Monday, July 29, 2013

Mr Bar B Q 40159X 18-Piece Classic Hot Dog Holder

Mr Bar B Q 40159X 18-Piece Classic Hot Dog HolderThis item was great, For my hotdog sale I loved it no mess. Easy to handle and great for kids...

I really love having the Mr. BAR-B-Q Holders. It makes life simple when serving hotdogs at home for my family and when we cookout. No dishes to wash or worry about. I'm all for keeping things simple.

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good price, good quality, promptly delivered. Added a nice touch to our party's hot dog station. And plenty leftover for summer barbecues.

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Black & Decker Flip Waffle Maker

Black & Decker Flip Waffle MakerThis is a mixed review. There are quite a few things I like about this waffle maker. It is easy to use. It makes evenly browned good sized deep waffles that are crispy outside and fluffy inside. The waffles do not take long to cook, and you can make one after another without having to wait for it to reheat. Initial set up is simple; you have to pre-treat the grills by brushing on a light coat of vegetable oil and then just heat and go. I have made over a dozen waffles in the unit and have had no problems with them at all. You need no pretreatment on the grills after the initial brush of oil. You have no need to use any non-stick spray or fats, the waffles will not stick.

Now for the not so great things. There is no heat adjustment. This is not a real issue since the iron cooks well and evenly. There is no audible tone telling you when the waffle is done, a green light indicates the waffle is done, but I like mine a bit crispier then the default, so all you need to do in leave it in 15-30 seconds more to your taste. The grills do not remove for cleaning, but they are still easy to wipe down. The hinge on the iron and the overall construction in the cradle seems a bit flimsy, but I had no problems with it, and don't think it will be an issue overall.

The worst part is the handle of the unit. It is made to fold 90 degrees for storage. The hinge is poorly made and it does not lock well in the straight position so that when you go to turn the iron, the hinge actually pops and the handle bends making the turn a bit awkward and that is annoying. I can see someone getting a bit panicky that the hinge bends and tipping over the unit overcompensating and causing damage or injury. Once I noted this flaw, it was a simple annoyance but not enough to say the unit is bad, I worked with it. It still made excellent waffles.

The three stars are there because the price of this unit is high when the negatives I have noted are taken into account and compared to the prices of other similar units that are less expensive.

Got this on sale at a dept. store for less than the current price here. It is very easy to use. I love the green indicator light that tells you when it is ready, and when the waffle is done. Takes 3-4 min. The waffles are good size too! If you use the recommended amount of batter you won't overfill it and have leaks. (I used homemade...Betty Crocker page 51 Lol) The non-stick surface seems to be very good quality. Wipes clean easily. Not huge size so it's easy to store. A great deal for what I paid for it. I'm very pleased with it. Only thing I dislike is the short cord, but I get that it's for safety sake.

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The first time I used it I felt that was in a Hotel for Breakfast. It was very easy to use and the waffles came out great and delicious.

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I've finally given up on my husband's old Bella Cucina Belgian waffle maker that makes soggy waffles no matter what I do. I decided to buy this one on the strength of the good reviews. I'm glad I did! It's a very simple machine with no temp/browning control but it makes waffles that are crispy outside and soft inside. That's all I've ever wanted. I only have to flip once which is cool. What I do now is I make a big batch of waffles, cool them on a wire rack and then freeze them in a ziplock bag. I heat them up in the oven for 5-10 minutes whenever we feel like having waffles at any time of the day.

It also helps reading the manual first before using it. It said to never use PAM because it destroys the nonstick coating. I brush the plates with some canola oil and pour 3/4 cup of batter. Pouring in more than that would cause spillage. Hope this helps. And FYI, this item goes on sale at Macy's from time to time for around $17.

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Got this Waffle Iron with an Amazon Gift card at x-mas! B&D did a nice job with this iron, a great buy! Be aware that this a belgian style waffle iron, not a thinner style waffle iron! It does make a thick standard waffle just as nicely as a more lighter, airy Belgian waffle and one is a meal with your eggs and sausage. Just follow the directions and let the indicator lights do the rest! When the done light comes on the waffle is done, nice and crisp! Also a nice recipe for French Toast Waffles in the direction booklet! This thing is easy to operate and clean up a snap!! A drip pan also comes with this iron, fits nicely under the iron. I will be ordering some of Carbons (Delicious) Malted Pancake/Waffle Mix from amazon to run through this little beast...mmmm!

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NCAA Duke Blue Devils Fiero 5-Piece BBQ Tool Set With Case

NCAA Duke Blue Devils Fiero 5-Piece BBQ Tool Set With CaseGot the BBQ set for my husband.. and we love it! The only thing I would change is that the case does not open all the way flat. Other than that, it's beautiful, and makes a wonderful gift.

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Black & Decker TRO490B 1200-Watt 4-Slice Countertop Oven and Broiler with Removable Crumb Tray

Black & Decker TRO490B 1200-Watt 4-Slice Countertop Oven and Broiler with Removable Crumb TrayI use the toaster oven mostly to toast bagels, and for this "chore" it does a nice job. I do recommend this product as I feel it's good value for the price. Here are my overall pros and cons:

Pros:

1. capacity--approximate interior height from bottom rack position=3", width=11", and depth=8 to 8.5" (depending on whether use top or bottom rack position)

2. two rack positions for easy placement to top heating element

3. easy to use crumb tray, slides out like a drawer from the front for easy cleaning

4. timer works for all settings, including toast

5. bake drip pan included

6. temperatures marked in Celsius and Fahrenheit

7. good owner's manual

Cons:

1. does not shut off when door is open

2. dial markings are medium gray on black and small, I have to put my reading glasses on to see them (my toaster oven has a black body as pictured)

3. timer is stiff and hard to turn back towards zero for toast--need my glasses to do this correctly too

4. other than the plug, the only thing that controls whether the unit is on or off is the timer which has a stay on position--potential fire hazard. This more than any other reason is why I only rated it a 3.

Notes and suggestion:

1. three prong plug

2. leave unplugged when not in use

3. clean crumb/drip tray after each use

This is a nice, more reasonable sized toaster oven, that does a very good job of grilling and broiling. I wish you didn't have to reset the toaster settings every single time you make toast, though. That kept it from being 5 stars, as I like every thing else about it. The crumb tray is nice and big, and the styling is attractive. It doesn't get blazing hot on the exterior, and has a nice big glass door. But if you are a toast person 90% of the time, I might keep looking.

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Bought this when it was the same price as a wal-mart Christmas black friday deal....thanks to amazon prime, I received it in the mail 2 days after ordering at no additional expense. It can hold 4 bagels or average slices of bread without having to cram them in and slam the door. This is nice for a family of 6....

One thing I don't care for is the stupid toast dial; I won't use the oven feature as much as the toast feature. Our previous B&D toaster just had a push button; the dial actually sounds annoying and instructs you to turn it fully past dark toast, then back to what you're preferred level should be. Whatever....oh, by the way, if you stupidly leave the toaster unplugged (don't ask, we don't have lots of outlets where this is located), the timer will still run. Imagine my suprise when the timer dinged and my bagel was still white. DOH!

All in all, it's a great value toaster; so much so, we purchased another one as a gift for a family member. Yeah....

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I purchased the black and decker toaster oven to replace the one I had. The old one was also a black and decker, great features, and lasted 5 years. The new one was not as good. It only has one heating element on the top and one on the bottom whereas the old one had two on the top and two on the bottom. The new one creates more uneven heating. The old one had a pull out shelf, whereas the new one doesn't. This is a hassle because you almost burn your self trying to get the food out. The number one disappointment with the new toaster oven was its size. It was definitely smaller than the old one. It was not less expensive, just cheaper than the black and decker I bought 5 years ago. I would not buy it again!

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I bought this to replace a standard two slice toaster that quit working...so far it's pretty good. We've only had it about a week so I can't comment on durability but it seems pretty well made. There are a lot of settings and the temperature gets up to about 450 degrees on bake and there's also a toast setting, broil, etc. My only complaint is the evenness of toasting. The topside of the toast isn't as even as the bottom side but it's really not that big of a deal for us. All in all, this toaster oven seems to be well worth the money and is more versatile than a regular four slice toaster.

*****Update*****It worked well for 2 years of almost daily use (sometimes multiple times a day). The top heating element stopped working yesterday so, toasting became a 2 step process. Overall it worked well for what we needed. Some reviews complained of it being too small to hold 4 slices but, as long as you are using normal size bread, it WILL hold 4 slices of bread or 2 full-size bagels. Both are tight but they do fit. It will also hold and cook a Totinos pizza perfectly fine. We never had any issues with the controls either. It preheated quickly and the timer worked well. We originally paid $40 for this toaster oven and now, at half that price, We've ordered it again. If the next one lasts another 2 years, I'll be happy.

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Sunday, July 28, 2013

Waring Pro CIG100 Professional 1800-Watt Cast-Iron Grill

Waring Pro CIG100 Professional 1800-Watt Cast-Iron GrillOne thing I LOVE about this grill is that it has a CAST IRON grate so no non-stick coating to wear off and bubble up. It's a fantastic size and works beautifully. The three stars are mainly because I have now owned TWO of these and both of them were working great till the switch stopped switching it on. I've tried to fix the switch, because when I press the lever manually (with a small stick) it works fine. It just doesn't make contact with the switch anymore in order to trigger it. I've even been able to make it work again by gluing a spacer onto the lever so it is ALWAYS pressed against the switch, and thus always on, but even that stopped working after a while. I don't know if the contact just keeps shifting further and further away from the trigger or what. I just got tired of suddenly having no grill. Since it was such an odd flaw, I bought a second grill hoping that was a fluke, but no...same problem ultimately happened.

We have had the waring pro electric grill for 3 months, using it 1-2 times a week. It is durable, hot and easy to use. We get excellent brown maillard marks on everything, especially chicken. It is easy to clean with a wet wok brush and occasional steel sponge. Heat is impressive for an electric, and it has minimal smoke, though the food still smokes now and then. Overall, the best we found for heat and countertop grilling indoors.

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This is the best indoor grill on the market. I consider myself an expert on these things having used an indoor grill consistently for over 6 years. I had an old t-fal which came to and end after it simply wore out. This 2-3 years ago. Ever since then I have been keeping an eye on the market for a replacement. The critical requirement for the replacement to be the same method as the old t-fal, and that is, open slats/slots on the grill and water drip tray. This is the key to an indoor grill. The majority you see on the market are closed tops and are nothing more than "griddles". No way shape or form is it a grill when you're essentially frying the food in its own oil despite any method they devise to simulate a grill. It must have a proper bbq grill with slots /slots for the height to come up and the juice to drip down.

This product has it all. Super high / hot element 1800 watts. All others are toy like at 1000 to 1200. Cast iron grill which combined with the high element heats up to real bbq'ing temps. Drip tray that holds sufficient water that regardless of how long it is on, it does not evaporate the water before cooking is done.

I've done steaks (2 inch thick), chicken breasts (bone in, skin on), high fat content sausages, chops, pretty much ran it through everything I cook regularly and in quantity. Cannot express my satisfaction more with the way it cooked the food and operated as an indoor grill. The biggest shocker to me, was no matter what, there was zero smoke. I have a grill fry pan that the same things would cook in and what have to battle the smoke while cooking. This thing sits on the stove top under the vent, and so far I have yet to experience any smoke whatsoever even while cooking on high for half an hour. Unbelievable to me. This is of course due to the grill having slats / slots so fat and juice can drip off and down, and the large sufficiently sized drip tray containing the water. The water catches it all as well as keeps it cool(er) underneath. All works to perfection.

This is as close to an outdoor grill as you can get. Cast iron grill cooks hot and clean just like outdoors. So much so, a tip is to oil down the grill once it is hot otherwise some foods stick to it. Same deal as on an outdoor cast iron grill. Cleaning wise, I got a small wire bbq brush, and under 5 minutes under hot water have the grill cleaned for the next round. Another tip which had me quite worried the day I got it (2 weeks ago) after reading here, was after prepping it for the first time, completed that, then gave it a cleaning then set about to use it for the first time. Did not work!!! Panicking I read here that the on/off switch breaks immediate or something. However thankfully before buying I took the time to read the online manual and recalled that there is a safety mechanism built it. Phew. You have to push the drip tray all the way in, there is a switch there that cuts all power off, even if the drip tray is a 1/4 out, that switch will not allow it to switch on. Push the water tray all the way in.

Pros

super hot element 1800 watts

real heavy duty cast iron grill

grill has slats / slots so fat can drip off and food can get real heat from underneath as well as through the grill

good size and very easy to clean drip try doesn't even need wiping down, just pour out and rinse under hot water

good simple effective design, large size, works as advertised

Cons

super short power cord. after reading the manual it is stated by design to avoid people tripping or knocking it over. I had to buy an extension cord even though it sits on my stove with 2 banks out outlets, which were just out of reach.

Highly recommend this product.

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I'm hoping that I'm not jumping the gun and positively reviewing this too soon, thusly jinxing the whole thing.

I searched for a longgg time to find some kind of 'teflon-free/ non-stick coating free' indoor grill. In the Waring CIG100, I found the PERFECT electric grill, coating free, heavy duty cast iron AND high temp grill.

I'm a tough customer to please, but this grill has been used everyday (11) since it arrived and has performed flawlessly. It's very simple in design, easy to clean, definitely hot enough to sear things (I'm now grilling the perfect steak) AND 'non-stick coating' free!

I was dismayed by only 3 reviews, but paid close attention to them. I purchased the 'Square Deal' warranty, just in case there WERE any future probs.

The water pan/ drip tray switch DID stick once, preventing the unit from turning on but seems to have straightened out. Again... this grill is the answer to my quest for a GOOD, affordable, indoor grill w/ out the nasty stuff that goes with all the others.

If it's possible to update this review as time goes on, I'll gladly do so and hopefully be able to continue the high rating.

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Bought this as a gift and was only used once, now it will not turn on or heat up. Great idea for the cast iron grill and it worked great the one and only time.

Also had I known the seller would not refund since it was over the 30 days I would not have purchased it through them. It was a gift and I did purchase it ahead of time, but really only 30 days. What happened to the 90 or 60 day policies. I have learned.

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BergHOFF Earthchef Acadian 12-Piece Cookware Set

BergHOFF Earthchef Acadian 12-Piece Cookware SetFirst of all, let me say the set is beautiful to look at. They are all shiny, even on the inside. However, that's where the story ends for me in positive light.

In this day and age where almost everything sold is made in China, we take special effort to find items that touch our food that is not made there. With this in mind, I first wrote to Berghoff USA asking where they were made. The response I got is that they are imported from Belgium, but specifically where they were made was smoothly avoided answering.

Anyways, wanted to give it a try and ordered. No where on the box nor the cookware does it state where they are made (very strange, indeed), which made me suspicious. Alright, then we noticed small imperfections and scratches. Alright, since it was a hassle to unpack we wanted all the reasons to keep this and decided to try it. After just one use, we noticed the floor of the pot was blackened in several spots, like pits. The chrome was taken off after one use in such spots. This raised all sorts of alarms for us. After mulling whether to go through with the difficult packing we decided to send it back to Amazon and order something made in France in lieu of it. I would say this set is not worth the price. There are several sets that are cheaper that are made in China by famous labels (typically their mid to lower end models) that are much better quality. I would say I would not really recommend this.

I received the set in excellent condition. They look very good hanging on my pot rack that I built from an antique cast iron floor register grille, shabby sheik. The only thing that I noticed that might be a concern for some, is that the outer edge of the pan lids is very thin, and if you drop a lid, it can and does bend the edge, a rolled edge would help, but would then make the set more expensive. I was able to straighten the edge out. If like me, you hang your pans up, you still need a place close by to store you lids. They are made in such a way that a crafty person can make a lid rack that holds them vertically from small to large. I made mine from old steel and then after welding together and dressing of the welds, I sprayed it with clear satin lacquer, once again very shabby sheik. My wife loves them, and that was a hard sell because as she said " we don't need pots and pans, we have a set of circulon pans that u had to by" . That was ten years ago and the coatings was almost completely worn away. These new pans are not coated, and should last much longer. Another reason I like this set is it consisted of a complete range of lidded pans, and not a bunch of skillets. We fry and sautée with cast iron skillets, so I did not want a set with more skillets. Been using the new set for two months now, cook every meal from scratch, so we have used them extensively, still love them, worth every dime.

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I currently have Cuisinart stainless steel set as well as other pieces of cookware and when I saw this BergHOFF Earthchef Acadian 12-Piece Cookware Set on lightening deal, I decided now is the time to upgrade. There was one other review when I purchased this set rating it 3 stars because it is suspected this set is made in China and I do not know about that.

When the box arrived I was surprised at how heavy this cookware set is. For the amount of money I paid, I was expecting a lighter-weight set as the heaviness usually is roughly equivalent to price and this is a very heavy set. The bottoms are very thick and that is where most of the weight is I think. The set looks very well made and well packaged and very shiny. On my cuisinart set, the bottoms are slightly angled in whereas on this set of BerHOFF Earthchef Acadian, the bottoms continue to same line making a very sharp clean attractive edge and design that I appreciate.

While the heaviness is something most people would look for as a sign of quality, I am in the kitchen often and don't want to get a gym workout just from cooking. I prefer lighter weight pieces so I don't need to strain from the weight when the pots are full.

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I love my purchase. I have been waiting for over a year for the price to go down and this particular cookware set is excellent product

which I already have, but in the last couple of months I keep burning the pots as I forget to turn off the stove. Senior's moment is kicking in. Now I have new ones and will be enjoying them for the next years for sure.

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This is the first set of cookware I've bought in many years. We have a ceramic top range and most lighter pots and pans spin when heating. These are heavy enough to stay put but not so heavy my wife can't lift them when full. They transfer heat better than most other stainless I've used and frankly they are the best pieces I've used since I was in the restaurant business. I've recommended these to friends who were looking and a couple of them found the BergHOFF line to be just great.

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Cuisinart CTG-00-DTM Digital Meat Thermometer

Cuisinart CTG-00-DTM Digital Meat Thermometeri read every word of the product desciption. i have been looking for a constant read digital meat thermometer and thought i had found it.the product description neglects to say "instant read only" alas it is in the drawer with 2 others, unopened. i am hoping my grand daughter will be happy when she finds it in her xmas stocking. peg phlieger

We received our meat thermometer quickly and efficiently. The product worked as described. It is easy to use and comes with a case to protect the thermometer.

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Improved model over similar one I had for many years. I would recommend in a drop of a knife or fork or spoon!

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Hard to wash because not dishwasher safe. Knew this going in but was desperate for an accurate thermometer that will last. Hopefully it is husband safe, but we'll see! ;) It can be a few degrees off as well. My search for the perfect thermometer goes on.....

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It works wonderful for my needs as I do alot of smoking meat and I need to know temperature for doneness

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