Elizabeth Karmel's 5- by 5.5-inch Red Silicone Sweetheart Pie Weight

I loved it! Pretty easy and it cleans up. LOVE THE COLOR TOO! UPBEAT AND CHEERFUL!

Seriously, the first review probably got a bad unit. :) Thanks!!!

I was so excited about my purchase but this product is very disappointing. My pie crust came out of the oven with a deep heart shaped depression in it. I was bummed that it ruined my pie crust and then the side seam ripped and the ceramic beads fell out while I was gently hand washing it. Don't waste your money...buy a pie chain instead.

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Cast Iron 15" Reversible Stovetop Grill Griddle

This is also a present I got for someone this x-mas, but it is real cast iron steel and heavy.

A perfect sized grill for 2 burner camp stoves the coleman type, not the camp chef type. Of course you could use this with a camp chef, but it fits perfectly over both burners on the coleman type. Extremely solid (like all cast iron, I suppose) so it's good to go over a camp fire as well. It's a good design with the griddle on one side (with grease catch trough) and grill on the other side.

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Bought this as an Xmas gift and have heard nice things about it from the recipient. She's happy with it and that means I'm happy with it.

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I am very happy with my new grill. I've use it several times now and my food taste just like grilled food. I Love Love Love It!!!

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I bought this for my new stove with the oval center burner. It fits well but it cooks uneven.

Alpha Electric Igniter Portable Propane Gas Stove Range Camping

I read some of the reviews about this burner and I was somewhat nervous about purchasing. I hunted for something similar, but all searches lead me back to this model. The burner is well made, quite heavy metal, and worked fabulously. The starter kicked in the flame each time, although I did have a long lighter handy in case. I used this burner to prepare paella on my new 15" paella pan. I loved it. Heavy duty, worked well for me, was easy to light and control the flame... I am glad I took a chance on this one!

I purchased this burner to melt lead in a large cast iron pot. I was frustrated with the smaller burner I had as it would take over 2 hours to melt 30lbs of lead. This burner is very stable and had a 30 pound pot of lead melted to 600 degrees in just 40 minutes, and with the flame control, I could easily set the heat down to keep the temperature constant. Wish I had bought this a year ago. It attached easily to a standard propane tank for the grill. Electric start does not always fire it up on the first try, but I have never known an electric start to work 100% anyway.

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Great burner low is low for keeping warm and high is high enough for wok cooking. It is hard to find a burner that can do both. This is the one. The hose is maybe 4 feet which is a good length. Fitting on the regulator is correct for a USA propane tank.

However it has a few quirks:

* It is for a table so the table needs to be metal or a heatproof material. It gets hot underneath.

* The other item to watch out for is the flared fitting connection. This unit came with a rubber gasket. Check with your plumber or gas technician to see if a gasket is EVER needed on a brass flare fitting. I have many propane stoves with the same flared fitting and NONE of them have a gasket. I did try using the gasket and seals well and does not leak but the fitting sure feels funny and not rock solid like my other stove fittings.

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Nice solid product, not to happy with the hose and regulator, it just has regular hose clamps on it and the tank connection don't fit on the new 25lb tanks.

It needs the little (tit or male pin )to push the gas valve in when you tighten it so if you buy the stove you have to buy a new hose and regulator.

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I purchased the Big Bertha stove to fire up a large (7 quart jar capacity) pressure cooker for canning. Upon arrival, the stove was banged around during shipping and did not sit level upon a flat surface. I was able to file down the offending leg slightly and now it sits rock solid level. In operation, this stove gets hellishly hot, it can boil a full pot of water in minutes. The 6 ft gas hose is rather sticky and smells of plastic resins and chemicals. This stove works well, has a full range of adjustment and puts out sufficent heat for pressure canning purposes. You can set a large pot on this unit with the controls being accessable.

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Cuisinart Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron 9-1/4-Inch Square Grill Pan

I've been looking for a griddle/grill pan, but I have a ceramic top stove, so regular cast iron is a no-no. But after lots of searching, I found that enamel coated cast iron is okay to use, and had high remarks. I honed down my search, and found this Cuisenart grill pan to have all the attributes of the higher priced ones, and Amazon had the best price.....so I ordered it.

I got it 2 weeks ago, and it's quickly become my favorite pan. It grills burgers, fish & chicken beautifully. Even has a pour spout for excess grease (which drains away from the food, a big plus in the health department!).

With all the rain we've had, I haven't missed the outside grill at all. And it makes the best panini's, so you won't need another expensive thingy in your kitchen. Get your sandwich loaded up, put it onto this pan, and weigh it down with something (I use a bacon press, but you could use another heavy bottomed pan instead). Flip it once, and you'll end up with a wonderful crusty sandwich....evenly melted & amazing!

Tip: Preheat before using, but don't use this pan "dry". I pre-spray with Pam before heating, and spread butter or oil on the food I'm cooking.

This pan can go from oven top to broiler to oven. Great to sear meat. Smaller size for those who cook for 1-2 people. Easy to clean and good looking.

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Paint and construction are of excellent quality. Because of the low sides and being thinner, it is light for a cast iron pan. But still rugged. I paired it with an Emerilware 8" square panini iron and the two fit perfect together.

UPDATE REVIEW: The interior of the pan has permanantly blackened after a few uses. Not like my old porcelin dutch oven that cleans up in a breeze.

I say 3 stars now.

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Before using the grill I called Cuisinart to get their input on the best way to clean it. When I got through to Customer Service I was advised that they had no record of ever selling an enameled cast iron grill with the model number I provided?

I pointed out to them that I was looking at the Cuisinart website as we spoke, and the grill was listed on their website with a photo, model number, and price. I was advised they still could not find it either on their website, or in their computer. They provided me with another number to call that would be better able to address my questions.

When I called the number provided I was informed that they had referred me to a privately owned retail outlet, but that they would try to help me. I was finally advised that according to their records Cuisinart had never offer an enameled cast iron grill for sale?

As a last resort I sent an email to the Cuisinart Marketing Department that included the above info.

I was contacted the next day by two different people from Cuisinart who apoligized for the mix-up, and offered the following info concerning the care and cleaning of the grill:

"The interior is Porcelain enameled and it is dishwasher safe; as far as cleaning, it should be cleaned after every use and there is no need to oil it or season it. Food should clean easily because of the enameled surface unless it is so burned into the surface that it may take a lot of soaking to remove the residue".

So far I have used the grill four times, and it grills steaks and lamb chops just great. After each use I moved the grill off of the burner and added a little hot water to let it cool down and soak (I have a ceramic glass top electric range).

After the first soak I scrubbed the grill with a nylon kitchen brush with hot soapy water, then let it soak some more in hot water and dishwash soap.

After the next scrub the grill was pretty well cleaned. Then I ran it through my dishwashing machine and it came out very clean. It took a little extra effort to get it clean, but it was still a lot easier than cleaning my tabletop electric grill that has three large pieces to clean, and is a lot larger to work with in the sink.

I am very happy with the grill, and would buy it again if the one I have ever needed to be replaced (which I doubt will ever happen in my life time).

UPDATE:

OK, I have used this grill several times now, and am now having some issues with it. I set my ceramic glass top range at medium (5), and let it heat up for a few minutes before I start grilling. It seems that the more I use it, the harder it is to clean...even after overnight soaking in soapy water. Today I found that there is some blackened areas that just won't come clean. I tried Stove-top Easy Off, and that helped a little. The dish washing machine no longer gets it fully clean either. Also, today I noticed a small rust spot on the inside front side of the grill where it looks like some of the gray enameled chipped off? I only use a nylon brush to clean the grill, and tongs to put the meat in and take it out. So have no idea where that came from?

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This 9-1/4" grill pan is fantastic. Not only does it fit well on your average cook top, it gets HOT (as it should) unlike other larger and heavier cast iron grill pans that need more BTU's than your average cook top can produce. Plus, it has an enameled finish available in different colors.

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Oxo SteeL Kitchen Tool and Utensil Rack

my cooking space, including the cabinet drawer space, is small so this product has been a blessing. i especially love the streamlined design and the functionality of sliding hooks. i have my 10 inch splatter screen, mesh strainer, and favorite nylon and wooden cooking utensils hanging from the rack. with the rack attached to the side of my stove's vent hood, i now have my most used cooking tools within easy reach (i attached the rack with a pop riveter so that the rack can handle more weight than would be possible using the pre-packaged double-sided tape). a second plus is the brushed vs. mirror polished surface. also, due to the design of the rack's "end caps" (AND with the proper cutting tool--a dremel would work!), it is possible to cut the length of the rack to fit your needs. to date, i'm leaning very strongly towards saying this tool rack is a bargain, a best buy.

I really like this tool rack. It's sturdy and simple to attach to the wall. The metal hooks slide so you can adjust them to fit the width of your hangable cooking tools. It comes with 6 hooks. I have a set of measuring cups hanging, two sets of measuring spoons on one hook, and my can opener and Oxo y peeler on the other. I like being able to get to my measuring cups and other frequently used items without having to rummage around in the drawer looking for them.

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...and easy to install. In fact the package is intended to be used as a template for drilling the screw holes. Beautiful and beutifully smart.

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I have a small kitchen in a downtown apartment with about 3 feet of counter space and only 4 drawers. I could only spare one drawer for my cooking utensils and it filled up really quickly. I started searching around for kitchen storage tools and stumbled on this gem. It holds 6 of my larger utensils and clears up a lot of room in my drawer, meaning I can get even more cooking stuff now!

The bar seems very solid and the finish is wonderful. The hooks slide easily along the length but do not lock (I haven't had a problem with them moving though.). I'd like to see an optional expansion pack that gives you 3 more hooks so that if you would like to hang narrower items, you can still use all the space.

The bar is meant to be mounted with two screws (provided, with anchors) in the end pieces. The face plates slide off and let you access the screw heads that way. In my case however, my back splash was a metal panel that I can't drill through (lease issues). Instead of screws then, I used a piece of 3M Scotch 4011 Exterior Mounting Tape, 1 in x 60 in on each end piece and pressed it against the back splash. The tape is really strong and should be able to hold the utensils without a problem.

*Update (5/16/2011) The utensil rack is still as wonderful as ever. I just wanted to say the tape isn't working as well as I hoped. While it does work, the stress on the tape causes it to creep. As a result, after about a month the tape will sag enough that everything on the hooks will slide off. Nothing wrong with the rack I just with my mounting situation was better.

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My kitchen is thimble-sized, and a rack like this is vital to my apartment survival. Installation was simple. I bought a stud-finder, a 3/32" drill bit, and made the two necessary holes. I hung a few pots and pans on my rack, and the unit seems to hold them without issue. Steel over a white wall looks modern and slick. This rack will most likely work for you.

Lodge A1-410 Sportsman's Grill Cover

I never thought I would write a review of a grill cover, but Amazon dared me! Here's the skinny. The cover fits tightly but it is a tad short to cover the legs all the way down to their tips with its strong elastic edge. No big deal, the cast iron legs are not in danger of rusting out. I've had mine out on the patio in the Kansas sun for two summers and it has faded to a gray color on top, still black on the bottom, no big deal from my view either. But one little annoyance is that the seams on the fabric (all the way around the top edge when it is on) leak. So in a heavy rain water will drip inside and lead to surface rusting. That kind of defeats the purpose of the cover. This can probably be solved with the use of tent seam sealer. Are there awards for this kind of vital, investigative consumer reporting? The grill is great!

(Husband writing review:) I use my Lodge Sportsman as often as possible, but sometimes it still has to go into storage for a while. This is a rugged cover that is custom fit, and I appreciate how much cleaner my grill is when I pull it out. Keeps the dust and cobwebs to a minimum; keeps the rain out if you forget and leave it outside. It's well worth it if you're going to invest in the grill.

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I got both the grill and this cover last week. Contrary to what one of the reviews says here, it fits perfectly with no shortage at the bottom. I have provided my own photograph at the top of this page that shows the cover on my grill. The elastic at the bottom of the cover allows it to pull tight UNDER the feet of the grill allowing very little chance of rain getting directly on the grill. You're still going to have to put up with the possibility of rust on the grill simply from moisture in the air, but at least it won't be raining on it.

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This cover is a dream come true ... I would always use anything handy to cover my grill .... but it never fit tight and would blow away and let water in . This cover does the trick and it fits perfectly ! It keeps your grill dry and extends the life of your grill . Several hours after grilling I totally clean the grill of ashes .... I Then Spray the Grill with Cooking Spray and I cover the Grill with this Cover .... My Grill almost looks new and I know it will extend the life of the Grill by years... What a " Grate Idea".

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The funny thing about this grill cover is that it is incredibly flammable. Even after you've dumped the coals and any remaining embers out of the grill, the (little bit of) heat retained by the grill itself may be enough to melt the cover beyond usefulness. I've had to buy three of them for this reason. It would be better if it was less plasticky, but, for the most part I like it and it does the job.

Bar Proudly with Mug Personalized 16x11

• Hand Made with Pride in America
• Made of furniture grade hardwood
• Over 20 years in the sign making business
• A convenient keyhole hanger is engraved in the back of the sign to simplify hanging
• Designed for indoor use
• 5th Anniversary (Wooden)
• Business Advertising Signs
• Thoughtfully personalized gift

I received the wrong item initially (the Home and Bar plaque instead). Haven't received the new one yet, but based on the quality of the first, I'm sure I will love it.

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I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality and professional looking quality on this sign for the price. Excellent job on the lettering. We will be doing business again. Thank you.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron 10 1/4 Inch Skillets

Like others, I bought this pan after the New York Times review came out on alternatives to teflon (the review said that this pan was terrific). My husband and I eat omelets for dinner several nights a week and our teflon pans were starting to lose their nonstick properties. This pan can work well for cooking eggs. The trick, as others have noted, is to preheat the pan on low to medium heat and then to give it a light coat of oil before adding anything to it. The day I received the pan I made a 5-egg omelet and it came out well -I was easily able to flip the whole thing without it breaking. I've also made over-easy eggs and they have come out well too. I like this pan better than my old teflon ones because it's less delicate, it's dishwasher-safe, and I don't need to worry about the coating losing its effectiveness. Plus, it produces food with a nice surface, which teflon has a hard time doing. It is not quite as nonstick as a teflon pan, but it gets the job done (and is much more nonstick than stainless). I'm pleased with the purchase.

I have ordered the 10-1/4" skillet, but because of the reviews about sticking/seasoning, etc. I was concerned. So I emailed LeCreuset Customer Relations with my questions and here is what they said (they were very prompt and helpful):

"You are welcome. The change was made [to the satin finish] to allow consumers to use higher heat with the skillets. Seasoning is not necessary since the pan self-seasons as the oil is build up on the surface. Some consumers just choose to do so as a means to help build up the surface. You do not have to use a lot of oil, just coat as you normally would. The more you use the pan and oil it eventually the oil will develop a surface on the finish which then makes the pan act like a naturally nonstick pan. To season, you lightly coat the interior of the pan with vegetable oil and bake in the oven at 200 degrees on a baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes. Afterwards, allow the pan to cool then wipe off excess oil. Your pan can be stored in this manner until ready for your next use."

So the first thing I'm going to do when I receive my skillet is season it (a couple times) before I even use it! Hope this helps!

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I cook exclusively with Le Creuset, and I love this skillet as I do all my other pieces. They cook food beautifully and are easy to clean. The only time I had something to really stick, I was able to get it out by putting a little detergent and water in the pan and heating it up a bit. The stuck-on bits floated right up to the top.

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I've been replacing some of my purple Paula Deen porcelian non-stick pots and pans with LeCreuset pieces in cassis. Why? For me, the Deen pieces (not even a year old) haven't been holding up as the non-stick surface seems to scratch when I just look at it funny never mind when I'm stirring with a wooden spoon.

Yes, LeCreuset vessels are heavy and expensive but I've been lucky to find the pieces I want not only on sale but also with free shipping. So far, I've been very happy with the four LeCreuset pieces I own and really like the option of their going from stove top to oven. (Just watch your oven temperature if you haven't switched to SS knobs.)

I replaced one Paula Deen skillet only to be disappointed in the second as well and then had another one of those "just one more LeCreuset" moments. The LeCreuset cast iron skillet arrived earlier this month and has proved to be a learning experience after reading other reviews.

To season or not to season? My care and instruction booklet clearly states that seasoning is not necessary, so I didn't season. My first omelette attempt started with some butter, I heated the skillet for less than 10 minutes, used room temperature eggs, and ended with a sticky mess. Not enough butter? Was the skillet not hot enough? Was it a combination? I don't know. I can say that after soaking the skillet, clean up wasn't an issue.

I found more to read at other sites and decided to season my skillet because 1) it didn't seem like I would do it any harm and 2) while most say cast iron skillets season themselves naturally over time, I don't use a skillet on a regular basis. My second egg attempt, over easy, started with a spritz of cooking spray (olive oil for me), I heated the skillet for 15 minutes at 3 on my gas stove, used room temperature eggs, and ended perfectly even though I used a wood spatula to flip the eggs. After the skillet cooled, I let some water sit, and cleaned up without a problem. When the skillet was dry, I added a drop of olive oil, and used a clean paper towel to coat the bottom.

Why 4 stars vs 5? While this skillet passed the over easy test, give me a week or so to try another omelette, and I'll update.

*Added a 5th star today.

Sprayed the bottom of the skillet with some nonstick stuff, set my gas stove to 4, let the skillet heat up for 10 minutes, tossed in eggs, some spices, kept an eye on the pan as one edge cooked quicker than the other, used a wooden spatula to fold my omelette, and slipped it onto my plate.

No more teflon for me.

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I have seen several reviews here expressing disappointment with le Creuset's less-than-fully nonstick enamel surface. After having had le Creuset skillets for several months, I now suspect the problem is that people are expecting the enamel surface to compare to Teflon. Teflon truly is non-stick, but it has come under fire in recent years for releasing toxic elements when overheated (and ALL skillets will get overheated from time to time, that's what they're for). Same issue with many of the newer "non Teflon" alternate non-stick surfaces.

The fair comparison here is to cast-iron. You can make cast-iron pans just about non-stick, if you properly season the pan right when you get it, pour in a little oil each time before heating the pan, and re-oil and wipe the pan after use while it is still warm. Same thing with Le Creuset enamel within a few weeks of proper use, and oiling, you can get a surface that is very similar in non-stickiness to a cast-iron pan.

Of course, if you want to fry an egg with a brand-new pan and no oil, you are going to be disappointed. And if you want to do "no oil" cooking at high temperatures, this will not be the pan for you. But for those who appreciate cast iron cookware, know how to season and take care of pans, this is just about the best non-iron pan you are likely to come across.

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Masterbuilt Electric Smokehouse Smoker with Window and RF Controller

I am not an expert but a consumer that does a lot of research before buying something like this. This model has many improvements over the "Non-RF" model:

1) Wheels that work when the unit is tilted, (caveat: the slide on grease drip tray must be removed before you can tilt and roll.)

2) A light inside the unit, (caveat, It's a little hard to see the meat with the smoke and smoke "grim" on the inside of the huge window but still very nice feature.)

3) The meat thermometer. It is a real needed item on this type of smoker. You never have to open the door to check the temperature. *I double checked it against my own digital thermometer and it runs true within a degree or two.

4) A handheld remote control. No AAA batteries included, (2 req.) You can program the time & temp as well as check the meat probe temp & switch the light on & off. You cannot see the current temp of the smoker, i.e.; watch it rise to the temp you set. To do this just look at the display on top of the unit for this info. Speaking of the top digital unit; it automatically alternates between the time left on the smoker and the current temp of the smoker. To see the meat probe temp, just push the temp button once.

The unit is well insulated and comes up to temp well within a reasonable time, (outside air temp = 46 degrees. The smoker came up to temp of 225 degrees within 17 minutes.) The unit appears well built and of solid construction. I did have a small warpage of the bottom back portion of the back metal panel. This impeded the grease tray a little. This could have been due to the shipper, (Fed Ex) but the unit very well packed. Assembly took 15 minutes. Very simple. The chip tray feature will lock in place after you dump a load into the smoker and the alignment mark for new chips is an easy step to miss when reloading, no bigge. It uses no more than one cup of chips at a time and seems to take a while at 225 degrees to burn them. The racks, water pan, grease pan all are easy to remove and somewhat easy to clean. The nice feature of the bottom grease pan is it is tilted to the back grease trap and comes out for easy cleaning. Overall, I like to keep my tools clean and I spent 15 minutes cleaning this unit, not bad.

I smoked two racks of baby back ribs last night and the unit seemed to cook it faster than expected. The internal temp was reached prior to the time I set. Of course it is not an exact science but the ribs were well smoked and delicious. I used hickory with some mesquite chips and the smoke flavor was strong. Mesquite sucks as opinionated by a lot of "experts." I also smoke some pork bellies, (bacon) that I had cured and they will be tried tomorrow after a 24 sit in the fridge. I am now smoking a brisket and we will see how it does. All in all I am very pleased with this unit and all the new features. I am really liking the fact that I can check the internal temp of the meat by using the remote. I can be doing something elsewhere and always click the "meat probe" button on the remote and know when its time to stop the smoking process. pros: all the features that you want from a smoker of this caliber, well built and good smoke. Cons, can't see the current temp of the smoker on the remote, just the "set" temp. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a smoker in this class.

I'm very pleased with this unit and have been using it a great deal. So far I have smoked eight racks of beef ribs, two sirlion tip roasts, hot peppers, corn, and black tipped shark!

I love my beef roasts rare and really appreciate how easy it is to get good results with the temp control and the internal meat probe this unit has. The remote control allows me to keep a close eye on things without being tied to the thing. A very nice feature.

I feel that this was a good purchase and represents an excellent value. It will see a lot of use!

***I just wanted to add a quick edit*** here to address what some others have been saying about the remote control.

While it is not obvious, you CAN get the temp reading for the inside of the smoker on the remote and it can be done in two ways:

Either push the temp set button twice which will cause the readout to flash between the temp setting and the actual temperature inside the smoker for ten seconds or so.

The other and best way is to press the meat probe button once which will cause the meat probe reading to be displayed and then smoker temp set and actual smoker temp reading to alternate on the remote display. It does not matter if you are actually using the meat probe for this to work.

The issue of the window getting too dirty to see through is a bit over blown. I find it easy to clean with some warm water and mild dish soap. The grime softens as you repeat the task of wiping it down a few times. The same thing for the light.

Hope these tips are helpful for everyone to fully enjoy this gem of a smoker. I love it more with each use.

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Step 1:

I thought it would be cool to do a step by step assessment of this product. Sometimes I love something the first week and it sucks week 2.

OK, for the unpacking and assembly of the unit. 15 minutes. No screws missing, good instructions, no misalignment of screws. No "what the heck is THIS for?" Well packaged. Good assembly instructions.

Seasoning. Cooked for 3 hours at 275. Took about 30 min to reach that temp. Added wood at about 2.50 hours. Everything went perfectly. Smoke started within 3 minutes (dry hickory chips).

Reviewers note: I own a Masterbuilt electric turkey fryer. I only use it to steam fish, lobster and other seafood. It works great with turkey. It is just I cannot stand the smell of the oil. Most people cant smell it. I can. Buth the unit works perfectly.

BTW, the BBQ guy, John McLemore pushes his recipe book everywhere in the purchasing process. Normally, I find this stuff worthless, but John works up some really good recipes, from Low Country Boil stuff to smoked Prime Rib. $19.95 at my pals at Amazon. Worth the investment.

This weekend, doin ribs.....wish me luck y'all! Will report back.

Step 2: Smoking

I did two slabs of ribs. The unit worked perfectly. The remote control is awesome! I was controlling things from 80 feet away, checking on temp etc. I used MUCH less wood chips than I did my trial run and the taste was fabulous. Less is more when it comes to how much wood to use. I used two tray fulls of hickory. You can always add more flavor later with hickory sauces or salt, but if you use too much smoke.....yuck. Takes some experimenting, and what is so cool with this unit is that it is soooo easy.

Warning: the remote has an on/off button. I thought it was just for the remote. But if you press it, it turns the UNIT on/off in addition to the remote. The instructions never told me this.

Cleanup: the only thing I clean up is the drip pan, water pan, the racks and the glass. Have to do this anyway with any other grill, except the glass. I squirted windex on it and voila, good as new.

Con: the only one besides the remote issue is the drip tray. You have to make sure the unit is tilted back enough to let the grease drain into the pan. Otherwise it leaks through the front. I put a 2" piece of wood on the front legs rather than try to tweak the adjustable wheels. Worked fine.

All in all, a very impressive, easy way to get into smoking!

Step 3: Smoke the heck out of it!

I have tried everything from potato salad smoking to pork loin to brisket. Unit totally dependable, remote control works flawlessly (see above) and the glass IS easy to clean with Windex. Look, I watched from afar, never thought I could smoke food. This makes me look good.

UPDATE:

I have had the smoker for several months now, and just like S&P's downgrading of the US, I must downgrade this unit. For some reason, I cannot get rid of an acrid, metallic smell to the smoke. To test, I burned the same hickory chips on my gas grill and in this unit. The gas grill smoke was true to the wood, but this Masterbuilt keeps on giving a combination smoke/metallic odor. I read somewhere someone else noticing the same thing. While it functions perfectly, I can't stand the smell it gives off. Selling it off and buying a Weber Smokey.

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This is now my third smoker, and probably my last (assuming it keeps working flawlessly as it has been). Before this I had a cheapo Brinkmann electric smoker, and then a Weber Smokey Mountain. I've only had this unit for about 3 weeks now, but I've smoked probably 7-8 different items on it, and here is my opinion on the unit itself.

Pros:

LCD control makes this thing brain-dead simple to use. Set the temp/time and it continuously cycles the heat on/off to maintain this temp to within several degrees. Also has things like a light to turn on, as well as a built-in meat probe to check the temps on.

Remote Love, love, love this feature. Allows you to change the time/temp away from the unit. My favorite part of it, however, is that you can check the internal temp of whatever you're smoking if you're using the built-in thermometer. Very handy.

Wood chip side-loader why don't more companies do this? Makes it sooo easy to add chips without losing heat. My biggest frustration with the last two smokers was that you had this tiny, tiny door that you were somehow supposed to fit a fistful of chips through without burning yourself. Thank you, Masterbuilt, for being the first ones to realize this flaw.

Window I've had no issues with mine smoking up during using. I suspect people that are getting heavy grime build-up during their smoking is allowing too much smoke to be produced (you want a very thin, light amount of smoke thick rolls of white smoke will make very bitter food).

Cons:

On/off on remote this turns the actual smoker on/off itself. Once the smoker and remote are on, the controller cannot be turned off. Very annoying.. I still can't fathom a single reason why you would want to turn off the smoker from a distance, but I CAN think of why you'd want to turn off the remote when you aren't checking/changing anything.

Timed on/off for heating you have to set a specific time on the timer before it'll heat. If this timer runs out, the heat turns off. I just don't get this 'feature'. I have no idea how long something is going to take to smoke, and if I set it to 5 hrs and it takes me 6.. it'll just turn off after 5. It's just a 'feature' that gets in the way because I always set my smoker to 24 hours and then turn it off myself when it's done.

Size the length and width dimensions on this thing are spot-on, but I really wish Masterbuilt would've made it a few inches deeper. For reference, I just threw in a 13 lb turkey and that's about as large as you can fit. At 13 lbs, it's already pressed against the back wall of the smoker. Slightly disappointing for the large size as I would've liked to smoke our 18-20 lb turkeys in it.

Build quality for the price, I feel like the unit could be sturdier. Lots of parts are held together by two screws that bend when in use. The wheels also squeal after using it for a few times. Also, the seal on my door doesn't fully seal (I've adjusted the latch and door to no avail). I emailed Masterbuilt and they got back to me promptly offering to replace it for free, so +1 to their CS.

Heat retention this unit has very little in terms of heat retention. If you open the door for a few seconds to add something or whatnot, it will literally lose 50* or more (and this is on a decent day, say 50-60* outside). I wish they had lined this thing with some lava rock or something so that it would retain heat when the door opened.

Overall, I would highly recommend this smoker despite a few flaws it has (in my opinion). I've produced some great results with it, and it has immensely simplified the work needed to properly smoke something.

********************* UPDATE *******************************************

After having this thing for about two months now, I'm demoting it from 4* to 3*.

Two reasons:

1) The build quality on this thing is really suspect, as I noticed previously. The wheels now squeal terribly whenever it's used, and they're rickety. Furthermore, after maybe my 10th smoke on this thing, the light bulb has either burned out or just stopped working.

2) The unit originally came with a door seal that didn't seal the top of the door fully. I emailed Masterbuilt about this, and they told me it was normal (it's not, they lied to me). I found out it wasn't normal, they said they'd ship me a new one right away.. 6+ weeks later, no sign of it, no shipping information, no email back from Masterbuilt.

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I just bought this on Black Friday at Bass Pro Shop for 179.94 + tax. I used it to smoke a Boston Butt, Whole Chicken Wings, Turkey Legs, and Some Mac and Cheese. Everything turned out great so far.

It is super easy to use. The Remote control is amazing. It allows you to monitor the tempature of the smoker plus the tempature of the meat probe. The tempature control works really well. It heated a little above 225 after I added some wood chips but the tempature was easily conrolled by opening the vent up a little. Adding wood chips are a breeze. I plan on smoking a whole turkey soon and maybe some ribs.

The internal light helps when you are loading and unloading the meat into the smoker.

The only Con is the glass window. Once you start smoking meat it gets smokey and dirty fairly fast but you can still see in.

Masterbuilt has some really good youtube videos on this smoker and some tips for using their electric smokers. Thats where I got the idea for the smoked Mac and Cheese.

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Keeley's Bar & Grill 14'' x 11'' Collectible Stretched Canvas

• 13'' x 11'' Ready to hang
• Gallery wrapped on stretcher bars - No frame needed
• Archival quality canvas and inks
• UV Coated for durability
• 100% Satisfaction guarantee

Can't tell if this is related to the Keeley's Brewery or not. Breweries often put people up in business to sell their product in the local neighborhoods.Is this one of those? Not too many Irish Breweries at the turn of the last century.

Architec Stretch Cooking Band, 2-Inch, Package 20, Assorted Colors

this is a high quality product and it works very well trussing a chicken to put into a rotissere oven and they clean up very well to be reused again so you can always have them handy when you need them would recommend them to others who use a rotissere oven at home last longer than the twine does

I really like these things I lost mine at a BBQ competition so I'm getting more. They're so much easier to use than twine. Just stretch them over your cook and they hold your stuff.

And they really tolerate the heat. I used some on a chicken rotisserie to keep the extremities bound. The bands were 3 inches away from high temp as the bird rotated and looked good as new when done.

Buy these and toss the twine.

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Working with kitchen twine to tie off game hens, pork loins, et al is always a bit of a hassle, especially when the meat is marinated. These bands are easy to use and place around food items; much faster than looping and tying twine. Compared to the cooking twine, it's not very cost effective, but if you don't tie off roasts, game birds, etc., very often, you'll want to go with these for ease of use.

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I have used these for several years and think they are terrific. Here's a great tip. I will not use any any plastic when cooking or reheating food in the microwave, so I just cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the container I am using, put this handy little band around it to hold the parchment in place, cut a vent in the top with a knife, and cook. This is a wonderful product,making food safer to eat by avoiding the use of plastic.

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You can tie up a bird with string, if you happen to have a spool of cooking string handy. It is not a part of my kitchen counter clutter. These bands do the same job much easier and are easy to store in a drawer.

Swissmar KF-77043 8-Person Classic Raclette Party Grill, Red Enamel

This raclette grill is authentic and functional. For the little space it takes, you can cook a delicious dinner without using other pans. The grilled food tastes like it was cooked at a barbecue grill. The grill on top has slightly higher edges to catch any sauce or liquid from spilling. Cleans very easily. The temperature knob is great. Highly recommended.

We just had our first day with this item... the family loved it! We had a big lunch (the traditional potatoes with cheeses & lunchmeats) then later, used it to make melty desserts like crepes, s'mores & mini tarte flambes (pre-cut toasted tortilla squares with sliced bananas & dark chocolate).

The recipe possibilities are endless. Mini-pizzas, sliders, baked pasta, etc., + the temp control is a good feature.

The product is light and pretty portable. Easy to clean and stow. Best feature I noticed right away; my family was having fun together! We're gonna keep this to ourselves awhile before we share with guests. I highly recommend!!!

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I really like the square pans, they're much easier to use than the wedge-shaped ones. Everything is coated in non stick so it cleans up like a breeze. The temperature knob is a nice touch, just watch your fuses, whenever it kicks on my lights flicker. It's a good time for when you want to say to your guests, cook it your damn'd self.

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This grill was smaller and flimsier than I had expected, and much more flimsy than the price would imply. Other than that, it seems to work very well, and we have used it several times now. I'd buy it again, as I haven't seen anything better.

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My husband and I were invited to our daughter's home for dinner cooked on the Raclette grill. The different foods were great and we liked the casualness of the meal as the guests relaxed and interacted with one another. It was so much fun that we decided to purchase one for ourselves. We have used it several times with relatives and friends and enjoy this type of entertaining. Our Raclette will accommodate eight people fairly well. It is super easy to clean and fun to use. Amazon had a good selection and a decent price.

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Maverick OT-3BBQ Kitchen Thermometer, Black

I have had the Maverick for almost a year and I am well pleased with it. I read some of the reviews before purchasing and saw the problems with the cables so I ordered the one designed for BBQ and smokers, with the steel braided cable. I use this primarily in the oven in the house. In fact it stays in the oven all the time. The opening and closing of the door has not affected the cable. I also rarely turn it off. I keep it on the non-averaging mode so it shows current actual tempurature. I replaced the AAA battery (regular batery non-alcaline)for the first time last week after it had been on for the best part of 10 months, 24/7. I don't have a good way to validate its accuracy other than looking at the way baked goods come out after I use the Maverick to adjust the oven temp. On that basis I find it to be accurate. I am happy enough with this to order a Maverick for my son.

I bought this to monitor the temperature in my smoker. Smoking a pork shoulder for ten hours or so requires strict temperature control and this little device has proved invaluable. There are more elaborate models out there that have more functions but this one is just a simple thermometer with an alarm setting that will beep when your desired temp is reached if you want as well as a timer function. It's accurate and it works but the real reason I rate it so highly is I forgot about it and left it outside all last winter! This thing endured some nasty weather and you know what? It still works! I didn't even need to replace the battery! I'm very impressed with this thing's durability and I highly recommend it.

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No complaints. My wife has thought for years that the kitchen oven was running hot. By using our new Maverick, I was able to verify that the oven was indeed hot by 12 to 20 degrees depending on the temperature. Per oven instuctions, I lowered the temperature scale by 15 degrees. Now she's happy.

I was going to remove a star because the product documentation, although well written, did not give an accuracy tolerance.

But on the Maverick website () it is stated (in response to a question): "All of our digital thermometers have a tolerance of +/(3-4) degrees F...".

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Excellent thermometer for either BBQ or regular Kitchen Oven usage. The main rule to follow is to avoid making sharp bends in the probe cable. If you do make sharp bends, either in storage or in use, you may damage the cable and render it useless. The probe tip mounts easily in the included "foot mount" and the probe tip should be placed near the item being cooked. If using it in the oven, you can close the oven door on the cable without causing any damage but just be sure that this does not cause any "kinks" in the cable. For storage, it will be safer to coil up the cable rather than storing it in the "bowtie" fashion that it was originally packaged with. I use this unit for both Kitchen oven and outdoor BBQ grills and it works great in both applications. Be aware, however, that your oven will have a fluctuating temperature. For example,if you set it for 350 degrees, the actual temperature in the oven will likely cycle up to about 375 and then shut off until the temperature drops to about 325. The OT-03BBQ thermometer display will rise and fall throughout these cycles, so you will need to take this into consideration.

My experience over many examples, however, is that the temperatures displayed (or selected)by most residential ovens are usually not accurate but some will have the capability for you to "adjust" the temperature setting. This capability, used in conjunction with the BBQ thermometer, will allow you to more accurately adjust your oven settings.

Another caution: Do not leave the cable in the oven when using the "oven cleaning" function. The extreme heat from this cleaning operation will likely ruin the BBQ probe.

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This is great for monitoring the smoker's internal temperature and the display is large enough that it can be viewed from my kitchen window with the smoker sitting outside. My only complaint is that once it is set to the mode to view average temperature, it beeps almost constantly for temperatures over or under by a set number of degrees. Would be even better if there was a means to stop the beeper and still display average temperature.

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GR100 Grill for Kicker 10" Round Subwoofers

Fits my Kicker 10" sub woofer well, give it is professional finish. I had to purchase eight replacement screws which were about 1/4" longer that the original screws used to support the speaker to the frame. It give my sub-woofer the added protection against objects in the rear of my SUV.

Hey it is what it says it is, a custom fit grill that protects your kicker sub from crap flying around the trunk of your car. Yes it's plastic like the other reviewer said, but aren't they all pretty muck these days? I wouldn't call it cheap plastic either as in it doesn't flex when you push something into, which is what you want. It sits about an inch an a half maybe two away from the sub box once installed which give your woofer plenty of room to move if you're so inclined to push it that far? Overall I'm quite satisfied with it. My only real beef with it it that kicker doesn't supply the screws with it? Yes you can use the existing ones, but they wont sit flush with the grill as the screw heads are tapered etc. So a minus one star for that!

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I thought this would fit any 10" speaker, but it only fits Kicker speakers, so I returned it. If I had a Kicker speaker I still would have returned it, it's just cheap plastic.

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