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

Saturday, May 3, 2014

GrillPro 40279 Silicone Tip Stainless Steel Locking Tong

GrillPro 40279 Silicone Tip Stainless Steel Locking TongNot quite sure what to use these for since they do not grip any food I have tried to grill! Anything marinaded slides right through the tips of them. The manual lock constantly locks when I didn't want it to...frustrating and a waste of money!

I was at first excited to get these, after trying to use them, I found them to be worthless to turn bacon, chicken or anything else. I am back to using a pair of plastic tip tongs.

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The locking mechanism is poorly designed. I have used many tongs before and understand the concept of locking the tongs. I pinched my fingers so badly, TWICE, that the second time I threw these in the trash in a rage of pain. I would recommend tongs with a different locking mechanism.

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Works very well, they are a little bigger than I anticipated, however, they are a great find and a great purchase. Plus they help me out with not being too close to hot surfaces.

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I recommend these tweezers to use salads, barbecue and ceramic pans. I also recommend using them in pans to avoid scratching stanlesteel.

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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Cuisinart GR-WAFP Griddler Waffle Plates

Cuisinart GR-WAFP Griddler Waffle PlatesI bought this set of grills for my Cuisinart GN-4N. They of course fit perfectly.

I am pushover for Belgian waffles and the deep pocket pattern on these plates does an absolute perfect job. Not this set comes with a nifty little recipe book which I have looked closely at and the recipes featured look quite good and are quite doable. I have my own personal favorite recipe so have not actually tried any of the ones featured in the book yet...they do look yummy though.

These plates have a non-sticking surface to them and are an absolute snap to clean up. I have put them in the dishwasher which works fine, but I normally hand wash this sort of thing...just old habit I suppose...truth be told.

The price here is just about what you pay the local retail stores in the area and with the free shipping, you are saved the hassle of lugging these things around the rest of the shopping trip

I have had absolutely no sticking when the waffles are removed when done.

I don't know how these plates made the waffles taste so good but they were the best I have ever made and I was just using a mix. They fit perfectly in the Cuisinart Griddler and make clean up a breeze. I bought it so that I could make more waffles at a time because I have 3 kids and this works great. It makes twice the amount at a time compared to my old waffle maker. The recipe booklet with it has some really good sounding recipes and I may make some dry mixes up to give as gifts (cinnamon pecan waffles sound great!)

Now my Cuisinart Griddler has replaced using a griddle, George Foreman grill and waffle maker! If you have a Cuisinart Griddler, you have to grab these!

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I bought these waffle plates for my Griddler CGR-4C and they are a slightly different shape than the ones that came with my model but they still snap in perfectly! The nonstick coating works very well, I spray them with cooking spray before using as recommended in the user guide, my batter does not stick to them and I can easily rinse them off in the sink. The waffle recipes that come with it are great and they work well. I love that I can use a grill, griddle, and make waffles all on the same machine, saves counter space big time!

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This is the perfect addition to the Griddler one of my favorite appliances, especially during southern California summers where it makes more sense than heating up the stove or oven.

Overall I was happy with the results. The waffles were decent though I wouldn't serve them up for Christmas breakfast. That said, for a casual weekend breakfast, it was perfect.

The Good

Enhances the already super-useful Griddler.

Compact and easier to store than a dedicated waffle maker

Cleanup is a snap, just pop the plates out and add to the dishwasher (I wouldn't) or hand wash. MUCH EASIER than a waffle maker!

I found the shape and size of the waffles to be PERFECT for families

I prefer not to use oil; the non-stick surface performed quite well and not a single waffle stuck (this way does make for a softer waffle without the classic crisp of a well made waffle, a toss-up I'm happy with)

Unlike many waffle makers, you control the temperature so after a little trial and error, you can cook the waffles to your exact liking

The Not-so-good

At 1/3 the cost of the Griddler itself, $35 is a bit pricey

Uneven cooking: The heating coils don't reach the center of the plates. While the outer 2/3 cooked up beautifully, the inner third were pale (This may be an issue with my machine which is about 5 years old. I don't know if Cuisinart has improved on newer machines but owners of older machines should be aware)

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My kids are always hungry, aren't they all? Anyhow, I got the waffle plates and had the kids help prepare the batter. We followed the instructions exactly, set the temp for 400 degrees, waited 3 minutes..and out came...an awefull unedible mess. The waffles were so burned that it stuck to both the top and bottom plate and was cut in half, and then wouldn't be removed without unplugging the unit and washing in the sink. ouch. I almost returned them.

Next try, set temp at 350, waited 2.5 minutes, used pam baking spray....waffles came out easily and looked nice, except they weren't close to done and way too soft.

4-5 tries later, I finally got a good repeatable way of making well cooked waffles using the plates.

Set temp to 375 degrees.

Coat (but not too much) with pam

pour in but not completely, leave far corners on all four sides unfilled so waffle is essentially circular.

close cover

wait 3 minutes 45 seconds

open, gently pull waffle out

Tastes excellent and looks just the way it should.

I'm not sure how well the plates will last, but I'll also use them for cooking bacon..as recommended in one of the alton brown good eats episodes as the quickest/easiest ways to make breakfast. Just stretch 4 slices lengthwise across the waffle plates, cover, and wait until cooked to taste.

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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Pizzacraft PC0101 16.5' Round Cordierite Baking/Pizza Stone

Pizzacraft PC0101 16.5' Round Cordierite Baking/Pizza StoneThis is the third pizza/bread stone I have owned. Unless I drop it on the patio it may well be my last. My first two were smaller and thinner and both eventually cracked in half. This one feels built to last.

This stone is thick and sturdy with a refined unglazed ceramic surface. I purchased it primarily to bake homemade pizza and crusty breads using my gas grill. It works great. I can get a smokey wood oven fired pizza flavor by tossing a single chunk of foil wrapped hardwood off to the side before I plant the pizza on this stone with a peel. You will need a pizza peel if you are going to bake on a grill!! When you are building your pizza make sure there is enough cornmeal or flour to keep the dough from sticking to the peel. Give it a shake once in a while to make sure it stays loose. Wait until your stone is fully heated before you build the pizza.

Start heating your stone by placing it in a cold grill or cold oven and then slowly heating to about 350. If you are using an indoor oven place the stone on the lowest rack possible. Let the stone come to temp for about an hour. Build your pizza on a well dusted peel and then crank up the oven to 500 to 550. Turn your grill burners on high. Plant the pizza on the stone by gently shaking it off the peel onto the stone. Watch closely and don't let it burn. If you do it right you will eat pizzeria quality pizza. I LOVE this stone!

Product is very solid-but makes it heavy and thick. It was purchased because previous pizza stones ultimately break, and this was rated more durable. But be prepared for a strong chemical smell, that takes a few weeks to dissipate.

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The first stone I recieved via Fedex was broken but Amazon sent me a replacement out via next day air,I have used it a couple of times and it works great!! This stone can also be used on your grill as well as the oven.

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This pizza stone is sturdy and warms uniformly. However, the surface is very porous and scratches easily. Also, I can already tell only after a few uses that it will take a while to become "seasoned." Make sure to use a LOT of corn meal when you first start out using this pizza stone! If not, everything you make on it will stick.

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This is a very pretty round pizza baking stone. I bought it actually to fit in an Ethiopian table, to hold Ethiopian food and to keep it warm. Perfect. It is pretty, holds the heat and the food stays warm. I have not tried baking pizza with it, but am sure that it will hold the heat and bake evenly. It is heavy FYI, but that is good as well as it gives you confidence that it isn't just a cheap baking dish. There is no lip, and I actually would have preferred something with a little lip to keep any juices from running off, and this could be a problem with pizza as well. That is why I didn't give it 5 stars.

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Hamilton Beach 38500 Step Savor Skillet/Griddle Combination

Hamilton Beach 38500 Step Savor Skillet/Griddle CombinationI have bought two of these appliances, one for me and then one as a gift for my in-laws. I had to so they would not take mine. The bottom portion is great for breakfast foods like pancakes and eggs. The top portion is even better for cooking a variety of foods, including sautéing onions and vegetables and browning meats. The skillet section also doubles as a serving dish that makes it much easier to keep food warm at the table. The variable heat setting also give you great control over the cooking times. I highly recommend the skillet griddle.

I was skeptical about this item at first but I am almost completely sold on it after using it for a few months. The griddle is absolutely the best!! The pan doesn't get quite hot enough even at the highest setting to do a proper job of stir fry. The clean up is very easy and a real bonus feature. The complaints about the plastic taste must come from the use of the lid. We rarely use the lid but use either the griddle or the combination unit at least once a week without the lid.

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I was given this skillet as a gift, and I'm glad that I didn't pay for it. While the lower half is passable as a griddle (it heats well, has a nice nonstick surface, and is stable on a countertop), its limited cooking area makes it hard to make more than a few small pancakes or a eggs at a time -not what you want in an electric griddle (otherwise, you'd use a pan, right?).

As an electric skillet, it's decidedly below average. The removable skillet design slows heating, and it's often difficult to achieve simmering temperatures, even with the lid on. Forget simmering with the lid off, because you'll be waiting all day. As a result, it's a terrible braising device -it's difficult to brown the food, and hard to maintain a simmer.

I would only recommend this skillet to those who are very limited on kitchen space. Otherwise, for about the same price you can buy both a quality electric skillet, AND an electric griddle.

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I've had my H-B Step Savor Skillet/Griddle for several months now, and I am very happy with it. The griddle accomodates four medium-sized pancakes, and the small lip around the edge keeps the batter off my countertops. The skillet gets hot enough to brown hamburger meat and has enough capacity to prepare a substantial main dish for a family of 4-6. The temperature control has temperature markings for both the griddle and the skillet, since the skillet temperature runs lower than the griddle.

Clean-up is easier than with traditional electric skillets. You don't need to worry about immersing the electrical components because the skillet lifts off the base (which is the griddle) and can be washed like any non-stick cookware. The griddle wipes clean with a paper towel or damp sponge.

Though I'm not much for home entertaining, I can imagine this electric skillet being very handy -you can cook in it, then turn the temperature down to keep the food warm for as long as you need to. The lid has an adjustable vent in it to control the moisture level inside.

I only wish that the non-stick coating was a bit tougher. I've been careful to avoid scratches so far, but I know it's only a matter of time. I just hope that H-B keeps making these clever kitchen tools, because when this one becomes unusable, I'll certainly buy another one!

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As a 64 year old man from Virginia, I have been frying chicken for a long time. I have tried this unit twice and it just does not heat up enough for good fried chicken. Used both the liquid oil and the regular Crisco without any success. The exact amount of oil was used according to the instruction manual. It was so bad that I checked the voltage on the circuit that it was plugged into, 120 volts, so that was not the problem.

As a chicken fryer, it gets a 0.

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