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This is another choice I picked out as a help to supply my son's kitchen; Out of the four I gave him one handle was not staying tight. He had to constantly tighten it in able to get good use. I cannot for sure say which of the four had the problem, but this is a very good looking pan, but comes without a top.

Cheap Bayou Classic Stainless Steel Stockpot

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List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $85.99
Today's Bonus: 14% Off

I use this pot to boil wort for beer making. It was about the most inexpensive stainless steel pot I could find of it's size. I wanted to be able to do full boils and this can boil 8 gallons without boiling over.

The steel is a bit thin, but I expected this for a pot under $100. Although the walls are thin, I have not no issues with strength or build quality. I feel completely comfortable picking the pot up with 6 gallons of boiling liquid in it. Although heavy, the handles are up to the task and remain cool.

Although there are higher quality pots out there, I don't think you can find another pot at this price at this quality level. I would recommend this pot to anyone looking for a large stock pot and a good price.

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I bought this pot to boil all-grain full boil worts in beer making. I does this job quite well. This pot holds a full 9 gallons and will boil a 7 or 8 gallon wort easily. All stainless steel with two lifting handles that can handle the weight of the full batch and a vented cover make it ideal for brewing 5 gallon batches either all-grain or from extract. And this pot can go from brewing beer to steaming lobster to large batches of soup. Would recommend this pot for all home brewing needs, especially the all-grain brewer who needs to boil the full batch.

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I was worried about the thickness of this pot but I am not worried anymore. It is quite thick and I can pour 7 gallons of homebrew from the pot to the fermenter without any bending. The lid is nice and sturdy and I would definitely buy this again. I bought it for $75 with free shipping from Amazon. You can't beat that deal. The rivet holes for the handles leaked the first time I brewed in it but haven't leaked since then. I have used it for 5 brews and 2 corn roasts. Great pot!

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I used this on the Bayou Classic propane burner and it was a killer combo. I'm so glad I switched to this instead of the old 24-quart on my electric stove. Doesn't even compare. Best part is if you measure properly, you don't need to top off your wort in the fermenter, because this can hold enough initially. Definitely recommend.

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A good, all around stockpot and water bath canner for those tall bottles and gallon jars that just will not fit in anything else. I suppose it would work great for a turkey fryer, but we purchased it for making stocks, broths, and canning.

The heavy stainless has not scorched anything yet, as cheaper 'bargain' stockpots tend to do. The lid is impressive and heavy as well.

Would have been a five star purchase, but the rivets holding the handles on leaked on both sides, limiting filling to about two inches below them. This makes the top five inches or so of the stockpot unusable.

An all around good pot, but make sure you check the rivets by filling with water before you put something important inside, ESPECIALLY oil for frying.

Review of de Buyer Mineral Pan, Fry Pan

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List Price: $179.85
Sale Price: $119.95
Today's Bonus: 33% Off

I recently purchased the 8" and 14" pans to replace a couple cast iron fry pans my daughter took to college. (Note that these pans are measured by their diameter across the top lip.) First off, I love these pans. They have significant thermal mass, the included directions got them moving the the right direction getting seasoned and non-stick. These pans are closer to carbon-steel than stainless. You will need to treat them like your cast-iron cookware. Bottoms are flat and smooth, which is nice if you have a glass-topped electric range. The one area that I have very mixed feelings about are the handles. I like the angle the handle is set in relation to the pan. I think it helps keep it cool, out of the way, and can even be used for a little extra leverage with the larger plans. In spite of that, the handle poses one limitation.... the ability to use the pan under a broiler.... The 8" pan's handle sits 4 inches above the cook surface. This one just fits into my broiler. But the handle will be very close to the heating elements/flame and so will get very hot. The handle on the 14" pan sits 7 inches above the cooking surface. This will work in my broiler only if I leave the broiler door open. I have worked with commercial stoves which don't have doors on the broiler compartment and I think these pans would work without limitation in that situation.... Myself? I will use them with the broiler door open....

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Doing most of my stove top cooking on my various iron skillets, I decided to try the mineral fry pan out.

After some seasoning according to the instructions that come with the de buyer pan, it works wonderfully.

Few points:

works just as well as my well seasoned iron skillet in terms of non-stick properties

for those who have been afraid to use iron skillets, try this: better than Teflon coming off onto your food

probably just as heavy as my iron skillet

does need some maintenance, including seasoning, and is not dishwasher safe.

unlike my iron skillet, i can cook sauces in this (traditional iron skillets are averse to acidic sauces and liquids in general)

Other notes:

the handle does angle high: this means that the entire pan will not fit into most oven broiler racks (top rack) with the door closed. door must remain open while broiling. not the end of the world.

cannot leave soaking in the sink. must clean and store.

heavy but that is a good thing for heat retention

Very satisfying to use. Great sear. VERY non-stick. Multiple purposes with great effectiveness: sear a steak, fry a delicate egg, make potstickers where you have to fry first then steam out with water. Extremely versatile.

Highly recommend.

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I now own two types of de Buyer pans carbon steel and mineral. The mineral fry pan is at least twice as heavy as the carbon steel and takes forever to develop a seasoned patina (black film). The 99% mineral pan is more eco-friendly and nutritious, but it is still prone to rust and some stickiness. The mineral pan also develops small pits over time, so I now have new pitting on the sides and corners of the pan (which becomes covered with patina). This pitting appears to be exclusive to the mineral pan because the carbon steel does not form pits. There is also a silicone logo on the handle of the pan which seems unnecessary. The patina develops slowly compared to the carbon steel (wiping with paper towels actually "sands off" iron until fully seasoned), and the weight is equivalent to cast iron, but I like the fact that it's 99% iron which is a far healthier option. The long handles are useful for stove top use (it fits in the oven on the middle rack, but there's little room for anything else). You can toast a panini sandwich on a de Buyer mineral pan as opposed to the stickier mess with Chantal enamelware or a stainless steel pan. Also, you have to use these pans frequently (like carbon steel or cast iron) in order to maintain the patina and avoid rust. Expect the pan to get used several times a day, expect a rustic black patina/film, expect to keep it dry and rust free, and you will be satisfied. I am now considering the mineral grill pan because I want grill marks on some foods.

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I really like these pans they are very heavy and great for searing meats and I have good experiences with some pan frying. I read one review where they did am involved seasoning method with different fats and oils in stages of baking in the oven and cooling. I tried this method, it seemed to work well initially. The outside seems to have kept the same seasoning but the inside season finish flaked off the first time I seared some burgers. The burgers cooked wonderfully in the pans it is just that the finish reverted back to more of a bare metal. If I had it to do over I would just follow the instructions that came with the pans. That is boiling potato peels in water etc. It is amazing how dark that potato water gets. Then just heat up the pan with some Crisco or lard or peanut oil and heat it up let it cool and put it away. The seasoning is coming back the more I use them I will have these pans for the rest of my life. They are very thick and heavy.

Just follow the instructions and clean with hot water, scotch-brite or similar and no detergent and wipe dry with paper towel and coat with oil before you put them away. Treat them almost like a crepe pan. The largest pan I haven't found that much use for so far.

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I'd been using hard-anodized aluminum pans for years but was never satisfied with them. Food would stick no matter how hard I tried to season them. Finally, when the anodized finish on them began to wear away, I decided it was time for a change. I did not want to use a non-stick pan because of concerns about posible toxic properties of teflon. What I wanted was a good quality pan that would not stick and would last for years.

I did a lot of research on different types (stanless steel, aluminum, cast iron, etc) and different brands (Calphalon, All-Clad, Cuisinart, etc). Based on my research and product reviews the De Buyer Mineral Steel pan seemed intriguing. It's made of iron and is supposedly eco-friendly. And compared to other higher end pans the price was quite reasonable so, even if the pan wasn't that great, it wouldn't be a major investment.

I purchased a single 10 inch De Buyer fry pan. I was really excited when it arrived after just a couple days. I seasoned it (by the way, check the review by adx442 for an excellent method for seasoning. It can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3NKFHCDJWZXBP/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R3NKFHCDJWZXBP ) and was ready with my first experiment, sauteed chicken breasts.

I was absolutely shocked at what a difference this pan made! I didn't need a spatula to flip the chicken; I could turn them with a fork. Not only that, but they developed a delicious brown crust that I never achieved with my old pans.

And the next experiment? Scrambled eggs. I slid them into a hot pan with a little butter, waited, and stirred them with a spatula no sticking! And clean up was easy. Just swish the pan with a sponge with hot water (no soap, of course), dry, coat with some crisco, and the pan's ready for its next use.

After I'd used this pan for a couple weeks, it developed a lovely patina. I was so pleased that I went ahead and ordered the three piece set of De Buyer Mineral Frying Pans.

I've been using my De Buyer Mineral Pans for a couple month now and am very happy. (My Calphalon pans, in the mean time, are accumulating dust!) The surfaces are consistently non-stick and, unlike mentioned by another reviewer, there is no surface pitting. The only minor complaints I have are that

the pans, especially the largest one, are rather heavy. Transferring food from the larger pan to a dish can be challenging

the interior dimensions are smaller than expected, Pans from other manufacturers with similar external diameters have larger surface areas. So please take this into account.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with my de Buyer pans and I expect that I will never need to purchase another pan again!