Smart Planet BM-1 Brownie Bar Maker

I love kitchen toys, and when I saw this on a Groupon deal for $19.99, couldn't resist getting it. I make home made baked good which I sent to troops, and having something like this in addition to my regular two oven stove makes the work go a lot faster...at least, that was my rationale for buying it! :o)

I first tried it with a brownie mix, and filled the wells about 1/4" from the top that gave me about 12 brownies (2 batches in the machine). As far as timing goes, I see someone wrote a review in which she said that she baked her cake for as long as was indicated on the box from the mix; common sense should tell you that a smaller size produce will require less baking time...but some people just don't think. I looked at the recipes in the included booklet, even though I wasn't making them at the time, to get a rough idea of baking time, and started to check my brownies at the minimum recommended time. As you get more familiar with the machine, you'll learn how much time is needed for various different things.

The first time I used my brownie bar maker it was a little tricky to get them out of the pan, but then had an idea: I now turn the machine upside down (with the lid closed) and lift the bottom (which is now on top); the perfectly intact bars can then be easily removed with a non-metal spatula, and the machine is ready to go again right away.

I use a butter flavored spray in the wells for each batch; a damp paper towel is really all you need for clean-up.

This is a fun little gadget well worth the price. I'm thinking it's a nice item to use to introduce a little girl to the joys of baking.

Enjoy the size of bars. Is not quicker than oven baking (17 min) but saves

heating the oven. Enjoyable way to have fresh baked goods in hot weather. Per my infared temp gun, this bakes at 350 degrees. Made excellent johnny cake bars with precooked ground sausage. Plan to make snack sized cake bars and freeze for later. Works very well.

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Works really slick, biggest complaint I have is getting the brownies out of the maker without breaking them because the bottom is more narrow than the top. I ended up turning it over and they fell right out, which worked the best.

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So far I have only tried the "Brownie Bar Maker" for oatmeal muffins, but they came out great!

The bars are the a nice portion size, slightly smaller than a regular (not jumbo) muffin and rectangular, of course...about 4 bites worth. Works as described. My 22-minute oven recipe took 13 minutes in this machine. Muffins came out uniform, tender, and perfectly baked all the way through.

A few notes: You can overfill the slots a little bit. I like my baked goods a little brown on the top, but don't overfill too much or it will drip out the sides. There is no timer on this (use a kitchen timer and check the brownies/muffins a few minutes ahead of time with a toothpick). Also, grease with Baker's Joy between every use, I didn't and had a hard time digging the crispy remnants out of the corners.

Easy clean up, super easy to use. I am not a baker so this is perfect for me.

Also recommended for someone who lives alone. This way you can enjoy baked goods without all the effort. I plan on doing mini breads, brownies, and energy bars in it and freezing them for later.

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This is great and works like it should but it should have a shut off timer, other than that it makes great corn cakes (got it for my Mom who recently starting makin corn bread muffins.

So you don't have to limit yourself to brownies.

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Picnic at Ascot Huntsman Basket for 4

We got this picnic basket as a gift (off our wedding registry), and it is truly the picnic basket to end all picnic baskets! The construction is very high quality all the straps are actual leather (not ugly cheap vinyl like most other picnic baskets), the plates, glasses, napkins etc. are all very nice (we got the "gazebo" pattern and it's prettier than I thought it would be), the silverware is good, and fits tightly into its little straps. The cooler and matching wine sleeve are also nice, they're covered in a very tasteful cream canvas fabric, and seem sturdy and well-made. The tiny salt and pepper shakers are completely adorable. The cheeseboard is definitely on the miniature side, but it's nice to have. There's even a strap for the wine opener! You can tell this was designed by people who know picnics and love picnics. They thought of everything!

The basket is not too heavy or bulky, but is has plenty of room for an actual picnic. Some of the smaller baskets (listed as being "for 2") are kind of a joke you can't fit enough food or plates to have more than a couple crackers and a grape. This one has plenty of room for an actual picnic lunch or dinner it fits the cooler, a bottle of wine, obviously the plates and glasses, a couple tupperware containers, a box of crackers, some fruit, cheese, etc. Also, it's nice that the top flaps open from the sides some of the flap-top baskets that open from the center make it difficult to reach into the inside of the basket. This one opens wide for easy access and cleaning.

In restrospect, I might have bought the one that had straps on the side to attach a picnic blanket, but I think it's easy enough to add one yourself, considering the additional cost. But it's something to think about.

My husband and I both thought this was one of the best items we received as a wedding present. I will definitely be buying more as wedding presents for my friends and family it's such a romantic gift, something that will last for a long time, something to use on special, happy occasions, and something a young couple would probably never be able to buy for themselves.

We will definitely be taking this basket next time we go up to Napa, or out to the Hollywood Bowl, so everyone else can be jealous of our picnic basket. :) Enjoy and happy picnicking!

This is a gorgeous basket. It is pricey, but when you are getting a gift for someone who has everything, this basket will impress.

If you want a service for 4 with all the trimmings this the best buy.

But it takes 3-5 days to ship, too long time.

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S'More To Love STL-600 S'More Maker

I gave it a 4star because I do like the size and sturdy frame of this Smores maker...however... i found it to be a little hard in handling it.

So you open this thing up...in the square you put a piece of G.cracker in...a very small piece of chocolate...marshm. and G.cracker again. All this works fine until you close it and have to flip it over again. because the chocolate piece as well as the marshm. are not staying in place.There is always a little tiny room in those squares so the things are sliding.and its very hard to adjust again,trying to put your fingers through the wholes,pushing things back in place. I managed.

I wonder why the company didnt just made it the opposite way,so that you have the baskets on the bottom,you stack your sandwich,close it and bake it. HMmm....

But as i said..I manage :-) and its duable,if u know about the issue.

Ild still buy it again. The kids had fun. even thought the chocolate ran all over the place it was very easy to clean up.it wiped right off.Its not so hard to store in the pantry or cabinet&my kids and me had fun.

you stack them up..put them in the oven by 375F for 4-7min. And if you let them cool a lil...they are easy to squish down a lil more and ready to eat. Yummy

We bought the S'Mores maker from Amazon for our daughter-in-law's birthday. Amazon's delivery and packing was prompt and excellent, as always. We got to use it the other night on our fire pit, after grilling some dogs and burgers. The night air was a cool 45 degrees, the oak fire had burned down to a nice bed of coals. We loaded the maker with a graham cracker on bottom, then the marshmallo, then chocolate, and then the top cracker. We rotated it a couple of times to make sure it was heating evenly. The chocolate melted evenly over the marshmallow, and the slight smokey taste from the oak fire made this the best S'Mores we had ever eaten. Can't wait to see what else we can come up with. Very happy with the maker. Don't forget a couple of pot holders to remove it from the grill.

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Got the Smore to Love as a gift. Took it out of the box, loaded the ingredients and cooked for 4 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees. Delicious, and every ingredient cooked evenly. So Good! Tried it with my nieces and nephews, and they had so much fun as well. Great product!

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I have not used this product yet, but it seemed like a good idea. I specifically bought it to take in the motorhome. I like that you can use it on the grill or oven, as well.

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I just tried this product and pretty disappointed. The time in the oven was 3 to 4 mins and I left them in around 4 mins 15 seconds. The chocolate melted great but the marshmallow was still pretty firm. The best part of the smore is the ROASTED marshmallow and this was just about warm. I will get better results from the microwave. Big disappointment

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Factory-Reconditioned Ronco Inventions ST4000R Showtime Indoor Rotisserie and Barbecue

Many gadgets for the kitchen are less than essential. Some are pretty foolish. But the Showtime Indoor Rotisserie & BBQ from Ronco is a machine that our family uses, I would guess, about three times a week. Not only does it do a real job, it performs tasks that we can't otherwise accomplish in our kitchen. For example, a bread machine is a convenience, but not essential for baking a loaf of bread. The rotisserie grill, however, turns out food that I could not produce any other way.

Although we've mostly done chickens, we have also cooked chicken pieces, bratwurst, beef roasts, pork roasts and a leg of lamb. We successfuly roasted a 13 lb turkey. We even cooked frozen salmon filets in the basket after a quick basting with herbed mayonnaise and it came out delicious.

The food quality is, simply put, fantastic. The whole chickens are far superior to even the most conscientiously roasted poultry. The dark meat is tender and fully cooked, the white meat moist and savory, and the seasoned, crisped skin is a nutritionist's worst nightmare. A cheap, rather fatty pork shoulder roast came out with much of the fat rendered away and an even doneness that made for delicious eating.

Speaking of fat, Ron Popiel markets this machine on his informercials as causing the "fat to run off," thereby delivering some kind of health advantage. Well, the fat does drip continuously, but the poultry and meats cooked in the rotisserie are plenty greasy. Please be aware that this is certainly part of the reason the chicken is so good! I don't think there is any more or less fat in a rotisseried chicken than in a roast bird.

If you don't want to use the skewers or rods, you can cook foods in an adjustable basket. For example, we put in several bratwurst, set the top of basket down so that the links are tightly in place, set the timer for 20 minutes, and come back to sausages that are fully cooked, lighly crisped on the skin, and bursting with juices.

I really like the engineering on this machine. The controls are very simple. The setup is uncomplicated and intuitive. You have only one heat setting, and adjust the time to control doneness. A single timer dial works both to set time and turn the machine on and off. In an age where a TV remote comes with four dozen buttons, this kind of plain, understable usability is, I think, a real blessing.

I bought the reconditioned model from Amazon and haven't had any trouble so far. Hey, if a machine comes out of the factory with a defect (and some are going to), why not get one that has been diagnosed and repaired? At the price savings it's really hard to go wrong. I'd recommend the Showtime Rotisserie to anyone.

I have had my unit for over a year. It makes the best food even better, the problem is when something goes wrong as the company will never reply to their Emails. Mine first broke on Thanksgiving day. I Emailed them requesting information on replacement parts, No reply. 2 months ago the timer handle broke so I Emailed them again, 2 Emails 0 replies. If you buy the item you will enjoy it until it breaks.

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Well, I wanted this Ronco rotisserie that day I saw it on TV... But I never buy anything from HSN or any other shopping channels. I was watching birds rotating on the screen, drooling over those ribs... I didn't buy it because I felt it is too much money for something I can't see or touch. Then, I saw this same rotisserie on Amazon.com. What a deal! I bought reconditioned model and it came in perfect condition and I love it! Food comes out perfect every time. So far I made 6-pound chicken,

chicken and pork kebobs, salmon fillets, shrimp screwers. You cannot beat this price for such great product. Thanks Ron! I hope you will fix your Customer Service department like you reconditionned my rotisserie.

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Purchased the Ronco unit from Amazon after a couple late night informercials 'primed the pump'. Absolutely no problems with my reconditioned machine arrived as advertised in perfect condition.

I've had the machine for six months now & still use it frequently. My favorites? Pork loin roast & roast chicken. My local Costco sells a pre-marinated pork loin that rotisseries perfectly. Sliced thick, my now-famous roast pork has been the favourite of many events this summer.

Chicken: No marinade is needed; simply salt & pepper (or season with your favourite rub), skewer on the rotisserie wheel, set and forget. Chicken is cooked to perfection, tender & truly falls off the bone.

Finally, I'd suggest trying the following:

Halve and boil red potatoes cooking until tender. Drain and place potatoes in the wire basket. Brush with butter & sprinkle with salt and pepper (I add a little cayenne and minced garlic to the butter to 'kick it up a notch'). Rotisserie until browned & serve hot. Scrumptious.

I sincerely hope you find as much enjoyment from your machine as I have.

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Although the food cooked in this rotisserie (I bought one new but wanted to share my experiences with you) is flavorful and succulent, anyone who purchases a product should be prepared for extremely poor and occasionally rude customer. Be prepared on multiple occasions to be put on hold for a long time and then hung up on before you even hear the sound of a live human voice. After this kind of treatment and waiting more than a month for a response to my letter, I attempted to get a customer service representative to refer me to a supervisor. Her response was she would not refer me to a supervisor because all the supervisors were gone for the evening and besides they would give me the same response as she would. (Perhaps but I doubt that he or she would have screamed at a customer who had not raised his or her voice or had made every effort to be polite.)

As for the promotional nonsense about being able to "set it and forget it" as another reviewer mentioned, that could be a dangerous practice: I had a small grease fire in the rotisserie and had thankfully read all the disclaimers which come with the machine warning that one should not leave the machine unattended while on. I had a different rotisserie (which cooked 2.5 time slower and rotated vertically) which did not require such close monitoring because of the configuration of the cooking elements.

The only other criticism I have is that it is not quite as easy to find the proper placement for poultry on the spitrods as you might expect. You really have to make certain the spitrods go through the center of chicken and turkey.

In short: a very good product but a very unreliable company.

George Foreman GP324, Stainless Indoor Outdoor Grill

I'll never buy from Forman again. It worked great for a year but when part of it burnt out, we got "No parts available" from them.

This grill is awesome! I purchased this years ago and it's still holding up. I wish I could get another one. Too bad they do not have them available! Great for the beach and cooks everything evenly. Also perfect for the quick steak!

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This product is in excellent shape. It came just as described. I would recommend both the product and the seller to everyone.

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Swissmar 8-Person Eiger Raclette with Reversible Cast Iron Grill Plate

I'm rather new to raclette. The stone grill tops of other models intimidated me. And I'm not that into having everything "non-stick" being a long-time cast iron pan lover. A well-seasoned cast iron pan is worth 20 teflon pans...anyway...

I'm glad I decided on "middle ground" and purchased the cast-iron grilltop raclette. It does a lovely job on veggies and meat...and the grill actually puts some pretty nice searmarks on the food as it cooks...which is an attractive touch. It's also heavy enough to REALLY hold heat well. We like to sear cubes of marinated beef on top...while our cheese is melting underneath. Mmmmm.

The raclette pans are non-stick...and pretty much the same Swissmar pans they sell with all of their raclette grills. (Nice if you need a replacement.) And this version does come with the pan spatulas...as shown in the picture.

It cleans up very well...but I do recommend doing a traditional cast iron pan seasoning on it first. Wipe oil on the grilltop...pop the grilltop in your oven at 300 degrees...and leave it in there until it gets a little stinky. Turn off the oven...let it cool...wipe...and then re-oil for the first use. Natural non-stick surface...and will also add a little iron to your diet to boot!

The grill is reversable...and has two indentations for crepes on the reverse side that work really well for making quesodillas. (If you're wondering how "multi-purpose" a raclette is...you can adapt any hibachi, fajita, tabletop BBQ sort of recipe...and you can use it to host a DIY omlette brunch...grill mini-burgers...or make pizza. Ours pretty much lives on the dining room table now...it's that much fun.)

If for some reason you decide later you want the stone grilltop...or even the non-stick one...Swissmar grills are pretty much as standard size...and you can order a "replacement" top in later in a different material.

We researched raclette ovens & got this one for Christmas. Understand, my boyfriend is Swiss, so he knows these things.... The cast iron grill plate conducts heat wonderfully & is much simpler than the stone tops that should be pre-heated in a real oven to prevent cracking. Its 2 cooking surfaces (one for grilling & the other for cooking pancakes or tortillas) are handy. The cheese trays & spatulas work great--no sticking. The raclette experience is so fun & social--a unique dining experience that is fabulous for the holidays. Swissmar is the expert in raclette ovens, & this particular oven is a winner!

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Just received this cast iron grill today. Still seasoning the cast iron grill. The whole unit is very handsome, and heat very well, the rack is stable. Cannot wait to use it when the seasoning process is done. The non-stick trays looks very good quality, but I am trying to eliminate non-stick cookware. I bought two 4" x 4" with 1" height cast iron skillets from Home Goods to replace the non-stick trays. They fit under the grill well. I had been looking for a indoor electric grill for weeks, and finally decided to get this one. The size is just right for 2 -4 people. I also bought a 1 qt stainless pot to plan to put some soup in it, then place on top of the grill to keep the soup warm.

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I've used the raclette twice since buying it about 3 weeks ago. I bought it after an appetizer use of it at a friend's house. Theirs was one with the non-stick top which seemed a bit flimsy. So, I selected the one with the cast iron top and it seems to heat better and more evenly. My participating guests are already asking for more!

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Love this Grill. We've only had it for about 6 weeks and already used it 3 times. We've used it with 3 people or with 7. Everybody can reach OK, but our table isn't huge. Start on hot then turn down heat quickly this is the kind of meal that's supposed to take a lot of time. You can sit for a few hours slowly eating and talking and having a good time.

Things we ate with it: Boiled potatoes, tiny French pickles, white asparagus (a Swiss must have for Raclette), tomatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini, eggplant, bacon, cut up chicken breast, hot peppers (cut small, sprinkle them on the cheese before melting it), and probably other things I can't think of right now! Use your imagination, there are so many options!

Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press

The immediate comparison I made when I received this Panini press was to the Cuisinart GR-3 Griddler Jr, Brushed Stainless Steel, and the key difference between the two products (and the reason I'm giving the better constructed, perhaps even better performing press three stars rather than five) is you can remove the plates in the Cuisinart, and you cannot in the Breville. Convenience and ease of use are central considerations when it comes to just how much you're going to want to use these 'extra' kitchen devices, and if it's a headache to clean something like burnt/stuck preserves, then you're going to be less likely to want to pull it out and use it again.

I want to back up a little bit, because I think Breville generally designs and manufactures outstanding high-quality but still affordable products. This press is no exception. Having used both this Breville and the aforementioned Cuisinart, I would give the Breville the edge on almost every single front. It feels more solidly constructed of higher quality materials, it seems to heat more evenly, although the Cuisinart does allow a range of temperature settings as opposed to Breville's one-temp-fits-all approach. I actually like having one flat and one grilled plate in the Breville, compared to the two grilled plates in the Cuisinart -the flat surface providing a much more even and consistent heat that really radiates into the middle of the sandwich better than the more limited surface contact provided by just grill plates (but you still have the all-important texture and grill marks from the top plate). Both adapt to larger sandwiches. Both sport non-stick surfaces (although the Breville's is much smoother as the Cuisinart employs a grittier non-stick treatment). Both are perfectly sized for a couple good-sized sandwiches, without all the wasted space that comes with and from the larger models in each line.

I like this press enough that even as I wrap this review up I wonder if I should be giving it 4 stars rather than 3. Standing on its own, it deserves every bit of 4 stars. It's when it's held in contrast to a like-priced alternative like the Cuisinart that the Breville loses some of its luster, and then really only due to a question of pure convenience (in the form of removable plates).

If those removable plates aren't of particular importance to you, I actually recommend this press over the Cuisinart. For me, the convenience of cleaning the removable plates provide is what makes it an easy decision between the two when I want to grill a sandwich.

1. PERFORMANCE

First, I'd like to discuss the performance of the unit. It's brilliant! I honestly didn't have high expectations for a hot sandwich press, but I've been very happy with it over the past month. Here are some of the items that I've made the most and my remarks:

Sandwich Wraps: Absolutely fantastic results. I can tailor the cooking time for how firm I want the tortillas to be, and the internal ingredients are nice and hot. Having a flat bottom plate and ridged upper plate gives them a perfect combination of toasting and grill marks. The ability to set a minimum height between the top and bottom plates works wonders for veggie wraps because otherwise (at least with mine) the ingredients don't support the weight of the top plate and the wraps get smashed. The tortillas slide right off the non-stick coating, and any ingredients that spill out during cooking have cleaned up very easily.

"Grilled" burritos: Again, fantastic. Just like a sandwich wrap but with other ingredients. I've started to grill these with the fold facing upwards to help prevent ingredients (such as salsa or guacamole) from leaking out during cooking.

French Toast: Works pretty well. I have made it three times so far, each time with the lid down but locked in the second highest position (I haven't tried just cooking one side of the toast by leaving the lid up, yet). If the bread isn't too wet, then it works very well. If the bread is very moist, though, it doesn't cook through to the center very well. With the egg, this items does make it a bit more difficult to clean the non-detachable ribbed top plate.

Pancakes: Works pretty well. The two drawbacks are that the top plate is still being heated even though I'm not using it, and (more important for cooking performance) the temperature of the griddle portion isn't adjustable. Pancakes do come out pretty well, but not as good as on my other griddle that I use on the stove. Also, for some reason the first batch of pancakes sticks to the griddle a bit. I haven't run into that on any other food so far.

Ham: Cooked great, but I'll never do it again because of the mess. Because of the splatter from the juices, I closed the top lid. The bottom flat plate was pretty easy to clean off, but the ribbed top plate took a while because the nooks and crannies of the ribs make it more difficult.

2. WHAT I REALLY LIKE

The floating hinge. That is fantastic and makes cooking thick sandwiches and wraps easy.

The locking height adjustments. This works wonders for less solid foods like toast and veggie wraps.

The front handle. Might seem silly to mention, but the handle stays cool and opens the press easily.

3. WHAT I WOULD CHANGE

Add a power button. I would prefer to not have to unplug it to turn it off. When the unit is heating, there is a decent spark that gets generated at the outlet when I unplug it (same thing happens with my George Forman grill)

Make the heating plates removable, at least the top ribbed plate. These clean up pretty easily, so this is minor, but it can be a bit tedious trying to clean the top plate.

Add a temperature adjustment. This is pretty minor to me because it typically works great, but for pancakes (which are shown on the box as a breakfast item), an adjustment would be nice.

4. FIT AND FINISH

This is my third Breville appliance, and I was expecting the same level of fit, finish, and attention to detail on this press as I had with the other two (Breville BJE200XL Juice Fountain and Breville BKC700XL Coffeemaker). Upon opening the box, the packaging (at least of my unit) was a bit sloppy with the protective plastic bag around the press not fully covering it. After taking the unit out of the box, I noticed that the fit and finish aren't as nice as my juicer and coffee maker. For example:

Some of the bolt holes and rounded corners on the lever arms are sharp as if they weren't properly deburred.

The bottom plate has some rough patches on it

The power cord and cord-wrap on the bottom plate aren't very well design, IMO (but that's just personal preference)

I mention all of that for one reason if you are looking at this press because it is a Breville and you have a certain expectation of quality like I did, then those comments might be important to you. I did not remove any stars for this because the unit is nice it's just not as nice as I had expected from this brand (which I think actually speaks highly of the brand).

Buy Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press Now

Since 2006 I have owned and regularly use a Breville 800GRXL Die-Cast Indoor Barbeque and Grill for making panini, grilling, and more. Previously I owned and was greatly disappointed by the Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler with removable plates. The removable plates are a nice concept, but not an important feature for me. Knowing the quality of the Breville 800GRXL, I eagerly wanted to try the Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo. Even so, I didn't think I would want to use both over time.

The Panini Duo is a no fuss non-stick panini press. The top floating hinged ribbed plate and flat bottom plate are coated with non-stick Quantanium(tm) allowing for oil free cooking while resistant to scratching even when using metal utensils. The top plate features adjustable height settings for making open faced sandwiches or desserts.

At first I compared the Panini Duo to my 800GRXL and thought I would miss features such as the drip tray, plate tilt feature, or the ability to lay out flat. However the lack of features and versatility of the Panini Duo, by comparison, are by design. The purposes of these two appliances are not the same.

The simplicity of the Panini Duo is this appliances strongest feature. I can quickly make two paninis by plugging in the outlet, assemble the sandwiches while waiting for the green light, and placing the paninis into the press. Since oil is not required, I made panini without buttering the bread. I prefer the butter flavor; however the bread still came out a toasty brown and crisp. I have toasted buns for burgers by leaving the top open. Additionally I reheated pizza by using the adjustable height feature to heat from above and below. These are all tasks I could accomplish with the larger feature rich Breville 800GRXL, but not with the same ease and efficiency.

While I will use the larger more versatile Breville 800GRXL for cooking breakfast, grilling, and preparing larger meals, the Panini Duo has become my favorite appliance to prepare a quick hot sandwich. The compact size is perfect for making lunch for me and my other half while taking little counter or storage space. If you are looking for a simple panini press for two, the Breville Panini Duo is the perfect choice.

PROS:

Quantanium non-stick surface

Simple to use and care for

Adjustable height feature for melt and open face sandwiches

Oil/butter not needed for healthier cooking

Perfect for a family of two

CONS:

Lacks features found in many panini presses

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This is the third clamshell grill I've used and my second panini press. I also own the Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler Stainless-Steel 4-in-1 Grill/Griddle and Panini Press, which also works for paninis, and what I mainly compared this to. The Breville is designed mainly for paninis, but it can be used for most griddle functions like bacon, pancakes, The product states that you do not need butter or oil due to the surface of the grill plates. While this is true and I found that the sandwiches don't stick to the surface very easily, butter or a non-stick spray makes for an easier cooking experience and a better-tasting sandwich. I think the main thing you want to look for in a grill or panini press is how powerful it is. The Breville is 1500w, which is about as powerful as you're going to get for a panini press. Anything too low, like a George Foreman grill (which ranges from 700-11100 watts), and your sandwich will not cook evenly or quickly. The second thing you usually want to look for is a floating hinge, which the Breville also has. This means that the hinge is not static and rises and lowers in height so that it adjusts for whatever size sandwich you're cooking. The Breville rises up to 2", which is really all you need for a panini (anything higher than that and the inside of your monstrous sandwich will not cook). The hinge also has a lock on it with four different settings, so you can lock the top plate in place instead of having it rest completely on the sandwich. This is something that most other presses don't have. I noticed they recommended one setting for toast, and I did find it created some decent toast, but it was a pain having to watch it and I don't think it will be replacing my toaster oven anytime soon. You can also use this to cook an open face melt, which I tried and came out perfectly. This is great for open face tuna and chicken salad melts, which you can't cook on a regular panini press. The third thing you want to look for is an adjustable temperature setting. The Breville doesn't have one of those, although this is really more important for grilling and not as critical if you're using the press solely for paninis. There are times where you might want to use a lower setting; for instance, if you have a sandwich with a lot of cheese inside it, you would want it on a lower temperature to ensure the cheese cooks before the outside of the bread burns. The average home cook probably doesn't need this though. It appears that the single setting temperature on the press comes out to about 350°.

The size of the press is big enough to hold 2 sandwiches (even using larger panini bread) without having to jam them up against each other. Considering the size of the press, one of the best things about this model is that you can lock the plates and store it vertically. I have a small kitchen and my Cuisinart Griddler takes up a considerable footprint in it. This press is too big and heavy to really store in a cabinet, so you kind of need to leave it sitting out on the counter. Fortunately, it takes up very little room when stored vertically. I wish all presses did this.

My only real problem with the Breville, and the reason I can't give it five stars, is that the cooking plates are not removable for easy cleanup. I have no idea why they didn't do that. It would be so handy to snap off the plates and run them under the faucet with some soap. Given that the bottom plate is flat, it's not too difficult to clean if you cook a regular sandwich on it, but I like to use the press for things like fish and chicken, and they can make a real mess on the grill (especially the top plate which has grill lines). Snap off plates would have made this product perfect. Until they add that, I'd have to recommend the Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler Stainless-Steel 4-in-1 Grill/Griddle and Panini Pressover it.

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When the Breville Panini Press first arrived, I was skeptical that it would provide us with healthy meals or earn a permanent spot on our already clutter counter of small appliances. We already had a Smoothie Maker, a Quesadilla Maker, an Espresso machine, a Senseo, a multitasking Toaster Oven, a Food Steamer, an Electric Wok, a stand-alone coutertop Convection Oven and several more "Foodie" trends. We used the Panini Press right away and loved it but in the back of my mind, I wondered if our infatuation with it was just another passing fancy. I'm pleased to say that after a year of use, we still turn to our Panini Press at least 4 nights a week for either our main course or to prepare light snacks. Almost all the other small appliances I listed above have been swept OFF the counter and a special place of honor created for the Breville. Why? well, how about we start with the fact that since we've been using it both my wife and I have dropped over 20 Pounds? Yeah, that got your attention eh?

I admit, it took us a few days of experimentation to learn how NOT to overstuff a sandwich as well as which spreads to use in what amounts. Getting it right almost forces you to eat smaller amounts but we didn't mind because of the new variety of sandwiches and grilled wraps we could toast up. Once we got the size and portion issues down, we were making all manner of new, low fat, high nutrition hot sandwiches with smaller amounts of new, sharper cheeses, aged or smoked meats and savory condiments as well as adding in some marinated and/or freshly thin-sliced vegetables. The Floating Hinge is really great and allows you to use artisan breads made from many whole grains without worrying about breaking the machine. There is a limit to how big a meal you can make but our slederized waistlines like that. It's not a negative for us. We view it as "automatic portion control". The machine is very easy to use right out of the box and becomes even easier over time. You don't need to add any fat to the cooking surface which is great! In addition, once the grilling surface is hot enough, a "Ready" light pops on.

A big plus in my eyes is that you can adjust the top grill with the ribs in it that makes the "grill marks" so the floating hinge can handle different thickenesses of bread, or meats if you're using it that way. You can also set the top plate so that it radiates heat downwards like a broiler for wonderful open-faces melts. We like grilling meat on the Press almost as much as making a new Panini flavor! Finally, the bottom grill is flat and perfect for Sunday morning Lemon Ricotta Pancakes or Stuffed French Toast! Honestly, the Breville does so many thing that we rarely turn on a burner or the oven anymore which is a huge convenience for us since we live in a home in Los Angeles without Central Air Conditioning. It heats up quickly and cools down fast -long before the cooking heat from the grills have any time to turn my kitchen into a sweltering nightmare.

We love our Breville so much that we gave one to my parents for a Christmas gift along with a recipe book. They enjoy it as much as we do but more for the convenience of cooking for two people than for the reasons I mentioned. That actually is a big selling point. If you live alone or are a couple without kids, it makes grilling up a steak and serving a great salad about 15 minute affair from start to finish, including the easy cleaning y wiping it down with a paper towel. if you have kids of any age, it makes it easy for you to cook something up for them in minutes or allows older kids to just make what they want.

We are still using ours more than every other night and we haven't gotten bored or tired of the possibilities for it yet. That's saying something since our Quesadilla maker is back in it's box, the Smoothie Maker broke and the Breville and the Toaster Oven are the only two small appliances I still keep out on the counter. Since we got our Panini Press, we've both lost weight and we find we are enjoying a greater variety of entrees than we did before it arrived. It's just so convenient to use that even the fast food franchises close by and the Sandwich shops I used to love the indulge in on weekends no longer seem like viable options when we can plug in the Press and have something better, faster and in our own home without having to get in the car. Our Breville provides us with really fast food , but fast food of the nutritious variety!

We highly recommend this to anyone for themselves or as a gift. It's one of the few small appliances that earns what little counterspace it takes up. It's well-made, easy to use and can be a real help to someone trying to cook in a small kitchen during the heat of summer. If mine ever broke, and it shows no signs of wear & tear yet, I'd immediately buy a new one!

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Masterbuilt 20100111 Remote Meat Probe Thermometer

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!! Do not emerg the PROBE in water. Wash only the probe with soap and water and dry quickly.

I bought this to use with my Masterbuilt smoker & I'm very happy with this thermometer. this works great and is right on. I tested it with 5 other thermometers at the same time in the oven and all 6 read the same temp at the same time. the wireless range worked great at 50 feet the alarm is not very loud. I think this was worth the money & I would buy this again.

UPDATE well after using this about 10 times, a total of 125 hours of smoking time, this thermometer stopped working. I even tried a new prob and nothing. I agree with the other reviewers this is a total waste of money. I will not be buying another masterbuilt model # (20100111)

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I previously owned another remote thermometer from Maverick but in the course of two years I went through 6 probes, some lasting only for a few uses. I was fed up with having to constantly replace the probes so I thought I would purchase a new unit from another manufacturer. This was my choice, and I feel it was a bad one.

I used the unit one time with success. The very next time I went to use it the readout went to "HH" immediately and would not function. Changing batteries, wiggling the probe, an restarting it several times had no effect. I am very disappointed. It seems it was a total waste of money. I might also add that, because of my previous experience with this type of probe I was very careful not to kink or submerse the cable.

I'll be contacting the service department for this company later today to see if they want to make good. I'll update based on their answer, but for now I would caution anyone considering this unit to be aware that it may have a short life of service to you.

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I used the unit several times in my indoor oven. Potatoes, Steak, etc. worked okay. The first time I used it on my grill, taking care where the wire was placed, it went to HH and was useless after that.

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I've tried to insert probe into meats in different thicknesses and it never registered a temperature. I've gone back to my basic thermometer ! It never fails !

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Patty Maker with 8 Storage Containers

I purchased these over the summer so that I could prepare turkey burgers ahead of time and keep them available in the freezer. The plastic of the storage containers seems a little flimsy to me, so I am careful with them. I don't know how long they will hold up, but I haven't had any problems with breaking or cracking yet. The only other thing I have noticed so far is that they do not protect the meat from freezer burn. I thought the whole point of using the plastic containers was to help keep out the freezer burn, but it doesn't take long before the burn starts to creep in. As long as you don't plan to keep these in your freezer for months, this is a good product. Not the highest quality, but it does what it says.

Rome's #1205 Round Jaffle Iron with Steel and Wood Detachable Handles

This pie iron works great and makes delicious hot sandwiches and "pies". It can be used with slices of bread, flour or corn tortillas, pie crust, puff pastry or egg roll pastry. It is great for frying single eggs too.

The only concern would be that the rod with the hook doesn't have a stop, so it could slide toward the fire or get lost if you unscrew the handle rods, but I fixed it with a little epoxy. Because of this and the parafin coat that can be hard to remove before seasoning, I give it just 4 stars. It's about time they change to something more like Lodge uses with their skillets that can be removed easily. If you don't properly clean the parafin off, you will get your kitchen full of smoke and burn smell when you season the iron in the oven.

To remove the parafin coat is best to put the iron head over a propane burner for a while so it warm up and run out or get burnt. Then let it cool a while, scrub it with soapy water and dry it. Spray some oil on it or rub it with crisco and bake it for one hour at 350. This can be done because the handles can be removed. Or if you already have the propane burner, you can just use it again to season the iron without removing the handles leting the oiled iron castings get really hot for some minutes, turning it constantly. Then spray a new coat of oiland let them alone to cool down. They get a beautiful black full seasoned finish instead of the golden brown finish it get in the oven.

I was doubtful between this jaffle iron or the classic pie iron with the longer rods. The handles lenght is adequate for the stovetop or the grill. Have not tried it on an open fire yet. If the shorter handles become an issue or get damaged over time, I can always make other rods threaded for it.

The cast iron is a definite. Don't waste your time with a cast aluminum. These are heavy, but you'll hand them down to your grandchildren.

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If you enjoy camping and you love dutch oven cooking, think of these as amini-dutch oven for backpacking or single serving skillet. It works both ways.

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Where do I start. The directions say to wash the item in hot water initially to remove the protective wax coating, but you will need to use boiling water to be able to get the wax off. I followed the directions for seasoning the unit, but the first pies I mad stuck to the inside of the unit and had to be torn out. The top and bottom do not seal very well so the liquid that is generated during the cooking process leaked all over the stove leaving quite a mess to clean up. The top and bottom are not hinged, but instead are connected by a hook and eye arrangement. The hook that is used to secure the two handles together has no stop so when you partially open the unit to check the degree of doneness the hook slides toward the iron. This may be of use around a campfire, but I have my doubts and it is certainly not meant for home use.

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I would have given this a five star all around, but unfortunately the handles came complete with the threading stripped and marred up pretty severely. I purchased this version with the detachable handles to add to the backpacking kit...too bad for me I guess...

Music City Metals 18501 Stainless Steel Burner Replacement for Select Brinkmann and Uniflame Gas Gr

After purchasing 4 of these at Walmart that were universal and didn't fit, we purchased these and they fit great. Just went in easy and work excellent. Great replacement item for our gas grill.

The product I had received from Amazon was very good,as far as quality, it was better than the original, but fit like the original.

Delivery was earlier than expected, which is awesome!

Very good sight to shop for parts!

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Dualit 00499 Sandwich Cage

I've only had this thing for a day, but that is long enough (with this simple contraption) to come to some very obvious conclusions. First, you can't put regular thickness sliced bread in it (to make a sandwich); the slots of the regular Dualit toasters, which this fits, are not wide enough and you will get bread "oozing" out through the tines, which will make a mess and will contact the actual heating elements. Rather, you would need to either buy very thinly sliced bread (or Pita bread) or slice the bread yourself. You can put cheese in between the slices of bread or inside the piece of pita bread and it will work fine.

This is a pretty odd thing, all things considered, sort of like the British conception of a panini maker inside a toaster.

I sort of like it anyway, though. There are no instructions whatsoever, not even instructions about whether or not it can go in a dishwasher, for example.

So, it is an oddball item; kind of neat if you are into the sort thing that a Dualit toaster buyer would buy . .. . .

I don't have a Dualit toaster, but I do have a single wide slot Cusinart toaster so I thought I'd take a chance on this item. It

It works really well and I don't have a problem with regular bread getting squished like the other reviewer mentioned.

Take care when removing your sandwich as its easy to forget that the metal is quite hot when taken from the toaster.

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I love this thing! It gives me a healthier alternative to my beloved grilled cheese sandwiches. All you need is decent cheese and a teaspoon of butter. A good cheese slicer that can give you nice thin slices also helps. Unlike others, I find this fits my regular super market brand of bread fine -Orowheat. It also makes clean up a lot easier. It's convenient too -you can heat your soup while the sandwich is cooking away. I felt silly ordering it but am so glad I did. Plus, it's saving me money. When I'm thinking about takeout as an alternative to cooking, I do this instead as it is quicker, cheaper and mostly tastier.

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One of the perks of my very expensive toaster is this gadget. Yes, you can use sliced bread, just be sure to buy thinner pre-sliced bread. Pepperidge Farm light style works well and comes in many varieties incl. oatmeal and seven grain. Butter the outsides and add a slice of meat and cheese, or whatever, so long as its not too bulky. Small tortilla wraps can be folded in half with meat and or cheese for another tasty lunch item. Here's to tasty lunches!

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I purchased a Dualit toaster and decided to try these optional accessories. In three minutes I had made two toasted cheese sandwiches so easily that my teen-age sons wanted to try. Simply butter your slices of bread, put a few slices of cheese between the bread, and put your sandwich into the sandwich cages. The cages fit into the slots of the dualit toaster but you do have to watch for pieces of bread that might stick through the cage. We used regular Italian loaf bread without any problem. Set the toaster for just under 3 minutes, wait about 1 minute after toasting, and you are ready to enjoy your sandwich. Much easier than getting a frying pan out and making the sandwiches the old way. The sandwich cages come with recipes for other sandwich ideas.

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