Reviews of Danesco Gastronome Pro Stainless Steel 14-Inch Diameter Lid

Customer Ratings:

Why are there so many great 14" fry and saute pans available without lids? It's as if you never want or need to simmer something or keep it warm just because it's in a large pan--crazy! I've been to more forums than I care to mention where people are searching for a lid for a particular brand of pan, hoping to find a source, but until I cam across this great lid, the only options were those dreadful aluminum discs that "fit" multiple pan widths, or tenting with foil. Believe me, neither the one size fits all lid or the foil are big enough! This is a heavy weight, high quality item at a reasonable price. I only wish I had bought more than one--especially because the box used was large enough for a dozen of these lids and a toaster oven to fit inside. Not a green way to pack at all!

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At this time it is pretty much the only decent choice on Amazon when you need a 14" lid and I don't have the time to look anywhere else... It is quite a handsome piece of stainless steel, with a good rim, plenty of heft, and a strong handle.

As a warning, some 14" pans are actually shy of 14". This lid fits some, but not all of ours. It is properly sized, but some of our pans are just shy of 14" (you can still use the lid, but it stays a little high on them). If you want to make sure of a perfect fit, double check your pan's inner diameter.

[UPDATE] 4 years later, this lid looks as good as it did when I bought it, even though it sees service about 2-3 times per month. It will certainly last longer than me. It was an excellent purchase.

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this lid gets super hot, even on the stovetop. if i still had the box, it would go back.

Review of All-Clad 3012 Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick 12-Inch Round Grille

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $155.00
Sale Price: $59.99
Today's Bonus: 61% Off

I am not a big fan of the All Clad LTD line but I do love this pan. I much prefer the All Clad polished stainless steel line (I have almost every piece and love it). This grill is a perfect size for grilling for 1-4 people. I debated on the grande size, I decided that since I don't grill everyday it didn't make sense to spend the extra money and deal with storing the larger size. Also, I selected the round style over the square, my stove burners are round so I figured that the round style made more sense for me.

I often marinade chicken tenders in Emeril Lagasse's marinade (he has several different marinades that you can find in your local supermarket) a day in advance and heat up this pan and toss on the chicken. I usually make a veggie or two and some rice, it is a very quick and easy dinner and is also very healthy! You can also use this pan for everything from burgers to a tuna steak.

This pan is not dishwasher safe due to the nonstick surface, but don't worry it is a breeze to clean. I have the George Foreman grill that has been sitting in the cabinet collecting dust since I bought this pan. I don't like the George Foreman grill because you can't really wash the grill surface very well. The grill surface should be removable so you can really clean it. This pan is very, very well made and is backed by a lifetime warranty. Sometimes this pan is sold as a special..., if you see it grab it. It is a steal at that price. Once you try All Clad you will be hooked too! Highly recommended! A+!

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I've been using grill pans for years and have bought many brands. This is the best one, hands-down. I gave away all five of the others I owned after the first time I used this pan. I love All Clad cookware in general and this is my first non-stick. The results are so superior to any other grill pan I recommend it to everyone. If you want healthy and perfectly prepared grilled food, whether it's fish, meat or vegetables, without a drop of added fat, this pan is for you. Buy it.

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I'm a big fan of All-Clad and have a lot of All-Clad LTD and MasterChef pots and pans. I feel All-Clad has a great design methodology and makes great quality gear. Also, their non-stick coating is the best in the business. This grill pan, however, isn't actually clad the secret of its low price. It's made from a single piece of anodized aluminum like a Calphalon pan as a brief examination of the edge reveals. The beefy handle is the most All-Clad thing about it. The nonstick coating isn't the usual All-Clad type either although it certainly is top quality. As a grill pan, this one is very good that's not the problem.

Grill pans make grill marks on your food but are no substitute for actually grilling. There's no smoke flavor or high heat caramelization. The only thing the grill pan gives you is the sear marks. To that end, the nonstick surface fights you. Metal gives much better sear marks than nonstick coatings. In order to get a nonstick pan to give good sear you must really crank the heat up. This makes a lot of smoke which make a good lid a necessity. Sadly, this pan doesn't include a lid. I found that the Calphalon 12" "Everyday" pan's lid is a perfect fit by coincidence so I use it every time.

I have the luxury of a grill outside my kitchen door. I'm the kind of hardy soul who has no problem stepping out in the snow in shirtsleeves to flip the steaks. I find all grill pans to be a very poor substitute to actually grilling. Maybe if I lived in the city and couldn't grill as easily I'd be more enamored of this pan. As it is, I mainly use it under duress (such as during bad rain storms when I reluctantly must grill indoors).

Honest reviews on All-Clad 3012 Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick 12-Inch Round Grille

I recently tossed a Calphalon grill pan in the trash after I could not clean it after use. Looking for another grill pan to replace it, I found this gem. I don't know how Amamzon can offer this high quality pan for this price, but grab it. Wonderful heat distribution, very large cook surface and NOTHING sticks!!

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I could not believe that I found this pan at this price. I was further astounded when I received it and started cooking on it. It is absolutely fabulous. NY Strip streak comes out truly delicious when you simply sprinkle some salt and cracked pepper on it and then throw it on the grill pan. Also works great for bacon. Also works great for burgers. Also works great for...anything you could think of. For cleaning, I recommend immediately filling it with water after taking the food out, enough to cover all the bottom, and then let it sit til after dinner and you start doing the dishes. If you do this, then I recommend an OXO brush (ASIN B0000CFQOB) with nylon bristles. Gently brush between the grooves to loosen the remaining material and then use a sponge. I recommend the nylon brush because it is hard to get a sponge to get every bit of remaining material along the grooves. But overall this is incredibly easy to clean and even easier to cook on. I still cannot believe I paid only fifty for this item.

Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $599.99
Sale Price: $367.99
Today's Bonus: 39% Off

This Breville is a workhorse! I bought Jenis Splendid Ice Cream at Home book after I realized that the traditional egg based recipes weren't cutting it for my taste(I strongly urge others to do the same if ice cream is your thing).

This machine replaces my hardly used Kitchen Aid ice cream maker (the kind you freeze the bowl prior). We just didn't get along too well. I also like to make a few batches at a time which is prohibited by a bowl that needs a recharge after every use.

I was surprised how quiet this machine is in use. The controls are well thought out and it is built to Breville industrial-style standards. I found the included spatula useless and instead opted for a silicone spatula for removing finished product from blades and bowl.

Advice to those buying this machine Shave off 30 minutes of churn time by first chilling the hot cream in a covered smaller metal bowl placed in an ice+water filled larger bowl for 30 minutes. This greatly reduces wear/tear on the compressor and other components. You can chill in the fridge for a couple of hours instead.

I am extremely impressed with this ice cream maker.

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I am a Breville fanatic and love this machine. Its sleek and elegant styling with abundant features is a true technical marvel. Why then is this machine soooo close to perfection yet only incorporates a 1.5 Quart capacity and not 2 Quarts. I realize this machine's closest competition by Cuisinart Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker is also a 1.5 Quart but this single detail ruined the experience for me....well...that and the mixing blade with its twist and turns that make getting the ice cream off that much harder.

For comparision, I have owned a Cuisinart 2 Quart freezer-bowl type machine before Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker and recently purchased a new one to test along side the Breville Smart Scoop. After 30 days of testing, playing, eatting (and probably gaining 5 pounds), I found myself having to make a very tough decision...keep the Breville Smart Scoop OR Cuisinart ICE-30BC.

In the end, the Cuisinart ICE-30BC with 2 Quart capacity, simplistic design of the mixing blade, and ease of holding the canister while scooping ice cream into a bowl won. The Breville Smart Scoop 1.5 Quart canister is just too small (and too cold to hold) for me. In addition the Breville has a column in the middle of the canister that allows the motor to spin the blade. The Cuisinart has a perfectly unobstructed canister making cleaning and dispensing a lot easier. Another frustration of the 1.5 Quart capacity is when the machine has churned a lot of air into the mixture and it expands beyond the top of the canister... which has happened even using Breville's recipes with amounts specific to using the 1.5 Quart canister. While this can also happen with the Cuisinart, having a larger capacity canister helps reduce this. Of course, you will want to pour less mix into the Breville to eliminate this problem.

Granted, I would select the Breville any day if I were going to make batch after batch of frozen treats since the Breville actually maintains its temperature unlike the Cuisinart canister that slowly thaws and needs to be refreezed between uses.

I would be curious, however, to try the Cusinart ICE-100's specially designed gelato blade that incorporates less air compared to the single blade included with the Breville Smart Scoop.

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First I have to say that I paid over $400 when I got this at Williams Sonoma so the prices, as of this review, on Amazon are stellar (or maybe it has just gone down since it's introduction a year ago).

I have reviewed several ice cream makers, always looking for the holy grail to find one of ease in making, but the golden nugget of taste. Nothing beats this. Nothing.

For many reasons.

First, even if you cook your ice cream base for a custard, this has a pre cooling stage to cool it down for you (don't use it otherwise if it's not warm or your ice cream will freeze too fast on the sides only and stop before it is supposed to.)

More importantly, this is the only one I have found that whips up ice cream just like commercial ice cream so that it does not become a brick once you put it in the freezer and want to eat some the next day. The air being whipped in is what makes grocery store ice cream so light and fluffy. Hard to get in most home ice cream makers. This does it.

But, better, you get the homemade taste with no effort. All you do is push a button--you don't need to pre-freeze a bowl or add ice or anything. You just push a button. It becomes the freezer and the stirrer and everything in between. You can even choose a setting for gelato, frozen yogurt, and how hard or soft you want your ice cream!

Even better, you don't have to be there when it's done. If you are having a dinner party and want to serve cobbler with homemade ice cream, just pour in your ingredients and get it going--no need to worry about when it finishes as it will keep it frozen and cold until you are ready for it!

Some tips: I stir in my mix-ins like oreos or chocolate after it is done so they don't get crushed in the whipping.

Don't use artificial vanilla. It has alcohol in it. While you can use alcohol FLAVORS, using real alcohol will prevent your ice cream from freezing properly.

Whisk your ice cream first if it contains eggs then pour in. You may wind up with frozen egg yolks otherwise.

My favorite ice cream book is Ben n Jerry's.

The more cream you use, the faster it will melt at room temp, but the creamier it will taste on your tongue (using whole cream rather than milk).

Honest reviews on Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker

I can't say anything about reliability yet.

PRO:

It works, the controls are easy, it isn't overly noisy.

CON:

It is heavy and bulky lifting it out of a lower cupboard isn't something you do casually, some grab handles would have been nice.

Not a huge capacity. At 1.5 quart (1 liter) maximum, you're making two tubs of ben and jerrys, maximum.

The bucket is neither dishwasher safe, nor do they recommend you put it in the freezer, or use anything metal to scoop from it. So you need a chilled container ready to transfer the desert after it is done. Although it does have a keep cool option if you know it'll all be eaten. 1.5 quart is what you start with but by the time you're done transferring, you've lost a bit more.

I think they could have been a bit more generous with the recipe booklet, but no matter there is always the internets.

This is the first ice cream / sorbet / gelato maker I've used. The rotary dial selects at what consistency the churning will tend to stop, it offers Off, On, Pause (for mix-ins), and keep-cool. That's basically it.

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I have had many brands of ice cream makers ( Cuisinart, Kitchen Aid freezer bowl attachment and WhynterSno). This one is by far the best. It is so easy to use, easy to clean and makes the smoothest, creamiest ice cream ever! I think Breville has created the perfect machine!

Cheap Cuisinox Gourmet 3.6 Quart Universal Steamer Insert

Customer Ratings:

This universal steamer fits several pot sizes but works best with an 8-inch lid. Sturdy construction, durable high-quality finish. I use this steamer almost daily with hard anodized aluminum pots on a radiant electric range. Veggies come out crisp and tasty.

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This steamer insert fits my Anolon Advanced 2-qt, 3-qt, 3-1/2-qt and 4-qt saucepans (the 4-qt saucepan lid fits the steamer perfectly), and it seems to be well constructed. I'm quite pleased with it.

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We do a lot of steaming and have gone through numerous versions of those pesky inserts that collapse, burn the fingers and eventually start to fall apart. When this came up for review it seemed like a wonderful idea and it is! Nicely sized it will fit into several different sized pots that nearly everyone has in their kitchen making it perfect for a wide variety of vegetable choices and serving sizes. The easy to lift handles are exactly what I've been searching for. Clean-up is a breeze and this is built to last. Storage space is much less of a problem than you might anticipate since this fits so nicely inside other pots. Wonderful item!

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I have a tramontina 4 quart sauce pan (8" diameter) and it fits both the pot and the lid perfectly. I purchased this because tramontina doesn't make a steamer that fits this pan. Very happy.

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I got this to fit my Kirkland hard anodized pots. The step-up sizing worked perfectly with 3 of my different sized pots. It is sturdy and washes up nicely. I would have given it a higher rating if it had included a lid. Luckily I had a lid from my set that fit.

Discount Nordic Ware Italian Frittata and Omelette Pan

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List Price: $40.00
Sale Price: $36.99
Today's Bonus: 8% Off

I love this pan! I spray a little oil on both sides before I use, and it doesn't stick. Would have given 5 stars if the pan handles were rubberized so you don't have to use bulky hot pads. Handles do get quite hot. Definitely do recommend.

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I have made frittatas in the oven and was not highly impressed. I then saw this frittata pan on amazon and purchased it. I made a frittata and oh my goodness what a difference. The frittata raised really well, was not dry around the edges, and best of all it did not fall. Beautiful and delicious.

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Bought this heavy-duty omelette pan on AMZN: it's terrific! Used medium heat (electric glass top stove) and light spray of canola oil to produce a wonderfully puffy omelette. No sticking, no burning! This made-in-USA pan is so much better than the cheaper light-weight Chinese import that I previously bought (also from AMZN).

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This is one of the products I bought not because I needed them but because I thought I could use them. Often this behavior turns out to be a waste of money not this time!

Making omelette is now so much easier. You just fill beaten eggs in both of the compartments (2-5 eggs total) and put some stuffing on top of one side (make it on the bottom side!). Then you quickly close the lid as soon as the egg starts getting white on the surface and after a few minutes you have a nice omelette.

The quality is great nothing loose, the mechanism closes very tight and the handles are crafted very smooth. Cleaning is easy too because it is well coated. Just take care to not use any metal in it. I find myself not using any tools for the whole process because you can just flip the product out on a plate once it's cooked.

The only issue (and other reviewers mentioned it too) why I gave just 4 stars is that the handle (especially the small one) gets super hot. I'm not very sensitive but I cannot touch (open/close) it after a few minutes. I always need gloves/a towel to operate it.

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I use this pan to make omelets every weekend and have had it for several months. It works very well, the non stick surface works and it's still in tact. It goes into the dishwasher without issue. Love this pan.

Best Cuisinart CTG-04 Barrell Handle Nylon Collection Deals

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List Price: $15.00
Sale Price: $12.99
Today's Bonus: 13% Off

Hi, I bought this to complete the cuisinart tool set I have and the fork is too soft you can hardly use it to move anything it the pan. I would not recommend it.

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The slats are a little larger than on ones that we have had in the past. If you are using it to just flip a piece of fish or chicken it works great but is you are looking to use it for other purposes like scooping things out of the pan, you might want one with smaller openings between the slats. Very good quality!

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I have an ancient turner that I love to use. Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn't make it anymore and I've been on the hunt for a new turner ever since. This one is well made, and would likely be my favorite if it wasn't for my old one. The down fall for all of the turners I've tried over the years is that they don't have the proper angle along with the approprate thin edge to properly turn an egg. Close, just not quite there.

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It sounds crazy but this slotted turner works a million times better than my old one. It is thinner but still strong so it is easy to get under food.

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-I purchased this Barrell Handle Nylon, Wide Turner to go with: Cuisinart CTG-00-BCR7 Barrel Crock with Tools, Set of 7.

-I Highly Recommend this Wide Turner.

Best All-Clad Stainless French Skillet Deals

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List Price: $160.00
Sale Price: $119.99
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

My All Clad LTD 13" French skillet pan will now get more use now that I converted from an electric range to a (natural) gas range. I tried using the 13" French skillet on my 8" electric element and was disappointed with the uneven heating: the outer portion of the bottom did not get hot enough to cook the food (in my case, omelets). That was not a problem with my All Clad 12" fry pans (Copper Core and LTD). Now that I have a natural gas range, the French skillet's entire bottom heats evenly and my omelets turn out great. The handle length works for this largest of All Clad's French skillets. I decided to buy this pan over the All Clad 14" fry pan while both pan bottoms are the same diameter, the French skillet's pan top has a smaller diameter than the 14" fry pan due to the steeper slope. If I need to cover the French skillet when cooking, I can use the lid from my All Clad 6 quart sauté pan (which fits)! There is no All Clad lid I know that I can cover the 14" fry pan, not even if you buy it separately. And the 13" French skillet feels lighter than the 14" fry pan (LTD or stainless). If All Clad made the French skillet in Copper Core, I may get it depending on the weight. Copper is heavy.

PROS:

Weights less than the All Clad 14" stainless or LTD fry pan but with the same bottom cooking area.

Can be covered if you have the lid for the stainless or LTD 6 quart sauté pans

CONS: Does not heat evenly when used on an electric (coil) range.

One last note. If you have a gas range (mine is a Wolf) I really noticed just how quickly the Copper Core pans heats up when compared with the stainless and LTD lines. When I was using an electric range, I appreciated how quickly the Copper Cores heat up. My suggestion is to hold each pan and determine whether you can comfortably handle the weight of each pan and whether the pan's handles are comfortable to you. I like the longer length handles on the All Clad Copper Core pans. All Clad uses a different length and style handle for their LTD and stainless series than the Copper Core series. That standard length handle does not work for the larger sauté (6 Qt), sauce (4 quart), and fry (14") pans: it's just too short. It's all right for their other pans.

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I've been using this pan a lot since I bought it a few months back. I bought this pan as an alternative to my old All-clad 12-inch pan which is just too wide for my small stove top. Dimensionally, this 11-inch pan is just right.

While I thought the older 12-inch pan was an overall excellent product, this new pan falls a little short of 5 stars. Here's why: the thickness of the pan is thinner than the older pan (though some people will find this a plus if they thought the older pan was too heavy.) The thinness however may have contributed to All-Clad's decision to use a non-flared edge which makes the pan more difficult to clean. The edge is just too sharp. And for a saute pan with short side walls, you will need to clean the edge often. Also, since the edge is not flared out, pouring is more messy.

On the good side, the handle angle is more acute than older pan. This makes sauteing a little easier than the almost horizontal handle of the older pan. I also like the steeper walls which gives the bottom a large surface area. It also heats up evenly. And best of all it's cheaper than older pan!

Overall, I like this pan but they could made it better. However, knowing All-Clad, if they did, they would have priced it comparable to the older pans. Clearly and unfortunately, marketing entered in the design decisions.

Best Deals for All-Clad Stainless French Skillet

The All-Clad stainless line is made of fairly thin stock, and the performance is acceptable, but not outstanding. My desire for All-Clad started when I used the old Master Chef products, but those were manufactured of thicker material, and they conducted better than the current stainless series of products.

January 2010 update -check out the "d5" line of All-Clad stainless offered by Williams-Sonoma. At a glance, they appear to be heavier, and they have also added a pouring lip to the pots -the 90-degree lip on the regular stainless pots does not pour cleanly, and makes a mess down the side of the pot. Ridiculous for a product in this market segment. I bumped into an All-Clad rep at Williams-Sonoma, and he told me that the changes were made as a result of comments from consumers.

My All-Clad stainless pots and pans are serviceable, and I use them daily, but if you want a luxurious heft, and very even heating, you may want to consider spending a bit more. Specifically, I'd suggest investigating Demeyere.

Lastly -specifically regarding the French skillet -heads-up -this style of pan doesn't have a rounded transition from the bottom to the sides. Instead, there is a corner at the junction of the bottom and sides. Additionally, the sides are a bit steep. I'm baffled why anyone would want a small fry pan that doesn't have rounded sides, as the corner and steep sides prevent the easy and rapid tossing of the contents, so I offer this review to warn others who also might not know of this distinction, particularly in light of the fact that Amazon's description specifically addresses use of this pan to toss ingredients. If you want to be able to easily flick-toss the contents of your pan, to turn and stir them, then look at the All-Clad fry pans, with a more rounded edge transition, not French skillets.

Honest reviews on All-Clad Stainless French Skillet

Another reviewer of this excellent skillet suggested the use of a non-stick pan for those 'sticky' foods. Can't fault that because who wants to do battle in the sink afterwards? However, I found a different approach can work wonders with this pan. For instance those love-to-stick morning eggs. My solution: Heat pan on low for a few minutes with a little olive oil or whatever you use. Turn off heat, toss in eggs, cover pan and sip on that coffee you just brewed.

Oops, what cover you say? Hmm....that's a problem since it is not offered with this skillet. Thus the four-star rating. So improvise or find something you can purchase (and let me know what you find!).

Well, back to the eggs. They're done in a few minutes (how many minutes? Who knows get a see through cover if you must). And guess what? Since this pan heats so evenly and you've compassionately chosen free-range eggs, they slide out of the pan as if they couldn't wait for breakfast yours.

One other note. The handle, cool to the touch and rakish in appearance is what you would have to characterize as non-ergonomic. But that's the French for you beauty and form overshadow a minor annoyance.

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Some other reviews have stated a dissatisfaction with this skillet due to it's "convex" bottom. Actually all of the All Clad pans have a Concave bottom. They are determined concave by looking at the pans upside down. The reason for the uneven surface is that when the aluminum core heats up to a certain level it actually warps straight. If the allowance of this concave was not there, the pan would wobble around on your stovetop as then it would be truly convex. Most high quality pans have this feature, and it is built in by design. Also, some people dislike the sticking quality that some food presents on this brand of cookware, but this is also a desired effect. I'm not a chef, but have learned that this caliber of cookware takes a certain level of cooking skill and experience to utilize it properly. Sometimes things can be interpreted as negative if you are using the wrong tools for your skillset. There is a reason that all of the worlds top chefs use this brand exclusively, and it is not endorsements. Lots of great brands out there, and All Clad never dissapoints.

Cheap Tovolo Nylon Flex Turner

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $10.99
Sale Price: $9.61
Today's Bonus: 13% Off

This is so cute and big! It looks nice hanging up with my other spatulas/"egg" turners. It's a little longer and wider than the others too. It looks sturdy. I don't think I'll use it for anything other than decoration because I don't want it to wear down. I plan on getting a few other ladybug things too.

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i bought this as a gift and they seemed to like it. it's very cute and is still in one piece! great product

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It's okay. It doesn't get used much.The lady bug part is bigger than you might think. It was bought to go in a kitchen that has a lot of ladybug stuff.

Honest reviews on Tovolo Nylon Flex Turner

I have made my kitchen a "Ladybug Theme" with red accents, so this caught my eye. It is thin enough to get under most food items and strong enough to hold heavier or thicker foods, like hamburgers. It doesn't work as well with light food like a sunny side up egg-the antennae would wreck the egg. (It works for cookies, too, if they are firmer. Again the antennae would poke too soft of a cookie if one is not careful.) I also like having the metal handle; it is long enough to keep hands from getting too close to the burners. My husband thought that the edges would "melt" easily when used in a frying pan; it has not. My only dislike is I wish the handle was a round handle, not a flatten one. I have been using it almost daily for over a month now.

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This product is well made and very useful. It made a wonderful gift for my friend who collects lady bugs. She was delighted with it! Not only is it useful,but can be displayed with her collection.

Reviews of OXO Good Grips Cookie Press with Disk Storage Case

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program

UPDATE, Sunday, January 6 Snowing in Vermont today, so my youngest daughter and I spent the afternoon baking cookies with the new OXO Good Grips Cookie Press. While we were at it, we made a video to show you just how easy this is to use! Here's the cookie recipe we used:

Cream Cheese Spritz

1 cup butter (sticks)

3 ounces cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 1 teaspoon other flavoring (orange, lemon, almond are all good), optional

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups flour

Directions: Beat room temperature butter and cream cheese together until softened and well blended. Beat in sugar, then beat in the egg yolk, salt and flavorings. Stir in the flour until well combined and dough holds together. Use immediately. Makes about 8 dozen.

NOTES: You can substitute baking margarine for the butter &/or lowfat cream cheese for the regular. If you want to make the dough and then hold it overnight in the fridge, allow it to soften and come back to room temperature before you attempt to use it.

LINKS FOR OTHER RECIPES IN COMMENTS

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

I love spritz cookies little buttery, crisp cookies that are perfect with tea or lemonade or even just by themselves. They're easy to make too as long as you have the right cookie press.

For many years the "right" cookie press in my house was the Mirro that I got as a teen. You filled the barrel with your cookie dough, stood it on your sheet pan on little feet and twisted the top dial to make the cookies. Worked like a charm for many, many years but then somewhere along the way in one move or another I lost my Mirro cookie press and couldn't find another.

Since then, I've gone through many a cookie press trying to find THE one. One cookie press split right down the middle of the barrel the first time I tried to make cookies with it. The "trigger" style are usually too hard for my hands to work. Most of them don't have little feet to rest on the cookie sheet so you're trying to press out cookies in midair. Frustration Level Over the Moon! I can't count the number of cookie presses I've returned to the store or shipped off to the thrift store bin.

I cannot tell you how delighted I am that this OXO Good Grips Cookie Press with Disk Storage Case has solved all of those problems! It arrived this afternoon just as I finished a batch of homemade cream cheese. The very last of the Cream Cheese Spritz are in the oven as I type. The press is easy to assemble and disassemble and easy to clean. Most of it can go into the dishwasher if you want to bother with that. Like that old Mirro, the bottom of the press rests on your baking sheet as you form each cookie by simply depressing the handle, which works by lever action rather than being a "trigger" easy even for my old hands to use. If you are using a standard half-sheet sized baking pan, you'll get two dozen cookies on each pan 4 across, 6 down. Most recipes will fill the barrel (see through!) about four times and make about 8 dozen cookies (Do pay attention to the bit in the directions that tells you to use an ungreased cookie sheet. Don't use a parchment liner either your cookies won't stick to the surface correctly and so won't pull away from the press.) Learning curve about 2 minutes.

The press comes with a dozen different discs for various shapes teddy bear, butterfly, daisy, fleur de lys, buttercup, heart, leaf, shell, snowflake, sunflower, tree, wreath that store away in a specially fitted box that allows easy access to the discs. (Yes, you can change the disc without having to wash the entire cookie press first.)

The included instruction booklet contains recipes for three different kinds of spritz (Cream Cheese Spritz have always been my favorite use the included recipe but leave out the cinnamon) and you will find many more recipes on line. Be sure to look up a recipe or two for savoury spritz as they make nice quick-to-produce nibbles for an appetizer selection or cocktail party.

Spritz cookies are great keepers they'll stay fresh for several weeks in a tightly covered container. Ideal for little girls tea parties, feel free to color the dough or dress the spritz up with sprinkles, sparkly sugar or bits of candied fruit.

I'm off . . fantastic cookie press that will have pride of place in my kitchen for many a year to come . . . anybody want a cookie?

PS I found it easiest to fill the barrel using a small rubber spatula about an inch wide.

UPDATE, May 15, 2013 I recently came across this OXO Good Grips Cookie Press Springtime Disk Set, featuring a half-dozen designs especially for spring cherry blossoms, a rose, twin hearts and more. My set is on the way. Can't wait to try them! I wonder if they'll do another series later in the year? Pumpkins and bats would be nice. September ,2013 Why yes, yes they did! Pumpkins, bats and more. The Autumn set is available from the same link as the Springtime set.

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I love this cookie press. I bought it to replace one I had for about 10 years that was always a pain to use. There was a high fail rate, and the press would rock as I was trying to put the cookies down. With my new Oxo, the only cookie fails I had was with the first one or two cookies each time I refilled the cylinder. Each cookie after that came out perfectly. And the silicone on the bottom of the press kept the press firmly on the sheet as I was pressing out the cookies. I love the little plastic container that holds the discs. With my old press, the discs were always in a heap in the baggie I stored them in, but with the Oxo, they're neat and organized. I also like that this press has cookie shapes that are not seasonal -fleur d'lys, daisy, butterfly, etc., which will certainly encourage me to use it at times other than Christmas. As opposed to another reviewer, I did not find the cookies small at all; I do not like big cookies and find these to be the perfect size. I made a batch of cookies using this to bring to my son's game, and they were absolutely inhaled. People were shocked that they weren't bakery cookies.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I tried the Good Grips cookie press using the chocolate shortbread cookie recipe in the instrucion manual. The manual is easy to understand and includes three recipes and two variations in all. The recipes did not include any hard to find ingredients, were simple, and easy to follow. The design disks included are snowflake, heart, buttercup, shell, wreath, tree, sunflower, daisy, fleur de lis, bear, leaf, and butterfly. I used the shell, buttercup, fleur de lis, bear, and butterly disks. They all worked well with the exception of the butterfly disk. The dough seemed to stick to the bottom of the cookie press and not release well using the butterfly disk. I loved the other disks so much, I consider this a small issue.

The quality of the disks were very nice and stainless steel, not as thin as the disk set that came with my previous cookie press and I did not have any issues with warping. The barrel of the cookie press is a thick plastic material that is listed as BPA free. I am not impressed by clear barrels myself as I do not find it impossible to tell when the cookie press is near empty using the plunger depth as a guide but I love, just love, the plastic disk storage case and new to me disk designs.

The disks are dishwasher safe but the cookie press itself is not so I just wash them all by hand. A bottle brush would be nice to have and make cleaning easy peasy. The barrel was comfortable to hold, the plunger much easier to use and I never had to fiddle with it because it never twisted the wrong way. Much simpler to use than my other presses simply because the plunger does not rotate due to the release button that is used instead. Love that! One hassle gone! My old cookie press had a rotating plunger and it rotated when it wasn't supposed to therefore my cookies did not ratchet out of the press properly leading to a problem this design does not have. A headache solved.

As a scout mom, I am so delighted with the fleur de lis and the bear is so adorable, and the shell is so pretty. So much nicer than the disks in my other cookie presses. I am really pleased with the press. I am far fom a spritz expert and if anyone has any tips on getting a better result with the butterfly press I would really love to hear it. The ones that did come off were nice but overall it really did not work well for me. After swapping the disk to a different design I was back in business again. The other disks worked for me much better and really did not depend on a chilled cookie sheet. The bear worked so well, it stuck onto an unwashed cookie sheet from a previous batch and the instructions say to use a clean, ungreased cookie sheet, washing between batches.

Overall, I am very pleased with the product and would recommend this cookie press to friends. My one very minor gripe, aside from the butterfly disk, would be my wish that they showed the finished cookie along with the design disk images inside the product manual and not just on the box. The disk images are labeled inside the back of the manual but the finished cookie image is not included with it. They are all so pretty and inspiring it would be nice to not have to save the box in order to see the finished cookies as the box is larger than the box for my other two cookie presses. I am sure I can photocopy it. Overall, I love it.

Honest reviews on OXO Good Grips Cookie Press with Disk Storage Case

This is the easiest to use cookie press I have ever used. The old ones would stick not OXO. It was so easy it took me several tries just to believe it. I kept squeezing and didn't even realize the cookie was on the sheet. So easy your hands don't get tired and the recipe is accurate to a cookie and did I mention they were delish and adorable. I used the daisy pattern for a wedding shower and added a chocolate chip to each center to make black-eyed Susan's the young crowd had never seen cookie press cookies. The compliments actually made me blush, because it was so easy I felt guilty. This press will last for years. Well built easy to clean so easy. After all the rolling and cutting I've done this was a blessing. If you have children they will love the teddy bears, and it comes with several recipes. This is not a gadget it is a must if you do any baking at all. I love it so mush I'm ordering another one just so I could have one for vanilla and one for chocolate. Happy Baking!

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I've never had a cookie press, but always wanted one. Due to my infrequent baking sprees I never got one. When I saw this one come up on the Vine review list--lets just say I did a happy dance.

The cookie press arrived very quickly--on Christmas eve in fact. We all know how busy Christmas eve can be doing last minute shopping, baking, arranging, entertaining and whatever! However, I couldn't wait to use my cookie press. It was kind of like the proverbial kid in a candy store analogy. I don't bake frequently, but found a recipe I liked online--in this case one provided by Martha Stewart's site which featured lots of vanilla (my favorite flavoring). I printed off the recipe, got the ingredients out and went to town with my very very new cookie press.

I had read the one-star review about the cookies being uneven and yes the first one was, but the directions had mentioned the first one or two might be. The author also had trouble with the dough coming out of the cylinder. So before I used mine I did an Internet search on how to use one and looked for tips and hints that would avoid the one-star reviewer's experience. After using the cookie press, I noticed the cookies got less 'pretty' and the dough was less malleable as it got warmer. I put the dough in the refrigerator for ten minutes or so and that seemed to solve the problems.

The OXO Good Grips Cookie Press contains the cookie press, 12 stainless steel disks, a holder for the disks (I really liked this feature--no searching in a junk drawer for your disks), and an easy-to-use instruction booklet. The booklet also contains a couple of recipes. I ended up using the Martha Stewart online recipe which is very much like the Butter Cookie recipe.

Anyhow, I really had fun using the OXO cookie press and making all sorts of shapes with the 12 disks. Like I said earlier--I was like the kid in the candy store. I'd make a tree or a sunflower or bear and call everyone over to "LOOK AT THIS!" Soon the house began to empty out as everyone left tired of my constant exclaiming! However, they came back in plenty of time to sample the cookies. The kids loved the teddy bears and butterfly shapes.

Soooo happy I am now a proud owner of a cookie press!

Buy Joyce Chen 33-2047 Burnished Bamboo Tongs, 11-Inch

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Bought these tongs because I was tired of using the nylon/silicone tongs we've had for ages and seeing all kinds of food items slip out of them.

These bamboo tongs have been fantastic. The bamboo grain has an interesting ability to grip onto things. Food items from bacon to chicken breasts to hot dogs can be picked up firmly without any concern that they will slip out or be dropped.

The length also means you can use them without fear of getting burned, although unless you have a pretty strong grip (which my wife does not, it seems) you still have to grip them a little more than halfway up. (which means you're not a full 11" away from the hot pan.)

All in all though, in the short couple of months we've had these I've found myself reaching for them more often than our other cooking tongs.

Only think I don't like: the brand sticker used on the top of the tongs left some sticky glue residue when it was removed. Not a big deal it's easily removed with some goo-be-gone or similar.

***UPDATE FOR 2012*** So, it's been a few years now and here's the latest: I had 2 pairs of these tongs. One is still alive and kicking, the other not so much. the glue at the top delaminated and it essentially fell apart. I've actually kept the two pieces and use one for stirring iced tea in a large pitcher. The other piece has been used in the laundry and garage so far it was used for a while to stir white washrags in a bleach bath, but recently it was in the garage used for mixing paint. :-) Still use them both all the time though...

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Pros: 1. Beautiful bamboo wood with a natural polish, a compliment for any home-chef's kitchen! 2. Center hole to hang on hooks i.e. if you had a bar where you hang frequently used kitchen items; 3. Easy to clean

Cons: 1. I realized I had to use my fingers to part it open in order to grab bigger foods, at least foods with more width than the opening of the tongs... 2. Requires good grip for heavier/larger foods or else food will slip 3. Too short, wish i'd gotten something longer

Summary/Final Thoughts:

I would not purchase this product again. It is a great item for any of you looking for a simple tong for small things like bacon strips, veggies, etc this product is A+ However if you're subsituting it for a real spring tong that can open wider for heavier/larger foods, this is not it. Think of this as two chop sticks joined together, that's the best analogy i can offer, let your imagation take it from there ^_^

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A little daunting to master, but once you find the right place to hold it it works well. I think my silicon tipped tongs work just as well, but it's a nice tool for your wok arsenal. Doesn't handle larger chucks of protein, but shellfish and strips of meat and poultry do just fine.

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This item is nice and cleans well, great for toast, however not too useful for anything much else as the tongs part is so narrow it doesn't grasp too much. Would not purchase again.

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I bought these to go with a new toaster, which, despite being fantastic in every other respect, was not good at allowing me to extract small slices of toast.

The tongs turned out to be ideal. Inexpensive, attractive, easy to use and a pleasure to have in the kitchen.

If your intention is to use them for wide items, then I don't think that you will be as happy, as you will have to spread the jaws to encompass the item.

However, for me they are great.

Camp Chef 12" Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Review

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After giving away all my mother's cast iron skillets, and using the "new improved" non-stick ones (and finding them unsatisfactory in the long run), I turned to my beloved Cook's magazine reviews of equipment for help. They recommended this skillet, which I ordered. Cheap, works well, no hassle with the non-stick surface scratching or delaminating! Old technology sometimes IS better, and cheaper.

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Purchased this item because of a high rating from America's Test Kitchen. It does come pre-tempered from the factory (in China). Nice skillet, but my only problem is the logos cast into the bottom of the pan. I use an electric stove and (with the cast logos) it does not sit stable on the burner. You have to "hunt" for a position that it will not rock. I am actually looking to get the logo milled off the bottom at a machine shop. Other than that, it is a heavy skillet that should last generations with proper care.

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I am an avid cast iron user and have many different types/brands. I have a 10 inch Camp Chef skillet that I have had an extremely hard time layering the seasoning on. However, this 12 inch seems to be coming along very nicely. I bought it at a local camping store. I wanted a Lodge 12 inch but they were sold out, so I reluctantly took this one. Because of the seasoning issue with the 10 inch, I was hesitant to buy this one. However, it is a heavy, even cooking, excellent piece of cast iron and is seasoning well. I do recommend it if you are looking for a 12 inch. Also, I do like the embossing on the Camp Chef pans.

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I use this whenever I saute or fry something on the stove-top or grill-top. Heat is evenly distributed to the food in the pan, and it's easy to clean. Very pleased.

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This is a nice, heavy-duty skillet. I use it when camping for cooking sausage, bacon, etc over medium/high heat while I keep my griddle at medium/low for eggs and french toast.

It is NOT a non-stick pan that magically releases eggs! If you season this pan a LOT and cook with a lot of butter then maybe you could use it for eggs but a smooth griddle works much better. If cooking at home get a non-stick egg pan and never heat it past medium.

The design is very good with spouts at both sides to pour off grease and a loop handle on the far side to help with lifting. A big plus for the Camp Chef skillets over the Lodge skillets is that the main handle is considerably longer on the Camp Chef. For me the Lodge handle was unacceptably short.

The cooking surface is sand cast and a little rough. Great for cooking meats.The relief casting of the Arches park image on the bottom of the skillet is a total waste of time and money. At best it is ugly. At worst it creates stress points and hurts heating performance on electric ranges and other flat heating surfaces.

The OEM seasoning is adequate for protecting the metal pre-purchase but I feel you should re-season before use. I used camp-chef conditioner and baked in my oven with good results. It will probably be years before I get a really good seasoning on there though.

I have the matching 12" lid for this that came with a 7.5qt fry pot. The lid is a nice option that adds versatility but it almost doubles the weight so plan accordingly!

Buy Japanese Nut Seafood Crab Lobster Cracker

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I grew up in Virginia and Maryland, so blue crabs were common fare. I've used wood mallets (messy, but effective), nut crackers and other ways of getting to the meat, but this is the best way yet.

What I love is the relatively fine serrations in the upper part of the cracker. I have annotated this area in a customer-supplied photo at the top of this page as (1). It can get you inside of the thinnest back fin or leg, and with the right touch the claws too (on a blue crab). The bottom area that I've annotated as (2) in the photo is excellent for larger crabs and lobsters, and will make quick work of the claws and some shells. Part of the effectiveness comes from the design of the cracker itself with its two zones. It was obviously designed by someone who wanted a better way to eat crab.

Another effective design feature is the length of the claw-shaped handles and the pivot point on the cracker. These give you a lot of leverage that allows you to crack even thick shells with little effort.

This cracker is made of an aluminum alloy so I recommend hand washing it. I tried machine washing mine and either the detergent I used or the higher heat discolored it.

One final thing I love about this is the price. I have come across identical ones with a different brand name selling for twice as much. In face, two of these crackers, shared, and a set of Norpro Seafood Forks will easily allow four people to enjoy a crab feast Chesapeake style!

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Best Iittala Sarpaneva Cast Iron Casserole Deals

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List Price: $295.00
Sale Price: $236.00
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

When you read the description of this pot on any website, including Amazon's, it sounds as if the iittala company decided that cooks today needed another chance to own this beautiful, practical pot, so they decided to manufacture it again. The descriptions, which wax rhapsodic about the pots proudly bearing the Timo Sarpeneva Design stamp, (and the $230 price tag), lead one to believe it is manufactured in Finland. Some of the seller's descriptions, including Amazon's, actually state that this pot is made in Finland. Not so! A tiny paper sticker reveals the country of origin to be China. The finishing made me suspicious before I saw the sticker-it's rather rough around the edges, not smooth like the original Finnish ones made in the 1960's. I actually ordered this pot twice-the first time, it arrived with a big chip off the edge, which was strange, because as the chipped-off piece wasn't in the box, it must have been put into the box that way. So much for quality control, but I really wanted one of these pots, and I convinced myself that mistakes could happen to anyone. I didn't examine the box at that time, or I would have seen the Made in China sticker discreetly located on the bottom. When the second pot arrived, I was again a little disappointed in the finishing of the edges, because for $230 this should be a high quality, carefully made piece of cookware, but the design is too adorable for words, so I was ready to keep it anyway. Then I noticed the China sticker. Seriously? If I buy a Le Creuset pot and pay $230, at least I know it's made in France! If it's going to be a knockoff, it better also have a knockoff price tag. You can get a Le Creuset-style pot made in China at Target for $50. If this pot cost $50, I'd figure I was getting what I paid for. I had been reading various cooking blogs in which rabid Le Creuset lovers discussed the iittala and other expensive cast-iron cooking pots, and the funny thing is, all of them seemed to believe that these pots are made in Finland. Go to the iittala site and give their advertising for these pots a really close read. Nowhere is this claim actually made, although it is very much implied. I started to wonder if perhaps it was simply the packaging that was made in China, so I called the U.S. distributor for iittala. They were quite up front, telling me that ALL of the iittala cast-iron products are made in China. Apparently the home company, which the advertising implies is producing this pot, only makes a few of the iittala products, such as the $3000 artisan glass vases. Needless to say, I returned the pot. Given the quality of the finishing, it isn't worth $230. I felt it deserved two stars simply because Timo Sarpaneva's design is immortal-practical and lyrical at once, and I regret that the iittala company doesn't respect his work enough to see that it is produced as it should be. I also don't appreciate being intentionally deceived.

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I was suprised to see this on amazon, its a design classic and something I've always wanted. The pot is heavy cast iron with a white enamel interior and is made very well. The handle on mine had a bit of the finish off where it slides through the pot, but I figured this would happen with use regardless. Love it!

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Wonderful cast iron pot which brings artistic beauty to the table. Design started in the 1960's still classic today.