Showing posts with label replacement grill grates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label replacement grill grates. Show all posts

Monday, August 25, 2014

Elizabeth Karmel's Super Silicone Fish Spatula with Offset Handle

Elizabeth Karmel's Super Silicone Fish Spatula with Offset HandleI bought this for my chef brother partly as a joke, but he was thrilled and has had a great time using it. Pan-fried, sauteed, or oven-baked whole fish have a bad habit of falling apart in turning or removing from the pan. This spatula is design perfectly to prevent that. Easy to clean and highly heat-resistant. Turns out to be a great idea.

I don't even eat fish, I just wanted a large turner. This one is definitely large. Too large to use with most skillets, but great for grills/griddles. It's perfect for use with non-stick cookware such as Calphalon or Circulon. I use it mainly for turning large items on the griddle, such as quesadillas (filled tortillas folded in half). Use it to flip or serve anything long and floppy, like burritos and enchiladas.

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So far I have used this on fish and enchiladas and it has worked very well! It makes it so easy to pick both up without everything falling apart so my meals look so much nicer on the plate!! I look forward to using it for an omelette. And tonight I found another great use for it...after cutting my famous carrot cake in half, I was able to pick the half up to move it to another cake holder to give to a friend...perfect! I just put it on top of glasses on the top rack of the dishwasher and it cleans up great.

Read Best Reviews of Elizabeth Karmel's Super Silicone Fish Spatula with Offset Handle Here

I bought this for my husband and he just loves it. He uses it for a lot of different things not just fish.

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We used this product while Spring Breaking in the Keys! Our fish of choice was Ahi Tuna. The spatula was just what we needed to flip and remove the fish from the grill. The offset handle was a nice touch. Will definitely recommend to my friends.

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Monday, July 28, 2014

Swissmar Raclette Dish Holders, Set of 4

Swissmar Raclette Dish Holders, Set of 4I am regularly complaining about the cheap construction of new purchases but NOT on these raclette holders. They are built with excellent quality and a nice durable grade of metal. The raclette dishes fit perfectly with these very stable bases. Exceeded all of my expectations.

We have been hosting a big annual Raclette dinner at our house for years and it is always a lot of fun. However, toward the end of the feast there is always the question of what to do with the hot Raclette pans. Some guests put it on their plates, some on top of the grill, and some are absent-minded and actually place it next to their plates onto the tablecloth which I admit it does not make me happy.

When I saw these dish holders, I had to have them. These are well made, sturdy and fit our Swissmar Raclette pans perfectly. The only reason I am not giving them 5 stars is because I don't like the 4 visible screws at the bottom of the holder. They make the holders look too utilitarian and since I usually decorate my table nicely when I host a dinner, this is a bit of a letdown in the design department. But they do the job and that is the most important thing anyway. If you like Raclette, you will find these holders to be indispensable. 4.5 stars if that were possible.

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We love to use the Raclette, but the problem is where to put the utinsils when not in use the plate or the table? If you set them on the table you risk getting the tablecloth or placemat dirty. If you set them on your plate you can run out of room on the plate. This is the perfect answer.

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Our Raclette arrived quickly, was well packaged and easy to open. This is a great addition to our kitchen and we look forward to enjoying many meals with friends.

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Monday, July 14, 2014

Big Green Egg Ash Pan

Big Green Egg Ash PanThe Big Green Egg ash pan has been a nice accessory for the grill. I was originally using my metal shop dust pan but it did not catch all of the ashes. This is due to the round shape of the egg and the positioning of the egg's ceramic legs. This ash pan has a curved edge. It is made of relatively thick steel and should last for many years if maintained.

Use it. Love it. Fits into groove on air in-take opening. Makes a messy job so much easier. Just set it in the slot and hold it while u scrape out the ashes. Works great

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A simple, easy way to help clean out Green Egg grill. An effective, must have tool. Very easy to use.

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I have the other brand other than the green egg but is very similar. works great for ash removal with very little spill.

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If you plan on using your Big Green Egg more than once, do yourself a favor and get this pan. Makes cleaning ash out a painless experience. It has a lip that fits right in the groove of the draft door so it stays while you scoop. The ash tool is a great pair to this pan.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Weber 586002 Q 320 Portable 393-Square-Inch 21700-BTU Liquid-Propane Gas Grill

Weber 586002 Q 320 Portable 393-Square-Inch 21700-BTU Liquid-Propane Gas GrillBeen waiting for awhile to find a good deal on this, but Amazon's got the best price with shipping you are going to find. $0.01, doesn't get much better than that. What surprised the heck out of me was ordering early Thursday morning and finding at my doorstep Friday before noon. FedEx overnight, somebody loves me. This was supposed to ship ground.

I've bought a Weber Q several years ago, so I already know what the fuss is about. Cast iron grill, great cook platform, etc. I've never used a cover, so over the years, I've had to replace burners, etc. as they corroded and degraded. Not Weber's fault, but Weber customer service is the greatest, 24/7 etc., cheerfully helped identify what I needed and sent me the replacement parts.

I've been enviously looking at the 300 and when I saw the specs on the 320, I knew I was looking at my next Weber.

I thought I knew what I was getting, but I was pleasantly surprised at what I unboxed. This one is even cleverer than the original.

Stationary Cart is a well thought out design. Stable, with safety features I've never seen implemented as well. The Tank storage system that locks the propane tank in place so it can't shift and also provides the cart with a counterweight to help prevent tips is a marvel by itself. The collapsible shelf system is elegant and functional while feeling more substantial than the Q200's fixed shelfs.

The slightly larger cooking area is served by split cast iron grills instead of the single grill piece used by the Q200. This actually makes this grill easier to clean and service, while taking nothing away from the cook area. A stainless steel warming rack is a nice place to put up food from the grill surface. Just sits there but is totally substantial and stable.

A second burning tube, stainless steel to prevent rusting out provides the additional heat and controls to bring the grill up to the temperatures I need to cook in colder weather. 40degrees last night, and the grill still heated up to over 400 degrees in about 5 minutes.

Thermostat is simple, and will be easy to replace in the event of breakage or failure. This has an integral BBQ light that has a sensor that automatically turns it off when the lid is lowered. Very cool.

I have never been satisfied with the old style igniter on the previous Q models. The Q320 now has a electronic igniter that works great. Uses a AAA battery. Press a button and poof. Weber's lit. The outer burner ignites the center burner automatically.

Assembly was easy with two of us, but this could have been assembled easily by one person. Directions could have been better, but pictures worked fine.

Food tastes great. Looking foward to putting through it's paces this summer.

Already bought my grill cover. This time I don't plan on abusing Weber Customer service as much .

I've owned every type of BBQ grill over my 70+ years. The Weber Q320 is the best of the lot. I switched from charcoal to gas grills about 35 years ago because gas grills are so much less trouble. The one thing I liked about charcoal grills is the flavor derived from the smoke formed when juices dripped onto the hot coals. Early gas grills I owned duplicatd that effect with lava rocks. But lava rocks were different sizes and sometimes fell through the supporting grate. Then ceramic briquettes became available. They were standard in size and easy to form into a pattern to catch the drippings. But ceramic does deteriorate over time so it wasn't a perfect solution.

I believe Weber was the first, or among the first, to provide "flavor bars" metal, triangular bars to replace lava rocks and ceramic briquettes. Flavor bars worked well for me for many years. Their disadvantages were that they did eventually rust out, but they did last a long time; and to clean the bottom of the grill occasionally, they had to all be removed.

The Weber Q320 uses no devices to create smoke from the juices. It has an open area under the grill surface so juices drip in three places: onto the burners, through the opening in the bottom into an aluminum drip pan, or onto the bottom of the grill enclosure.

I've found no noticeable difference in the taste of foods and the lack of the smoke is probably healthier since smoke must be loaded with all sorts of nasty things that are produced when things are burned.

The cast iron grill surface is terrific in several ways. Unlike stainless or porcelain covered grates, the cast iron grill has no wide open spaces for food to fall through. You can grill hotdogs in any direction without worrying about them slipping through. I've sliced various vegetables into 1/2 inch slices and they cook nicely on the cast iron grill without any worry of losing any. Potatoes, zucchini, summer squash, onions, carrots, etc. Spray some olive oil on them and put them on the grill to cook. Delicious!!

Meat gets the nice grill stripes that somehow enhances appreciation of the grilling experience. I've found that leaving the burners set to medium for most items produces the best results. The thermometer in the hood gives a nice correlation between your burner control settings and the heat being produced. I try to open the hood just once to turn the items at the halfway point. One nice feature is that by looking at the grill from either end, you can see inside the unit without opening the hood, so if you happen to get a flameup, you can see it and take action. Of course, with no rocks, briquettes or flavor bars, the chance for flameups is greatly reduced.

I sometimes grill in the evening and having the handle light is a nice feature. Where I grill in the winter, I have no overhead light so I have to hang something there. I haven't yet used the Q320 in winter, but the light will save me the trouble of hanging a light nearby.

Finally, I leave my grill outside all the time. The premium cover provides good protection, but one of the reasons I really like the Q320 is all the plastic used in the stand it won't corrode or rust.

This is the grill I've been waiting for. Maybe some time, some one may develop a better one, but I don't see how the Weber Q320 can be improved.

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Originally planned on gettin' the Weber Summit S-320 but at $980 (the cost of livin' in paradise), it was pricey enough to give pause. Decided on the Q 300 when I realized that I would only be cookin' for a dozen at most. Locally, the Q 300 was priced at $377. When I discovered that Amazon had the upgraded 300 series for $18 less, I jumped at the opportunity. And $0.01 shipping 2 day FedEx no less made it a sweeter deal.

This compact grill heats faster and cooks better than any $300 big box model, even if said model is rated at > 40,000 btu and the Q 320 is "only" 21,700 btu. Sears steaks and veges like no one's business and also does great roasting with the burners turned down. A snap to assemble (no cussing required) and also pleasing to the eye.

If you're looking for your 1st grill, get the Q 320. If you're looking for a replacement grill, get the Q 320. If don't need a grill but have $359.01 lying around, get the Q 320.

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I just received my grill so this is not a performance review. For a performance review, check out the many positive reviews on the Q300 model. When I was reading the reviews on the Q300, people loved it. But a few mentioned that they would like a warming shelf, electronic ignition, or light. The great thing about Weber is that they quickly responded by adding those features to the Q320. I liked what I heard about the Q300, so with the improvements, I decided to move up. I put it together in about an hour using the easy to follow instructions. I look forward to a great grilling experience when the weather gets a little warmer. An update: I have now used the grill a few times and it is as good as others have reported the Q300 to be. I really like the electronic ignition. Turn on the gas, push the button, click, click, and you're in business. It heats up fast and leaves great grill marks. I also like the grill cover. It's designed for the Q300 but fits the Q320 just fine, in case you wondered.

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Weber once and again. We had a Weber Genesis for nearly 15 years before getting the Q-320. The Genesis was in need of some new parts and as an alternative to some re-build, we instead looked around to see what's available in new grills these days. At first we saw that stores were now carrying bigger and bigger grills and although we have a patio, we did not want a grill that large. Then, we came across the positive reviews on the Weber Q series, looked into these and finally choose the Q-320.

Since we had the Weber Genesis before this, I can offer some comparisons. Simply put, we liked the Genesis and love the Q-320. Though the Q-320 has a bit less cooking area, it is enough for our family. Both the Genesis and Q-320 can take the same fuel tank size (5 gal / 20 lb). I think the Q-320 is more fuel efficient, though I haven't had it long enough to tell for sure. This would make sense because the inside volume of the closed Q-320 is less than that of the Genesis. Also, the Q-320 has only 2 burner tubes (one oval burner plus one in-line burner) instead of 3 in-line burners as in the Genesis has. But, the Q-320 seems to cook just as fast.

A big benefit of the Q-320 is that is actually browns much better than the Genesis. If you do it right, it can give you those picture-perfect grill stripes on meats with the flavor to go along with them. We also like the added features of the Q-320 including the electronic ignition (quick and quiet compared to the older model's ignition system), and the grill light built into the handle is a really nice touch. Both side surfaces of the Q-320 are available as tables because they are flat surfaces vs. on the Genesis where one surface had 3 burner knobs on top so only one surface was available as a table. The Q-320's burner knobs are front-mounted, larger and easier to turn.

And yes, the Q-320 actually looks quite nice!. It is clear that someone put design thought into it. You might or might not appreciate the Q-320's use of plastics in some parts (such as legs, side tables and handle). But, for instance, the thin plastic "tank skirt" helps to hide the tank from front view and is also is functional because it can help shade the tank from the sun depending on grill position.

Mobility is one area where the Genesis was a bit more convenient: Although the Genesis is larger, the weight of its fuel-tank weight actually helps provide some lift when you want to roll it. That is because the Genesis tank is mounted opposite the far axle from the handles that you must lift to roll it. However, on the Q-320, the tank is centered between its two axles. So, when rolling the Q-320, you lift more of the tank weight. Also, it seems that the Q-320's smaller size permits less "kick" space during movement, and that its plastic body can flex somewhat when moving it with a full fuel tank. On the other hand, since the tank weight is centered, a plus for the Q-320 is that I do not get the feeling that I might accidentally "up-end" it while moving it.

Assembling the Q-320 took me an hour or two, and I had no difficulties with it. For many of the connections involved, it is quite literally, a "snap".

Overall, we really like the Q-320. It is does a great cooking job, is a compact size, has a pleasing visual design and hopefully will even save some fuel.

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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Charcoal Companion Non-Stick Vertical Poultry Roasting Wok

Charcoal Companion Non-Stick Vertical Poultry Roasting WokTo fill in the blanks a bit on this roaster......

1) It has a non-stick surface making clean-up relatively easy. Just make sure, like with any non-stick cookware, that you use wood or plastic/rubber utensils and cleaning gear.

2) The device has its own canister for any liquids you wish to use. It has an extension as part of the canister that's perforated to let the steam saturate a larger area of the bird's inside cavity. I've not tried it yet, but am going to soak hickory chips in the canister ahead of cooking and then use a smaller amount of liquid. I'm hoping it will smoke the bird from the inside as well.

3) the base is perforated to drain away fats but lets enough remain to help baste any vegetables or other foods being cooked.

4) you want to bake indirectly with this, so plan on banking your coals to the sides of the grill. We used ours on a traditional Weber kettle grill that has baskets for the coals for indirect cooking.

5) cooking times are going to be dependent upon the fire and the bird's size, so use a meat thermometer and place it in a deep section of meat where it will read a core temp rather than surface.

6) there was plenty of room between the bird and the cover on our Weber kettle. Another style of charcoal grill might be different.

7) have a platter ready for when the cooking is done. Since the bottom of the roaster is perforated, it will drip grease anywhere you go if you just try to carry it. So, set the cooker, bird and all, on a platter to move it.

This is a nice improvement over the "beer can" method. It's sturdy and supports the bird nicely. The handles, when used with hot pads or mittens are, well, handy. It's a nice accessory for less than a $20 bill.

I've used this gizmo now 4 times 3 chickens and one small turkey breast on my gas grill. When I first got it, I didn't think the so-called "non-stick" coating was going to work very well, but I was surprised to see that I could scrub off the baked-on crud with an ordinary dish scrubber and some soap and water pretty easily. I'd say it takes about twice as much effort as, say, a Silverstone pot used for spaghetti sauce.

Stores pretty neatly too just lay the smokestack on its side and it fits on the shelf in less space than a fry pan.

As for how it works, I've never used any other kind of vertical roasting device so I have no idea if there are better ones out there. But this one seems to work just fine! The cup capacity is only about 6 ounces, but there is always leftover beer or orange juice (my favorite) still in there after the bird is done cooking so I figger the cup size is big enough.

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This is an easy way to cook chicken on a grill. The bird comes out juicy and tender and didn't take alot of the cooks time to prepare. This product deserves an A+ in my book.

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I ordered this in 2007 and just now had to dump it (4 years later) due to the non-stick finally giving way and the metal rusting. I used it so many times that I lost count! Mostly used in the oven, I sat it on a pan to keep the juices from dripping and then just seperated the fat from what juices I wanted to use. Really delicious meals, and SUPER simple to use.

I injected the chicken with flavorings, chopped up some carrots, parsnips, onions and potatoes (and seasoned), then roasted everything together. The veggies may be roasted whole or chopped largely so as not overdone. I used the juices as a dressing for the meal or for gravy, but it doesn't need anything added very tender and moist. I will be buying the stainless steel version this time ) because I want the next one to last even longer.

I love the dual uses the holes allow the fat to drip away while seasoning the veggies just enough to keep them moist, but healthful. It is wonderful on the grill for roasting smaller cuts of veggies with or without the chicken. The handles are a must when setting on a tray in the hot oven/grill!!! Very helpful most other ones do not have handles. I did a lot of research to find the right roaster with all the features that I wanted. This one is also easy to clean and store because the well/vertical part lifts off.

This one is a great value for seeing if you like a vertical roaster and how often you will use it.

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After the first use, before we even washed it, the non-stick coating was peeling off the wok. We returned it to Amazon who made the return as easy and quick as possible. I wouldn't buy the wok again (I'm going to buy a stainless steel one instead) but I was very pleased with Amazon's processing of the return.

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Friday, April 18, 2014

Kingsford Memphis Tongs

Kingsford Memphis TongsI like the style of these tongs the teeth help hold onto things without them slipping away.

However, the metal is VERY soft. I like to grill roasts and these tongs bend far too easily to be able to grip, much less pick up a piece of meat like a boneless pork shoulder They bent outward and stayed that way (of course I can just bend them right back by hand).

I think they are very good if you are just working with steaks/links etc.

I only gave 1 star since I couldn't give 0 stars. These are totally useless since they can't grip anything, there is no strength at all, food falls right off. I am surprised someone gave these 4-stars when they too had similar complaint plus they are light weight metal and bent.

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Saturday, April 12, 2014

Charcoal Companion Non-Stick Reversible Roasting / Rib Rack

Charcoal Companion Non-Stick Reversible Roasting / Rib RackFirst off, let me say that I am an avid griller and smoker, so I usually have high expectations for things I buy. I usually smoke ribs, so that is the type of application my review will center around. While I haven't used it for such purposes, it does appear to be well made for roasts or BBQ Butts except for the aforementioned sticking issue.

This rack is very well made and sturdy. It says it has a non-stick coating, but you will need to treat it as if it does not. The rack heats up faster than the meat, so meat will pretty much stick to it wherever it touches unless it is treated with some oil. The first three racks of ribs I put on the rack (without treating it) got pretty well torn up trying to get them off.

When used as a rib rack, the dividers are not very tall nor do they have a lot of space between them, so if you want the best results with your ribs (especially spareribs), you will need to leave an empty slot between each rack to give the smoke a chance to surround the ribs. Also, the rack is a little small for spareribs. If you are doing spares, you may need a second rack, one for each end. It works well for baby back ribs, though, as far as size.

You may also want to slide a metal grate (such as a cooling rack) into the dividers with the spareribs to give them some more support as the ribs tend to flop over the top.

Overall a good addition to an avid griller/smoker's cooking arsenal. I recommend it to my friends that come over who want to get a smoker.

the rack is very sturdy and versatile. Be sure to spray with oil before using or food will stick and is difficult to remove.

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Even though this rack arrived with a broken weld on one of the dividing joints, it still worked fine and was easy to clean. It needs to be pointed out that you wouldn't want to fill all the slots with ribs in a 22.5" weber because some of the ribs would be directly over the coals. I could do 4 racks of baby backs and that is more than enough for 99.9% of my needs. I haven't tried the roasting side yet, but I'm sure it is also easy to clean. Had it not been for the bad weld, this would have received a 5 star rating.

Product update 9/24/2012. After about 5 or 6 uses at least half of the welds broke rendering it useless. If the welds were good the 5 star rating would still apply, but I'm going to have NOT Recommend this product due to the shoddy workmanship.

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This sturdy grill/oven rack will hold 3 racks of baby back or spare ribs if you cut them in half. The height of the arches supports the ribs well and are wide enough to handle beef ribs as well as pork. Reverse it, and it will easily hold a roast, whole poultry or ham and fit into a 9x13 pan if desired. While the rack is coated and generously labeled "non-stick," be sure to spray or wipe it with oil before use to make cleanup easier.

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If you use agrill or a smoker, this is a must have item. It is a versitile heavy duty rack that is great for smoking ribs and it's easy to clean.

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel Grill Pro Griddle

Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel Grill Pro GriddleI picked up this griddle and do burgers on it, seems to cook really well and distribute the heat well. Make sure you have a plan to empty the grease though ievery once and a while because it'll start a fire if you dont :)

Stay away from this griddle. It does not distribute heat in the least. You end up with extreme hot spots in the middle where stuff burns instantly, and you can actually put your hand on the edge without burning it (as a sign of how little it spreads heat.) The only positive I can say is that it didnt catch on fire or explode. Worst purchase ever on amazon. Will try to return if can do so after using.

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Friday, December 27, 2013

NFL New York Giants Vinyl Covered Long Neck Bottle Opener

NFL New York Giants Vinyl Covered Long Neck Bottle OpenerThis is my husband's favorite bottle opener. It is very sturdy, great for NY Giants fans. I would highly recommend it!

I've had this bottle opener for over three years. It is used at a high volume three to four times a year. I like the size because it never gets misplaced. The bottle opener is very durable and looks the same as purchased.

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I had an issue with shipping, and the company was very friendly and quick to respond. The opener part of bar key itself started to bend/mishapen within the first month of being received, (it was purchased to be used at a high-volume bar,) and the letters were faded shortly thereafter. It made a nice surprise gift for the bartender Giants fan who already had it all though!

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Thursday, December 26, 2013

Elizabeth Karmel's 14- by 13-inch Bamboo Pizza Peel with Folding Handle

Elizabeth Karmel's 14- by 13-inch Bamboo Pizza Peel with Folding HandleVery disappointed with this product. Did not look new and is of poor quality. Is awkward to handle and not well-balanced. The screw was not as pictured; it is a big knob that is frustratingly difficult to turn. I thought the handle would swivel to fold; it does not. You have to remove the screw completely, remove the handle, and then place two wooden pegs into two holes, and then put the screw back in.

I almost did not order this due to a reviewers complaint regarding the handle being difficult to swivel. I went ahead though due to the storability of the folding handle feature. Storability is a big factor for fulltime rvers.

I received the peel and found the screw very easy to turn due to the heavy large black plastic head. The handle has two sturdy dowel pins attached that are quite easy to line up and insert into the corresponding holes on the board. This is a safety feature that prevents the peel from accidentally swiveling while in use.

The peel is beautiful and very easy to use. The directions state it can be used as a serving tray but I would be reluctant to cut anything while on the tray and damage the beautiful smooth surface.

Of course it will work well for sliding pizza on the grill as well as sliding no knead bread dough into the oven.

We are very happy with this peel and finds it easy to use.

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More attractive in person than even the pictures. Beautiful and functional. Folding handle allows it to fit in my cupboard

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Received peel and had to correct following items to permit use:

1. Locating pins in handle had fallen out. One of the pins was too long and had to be cut. Glued back in place.

2. Press nut on peel that handle bolts to had fallen out. Applied glue and pressed back in place.

3. Grommet for hanging strap hole in handle had fallen out. Glued and pressed back in place.

4. Pivot point hole in handle was not drilled completely through. Re-drilled.

In addition, picture does not show the large black knob used to attach handle to peel.

After repair work, peel is useable and attractive to look at but folding handle function has created more problems than it's worth. I suspect before too many uses I will be bolting the handle permanently to the peel.

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I ordered 2 of these because the sale price was what I was willing to pay. If you overlook the fact that the handle really does not actually swivel, it works fine. It might be because the two little dowels on mine are not equal sizes. One is twice as long as the other. The instruction states that you should be able to loosen the knob such that the handle will swivel, but the dowels don't actually release until the screw is completely free. Is this a big deal for me? Not really. It's not too hard to remove the handle and store it in 2 pieces. It would be more difficult to reattach it in the 'swivel' position as you have to line up the dowels, and do so blindly. I just leave it in one piece. If you are buying this thinking it will swivel easily, it will not. That said, it feels pretty sturdy, and it will do the job well.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Plastic Scraper/Spatula, Flat Blade

Flat-Blade Plastic Scraper - 16'Originally listed by Amazon as "Heat Resistant" So I ordered several only to find their handles stamped NON HEAT RESISTANT asked for refund, was shipped an upgrade instead. Don't know if the upgrade is H/R or not?

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Saturday, November 2, 2013

Vornado 530B Compact Whole Room Air Circulator

Vornado 530B Compact Whole Room Air CirculatorIs the new model 530 as good as older Vornados that established the company as a quality innovator? In this review, I compare the new 530 to two older compact models that I own. These are the excellent model 180 compact fan(infinite speed, no longer available) and the very good 510 compact (3-speed and in very short supply watch out for merchants who substitute the current model 530 for the 510). These (and the larger, venerable model 280) have great features, quietness, quality, and durability. My comments should apply to the model 530 regardless of the color of the plastic case, since color has no bearing on performance in this product.

FEATURES

The 3-speed compact design is similar to that of the older models (note that some slightly more expensive Vornado models have infinite speed control instead of 3-speed but are otherwise the same). But the 530 has one major disadvantage that you're likely to miss in the promo copy. The fan head doesn't tilt as much as those in the older models. This model tilts only about 50 degrees, while the older fans tilt about 80 degrees. The older design is much better at getting air from the floor to the ceiling.

QUIETNESS

The whirring fan blades make as little noise as the older models (whisper quiet on low, moderate amount on medium, a lot of "whoosh" on high), but the 530 has an irritating low-pitched motor noise the older models don't have. Because it's low frequency sound, it will even go through walls.

QUALITY

Personally, I think the motor, because of the noise, must not be up to the quality of previous models. One of the fan blades on my 530 still had plastic from the molding process that hadn't been removed. Definitely a quality-control problem. My older models were all manufactured in the US; this one in China (judging from a recent visit to a store that had a number of Vornado models, the company's moved manufacturing of most, if not all, of their consumer market fans offshore).

DURABILITY

We'll have to see. Comes with a limited 5 year warranty (you must get an RMA and ship to Vornado in Kansas and other reviewers have complained about shipping and handling costs nearly equaling the cost of a new fan).

BOTTOM LINE

In my view, this fan departs from the Vornado tradition of quality and quietness. I don't recommend using the model 530 in a bedroom or other place where you need quiet due to the low-pitched motor noise. Note that the user manual pictures both the model 530 and the R2D2 looking model 630.

The quality on this Vornado product is not as good as in the past. The product is no longer made in the USA but is instead made in China. Whether or not this is the reason for lower quality I don't know. Like a couple of other reviewers this unit is not not near silent on low speed and unless aimed directly upright has an irritating rhythmic "burmpt, burmpt" to it. On higher speeds this noise goes away but the air noise increases significantly as reported by others. $40 is a high price for a less than perfectly executed small "air circulator."

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This is the third Vornado fan I have purchased. I also own a 783B "whole house" fan that I use to push cool air upstairs during the summer and a 733B "whole room" fan that I use to circulate air in our living/dining room areas. I have been very pleased with these fans since purchasing them two years ago. I don't know whether they have had a discernible impact on our energy consumption, but they certainly make the house more comfortable by evening out the hot and cool spots, just as they are designed to do.

I hesitated before purchasing this fan for my 3 y/o daughter's room based on some of the critical reviews. However I have been very happy with this fan. Despite its compact size, it circulates air very effectively throughout a large bedroom with very little noise on its medium setting. The High setting sounds like a typical fan's high setting, meaning you could have a phone conversation sitting next to one but might find it distracting. Medium, however, is barely audible (soft white noise), and low is truly whisper quiet.

Perhaps I could find flaws with the 530B if I put it under a microscope like some of the more harsh reviewers have, but it fits my needs perfectly and exceeded my high expectations.

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I own two other Vornadosa "mid-sized" model (6xx), and large (7xx). The small continues in the Vornado tradition of excellence, and I'm very pleased with it. It moves air like no other fan of it's size, and appears to be very well made. It's perfect for a small room.

Vornados are not particularly comfortable to have pointed directly at you due to the speed and concentration of the air stream... it's more like an air gun. You are supposed to point them across the room, and they project a beam of air to the opposite end, creating a mild breeze throughout the entire room.

However, this small fan does have a "low" speed setting that is tolerable for direct use, and is very quiet on low. The noise it makes is pleasant... it's worth noting that fan collectors prize each fan's distinctive sound above almost anything else, and Vornado's HQ is home to a museum of vintage fans. They clearly design their fans to create an attractive sound.

However, I will say that the high speed setting is somewhat loud, and a bit more intrusive than the sound of the larger models. The fan blades are spinning quite a bit faster in order to achieve such a massive air movement for such a small unit. However, I don't run mine on highvery oftenit works best in a small room on medium or low. It's perfect for our young daughter's bedroom.

About price: in addition to the quality of the construction and design, it's worth mentioning that Vornado actually manufactures in the US... you can be sure these things aren't being built by children in a sweat shop. This certainly makes the more expensive, but I certainly feel better about buying them.

-R

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No offense, but the previous review is a bit shortsighted. I had a similar, skeptical initial reaction when I saw a Vornado. At first glance, it looked very similar to other low-cost, plastic department store fans. Upon closer inspection, there is no comparison.

The 530B, due to its unique blade and housing design, and superior motor (see their site for details), blows WAY more air for its size than any other fan. Take a close look at how shallow the average fan blade is. Then look at Vornado's deep, sculpted blades. It blows as much or more air on the low, quiet setting than competing fans do on their high setting. It's pretty amazing, actually.

The 530B blows enough air for my bedroom, whereas competing fans this size I have to aim directly at me. As advertised, the fan is well used as a room circulator, in that you feel the gentle breeze throughout the room, rather than sticking it on a table and pointing at you.

People often gripe about "paying for the name" when it comes to consumer products. This is usually an unfair assertion with most products. You are not paying for the name, like you are in designer jeans, where only the name counts. Instead, you are paying for the superior quality and design of the manufacturer whose name is stamped on the housing. Simple market princples here -if there was nothing to back up the name, the name wouldn't be valuable. They sell at the higher price because you get what you pay for.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Chef's Design 20-Inch Grill/Griddle Set, Red

Chef's Design 20-Inch Grill/Griddle Set, RedI did a lot of research into grills before I purchased this one for use on a flat ceramic cook top. Most griddles/grills seem to raise the lower surface up off the cooktop to achieve the drains around the edges which wouldn't work so well on a ceramic cooktop. These two grills/griddles have a flat bottom with a thick cooking surface to achieve the drain. A complete breakfast was cooked quickly at 5 on the range. Low heat settings work great and we got perfect pancakes. I have All-Clad pans and love to cook. These things are very efficient and I would recommend them strongly. Clean up was also a breeze. It may be a little harder on the griddle due to the ridges. Both pieces are considerably weighty but with it's aluminum construction quick to heat. There are nice little poor spouts built into edges you can't really see in the pictures. It's a nice touch to pour off the fat. You will need hot mitts if you intend to pick them up though. Best even cooking griddle I have used in a long time. I highly recommend this product to date.

The Chef's Design 20-inch grill and 20" griddle set is a keeper but with some disappointment! I understood that heavy cast aluminum construction would ensure they remain flat while in use; they don't! Warping is only minimal and the pans return to flat after cooling, but during cooking there is some movement as you work with the food being cooked. This means some support may be required, even at medium heat. We continue to use it and enjoy the large non-stick space it provides though. The non-stick griddle works great in the oven for fries because there is plenty of room and they don't stick!Chef's Design 20-Inch Grill/Griddle Set, Red

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We use these camping, which is kind of like bringing your All Clad given the quality of these griddles, but most camping griddles are too thin and produce propane burner patterns/designs on your pancakes. The grooved griddle has deep grooves so we can make a lot of bacon without having to worry about draining midway through cooking 2 packages of bacon. These are sturdy, heavy duty griddles of high quality.

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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Weber Style 32902 Professional-Grade Vegetable Basket

Weber Style 32902 Professional-Grade Vegetable BasketGreat pan for the price. Heavy duty and a good size. (My estimate is about 10 inches x 10 inches). It would be beneficial to include the actual dimensions in the listing since it was a concern of mine when I purchased it. After several Internet searches I never did find a size listing. I grilled veggies in this pan at Thanksgiving and was very happy with the result and clean up. Highly recommend this item.

We love to grill vegetables. Had an old non-stick type pan, but it got rusted thru and was unsafe to use. I finally settled on this basket. Frankly it is the best twenty bucks I spent.

The stainless steel will discolor if heated too much, but cleaning is not too bad. The first time I used it without oiling it, cleaning needed quite a bit of scrubbing. I ended up using oven cleaner (Easy Off) and it worked pretty well got all the crud off. I now oil the basket before putting it on the grill and clean up is not bad. The advantage of stainless steel is that with a bit of care it will give good service and there is nothing to flake off into your food.

I also bought the grill pan and use both interchangeably. The lips all around are great, I just use a spatula to lift the veggies to a serving dish.

LOVE: Quality of construction; Cost; Raised lips all around; Material

HATE: Cleanup is tough, but it is no tougher than with so called non-stick pans had one.

Would I recommend it definitely; I plan to replace mine with a similar one when this one goes (or I get tired of it)

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We just love this vegie basket! I had been using a cheap basket I picked up years ago and was tired of everything rolling off of it when grilling. We love asparagus and this basket works great, although it has been wonderful for all types of greens. We even covered it with aluminum foil and used it to stir fry rice with vegetables. We use marinades with our vegetables, which makes the basket a little difficult to clean, but I would recommend this product to anyone!

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Good idea, maybe I have not learned how to use it well but I find that this gets stained easily and is hard to get clean. It does keep the veggies and fish from slipping through the grill but I can get the same effect from pan cooking or using foil instead. I don't think I would purchase this again. Overall I have loved all my weber products, this is my least favorite.

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I have the stainless steel basket and a family member has the older non-stainless steel type, the stainless steel version cleans up considerably easier. I have found it cleans up without soaking it over night if you use Bar Keepers' Friend® on a heavy duty sponge. I also feel that using higher-smoke point oils like peanut oil, extra-light olive oil, refined safflower, or refined avocado helps in reducing sticking, mess and clean-up effort.

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Nuwave PIC - Precision Induction Cooktop with Grill

Nuwave PIC - Precision Induction Cooktop with GrillFrom Amazon this is a great deal... I got 2 cooktops and the grill for under $200. If You go to TV.. that would have been over $400... which comes with 2 sets of free cookware that cost an arm and leg to ship... It's a ripoff... Amazon I thank you so much for your great deals.

Saw commercial on tv decided to try it and I love this , easy to use and fast. Temp is always regulated, the only thing I would change is the cooking surface could be a little larger. But all in all it is great and use it almost every day.. I also have the grill pan and like burgers cook thourghly in just a few min. and stay quite moist not all dried out. It's great...Thank you Nuwave.....

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I purchased my Newave Induction Cook Top thru Amazon. The Nuwave is everything the commercials say it is. It is a fast and very precise way to cook. I use 9inch induction skillet, put a little bit of grape seed 0il in it, set the temperature to 375 degrees and in less than two minutes I'm cooking french fries. Omelets are a breeze. I use the 10.5inch induction skillet to cook the bacon. Along with the Nuwave I purchased the porcelain coated cast iron grill for cooking steaks, hamburgers and pork chops. I set the Newave on sear and all three of the meats come out beautifully cooked. The shipping was faster that stated. It is a new way for me to cook and I enjoy it.

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No splattering or burning when frying chicken.... not heavy, easy for a 72 year old to use, clean and etc....

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I didn't get the "free" cookware option. Simply because I dislike deceptive advertising. I bought the cooktop with the grill from Amazon where the shipping and handling was included in the price. The cost was the same, but, without the deception. I only had one skillet in the house that would work with the cooktop. It works exactly as advertised. So does the grill. If I buy another one with the cookware, I'll buy it from Amazon also just to eliminate the "shipping and handling" fees mentioned on the TV ads.

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Anuka Electric Smoker

Anuka Electric SmokerWow I feel so lucky. This is my very first review I have ever done on Amazon but I felt I had too, I ordered one of these about seven years ago and paid seven times the amount I paid here, this smoker is fabulous, cooks my chicken, steaks and fish perfectly and taste exactly like it came straight off the out door pit, I love this smoker so much so I'm thinking about ordering another just for a backup.

The Anuka Electric Smoker was a bit of a surprise. In the photo, it looks a bit like a frying pan "gone bad." Taking it out of the box, it is quite something else. To be clear, the temperature listed is 375F. This would be too high for smoking and quickly harm many foods. However, this is the element temp, not the temp it reaches in the unit. In an hour, doing babyback ribs, two containers of wood dust, it oversmoked the meat but did little cooking.

Thus, one container, like the directions say, but finishing cooking in the oven, except perhaps fish, is the way to go.

The storage cover is very good. There may be units more advanced, with temp controls, this one has none but works just the same. Clean-up is easy and has to be done outdoors or the underside of the lid alone will give a delightful smokey aspect to any home.

I say..buy one...good gift item, easy to use, well built, reliable...and more useful to a professional than expected.

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I saw this on QVC several years back and wanted it then, but did not have the $185 it cost at the time. I tried to find it about a year later and couldn't find it anywhere. I have a wonderful large electric Masterbuilt smoker, but I am a 1 person household.

I was so surprised when I did a search for this again a couple of weeks ago to find the product at all, much less this INCREDIBLE buy!

Every other place has the 'new' silver version and costs $199-$265. The blue one was what I saw on QVC.

I ordered it immediately. It arrived quickly. Last night I did my first 'smoke'. I had some bone-in chicken breasts and put 3 large and 2 smaller breasts on 1 rack. I used 1 1/2 'scoops' of my red oak wood chips. I set the timer for an hour, even the the manual/recipe book (very good) said I only needed 50 minutes, I tend to like things more 'done'. They came out beautiful with a great smoke flavor as if done in my large smoker. My temp probe died, so I couldn't check the temp. I'll order a new and then there won't be any questions. I can't wait to do hamburgers, sausage, asparagus, mac n cheese and more!

So simple, easy to use. Clean up a breeze. I threw the rack in the dishwasher and it came out great.

Order it while you can at this great price.

I only wish I could have used it indoors, but it's not recommended. It does start to 'vent' smoke within 5 minutes.

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Monday, July 1, 2013

Texas Irons Steak Branding Iron Gift Sets

Texas Irons Rockin' Dad Steak Branding Iron Gift SetThe brander is nice build and quality. The end was heated until it was red (not sure yet how to brand yet, haha) and was still strong. Long range, but that may be a challenge if you can't get a strait angle. The brand came out perfect on the steaks.

Only problem is the packaging. Got a great wood smell, but one of the pieces of wood warped, blocking the slide-out lid. Ended up breaking just trying to get the brander out. It's a shame because the wood box looks very nice.

Otherwise, a definite must and a great gift.

Bad shopping experience. on the top of shipping different item than in the posting the quality of an item was very very poor. It was a gift and I felt embarrassed with my gift.

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Its a novelty item.. great for a gag gift but really not something you would use even once a week.

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Awesome product, my boyfriend, a former Marine, absolutely loves it. It great and comes out perfectly EVERY TIME. I gave it a high rating because it was a high quality

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Never would have thought of buying something like this but when I saw it I thought it was very unique, and so did my dad. He absolutely loved it. The cedar box has a wonderful smell & the iron is a quality product. Can't wait to have a bbq at my dad's house!

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