Cuisinart CMW-200 1-1/5-Cubic-Foot Convection Microwave Oven with Grill

I live in a small downtown unit in San Francisco, so anything that takes up space has to earn it's living. This unit is now the only "oven" I use, and it's wonderful. I see many complain about how long it takes to "heat up," but that's a misunderstanding of using convection heat. Just put whatever you want to cook in the oven--cakes, breads, lasagna, etc.--and it will cook as the oven heats. Because of the convection, there are no "hot spots" and nothing will burn. The only adjustment is the cooking time, but that can be gauged with a little practice. Easy to clean, makes wonderful toast, pies, fresh breads and roast cuts of meat.... I don't know what I'd do without this. The microwave is very flexible and easy to use with many different choices on the control panel.

I really looked forward to using this microwave. Unfortunately, it wasn't until I reached page 6 of the instruction booklet that I found I could not use it due to space requirements. The oven needs at least 3 inches free space at sides and back, as well as 12 inches free space above it. These requirements should be listed along with the size of the oven in the technical info to avoid a customer having to send the item back. My hanging wall cupboards were too for me to use the oven, so it had to go back.

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Great idea I went out and got frozen french fries.

Tried no preheat convection and after 15 minutes they weren't done and cooked another 5 minutes.

Another batch I went with preheat and the temp at 425 as suggested and put the fries in the oven at the start of the preheat cycle. By the time it hit 425 the fries were done. I never did set the time. You are not allowed to set the time before the temp preheat is reached. At that rate if they are not quite done then you add more time through what they call kitchen time.

there's heat exhausting out the back that I wish would stay in the oven heating it up faster. However I don't know how convection ovens heat themselves.

Tried the idea of turning on the grill for 2 minutes then going to convection. It did not seem to speed things up any.

I am not unhappy. I've gotten three appliances off my counter and put the Cuisinart on top of the stove. Heat is an issue in the southwest so I have never used my gas pilot stove.

The microwave works exactly as I expected.

The grill has three settings. 100% grilling, 30% micro plus 70% grill, and 55% micro plus 45% grill. I haven't enjoyed steak at home for years so this I am really looking forward to. Fishsticks I'm going to try 30/70.

Roasting and baking have a fast setting which combines micro and convection, you can go straight convection too.

I would buy it again because the price is right, it microwaves great and grills. I never was an oven baker so few times I may preheat convection will be very seldom.

Right now I'm going to look for a rack utensil that I can use in both oven and microwave.

I'm sure after a learning curve that I will be preheat convection cooking and adding minutes after the oven acquires the set temp to finish my cooking.

Everything is possible.

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We bought this microwave oven because it also has a convection oven. The oven takes a VERY long time to heat up.

Example:

350 degrees takes 35 minutes

425 degrees took over an hour

In contrast my regular electric (full size) oven takes 8 minutes to reach 425

Our old Panasonic microwave/convection oven took 15 minutes to reach 425

This machine was supposed to be a time saver, but we hardly ever use the convection setting as it takes too long to warm up. We find we now have an overpriced microwave oven. We could have got a much larger microwave (without convection) for the price we paid for this.

My advice steer well clear of this machine unless you don't need the convection oven in which case you are better off getting a cheaper model.

I wish I had read the other reviews before I bought this machine.

The only good point is you can use the glass turntable on convection mode our old Panasonic required you swap out a metal turntable whenever you wanted to convection cook, which was a real pain having to store the other turntable. However, you are unlikely to use the convection mode unless you remember to heat the oven an hour before you actually use it. I presume all this heating time is wasteful too, so using the full size oven for much less warmup time may work out better value...

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We use this about every day, and it's done exactly what we want it to. I do tend to stick to only two or three settings, however. Standard microwave works as expected. There are some one touch buttons to cook popcorn, potato, fresh veg, frozen veg (and though I say one touch, each button will set to a particular amount (1C, 2, whatever) and then the microwave will operate for a set time based on what you set, not based on any kind of food sensing (as far as we can tell). So, for instance, if I just put in two cups of frozen veg, I'd have to press the frozen veg button two times, then press start, and it will microwave for 5 minutes. I might have to add time after the microwave is done. Also, if I decided that I wanted to add 30 seconds using the quick button, I can't while it's in this kind of auto program mode...so it's actually easier to press the 5 button once, and the microwave will quick start for 5 minutes, with the ability to add time 30 seconds at a time in the middle of cooking.

I also use the convection feature quite frequently, for a variety of things I want more crispy than a microwave will do it. It helps to use the included wire rack to put the plate closer to the cooking element, for quicker cooking. There's a combo convection/microwave feature that works well too, but usually I just use the convection feature (with the food in the microwave while it's heating) to heat the microwave up to the maximum temp (I think it's 450), and then it only takes a minute or two of microwaving to finish up any extra heating.

I haven't tried baking cookies or cakes (and there is a cake button), but from the way "grilled" cheese or frozen corn dogs or cheese sticks have cooked for me, I think you could easily use this for that kind of baking.

We do have a good oven, but the microwave is a lot faster and easier to use. If you want to use the convection bit, definitely put the food in while the oven is pre-heating. It may take some trial and error to get your food exactly the way you want it, but there's no point (so far as I can tell) waiting for the oven to be heated first, and it might just take longer than even the standard oven would if you waited.

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Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel Gas Grill V-Shape Smoker Box, Short

I really like this v box smoker box. I use a Weber gas grill. I have tried an assortment of other methods of getting that smokey flavor using chips including tin cans.

Here is how to get maximum performance out of your wood chips and gas barbecue. Soak your chips for about an hour. Put the chips into the v box. Put into the v box into the wedge on the barbque one off from the flame, so it is not directly on the flame. Then add water up to the lip of the v box. This allows you to get maximum time from your chips, provides the smoke and smokey flavor to be absorbed by the meat. Now your cookin!

I was using a flat stainless smoker box, but it seemed to go through damp chips too soon. The small v shape works fine on my ES 320 Weber gas grill. I bought two, and found that when I needed to add more chips all I had to do was swap them out. I also bought the long smoker box for some low and slow grilling. Plenty good when doing a rotisserie chicken.

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I prefer cooking with charcoal, but use my gas grill most often. I had just purchased a new grill and was unable to get my wood chips to produce any smoke with my old smoker box. This new V-shape lets you set the smoker box on the "Flavorizer" bars that are used in newer gas grills. The new box was able to produce the smoke I like when cooking pork on my gas grill.

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Works very well with the Weber Genesis. Starts smoking very quickly. Much quicker than the flat smoker boxes. The hinge top is nice.

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Works great in my Weber Genesis 6611001 E-310 637-Square-Inch 38,000-BTU Natural-Gas Grill, Black. I purchased the short smoker box because I need less smoke in the flavor of our food. Be sure that you soak your chips for at least 1 hour if you don't want flames in the box. It fits great between the "flavor" bars and provides just the correct amount of smoke for ribs, pork and beef roasts. The only thing lacking is in the description is the size so my hope was that it was about 6" long and for once in my life I guessed correctly.

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Pink Flamingo Bar & Grill Single Auto Coaster

This is very cute and practical and she really enjoys using it! this will make a very nice present for anyone into flamingos.....

Very fast shipping. Product exactly as described. Soaks up liquids nicely. Would buy regular-sized coasters with same image if they were available.

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I loved this! The coaster is so cute! I used it along with the It's Five O'Clock Somewhere coaster and people just love them! I would purchase again from this vendor with the quick receipt and quality of this coaster.

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Mr Bar B Q 06000X Gas Grill Ceramic Briquettes

This was the first time that I ordered this product. I received the product in just a couple days. Wow. Have used the product and it is great we now cook on medium instead of high, saving propane! Love the briquettes.

The "Mr. Bar B Q Gas Grill Ceramic Briquettes" are a quality product. They were easy to install and after quite a few grillings, they remain clean and provide even heat. I would recommend this product to all "Brothers of the Broiler"!

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In reality, there is probably not that much difference in all the options of bricks and rocks for gas grills. These are easy to arrange and substantially increase the heat in my grill (some poorly designed infrared thing from Charbroil that I have converted back to a normal grill. These seem as durable as any as none broke in shipping (and they were not packed in any padding).

I am very happy.

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My local home-and-garden shops told me that ceramic briquettes are going the way of the dinosaurs. When did that happen? Couldn't find them anywhere, so it was Amazon to the rescue. These are a different shape than the ones I used previously but I've cooked on the grill a few times and I can't tell the difference. I'm happy.

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Exactly what I was looking for. Each briquette is approximately 2 inches square by 1 inch tall. They lay flat nicely in a grid. 60 briquettes is a good coverage area for a standard grill (coverage is about 2sq ft total, i.e. 2 ft wide by 1ft deep rectangle on my grill).

The Original Microwave Grill - PERFECT MICRO GRILL: Backyard Grilling Quality

The first time I used the grill the bottom plastic melted! The food was dried out, even my dog did'nt eat it. In my opinion this is a very inferior product. I wasted the price of the grill + shipping and had to throw the grill away after first usage. NOT GOOD!!

Anything between two paper towels in the mircowave does as good if not better. I thought from the description it would give grill marks........ no chance. Give it little more time in the microwave? ... it just drys out the food and overcooks. I used this product twice and threw it in the garbage.... worthless.

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Take a look at a very similar product: Ronco ST8000WHGEN Showtime GrillWave Microwave Griller. This one has very bad reviews also. I wanted one so bad, but after doing my research, I think that I will pass

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I don't have a lot of time for making main courses, so this is just perfect for a quick fish filet, chicken breast, pork chop or small steak in the microwave!!!

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Zojirushi EF-VSC40 1300-Watt Electric Gourmet Roaster

been on a zojirushi appliance kick lately. ... neuro-fuzzy, portable skillet, grill, and now the fish roaster. wife is japanese and says these things are commonplace in a japanese household but typically built into the oven and not a separate appliance. i wish that were the case here as well.

anyway, next to the rice cooker, which we use everyday, this item gets the most use. seriously...almost daily. usually we make some kind of shioyaki (sake, gindara, aji, or saba) and sometimes gindara misoyaki. but we also use it for burgers, pork chops, steaks, etc.

there are many complaints on here about the smoke. yes, it can be excessive at times, especially with oily things like saba, a well-marbled wagyu steak, or a burger. but we just set it on a wooden cutting board on the stove and use the exhaust fan, and problem solved. besides, the smoke is precisely one of the main benefits of this roaster...sure it goes all over the house. but it also goes all over the food, leaving a nice char-broiled flavor. outstanding.

regarding the floating reflector, the first thing my wife did the first time we used it was to put foil down. problem solved. it requires a total disassembly and cleaning about every 10 uses or so. 5 minutes on high (with nothing in it) after the meal has been cooked gets rid of a lot of the mess though. kind of like a self-cleaning oven.

I just ordered my 2nd zojirushi fish roaster today. The first one I had quit working after about 11 months of constant use I used it to roast Pike Mackerel, Steaks, vegetables, salmon, etc. For the amount that I used it, Im not too angered or surprised that it broke, but I wish it would last a little longer.

The roaster is awesome at cooking steaks and fish and it gets done VERY quickly. Somewhere around 10-15 minutes from a raw fish, all the way to it being nicely cooked, same with steaks.

When I first bought the unit, there was very little smoke, just a faint smell of fish or steak, and I was very pleased. I probably used this everyday, or every other day for 11 months, and towards the end of the 11 months, it started getting really smokey in the house ( I dont know if the filter was failing, or if it was just all the oil on the heating elements), and I had to start taking the roaster outside I live in a small apartment so its not a big deal, as I have a patio that is very close to the kitchen. And at the end of the 11 months, when I was cooking a steak, I realized that the top heating element just quit working... for 120 bucks, and the amount I used it, Im not happy that I have to buy another one, but I cant say I didnt get my money's worth.

Here are some annoyances that I found using this thing:

1) The bottome reflector tray needs to be covered by tinfoil or something because the oil that drips on the reflector tray is near impossible to get off, and you will ruin a sponge trying to clean it

2) The water you need to put in the bottom of the unit after a while will discolor the bottom. I left water in there overnight once ( I forgot to clean it) and I had some rust at the bottom not too big of a deal, but it makes the unit unsightly on the inside.

3) the Unit gets SUPER hot, so dont place anything on top of it or touch it during the cooking process Its common sense I know, but one of my buddies burned himself by touching it. Hes not the fastest fish in the pack, so maybe that was to be expected, but its something you should be aware of.

4) The grill inside is not very adjustable, and it gets a lot of burnt charcoal stuck to it. Had to buy a special sponge ethat gets the charcoal off. not a big deal, but still a very slight annoyance. i can deal with it.

Here are the good things:

1) You can plop a steak in there, or some tomatoes, fish, whatever, and it becomes nicely grilled. does what its meant to do, quite quickly.

2) makes me not have to use the stove or the oven BIG PLUS.

3) relatively small footprint for what it does.

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We use this for fish grilling. The dripping oil from the fish burns bottom heater and OH boy, it makes quite a smoke! Entire house gets very smoky so don't use it after you dressed up or expecting a guest. But top and bottom heater shortens grilling time and you don't have to flip a long or flaky fish so when you are in a hurry making dinners it's better than top heater only. We used Sanyo smokeless fish grill last 10 years and that only had a top heater, so we didn't have smoke problem (It makes a room a little fishy, but no smoke) This is very pricey plus we can't adjust the hight like Sanyo, so if I find Sanyo fish grill again (I didn't see it available when I was shopping) I'll go for it and I'll put this one away. As an every day fish eater Japanese, Zojirushi supposed to be very reliable brand, so I'm very disappointed in this product.

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The Zojirushi Gourmet Roaster cooks quickly and thoroughly. Roasting produces little, if any, smoke. There is no variable temperature control all roasting uses the same temperature. The cook must control the amount of "doneness" using the timer. Like other Zojurishi products, such as the Gourmet Sizzler, the Roaster comes apart easily and quickly for cleaning. From beginning to completion of roasting, including cleanup, will require only about 20 minutes with most items. Meats and fish should be approximately 1 1/2 inches deep, or less, to avoid contact with the upper heat element. You may want to try covering the grill with foil to reduce drippings on the lower heating element.

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Bought this for my mother who had Panasonic's version which broke after 10 years or so. It is discontinued and not available anymore. Amazon had this Zojirushi for much cheaper price than local stores and I trust Zojirushi brand so I got this. So far so good. My mother has no complaints. First, this should be used outside the house because of the smell and smoke this produces. Panasonic was the same too. Works very well.

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Citrusafe Cooktop And Oven Cleaner

My room mate is the only one who uses the oven. I had serious doubts this product would work when I saw just how bad the oven was after over a year of use. I sprayed the Citrusafe on a patch of the burnt area to test it and waited for ten minutes. I gently scrubbed the area as instructed. When I wiped the area with a paper towel I was shocked to see the burnt stuff just come right off! This stuff is incredible! I'm telling all my friends about it!

I cannot even conceive someone saying this doesn't work. This is the most amazing cleaner, and my go to for the kitchen. My son in law and daughter own a restaurant, and even they marvel at how well this works. This is A+: non toxic and works like a charm!!!!

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Was not happy with this cleaner. Was not sttong enough to clean the burnt food inside the oven, plus it was too expensive.

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and the spray cap that was sent with it didn't fit. Dont buy this stuff, water is just as effective.,

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Bought this a long time ago and can't remember ever having used it before today. I had to clean an electric smoker used to cook a pork roast WITHOUT a pan under it. What a mess! After spraying and letting it sit for a couple of minutes, the thick, cold grease and burned on grease splatters, etc. wiped right off. I was totally impressed.

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DeLonghi EOP2046 Toaster Oven with Integrated Panini Press

I have used the oven for toasting, baking, keep warm & Panini & was very satisfied with each outcome. My DH really likes the Panini's. The toast takes a little longer than a regular toaster, but to me it is worth the wait. It toasts on both sides, unlike most toaster ovens. All in all, I am very pleased & would recommend. Five Star rating.

Panini function is kind of cool but just to toast something TAKES FOREVER!!! I feel like I'm cursed when it comes to toaster shopping. I finally decided it would be worth it to spend a lot and get a good one and I'm still completely displeased with my toasting experience. If I had endless counter space I'd keep this for the oven and get a good pop-up toaster for toast. But why can't somebody make a decent toaster oven that does both? WHY?!?

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Had a DeLonghi toaster/oven for 7 years just replaced it with this oven. Love that it includes the panini option which I've already used several times and saves on an extra appliance. Highly recommend this oven!

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I decided to buy a new toaster oven because my old one (not all that old) has push controls that are not always responsive and I wanted the old fashioned knobs. This model has knobs. It also looks good along with my other counter top appliances. I like the panini feature because it's useful for several things e.g., keeping my tortillas flat when I heat them up. And I like the grilling/broiling tray a lot. One reviewer mentioned that it took 10 minutes for toast. I don't have that problem; in fact, a bit the opposite and I have to be careful I don't "over" toast. I do find some uneven heating. The most annoying thing I've found is that there is no timer for the oven on this model. The toast/panini timers are not suitable for timing something in the oven. I was also surprised to learn that there is no convection feature on the oven. And while the blurbs extoll the size of the oven, I find it a bit on the small side; certainly smaller than my older toaster oven. So while I like the oven, I think it's overpriced considering what it doesn't have; viz.; an oven timer and a convection feature, along with a rather small oven. And the crumb tray has to be removed from the back, necessitating moving the oven. Since my older toaster oven has both features this one is lacking, a larger oven, and a front removal crumb tray (and it was cheaper) I've kept it for baking when I want a convection oven with a timer that shuts off the oven when the time is complete but don't want to use my stove.

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I've had many top name-brand toaster ovens over the years, and most were decent for use as a small secondary oven; however, not one ever did justice to toast, bagels, etc. They were almost always flawed in one way or another; my last one stopped working after only one year of use.

My new Delonghi toaster oven/panini press toasts bread beautifully and bakes like a dream! The panini press makes fantastic, professional-looking paninis, and the directions are easy to follow. I've been using it for about six months now, and I couldn't be happier my new toaster oven was worth every penny! This is literally the first time I have ever purchased a product that lives up to EVERY promise. Thank you DeLonghi!!! Karen

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Sanyo HPS-MC3 3-in-1 Nonstick Electric Multi-Cooker

I am cheap (Asian), and was not keen on plopping down $100 on this cooker. Totally worth it. I got it after I saw some little old ladies at 99 Ranch buying one!

Cooks hot pot like a CHAMP. I was using a single burner with a divided hot pot pot (lol) on top and I had to boil a separate pot the stove to keep up with demand (feeding 4 adults). No more! This thing is sooo convenient. Super easy to adjust the temperature and it heats up quickly.

Nice safety feature that it has a magnetic power cord, in case someone trips over it or you have kids. It stays on just fine.

Also works great as a steamer.

The finish is conducive to easy cleanup.

The grill part...well, I mean...it's essentially a one-sided George Foreman grill. Nothing too special there--but it is very easy to clean.

Buy it! You know if the old Chinese ladies at 99 Ranch were buying, it HAS to be good.

**Update**

Owned it now for almost a year. Still going strong, still highly recommended. It even saved me through a stove issue (2 weeks for the new part to arrive). There are a lot of things you can make with this cooker, I have to say.

I just moved into a tiny place with no kitchen to speak of and this product is perfect for me. With interchangeable grill plate and cooking pot, the one base takes up less overall space in my cabinet. I've used it for eggs, pancakes, stir-fry, steaming vegetables, macaroni and cheese, grilled steak and chicken. I'll make some mean chili this fall I'm sure. The whole thing is nonstick and cleans up easily with a paper towel. I recommend this for a dorm room or as an efficient alternative to a full size cooktop. I first discovered SANYO a few years ago when I bought my first toaster oven. I debated buying an indoor grill but went all out for this "multi-cooker".

Sanyo SK-7S Space Saving Toasty Oven, SilverSanyo Extra Large Smokeless Grill & Griddle 17x12-in.Sanyo Extra Large Smokeless Grill & Griddle 17x12-in.

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I bought this for my wife so we could do Nabe / Hot Pot/ Shabu Shabu / etc. It's significantly more expensive than buying a pot and a gas burner (which you can get at an Asian grocery for ~$40), but it is very high quality.

We've done Japanese Nabe and Sichuan Hot Pot in this pot and they were both great. The pot cooks very evenly and is more than enough for 4 people (I would think it could serve up to 8, definitely could do 6). The whole apparatus feels very solid like it was built to last.

Included also is a metal rack that that can be used to steam food (we used it for shumai and gyoza / jiaozi / potstickers.) We had been using our rice cooker for this, but the HPS-MC3 is a lot larger allowing you to steam a whole meal's worth and the design is such that it's easy to put it on your table and eat your food fresh from the steam.

The HPS-MC3 also includes a grilling plate which we might use some day but we haven't used it for that purpose.

I would highly recommend the HPS-MC3 for your home hotpot needs. Also, you can find it for less than $100 on other websites, but just make sure to do your math because shipping is free over $25 on Amazon but other websites have different policies.

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I was hoping this would live up to all the reviews I read, and it does! I made beef sukiyaki and ginger pork all under 2 hours, it is the best hot pot and I really love it, great for making Japanese dishes, and I was really surprised how easy it was to clean up afterwards, just so people get this beforehand, Wash out each peice very throughly(not the base peice obviously), just run each through the dishwasher to get rid of the coating, don't try burning it off because it has that new nonstick smell lol But all in all this was the easiest easiest!!

UPDATE 7-2012

I had this for a year and then the pan warped and the oil always spread the wrong way, it didn't heat right and I donated it and bought a zojirushi instead, it was great for about 5 mos and then I just put up with it until I could get something better.

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This multi-cooker is perfect for small kitchens that have limited storage. I can grill, steam, stew, makes great home fries. I wouldn't be surprised if I could bake things like cornbread. With the flat bottom it makes nice looking omelets. Enough said, it's well worth the $85.00 (with free shipping). I try to buy locally, but the neighborhood store didn't want to go lower than their $110.00. Sorry, I need to watch my dollars as much as possible these days. Thank you Amazon.

Charcoal Companion Cast Iron 8-3/4-Inch by 4-1/2-Inch Rectangular Grill Press

I don't know if this grill press is the best out there. It's the first I've owned. I can say it's been a pleasant surprise. It's hefty, solid and has large surface area. It works great to flatten bacon, and speeds up cooking burgers. It fits well in a large pan or cast iron skillet. Today I needed to press the water out of some tofu to fry it, and the grill press is perfect for it. I think this is the kind of item that will have more and more uses as time goes by.

My only complaint, the handle is on a screw, and loosens from time-to-time, requiring a few turns of a screwdriver to tighten back up. Otherwise I like and recommend this press.

Indeed, one of the few that do not have a screw going through the casting and one of the heaviest, as they make them now i.e. good for bacon, but not for the thick cuts not enough weight.

Well-assembled, but with poor casting. Nowhere near smooth, so meat will stick to it.

Honest 3/5. Probably, excellent for bacon, not so great for steaks.

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This item is one of the best products possible to use in cooking meats. I have did chicken breast and salmon in a skillet so far and it conviently decreases the cooking time but increases the juiciness and tenderness of the meat. I am looking forward to using it on my new barbecue grill and today is the 4th of July...:)

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This product is very sturdy and a great value! The item shipped quickly as well. I would recommend this product.

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I grill and BBQ a bunch and this thing is a great help. I even use it when I cook bacon.

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18-Piece BBQ Grill Tool Set with Aluminum Case (Silver) (3"H x 19"W x 10"D (case))

The quality of the tools themselves is OK, the biggest benefit of the tool collection was that it comes with a full set (8) of corn skewers and a set of kabob skewers, the rest of the set is fairly standard fair although the handle design if more attractive than most. The biggest disappointment with this set was the "Elegant Aluminum Carrying Case", it is aluminum but it very cheaply constructed and didn't even survive being shipped without coming apart in a couple of places, I had to pop the face sheet back into place on both sides since the metal edges that are supposed to hold the face sheet in place are too flimsy to do the job. It simply will not last being used.

Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue Instant Read Thermometer

I got a couple of these for the cost of S/H with coupons from Raichlen's books, so I cannot complain about the price. But I opened the lid of the smoker to check the temperature, inserted the thermometer, turned to quickly answer a friend's question about the barn and when I turned back to the grill, the plastic on the thermometer had bubbled and melted all over poor Steven's face. I threw the other one out. Not a good buy.

This thing self-destructed when used over hot coals (with the grill lid up).

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Well, not exactly "instant".......but it is pretty quick.

Works fine, doing exactly what it's supposed to.

There's an important tip in the instructions:

"WARNING: DO NOT LEAVE THERMOMETER INSIDE A HOT GRILL OR OVEN. THERMOMETER IS AN INSTANT-READ THERMOMETER AND SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN MEAT AS IT IS COOKING"

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Cuisinart GR-11 Griddler 3-in-1 Grill and Panini Press

I often cook for one and have a lack of kitchen space so I have searched for something that works for sandwiches and as a mini-grill for some time. After trying some others that were lacking or settling for one that does one or the other I finally have what I wanted.

This has lots of great features.

-the non stick surface is actually non stick

-you can remove the grilling plates and put them in the dishwasher

-easy to clean surface

-cooks and grills evenly

-easy to set for whatever you're cooking

-warms up quickly

-stores in very little space

-outside is easily cleaned

This is great if you aren't a great cook (I'm not) and if you need to have a minimum amount of gadgets in your kitchen (I do).

Would have been excellent in my college dorm and frankly for all it does and as good as it does it this is a really terrific bargain as well.

Just love the simplicity of this Guisinart GR-11 Griddler. We received this griddler a couple of weeks ago and have used it almost every day since because it makes an ordinary sandwich just so special and it takes only minutes! Also the ease of cleaning is a bonus because the griddle plates eject so nicely. We liked it so much we ordered one for our friends and they are thoroughly enjoying it also!! The Food Network has 50 Panini recipes and the sky is the limit on what you can put in your sandwiches and I suggest trying all different types of breads, what fun!

We like the size of it because we can make two hefty sandwiches with no problem; if you have a larger family you may want to consider a larger unit.

Pat Chieppo

Jensen Beach, FL & Wallingford, CT

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This is my third panini press purchase over the last 5 years. I have purchased two other panini products that did not have removable plates and were very difficult to clean. After a period of time I had to dispose of both because the food/grease buildup became excessive in spite of regular wiping down, scraping, and all other 'dry' methods of cleaning. This panini press heats up quickly, fits 2 sandwiches, and cleans thoroughly with both plates popping out with ease. My only complaint (and this has been an issue with all the panini presses I have owned) is that they heat at a higher rate in the back of the press so I have to flip the sandwiches for even cooking.

I highly recommend this product and will only buy removable plate products in the future!

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It is a small beautiful, professional looking griddler. it uses almost no storage space, very easy to clean. I am in love with it

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This is a wonderful addition to my kitchen. It does sandwiches wonderfully well, and the removable grids are a blessing. I look forward to using it often.

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Calphalon Simply Calphalon Nonstick Hard-Anodized Aluminum 13-Inch Grill Pan

I have owned my fair share of indoor grills, from a Foreman grill to a really heavy grill pan which I ordered through Amazon. Not too long ago I recently acquired the Calphalon grill pan because my Foreman grill is too small if I want to cook a piece of meat and some vegetables at the same time. Plus the black coating on my Foreman grill is wearing out. So I bought the Calphalon grill pan when it was on sale at a local department store. I haven't been able to get enough of it. It is so easy to clean even when I had cooked a piece of meat that was marinated in Italian dressing or in my own concoction of ground fennel seed, garlic, shallots, and extra virgin olive oil. The marinade will of course stick to the grill which is expected however cleaning it off the grill pan was so much easier than my last grill pan which was heavy and difficult to clean because it wasn't non-stick. I also like using the Calphalon grill pan because I can cook both the meat and vegetable (say asparagus) at the same time. The results are fabulous. I get those wonderful grill marks and grill taste. Although it is a bit big for this apartment dweller, I still consider this grill pan the best of all the indoor grills I have owned. Well worth the money too.

I have had this pan about 2 months now and have put it through it's paces. I too bought it based on the Cooks Illustrated (America's Test Kitchen PBS Show) review, I like their analytical approach to testing and cooking, so I trust them.....and they were right. The concept works if the grooves are wide and wide apart. Let's get one thing straight here first, this is not a "grill like flavor" producer, it "enhances" the food with a grill like taste. I will use it mostly in the winter when I can't get to my Weber grill outside, but I will use it year around for veggies, chicken breasts, and pork chops for sure. Burgers and steaks are better on an open flame, but this pan is awesome to grill zuchinni, eggplant, anise, tomatoes, etc. They come out much juicier than on the open heat and flame of an barbeque grill, plus you can keep a closer eye on them inside the house as you prepare a meal. As for chicken breasts, it's very good as well, I never really saw the advantage of barbequing chicken breasts outside because you would have to over-cook them to get any real disernable taste from it. But on the grill pan, they come out great, perfect grill marks, good flavor, and you don't get that slightly tougher outside that makes it difficult to slice if you put it in a salad or pasta dish. Pork chops are good in this pan too, I usually give them a quick grilling in the pan before I put a sauce on them and finish cooking them in the oven, they retain MUCH MORE juice in the pan than on the BBQ grill. Clean-up can be a challenge, but like they said on America's Test Kitchen, if you buy the George Foreman 'grooved' scotch pad (hard to find!), it's a snap. It's built well and I know it will hold up for many years. In closing, look no further, this is the pan to buy if you want to grill inside.....PS, 4 stars because it doesn't "REALLY" grill like the outdoors!

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I chose this pan based on the Cooks Illustrated review, and boy do they know what they are talking about. This pan is awesome! I've used it to grill fajita strips and steaks and it works perfectly. Beautiful grill marks just like on a real grill, great conduction so it heats up evenly all the way across the pan, and the nonstick surface makes it clean up super quick and easy. One of my favorite pans! Highly recommended.

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I'm a vegetarian so cannot comment on the ability of this pan to grill meat, but I can tell you this it is an absolutely *fantastic* piece of cookware!

I cook a lot, and turn to this pan quite a bit. It heats very evenly, is truly nonstick (w/o need for a single drop of oil), and clean-up is an absolute breeze. Since it works so well, I'm no longer just using it to make omelets and scrambles.

I've had Circulon for yrs, and like it a lot but some types of food (e.g. eggs) tend to get stuck in the grooves. So that was my main reason for buying this pan. It has far exceeded my expectations. I'm slowly going to transition from Circulon to Calphalon as my budget allows. Thanks amazon for a super buy on this pan.

I'm a grillin fool now:)

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Does an excellent job of cooking with grill marks. Easy cleanup. Wish they made the same grill pan in a 9 or 10" size. Would probably use it more often

T-fal C784SC64 Stainless Steel with Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Dishwasher Safe 12-Piece Cookware Se

I have this set for my single apartment, I love cooking a lot and I use them daily. T-fal quality don't need any words.

Mix of Stainless Steel pots and Non-stick pans is a great idea. I don't need non-stick pots, or stainless steel pans and this is the set I just wanted.

5.5 Qt Dutch Oven is pretty large if you are single and you don't cook for a family. But if you cook in large sizes for the whole weeks meal like me, it is very useful.

Various sizes of sauce pots are very useful for many jobs. If you need to boil some pasta or veggies for a single meal smallest one is enough. Or you can use larger ones for any other cooking.

Non-stick pans with thermo-spot are great. Set has one small and one considerably large pans. I usually use the smallest one for scrambled eggs, or making a burger, or cooking some chicken. You can use the saucepot lids to cover it. It wont fit perfectly but it will do the job. However there is no lid, for the largest pan, which is bad I think. But I get used to it.

Interior for the pans are non-stick and they are stainless steel on outside. Pots are all stainless steel.

Handles are pretty cheap, they are soft plastic, but I didn't burned my hands so far. They will block the heat, however handles on lids are not that good, and if you dont hold them properly, you might get some burns.

They come with a slotted spatula, and huge cooking spoon, they are stainless steel but pretty big ones.

Bottom paddings are good, they are not cheaply made.

When compared to cheap non-stick ones this set might be expensive, but they are very useful.

This is the best set I have ever had...and certainly not close to the most expensive! It really is like the cookware designer sat down with me and asked me what features I would like. Stainless steel pots, nice stainless steel/non-stick pans, glass lids, cool to touch silicone covered handles, large easy to handle cool to touch silicone covered lid handles. I really couldn't ask for more...super happy with this purchase. I would highly recommend :)

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I love my new T-fal pots. The quality definitely exceeded my expectations. The red handles match my kitchen perfectly. Cookware looks great on my stovetop!!

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Fantastic buy, great product! The products look better than the picture. Love the pans and would highly recommend it for people who love to cook! This one's a keeper!

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I bought this product for our vacation rental home. It is well made, takes some abuse, and it still works great. I will buy the same product for myself next time.

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George Foreman Champ Grill with Bun Warmer

I bought mine recently and LOVE it! I'm a single person who normally eats out of the microwave and get impatient when it takes more than 5 minutes for some dishes. But I do love to cook but ran out of time with my job nowadays and this does the perfect job of allowing me to cook quickly and clean up just as quickly. I'm very happy with mine! Of note, some people are bothered by the small size. It's just me so it's perfect and possibly perfect for 2 people. Get a bigger size if you cook for a lot of people.

I must admit, I was not a fan of the George Foreman Grill when it was introduced. The concept seemed ludicrous, like those old hot dog cookers that "electrocuted" the dogs to cook them. Or the SnackMaster, which claimed you could make fresh pies in minutes with two slices of bread and a can of filling (all you really got was a hot, gooey mess). I couldn't believe George's "wundergrill" would be any better. In fact, I figured it had to be worse.

I was so wrong.

The George Foreman Grill delivers everything it promises, and then some. It cooks foods fast, with relatively low mess, and the taste is wonderful. The heat sears the outside, creating those delicious, carmelized grill marks. But the cooking is so quick, the insides don't get dried out or tough. And greasier meats, like hamburger or sausage, really do drain off, just as George promises (the only negative comment I would make is about the design of the grease-trapping trays, which are not built-in, but separate pieces; if positioned wrong, you can drain grease onto the counter). I cook frozen salmon on mine--its out of this world, and better than what most restaurants serve.

The convenience of the grill is the big selling point for me. Small, easy-to-clean, and easily stored in a cabinet, it comes out only when I need it (though it is attractive enough to sit next to the toaster or coffee maker in larger kitchens). It really is portable; one of my co-workers brings his to the office to grill hot dogs for lunch.

The addition of the colored lids only increases the appeal of the George Foreman Grill. Now, color-coding with the rest of the kitchen is a snap. What was already a great product is now even better.

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This is an excellent grill. I have heated up burgers, hot dogs and also toasted grill cheese sandwiches.

This item is non stick. Only really holds 2 burgers of a good size, will not hold 4. No matter just takes an extra couple of minutes. Bun warmer is good, no fun eating a hot burger on an ice cold bun (teeth will chatter !). I like this grill, does not occupy to much space on kitchen counter, easy to clean and works!

In short this item would replace a sandwich maker AND acts as a griller. Excellent as a single buy (good price) to fit both tasks (sandwich maker and grill for heating burgers, hot dogs. (...)

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This little grill will fit a NY strip steak and make it medium rear in seven minutes (three minutes preheating and four minutes of actual grilling). Steaks come out perfect with no mess or smoke. If you want another steak, just wipe the surface with the paper towel. In four minutes you will have another juicy steak. You can also fit two small hamburgers, but the bun warmer will take only one bun, so you are better off with one jumbo hamburger. The only thing that is missing is a timer. I use Pyrex digital probe thermometer (also offered on Amazon) to monitor temperature inside the meet and I always get a perfect steak or hamburger. I stick the probe inside the steak and place readout on the table in front of me, hamburger is done when the temperature reaches 160F. For medium steak it is 180F. Of course, this is not the same as grilling on the open fire grill but for quick and tasty meal I can't find anything better. You can also grill fish, chicken, bacon, and vegetables with great results.

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I doubt this is what george foreman (well maybe his agent) intended for this gadgets but as 12 yr. vegetarian when my dad brought home 2 I went gaga (one in orange, one in blue.) of course the manual says nothing about cooking fake bacon, fake chik nuggets, grill cheese, etc. but if we're cooking and it'll fit it goes in. Somehow this thing has turned me into a, ahem, "quasi-chef"... I can't tell you how burgers cook on it, but if you want a veggie burger, yum!

there are (aren't there always) 2.5 slightly problematic features that i'm surprised haven't been fixed yet.....

the 'bun warmer' is tiny, i dont see how you could fit one in there, and the latch is poorly designed... hard to grip and breaks off easily. which leads to the second problem.

while your trying to close the latch or just the "grill" you're apt to clutch it like snapping it shut, with your thumb on the latch and your forefinger underneath. DON'T! you'll burn yourself. badly. (trust me on this). it'll probably happen more then once if you dont ignore the latch. the metal heats up too quickly on the exterior and really should be coated in something that disapates heat. and when you open the grill, if the latch isn't closed the plastic hood will fall back upon the table.

and lastly, it's quite hard to clean because nothing comes off. basically you've got to just wipe it down with a damp cloth.

Overall there's nothing i've seen for this price that comes close. try a veggie frank, a slice of fake bacon, maybe a portabello mushroom or two...