Sushezi Sushi Made Easy Review

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List Price: $24.99
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I looked at about 5-6 different sushi makers recently (including the $20,000 sushi robot). Sushezi seemed the best bang for the buck. It arrived today (along with a rice cooker) via Amazon Prime so I didn't even get a chance to get impatient about it.

I've made sushi for years now with the little bamboo mat. I'm pretty handy in general and have had good results with the primitive tools, but still get more than half of the attempts at rolls to have a few end pieces collapsing, the roll irregular, etc. I DO have a life and I don't want to spend it perfecting being a sushi chef.

The Sushezi does one thing and it does it well: it makes a perfect large sushi roll and it does it quickly. I was both cooking and talking on Second Life to a friend and I compared chat time-stamps. I assembled ingredients (the rice was ready before I started), cut up a few veggies, found and opened a nori package, scrounged some of that orange caviar from my freezer, fake crab, leftover smoked clams, cream cheese, etc. I made four rolls. 45 minutes after the chat start mark, I had uploaded a photo of a plate of samples of each roll and sent it to my friend. If you've ever made sushi before, you know that's absurdly fast.

The Sushezi has a solid feel to it. There's nothing small and delicate that's going to break and leave you with a worthless product (versus, say, those cheap plastic cookie presses).

I'm staying with the very solid 5-star rating, but there are some downsides. First of all, it really needs a narrow diameter counterpart. That is to say, a Sushezi roll that can be wrapped with half a nori sheet. (Note: I e-mailed the company asking about that and got a very quick reply saying that they didn't have such a device. Disappointed though I was, I appreciated the fast and honest reply.) Next, if you're into inside-out rolls, this won't work. It's not designed to, so there's no reason to take away points.

Finally, the company suggests other uses for the product. This is cool: Cheese logs and cookies as a bonus is good. However, I just want to make good, consistent sushi rolls and do it quickly and easily. Sushezi worked exacly as presented. As I said earlier, a lot of bang for the buck. You do sushi rolls? Get this.

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Love the maki! I have several kits that I have accrued over the years and this is far and away the best thing to come down the pike. With as often as I'm using the Sushezi, I know I'll wear it out. So, my only whine is that it's not as sturdy as an Abrams tank. Right now, I use half sushi rice and half brown rice (for the fiber); it holds together righteously. I think that with the pressure that can be applied with this apparatus I can move to all brown rice (pressure cooker cooked) at some point. I like this product so much that I took advantage of the four for three Amazon deal and sent them to my kids in other states. Aside from it not being made out of titanium, my only other concern is that I'm going to get fat as a piggy from making so much. (4jul2010) I thought I'd get fat as a piggy, but, I'm actually losing weight on the sushezi diet. I make and eat one to two rolls a day. I use plenty of protein sources for the filler and half brown rice for the roll. I cook the rice in a pressure cooker which makes it easy to combine different rices in a timely manner. For the filler I'll use imitation crab sticks, turkey spam (with pineapple), tuna, salmon, and, yes, bacon makes everything better. I'll do a smoked salmon with yochee fat free tzatziki. Ah, wasabi, curry and peanut butter make great seasonings. I'll add garlic powder to the rice wilst I cook it. Made thoughtfully, a sushi roll could be one of the healthiest foods to eat. Let your creativity run wild.

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It looks like a gimmick but it really works well. I've made nori sushi at home for many years using the traditional bamboo mat and have even experimented with a plastic press mold. The Sushezi is easy, quick, and produces a stuffing of rice and 'whatever' to roll in a sheet of nori (toasted seaweed) in a matter of moments. Excellent results. Easy clean-up. Inspires you to make your own nori sushi at home -often.

Gary Hayman

Honest reviews on Sushezi Sushi Made Easy

This is a decent sushi maker, producing rolls that are sized to use 1 nori sheet (which I happen to find perfect, but apparently not all people do).

It took me three tries to figure out the perfect amount of rice, but since then, results have been consistent. The trick is to use a wee bit less than 1 Japanese cup (3/4th American cup) of sushi rice and fill it enough so it's a little hard to close. Packed right, it's actually going to be rather messy (rice oozing through the cracks).

I found two downsides: first, the quality is so-so. The front cap usually takes a couple tries to lock into place and the latches are a bit flimsy, considering that you have to forceclose the thing if you want tight sushi. Second, this device is overpriced! I know it's in line with other sushi makers, but this is nothing more than a PVC tube with latches and a plunger. I'm surprised that there aren't any $9 knockoffs.

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Good product. It does really make it easier to make maki sushi rolls. The only negative is that the diameter of the sushi rolls are a little large. As a result you use approxiomately 1 cup of rice per roll.

Review of Stansport 362 2-Person Cook Set, Stainless Steel

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The build quality and materials seem pretty good. The set is fairly light weight, but thin. That seems to be the norm judging by the other 1-2 person cook/mess kits I've looked at. The nylon cover is a draw string bag with a cord lock. I personally think the pots are larger than they should be for a 2 persons set. I think .75 and 1.25 qt would be sufficient. Not that this set is bulky, but for me as long as it does the job well, saving space and weight are always a plus. I do like the size of the pan though. The lid for the large pot does fit the pan and works OK, but it isn't made for it. It would have been nice if it was and had a lip for a more snug fit. I haven't cooked with this yet, but I plan to update this review when I do.

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Buy OXO Good Grips Egg Slicer and Chopper

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I use this for hardboiled eggs AND mushrooms. It makes perfectly sliced mushrooms for easy sauteeing. It takes a few mushrooms to get the hang of it, but once you figure it out it is so much faster than slicing by hand!

It does a wonderful job on eggs and with the rotation option, you can make perfect egg salad in no time at all. A real bonus is the removable grid, it scrapes out all the bits left behind in the teeth so you can just lift it out and rinse it off.

A real time saver that feels sturdy and well built. I expect to use this fo r years to come. Love OXO products, I haven't had a bad one yet!

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My first review of this OXO Egg Chopper/Slicer was terribly harsh and unfair after using it on only a couple eggs.

I've just returned to the computer from having used it to chop a dozen eggs for egg-salad and it made quick work of them. Yes, there was still some gadget clean-up, but overall the clean-up was lots less work than chopping those eggs by hand and the resulting bits were nice and uniform.

I honestly believe that manual egg-slicing gadgets which also "chop," just don't get any better than this, and it's a keeper. 5-Stars.

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To be honest, I did not purchase this item from Amazon. It was kind of an impulse buy while I was visiting a kitchen specialty shop. I have numerous other OXO products that I have pleased me, and I was sold on the fact that you could rotate the bottom thus slicing the egg in two directions easily...well, at least I though it would be easy. When I opened the device about half the egg stayed stuck in the top of the slicer. I ended up pretty much mangling every egg I tried. And cleaning is a nightmare! Its construction makes it very difficult to clean. I opened it and washed. I closed it and washed. I used a toothpick to get out the egg bits which are very difficult to see since most of the tool is white. I would think it was clean, open it again and find more egg pieces. I finally decided that it would make a great training tool for dental hygienists! Over-all, even if it worked perfectly, the cleaning difficulties would make me not recommend this tool. If you had to chop A LOT of eggs, then the time spent cleaning it might not matter so much, but I cannot see myself using this tool again. The whole time I was cleaning it, I was thinking about writing a review to warn others!

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My simple guillotine type of slicer finally broke a few steel wires after 25 years of use. I chose this model from a dazzling array. To date I find it more useful than my previous one because the egg cradle rotates eliminating the need to lift a sliced egg to dice it. One can also slice the egg in either direction. This product has a nice weight and feel, is a snap to use and is easy to clean. It takes up a bit more shelf space than the simpler model and I hope it will last as long.

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Purchased as a Christmas present. The clamshell top folds down to grasp the egg when in operation. The device must be completed opened to remove the egg, which means the wires must pass through the egg twice. This can cause the egg slices to get mangled. The clamshell makes it a bit challenging to clean by hand as when open it is always engaged with the wires. After a couple months of occasional use, the wires broke. Back for a refund.

Cheap Telebrands Robo Stir Automatic Pot Stirer

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List Price: $16.99
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Today's Bonus: 65% Off

I got two of these gadgets as a "free" gift with something else I bought. I was optimistic about it actually. It would be nice to be able to free up my hands in the kitchen sometimes.

But it doesn't work like that. They buzz and hop around, and fortunately, I tested it in cool water away from the cooktop first. Because it would have splashed hot liquid all over the place, and then it fell over, into the "food" (which the instructions say, you should then throw the food away, due to concerns of contamination from the batteries, lead solder or whatever electronic waste is all up in there.

Nice idea, but it doesn't work, and could pose a real hazard if it were being used to stir anything flammable, like oil for example.

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Purchased the deluxe upgraded Robo Stir in January didn't receive it until March. Product worked as advertised with no complaints. Used it once and it never worked again. Called Robo Stir Customer Service which is not in the US had a agent I could hardly understand and was told to bad it is over 30 days old. I would advise to use caution when purchasing product. The company does not stand behind the quality.

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I am a gadget guru and when I saw the Robo Stir I couldn't wait to get one. BAD MISTAKE! First, I ordered from Robo Stir and ended up paying $72 for 4 of these things. They trick you when you order online with them. I ordered 2 then they ask if you want to "upgrade" to the 3 speed Robo and when you say "yes" you have then ordered 4 of these "things". Upon checking out, they do NOT let you review your order, then all of a sudden WHAM your order goes through and you have 4 of them ordered at the unheard price of $72.00!

I don't even give these things "1" star but there is no way to rate it a "0" star. They are cheaply made and do not work! I've been cooking for 47 years so don't tell me I don't know how to work it. I have almost every kitchen gadget imagineable. I would have gotten better use of my $72.00 if I had rolled it up and used the money as a match to light my grill.

Honest reviews on Telebrands Robo Stir Automatic Pot Stirer

Not worth the money. We purchased it to stir so that the sauces wouldn't burn while we cut vegetables. It only stirs water or liquids similar to it's density. Read the reviews, but had to see for ourselves.

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Having read many other reviews I feel blessed that I was able to get 3 uses out of it. However, once it dies, it dies. Battery replacement does not help. Trying to get an intelligent response from the manufacturer is impossible as they don't want to communicate with customers but rather just rip you off !!!

Update International SDB-12 Stainless Steel Induction Ready Double Review

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List Price: $138.00
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I'm new to home cheese making. This double boiler arrived on time, in new condition and ready to get started. This hard to find sze has met my expectations. It will get a lot of use.Update International SDB-12 Stainless Steel Induction Ready Double Boiler with Cover, Natural Finish, 12-Quart

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Cheap Matfer 915901 8 Piece Bourgeat Copper Cookware Set

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List Price: $1,917.99
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This is the very finest cookware made. It's expensive but worth every penny. The quality is evident in the heft and feel of each pot and pan. When you get into the larger pots, it is almost as heavy as cast iron.

This line of cookware is truly the Ferrari of the kitchen. The copper responds immediately to any temperature input. So if you are a casual cook who does not tend to pay close attention to what's going on in the pan, things can go wrong quickly. But if you are an accomplished cook, cooking with Bourgeat is like taking a Ferrari to it's limits on the track.

I've been using Bourgeat copper cookware for nearly 10 years. Slowly, but surely, I have been switching my old cookware out for Bourgeat. And now I'm but a few pots and pans short of total bliss.

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COPPER COOKWARE TRADITIONS

In sophisticated, fabulously wealthy ancient Rome prosperous people could buy copper, silver, or even gold cookware to obtain the best heat conductivity and responsiveness. Copperware's cost/performance won out. Today, that tradition remains in what was Roman Europe, particularly so in France and Italy, where cooking is an everyday art and science taken very seriously even by the average person. If you are an aficionado of French and Central/Northern Italian "Continental" cooking you will eventually need at least certain key pieces of such fine copper cookware. Most of the top quality copperware is today made in France (Bourgeat, Mauviel), Italy (Ruffoni, Paderno), and Belgium (Falk, Demeyere).

In Europe, the family cookware is usually collected by inheritance, and slowly added to by occasional purchases as need arises or budget permits, rather than buying an entire set as pictured above. A Continental family cookware collection of Bourgeat, Mauviel, Demeyere, Falk, or Ruffoni copper-ware, Le Creuset or Staub enameled cast iron cookware, and Emile Henry ceramic ware is the pride of the family along with good quality serving-ware...silver, crystal, china, and table linen.

Here in North America, the European-influenced, fine cooking revolution is in full swing as evidenced by all the new cookbooks, magazines and TV cooking shows now available. More families are gradually collecting high quality wares while building an heirloom collection of cookware and serve-ware to honor everyday fine cooking and dining, along with elegant entertaining even in these challenging economic times...just collect things more gradually on your shopping list, and look for the sales...be patient, but research well to discover the quality makers to make the best decisions both for the short term and for the long haul. Many people spend far more on a refrigerator than this copper cookware.

PROFESSIONAL GRADE QUALITY

Bourgeat copper-ware is not the 1.5mm-2mm thick consumer or household grade thickness, but rather the commercial 2.5mm thickness preferred in professional kitchens on the Continent of Europe, France in particular, and in the finest restaurants and hotel kitchens here in America and in fine restaurants the world over. The commercial-grade, heavy cast iron handles curved and shaped in the Lyon style, are elegant and transmit heat far less than consumer copper-ware's yellow brass handles. This is NOT RevereWare with a barely-there thin wash of copper over stainless, and even then only the bottom. This is the real deal! The thick stuff...heavy gauge, heavy weight, heavy duty on the bottom and all the way up the sides as well.

Bare copper-ware in contact with cooking food can be toxic...copper cook-ware must be lined with something to separate food from copper. In the past, only tin-lined copper-ware was available and that needed expensive, periodic re-tinning.

Modern PROFESSIONAL copper-ware, such as this Bourgeat line, is now also available in maintenance-free thin-lined stainless steel, the offering here, that entirely eliminates re-tinning. The stainless steel lining results in a small loss in instant heat conductivity and heat responsiveness...temperature sensitivity with even heat with no hot spots. The stainless lining also means that you can saute at higher temperatures without melting the tin lining or warping the pan. Remember to never use fierce, full blast heat with copperware as it is not needed and will damage the vessel.

THE MAIN REASONS FOR BUYING HIGHLY EXPENSIVE COPPER-WARE

1) For sauce-making one needs a SAUCE PAN that spreads heat evenly, cools off immediately after being lifted from the burner so to prevent breaking a sauce or curdling an egg-based sauce, but when placed back on the burner the pan heats up again very quickly. I recommend two sizes of saucepan for sauce making...1.25 qt and 2.5 qt straight walled sauce pan to start, and later a 2.5-3.0 qt sauce pan in either the straight-walled or flared saute pan (saucier) style...both should have lids.

2) For sauteing, only a thick copper SAUTE PAN with flared sides should be bought, not the straight-walled kind meant for doing a saute kind of dish. Such a saute pan really works as intended for this cooking method requires high heat to properly saute food, and the flared walls allows steam to readily escape the pan so as to avoid the steaming and graying of the food. The 11" saute pan size is ideal.

Straight-walled saute pans are for quick browning of meat or fowl, then adding herbs and veggies are added and cooked, after which liquid is added such as stock, wine, and water or all three, then brought to the boil, the heat is then turned down to the simmer until done...this is called doing a saute...a bit confusing, no?

3) For whipping egg whites only an unlined copper (no tin or stainless lining) EGG-WHITE BOWL works best for maximum egg-white volume and silky texture by the chemical reaction of the egg whites on the copper surface (I use an 8.5" Mauviel one, though a Bourgeat brand bowl is just as good ).

4) For au gratins and oven baking a copper OVAL AU GRATIN PAN is second only to an Emile Henry Burgundian clay ceramic au gratin dish, but gives you that classic haute cuisine presentation in gleaming copper at table. The 12" size, and especially the 14" size, are the most useful.

For everything else, for everyday cooking such as boiling water, warming food, heating veggies, steaming, making stock or soup, the benefits of copper cookware rapidly diminish. So, for everyday, general cooking I use dishwasher-safe, low-maintenance, aluminum-cored cookware cladded with stainless steel both inside and out, such as All-Clad (All-Clad also makes a low maintenance stainless line with a copper core that is less sensitive than all-copper such as Bourgeat or Mauviel, but for prices matching all copper). Pure copper exteriors do require very frequent polishing so keep that in mind as well.

For long, slow cooking such as in making a stew or a braise of a whole piece of meat (pot roast), or braising veggies, then I use Le Creuset enameled cast iron. This mix and match cookware selection strategy matches the best cookware material with the best cooking method desired, whether it is cladded stainless, copper-ware, enameled cast iron, bare cast iron, a carbon steel wok, or high quality ceramic bakeware. Doing so also reduces the amount of expense and copper polishing that must be done.

Check out the Matfer Bourgeat online catalog, or order the paper catalog, for more Bourgeat copper cookware open stock choices...the catalog is simply amazing, only the French could produce such a fine bakeware and cookware line and catalog.

I hope this was helpful to you. If you have questions, please reply in the Comment section below...I would be glad to help.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MY NEW BLOG: thegoodstuffreviews.blogspot.com

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Quality pcs great to cook in. Easy to keep polished and looking great too. I previously cooked in calphalon cookware. It was a nice set but this set is superior in heating evenly producing a better end product.

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This is the finest cookware made. Period. It is very expensive, so I am slowly replacing my old cookware with this, one pot at a time, and it has been worth the wait and the expense.

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I am very disapointed that this 8 piece Matfer set did not have an owners care manual. I would like to have this if possible.

Reviews of Mirro Get A Grip Aluminum Nonstick 3-Quart Saucepan with Glass Lid

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List Price: $19.99
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After the very first use--the very first--the teflon coating is already peeling off exposing the steel below it. I made pasta in the pot and used a SOFT plastic spatula to gently stir it. After that there were already two spots where the coating had come completely off. Now I have used it about 5 times total and the coating looks like it has been scraped with a metal spatula hundreds of times. And no, I did not put it in the dishwasher. Not even once. I used a very soft plastic spatula and did not stir hard. I've had far better quality from an $7.99 pot purchased at a discount store. I seriously don't understand how the quality could be so poor and this company is still in business. Avoid this unless you want to eat teflon flakes with your pasta.

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Have had it short time. Maybe used it 12 times. Teflon came off and I had to throw it away.

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The pan is OK. The bottom of the pan is not heavy like other pans that I bought. My food was burned faster than I expected.

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Love my new Mirro red 3 quart saucepan. Especially love the design and the cheerful red color. Looked far and wide for it (3 quart pan is not included in the Mirro pan set) and found it on Amazon. Thanks

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I like this size and was replacing a WearEver. This one is as nice but the aluminum is a bit thinner. We'll see how well it lasts as my experience with thinner pots is that they burn and warp more easily as heat doesn't distribute as well.

Best T-fal Professional Total Nonstick Oven Safe Thermo-Spot Heat Deals

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List Price: $39.99
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Boy, this is a hard pan to find! Since Amazon.com did not have this item in stock, I contacted T-Fal to see if it was still available and where I might buy it. Here's the reply that I got from T-Fal:

========================================

We received your e-mail via T-falUSA.com, and we thank you for your interest in our products.

T-Fal products are available at many national retail stores. The T-Fal Professional Total Non stick cookware that has been reviewed in Cooks Illustrated and Consumer Report is currently available at Kohl's, Meijer and Shopko as well as their on-line retail web sites. You may also find this item through on line retailers such as amazon.com

Note: Our inventory levels have been low as a result of these reviews. However we do have shipments coming in regularly. With this in mind, retailers may be temporarily out of stock. If possible, you may want to consider per-ordering.

The T-Fal part numbers for this cookware will begin with either E938, E939 or E987.

The cookware has stainless steel base and can be used on all cook tops including an induction cook top

The cookware is available as either a 10 piece set or as individual fry pans in 8", 10.25" or 12.5" sizes.

Please be advised that some retailers may not use the T-Fal part numbers to identify this product but they will use its name. Additionally, we suggest contacting your local retailer for on hand inventory since each store determines their own inventory levels.

If you have additional questions, please call 1-800-395-8325 and provide the consumer service agent with reference number 110228-000256. Representatives are available from 8:30am to 5:30pm EST, Monday thru Friday.

Sincerely,

T-fal Consumer Service

========================================

I ended up buying it from shopko.com since Amazon did not have it in stock. The item that I ordered (and received) is the exact part number that was reviewed by Cook's Illustrated.

All I can say is that Cook's was right. This pan has amazing non-stick properties. I've been using the pan for several months now on a daily basis (I'm on a carb-restricted diet, so I eat fried eggs for breakfast every morning) and the non-stick properties of this pan are simply amazing. No sticking. Clean-up is a breeze. I'm VERY satisfied with this pan and will not hesitate to purchase another when this one wears out (hey, nothing lasts forever).

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Those who complain that they found this pan model (E9380864) at a lower price elsewhere are confused. They were looking at a different, quite inferior product. This model has been out of stock in stores and internet for months. The other, cheaper model has been mistaken for this one. I know; I bought one of them. The model number was completely different, but I thought it was a replacement. Not so.

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OK, I love this pan's non stick... the CI review and the amazon people were right... however the one I got has a definite "hump" in the middle. If you put a tbs of oil in it as per a recipe, it all runs to the sides, leaving the middle dry. if you put eggs in it to fry, same thing. I wish I would have returned it, as no one else has had this issue.... so long story short, check it when you get it, and return it if you get a bum one like I did... I would order another and simply check it for this issue...

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After reading about this product on Cook's Illustrated, I decided to hunt for one. Lots of trouble finding it, but at some point, Amazon came through with the T-Fal Professional Nonstick (with thermo spot

and prometal pro interior). After buying Calphalon, Cuisinart and other nonsticks over the years, I have been very disappointed because they really aren't nonstick and don't hold up well. This pan is amazing! I use it for omelets, vegetable sautes, meat sautes and general stovetop uses. It is lighter weight than most cooktop pans, but it is wide with slightly sloped sides so I can get a lot in it. And things saute to a nice brown with minimal fata winner in my opinion! I sure hope Tfal makes this product available again!

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No point going overboard, but this is a very, very good nonstick pan. Solid, very nonstick, easy to handle, quite durable. A very good value.

Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker Review

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List Price: $545.00
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Cuisinart has taken the ICE-50BC and improved upon it's design shortcomings. the biggest improvement is moving the drive system from the overhead arm to underneath the bowl. This system now resembles the much more expensive Lello unit but with a removable bowl. This unit also has a newly redesigned Ice Cream Paddle and includes a Gelato Paddle as well. That's two machines in one. the small door on the top of the lid for adding nuts, candy pieces, etc it easy to open and close although it's a tad narrow.

One thing I noticed the first time I ran mine. after about 20 minutes, there was a squeaking sound. after pausing it and making sure the paddle and the bowl were seated properly, it was ok for a few more minutes but started squeaking again. I tracked the squeak down to the plastic stabilizer atop the paddle that fits in to a poly-lined-slot in the center of the lid. I used a tiny bit of butter on a qtip to coat the inside of the poly ring and it hasn't squeaked since.

I tried the basic recipe and I tried the vanilla custard recipe in the book. the custard recipe base actually ends up coming out to more than 4 cups. the manual is very clear about not going over 4 cups of liquid in the machine. they mean it. Although I did dump the whole amount in, I should have definitely stuck to exactly 4 cups. It did not run over the top of the bowl, but it nearly did. I would have liked to allow it to run a little longer than 40 minutes as the custard base was not as cold as it should have been before putting it in to the bowl. if I had, it would have run over the top. the refrigeration unit get very cold and quickly. the final ice cream result was not quite as smooth as I'd like. I will mess around with recipes. Another Friend suggested I pre chill the bowl in the unit for 5-10 minutes before adding the base. you can do that in this machine as you can pause the motor while the refrigeration unit is still running. I like that feature. The pausing feature also comes in handy for adding nuts, candy bits, etc a few minutes before you shut the machine off and transfer your creation to a container for a final 2 hour sit in the freezer.

The final product coming out of this machine resembles softserve ice cream. This is normal for an ice cream maker. if it were much thicker, you'd have to dig the mixing paddle out of the bowl. I've seen several reviews on various machines from people thinking ice cream makers will do more than they're designed to.

I'd like to note this machine is LOUD.. the compressor is whisper quiet, the motor for the paddle is not. It sounds like a rather loud electric can opener. This bothers people, but it does not bother me.

I have not tried a gelato recipe or a sorbet recipe yet. I'm looking forward to it. I wanted to get a review up on this ASAP since it's a brand new machine and prior to finding this model I was considering a Lello but could not justify the price.

Clean up is easy with soap and water. the bowl is easily removed from the unit. there is a bit of a trick to getting the paddle out of the bowl without slopping ice cream all over the counter but after a few tries I there was a lot less mess on the counter.

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My ancient and well-used Cuisinart ice cream maker with the pre-freeze insert died in May, and I had every intention of replacing it with the same machine. When I saw the relatively reasonable price on this built-in compressor model however, I decided to buy it instead. I'm glad I went with this model.

Pros:

--Some say it's noisy, but it's far quieter than my old Cuisinart ICE-20. We can have a conversation in our smallish kitchen when it's on without problem.

--It's convenient to make two (or more) batches in a row.

--It produces consistently good ice cream and it's easy to get all of it out of the container.

--It comes with two types of paddles. The gelato paddle does seem to make for a smoother, silkier dessert.

--If you don't have much freezer space, it's nice to not have to dedicate a spot to a pre-freeze insert.

--The stainless finish looks great if that fits your aesthetic. I keep the machine out on the counter top and it fits right in with my other appliances.

The con:

--It's on the large side, so if you don't have much storage or counter space, keep that in mind.

P.S. I thought it might be helpful to add a note about recipes. We've made around 2 batches of ice cream/frozen yogurt/sorbet a week since May and are enjoying the ease of using this machine. I've been using recipes from David Lebovitz's "The Perfect Scoop" and Jeni Britton Bauer's "Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home." Bauer and Lebovitz have very different approaches to ice cream but my family happens to like both styles. Each book is full of winners and you can easily find recipes from both authors online to try before committing to a book purchase. If you're an ice cream fan like me, you'll have fun experimenting and seeing how the textures and flavors can vary.

Best Deals for Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker

We have been using the Cuisinart Ice-20 for the past 5 years to make small (1.5 quarts) batches of ice cream in a variety of flavors. I was looking for a batch freezer so that I could make multiple batches without having to refreeze the bowl for 24 hours. After looking around at several units, I decided on the Ice-100.

The unit is much smaller than I had expected, but not quite a easy to store as the Ice-20. A lot of people comment on the noise level of the batch freezers, but I find the Ice-100 to be at a level at or below that of the Ice-20. With just the mixing blade turning instead of the entire bowl like the Ice-20, it seems to have lowered the noise level a little bit. It is no louder than the electric motor on our large (6 quart) traditional ice cream maker (but a lot less mess than dealing with ice and rock salt).

The removable bowl makes getting the batch of ice cream out and the mess cleaned up a lot easier. I will warn people to follow the directions carefully on the amount of mixture that you put into the machine. I have found that it holds 4 cups of mix easily so that it does not overflow as the ice cream sets. We have also found that the ice cream from the Ice-100 stays a lot softer in the freezer (if you do not eat it all right away) than the ice cream from the Ice-20. This is probably do to the temperature of the unit staying colder, and producing a product that is firmer than what comes from the Ice-20.

Overall I feel this is a very good unit for anyone that is interested in stepping up to an ice cream maker with a built in compressor at this price point.

Honest reviews on Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker

From some of the other reviews of this product I was almost reluctant to purchase it, and did in fact wait for several months before placing the order. I looked at a lot of other models from other manufacturers and even much higher priced models, but kept coming back to this one.

When I received the shipping notice, I prepared a cooked custard ice cream base, so that it would be chilled and ready to use when the freezer was delivered to the door. After reading the instructions and the warning about not turning the freezer upside down, my husband cautioned me to wait for 24 hours before using it, to allow the freezer gases to settle, if there inadvertently had been any mishandling during shipping (one would never know if it had been tipped on its side or turned upside down). I impatiently complied.

When I finally got to try it, all I can say is: This unit makes wonderful ice cream!! Absolutely smooth and creamy.

The first batch was a cooked custard base into which I melted 4 oz of chocolate. It was only about 3 cups, and froze in 22 minutes. The second batch was a full 5 cups of cooked and chilled custard base, and froze in 42 minutes. Longer running time will only incorporate more air, which makes the ice cream rise higher in the freezer bucket. This could cause the ice cream to overflow the bucket, which in turn will make it difficult to remove the bucket from the machine, because the overflow will freeze to the unit's wall.

Even though the instructions say that you can use a maximum of 5 cups of base, next time, I will only use 4 cups, just to stay safe and avoid overrun problems. With the 5 cups, it was all the way to the top of the lid by the time it completed its cycle.

Right out of the machine, the ice cream is soft-serve consistency, which some people complained about. I've made ice cream in many different types of freezers, even the old fashioned hand crank with rock salt and ice. I've never gotten any thing other than soft-serve consistency from any machine. That's just the nature of the beast. After two hours in the refrigerator freezer, what we made today is firm but not rock hard.

Do be cautious about drying the bucket THOROUGHLY between use, when making batches one after another. If the outside of the bucket has any moisture on it, it will freeze to the wall of the freezer chamber.

This machine is not nearly as noisy as some people stated. I didn't find it to be any more noisy than the Cuisinart model with the canister that you keep in the freezer. It was not noisy enough to make us feel like we wanted to cover our ears, and neither did we need to raise our voices to be heard over it.

The unit is sleek and easy to clean. The electronic buttons work simply, and I like the fact that they are smooth and even with the rest of the surface of the machine. Makes it easy to just wipe it off.

The lid is easy to put into place--just takes a quarter twist--and the lid opening is large enough to make it easy to add chips, nuts, or candy at the end of the freezing cycle. The machine's rim for the lid has a rubber (silicone?) O-ring that seals the freezer chamber, so it fits snugly in place.

The only thing I regret about this purchase is that I waited so long to make it.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker

I have been looking for a good ice cream machine for a while. I ultimately decided on the ICE-100 based on my research. It will hold up to 1.5 quarts which allows you to actually make full quarts of ice cream without overflowing the mixing bowl. From what I was able to determine it is good quality, freezes relatively quickly and allows for continually making batches if so desired.

Pro's:

Quick

Easy to use

Easy to clean

Just simply works

Con's:

While I find it well worth the cost, it is costly.

Noise While the noise isn't horrible it's about like running a dishwasher. Not an annoying noise like a blender, but loud enough that you wouldn't want to gather around the ice cream maker and chat if you could help it.

Overall I found this to be a great product that is cranking away while I'm writing this review. While it is a new purchase for me I can't say anything about longevity other than to state that it looks and feels like it will last a long time. My first batch of ice cream came out great, I set the timer for 60 minutes, but checked it at 40 minutes and it was already solid, so it may well be freezing around 30 minutes.

I am still doing some testing with recipes, but I am happy with the purchase so far, it works great and cleanup is a snap. Would highly recommend this product if you are looking for a good ice cream machine.

I took a star away for noise. While noise has to be expected for a machine like this, it sure would be nice if they could tone it down a bit. Again the noise isn't a critical issue for me, but it is the only really noticeable issue I have with this machine.

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Update 5/26/2013:

I have done well over half a dozen quarts of ice cream now without any issues, most of them back to back. Works exactly as described typically taking between 25-35 minutes to freeze depending on the fat content.

I have found so far that I enjoy the lower fat content ice creams better, but they tend to have more of an issue with ice crystals. For those that haven't messed with Xanthan Gum I would suggest checking it out. It makes a significant difference in the texture of the ice cream and at the very least is worth experimenting with.

Very Simple Vanilla Recipe:

4 cups milk (2%)

1 can (14oz) Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 teaspoons Vanilla Paste (or extract)

This is one of the most simple recipes as most people have milk on hand, and the canned condensed milk and vanilla can store for a very long time, but as it has a low fat content it has some ice crystals. But throw 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum in there, and it significantly changes the texture making it fluffier and airier but also smoother with fewer (or smaller) ice crystals. You can also easily change the fat content by changing the milk mixture to half and half, or by swapping out some of the milk for heavy whipping cream, but most people don't have this on hand.

Another thing I like to do is simply pour juice or another drink (like a sprite for example) into the mixer and let it create a slushee for me in about 10 minutes. A great refreshing drink that can be made out of healthy juice, or easy canned drinks, etc... Since you just want a slushee consistency it's fairly quick at only roughly 10 minutes.

Cheap Japan Sushi Roll Mold /Maker (Small)

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List Price: $7.99
Sale Price: $2.67
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The Japan Sushi Roll Mold /Maker (Small) is a must for a beginner sushi maker like me. This makes it so easy to make those perfect looking sushi rolls. I line mine with plastic wrap, and that makes cleaning easy as well. Definitely recommend using this product for a beginner, it will make sushi making a lot easier, quicker, and uniform.

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This is the greatest little sushi roller. It makes a single serving that does not allow you to consume too many calories and it is easy to use. LOVE IT! It also came quickly and in perfect condition. Thanks

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I like this product but its small, really small to me. But its an appropriate size for the traditional single ingredient roll, easy to clean.

Honest reviews on Japan Sushi Roll Mold /Maker (Small)

This mold is OK but too small,in my opinion.It produces tiny rolls that can only fit one ingredient.I also purchased large mold and find that one actually is too large.I wish there was size in between because it would have been perfect.

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This mold is great for making small rolls; it's easy to use and makes perfect rolls every time. I wet the inside with cold water before using and the rolls slide right out without sticking. Highly recommended!

Discount Fiesta 756 Stovetop Salt and Pepper Set

Customer Ratings:

These are just right not too big and not too small. And they're funky and retro and fun. They are intended for kitchen or stovetop use not table use as one reviewer seemed to think. Having the handles is great when you're cooking and your hands are gloppy. Having to fill them from the bottom, is, of course, less convenient than the stainless steel type that unscrew from the top. But they seem to have improved the rubber stoppers since some of the other reviews written here unless they're not all the same. Mine are substantial and fit very snugly. They are also a soft rubber and would not be breakable. We'll see ... .

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I love Fiestaware and I love these!! They are larger than I expected and very charming in a retro way just like Fiestaware. Beautiful. The tangerine color is awesome, not quite as bright as the online images.

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Product is wonderful. Nice looking easy to use, love the ample handle which makes using easy during cooking.

Honest reviews on Fiesta 756 Stovetop Salt and Pepper Set

I ordered aet of Fiestaware salt & pepper shakers for a birthday present. One of the plugs that hold the contents was missing. I contacted the seller and received new plugs in less than week. Thanks for the awesome and timely service.

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Product just as promised looks great works wonderful -a very happy purchase from my end

Reviews of Bodum Chambord 4 cup French Press Coffee Maker, 17 oz, Chrome

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List Price: $49.50
Sale Price: $30.25
Today's Bonus: 39% Off

This is THE brand to use if you use a French press. You will never have any trouble with coffee grounds in your coffee. The press fits perfectly and the screen is fine enough to keep even the smallest grinds from leaking through. Only one caution, 4 cups means 4 small cups of coffee. If you use a mug, its 2 1/2 to 3.

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This wasn't the first french press I tried, so I was well-aware that the french press method makes a fuller, superior coffee to an electric drip setup. The temperature of the water is more controlled (I tend to simply wait sixty seconds with the kettle off of heat before pouring), the lack of a filter, which allows the grounds to be in direct contact with the coffee for an extended period, makes for a thick, satisfying cup. With the right grind (and fresh beans ground immediately before brewing), this makes better coffee than I've ever had inside or outside of my own home.

And if you're already aware of the wonders of pressed coffee, the Chambord in particular is a superior press. The stainless steel frame gives it an indestructible feel and makes it quite attractive on one's countertop. Also, the actual plunger is a much more snug fit than other presses I've encountered, minimizing the sludge in the coffee. Strangely, though, the plunger doesn't extend down completely, so make sure you serve it immediately if your coffee doesn't quite fill up the bottom space (to avoid having some overextracted coffee at the bottom). The short, wide dimensions also make it easier to store and lowers the center of balance (good for not knocking it over). Also, it comes with a handy measuring spoon that is of bizarre dimensions (7 grams), but somehow, when level, is the perfect measurement. 1 scoop to one (European) cup of coffee (so 4 for a full press). I'm incredibly happy with the whole ordeal, especially for the price. I'll probably also invest in a larger one for entertaining purposes, since this is only enough for myself or one other person.

It's worth noting a few things that should be considered, though I don't think they are drawbacks: the glass will not hold heat long, so the coffee should be served right away (which is when it is best anyway. Coffee should never be put on heat to keep warm, it'll start to take on unpleasant flavors like restaurant coffee). Also, a "4-Cup" press is measured in a rather obscure measurement: the four ounce European coffee cup. Thus, this press makes 16-17 ounces of coffee. This is far from four hefty American mugs, and is more like one oversized or two medium mugs. If you are planning on serving yourself and three guests, I'd opt for the eight or ten cup models.

Bottom line: everyone I serve coffee to since getting this press and a nice burr grinder says it's amazingly good, and my old drip machine is unplugged and in a box.

Best Deals for Bodum Chambord 4 cup French Press Coffee Maker, 17 oz, Chrome

Pros: Great tasting coffee, easy to use, very stylish.

Cons: A bit troublesome to clean by hand.

BEWARE, though! French Presses generate a sludge at the bottom of every cup. It's part of the charm, but increases in volume with a decrease in the quality grind! If you're serious about coffee, spend the extra $$$ and buy a good burr grinder!

Honest reviews on Bodum Chambord 4 cup French Press Coffee Maker, 17 oz, Chrome

This is my first coffee press and I am very pleased with the coffee I can brew with it. It is well worth the price and the quality is very good. Your results will be good as long as you follow the directions and use coarse ground coffee. It is rated as a 4-cup unit with 6 oz. cups, but with the coffee mugs we use here in the midwest it is only a 2 cup unit. So, if you really want a 4 cup unit get the 8 cup press. If you want to try a press for coffee this is an excellent way to begin.

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I got the 4-cup model. It makes 1 "big cup" of coffee, with a little room for cream, if I'm in the mood. (my big cup is about 2x the size of a standard American coffee cup)

My wife does not drink coffee, so the smaller model was perfect for me. I may purchase a larger model at some point, for entertaining guests.

Pros

-Makes fantastic coffee, if you follow some easy rules: coarse grind (reduce sediment), don't use too little grounds (over-extraction = bitter coffee), grind your own beans (GRIND YOUR OWN BEANS!!!), if not back-to-back... wash between uses (oil buildup = bitter coffee), don't leave extra coffee in the press (it will continue to steep, which is bad)

-Simple to use, simple to clean. Everything comes apart with little hassle

-Dishwasher safe (Though I use it too much to ever let it sit in the dishwasher.)

-Sturdy (The commenter who mentioned busting the bottom out was probably using Hulk strength when pressing, stirring with metal (which creates micro-fractures in the glass), or possibly cleaning with cold water too soon after having the hot coffee in the press. (which is also bad for glass... duh))

-You will experience flavors you never knew coffee had before.

Cons

-More work to clean up than a filter-brew machine (but worth it)

-Glass is breakable, don't drop it or hand it to a 2 year old. (They make unbreakable plastic models, but the oils that buildup to make coffee bitter cling to plastic, and don't cling to glass. It's a chemistry thing, according my Chemical Engineer brother.)

-It has ruined me for other coffee. I used to tolerate the bad office coffee, now I can't stand the smell of it. When I travel, I miss the french press but buy coffee from a chain of some sort, but it's still not as good as my own press.

Fantastic press!

Side Note: I have heard that the Aero-press makes a great cup of coffee too, but I'm hesitant to try, because it still uses a filter, and you lose certain flavor components of the coffee to the filter, no matter what you do.

Cheap Emile Henry Flame Top 2-2/3-Quart Round Oven, Red

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $125.00
Sale Price: $98.99
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

I've used a lot of different types of cookware through the years---cast iron, clad cast iron, aluminum clad, teflon coated, etc (both lower and higher priced). The FLAME TOP series are the only ones that can go in the oven, on the stove top, in the fridge, microwave, etc. Fantastic heat distribution with no hot spots or burning. Extremely easy to keep clean. Due to higher cost, I've accumulated a set over the recent past and have donated all of my other cookware! Buy one and try it, you WILL be amazed!

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A neat, fairly light-weight little pot. Well-made, rugged. Perfect for soups, stews, etc., but you'll need the next size up if you're cooking for more than two.

Best Deals for Emile Henry Flame Top 2-2/3-Quart Round Oven, Red

I was sceptical when I bought my first one of these. I was very worried about the price-quality ratio. However, I was really impressed with the performance of my first one -so much so that I am gradually adding to my collection. A lower price would achieve this faster, but they are very good cooking and serving vessels.

Honest reviews on Emile Henry Flame Top 2-2/3-Quart Round Oven, Red

This is a nice pot. I saw Jacques Pepin cooking with one and it was such a beautiful red color and the soup he was preparing looked great. The pot is supposed to be microwave & stove top safe.

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A great product that can and in this household will be used often. Great for gas ranges and in oven baking. A dutch oven that has superior heating qualities compared to caste iron. Superior to metal loaf pans for baking bread. Have not broken or chipped this product yet and hope it is as tough as the John Deere tractors I use on the farm. But it is clay and I'm hard on my tools. If it holds up for five, maybe six or even more years, I wouldn't live without one. My aluminum and iron pots are seeing little activity while this product is in constant use.