Showing posts with label kamado grills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kamado grills. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

George Foreman GRP100 The Next Grilleration G100 Stainless-Steel Nonstick Countertop Grill

George Foreman GRP100 The Next Grilleration G100 Stainless-Steel Nonstick Countertop GrillThis is our fourth GF grill. We have had this for almost 2 months now and use it frequently.

I like the design and the removable plates. It cleans easily and the plates are easy to snap on and off. The cord is a little short so you will need to set this on a counter with 1-2 feet of an outlet.

We have cooked chicken breast, hamburgers, brats, quesadillas and steaks on this. It cooks all items thoroughly.

The one gripe (and it is a big one in my opinion) is that this does not really get hot enough to actually grill what you are cooking. It cooks items thoroughly but does not brown/grill the food. This is the main reason I knocked off two stars on it. I mean, this is a grill that does not actually grill anything.

From my research before purchasing this grill, this seems to be common to all of the George Foreman grills that have removable plates. This grill was one of the most recent models so I thought this may have a chance at being better than some of the others reviewed. The gamble did not really pay off.

We had gift cards that were almost ready to expire so I was searching for something we needed. This ended up being the best item we needed from that particular store. If we had to pay out of pocket for this, we would likely would have returned it. It works, but for $100+ it should do a better job at actually grilling items.

Update: After owning this for a year... I am very disappointed. The non stick finish is now (significantly) flaking off the grill plates. Dropping this down to 1 Star... Terrible product and I will not buy another Foreman. At this price point this should be of a higher quality and last a minimum of 5 years.

Having happily owned a top of the line Hamilton Beach grill for the past 11 months til yesterday (dropped it and one of the hinges broke leaving the top lopsided), I desperately searched for a good replacement and found this puppy today at a local kitchen store going out of business. I put 2 good size burgers on the tray and less than five minutes after a good preheat, I found myself more happy with this grill than my previous one. Now I understand that I have only used it once, and haven't found yet too many things I could call an ergonomic flaw. But I can fit 4 of the same prepackaged burgers on this grill than my Hamilton Beach one, which I could only get 3. More width on the Hamilton, but less depth than the Foreman.

When I raise the lid, the top of it doesn't clear the cabinet bottom above it. Make sure you have enough cabinet headroom before cooking anything on this grill, as the lid doesn't stay up until it is exactly vertical when removing your food. But this grill is also more stealthy built than the Hamilton, and much more adjustable on tilt so that the grease runs down and front faster.

A little foul plastic burning smell at my first preheat, but I removed the plates and washed them. And now the smell is no more!

Also having an extra tray that is flat for cooking stir frys, omelets, sandwiches, kabobs and the like is a bonus. I looked at a bunch of other George Foreman grills yesterday and today, but this one I feel is better functionally and has a very solid feel. And the burgers I grilled didn't have any fragments of what looks like loose beef skin on top of my burgers, just solid clean beef when I finished cooking them. And they tasted fantastic, not dried up at all.

I've read of the plates non-stick finish wearing off of many George Foreman grills. But time will tell with this one. Right now I can vary the temp and set the timer between 1 and 30 minutes. I have no grey spots or cold spots, as the meat cooks evenly. And I am now more inspired to do more other types of cooking on this grill more often. I couldn't be happier right now, but only time will tell if this one lasts as well as my Hamilton Beach grill did.

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George Foreman 3-Plates Stainless Steel Grill GRP100

My DH and I have been long time fans of the George Foreman line of Grills. When my last one went "toes up" I looked to my friends at amazon.com and they came to the rescue with this great grill.

It heats up quickly and cooks evenly. In fact this is the first one that I've had that I have not had to turn foods a couple of times during grilling to get them cooked. I use it for bacon, chicken, hamburgers, paninis, porkchops, sausages, steaks, veggies and more.

If you have a large, hungry family (IE: teenage boys) that eat all at once, you would probably want to find a bigger one. This one is fine for a couple of big ribeyes or 4 to 5 hamburgers depending on how big you make yours!

I love cooking bacon on this grill! Yeah, it takes a little longer than frying, but no more splatter burns on my hands and arms! Plus! All that wonderful bacon grease drips down into the tray so I can save it. This is a little off topic but....ok, I know that it is bad for me, but seriously....have you ever eaten chicken fried in bacon grease? I grew up on a farm and that is a way of life for us!

You can't go wrong with this grill it cooks veggie burgers too, for those of you disgusted by my bacon grease. LOL!

I haven't used the included plate for making pancakes, but it looks like it should work great. The grill can be adjusted so that it allows stuff to drain off or so that it is level --for the pancakes.

Read Best Reviews of George Foreman GRP100 The Next Grilleration G100 Stainless-Steel Nonstick Countertop Grill Here

Recently dropped and broke an older Foreman grill, so I chose this as a replacement. The older grill was the type with non-removable plates, and washing it was a pain. I thought this grill would be easier to maintain since the plates (grilling surfaces) were removable. Well, it is easier to just toss the plates into the dishwasher for cleaning which is a bonus, but this grill takes much longer to heat up to cooking temperature than the old grill did. It also does not grill evenly at all, as the food items near the outer edges barely get cooked, while the items nearer the center get cooked quickly; therefore you have to move the food around on this grill whereas that was unnecessary on the older model. I would imagine that this problem is caused by the actual heating elements being farther away from the grilling surface due to the removeability feature of the plates.

Other complaints include the power cord being way too short (2' long). Come on, couldn't they make it at least 3' long to reach the nearest outlet, or is my counter top and outlet location different from the norm?

Be very careful with the adjustable rear leg latch. If you try to slightly move the grill on your counter while it is in the angled position, the rubber feet on the legs will grab the counter surface (which is designed to keep the grill from sliding around) thereby causing the latch to release and abruptly lowering the grill to a level position. This, in turn, causes the grill to push the grease-catcher tray forward; thereby spilling some hot grease.

I can't be all negative about this product though, there are some good points. At least this model has adjustable temperature settings, graduating between Low and High, which allows a wider range of foods to be cooked on the grill. Clean up is very easy since the plates are removeable. There is a separate, flat, grilling plate included with this model which also allows a wider range of foods to be cooked; versus the older model with only ribbed grilling plates. The stainless steel color perfectly matches all of the other stainless steel appliances in my kitchen. And finally, the size and shape of the grilling surface (square) is much improved over the somewhat elliptical shape of the previous grill. This allows for the cooking of 5 Bubba burgers at one time rather than the 4 that the old grill allowed.

In summary, I feel that Salton grills(which is the manufacturer)which Foreman puts his name on, should hire a few more quality control people and engineers to produce a product without some of these pesky quirks. Hence, only 3 stars.

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The grill was good while it lasted. It was used quite frequently for a few months. Then one of the plastic side clamps that hold the removable plates fell apart. A major design flaw -I think the plastic just deteriorated from the heat stress. That's when I discovered something very shoddy about the whole George Foreman operation. It turns out, the customer support and warranty is provided by some faceless generic holding company that has a laundry sheet of other brands and products, Applica Consumer Products, Inc., a subsidiary of Salton, Inc. The "800" number put me on hold with an estimate of 10 minutes. For a while they kept me enticed by regularly updating me on my order position in the phone queue. Alas, when I was close to being at the top of the queue,the system directed me to voice-mail box!!! In the end, the only way I was successful reaching anyone regarding my problem was by using the company's embarrassing web site (check it out here: ). After a few e-mail exchanges, I was told that the replacement part (the upper grill plate) is out of stock, would be put on order and I would be notified as soon as it became available. That was two months ago. Never heard from them again.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Tramontina Set of 3 Saute Pans

Tramontina Set of 3 Saute PansI got this 3 piece set for 20 bucks from a local store. It is the right kind of heavy in my opinion. The Cook's Illustrated highly recommends the 12 inch skillet. And I can see why. They cook evenly and are super easy to clean. I never wash them in the dishwasher though, so my skillets have very few scratches despite heavy use for past 6 months. Sometimes I get scorch stains on the bottom of the pan but they always come off with a little elbow grease. These are the best non stick skillets that I have ever owned.

These pans have heavy duty riveted handles, cook well, ez to clean. They are Made in the USA by your neighbors!

My wife likes having three sizes.

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I've been buying non-stick cookware since it first came out. I will say that I always use a tiny bit of oil in the pan, because food cooked without oil is not very tasty to me. MANY of the Teflon pans I bought years ago lasted less than a year before they began to discolor and get scratches in them. Even the high-dollar Calphalon pan began to stick and get a rough surface after about 2 months. The Emeril steel pans did not perform as promised and were like all others, requiring overnight soaking with baking soda to loosen the stuck food, followed by a rubbing with Barkeeper's Friend, to make it shine. I finally accepted the fact that non-stick cookware is like a cardboard box -it won't last forever, so don't think of it as the last pan you'll ever buy; it will have to be replaced frequently. My main objective became finding a non-stick pan that will last longer than a few weeks before it starts clinging to food. I bought my first Tramontina pan a couple of years ago, and it remained smooth and functional for over two years, and I used it daily. The exterior of the pan, coated with something amazing, also remained clean over that time. It finally got one tiny scratch in it, which didn't affect the efficiency of it, but I decided it was getting old, and who knows what happens over time to the chemical structure of the surface itself? So I bought this set of three a few months ago, and they still look like they just came out of the packaging. They do a wonderful job on everything I cook in them (and I DO use HIGH heat, even though instructions warn against it). They do not discolor over at least two years. The surface does not begin to get a sandpaper texture to it, like the Teflon pans always did. And the first one I had was still stick-free after two years. If you want a pan that you can hand down to your grandchildren, buy cast iron or stainless steel, but you will need to buy plenty of steel wool (for the iron) and a case of Barkeeper's Friend (for the steel). This is the best non-stick I have found. It cooks evenly, cleans easily, and outlasts any others I've tried.

Read Best Reviews of Tramontina Set of 3 Saute Pans Here

I bought these from a local store about a year ago...they are fantastic!!! I use the small one the most for breakfast everyday and it still looks like new. I even turned around and bought a set for a gift for my brother and sister-n-law. Best skillets I have ever owned!!

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I bought this set at Costco (Sorry, Amazon, but they had it cheaper) after reading reviews of the product. So far I have been very, very happy with the purchase. The pans are a nice size assortment and have a good feel to them; I also like the rubber handles. Granted the pans don't have lids, but you can purchase an all-sizes lid on Amazon or any kitchen-ey type place. Sure, I don't know how long they will last, but in their price range they seem to be of above-average quality. I'm more than content with them. Be sure to season the pans, as the manufacturer recommends, which takes less than five minutes.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Korean BBQ Plate (LARGE)

Korean BBQ PlateThe Korean BBQ works very well. I just wish it was larger. The write-up on Amazon said that it weighed 9 lbs. The one I received only weighed 6 lbs. I assume that it is the correct one. It cleans very well after use.

We use this as a tabletop grill by placing it on a stand with a gel fuel can underneath. Try grilling shrimp--it's super for that--but it works for other meats and veggies, too. It gets very hot and things cook quickly. Experiment with putting the fuel closer or further away. Be sure to place the fuel on a heat resistant surface.

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Great I love that device the only thing is that it is described as large and in fact it's the same width as the other one. But it's a great tool that we all love in the family.

Read Best Reviews of Korean BBQ Plate (LARGE) Here

I am wondering if this would work on my induction cookplate--could use a photo of the bottom and a measurement of diameter, especially the part that would be in contact with an induction element.

I am sure it's fabulous for its purpose, but cannot purchase without more information...

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I purchased it on June 15, 2012, and only used it once sometime in later July 2012. After my 1st use, it was getting rusted very badly so that I could not use it any more.

I contacted M.V. Trading Co and only got the manufacture's number. I called that number and was told that they would call me back with the solution. 6 months since then, no call back and no solution. 44 dollars for one-time use? what do you think?

So I emailed M.V. Trading Co today and here was what I got "Any steel will get rust if you don't dry it completely after you wash it. We don't think this have anything to do with the quality of the product."

YES, the question is how good it is! The rust all over the plate only after 1st usage? If it is so easy to get rusted, Please put that information on your product page.

By the way, I'm a Korean, who have used so many similar products before. I did dry it after my 1st use and I DO know how to take care of it. Don't blame customers' way of usage whenever you have a claim. It might be that what I got is a defective one OR that you have a very poor product quality control.

Won't recommend it to anyone (except you wanna spend 44 dollars to see how the rust spread all over the plate after your 1st use) and would never ever buy anything from M.V. Trading Co, Period@!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Calphalon Unison Nonstick Nonstick Grill Pan and Griddle Set 2-pc.

Calphalon Unison Nonstick Nonstick Grill Pan and Griddle Set 2-pc.These pans heat unevenly to the point where they simultaneously burn and undercook food. We have not had this problem with our older Calphalon or All-Clad pans. The uneven heat distribution is undoubtedly related to the thickness of the aluminum. The bottom of the pans are 3.9mm thick. Our older Calphalon pans are 5.5mm thick--40% thicker! Indeed the pans feel lightweight and cheap, similar to non-stick pans you buy at the local supermarket. I suggest you avoid these pans and either buy a cheaper item of similar quality or hunt for better quality.

This review is based on 6 weeks experience with these pans.

I received these pans as part of a House Party contest I entered. I started using them the day I got them, and have used them almost everyday since. The trick with these pans is to not turn your burners on high and to use very little oil on the pans when cooking food that might stick or brush food that might stick with oil. We love fish tacos wrapped in lettuce leaves and the grill pan never fails to turn out moist beautiful seared fillets. It also grills a perfect fillet Mignon, chicken breasts and vegetables like asparagus. The slide pan makes great omelets, crepes and pancakes to name just a few of its many uses. And they clean up like a dream. I have given the set to both my sons as gifts and they are equally pleased with their performance.

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When this set arrived the two pans were the same. One was supposed to be a grill pan. We contacted Amazon and they sent out the grill pan right away and told me to send back the wrong pan as soon as I could. Great service. I'm loving this flat pan. Still finding uses for it. Doesn't stick as promised.

Read Best Reviews of Calphalon Unison Nonstick Nonstick Grill Pan and Griddle Set 2-pc. Here

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Optimus F-5285 8-Inch Electrically Reversible Twin 3-Speed Window Fan with Thermostat, white

Optimus F-5285 8-Inch Electrically Reversible Twin 3-Speed Window Fan with Thermostat, whiteThis fan barely moves any air. The fan was wired backwards and to have it blow air in you have to set it to exhaust. After three weeks of use, one of the two fans quit working. I wouldn't recommend this fan to anyone.

My son's 6th floor dorm room in San Diego was 80 degrees with no air conditioning. This fan was perfect for two reasons. First, it does not require installation in the window because it has feet and he can place it on the window sill, so he can leave the screen on and not worry about bugs. Secondly the fan exchanges the room air with an intake fan and exhaust fan. His room is running 8 degrees cooler and he is sleeping much better. He already had a free standing fan and wanted a second fan. I am so glad we purchased this Optimus window fan.

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The fan is reliable, works fine, but the output is miniscule. For the price, I would have assumed I would be able to create a nice breeze. When the wind kicks up outside over 10 mph, it actually makes the fans move faster than if they were plugged in. Would not recommend if you are using it in the South during the summer.

Read Best Reviews of Optimus F-5285 8-Inch Electrically Reversible Twin 3-Speed Window Fan with Thermostat, white Here

I tried this product out. But it is a cheap piece of junk for the most part. It does not fit in a standard window very well, and is somewhat clunky to use the side visors. The entire product is made of very cheap flimsy plastic. I doubt it is going to last very long, and it feels like it will fall apart if I touch it. It is not worth the price, not even close.

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Horrible fan, it is quiet because it doesn't move the air! I thought that is what a fan is supposed to do, move the cool night air into the house! This one, the air can be barely felt even on high, like I said I could blow harder. If you want to move air into a house do not get this fan. I got it because at the time of my purchase the reviews were good.

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Swissmar 8-Person Classic Raclette with Reversible Cast Iron Grill Plate, Black

Swissmar 8-Person Classic Raclette with Reversible Cast Iron Grill Plate, BlackMy family has enjoyed this raclette for 3-4 months now. It is ideal for a meal with friends it causes you to slow down and taste the cheese. I really appreciate that the grill is cast iron. After a number of uses it is getting easier to clean as it is well oiled. The cheese slides right off the trays. I also like that I can control the temp with the side control. We have also enjoyed the crepe side although not as much. Great for a fun slow enjoyable meal with family and friends.

We were introduced to Raclette at a friends house. Lots of fun and something for everyone. I bought this one with the castiron and love it. Once you season it properly and continue to use it, it just gets better and better. Everyone wants to buy one after they experience Raclette.

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We were introduced to this way to share eating by friends in Denmark. We loved the experience and convenience so much that as soon as we got back to the States we researched and found it on Amazon, the very same one. My wife and I use it at least 3 or four times a month by ourselves and every time we have guests over we break it out. It is a similar experience to the fondu pot cooking. We have taken it on trips in the car and even packed it and took it to Cabo San Lucas this past January. Our favorite items for the grill top are shrimp and beef loin steak strips. We have cooked salmon, chicken strips, and pork loin strips and all come out great. The pans are good for any vegetable and we cover them with shredded cheeses. We love spinach on the grill top and in the pans. We also baked a brownie mix in them so we could have dessert.

A great plus is the ease of clean up. Once the grill has cooled you can use hot tap water and a plastic scrub brush and get it cleaned up fast. I have also placed it in the dishwasher and it comes out clean easily. The pans clean up easily too as long as you don't bake something in them too long. If you do, scrub them with a Teflon scrub pad, not a pot n pan scrub pad, the nonstick coating is rather thin.

The several drawbacks or cautions to know are: 1) the coating on cast iron grill top is very thin and the slightest cutting or scratching with a metal or sharp instrument could scrape the coating off, never cut on the grill; 2) if you use an extension cord with the grill be sure it is a high wattage appliance wire and that the plugs are tight ... the plugs will get very hot and the plug into the wall could melt if it is not high wattage ... best to not use an extension, 3) while there are 8 heating pans and 8 places to put the heating pans, it is tough to seat 8 people around the grill and all still have arm's reach access to the grill top ... six is comfortable and 4 makes a very cozy comfortable experience.

So far four of our friends have gone out and bought this item after their experience of eating with us.

Read Best Reviews of Swissmar 8-Person Classic Raclette with Reversible Cast Iron Grill Plate, Black Here

We love this. We use it on Christmas Eve and at other holiday dinners. It is fun and easy. Thanks

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If you enjoy good conservation and having fun cooking your own food you'll like this Raclette. Give it a try!

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Monday, October 14, 2013

18" High Velocity Floor Fan

18' High Velocity Floor FanI do not own this product... yet the person reviewing it with 1 star is not reviewing the product, but complaining about shipping and taping of a rip neither of which are Amazons problem... nor did the person get in touch with amazon to try and resolve this. Really strange review. Could not resist to respond to such an odd review on my search for a good fan:)

Amazon was a resource for speedy acquisitions, with the hope that a firm the size of yours ccould be trusted. I had bought several other items in the amount of about $1,000. direct from the merchants, after researching on Amazon. Items like my camera case on wheels, etc,etc.

In this case, the fan came to me from UPS in damaged condition-dented grill. I will eventually get around to trying to straighten it but it will be a cold day in heell, before I buy from you boys again.

You could see from the packaging that this was a returned fan. The cardboard box was ripped apart like a long anticipated Christmas present.

Then, without regard for appearance, someone scotch taped it together in a rather haphazard way--the metal was coming through the box in another section of the container. I would have refused it if I was there when the UPS man delivered it, but I just sign the slip and leave the door open as so many people do-I suppose. It's a real drag when you try to do something online for convenience and ease of shoping and end up with piss poor companies like yours, who try to get by with shoddy performance. It's good to find out about you early---it's a cheap price to pay to get you out of my life.

Take me off your email list. Louis Peltier

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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel Gas Grill V-Shape Smoker Box, Long

Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel Gas Grill V-Shape Smoker Box, LongThis "long" model is a perfect fit for my new model Weber Genesis (with front controls and burners running front-to-back.) Sits flush with the top of the flavorizer bars.

I was fortunate to have chosen the E330 model grill with the "Sear Station" burner. We bought two of theses smoker boxes and place one on each side of the sear burner. Using the sear burner only, set on low the grill maintains perfect barbeque temperature and the boxes provide smoke for a good amount of time.

As a true barbeque fanatic it's hard to admit that we achieved real slow-smoked barbeque from a gas grill!

I've always used charcoal, just recently purchased my dream gas grill. Honestly, I missed the smokey flavor, so I purchased this unit quite a bit less than the one that Weber offers. Used it for the first time last night. I now LOVE my gas grill, I get that great smokey flavor with this unit. It did catch fire, but that was my fault for not soaking my chips long enough but I poured a little water in the top and all was good. Highly recommend this for the price and the performance. I'll try and post back after I've had it for a year, to update it longevity. The only thing I would change would be to by the shorter version, on my Weber I have to lift both grates to open the smoker box. I should have purchased two shorter versions and then I would only have to lift one grate to refill.

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I've been looking to buy a smoker box for years but they were always a little too pricey. This one was at such a reasonable price that I was concerned that it would be flimsy. But it's not. It's sturdy and fits my grill perfectly.

I live in an area where charcoal grills are prohibited, so I'm stuck with a gas grill. Finally I can get grilled food that tastes like what I remember from when I was a kid.

Read Best Reviews of Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel Gas Grill V-Shape Smoker Box, Long Here

Load it up with chips, and you can get 30 minutes or better of heavy smoke. I use it on a Weber Silver Genesis A. The V shape lets it sink in between flavorizor bars. Great design, well made.

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My old rectangular box smoker (from K-mart) finally rusted through after two years of use. I got this model for three particular reasons: a) It is stainless steel construction (hope this lasts longer); b) The top is hinged for easy load and cleaning; and c) As the previous reviewer stated the price was right.

I bought two since I do a dry rub and slow smoke (3+hrs) pork ribs placing one smoker on each end of the BBQer. The bigger model (there are two sizes) is too long to drop the smoker in-between the two end burners, but this turned out fine since it lays on top and in-between the two end burners at an angle with the top holes pointing toward the center directing the smoke to the meat from two directions.

The result so far is some fine slow smoked ribs and chicken.

Time will tell how long these will last so far so good eats.

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