Smart Planet WM-3 Circus Waffle Shape Maker

There are better made, higher quality waffle makers on the market, of course. What you should know right off the bat is that this isn't a high end waffle maker, nor does it really claim to be. But, for approximately $24.00 (I've seen it as low as $19.99 during the holidays), it's a perfectly good, small, relatively easy to use waffle maker with the added benefit that it allows you to make animal shapes. And who doesn't like animal shaped waffles?

Well, me, for one, but that's completely unimportant. My kids love them.

This is a "plug and play" device. Plug it in, let it heat up, and then make some waffles. It's that easy......assuming you maximize your success potential with a few tips.

Tip #1 Let the waffle maker heat up thoroughly before using. I don't use water splash tests or anything like that... just give it at lest 5-7 minutes before you start pouring batter on the thing. This gives you the best chance of evenly cooked waffles.

Tip #2 Use a batter bottle or some other easy to pour batter delivery system instead of just a big bowl and a spoon. We've got one of those plastic bottles with a small nozzle on the end that makes battering the waffle maker EASY because you can control the amount going onto the surface very easily with minimal mess. Trying to just pour or spoon batter lessens your chance of an evenly cooked waffle.

Tip #3 Don't overfill the animal spaces. Overfill leads to a difficult time cleaning the item.

Tip #5 Ignore lights indicating that the waffles are done. Lift the lid and look yourself.

Tip #6 Use cooking spray. A light misting before you add the batter will virtually guarantee that the batter won't stick.

We found that one small section of the lion area did not appear to be cooking "evenly." So, we returned the item and got a replacement. The problem is resolved completely. But, I do want to point out that if you find soft spots in one of the waffles, consistantly, make sure you don't have a defective unit.

Cleaning this item is a relative pain. Yes, I know, nonstick, blah blah blah.... look, you sill have to wipe this thing down well. It's not dishwasher safe and the elements are not removeable. We can clean it reasonably well, but for the difficulty in cleaning, I remove at least 1/2 a star. The other 1/2 or 1/4 of a star reduction is because I find the lights on the unit completely useless.

The unit is relatively compact. There's no cord storage, so be prepared for cord storage issues if you're one of those people who can't stand random cords spilling out inside your cabinets. It doesn't take up all that much space like the larger better built units do.

Finally, I note that the waffles are on the thin side. We like them. The kids pick them up and dip them in syrup. Because the end product is fairly small, it makes waffles as finger food a cinch. But don't expect thick, Belgian style animals from this unit.

Nice product. Good value. If it lasts 18 months, the $24 is probably worth it. Our replacement unit has functioned well so far for 6 months with no evidence of chipping or malfunction.

By the way, Tip #4 was going to have something to do with being careful with the lid when you open it because it can get hot, and the steam rising can be very hot, and if you're an idiot like I am, and you position the waffle maker too far back on the counter so that when you lift the lid, and it's hot, but not hot enough to hurt you, but hot enough to surprise you, and you move your hand too fast so that you smack the underside of the cabinets, which does hurt, and the impact then forces your hand downward so that you then hit the exposed waffle iron and burn yourself.....but I decided that you probably don't need that tip.

We got a great price on ours, which is why we took a chance. But the first bake was somewhat of a disappointment. The animal spaces are small, so getting the lion's legs and tail adn the elephant trunk filled with batter is a challenge.

By the time we were able to fill the shapes, some areas were already getting done... even before closing the thing. Then we tried filling it faster adn not worrying about getting the shapes filled perfectly. EVERY waffle came out partially burned and partially uncooked.

I'm not a novice at baking waffles, I own three other irons. With a toddler at home, this seemed like a fun way to make smaller waffles. I'll stick to a real waffle iron. This one is just a toy that doesn't really work very well.

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I called this a thankyoumachine because as a grandparent who bought this I got the usual "thank you for the gift Gpa." however it seems that two or three times a week I get a text saying "the circus was at our house again today THANKS SO MUCH". I did not think it would be such a big hit but it is so I say to you Thank You.

DanT

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This is wonderful, the waffles don't stick when using an olive oil spritzer, and not that bad to clean. It's a little more light weight than I expected, but so far no problems with the quality. Tip for anyone who is afraid that cleaning will be a problem.....hold the base and lean sideways over the sink while washing/rinsing with a sprayer. Clean up is very quick this way.

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The waffle iron only lasted about about 3 months. We used it maybe 10 times or so before the non-stick coating started to peel off on to our waffles. The kids loved the fun waffles, but we had to throw the thing away. I would go with a more expensive option.

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Hamilton Beach 31605 HealthSmart Indoor Grill

I wanted to replace my George Foreman grill and happened upon the Hamilton Beach Indoor Grill at this site. After reading the ratings from other consumers, which I think is a fantastic idea for Target.com, I was ecstatic! All of the things I disliked about the GF grills were mentioned by others, especially the task of cleaning them. Cleaning my HB grill is far less difficult because everything except the electric probe is immersible. I was a bit concerned about grease splattering because the HB grill isn't covered but that turned out to be a non-issue. Not to mention, it costs less than 1/2 the price of the comparable GF grill! Thank you Hamilton Beach for making such an outstanding product and thank you Target.com!

Have used the grill many times and it works great. Very little smoke. The challenge is cleaning the unit without ruining the grill. Foods have a tendency to stick and even with a sponge and much elbow grease it is very difficult to keep perfectly clean. I just used a portable steamer to clean it and that did the trick.

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Checked the reviews before i bought this grill.. and was quite impressed... although i got it cheaper at target ... so pays to check the local stores before buying it online!... no more broiled steaks!... come out awesome.... and do not dry out... in this grill.. and cleaning is a snap.. just dump the thing... into the dishwasher... assuming you've lightly rinsed it out.. after cooking... highly recommend it.

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I got this as a shower gift a few weeks ago. It works great! The heat is even, cleaning is easy, and no smoke. The package said using sauces could cause smoke, but we never had a problem. My only advice is don't cook meat on the bone on this grill. It took forever to cook a few chicken legs, and they were still raw in the center. If if had a lid to hold the heat in maybe it would have worked a little better. I'm going to stick to burgers, shrimp, veggies, and boneless chicken. Those all turn out great.

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Alright, for those that says clean up is a breeze, notice how most of those reviewers have a dishwasher. But for those folks without one, this item is by no means a "breeze" to clean. The item is simply too large to fit in a regular kitchen sink (or at least the one I have). So soaking it is out of the question. The nonstick coating does absolutely nothing. If you try to grill anything with a sauce or marinate, be prepared to spend hours trying to scrap off gunks congealed sauce residue. And because of the nonstick coating you cannot use a metal scrubber.

And if you think about it, Teflon doesn't recommend the use of their pans over high heat, for the teflon coating would melt and wear out. So why would anyone have a teflon coated grill, where the process of grilling probably necessitates the highest temperature out of all cooking methods?

I've learned to work around with it. Such as covering it with a disposable aluminum pan while it preheats so it heats up faster. And placing foil in the drip tray so clean up is easier. But the size and grate-cleaning problem persist.

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Forked Brazilian (Churrasco) Super Skewer (Wood Handle) - 2pack - FREE STANDARD SHIPPING IN USA

Grill Time not only provided me with fantastic skewers, but saved my party... I just built a clay grill pit in my backyard, and I needed skewers within 3 days. I contacted Grill Time and they delivered my skewers within 2 days. Upon arrival I tore open the box and was extremely pleased with the look and feel of my large blade and forked skewers. They are durable, with a good weight. The six inch handles fit your palm perfectly. Once I put them on my skewer frame, the wood did not get hot. My large cuts of Churrasco meat turned perfectly on the large blade skewers, and the forked skewers held shrimp and chicken hearts beautifully.

I recommend these skewers and Grill Time with the highest possible marks.. Also, I just asked them if they make custom skewers and they do! Perfect.

Broil King 934657 Monarch 20 40,000-BTU Natural-Gas Grill

I recently moved to a Townhome which allowed only electric or Natural Gas Grills. Also, I had limited space on my deck so size was also an issue. Most Nat Gas grills were either too big or very expensive. It took me a while but I came accross this Broil King 934657 Monarch Naturat Gas Grill online and it met my requirements for size and fuel. It also had some features that you would expect on a more expensive grill i.e. stainless steel burners, 4 wheels 2 front locking, fold down side trays with utensiland cup holdersand cast iron grates. I've had this grill for more that a month and I'm very pleased with the way it grills. We grill 3-5 xs a week and I have grilled ribs, steak, chicken and fish all with great flavor. Amazon delivered it on a timely basis and assembly was a snap. The only improvement I would make is to hav a brace accross the back of the grill to make it more sturdy. However I can live with it, it performs great and it's good value for the money, I strongly recommend it.

This is a well built product. I have had this for three years now and it is holding up much better than I anticipated. I live in a high humidity area and was expecting some rust. So far nothing. The only rust I see is on the cast iron grates. I wish they were stainless steel for this area. The push button starter has never failed and lights every time. We use this about 5 times a week, even in Winter.

The quality is as good as Weber at about $100 less cost.

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would like to have more control of cooking tempiture. Tempiture reaches 350 degrees on low we still need to lift lid with a stick or tempature will creep up. 350 degrees cooking tempiture should be approximately at mid-point on burner control.

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Smokenator 180 - Transform Your 18.5" Weber Kettle Into an Efficient Smoker

Makes my little Gold 18.5" Weber Kettle a mini-smoker. I already have the Weber charcoal rails for indirect smoking, but this works better. It allows you to smoke more meat because all the coals are on one side. Be careful that Smokenator is well latched on the grate supports, or it will dump over.

I've got to go home and take a tape measure to my Smokey Joe. If it's the Platinum 18.5" incher like I suspect, I'm getting this!!!

The difference between the Platinum and the "new" model is that the Platinum has an enclosed bowl to keep the ashes out of your vehicle when transporting the kettle.

I've been using the regular 22" smokenator for a few years now, and this makes the Smokey Joe a useful part of my smoking repitoire. I just upgraded my 22" grill to the Weber Gold because I'm tired of the way the wind blows all the ashes and even the cheap aluminum "dinner plate" catcher around my patio!!!

I just smoke for my own use. For the money and the sweet BBQ this is hands down the poor but single person's answer to the Weber bullet! I also like that the coals are offset. I put a drip pan on the charcoal grate, put the hinged grate on and I'm ready to go. Recommend also you get the Weber chimney starter. You don't want to spoil your 'Que with lighter fumes ...

Second the use of a thermometer to check your temps.

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Easy, reliable.... yeah budddy! Just follow the instructions and your smoking in no time. Easy install and once you get the hang of the temperature your golden.

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You will not regret buying the Smokenator. Sure, it is fairly simple, and probably a lot of money for what it is, but I just made my first batch of hot smoked Salmon, and it was at least as good, maybe better than the salmon we smoke a while back using a friends full-size smoker, and already made the whole purchase worth-while. The booklet that comes with it is very helpful, although I would recommend getting a thermometer to monitor dome temperature, mine ran a bit hotter than expected, but still worked out great. Really smart design, a must-have for any Weber owner.

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This did fit my neighbor's 18.5" standard Weber kettle grill, but did not fit either of my Weber 18.5" portable grills.

bbqkettleaccessories did refund the purchase price responsibly and expeditiously. Should they make a version that will fit either of my portable 18.5" Weber grills, I certainly will consider buying it. I use my portable Weber grills while camping and fishing. It would be great to smoke some food on those occasions.

Cuisinart Simply Grilling Nonstick Grilling Platter

I purchased this confident that thanks to the Cuisinart name it would be a quality item. It in practice it is virtually useless.

First the Cuisnart name stamped into it is large enough to allow smaller pieces to fall through. The stamped name also has sharp edges that catch and tear the sponges and scrubbies that I used to clean it. These are minor annoyances.

It's worst feature is that the platter warps at the high temperatures necessary for grilling and when it does, it does so suddenly with a loud pop. This has caused items arranged on it to fly all over the place. After it warps it no longer will lay flat on the grill so half of the tray is suspended a few inches above the grill and cooking is uneven.

Once it cools down it regains its original shape, but a grilling platter that is not usable at grilling temperatures is useless.

Perfect tool for grilling fish, fruit and veggies. Very easy to clean. We use a high temp or BBQ grill pre spray to help in keeping foods from sticking and to make cleaning even easier. We were so pleased with this we bought another one and used it as a gift for another avid grilling family member. For the price this item can't be beat. We take extra care in not over heating, so this should last for years. Buy one, take care of it and you will enjoy it !

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Very pleased with this product. Was not sure if it would do or hold what I wanted them for but passed with flying colors. Easy to clean, well built, vert sturdy. I use it for smoking food and have weight varying around 5-15 pounds and more. per shelf. Looking at the picture it looked okay but I was thinking if I put 15-20 pound load on it, would it work. Sometimes these pictures are not accurate and you take a chance and with me I took 3 shelves. I would recommend this item over any similiar items.

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Well made, sturdy pan for vegetables, etc. The nonstick finish isn't really nonstick. The food comes off easy enough, but takes a lot of elbow grease to clean the pan, even when using Pam for grilling.

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ATK recently reviewed grilling platters. They recommended against using ones with non-stick finishes since grills often reach temperatures above 500 F where non-stick surfaces will give off toxic gasses, not to mention ruining the finish. They also disliked the large CUISINART punched through lettering which allowed small items to fall through and did not like having only three raised sides as one reviewer here mentioned. ATK's recommended grill pan was the Weber 6434.

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Charcoal Companion Cast Iron Twig Grilling Kabob Skewers, Set of 4

First of all you have to 'season' them like all cast iron cookware: coat with vegetable oil and bake them at 400 degrees for about 1 hour. This will make them nonstick and easy to clean. Do not put in dishwasher!

Try pork kabobs with these skewers, they cook perfectly without undercooked center!

These were a Christmas gift for our son and he's very happy with them.Shipping was fast and the product is just as advertised. Thank you

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These look cute online but they are very wide and difficult to skewer into things. The ends are dull and they look pretty cheap with metal remainders on them around most of the seams. All of that wouldn't be so bad if they did not rust the first time I washed them (I didn't even let them soak or anything strange, soap and water and drip dried in my dry rack). Do not get these, they are cheap and difficult to use. If you saw them in person, you would walk away, even at Amazons price.

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