Showing posts with label event grill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label event grill. Show all posts

Thursday, August 28, 2014

4-Way Grilling Wrench

4-Way Grilling WrenchI received this item as a gift and I absolutely love it. The design is very detailed and creative and the grilling tool is very easy to use with everything you need right there at your finger tips. I plan on giving this grilling wrench out as Christmas presents as I am sure all the nascar lovers I know are going to enjoy it just as much as I have.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Portable Butane Stove

Portable Butane StoveThis butane stove is sturdy and strong. It's big enough that you don't have to worry about the whole thing tipping over, the way you do with a tiny camping stove.

The butane canister kind of looks like a large bottle of hairspray. It's simple to install the butane canister you just put the canister in there gently and flip a lever to connect it there's no chance that you will get it in there the wrong way. (You don't have to pour any fuel in with a funnel, or anything smelly like that.) When you are ready to store away the stove, you just disconnect the butane canister, pop the plastic cap back on, and put it away.

I found out that butane canisters can be purchased on the web, but the shipping costs are more than the cost of the canisters, so it's easier to buy them locally at restaurant supply stores, or sporting/camping stores. On the other hand, if you are in the middle of a big weather disaster, and every store in town is sold out of butane canisters, then who cares about how much it costs. Thankfully UPS and Fedex deliver will stuff to your door, even in the middle of a winter wind/ice storm. Normally a butane canister costs about $2 or $3, and lasts around 3 hours. It's better to have a few in the garage, because they sell out pretty fast during a big windstorm, even in a metro city area.

This is a great stove for when the power goes out. The next time we get a windstorm, and the power goes out for 3 days, like it did during the big windstorm of Jan 2007 in the metro Seattle area, I'm all set.

By the way, I would recommend getting a butane stove even if you have a generator, because you will need the generator to run some lights and a heater. It's not much fun to have to disconnect the heater and the lights from the generator, , in freezing weather. With a butane stove, you can have your coffee, and your lights and heater too. It makes life much more pleasant during a long power outage.

I wanted a portable butane stove to use in emergencies. I spent a long time reading reviews of different models, and had a hard time making a rational decision because, to tell the truth, stoves of this kind hardly differ in their feature sets at all. They all use the same 8oz butane canisters, all have piezoelectric igniters and let you adjust the flame from high down to nothing. As far as I know they're all light (including this one -some online data I saw gave its weight as 7 lbs., which is misleading at best as it's really more like 4) and I think most of them come in a plastic case. I finally chose this one because it had many reviews on Amazon, most of them positive, featured a 10,000 BTU burner, and had a carrying case right in the product photo so I knew for sure it came with one.

Although I only expect to use my stove in emergencies, I tested it out when I first got it. I put a pan of water on, and it boiled in a very reasonable time. However, there are some annoyances that I have to point out. First of all, as others have said, you have to make sure the notch on the fuel can is lined up with the pin on the fitting before you press down the lever that pulls the can into the fitting. Unfortunately there's no kind of guide to help you line it up, you just have to eyeball it. In contrast, I found an instructional video for the Sterno ActionStation stove, and it has a little tab that folds down into the slot so you know it's lined up correctly. In hindsight that would be a nice feature to have. Second, when you do push down the lever, the torque of the lever-driven assembly pulling the fuel can into the fitting causes the entire stove to bend a little bit out of shape until things are fully seated. This is a little alarming, so it would be nice if the stove were just a little more rigid. Third, the control knob is a little wobbly so it's hard to tell whether you have the gas set on "max" or "min" without actually looking at the flame. Finally, like most butane stoves of this kind, this model has only four supports for your pot or pan to sit on (as opposed to my kitchen range, which has eight). This makes it seem a bit precarious if you're using a small-diameter saucepan. It would be nice if the supports extended a little farther toward the center of the burner to provide better stability.

All in all, this stove is just fine and I'm going to keep it, but I can't give it five stars.

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The stove comes in a nice case and is lightweight. You have to be careful to line up the groove in the butane canister and turn over the burner plate to expose the pot holders. It starts easily and has a variable flame. We got it primarily for when the power goes out and wanted a clean burning unit that we could use indoors. Butane is a cleaner burning fuel than the white gas used in our old camping equipment and this is a much more stable stove as well.

Read Best Reviews of Portable Butane Stove Here

This stove can come in really handy even without a power outage. Used it to cook brunch for a crowd. Also was handy during an outdoor BBQ as an extra burner to sautee onions next to the grill. Would be easier to clean if the base around the burner was a smoothe paint rather than dull. Overall, works well.

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During the recent winter storms, I lost power for most of a weekend. With no way to cook (my stove is electric), I lived on crackers & cheese and cereal in frigid temperatures. I vowed that I was not going to go through another power outage like that, so I came to Amazon to find a solution.

I found and ordered this product and, while I haven't actually cooked on it yet, I have assembled it (with a butane canister that I purchased separately) and turned it on several times. It is very easy to set up, but there are a few things that I feel potential buyers should know:

1) It wasn't immediately obvious to me (and no instructions were included) that the burner top is shipped upside down, not right side up as shown in the product picture. So, upon opening the carrying case, you need to lift out the burner top and flip it over. Note that there are curved sides and a straight side--the burner will only fit into the stove one way, so you'll need to line up the curves on the burner with the curves on the stove for it to fit right.

2) When you insert the butane canister into the stove, look for an opening (a cutout of sorts) on the lip at the top of the butane can. Line up that opening with the stove's receptacle and then push down the lever on the front of the stove to lock it in place. If you put in the butane canister and you don't get a flame when you turn on the stove, it is likely because you did not align the canister properly (this happened to me twice).

3) Some reviewers have reported not being able to find butane canisters to fit this stove at their local hardware store. I bought a 4-pack of canisters on Amazon. If you do the same, be very careful to review shipping costs before adding it to your cart. Most if not all of the butane on Amazon isn't sold by Amazon but by other sellers and some of the shipping costs are outrageous--some are more than the cost of the butane! (I'm told that because butane is a flammable substance, the seller may have to pay an extra fee to ship it.)

4) The butane does put off fumes, so you'll need to use the stove in a ventilated area. I imagine most buyers of this product use it for camping, but I'm buying it for a cooking source during a power outage, so I'd use it on my balcony or outside my house.

5) Be careful about storing your butane canisters. My initial thought was to store them in the garage, but in the summer my garage gets quite warm, so I don't think it would be safe to store them there year-round.

I love that the stove comes in its own carrying case, so that I can store it easily and safely when it's not in use (which, in my case, will be most of the time). This way, I don't have to worry about dust and bugs getting in it and having to clean it each time before I can use it.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Krups 132-46 Sandwich Express Sandwich Maker

Krups 132-46 Sandwich Express Sandwich MakerIt looks great, the non-stick surfaces are really nonstick. The handles do not get hot. The sandwiches made from this are delicious. Money well spent.

THE GOOD: so I must admit this is one pretty cool sandwich maker. It melts cheese puuuuuuuurfectly. My mushrooms are pretty well squished in with the ham and the tomatoes dont come out soggy at all. It's cute and small and has that ever so popular Krups brand on it so you know it's good.

THE BAD: problem is it's too small and cute. One slice of white bread barely fits in there and don't even think about putting Italian bread or real Sourdough bread in there..it just wont fit.

THE UGLY: when it's all over and you just endulged in this great melty cheesy snadwich thats gooey all over your hands, guess what..it's also gooey all over the sandwich maker as well! There are so many nookes and cranneys in this little machine that it's impossible to get all the melted on gunk. And after about 5 or 10 sandwiches you can just imagion the nastyness.

FINAL NOTE: ultimatly if you want to take the 20 min or so (and thats a conservative estimate) to clean this thing up each and every time you use it then it's a gret deal. It makes a variety or deli meat great hot sandwiches that literally melt in your mouth.

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It's going to be a couple weeks before I receive mine, but I had the pleasure of using this machine at a friend's house and it prompted me to buy it here. Unlike some other brands I saw at the department store, this one has an adjustable hinge that lets you fit more in your sandwich. They have had it for a few months and use it all the time (When they're not using the George Foreman). It's very fast at sandwich making and the sandwiches taste great! Breakfast sanwiches, reubens, hor's d'oeuvres, leftovers, and don't forget the hot peanut butter and jelly! The possibilities are endless. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Read Best Reviews of Krups 132-46 Sandwich Express Sandwich Maker Here

Just bought this 2 days ago. Love it for making sandwiches for myself and 2 year old. It's great if you're watching your weight because you can't squeeze a ton of junk on it, though a decent amount fits which is good for little one's sandwiches too. I have not found it hard to clean, definitely doesn't take 20 mins like someone said in one review. If you wait till it's just slightly warm and clean it with a dry paper towel over the sink, you can easily wipe the rest out with a damp sponge. 2 minutes tops. Love this thing, glad I bought it, just don't overstuff it.

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Bought this from another web site for 12.99 and it works great. Makes nice crisp sandwiches and very little mess to clean up. All I do is wipe it clean with a rag when I'm done. It takes about 4 minutes to warm up and about 4-5 minutes to cook. We really like this item.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Microhearth Cookware Set (Everyday Pan Combo & Grill Pan) for Microwave Oven, Lime

Microhearth Cookware Set for Microwave Oven, LimeHats off to the genius who came up with this handy product! It truly changes the whole concept of microwave cooking and makes keeping your stove clean a whole lot easier! All the meat I cook in it comes out tender and juicy. Best cooking device I've purchased in years! Thanks Amazon!

I had a baby last summer, so I never manage to find time to cook anymore. This microwave set has been a total lifesaver. Now I can steam veggies, make eggs, cook meats and pasta and even make muffins. Everything turns out great, you wouldn't even know it was from the microwave. Plus clean up is a snap...you just rinse these out instead of cleaning skillets, pans and stove tops.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

12-Inch & 9-Inch Stainless Steel Tongs Set, Serving Tong, Wide Scalloped Gripping Edge, Barbecue BB

12-Inch & 9-Inch Stainless Steel Tongs Set, Serving Tong, Wide Scalloped Gripping Edge, Barbecue BBQ Grilling Tong, Heat-Resistant Non-Slip Black Textured Handle, Flexible Non-Hinged JointThese tongs are just what I was looking for. They have a spring-like action that make them easy to use. I also like the coated handle to help protect your hand from the heat. They seem very sturdy. Good product.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Weiman Gas Range Cleaner and Degreaser

Weiman Gas Range Cleaner and DegreaserAlright, so it must be admitted I let my stove go too long between cleanings. At least certain parts it has some seriously baked in grease.

That said... this cleaner is doing a barely passable job on new grease, let alone older stuff. Honestly, I haven't really seen any difference between it and regular household cleaners. If you want something to really cut through this stuff, you'll likely find better options elsewhere.

I've just made my second purchase of this product. It really does remove the burned-on residue from my stovetop. As a not-so-great housekeeper, I really value not having to scrub the left-on goo that happens when a pot boils over on my enamel cooktop. Just spray, wait a minute, and off it comes -usually with just one swipe.

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The is a fairly good range top cleaner, but it took several applications to get cooked-on grease to come off my range. The cooked-on grease was not that bad I've only had the range a few months. But the cleaner didn't break down the cooked-on grease as readily as I thought it would. On the plus side, it does not appear to damage the rangetop surface, and if you apply it and let it sit several minutes, that helps a bit more to cut the tougher grease areas.

Read Best Reviews of Weiman Gas Range Cleaner and Degreaser Here

This first time I used this I was shopping for something to clean my sister's stove. She had major back surgery and I went to stay with her for 2 months. Due to the bad back, her cleaning ability was limited. Her gas stove was in bad shape and the oven was a disaster. I found this product at Wal-Mart. As soon as I tried it I went back and bought another bottle. Spray it on, leave it for a while, full strength, then scrub. If the goop is old and very cooked on, it may take another application.

I don't understand the negative reviews. I am a 5'2" woman, age 70 with very arthritic fingers. If I can clean the goop off, anyone can. After I returned home I found 3 bottles of this stuff at my Wal-Mart. I have an electric stove and it works equally as well on it. If your stove has small areas you can't get at, dip a q-tip in the bottle. It works! I even put it on the bottom of my 46 year old electric skillet and made it look like brand new. I have never been able to find it again where I live. I guess ordering on line is cheaper then flying 2,500 miles to get it.

This product is worth more than the price. In 53 years of housekeeping, I have never found anything to clean a stove that works as well as Weiman Gas Range Cleaner.

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I was hoping this product would get the bits and spots that my usual detergent and scrubber couldn't. Unfortunately it's no better than anything else. I let the solution soak for several minutes and used the recommended scrub sponge companion, but it didn't budge those stubborn spots.

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Monday, December 23, 2013

Brinkmann Metal Meat Hook

Brinkmann Metal Meat HookI had seen these used by chefs before. I keep mine in my trailer and use it when camping. Works good with a little practice (dropped meat). Can also use to shoo away male BBQ sampling attempts by waving at their crotch.

I had a party at my home and someone brought their own tools! We all watched as this meat hook was used and I immediately ordered one.....no slipping of the big fork out of the meat/chicken, etc. One little puncture into the side of the food and over it goes!

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Christmas gift for a guy who loves to BBQ and he loved it. Anyone who loves to BBQ would appreciate this item.

Read Best Reviews of Brinkmann Metal Meat Hook Here

Thursday, December 19, 2013

LamsonSharp Classic Rosewood Bbq 15" Turner Tong

LamsonSharp Classic Rosewood Bbq 15' Turner TongThis is a great BBQ Tool. I have more BBQ turners and tongs than I'd like to count. They are either too flimsy or too large and unmanageable. The LamsonSharp Classic Rosewood BBQ 15" Turner Tong is perfect. It is lightweight yet extremely sturdy. I have used it to turn some filet mignons and it made it so much easier than a turner alone. I have since ordered several other LamsonSharp kitchen and BBQ tools to replace the others I swear at all the time. As a special feature for me, LamsonSharp tools are made in the U.S.A.

I had one like this that had a plastic handle and finally had to deep six it this one is an even better replacement. The tong side is wide enough to pick up a hamburger, long enough not to get burned on the grill and cleans up beautifully. Trust me, you can't flip four hamburgers at once when they slide on the grill this one is PERFECT.

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Monday, November 4, 2013

Maverick GL-01 Fluorscent Stainless Steel Grill Light

Maverick GL-01 Fluorscent Stainless Steel Grill LightI have an LED grill light with a dual magnetic/screw-clamp mounting mechanism. Both the LED light and its clamp work well enough. However, I thought the fluorescent light would provide a brighter light and illuminate a larger area (the LED light illuminates a small area as if it were a miniature spotlight).

I was wrong! The fluorescent light does cover a larger area bit with less brilliance. I decided to go back to using the LED.

Another consideration the difficulty of getting a stable mount/grip with the fluorescent light's squeeze-to-open mounting clamp.

the light is not quite as bright as I thought it would be and the clip is very tight and I have trouble finding a place on my grill it will clip on. The light does help some...better than before. The item was shipped fast & brand new as promised.

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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Bradley BTIS1 Original Fully Automatic 4-Rack Outdoor Food Smoker

Bradley BTIS1 Original Fully Automatic 4-Rack Outdoor Food SmokerI've owned this smoker for 3 years and have been very happy. I've cooked ribs, brisket, picnic shoulder, boston butt, and salmon and they all have come out fantastic. Using the Bradley is very simple. I've tried smoking the traditional way but for the occasional weekend smoker keeping the heat low and slow is nearly impossible; the constant monitoring of heat and fuel for 6-12 hours took out all the joy of eating. Bradley is the way to go!

Besides making sure there were enough "pucks" of wood, you have to check the water pan to make sure it doesn't go dry. If you're smoking something fatty like a boston butt, I would recommend tossing out the oil and ash that drips into the pan after 3 hours or so and add more water. Other than that it's set and forget.

We don't have a much of a selection of wood where I live (mesquite is king) so it's great how easy it is get different woods to try and mix them like the pros do. It's not expensive to run, Bradley recommends that you only need to smoke the food for only half the total time it takes to cook your food, so if it takes 12 hours to finish, you only need 6 hours worth of pucks.

The only reason it doesn't get five stars is because it doesn't get hotter than about 250 degrees. If it had a more powerful heating element it would have greater versatility and you could cook perfect chicken with crispy skin, or use it during colder outdoor temperatures.

Side note: Just as important as the smoker is the rub and sauce. The best cookbook for BBQ I've found is Peace, Love, & Barbecue: Recipes, Secrets, Tall Tales, and Outright Lies from the Legends of Barbecue. It gives you the REAL award winning recipes, not the common "based on" recipes from some well-known BBQ pros. In addition, there are valuable hints on prepping and cooking that most other books don't give and a great guide that will help you develop your own signature rub.

Nearly caught my house on fire with this product, and please do note I am not alone, especially lately check out the customer photos and their dates. Either this product is too difficult to use safely for most consumers, or I had a defective unit. I really believe it was the latter, but if it's the former, you're going to have a hard time keeping this product clean enough to be safe.

I bought this smoker in July (five months ago). On the fifth use, it inexplicably overheated, melting the door seal. There was no fire that time. Bradley sent out a replacement door seal, saying that I must have kept the vent closed, but they'd help me this time. I hadn't kept the vent closed, and said I was concerned it was a defective unit and a fire hazard. They continued to assert it must have been a closed vent. I crossed my fingers I had just not noticed my error.

It took me nearly 2 hours to replace the door seal, a dirty job that made me swear to myself I'd maintain the smoker perfectly so there would be no potential of user error going forward. Every single time I removed every single removable part and steel wool clean it. I wiped down the sides each time, and removed any obvious grease.

Five smokes later and my wife looks out the window just in time the whole thing was ON FIRE. I unplug it, douse it with water, and finish the turkey breast (not a greasy pork roast mind you, a turkey breast) in the oven.

I call them up, assuming the fire was proof I had a defective unit that would be quickly replaced. I figure, hey, they had a record of the first incident, so it shouldn't be much of a fuss. Ahem no.

After a week of chasing, I finally got to talk to Brian, who is in charge of "fire incidents." I explained the situation, the previous problem, my exact experience and use of it, and he said it's because of user error that I hadn't cleaned the smoker thoroughly enough, and too much grease is why it caught fire. Then he offered me a "deep discount" that he didn't actually reveal.

I tried to engage him in simple logic. If you're saying this unit, that has caught fire, is NOT DEFECTIVE, and I'm saying that I've used this as responsibly as possible, what you are saying is either A) I am lying to you about how I maintained the product or B) that this product carries a very reasonable risk of a fire starting through normal customer use.

Brian didn't really want to say "A" but he essentially did when he refused to acknowledge the possibility of a defective unit. He said the chances of a defect were "slim to zero," explaining to me about how the components are each inspected before assembly. When I raised the possibility that it had been improperly assembled or perhaps my unit was otherwise defective, he basically said no. When I noted that I noticed others on Amazon were also having this issue, he literally laughed and said every product on Amazon has negative reviews from a few people.

This was pretty insulting given the time that I had invested and my earnest belief that I had used this product right and it was a defective unit. But at that point I realized that any company that would rather insult a customer than acknowledge the possibility that they could make a manufacturing error was not worth a minute more of my time other than helping assure other people aren't in my exact situation.

I wish I had taken others' warnings seriously and not written them off as being posted by careless people who didn't bother taking care of the unit properly.

You need to know that this product has the potential to catch fire, even if you use it very responsibly and even if you are as careful as I was. I'm not some random Internet troll I'm a regular suburban father who wouldn't bother posting this review if the product just stopped working.

It's a dangerous product, and even more dangerous that Bradley isn't taking the recent swell of customer fire reports seriously.

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I bought this for my husband for Christmas to replace an old (scary-looking) smoker. It was a real pain having to ask his folks to send mesquite wood from Texas to Massachusetts, then cut it up, soak it, etc.

We tried the Bradley smoker this weekend while we had the unusually warm weather. It comes with pellets of wood which get fed in automatically; much easier. The prime rib was done in no time at all; we finished it off in the oven for a crispier outside. We also smoked fresh kielbasa. Both were amazing. Can't wait to try the cold smoke feature!

Read Best Reviews of Bradley BTIS1 Original Fully Automatic 4-Rack Outdoor Food Smoker Here

First off, GREAT choice looking at the Bradley Smoker!

I have a barrel smoker I have used for a few years and I needed to get something to make my life a little easier so I could smoke over night and not have to get up every hour to add wood.

The Bradley Smoker 4 Rack is an awesome tool backed up by an awesome company. I have had mine for about a year now. I have smoked, ribs, brisket, pork butts, and cold smoked cheese. I have chicken wings, pork belly, and other meats lined up for the rest of this summer.

I do not suggest the digital smoker as it resets itself every 10 hours or so and requires you to unplug and restart. The Original Bradley Smoker has a sliding knob at the bottom that is used to control the heat. Normally you start out at max and leave it there for a while. After a time you will need to move it over an inch to set the temp.

Yes you do need to buy special briskets from Bradley but they are on sale here at Amazon and else where most of the time. I purchased one box of each flavor and have not needed to resupply in months and I do a lot of smoking.

Check out BradleySmoker.com and their forum and see for yourself. Great Product, Great Company! There is also a 6 rack/shelf unit out there and some come wrapped in stainless steel for a nice look!

The one and only downside to this smoker, it does not produce a smoke ring. There is NOTHING missing from the flavor but there is no smoke ring. My solution to that is starting meats in my barrel smoker for a couple hours then moving it to the Bradley Smoker for an overnight cooking!

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I had high hopes for this smoker, as my family loves smoked food, which we'd always done on a Weber grill in the past.

The Bradley Electric Smoker started out okay, but now has ultimately proven to be unreliable. We've had it for about 1 1/2 years, but have only used it perhaps 10 times.

The smoke generator stopped functionally correctly first: it is supposed to change the smoke chip every 20 minutes, but this became erratic, and it would leave a chip without changing it for an extended period creating acrid smoke. I called Bradley; they kindly sent me a new timer for the generator, which I installed, but it continues to malfunction and has to be watched like a hawk. The internal parts of the generator are clear and not clogged with grease or debris.

Second: it has never gotten as hot as I would have wanted; maximum temperature is 180 degrees for the first few hours even with pre-heating, and starting the desired meats in the oven before putting the ribs and chicken in the smoker.

And last, the base developed a crack in the plastic, in front where the temperature control is, with no history of damage to the unit.

Overall, I cannot recommend this appliance, and suggest you try other ways to get your smoked meats fix.

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Monday, September 16, 2013

CobraCo FB8008 Diamond Mesh Fire Pit with Screen and Cover

CobraCo FB8008 Diamond Mesh Fire Pit with Screen and CoverThis is my first fire pit. I bought this particular model after reviewing more than 100 others for a handful of reasons listed under PRO below, and the product delivered well on every expectation.

PRO:

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1. It's a large diameter model. I need it big enough to hold whatever firewood I can buy locally, and this model handles it all well. I don't have to chop normal firewood into littler pieces.

2. It's a deep model. Those little pan models are out of the question. This model holds several pieces of wood and all the newspaper I care to ball up underneath. When I'm ready to light it, a single match takes care of everything for the first couple hours. Instead of giving the fire my constant attention, I can enjoy my family and guests.

3. There's a wonderful flat surface ringing the pit, and it's tall enough to be useful. The ring stays cool, perfect for plates and drinks. We particularly like keeping mugs of hot chocolate on the ring as we settle around the fire after dark, having eaten dinner there when it was light out. We also bought marshmallow roasting sticks that work beautifully with this fire pit.

4. The diamond mesh allows superior air flow. A fire cannot thrive without air, and this pit provides far more than other models. I could wish that the pan's bottom allowed air also, but that would allow debris (and hot coals) to fall through.

5. The mesh lid is solid and effective. I have no worries about safety when the lid is in place.

6. The entire unit is solid. Some friends have a more rickety model. This fire pit's legs are sturdily attached, but their real stability comes from their wide base.

7. Absolutely zero maintenance is required after initial assumbly. Just park this fire pit in your back yard and pull up a few of those soccer-mom sideline chairs. The firewood itself requires a bit of attention of course, but there's nothing to turn or tighten on the fire pit itself.

8. It comes with a cover! That's something you definitely want, and this model saves you that expense. My cover lasted until the lawnmowing service started a few months later, but I expect that any cover of any quality would not have survived that weed-eater treatment. Shame on me for leaving the fire pit in my suburban backyard grass instead of building a patio or laying out some bricks.

CON:

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1. Assembly was a bit more difficult than I expected, but not bad really. All the parts are black, so it's hard even to see the holes and alignments. The metal edges aren't sharp exactly, but neither are they smooth and comfortable like rolled edges. The instructinos are clearly written in real English. But legs were attachable curving inward instead of outward, and the big ring was attachable upside-down. I could imagine v2.0 of this model ensuring that parts can only be assembled correctly. This one minor point almost gave this product less than a perfect score, but ultimately the finished product is what I rated not the assembly.

2. After six months of occasional use, the wire mesh lid looks a little burned in one place. I expect that the fire got too hot once, and that a steel wire brush would make it look new again. But I'm still in zero-maintenance mode, and I care far more about the function than continuing the like-new look.

Overall Summary: It's bigger than it looks, and quite solid. The size allows pre-building a long-lasting fire, and the mesh allows air to feed that fire so you don't need to tend it constantly. The wide, flat ring surface makes the whole unit more functional.

The product itself is actually really nice. Pretty much it's the main bowl that sits in the frame with the legs so that when you have the firepit going the main bowl is hot but the outer metal stay cool.

The problem I had with the product was that one of the legs was broken out of the box and the mesh cover was dented. I guess thankfully I have a lot of patients and am in no hurry; I called the company to request replacement for these parts under warranty. Now some may go crazy considering how long it's taking for these parts to arrive. (Around a month) but that's because they need to ship the part from China to their HQ in the US and then ship it to you. Best part is the request stays in the their records, I've dealt with so many other companies and half the time the ticket number would just magically disappear *cough HTC cough*. They even personally called me up to give me the status of the part and to give me the situation of the part.

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Be aware that if any parts are missing you will be asked to ship the whole fire pit to Woodstream for replacement. I was missing the screen handle and bolt and they told me to ship the whole fire pit back to them for replacement. Sorry, I did not stay on the call long enough to find out if the shipping would be at my cost or theirs.

In my opinion this is pretty poor customer service for a minor part. There are a lot of other choices, I plan to avoid this company in the future.

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Whoever said "she" assembled this in 15 minutes, must have had extra hands helping or assembled it in a black hole time warp! Took me a solid hour. The tools provided are adequate but not "hand-friendly" and a philips-head screw driver is needed but not provided (no big deal). Whoever is counting bolts, nuts, and screws miscounted on my order, apparently just as with other orders. I had one less screw than necessary and two extra bolts than needed; so I improvised and used a nut where there was to be a screw. When your unit comes with insufficuent nuts, bolts, and screws, either improvise as I did or take one of whatever you are missing down to Lowes/Home Depot and pay the 32cents per nut/bolt/screw rather than returning the entire fire pit. Also, instructions neglect to tell you to be certain that the "ring" is below the upper lip of the fire canister and not above it during assembly. After assembly (1 hour), loved it! Whoever said "her" kids sat their hot cocoa on the ring must not have had a robust fire going at the time; the heat generated will melt or super-heat anything left on the useful decorative ring. Be careful what you put on the ring ... it gets really hot! All-in-all I really like the unit, but the pit fits too tightly to remove from the ring (at first) when dumping ashes out .... so you have to lift pit, ring, and all to dump, but its doable. After a fire or two the pit lifted from the ring for easier dumping. The actual pit is a really wide diameter, which I love for burning broken/fallen branches and split logs in ... you can easily sit 6 around this pit or 8-10 at a farther distance from the pit. Enjoy it... I am!

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Just got it. Quite fast...2 days free shipping, Sat. delivery. Assembled in less than an hour. All parts needed where there, with the exception of washers (it lost a star for this). I highly recommend using stainless steel lock washers on all the "ring" assembley screws (8) and under the mesh lid cover for it's handle, and star lock washers on the (4) feet screws. That's what I did anyway. The included tiny open-end wrench will drive you crazy (another reason for the lost star) so be sure to have a 10mm open-end/box wrench and a 10mm speed nut driver if you can. The rest are Allen nuts (8) which I personally hate, but they include an Allen nut driver in a good size. You also need a #2 or #3 Phillips driver. The assembly went easily with the right tools. Everything fit well and looked great after assembly. The paint/coating was not scratched anywhere. The welds seem ok. Seems quite sturdy.

We looked at a lot of fire pits before choosing this one. We like the all black coating....it goes with everything, and and black residue from smoke etc. will merely blend in. One of the main reasons we chose this one is it's height. It's only 14" high, and we happen to have 2 Eddie Bauer folding camping chairs that are 12" high. Others we considered are 23" high or so, and would be too high for our EB chairs and even regular chairs (typically 17-18"). In any event, we wanted a low profile pit, not something that dominated our new natural stone patio, but merely enhanced it. We also feel that the low profile is safer....less top heavy with a lower flame/spark profile. Be sure to put at least 1" of sand or DG (decomposed granite) in the bottom before using.

Have not lit a fire yet, but don't need to in order to review it. The fire part is easy. We will simply use Duraflame logs to start it and throw in firewood as needed.

Hope this review helps someone.

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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Emeril by T-fal CB6530003 Gourmet Griller with Removable Nonstick Die-Cast Aluminum Grill Plate, Si

Emeril by T-fal CB6530003 Gourmet Griller with Removable Nonstick Die-Cast Aluminum Grill Plate, SilverI saw this product presentation on HSN, it looks larger than my Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler so I took a chance. This grill is powerful, easy to clean (I love nonstick!) and perfect size for my family or home party. This grill is nothing like made in China garbage, it's made in France with great quality. I am glad I got this grill, it's highly recommended.

After extensive searching on not only Amazon but various other sites, I settled upon this grill. I made this decision based on both the manufacturer and the reviews it received stating that it achieved the high temperatures needed to sear a good steak.

PROS:

I've had it for a month now, and I feel it is about time I reviewed it. This grill has lived up to my every expectation. It reaches much higher than the temperatures I require to cook and it provides a very evenly heated surface. The non-stick surface makes it very easy to clean by either a sponge and warm soap water, or even a trip in the dishwasher when I am feeling lazy. Again, I can't say it enough, this grill cooks beautifully.

CONS:

Not very many, mostly my OCD nature. However, this grill is not perfect down to a T. The grill does not drain as easily as I would like, only a small problem, and only when I decide to pour most of my marinade on the grill. The Drip tray also leaves a bit to be desired. The worst thing I can say about this grill is the touchiness of the controls. It is not a continuous dial, and therefore you reach certain levels of heat as you "click" through. At some points while cooking you find a level too great of a difference, the only solution would be to purchase a gas grill, but you won't catch me outdoors grilling in the snow.

Overall a GREAT grill, worth every penny. If I needed another grill, I wouldn't dream of purchasing anything different. Especially when compared to the train-wreck of the Sanyo I had before.

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Great grill. I use it indoors for meats and vegetables. It works perfectly and being able to wash the grill in the dishwasher is an added bonus. Mine looks as good as the day it was delivered.

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This is no mess, easy to use and easy to clean...if you want that grilled taste this works well...no smoke in the house either...

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I purchased this for my daughter's b-day. She has used it quite a bit, and she informs me that its the best b-day gift ever.

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