Thursday, October 31, 2013

Holmes Oscillating Floor Fan with Remote

Holmes HAPF623R-UC Blizzard 12-Inch Power Fan with Remote ControlI am deployed in Afghanistan, and bought this and had it shipped as much for its ability to circulate air as its ability to cool me down. Great features include remote, option to have the grill spin to really help with air circulation in the sardine can I live in, and sleep modes. Three speeds. Its perfect!

We love this fan. We use it in the bedroom window in the summer and it is the quietest one we have ever used. The remote control is a great feature. If we wake up in the night feeling too hot or cold, we can turn it on or off without getting up.

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This fan is extremely quiet even at max speed when you compare it some of the other ones. The range is not that great, but if you have it within 4-5 feet from you bed for eg., it works wonderfully. The rotating grill circulates the air really well and it is remote controlled. Living in NYC I need to change the speed quite a few times, the remote control is very handy for that purpose.

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I bought a slightly older model (HAPF622R) about 4 or 5 years ago which looks the same and has the same features as this one. I've been very happy with it. I works well on the floor or propped up in my bedroom window. It's very quiet and doesn't disturb my sleep. Still, I wish the 3 speeds were each a bit lower than they are. The highest setting is a little too noisy for sleeping. The remote control, timer and oscillating grill are very nice features. I don't use the variable "breeze mode" much because the noise level changes with changes in speed and I'd rather have it constant. All the features are operable from the remote control. It's nice not to have to get out of bed to adjust the fan during the night. Overall this is the best fan I've ever had and would definitely buy another one. Even after years of use it still runs quietly and well.

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This is my second Blizzard Fan. The first one that I have had for a couple of years I gave to my neice who got a case of the hives, and this fan helps her to sleep cooler. We live in Houston TX, so you can understand. She also is a light sleeper so the perfect sleeping white noise this fan makes has helped her stay asleep. So, I bought myself a new one, and it works just as perfect. I like the looks of it and it is small and light. I really like the remote control. I read in bed before I turn the lamp out, so I don't like the blizzard blowing while I am reading. I like to turn the pages myself. So, when I am done reading, I just click the remote and the fan comes on. I don't have to get out of bed to turn it on. Sleepville, here I come. The only negatives are the very bright green led lights on the fan, there are several of them for the different controls, but I just covered them with black electrical tape so that problem solved. I also don't use the automatic turn off, because it makes a very loud beep when it turns off, and that wakes me up. So, I just leave it on all night.

CHEF-LIGHT OUTDOOR BBQ HANDLE BAR FOR WEBER GRILL CHEFLIGHT NEW IN BOX

CHEF-LIGHT OUTDOOR BBQ HANDLE BAR FOR WEBER GRILL CHEFLIGHT NEW IN BOXThis device fit great on my new Brinkmann grill. It was easy to install, needing only the addition of a couple of flat washers because the heads of the original screws were larger than these. When I installed the batteries and tried it out, nothing happened. Seems these may have been in storage for some time so the electrical connections were a bit oxidized because as I was troubleshooting it started to work on its own. My only wish is that instead of incandescent flashlight bulbs it used LEDs, but I would expect that with infrequent use the 6 C cells will last a long time. Made in USA!

Swissmar Set of 6 Fondue Forks

Swissmar Set of 6 Cheese Fondue Forks, Dark Wood HandlesThese are excellent fondue forks, dishwasher safe, comfy in the hand, and elegant looking. I have both the "meat" forks (two barbed tines) and the "cheese" forks (three fork-like tines). The "meat" forks are superior for everything I have tried (bread, fruit, meat, etc) because they stab into the food easily and hold onto it. The "cheese" forks look nice and I haven't had any food fall off, but there's more effort required to spear your food. The "meat" style are best. Also, the "meat" style have little numbers on the butt of the handle for telling your fork apart from everyone else'sthe "cheese" do not. Amazon accidentally shipped me the "dark wood handles" version for one of my forks, so I got to look at those before returning themthey look a little cheap and not as nice. Also obviously not dishwasher safe. So go for black handles, "meat" style.

Nice set of forks. Solid, a little heavy (which you expect in a fondue fork if its built well). Long, thin, SHARP points. The wood feels nice too.

Only one complaint. The numbers 1-6 are cut into the ends of the handles, and you cant see them in dim light. They really need some white inlaid paint or something to make the numbers stand out.

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They were just what I was looking for. We were having people over for fondue and our set came with only 6 forks. These forks were of the same quality as my original ones and work perfectly for my dinner!

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Air King 6-Inch 2-Speed Circulating Fan #9146

Air King 6-Inch 2-Speed Circulating Fan #9146This is a very well made little fan. I run it on low speed, and it makes no sound whatsoever, but gives a gentle cooling breeze in my overheated office (it's always 76-77o). If there were anything to change about it, it would be to put the controls on the front (where I can reach them) rather than the rear, but this is a minor issue.

I loved this fan when I first bought it. I was looking for something to make just enough noise to fall asleep to and this thing was perfect. I left it on low speed at night it was quiet, but made just enough noise (a few feet from my head) to help drown out any other noises that normally wake me up. After about 9 months, the inner mount of the fan blades (around which the blades rotate) came loose and the fan started wobbling a little and making off-beat noises, which were worse in low speed and not conducive to sleeping. At first putting it in high speed fixed the problem. Then it started happening in high speed too, unless the fan was titled at a certain angle. I've had this fan for almost two years now and at this point the fan only runs smoothly (without unusual noise) when I put it on its side on high speed. There's no way to fix the fan you'd have to break it in order to get at the problematic piece.

Aside from its size, the main reason I bought this fan was that it was supposed to be made in USA. However, I thoroughly searched the packaging and fan but there's no "Made in USA" marking anywhere. In fact, there's no marking indicating where it was made.

The fan does not oscillate side to side and has a limited up-and-down range (adjusted by loosening and tightening a piece of plastic).

I can't say I recommend this fan. There's got to be something better on the market. I have old Sanyo fans that are more than 20 years old and still work perfectly. Any decent appliance should last more than 2 years.

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As most of the other reviewers mentioned, this fan is exceptionally quiet, at least on the low setting, which is what I use. It is a simple fan and seems fairly well built. The base is very light, but the fan is stable and does not vibrate none-the-less. The price is fairly high for a simple, 6" fan, but better to pay it than to buy a piece of junk for half the price. By the way, this fan does not oscillate.

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The fan is quiet and ideal to circulate air in any small area. It is perfect on the kitchen table or even a shelf area. It has two speeds located on the back dial of the unit. The cord is grounded for safety. It is UL coded and tested.

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I have owned the clip-on type of this Air King 6" fan for awhile and decided I could also use a table type to put on top of my computer tower. Don't know how I got along without this fan. It is quieter than a whisper and performs well with two speeds of airflow. One negligable drawback is that it takes two hands to turn it on and off; the unit could use a push-button switch. Over all a very good deal for the comfort it provides. The price was right and the item was shipped to my door, no lengthy shopping trip needed. Prepare for a grounded three-prong plug, OK?

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Grill King 11-Piece BBQ Set

Grill King 11-Piece BBQ SetThis is a great BBQ set, except it does not include a grill brush/scraper. When I realized this, I asked myself "Wha..?" It has two sets of corn holders, it has two skewers, it has a pair of tongs, it has a spatula, and of course a meat fork. But no grill brush/scraper. Hence, the 4 stars.

Everything else is built perfectly, it's all stainless steel or aluminum. It's very easy to keep clean and looks really nice. The case is a nylon zip-up sachel-style container for the tools. I've used the spatula and tongs twice two nights consecutively so far and no problems. Everything worked as it should.

On a side note, I just ended up buying a Mr. BBQ aluminum and stainless steel brush/scraper from my nearest grocery store and it matches this set perfectly. It only cost me about 2 dollars.

So, even with that being said, still a fantastic deal for the price.

This is a cheap affordable grill set for two. I can't say I was overly impressed by the quality of the tools it came with. The bag is quite small and portable when zipped up, great for taking to the park or a grill-out, however zipping it up is pretty awkward as the bag has one zipper to pretty much do the job of two.

The brush is standard hair bristles, so once you use them a handful of times that is about it. The rest of the tools are sturdy enough to use, and will probably hold together a couple of years, but if you are a heavy griller you will probably want something else.

I am content with it for what it was, a cheap, easily portable grill set so that we have something to work with. It's compact case might make it perfect for campers and light grillers, but anyone serious about grilling should probably avoid it. If it was more expensive or I was bigger into grilling, I might have given it a 3 star, but I am pretty content with it for what I expected at $10, so I give it a 4 star.

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I wanted something compact and lightweight for the camper. This works perfectly. Since it's not for every day grilling, I didn't need extra sturdy. It zips right up and can be easily stored for the next camping trip. I agree with another review in that a scraper, rather than corn holders, would have been nice and certainly more useful. But, it's a great camping set.

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this looks like a really great buy but it all actuality the item is in a cheap case and the items are cheaply made too. This is a time when cheaper is not better.

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the tools were great but I didn't care for the small corn holders. I think longer handles would have made the product better grilling utensils.

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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Norpro Mini Burger Press

Norpro Mini Burger PressBurger Press is not a tool to cook in (like 3-star member mentioned :-)) but to shape six uniform, 2-Ounce mini slider burgers quickly and easily. Load your meat into the mold and press to shape identical, perfect patties. Line the patty press with plastic wrap or parchment paper for easy transfer to the grill or to freeze.

Bought this for a tailgating contest and it made the prep work sooo much quicker. The patties were a perfect size and cooked very evenly on the grill. Easy to use and clean as well. If you press the parties firmly, they'll pop right out when you flip the tray over.

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This is awesome. Not a negative comment, just advice; grease (oil or spray) the inside of the press b-4 adding whatever so it comes out easier

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it works good i like it just gotta get used to removing patties from it so they dont fall apart

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My kids love the slider burgers that this item produces! I'd recommend this to anyone with kids or just loves sliders!

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Weber 4431001 Spirit E-320 Propane Grill, Black

Weber 4431001 Spirit E-320 Propane Grill, BlackAlmost bought several different lower end grills. No looking back. I'm a Weber believer.

Spirit E-320 is not commonly found in stores. Think they like to push you up to the Genesis line to gain the side burner.

Assembly, smooth and easy. Great packing too. Took about 2 hours. But I enjoy these projects. Would rather assemble it myself right the 1st time then have some 16 year old kid do it cut corners.

Great overall design, perhaps a little small on grilling space if you are cooking for a big party. But for 99% of my needs (family and small groups of friends) its is perfect. Temp controls are very good, and cooking over the whole grill is even. Food sear marks are a thing of beauty.

I don't know for sure but I would swear it is way more efficient burning fuel. Tank seems to last 2x+ compared to my old sunbeam. Perhaps it cooks so much better that you don't cook food as long?

Side Burner: Works great, set in low prevents wind from blowing the heat away from the pot/pan

Cons: Placement of the burner knobs makes for very limited work space on the right side. And especially if you are using the left side burner. Casters are a little small if you move your grill a lot.

Recommendation: Buy the Weber cover to go with.

There are several reasons why the grill Weber Spirit E-320 is great:

1. The heat distribution (using the 3 burners or using only 2 -the front and the back-) is very even.

2. The construction and the materials are very sturdy.

3. There are almost no flare ups (I only got some after leaving meat with a lot of fat unattended for a while).

4. The cooking area is really big (536 sq. in. of total cooking area = 424 primary cooking area + 112 warming rack area). We are a family of six (4 adults, 2 children) and in the grill there is room to cook for many more.

5. It is very easy to operate and maintain.

6. The assembly was simple. At a slow pace and working alone, it took me 2 hours and 30 mins. to put it together (add 30 more mins. to clean all the cardboard).

7. It comes with a side-burner, which is convenient.

You should note that this grill comes with "Porcelain-Enameled Cooking Grates" (similar to this Weber 7525 Porcelain Enameled Grates) instead of "Porcelain-Enameled Cast-Iron Cooking Grates" (like this Weber 7526 Cooking Grate). I am pointing this out because in some stores you might see the model E-310 with cast-iron grates (apparently Weber does not commercialize it like that anymore). Additionally, the pictures and the wording can be confusing or not clear enough.

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I searched around and found Amazon to have the lowest price with free delivery which is quite costly on other sites. Received the grill when Amazon said I would, in good condition. I found the assembly of this grill to be the easiest I have ever put together, as most grills have so many nuts, bolts etc, this had one package. I was done in about 1 hour. All the parts fit together without having to force anything.

We have used this grill almost every day since getting it and we are amazed at the difference in the way this grill cooks as compared to our previous grill, which was a Char-Broil Stainless Steel Commercial from Lowes. There is no comparison, the Weber is soooooo much better. A minor point but a good one, the igniter actually works, the first time every time. I would highly recommend this grill. It's pricey, but so far (about a month) it has been worth every penny.

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Most definately the the best grill I have ever had. The entire surface heats up evenly and you can crank it up to whatever temp you want for great searing. The hardware that came in the unit was the wrong package so Weber overnighted the correct package. I agree with the previous reviews on assembly.

The Spirit 320 is all any homeowner will ever need. The cooking surface is plenty big enough for entertaining a small party which is all I ever have. I like the fact that it has 3 burners and not 2-I think that makes a big difference in cooking. I HAVE to have the side burner since I use it all of the time which is the added benefit to this unit. The warranty is superb as well as customer service. Replacement parts can be purchased locally when needed. The price on Amazon is the best out there especially with the free shipping. It took longer to get here than I anticipated, but it was free. I considered buying the Member's Mark from Sam's club until I read the reviews on this one, looked at the warranty comparison and the components-a no brainer. The extra money for this is very well spent.

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I had a Charbroil followed by a Kenmore gas grill. Both were purchased without my input. Each lasted around 5 years before the harsh Midwestern weather and unavailability of replacement parts forced me into replacing them. I went with this model because of reputation and the large number of favorable reviews on this site. Plus I feel that replacement parts should be easy to get if I need them. I'll break down my experience thus:

A. Delivery. Ordered the grill on the Monday before Christmas with regular shipping. It arrived three days later in good shape.

B. Assembly. Packaging was very thorough and all the parts were intact. I went over the instructions a few nights prior to actually assembling this to get a feel for them. The actual assembly went well, with no stress (I skipped the beer too, which may have kept confusion at bay). The instructions are a step-by-step graphical layout, with a minimum of text. Very intuitive. They also have suggested tools for the job. I would also add scissors, a flashlight, and needle-nose pliers to things you will probably need. The hardware bag also included a small wrench for door adjustment, and a key for tightening bolts; though a 7/16 socket will also do the trick. Allow 2 ½ to 3 hours for assembly.

C. Operation. I couldn't get the lighter to work until I changed to a fresh battery, then the grill "whoomped" into life. I let it preheat for about ten minutes, which was probably five minutes too long. When I got back out the grill was at maximum temp, so I had to dial WAY back on the heat and leave the lid off. All I cooked was a couple of frozen hamburger patties and they cooked well in a nice amount of time. It's winter, so between the darkness and the fog, it was tough to see what I was doing. But from what I could tell, the grill works exactly as promised.

As with all new grills, there is a learning curve involved. Also since I am writing this at the end of December, it will be a few more months before I am able to grill outside on a regular basis again. But just by what I have experienced so far, I highly recommend this grill for anyone looking to have something decent for a change.

(UPDATE)

After almost six months of using this grill, I am still amazed at it's performance. I have cooked burgers, chicken, vegetables, tuna steaks, regular steaks, butterfly chops, and last weekend was the acid test: a rack of ribs. In the past, I have had to babysit my grills cooking ribs because the temperature would creep up or down and I would need to adjust accordingly. We set the Weber on 250, and that needle didn't move for the almost 4 hours we cooked those ribs.

This grill cooks everything consistently and dependably with no apparent hotspots. Weber should change the model name to "Sliced bread" because that's how great it is!

One procedural note: until I bought this grill I was unaware that burn-off should take place before cooking and not after. It seems that leaving the greasy gunk on the surfaces acts as a seasoning and also keeps weathering at bay.

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DCS 53 In. Stainless Steel Grill Built-In Liquid Propane Grill - BGB48BQARL

DCS 53 In. Stainless Steel Grill Built-In Liquid Propane Grill - BGB48BQARLI do not have this bbq. mine is an older 8 year old version of same built in bbq. I am looking to replace the smoking/wood chip burner and maybe some of the broken ceramic heating bars that still work but are cracked. The 3 cooking burners are in good condition along with all else. The smoker is not that important. I really like the fact it can get really hot being a natural gas bbq. The ceramic bars are what get the temp up to the point where you can sear the steaks which is what I use it mostly for.

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Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill

Char-Broil 12601578 Patio Bistro Tru-Infrared Electric Grilli'll start this review by saying I have sold grills for years and am a huge fan of the big guns such as Weber. Sadly do to living in a condo i can only have electric grills. In the past Char-Broil has made some sub-par items. Not this time. This is THE best electric grill option for under five hundred bucks. the people bashing it have obviously never grilled or assembled somthing as much as legos.

1ITS EASY TO PUT TOGETHERAll these people on here complain as to how hard it is to put together. WHY? It took me a bit over an hour and a half working slowly and I didnt even curse once. Thats a miracles in and of it self. Simple tools, easy instructions, and not a ton of steps. There is a bit of lining up holes at one point but thats it. If you even have the slightest ability to put things together you'll be fine. Putting together Ikea furniture is WAY harder than this.

2IT HEATS UP BLAZING HOTAnother complaint was that it didnt heat above 150 degrees. Mine will get to 600 degrees if left for a bit, within 20 minutes probably. It says in the manual don't keep lifting the hood it lets the heat out. This is true. If you keep it closed you should have not a single problem.AND I even use an extension chord which it suggests against and it still heats fine. Cooked a full london broil in under 12 minutes.

3ITS ELECTRIC NOT CHARCOALKeep in mind its an electric grill. Its not gonna taste like a charcoal or gas grill. Wood chips help but its still not the same. But it is your best option by far if you dont have another option.

This grill is awesome for what it is. Ignore the bad press seriously. Char Broil has done right by this one. If your in an apartment or condo and dont want to drop $500 dollars on stainless steel electric monsters this is your grill. Happy Grilling

The Bottom Line: 3 Stars and Rising.

The Patio Bistro does its intended purpose. I like this grill the more I use it. It gets, hot, is easy to clean, and has a nice large cooking area. With time my rating may improve as the painfull memory of assebly fades into the past. This would be a nice choice for use where charcoal and propane grills are not allowed.

As of this writing I have owned the Patio Bistro Grill for a little over 1 month. I own and have used various charcoal and gas grills, smokers, and barbeques over the past 30 years. I consider myself as very experienced in outdoor grilling.

This remainder of this review will be in two parts.

First the Good! The Patio Bistro Grill Does Cook Food quite Nicely: 4 Stars

Once assembled the Patio Bistro is quite a nice little grill. It has a nice large grilling surface, and heats quite adequately for grilling and roasting. Once the lid is closed, the temperatures easily rise to over 400F.

I never let it get much higher than that, though I expect it would get above 500F if left on its own.

Heating time is quite reasonable. When compared with a charcoal grill it is very quick (if you include the time it takes to light the charcoal).

I have roasted chickens, grilled hamburgers and steaks, and, using a non-stick pizza pan as a griddle have cooked bacon, eggs, and toast quite easily.

The grill surface is fairly generous in size for an electric grill; useable for cooking a dozen burgers at a single time. It even comes with a removable warming rack located at the rear of the grill.

The knobbed electric dial used to specify cooking temperature has a nice range, and the included on/off light is usefull for levelling off interior temperatures once they have been reached.

The grill surface is relatively easy to clean off, and cools quickly when unplugged. The greatest virtue of Electric Grills is in not having to buy, carry, store or ignite fuels, and KNOWING that the grill is turned off, simply by ungplugging the unit.

Second the Not So Good: Assembly: 1 star

As other reviewers have stated, this grill is unnecessarily difficult to put together.

In this day and age of premanufactured and buyer assembled products, there should be no need to designe something that requires so many different tools, different fasteners, and lengthy instructions.

It took me the better part of 90 minutes to assemble this correctly. The instructions were only marginal.

Also, Once Assembled the whole product can be a bit wobbly, so you will spend time tightening and retightening nuts and bolts.

The Bottom Line: 3 Stars and Rising.

The Patio Bistro does its intended purpose. I like this grill the more I use it. It gets, hot, is easy to clean, and has a nice large cooking area. With time my rating may improve as the painfull memory of assebly fades into the past. This would be a nice choice for use where charcoal and propane grills are not allowed.

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As a condo dweller, I've been a fan of the earlier model Patio Caddie for years. Reliability, fast/high heat generation, and never running out of fuel have been huge advantages. I've known about infrared grills for years, but knew they cost up over a grand. 'Saw this new Infrared Bistro model and had to have it! I gave my beloved Caddie to my son (who loves it!) and got this new model.

Putting the grill together was logical and straight forward. It did not go together instantly, but what's the big deal? I took it step-by-step and it came together just fine. When completed, the Bistro looks good; much more substantial and better styled than the ol' Caddie. Plus, the grill size is substantially larger.

'Plugged it in, turned up the power, and WOW! This sucker was up over 550 degress in about ten minutes. As I'd done before, put a small handfull of hickory chips into a foil pouch, poked a few holes in it, and tossed it on the grill and closed the lid. In a few more minutes the awesome aroma of hickory smoke wafted through the patio. Our first test was marinated sirloin skewers. As the meat hit the grill the intense sizzle was terrific. These cooked fast and clean, with that terrific hickory smoke essence.

I've now been using this grill almost daily for a couple of weeks with chicken, beef, pork, veggies, and shrimp and I love it! Guests are amazed.

Read Best Reviews of Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill Here

I read ALL the reviews before purchasing this grill. I was sick and tired of my gas grill not being able to function in the cold, not being able to provide a high enough pressure to cook anything, running out of propane. I didn't even use it last summer! I saw this grill on display at a store and it was love at first sight. Then I started researching it. Then I bought it.

Assembly: The instructions are the easiest, best-written instructions for assembly of anything I have ever seen. And the nuts and bolts are all individually packaged and labeled so you know you have everything to start off with. It took me an hour to assemble, watching TV at the same time, leaving to check e-mail intermittantly. Someone who was hurrying through it could do it much faster. I never had any questions at all about the instructions.

Ease of use: I have to use a fairly long extension cord, about 20 feet, to reach the grill in an area near my porch light. It very quickly heats up to 550Fsay about 15 minutes. I get nice grill marks. The cooking surface is simple to clean; it virtually just wipes right off.

Small footprint: it takes up very little space on my patio. I ordered the specific cover for it and it looks very nice. Much better than even the smallest gas grill and big propane tank.

Lightweight yet sturdy: It feels well-put together, not fragile and rickety. I am very happy with the looks and quality.

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It's not gas. Once you understand that this is a sweet grill with plenty of cooking area. I have had this for three weeks--done dogs, burgers and a pork loin. Everything cooked to perfection.

Construction: Great assembly manual. It said "about an hour" and that's what it was. After opening the package I spent 10 minutes familiarizing myself with the parts and procedures. After that actual assembly was 45 minutes. I'm no mechanical genius, but I can follow directions.

Production: If you need instantaneous response a la gas, this grill is not for you. If you can accept a slower heat up (15-20 MIN.) this will suit you just fine. I have found that the best way to work with it is to preheat the grill about 25-50 degrees above your desired cooking temperature. After you place your food on the grill and close the lid it will be just about where you want it. There is no doubt that the grill takes longer to recover lost heat from opening the lid than a gas grill would, particularly after you put your food on, which is why you want to preheat it higher than you need. However, I have not found that to be a problem. It's all about the learning curve---and it's just not that steep.

I am quite happy to have freed myself from the gas grill and would buy this again in a heartbeat.

UPDATE: After going through a winter season with this grill I'm going to have to give it up. Here in coastal NC we grill year round (avg. Jan. high, 52), but this grill just wasn't up to the challenge when the temp dipped at all. Way too long to heat up and absolutely impossible to get back to temp after opening the lid to turn the meat. My original review still stands if all you do is grill "in season".

FYI: My new solution is a Weber Q120. Small, portable and no big propane tank. Uses those disposable tanks you can get in any hardware store. Fired it up just to test it. 300 degrees in 5 minutes. Full review in a couple of weeks...and an update after winter. ;-)

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New Pourfect 27Pc Bowl And Measuring Set Break-Out Gull Wings Dripless Spout Bowl Pivot Channel

27Pc Bowl & Measuring SetPOURfect IS A MUST HAVE!

I purchased my POURfect set months ago from another website and just love it. I use it everyday and to the point that I just keep it on my counter. You'll find many, many other uses for these bowls, measuring spoons and measuring cups other than measuring.

I really like all the additional measuring sizes like the 2 cup or 1 1/2 cup or the pinch (1/16), drop (1/64), dash (1/8) and smidgen (1/32) included with the spoons. The measuring spoons and cups are even marked in braille! They all nest neatly together. I keep the measuring cups inside the bowls. The only downside to the measuring spoons is that there are sizes that don't fit inside my spice jars but that is not a big deal.

I also like how you have to pick up the bowls too. You palm the bowls with the "handle" over the top of your hand. It really gives you better control of the bowl and I would bet this feature would be helpful to someone with arthritis. No drips with the bowls either. I use them when making pancakes or pouring batter into cupcake pans. I did make the mistake of using my hand mixer with one of my bowls at it scratched the inside but I'm sure a wire whisk would be fine.

This set featured also has many more pieces than I got with mine and I'm jealous plus the price is terrific!

I really think the POURfect is a must in any kitchen and a great gift for a new bride (or groom).

You won't be sorry that you made this purchase!

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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Rome Wooden Tong, Spatula & Scraping Spoon

Rome's #41 Set of 3 Wood Grilling UtensilsLove cooking with them. They work so well with my dutch ovens.I don't get to camp as much as I would like, but they are great. They are just for camping (for me) not to use in my home.

West Bend 6113 Nonstick Countertop Grill and Panini Press

West Bend 6113 Nonstick Countertop Grill and Panini PressThis lil panini press definitely gets the job done. It upgrades my boring sandwiches into hot little morsels from heaven. But it is very far from perfect. On taking it out of the box, I couldn't tell if it had been used or made in the most crazy, destructive, dysfunctional factory in the world. It had quite a few little dings and scratches on the plastic handles. It is so disappointing to wait for something to come in the mail, get excited about it and have it come out of the box looking like someone else returned it the day before they sent it out to me. Luckily, the grey "stainless steel" surface was fine and still protected in factory plastic. I'd been craving a panini for a week and didn't feel like dropping another 10$ at the cafe down the street, so I bit the bullet, washed it VERY thoroughly and it's now sitting on my counter. One of the reasons I gravitated towards this model was the price and that is advertised as having a floating hinge, which in my understanding, means that the top lid comes down directly on top of the sandwich, ie like a press should, and would not come down at any kind of angle like the George Forman grill. There is a slight swivel, but all in all, it comes down at an angle and depending on how tall the sandwich is, pushes the contents off. If I had seen this product before purchase, I probably would've just picked up a George Forman grill of the same size for half the price. The only differences, in my opinion, are that it looks better sitting on the counter than a Forman grill and the way this grill can open flat (for flat grilling on both the top and bottom grill) . But it is a feature I haven't used and probably won't ever use. Bottom line, I think this model is a glorified and overpriced George Forman Grill, and if I could do it again, I would either buy the George Forman Grill or spend double than what I spent to get a better product.

I ordered this to replace an older George Foreman grill. I could not be happier with this product. This is so much more than just a great panini press. I have used it to grill chicken breasts, pprk chops, burgers, et.. This is a great alternative to using my outdoor grill during the winter months. It heats up quickly, cooks evenly and, best of all, the removable plates make cleaning so much easier than what I had before.

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I bought this on sale at TJ Maxx (the only one I ever saw there) for only $24.00.) At that price, I had to try it, and am I glad I did! I pre-seasoned the grill with a bit of olive oil on a paper towel, wiping off the excess. I have used it about 10 times since and have had absolutely no problems with cleaning or grilling, tho' thus far I have only made sandwiches. When I am finished and while the grill is still hot, I simply take a piece of paper towel and wipe off the griddle. Even melted cheese comes right off, and it takes me less than a minute to have the whole thing spotless again. And no, I do not butter the bread, or use any additional oil, which is another great thing....no added grease!) I have never even had to remove the plates for cleaning. I loved the hinged lid; it makes it very easy to put a fat sandwich on and have the whole thing compressed nicely. I use thick cheese, and it melts easily and evenly. This is such a snap to use I keep it on my counter, even tho' I tend to like the uncluttered look. I would highly recommend this machine. It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of more expensive machines (such as temperature controls) but I find that I don't need them. If you are looking for a panini machine to make panini, and not looking for a one machine does everything kind of appliance, I can't imagine that you won't be thrilled with this. It's sure got me hooked on hot sandwiches, especially with cold weather just around the corner.

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Somehow I thought the top part of this unit would rotate just a bit so it would lay flat on top of the sandwich I want to grill. But it doesn't. Anything more than about 1" has to be turned around halfway through to get the outside edges grilled as well as the original inside ones. It works well and the vendor was just fine but I am disappointed with it. Wish the top rotated more.

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I love how this grill opens up flat to two grilling surfaces for burgers, chicken or fish. It has a place for the fat to drain like a Foreman Grill only the clean up is much easier. I have enjoyed many panini sandwiches such as a tuna melt, chicken articoke spinach, and turkey BLT. They were all delicious and toasted to perfection. I found it was better to butter the bread first even though the intructions say you dont need to. I had trouble at first getting the top of the grill to lay flat on the entire piece of bread which left it mostly toasted on one side. But I use a hot pad to move and tilt the top grill at an angle so that it lays flat and toasts the bread evenly. The grills slide off easily when a button for each grill is pressed. The easy non-stick surface wipes clean. I dont regret purchasing this grill. It has been a fun tool in the kitchen.

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Swissmar Lugano Cheese Fondue, 9-Piece, Black

Swissmar Lugano Cheese Fondue, 9-Piece, BlackMy wife was craving cheese fondue so I shopped around and decided on this one. Sooo much better than the el-cheapos that were all over the place. The heavy cast-iron heats up evenly on the stove and it has a nice comfortable handle. Clean up afterwards was easy. The stand is solidly constructed, quite stable, and protects the tabletop. The burner works well with gel, though it takes a half dozen wooden matches to get it going enough to sustain the flame, and goes down to a good simmer. About the only minus I can think of is there's no way to tell the forks apart.

This pot is heavy cast iron and uses a flamable gel (not NAPALM) heat source to keep things warm. I thought about getting an electric fondue pot, but who wants a cord around to trip over? An electric source also limits you on where you are going to serve this. I choose the black color because a fire source is used and I would not have to worry about cleaning black marks off a lighter color. The ceramic inside makes for an easy clean-up.

Fondues are fun and a pleasant way to dine with a friend or friends.

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I love my new Swissmar Lugano cheese fondue pot! It is made of heavyweight enameled cast iron and the stand is sturdy so I had no worry either of scorching from the heat source or tipping from a flimsy set up, both of which I've experienced with other pots. It is also a good, generous size, plenty enough capacity for the recipe I followed. Another nice thing is you can use the gel burner packs or you can fill the burner with liquid fuel, both will work. The black finish is nice, it goes with anything and doesn't give me flashbacks to the 1970's!

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I appreciated the metal base, as it made it unnecessary to find a metal tray to put under it. If it's used the way it's SUPPOSED to be used, that is, with bottled gel, it's perfect. I didn't have that and attempted to use a large can of Sterno. That's not possible because the container for the gel is not removable. So I'll follow directions and purchase the gel.

The pot itself is terrific. I'm looking forward to many more fondue parties with this product. Don't hesitate to purchase it.

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Cast iron holds and conducts heat well. Enamel interior great for cleaning up. Does not come with fuel though.

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3 Inch Large Smoker Thermometer

3 Inch Large Smoker ThermometerIf you buy this thermometer, you will have to pay $20-30 at the hardware store for a 13/16" drill bit. Bits this large normally require a 1/2" drill chuck. Most people have a 1/4" or 3/8" drill, so get ready to buy (or borrow) a larger drill. Amazon sells 2" Old Smokey thermometers that only require a 3/8" hole.

Installed the thermometer on my Weber grill so I can monitor the temperature while I'm smoking meat (with the Smokenator add-on). Works great. Big dial is easy to read, and I really like the color coded areas.

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I needed a good temperature gauge for my new BBQ Smoker. The one that came with it was a joke.. I tested this temp gauge with a small boiling pan of water (water boils at 212 degrees, If it's 211, it's still water, if it's 213, it's steam..) I placed the temp gauge probe through a double sheet 6" x 6" heavy duty aluminum foil between the round gauge and the water so the steam wouldn't effect the test. Held the tip in the water with a set of kitchen tongs. The gauge hit 211 degrees and held steady.. Now I'm ready to smoke some awesome bbq !

Vince from Fairfax VA.

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Outstanding, nice big dial so I can see it from the kitchen

a great addition to my smoker, and on time delivery too!

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The only problem was that I was not able to find a 13/16" drill bit to mount it. I had to custom fit the thing. Other than that, it's great

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Music City Metals 54911 Porcelain Steel Wire Cooking Grid Replacement for Select Viking Gas Grill M

Music City Metals 54911 Porcelain Steel Wire Cooking Grid Replacement for Select Viking Gas Grill ModelsThe grill arrived and fit well. The only problem is it was damaged due to poor packaging. Both corners were bent so the porcelain coating was cracked off. I am sure it will start rusting which is why I replaced the original grill. I am not happy at all with the condition of the grill when it arrived.

The grill arrived damaged again after returning the first one. This is the second attempt that they tried to get it right. How can they expect to do business if the item arrives damaged each time? On the second attempt, to make matters worse, they will not replace the damaged item. This sucks when it comes to service. Will never use them again and the lack of response from the company is evidence that they do not care.

Use allvikingparts.com service is much better

The grills arrived timely and in perfect shape. So happy to find a replacement that is exactly the same as what came with the grill.

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Perfect fit with my Viking grill, our old grids totally disintegrated, not good. There were some chips when it arrived because they were bent in shipping. Too desperate for them to send them back, my problem.

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Monday, October 28, 2013

Babycakes Cake Pop Maker: CP-94LV - Purple

Babycakes Cake Pop Maker: CP-94LV - PurpleThere is still some work to be done on this pop maker before I could rate it higher. George Foreman found out pretty early that people purchasing equipment such as his hamburger grill want pop off cooking surfaces so they can be washed in the dishwasher and the same applies here. This also cooks unevenly and you have to be sure to close it between removing the cooked pops and adding new batter because the top unit cools a bit and the cakes do not rise as much as they should. I do appreciate the uniform size of the bottom of the pops and it saves the expense of heating up your kitchen with your oven while baking. I found my pops cooked on the average of 6 minutes a dozen. The utensil that comes with this set is a wonderful tool for removing the pops without tearing them.

I really hesitated mainly because it just looked too easy. I imagined that the "pops" would be flat on one side and overdone on the other. Or just the opposite: too big for the cups and running between, making a mess.

I could not have been more wrong. My very first time, I filled the cups as instructed. I was just sure that the bottom would be overdone on the ones I filled first. The great news is that every one was perfectly round and done on all sides and in the middle! The couple that got a little too full, flattened out a nice little rim that was easy to knock off so they were perfectly round as well.

I have tried several cake mixes and even bread/muffin mixes that work just great. I really am surprised at what a good job the inexpensive little machine does.

Hint: you will need more than the one stand provided, so keep the packing styrofoam wedge from your next box and make holes with an ice pick. You'll have all the cake pop holders you need to dip and ice.

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I think the product is a great idea...I could not get the pops to look like the picture shown of this product. I tried several cake mixes and different recipies from the Internet and could not get the cake to rise to a pop shape. It is in the closet in a plastic bag waiting for the next garage sale.

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Instead of cake mix, I use brownie mix (I've tried a lot of different, and now just get whatever is on sale, they all work fine) One box of mix makes 4 dozen balls. Grandkids go nuts for them, co-workers go nuts for them, and I haven't had to worry about what to bring to a potluck since I baught this. Oh, I don't worry about sticks or frosting, just put them in a bowl and they will dissappear every time.

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I was looking at purchasing something like this as a birthday present. However, I noticed that there are two model numbers for seemingly the same product. The price difference is also almost doubled (except that it is currently on sale). Model #CP-12 is regularly priced at $50 and the over 70 reviews give it an above average rating, though there were some major overheating issues. Model #CP-94LV is $100 with only 12 reviews, however most of those are excellent reviews.

I get that maybe the manufacturer updated the product and the number changed, updating it maybe have even cost a little bit more so I can also see the price jump. However, ANY other site that I search for the CP-94LV lists it at/around $30, so why is it supposed to be regularly priced at $100 on Amazon from Prestige Depot?? Not even the Babycakes website has the #CP-94LV model.

I'll just go to Target instead.

Edit: Just noticed that the CP-94LV model includes a filling injector, so I can see charging an extra $50 for that (NOT).

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Mr. Heater 5 Foot Propane Appliance Extension Hose Assembly 1/4 Inch Female Pipe Thread X 1/4 Male

Mr. Heater 5 Foot Propane Appliance Extension Hose Assembly 1/4 Inch Female Pipe Thread X 1/4 Male Pipe Thread F273717There is nothing wrong with the hose itself. Just be absolutely sure it is exactly what you want. Because returning it is no easy task. It turned out the hose was not compatible with what I needed it for, so I attempted to return it. Returning the product was painstaking. The company, ANTOnline makes you jump through a dozen different hoops before you can return it and then ultimately rips you off, by charging you a restocking fee. You'll have to contact the company providing your reasoning for the return, wait a few days and they will send you an RMA# which you need to return it, then after they receive the item they determine without previously informing you, how much of a refund you will actually get (its not a full refund, they keep a little for themselves). The original cost of the item for me with taxes and shipping turned out to be around 18 dollars. I then had to pay an additional 7 dollars in shipping fees to return it. My refund was only 10 dollars!!! So I basically pissed about 15 dollars away because of ANTOnline. I will never do business with ANTOnline again!!!

The hose arrived early and was exactly what I ordered but I ordered the wrong item. this hose is not the correct hose to hook up 1lb propane tanks to appliances.

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This Mr. Heater 5 Foot Propane Appliance Extension Hose Assembly 1/4 Inch is what I needed for a project and it serves me very well!

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Exactly what I needed at the right price point. Although a 6 or 8 ft hose would be more convenient, this hose offers an excellent value.

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This 5 foot propane hose is just the proper length for me to use a larger propane tank and do brazing on copper pipes and other projects like my whiskey still. Happy with the purchase.

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Continental Platinum CP43719 Grill and Waffle Maker

Continental Platinum CP43719 Grill and Waffle MakerWe bought this waffle iron to replace our old GE waffle maker when the cord finally wore out from being unplugged because there was no Off switch. It has the basics like Black and Decker but a somewhat flimsy design. The three position hinge we thought might lock at different levels, but still helps adjust the width to grill a sandwich. It heats slowly, but this helps prevent burning food, too.

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De Buyer Mineral Steel Grill Pans

De Buyer Mineral 10-Inch Grill PanI have the de Buyer carbon steel pan as well as the heavier mineral pan which is slower to season than the carbon steel pan. You have to effectively season (black patina) the surface in order to achieve stronger grill marks. The grill lines seem a little wide; depending on the weight of the food, the grill marks can be narrow or wide. Heavier foods will bear wider grill marks. I prefer the healthier 99% iron surface of the mineral pans. You have to use it frequently in order to prevent rust and maintain a nonstick black patina.

Factory-Reconditioned Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler

Factory-Reconditioned Cuisinart GR-4 GriddlerI bought the Griddler in February of 2005 and have taken care to ensure it lasts. The Griddler is heavy and sturdily constructed. It heats up quickly, and cleans up even faster. We have used it for panini, grilling meat, and toasting burger buns. The unit can be used either as a panini/grill press with the floating top or opened up to use as a griddle.

The base of the unit heats up and maintains temperature better than the top. This creates uneven toasting of the Panini or other items. It's not so much of a problem using as a griddle, since one side will simply cook faster than the other.

After a year the nonstick surface has started pealing off of the grill plates. I have never used metal on the nonstick surface and have taken great care to preserve the finish. Perhaps it is in the design or a fate of nonstick coated products in general, but the now I will have to take care not to get pieces of the nonstick surface in my food.

The Griddler comes with interchangeable dishwasher safe griddle and grill plates with a lock and release system that is intuitive to use. The plates easily release with the press of a button for cleaning. To place the plates back on the Griddler, one simply rests the plates in the groves located towards the rear or bottom and snaps the front or top into place. The plates don't consistently stay attached in the top section like they once did. It's very annoying trying to reposition a hot plate back into place.

On the surface, the Griddler has the looks and design to be a great product. Cuisinart has some bugs to work out to attain even heating and plates that last. If I were to buy a new panini press, I would not look to Cuisinart again. As a matter of fact, I now enjoy using a Breville 800GRXL Indoor Barbeque and Grill instead.

PROS:

Heavy and sturdily construction

Heats up and cleans quickly

CONS:

Non-stick surface does not last

Uneven heating

This is the fourth countertop grill I've purchasedwhich says something about the quality of most consumer grillsand I was hoping it woul;d be the best, given the price. It does look substantial, and it is in some waysbut not all.

On the plus side, the grill and griddle plates are indeed substantial. They take a while to heat upmuch longer than the grills I've had in the pastand they hold their heat well. You can put a piece of frozen meat on the grill and it won't cool down. That's a big plus when you're cooking preformed hamburgers, as many like to do. And the grill plates remove from the unit for cleaninga very big plus, in my book.

It's large enough to cook two large sandwiches, or four (or more) small burgers, at once. You can do enough chicken breasts or thighs for a family of four. High points there.

What troubles me are some of the details. The switches look substantial, but they're really quite flimsy, and I think a possible failure point. The power cord is really minimal, and you have to be carefull not to let it near the cook top, as it could melt and short in an instant. I think this is a rather serious flaw. And like most table-top griddles, the provision for collecting excess grease and water is nothing more than a pair of plastic cups.

As for the dual-purpose designyes, you can open the grill up and use it as a griddle, but why would you want to? It's much easier, and much less messy, to cook your pancakes and bacon on the kitchen range. This "feature" adds complexity without adding much functionality.

As mine is a reconditioned unit, these objections aren't as important as if I'd paid the full price, but they're still areas for concern. I'll just have to see how well it lasts.

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This is one of the best counter top grills I have ever had. Its very high quality and is built very well. There are only two bad things I can think of with this product. It does make a mess more so then the regular George Forman type grill. The lack of sides around the grill plates means that greese gets all over the area you are cooking. So clean up is much more frequent. The other problem is getting replacement grills. The teflon does wear out over time and i found getting replacments are almost 40.00. Its cheaper to buy another grill with 2 new sets of grilling surfaces. Other then these two itemsits a great unit.

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mediocre design heats unevenly, overcooks directly over heat coils while center area undercooks. Grease from top grill drips down on to counter when the top of the unit is lifted. Can do as well with a cheap foreman grill..

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I bought it thinking it would be an improvement over my older George Foreman since it had removable griddles for easy clean-up. Turns out cleaning the griddles is easier BUT the splatter from anything other than thin, flat sandwiches is a 30-minute clean-up with 409 [countertops, counter backsplash, under-cabinet, unit's exterior especially knobs]. And I'm talking about cooking with the cover DOWN! I would never try cooking any meats or vegetables with the lid open. And I'm surprised they couldn't engineer it so that the griddles would fit either side.

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