T-fal FR4046002 Filtra Pro 2.6-Pound / 3-Liter Deep Fryer with Stainless Steel Waffle and Filter Sc

this fryer is easy to put togeter, easy to use, and makes the best french fries ever. i previously had a fry daddy and this fryer shamnes the fry daddy. everything comes out so clean and crisp. i love it, also you can filter out the oil which i think is way cool. the temp goes up to 370f, which i thought would be a problem because french fries call for somehting like 375f, but it works great. i don't even like going out for french fries anymore because the ones i make at home are way better. i have one of these and so does my sister and we both love them.

A costly product for less than a year's seldom useage and it was not abused. It was easy to clean. What stuck me as odd was the magnetic electrical connection. I sincerely think mine went bad at the electrical point. It never seemed to make a solid contact, therefore wouldn't work.

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Not a bad fryer, wish it was a little larger, but the size is listed in the description. Heats up quickly, and returns to temp quickly as well. Basket handle is a little odd, but works. Great entry level fryer.

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There is NO dial to turn to filter the oil and there is NO slide out container for the oil to filter itself into.

You CANNOT raise and lower the basket with the lid on as the basket hooks to drain the food only attaches over the top of the oil container and this would allow the oil to drip off the hooks onto the counter top.

NONE OF THE DESCRIPTION IS TRUE!!!

Who do I call to talk about these issues with? I still want the deep fryer that is described for the price that was listed...NOT SOME SUBSTITUTE!!!

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Mongolian BBQ Grill - Cast Iron

Purchased this item to use over a portable table-top burner for cooking Korean and Japanese meats and vegetables. Fits perfectly and does a supreme job. I highly recommend this item and shipping was quick and easy.

This is such a great item, very fun to use, food taste great!!!

Wiil recomend. . .

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The quality of product are very poor. I suggest don't buy this product. A lot of smoke and very sticky when you grill the meat. Hard to clean and lose color.

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I seasoned it with bacon and then cooked my some bugolgi from h-mart for thanksgiving.

It was awesome.

Hard to clean but all cast iron is.

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Don't get me wrong, the grill is great the first few times you use it. Cleaning is easier the first few times due to the fact that its brand new. Once I tried cooking meats that were heavier on the marinade, the cast iron grill gets quite messy and hard to clean. After a few more uses,I should be somewhat slick but that comes with time.

Bodum Fyrkat 13.4-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill

If you're looking for a cheap inexpensive small portable grill there are better choices. Weber makes several models cheaper than this. All in basic black. If looks matter, however, if you want your guests to comment about how nice your grill is, or you just like bright colors, the Bodum Fyrkat is about as about as cute as you're going to get.

I don't mean to dismiss appearance this is a nice looking grill. But it is more expensive and I honestly couldn't see why other than its unusual appearance.

The Fyrcat is slightly smaller and most definitely lighter than Weber grills in the same range. Lighter is probably better when looking at portability. The lid latches are tight and secure and allow you to carry the grill with charcoal ready to go inside.

The negative comments about the heat vents near the handle seem a bit over reactionary. Your hand is not directly exposed to the air escaping as the lower arm of the handle is directly above the vent. It's a minimal risk given that users should have protective mitts on hand nearby in the first place. The design also has a plus side as you turn the handle to close and open the vents. Not a major selling point, but it is easier on this grill than on the Weber Smokey Joe grills.

If you're on a tight budget this probably isn't the grill for you. If you're looking for something that's both practical and attractive, that shows itself off a little, this is a nice grill to own.

The Bodum Picnic Grill is a good looking grill that you can take with you on your family outings. It is big enough for a 4 or 5 hamburgers or steaks but small enough to easily fit in the trunk of your car.

A few other points

As others have mentioned the grills vent is right by the handle. You do need to be careful

With the locks on the side the grill can be moved without worrying about everything dumping out.

The grill is very colorful if you like colorful grills you are in luck!

Lightweight probably weighs less than 3lbs

Seems to have solid construction it certainly does not feel flimsy

Designed to allow even charcoal distribution while provide a nice convection like effect

At the list price the grill does not seem like much of a value. You may want to investigate to see if you can find less expensive options.

Final Verdict I am impressed with the grill, but you may be able to find a less expensive options

4 Stars

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The Bodum Frykat 13.4 Inch Portable Charcoal Grill is a handy little grill for those who don't have the space for a larger grill, or who want a portable grill you can take along just about anywhere. It's small enough to take along and use wherever, but large enough to cook a fair amount at a time. This is more for the family going on a picnic or cooking a couple burgers and hot dogs quickly in the back yard or on the deck, not for hosting a large party. (It is big enough to cook a couple steaks too)

I have the orange model, which my little girl really likes because she likes orange. However, it does come in green, yellow, black, blue and off-white. Personally, I'd probably go with the black model if it was just me, but it is nice that they have the colors for those that want the variety. Most important thing is that it cooks, and that it does.

There is a small tray and grate that fits in the bottom to place your charcoal on top of, and then there is the larger grill that fits on top. The unit is not very deep, so you won't be placing a lot of charcoal in it. Again, this is for cooking small meals, and it works just fine for that. The legs are sturdy enough. I placed mine on the concrete beside our back door and it was fine. The directions to state that the unit is not intended to be used on top of tables.

There is a handle on top of the lid that is rubber covered so it does not get hot when on the grill. I had no issues with taking the cover off to turn our meat or retrieve it when it was done. There are two air vents right under the handle, and you close those by turning the handle. There are also three rubber clips on the side. These are for transporting the unit when not in use. These clips clamp the lid to the rest of the unit and you can then pick up the entire grill by the convenient handle on top and take the grill with you wherever you go. You don't want to do this unless it is cool of course.

If you are looking for a small charcoal grill due to lack of space, or need a smaller spare for taking with you, the Bodum Frykat 13.4 Inch Portable Charcoal Grill is a good little unit that does the trick. It is a bit more expensive than some of the models you can find, but it is nicer in a couple ways than some of the cheaper ones I've seen too. I like cooking with it, my little girl likes the color, and I'm sure it will be a nice, handy, little grill for many lunches, dinners, and picnics.

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The Bodum Fyrkat 13.4" Grill is a great little grill for backyard/camping grilling. It has a rubber-coated handle as well as rubber coated grill cover clamps which can come in handy when around hot steel. In addition to Orange, the Fyrkat also comes in three other colors for those people who are tired of the basic black. The lid handle also turns to actuate the air vents in the lid which is a nice feature. The charcoal platform/ash collector is removable to allow for separate cleaning. This should theoretically allow for the interior to stay extremely clean, since the charcoal bits will fall into a separate compartment, and not the bottom of the grill as with a Weber model, but so far I haven't been able to figure out how to remove this piece w/o some of the burned charcoal rolling off into the bottom of the grill. Guess I need more practice.

Big drawback and why I've lowered it to 3 Stars is that the grill is very expensive. List price is $80 which is REALLY high considering comparable portable grills. Although Amazon has lowered this to $49.99, it is still more expensive than the much cheaper Weber 10020 Smokey Joe Silver Charcoal Grill (lists at $34.70, Amazon sells at $29.70) or Weber's upgrade model the 40020 Smokey Joe Gold Charcoal Grill (lists at $39.70, Amazon sells at $34.70). Considering I see little difference in actual operation and function between the Bodum and Weber grills (especially between the Fyrkat and the Smokey Joe Silver both of which I now own), I'm wondering what you are paying for in the additional $15. The rubber-coated devices, although a really nice touch, and a little higher quality construction can't be worth 33% more can it?

Good grill, but unless the color variations and rubber-coated handles really do it for you, seems like a little pricey for a backyard/camping/tailgate grill unless you are using it to cook your Salmon and Bris...

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

(9 July, 2012): Word to the wise DO NOT LOSE ANY PART OFF THIS GRILL!!! I recently left the grill top at a park after a cookout and after looking around Bodum's website and after several calls to their customer service line, I learned that they DO NOT sell replacement grill tops (or for that matter, any kind of spare parts). One guy took my name and number and said that he'd call me back if they took a grill on return (still hearing crickets chirping...). So now I am left with a charcoal grill that I already thought was somewhat pricey but now it has no cooktop. Of course, Bodum's kettle is a non-standard diameter so no other brand makes a grating that perfectly fits into the space (not even Webber and their many different sized options) so I'm left with either improvising a cooktop that doesn't fit or retrofitting the interior of the kettle to make the replacement grate that I bought fit. I chose the former and went with a larger grill that we can lay over the kettle and we've only used it once since. A crying shame...

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Well, we're more than halfway through summer, and I've just finally gotten it together to do a post about portable charcoal grills. Some of you may know I write a popular meat blog called The Meatist (), and in my meaty adventures have had occasion to cook out of doors more than a little.

While for the last few years I've been laming out and relying on the ease-of-use that comes with a gas grill, I recently received a Bodum Fyrkat Portable Charcoal Grill for review, and I was psyched to get back to charcoal.

The Fyrkat is a fairly basic grill at first glance; it's got a wire grate for cooking, it's a kettle-style, and it's got two ventilation holes at the top of the dome, controlled by twisting the handle back and forth. What sets it apart from many others, and certainly from a hibachi, is the three latches that hold the top in place. This allows you to fill it with charcoal, slap the top on, and toss it in your trunk to go to a cookout. No fuss, no muss, and it's easy to carry the whole thing by the handle.

In the performance department, it does great. Plenty of ventilation from the bottom (underneath the separate charcoal tray that catches the vast majority of ash) gives you the flexibility to run it hot or hotter by moderating the top vents.

As for grill size, I was able to cook up five giganzo burgers on the 13.4 inch grate with no problem at all, so a basic cookout for a family of 5 or 6 would be easy peasy.

If easy transport isn't a priority though, you can save a few bucks and rock the Weber Smokey Joe Silver Charcoal Grill which is about $20 cheaper. While it doesn't come with the latches, and colors aren't quite as interesting (it comes in black, as opposed to the orange, blue, green, yellow, white, adn black of the Bodum), it's 14.5-inch grill gives a bit more space too cook on, and it's a Weber, so you know it will last.

On the downside, the Weber holds its charcoal on a straight grate, which means ash is apt to fall through the bottom vent holes and land wherever you've parked the thing. On the Fyrkat, there's a solid pan under the grate, but above the ventilation holes, so that isn't nearly as much of an issue, either when cooking or during post-cookout transport.

But regardless, either of these beat a hibachi hands down in my opinion. They're compact, the work great, and the capitalize on a covered, smokey cooking environment. If you're in the market for a small cookout grill that you can transport easily, or are just tired of looking at your hibachi, give the Fyrkat a good look.

Oh, and if you're looking for tips on grilling and cooking meat or recipes for meats and barbecue sauces, stop by The Meatist I've got a ton of 'em.

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Weber 6468 Original Wok Tool Set

Got mine today and to my disappointment the silver ring around the middle of the slimmer wooden spatula or whatever is not flush with the wood so that it can snag and scratch. Another problem is that one is said to be a spoon, the other spatula, but the only difference that comes close to making one that and the other this is that one is narrower, one isn't flatter than the other or more deeper to make it more spoon-like. Further, their use as either just from visual inspection doesn't seem like they'd be good at either since the fronts of the items are thick. I've uploaded pictures so that what I'm saying can be better understood.

they are a great shape. Easy to work with. They are also easy to clean. The hooks make it easy to store them also.

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what can i say they're wooden spoons and they're weber brand. they work fine, and they say weber. they're made in china but so isn't most things no-a-days.

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FlavorStone 11" Blue Sapphire Gourmet Cookware Set

I purchased this cookware in Australia a few months ago. Verdict! Love it!

I followed the instructions to season the set before using as this I believe is important. I love the idea of cooking without any butter or oil, pancakes and omelettes are a breeze. I'm considering getting the larger casserole dish now.

The washing up is fantabulous! Just a wipe or a bit of water and that's it. Love it, love it love it! Inexpensive too!

Well worth the money!

I bought this item for my mom. She gave me the money to buy it because in my country the version with only 3 items cost almost twice the price So I bougth it and sent to her. she wanted this cookware set because the book of receipts and the ceramic cover. The shipping was very fast. the item arrived on time. The parts arrived in mint condition. actually I cannot say nothing about how the pan and casseroles work but I will ask to my mom about and I will make an upgrade to this comment.

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George Foreman GR12B Super Champ Indoor Grill

All George Foreman grills that I have owned have been very good products, durable, cook beautifully.

This particular one is not readily available at retail, but when I found it here I was very excited. The shape is perfect for one person. Anything that because of the shape, i.e. steaks, chicken strips, anything elongated, this fits the bill. The other grills were either too big, or too square.

This is my fifth George Foreman Grill and the right size for two people. The price on Amazon was extraordinary, considering what I paid for the others. I give them as gifts and for my own personal use. It is a must in the kitchen. Thanks Amazon for pricing it right.

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i bought this for neighbor of mine as an early Christmas present and she absolutely loves it. now she can cook at home without having to wait a long time for it to finish. it makes her life a little easier.

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Great for one or two. Sprayed it with pan spray when heated and before adding meat, then when meat was done I placed a damp paper towel on unplugged grill. After eating, the grill was so easy to clean.

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Works great. Can't ask for more. Wish I had noticed that it doesn't have removable grill plates; my bad :(

12" Stainless Steel BBQ Kabob Skewers

Europeans (my wife is Russian) only use these permanent type skewers. With a good recipe, this will become a regular tool in your kitchen-indoors or out. We don't bother with the wooden throw away ones or any other material other than stainless since these are permanent and easily washable. Must have for barbacue cooks.

The design is an old standard and I recommend that you buy it in a brick and mortar store if you find it. I had a party coming up in a pinch and couldn't remember which store had these so I bought it on Amazon. Problem is that Amazon doesn't carry these in their warehouse so the secondary retailers always charge a shipping charge which is half the price of the skewer set itself. The rip-off is always the shipping charge from these secondary resellers on Amazon if you're buying inexpensive items, so beware.

Holmes Oscillating Floor Fan with Remote

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

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

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

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

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

Lodge Logic LDP3 Double Play Reversible Grill/Griddle

I've got lots of cast iron, but this is my new favorite. Here are a few tips for other users. The griddle is perfectly flat and well-made, but it tips from corner to corner on my burners. It's an issue with the design of my burner grates, not the grill. If you have this problem, just fold up a little piece of foil and stick it under one of the edges that tips. Problem solved.

People often complain about foods spilling off a griddle. If that's happening, then you should cook that type of food in a skillet. Skillets and griddles each have their own purpose, The low profile edges on a griddle are suited to foods that stay put but take up a lot of surface area, like eggs, pancakes, steaks, vegetables. They made the low edge so it will be easy to get a spatula under those foods. Foods that produce lots of grease should not be cooked on a griddle, unless it's just a couple of strips of bacon. If you're trying to cook up lots of greasy food, use a skillet. They are designed to hold liquids, hence the tall sides. So, you guys who complain about grease running off your griddle when you cook a pound of bacon, stop complaining and get a skillet to hold liquids.

Yes, the center will be a little cooler than the ends. Don't worry. This is natural. Use it to your advantage. Put slower-cooking things in the center or add food to the center first so it starts cooking before the food on the ends. Just like on a charcoal grill, it can be helpful to have a "cool zone" (actually a not quite as scorching hot zone). Make sure you let it heat up evenly over low heat before turning it up to medium / medium high, this discourages sticking. Also, for you people moving from teflon, never turn or move food in an iron or steel pan until the food has browned. The food does indeed stick, but then releases from the surface on its own when it is browned. Wait for the food to release itself. Be patient. Also, make sure steaks, etc. have no water on them when you put it on the cooking surface. A little oil helps food release, water encourages sticking.

Clean it while it's hot before it can cool off, or food remnants will be harder to remove. Scrape it with a metal spatula. Then wipe it with a paper towel dipped in oil. Done. Also, clean up will be easier if you cook liquids and super greasy foods in a skillet, which is easier to wield (and clean in a sink) when hot. Don't want to leave your clean, hot griddle to cool on the stove? Use oven mitts to cary it to the oven.

This is a great product. I consider it an essential and helpful sidekick to a 12 inch cast iron skillet. It's ready to go right out of the box. Pancakes came out great and did not stick, even though I used almost no oil on the griddle. Works on the charcoal grill, too for small foods that would fall through the grates. Take it camping as an easy to set up grill. Use it in the oven as a cookie sheet. Great for small pizzas with crispy crust.

Great product. We took it on a week long camping trip and cooked fajitas, pancakes, eggs, bacon, you name it on this little griddle. It fits perfect on a dual fual coleman camp stove and was a treat to use. One thing to note: since the camp stove has two different size burners one side gets much hotter than the other. If both burners on your stove have the same output then the griddle will heat evenly. No fault of the griddle, just be aware of what you are using it with. Love the product, considering buying another for our other stove.

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Looked all over in stores for a griddle of this size (perfect for RV's or boat stoves) I use it on our boat for almost all my stove top cooking (burgers, eggs, pancakes, toasted sandwiches, etc.) Even though it is pre-seasoned, I have found spraying it with a little olive oil works especially well for eggs.

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I always wanted one of these but this is my first cast iron item. There is not much to it but it's perfect. Grill side and smooth side, easy to clean (wipe off with a paper towel). I was a little concerned about how it would work on my glass electric cooktop but it works great!

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This product is more than your topnotch Griddle and Grill combination! If you're looking for a baking pan for breads and large loaves, you will be mystified. As a baking tool, the rectangular, heavy surface (preheated in the oven as typical of cast iron) becomes indispensable! Old world bread formulas come to life. Free form loaves, artisan loaves...these all rise with a golden crust making your kitchen an ideal baking venue! Fragrant bread takes your baking to a different level. I'm certain regardless of your baking skills, this will turn into a reusable, practical tool. Yeast breads and sourdough loaves will take you back in time, or perhaps create memorable baking experiences to be savored in memory.

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Bayou Classic CI-7407, 7-Gal. Cast Iron Jambalaya Pot, Tripod Stand with Foot Pads, and 2 Lift Hooks

Arrived UPS in fine shape--uses mini-wooden pallet inside heavy carton for protection. I have cooked two beef stews (one for 15lots of left overs-every one in family loved it and took some home and my dogs got some after a week). Another for about 40 in a pot luck Birthday event--still leftovers and everyone raved over it. Cooked one over fire and coals and one over a propane burner. Fire adds ambience but burner is bit quicker and easier but noisier. I will probably do wood when I have time and propane when away from home. Stand is well designed and sturdy for coal or gas. Unit just fit in my Oven for curing--twice at 500 wth Crisco and fan on high. Recommend the cover lid of course, the wooden stir paddle (paddle slides under lid handle to remove from pot) and big 22in aluminum laddle. Am looking to buy Lodge folding lid holder now. Next year plan on event for 150 hungry cavers, butterflied young steer on big outdoor grill, and will use cast iron pots for the sides. Highly reccommend for large group, leisurely cooking with low failure rate,and added ambience. Great addition to your outdoor cooking if you don't mind handling 50-60 lb empty pot (the included pot hooks work well).

Well cast pieces, especially for Chinese imports.

Substantial packaging withstands rough handling by FedEx or UPS.

I'd recommend this to a friend, in fact, I have, plus re-sold a couple.

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The product is well constructed if you get all the parts! I did not receive the ring that the pot goes in to place on the stand. After talking w/Mike from Bayou he told me he could not help that I needed to have Amazon contact them. So Amazon did w/ me on the line and Mike still wasn't helpful. I mentioned this product came from his company and by him not supporting that, this is poor customer service. He said I was Amazons customer not Bayou. I said you are selling your product through Amazon and you are supporting your product to me the customer.

After Timothy from Amazon spoke with Mike from Bayou he finally said he would look to see if he had 1 and would might call me back in about 30 min if he finds 1 to ship.

After spending 56min of my time on the phone Amazon wasn't sold that Mike from Bayou was going to follow through so is making it right. Too bad I spent approx $200 after shipping and still had to fight w/ manufacturer to get what I needed to be able to use the pot as intended.

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It is packaged well and the pot had a layer of oil or grease on it. No rust. Took 5 minutes to get that oil off.

The casting is fairly rough, decided to smooth out the inside a little. Angle grinder with a metal grinding wheel for high spots, then put on a sanding pad to smooth it up. Watch out for the 3 stubby legs, they'll scratch whatever it's sitting on. It's a shame you can't find good cast iron anymore.

The pot does just fit in a full size oven for seasoning. Used Crisco at 300 degrees for an hour. Did that twice. Then spent an hour cleaning the burnt Crisco droppings off the bottom of the 2 day old range ! Suggest putting aluminum foil under the pot.

Cooked bacon it a few times to help further season it. The smell of bacon cooking outdoors really attracts the neighbors!

Made a pot of jambalaya for 50 people, all the men (and quite a few women) were fascinated with the cooking and stirring with a 3 foot long paddle. Yeah, you do need a strong paddle to stir, alot of food weight to move around. Those lifting hooks came in handy, pot alone is +-40lbs, with food in it 70lbs plus, it took 2 of us to move it.

The stand is sturdy, good thick steel. They screw into the metal pot ring, allowing a little adjustment for leveling. Sits right over top of my propane burner. The feet just slip over the 1/2" steel rod legs. They don't stay on, don't think I'd trust them on grass or dirt. Maybe glue or weld them on.

Hopefully lasts a long time, don't trust the quality of materials used in China.

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The Good: Heavy Duty, solid, frame well-built and should last. 7 gallon size perfect for a party of 20 to 50 people. Great for jambalaya, but also can be used as a fish fryer, chicken fryer, french fryer, chili, gumbo, or other soups.

The bad: the casting had a few rough spots that I had to smooth out using an angle grinder. This is common with most cast iron today; folks like the old Griswold company and its perfect cast iron, or Lodge's higher end USA made iron, aren't around anymore in this size.

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ThermoWorks The Original Cooking Thermometer/Timer

I read the Cook's Illustrated magazine review. They rated this number 1. I called Thermoworks to ask about the probes. They said they are NOT "sometimes defective". But, over time heat and moisture can damage them. Or, if you let the cable rest against a heating element it will burn through the cable. So I got an extra probe. The price is fair. But still haven't needed it. I also asked about Polder. They said it is actually the same thermometer internally and made by the same factory in China. But they said they are not associated in any way with Polder. I've had mine since last Thanksgiving and I use it at least once a week in the oven or on the BBQ. It's easy to set and at this price I figured it was such a low risk. Since then I've decided its one of the best values in my kitchen. I also have the Thermapen much higher price. Both work great. -By the way, don't use the polder replacement probes. The one I tried was not accurate with this unit. Get the correct thermoworks one TW362XX.

I've been using this product for over 2 years and love it. I give it as wedding shower gifts, because it's one of my most useful kitchen tools. (Mine was marketed under the Sunbeam name, but it's absolutely IDENTICAL to this model TW362B, except mine has white buttons.) I've been researching these thermometers again, because I'm getting ready to buy a second one as a backup: I don't want to be without this item for even one day.

Before buying this model, I went through 2 other brands / models, and this one is best. I generally use it several times a week. For example, I insert it in my whole-wheat bread loaves after they've baked for 15 minutes; the alarm enables me to remove them from my baking stone at the perfect time, when the interior temp is 194. Keeping the probe in the loaf for a few minutes after removing the latter from the oven has enabled me to determine that residual heat causes the interior temp to rise to the desired 200 degrees. People compliment me on these loaves all the time, and I've never had a failure since I started using this tool.

My probe has been dropped numerous times, but I've never had to replace any parts and it's still working great.

I suspect the negative reviews are due to one of the following:

1) Some people appear to have been writing about the OLDER model, not the new and improved Model TW362B.

2) Maybe people have been using it at temps that are too high. Like ALL other probe-and-cable type thermometers that I've seen, this one can't be used in ovens that have been heated to high temps, and I wouldn't think it could tolerate the high heat of a grill, for instance. That may explain many of the failures people have written about!

The instructions say not to put it inside an oven that is hotter than 392 degrees (presumably because the oven heat would damage the cable and/or sensor). For a while, I was setting my oven to that temp. Then I learned elsewhere that when you set your oven to 350, it can actually spike up to 400 while it's heating. So now I try to avoid using this thermometer in any oven hotter than about 360, which is the temp I use for my bread. (I leave the probe sticking in the bread for 20 minutes at a time in a 360 oven, and so far it's worked fine.)

Having said that, I must admit that several times I've forgotten and put it in a 375 to 400-degree oven for maybe 10 minutes at a time, and no harm has come of it. Now that I've heard you can risk higher temps if you wrap the probe cord in foil, I may go up to 400 deliberately, but only after I get my back-up.

Thermoworks, are you listening? How about upgrading this model so that it can tolerate higher temps? Except for that detail, it's just about perfect, and I hope you keep carrying it!

3) Maybe people have been getting sensitive parts WET. Somewhere I read that for probe-and-cable thermometers of this type, the place where the cable attaches to the curved steel of the probe can't be made truly waterproof, so it shouldn't be submerged. I hand-wash my probe, of course, and I've been careful to keep that spot dry (as well as the other end--the part that inserts into the main body of the thermometer).

If I need to soak my probe (which rarely happens, but sometimes I leave it overnight and bread crumbs are stuck to it the next day), I stand it in a small glass of soapy warm water, which makes it easy to keep the cable-joining part high and dry. That works well; the stuck-on stuff then wipes off very easily and quickly.

4) Regarding alarms that don't go off: at one point I thought my unit had gone bad because its alarm inexplicably stopped working. Then when I finally looked at it carefully, I discovered that my daughter had turned the alarm OFF without telling me! A simple flip of the switch cured that problem. (My previous models had lacked that switch, so I hadn't paid any attention to the switch.)

I haven't ever used the magnet, because magnets on ANY product never seem to hold as they claim.

In summary, I've found this to be a great product with MANY uses.

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I use the Thermapen thermometer made by this same company and I wanted another one that I could set to beep at a certain temperature in the oven when it hits a certain degree. I even used it on the grill to cook steaks. I just closed the lid on the wire and found that lots easier than just probing the meat all the time. It works fine and I'm very happy with it.I will be buying another one for a friend.

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I brought one of these oven thermometers/timers with me when I spent a year at the South African research station in Antarctica (SANAE IV). Although designed to be inserted into a piece of meat that is cooking in the oven, we have used it for many other things as well, namely: making yoghurt, baking bread and deep frying (though it's maximum temperature is only 200°C/392°F). My 9 team mates were so impressed by it, they each ended up buying (at least) one for themselves.

I would recommend buying a replacement probe as well. For under $10 it is your best insurance against an inaccurate probe especially when you're stuck at the bottom of the planet. My probe was spot on for both the ice water and boiling water (corrected for altitude) tests.

One thing which the thermometer does not have (and would have been nice for our purposes) is the ability to sound the alarm when the temperature drops to a certain set temperature. The alarm only sounds when the temperature rises to a specific temperature from below (i.e. heats up). A cool down alarm would be especially nice to warn us when our warm milk had cooled to the correct temperature to add the yoghurt starter. Though I can understand that this is missing, as this is not the intended use for the thermometer.

All in all, I am very happy with this thermometer and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

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I really am quite careful with my kitchen equipment so when this unit stopped working after a couple of uses, I assumed I had a defective unit, I returned it for another one. This one too died after a few uses. I read more about it on line, bought new one, and an extra probe because the manufacturer suggested it. I treated it with the most tender kid gloves and again I found after only two or three uses, it did not work. So I have given up, it is going to the electronic recycling. My last probe broke after one use. I am posting this only to help others not waste money!

Then I heard from ThermoWorks!

After posting the review above, I received an email, followed by a phone call from the company. The person who contacted me was very sincere and seemed to really believe in his product and wanted to help me figure out what I was doing to cause it to fail. He offered me a new unit for free if I would give it another try. I said no, I didn't have time to be testing it.

But he asked me some questions about how I used it and suggested what might be the problem. It seems that you have to be careful not to let the wire from the probe to the unit touch the oven rack or the roasting pan. He asked me if I had been careful to keep the wire taught to avoid this contact. I had to admit I had not, I do not remember this being part of the written instructions that came with the unit I bought, because as I said in my original post, I read and follow instructions carefully. (I wonder if such instructions now come with the unit!)

So I agreed to try again and he quickly sent me another unit with an extra probe. It was months before I finally tested it. I kept expecting a phone call to ask if I had tried it (and to ask me to revise my criticism of it) but I never heard from the company again, which really impressed me.

I have used it, about five times now, and following the new precautions about the wire, I have been successful. I still double check the temp with a second thermometer because I'm still nervous from all my previous raw roasts, but the unit does work as stated.

I have changed my rating to 4 stars. I can't give 5 since it is too touchy and it is expensive to replace the probe. But I would give the company 5 stars for their honest concern about their product and customer satisfaction.

Microhearth Grill Pan for Microwave Cooking, Black

I enjoy this innovative cookware very much in my office. I use it almost every day in a variety of ways: grilled chicken, grilled fish, garlic bread,quesadillas etc. I don't need to go out for lunch. My evaluation of it is very positive.It certainly ranks a 10+. I am suggesting it to other friends who want to prepare a meal using microwave in the office.And, also, their delivery was excellent.Good product and good service.

The Microhearth Grill Pan brings a whole new dimension to microwave cooking. So many foods that previously required time-consuming, and often messy, stovetop and/or oven preparation can now be accomplished in just a few minutes thanks to this inventive new cookware. Don't know how I managed without it. Clean-up is a cinch, requiring very little effort and thus making the entire cooking experience a pleasure.

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I received this item as a gift. Now I cook all meats in the microwave. Kebobs come out great. The cooker leaves grill marks. No more messy oven from broiling meats! I usually cook non seafood items for 3 minutes then I turn and decide the amount of time the item needs to finish cooking.

Easy to clean. Just wipe out, that's it.

The only improvement I would make would be to have the steam vents on the opposite end from the spot you grip the handle to lift the lid. That is a small thing compared to the convenience of the cooker.

Great addition to the kitchen for cooking for 1 or 2 people.

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This is a great device. Cooks well. browns the fish, meat, etc. Cleans easily, all in all a

great product. Looking forward to years of use.

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Recently purchased this microwave pan and have used it almost daily. Great for roasting veggies, meats and very easy to clean.

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Wolfgang Puck WPCGL050 Tri-Grill Panini Maker with Storage Drawer

If you have not tried one of these muti-purpose portable cookers (if you have you know the speed and ease of cooking any meal is unbelieveable) look no further than this fine unit. Right out of the box you see the quality and thought that went into this product. This is a replacement for my first (different brand panini grill). Differences are unbeliveable; unlike my previous grill this unit grills to perfection, the grease from cooking goes thru the open bottom grill plates, into a removeable tray. All grids are removeable, which is a huge difference (my old unit did not have removeable grids had to clean by hand). It cooks meat, chicken, panini etc perfectly and nearly grease free.P.S.Don't throw out the direction booklet! It has over 20 Wolfgang Puck recipes in it, to use with this grill!Can't say enough.

I was searching for a replacement for my old unit from a different manufacturer that I had loved but is no longer made, and had several requirements:

1. Removable plates

2. An interior drip pan

3. A "floating" top that would allow for even cooking when food is thicker on one end.

4. An adjustable temperature (more than just high/low).

5. A decent sized cooking area.

It is somewhat surprising to me how difficult finding all these on the same unit can be, and this tri-grill does deliver and performs well on each of these items, so for that I'd give it five stars. The reason for me only rating it three is below:

After reading the other reviews here, I was a little nervous about ordering because of the possibility of poor quality. You can imagine my thoughts when I opened the box and out falls a screw! Fortunately, the screw was to hold the lid onto the handle and I was able to reassemble. The other side was very loose too, so I do believe that it can be assumed that these grills are not well built. I cannot help but wonder what is loose on the inside that I don't know about, even though it seems to be working fine. While not totally cheap, the materials do seem slightly on the flimsy side compared to some higher end models, but I think they are acceptable for a $99 price. The exception is the grill plates which I think are very nice and even sturdier than my much loved previous grill.

The grill is attractive, but it is a bit clunky/bulky in size because of the extra griddle plate storage. Its a great idea, but now that I own it, I personally would prefer to have a sleeker unit and have to store the extra plate elsewhere. I also wish the cord was just a little bit longer. The gauges are difficult to read when standing at the counter, I have to bend over and get closer to eye level with it to set. I also wish the gauges had more markings, but that is not a big deal.

Overall, I am happy with the tri-grill. With exception of quality concerns, my complaints with the grill are relatively minor. For me, it isn't going to become my favorite appliance because these complaints are annoyances, but its acceptable and does a very good job at its intended function it does grill well (leaves nice grill marks on the food too).

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We searched until we found what looked like the prefect multi-function panini grill. It's a great concept and obviously someone thought of all the possibilities for cooking that it could do. And the storage for the extra plates is brilliant. However, when we took it out of the box, some screws and bolts fell out. Then we noticed that the anchors holding the heating element were loose and dangling. We couldn't put them in because the back, where the bolts went, was inaccessible. A little black rubber part fell out also, and we figured out that it was one of the rubber feet on the bottom, but the other one was missing.

We thought the metal which it was made of was rather thin and flimsy, and it was apparently carelessly assembled. Also, a lot of the parts rattled, making it sound not very sturdy. We are returning it without trying it and getting a refund. But after reading the 5-star review about how well it cooks, we are considering trying another one, just to see if this one was a lemon.

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My food is always sizzling and I love using these 3 different cooking positions for varieties of food we are cooking. Great design. Great product!

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I just threw item this in the trash after a near tragedy. It is made so cheaply that while I was cooking the top plate slid out when the lid was raised. The hot plate fell to the tile floor just missing my feet because I jumped backwards; still holding on to the lid. Mentally picture this with the bare red hot heat coils exposed; the hinge lid unstable and ground beef patties on the bottom plate. Unplugged the unit and cleaned up the mess. The next day my husband looked at the unit and determined that the ONE clip on the front was not securing the top plate properly. There was no way to bend or weld a piece on the clip to make it safe to use. I had even bought the extra waffle plates which was also a waste of money. The Customer Service at the manufacturer was insolent and a letter to the the Wolfgang Puck cookware website was never answered. Please for your safety do NOT buy this appliance!

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Pizzacraft PC0203 13.75" x 4" Stainless Steel Rocking Pizza Cutter with Hardwood Handle

Yes, the blade has a flat edge. It cuts pizza in such a way that the pieces are pushed away from each other so they stay cut. The hot cheese does not weld the pieces back together......

However, if you prefer a sharp blade, this is worth taking the time to sharpen. This pizza cutter is made with a thick heavy chunk of steel with a nice wooden handle attached securely. It 3/16" thick so it is not flimsy. We see movies where a person, in self defense grabs a kitchen knife. I would grab this after sharpening. It is that solid. ....

Also, the picture showing it cut pizza is wrong. This will cut up to a 26 1/2" pizza.....

The idea is that you put one corner of the blade into the center of the pizza and roll it outward. This is especially handy for families with young children. Most kids do not like some of the toppings us adults enjoy, so we make pizzas half and half. Cutting from the center out makes for adult size pieces on the adult side, and little pieces for little hands on the other side. And, without an overwhelmingly large portion on a child's plate, they tend to eat better.

I was really dissapointed when I first received this knife. After reading some of the other reviews I saw they had some of the same problems. I almost packed it up and sent it back. After thinking about it a little I decided to keep it. The reason I was dissapointed was when itr arrived it was about as sharp as a wooden spoon. It had absolutely no cutting edge what-so-ever. I'm pretty handy. I put the pizza knife in a vise and put a file to it and it sharpened right up. I also made a "sheath" for it so the blade is protected. I don't know if they are all like this one or if they need to not sharpen it for shipping reasons but it did through my own efforts become sharp. It also could be 2 3 inches longer to make it an "excellant" knife. As it stands right now, I like the knife, the handle is attached firmly, it is now sharp, it cuts nicely but does not go all the way across a 16" pizza. BOTTOM LINE: Would I buy it again??? YES but only after more thouroghly checking into the other longer knife.

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I read the other reviews before I purchased this item and was concerned that it might need sharping before I used it. This was not the case. Mine arrived so sharp that I would not let a child handle it. Living alone I buy the my pizza in the 12" size. This cutter is just the right length to cut up my pizza without having to turn it while cutting (small kitchen). It pushes the cheese and sauce to the side while cutting and the cheese does not flow back. This leaves each piece seperate and none are stuck together. It is very well made and the metal is so thick that it will not flex. I HIGHLY recommend this item.

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I bought this more for cutting cheesecakes than pizzas...it works great for both and my family loves using it just as much.

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My husband is really hard to shop for when it comes to gifts. He has a tendancy to buy what he wants when he wants it which makes it difficult to get him something when the time comes. Our anniversary was coming up and I was having the same problem I have every year...what in the world am I going to get him?? Spending hours on Amazon trying to look at several different departments I came across the idea of getting him a rocking pizza cutter. I had remembered him once saying he used one at his first job and really liked it. So began my reading of reviews and narrowing down which one to buy. I finally settled on this one. Some of the reviews indicated it wasn't very sharp but that it was fairly easy to sharpen yourself. When my husband opened his gift this year he was very surpised and also very happy. This was something he didn't even know he wanted but now that we have it we'll never go back to a regular pizza cutter. As far as the sharpness of it, we have not had any problems. As my husband said the whole idea of how the cutter works is that the pressure of you pushing on it while rocking it is what is meant to be able to cut the pizza, not a crazy sharp blade.

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Charcoal Companion Porcelain Wood Chips Smoker Box

It's not like I'm reviewing a television or stereo receiver. It's a metal box. So far it's not rusted, caught on fire, poked my eye out, attacked my family, or killed my house plants. As such, it meets all of my metal box requirements.

I wanted something for my existing gas grill. Some chips and away you go.

Definitely not for some one who thinks they are getting a smoker

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