Showing posts with label outdoor gourmet grills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outdoor gourmet grills. Show all posts

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet

Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway SkilletI purchased this skillet to replace one from another manufacturer with a removable base (it had distinct heating zones and was not even at all!).

This skillet has nearly straight sides, of nice depth. As stated, the foldaway base and temperature control fit nicely inside the skillet itself, making a very compact unit for storage. I made fried chicken in it as a test case (something my old skillet failed miserably at!). To my delight, each piece was cooked evenly. This skillet seems to have no 'cold spots' or overly hot spots. The spoon rest cutaway in the corner makes a nice vent for the pan when cooking, and easy pouring for liquids in the skillet. Cleanup was a fast and easy. If you are looking for a skillet that has fast, even heating, easy cleanup and a compact footprint in a cupboard, this is definitely one to consider!

After making the mistake of equating quality with a high-end and high-cost name brand (begins with "C", think food processors) I listened to recommendations from friends and reviews on Amazon, and bought the Presto. I was very pleasantly surprised that this unit does everything well that I found deficient in the Cuisinart skillet. First and foremost, it heats evenly over the entire cooking surface which is a must when making crepes or pancakes. Second, it maintains an even and constant cooking temperature without shutting off and on the cooking elements as the desired temperature is reached. And third, it remains entirely level on a level surface which eliminates the pooling of pancake batter or cooking oil which occurred with the Cuisinart. The design and engineering of the Presto are top notched, and for the money it represents an excellent value. The foldaway design is rather nice as well. I cannot attest to the longevity of the non-stick cooking surface as I've only used the unit about 5 times so far. If it lasts for years as it should then this is truly a 5-star product.

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This is an awesome skillet! It stores compactly and really seems to heat evenly and accurately. The non-stick seems to be high quality and the clear glass lid makes watching what you're cooking a breeze. Great value for the money!

Read Best Reviews of Presto 06857 16-inch Electric Foldaway Skillet Here

I gave this to my wife for Christmas so we have only used it for a few times, It works very well and folds compact for storage, and that was the reason for it's purchase as we intend to put it in the travel trailer, I'm sure it will fill our needs perfectly.

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The skillet arrived in perfect condition. Cooking time appears to be quicker then using the burner on my smooth top electric range. The PRESTO heating element is sealed at the bottom of the skillet for more efficient heating of the pan. There is no wasted energy.

Cooking chicken breast with barbacue sauce provided excellent results. Cleanup was easy and the chicken cooked perfectly. The next item to be tested were homefries. The skillet did a perfect job, the homefries cooked perfectly, well browned without burning, the pan's non-stick surface is perfect for cooking starchy food like fries. French toast cooked perfectly with easy cleanup. The 16 inch surface gives plenty of space for pancakes or other items. During power outages and when the generator kicks in, the skillet is the perfect solution to minimize power usage. The glass cover allows for viewing during cooking. The side vent allows moisture to escape. Allowing the pan to cool before immersing in water will give the non-stick surface a long life. The foldaway stand and reversing the cover gives the appliance a low profile perfect for storage. This is a great product, it saves cooking time and energy.

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Friday, January 31, 2014

Tayama Multi-Cooker 2.2 Liter Shabu Yaki

Tayama Multi-Cooker 2.2 Liter Shabu YakiPut boiling broth in the hotpot and it starts boiling again within a couple of minutes. No problem contolling the boiling. Good size for one or two people. My wife and I used it 5 times in the first two weeks.

Product worked as described and is excellent for shabu shabu use, or any situation where a hot/boiling soup or liquid is required at the table.

I haven't tried fondue in it yet, but I'm sure it'll work well for that, too. So far, the shabu shabu I made was great. Unit heats evenly, too.

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This is not the exact Shabu Yaki that I purchased, but is just like it and needed a review. It is the perfect cooker for a fun Mongolian Hot Pot party. Being that it is electric and has the temperature dial to regulate the heat it is the perfect pot to use for a fuss-free party. ANd clean up is a breeze as the pot is just taken off the hot plate and plunged in sudsy water for a quick wash.

For your Hot Pot Party just fill with a nice vegetable broth and get it hot, set out the tray of raw veggies, meats, shrimp, scallops, and several dipping sauces, set everyone up with chopstix and have one of those wire basket spoons handy to retrieve lost morsels. Dinner guests take pieces of meat or veggie and hold it in the boiling broth until it is cooked. Then they let it cool on their plate just a little and spoon a smidgen of one of the sauces on it for a tasty bite. After all the meats and veggies have been cooked and eaten, noodles are tossed in and everyone helps themselves to a portion of noodles in a bowl.

This makes for a great party. Ask your guests to come dressed in Asian style. Set the mood with some Chinese lanterns and a hanging dragon for decoration, put some traditional Chinese music on the CD player, make sure you have plenty of chopstix and the fondu-like fun begins.

I also set up an electric wok at another table and filled it with peanut oil to do tempura battered veggies, shrimp, and to fry egg rolls at the same time. Half my guests started at one table and then after 30 minutes or so they switched with the hot pot table.

I had hidden little red bags with money and small gifts inside in my back yard for the kids to find after dinner, and we set off small fireworks too (sparklers, fountains, party poppers, etc.). Everyone helped themselves to the fortune cookies and some stayed for a game of Chinese checkers (the Mah Jongg game that I had ordered didn't arrive in time).

The kids LOVED this party. My kids and our guests just raved that this was the best one ever. The kids loved cooking their own food. (Make sure you have a sturdy table to set the pots of hot liquid on no card tables)! So get yourself this perfect little cooker and have some Chinese fondu fun at your house soon!!!

Read Best Reviews of Tayama Multi-Cooker 2.2 Liter Shabu Yaki Here

I use this pot every day in my dorm room and I have yet to encounter any problems. It heats up very quickly and holds just enough for my roommate and I to eat our fill. Cleanup is simple and it doesn't take up a lot of room. Perfect for the college student.

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Ok ,after reading the previous very good reviews, I chose to order this one. My first use of it, I put in 6 cups of already hot water. After 25 minutes, it was not anywhere near boiling. I removed about half of the water. The pot was filled about 1/3 rd or less. I waited another 15 minutes. It still was not anywhere near boiling. I could put my finger in and it was not hot enough to burn me.

I've tried unplugging it turning the dial down and back up all of the way. Most of the time, the pilot light stayed off. It's pretty obvious to me that it is not going to even come to a simmer (which is all you need for shabu shabu)

I guess I should have tried it before cutting up the amount of meat and veggies that I did.

Not impressed and regretfully I can't join the other 4 satisfied users who left their reviews.

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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Camp Chef Dutch Oven Stand

Camp Chef Cast Iron Dutch Oven StandThis table works well for what it is. It gets your Dutch Oven out of the dirt and gives you a nice surface to have coals/briquettes on.

The top surface has some sort of coating on it that makes for very easy clean up. Almost a non-stick coating like on pots and pans, but thicker, more heavy duty.

The legs are 3/8" bolts that screw and unscrew from nuts that are welded onto the bottom of the table itself.

I think for the price that this is a great item to have for use with your Dutch Oven. And I'm sure other uses for too..

When a larger table isn't available, this little stand works great. The design is simple and the funtion is useful. I've stacked 3 12" ovens on this thing without any problem.

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This is a sturdy little table, I have two and use them often. They are perfect for supporting your dutch oven next to the campfire. It is also a great addition for those folks who have a bigger cook table, it will hold hot pots, charcoal starters and more.

Read Best Reviews of Camp Chef Dutch Oven Stand Here

This is simple to set up, ultra convenient, and sturdy. We have several Dutch ovens, two 6 quarts and 12 quart. These can be stacked on this table one on top of the other with the use of the Dutch ovens. The table is a good idea when you want to use more than one Dutch oven and you are at a campground that you are perhaps unfamiliar with. Our first time out with this one we went to a campground we had never been to before, and typically, we create our own pit for our Dutch ovens, at this campground that was not an option and the fire pits and strange grates on them and coals would easily fall through and the grate didn't lift. It was a terrible idea for a camping fire pit.

The Dutch oven table was the perfect accessory so we could make lasagna, bread and brownies stacked on top of one another on the Dutch oven table.

The table cleans up easily. There are four screws that make up the legs and take seconds to put on. It is stable and handled the weight of three full Dutch ovens. For the price, it exceeded my expectations.

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I chose this dutch oven stand so that I could get up off the ground. I can use it with the legs provided or in my grill without the legs.

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Thursday, January 2, 2014

Calphalon Easy System Nonstick 11" Square Griddle

Calphalon Easy System Nonstick 11' Square GriddleI love this pan. The sides is great for catching grease, easy to clean and it cooks great. Onr of the best pans I have ever had.

This is the best griddle I've ever owned. I absolutely love it. I now make perfect pancakes because of this griddle. It's true, your cooking skills are only as good as the quality of your pots and pans. I had a square farberware griddle for years and I stupidly put it in the dishwasher which ruined the nonstick quality of the pan. Lesson learned. This one will never see the inside of a dishwasher and I expect it to be my go-to pan for years to come. I am happy with the quality, the size and the fact that it's very light weight and super easy to clean. I will be replacing my current cookware with Calphalon, it's that good.

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I was looking for a griddle that would keep it's shape. If you try to use the griddle to cook a couple of egss they just slide away from the center of the pan. O would not recommend this pan

Read Best Reviews of Calphalon Easy System Nonstick 11" Square Griddle Here

I had a square pan in the past and have been trying to replace it for a long time after my old pan starting sticking. I find a square pan offers the most room and convenience more so then a round pan. For me, the best uses for square pans are breakfast foods such as bacon, pancakes and hash browns along with a bacon press. This pan is the perfect breakfast pan which I had been searching for. The pan has some weight and is not flimsy. Along with my glass press that I already own I continue to cook flat bacon.

Now please do not misunderstand that I have some kind of obsession for bacon. Just square pans. They are usually priced out of my budget or have the grill marks that are great for burgers and steaks but not all purpose. This is an all purpose non stick pan good for any type of food.

I follow the directions for heating and so far the pan heats evenly and cooks with no burnt marks in the middle. It is oven safe up to 450 but not for the broiler. Cleanup is very easy with just a little soap and water also wipes clean if you want to add a second food product. As with most nonstick cookware I never use metal utensils.

I was so impressed with the first one I ordered from Buy Happier, LLC, within days I came back and got a second one before they sold out. If the idea of a square pan without a lid is holding you back from this pan, just try it, I think you will be as pleased with the pan and price as I am.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Bodum Chambord Enameled Cast Iron Grill Pan, White

Bodum Chambord Enameled Cast Iron Grill Pan, WhiteWe are very happy with both the looks and the performance of this pan. It leaves gorgeous grill marks on veggies, meat, etc.

It needs to be washed and oiled and it is heavy so it requires more maintenance than your average pan. It is worth the investment.

Just got this cast-iron grill pan and have already made amazing steaks and grilled veggies. Leaves beautiful grill marks on everything. This pan is extremely heavy and is of great quality. Takes a bit of effort for clean up and maintenance, but worth it for the food it cooks up.

For size reference, we were able to grill 2 16oz NY Strip Steaks with no problem.

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As even on sale for clearance I paid way too much4th use and the handle is wobbly.

Impossible to clean properly.

Don't waist you money

Read Best Reviews of Bodum Chambord Enameled Cast Iron Grill Pan, White Here

The pan looks nice, the box it high quality and makes you feel liek you bought a good product. Then I opened it and pulled it out and the handle was all wobbly right out of the box. Not sure what happened there, but it might explain why a good brand name product was so cheap. Not sure if returning it is worth it considering how much shipping costs since the pan it so heavy, but I hate the wobbly handle. It probably wont be long until it breaks off completely.

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My Grill Pan! The perfect size for steak, lamb or other meats. Heavyweight and well constructed. A small piece of the enameled finish on the edge of the pan did come off right away, but I didn't return it, as I had already used it. A very good value.

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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Stansport Magnesium Fire Starting Tool

Stansport Magnesium Fire Starting ToolThis is one of the essential survival tools to have with you when camping. This block of magnesium and the built in striker rod to throw the spark is easy to use and can be a life saver. You shave off a small pile of magnesium shavings with your knife and then strike a spark with the back of your knife blade to ignite the shavings that are placed into your tender to start the fire. I knew one guy who even carried a small metal file to file off some magnesium powder and he used the edge of the file on the flint to throw the spark. The magnesium shavings ignite at 5, 400 degrees F and quickly start your fire. The magnesium block has enough material to start hundreds of fires.

This is very light weight and can fit into your pocket, backpack or hang on a strap using the attached chain. Matches are nice but this thing works in the worst conditions and it is a great survival tool to have with you. I recommend it as an item to put in with your camping gear!