Sunday, October 27, 2013

Smart Planet DBF-1 The Original Burger Factory

Smart Planet DBF-1 The Original Burger FactoryTo be honest, nothing beats a grilled burger. But, I work long hours and I was looking for some alternative to frozen meals.

Years ago I had a similar item, only it was a single burger cooker. I loved that thing to death, wore it out. I wanted to give this one a try. The two burger cooker looked ideal for a meal for my wife and I.

I ordered this through Amazon and it arrived in perfect condition, very satisfied with the shipping speed.

First, the cons: In my opinion it could stand a bit of beefing up on the handle latch, I needed to modify it by squeezing it to tighten it up, kept falling off. The hinge part is a little flaky, but I can, and will, live with that. The non stick is a bit more sticky than I like, though I did not use cooking spray.

Pros: Fast? I like my burgers well done. To get that well done burger it took me nine minutes. 5 minutes to preheat and 4 minutes cook time, the manual says 3 1/2 minutes cook time. Fast enough for me. Cleanup is easy and the fat and other stuff drains into the bottom of the cooker. I really prefer that to pan frying. Small foot print is great for our small kitchen.

One last thing. I weigh out my burger in 1/4 pound patties. My patties don't come close to filling up the burger cavity. The next time I use it I will do 1/3 pound patties. I have not tried the "slider" side yet.

Good gizmo! I will wear it out from use!

I had a single burger maker in college that was amazing and started to look for another. I found this, it has only one side that heats up, you can use it as a griddle, cook two regular burgers or a group of sliders which I'll never use. But it does a great job with the two burgers. It's a quick, satisfying way to get a quick homemade burger in a very, very short time. Easy clean up as well. If it heated on both sides it would be perfect, but it comes awfully close to my old favorite from the 1970's.

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The unit was dead on arrival and I returned it. So I basically wasted the $8 it cost to ship it back. Do not recommend this product.

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the meat sticks to the top and bottom of the grill. it cooks from the top down which is doesn't cook good on both sides. thats why you have to flip the hamburgers over.

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It is cooks a hambuger quickly and is very easy to clean. Wish the hinge for the cover was a better design.

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As Seen On TV 8153 Big Boss Grill 15-Piece, 6 in 1 Grill Set

As Seen On TV 8153 Big Boss Grill 15-Piece, 6 in 1 Grill SetFirst off, this is not an expensive kitchen appliance and it is apparent in the design; no on/off switch, plug into outlet equals on, unplug equals off. There is really no frills to this device, which you would expect at this price point. I purchased this device in order to make waffles every now and again at home and liked the fact that it was capable of making other food items. As far as form, it is small and will fit easily in a drawer or cupboard when not in use. The 6 no-stick inserts come with a rack which is also nice for storage in a cupboard. The inserts snap into place and are removed easily. As far as function goes, it cooks really well and will turn out approximately 2 servings at a time with a 3-5 minute warm up and an average of 5 minutes to cook just about anything. I would say that this device is best used for waffles, eggs, grilled pocket sandwiches and panini sandwiches versus more complicated meals such as raw chicken breasts. I feel the price is worth it for the versatility as well as easy clean up and I use it about twice a week for a quick grilled sandwiches or waffles on the weekend. Some may not like the fact that you can only turn out two at a time, but really how many grilled cheese can you make at once in a frying pan? And those don't seal the edges. Good product considering you are not dropping tons of money, the versatility of items you can make and small size for storage. You are basically spending about the same as a toaster oven, so don't expect it to mop your floors too. If your expectations are reasonable, this is a convenient little device.

I cannot believe that such a reputable place would keep these grills on their sites. I recieved this grill for Christmas and was so excited because I had seen it on TV and it looked perfect for my husband and I.

I used it a few times and it grilled perfectly. However, after about 3 times when I plugged it in nothing happened. I cannot tell you how disappointed I was. I went to the computer to see if anyone else had this problem and lo and behold their were hundreds of customers with similar problems. It seems to me that if a company had recieved numerous complaints about a product they sold (The Big Boss Grill) they would look into what was causing the problems and either fix it or take it off the market. I would have sent it back and I still might, but the shipping charges cost almost as much as the grill. Since most people don't send it back precisely for that reason the company makes out. Amazon I have done a lot of business with you in the past and I have been extremely satisfied with everything I purchased. I know people sell things through your site and if something isn't right it is up to the company that is selling it. However, if I were you after reading all the negative comments about the big boss grill I would not accept the site that was selling that product. It is your name that makes people think everything you sell on your site will be A-Okey.

Janet

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What was I thinking? This thing would be okay if you are cooking for 1 or 2 people. Any more and everyone would have to eat at separate times.

I only use it to cook omlettes and waffles now. The grilled cheese has the crusty ends which my kids do not like. When I cooked chicken on it, I have to cut the breasts into tenders. It takes closer to 9 minutes for 1 chicken breast cut medium thickness. If you are cooking for four or more, someone is getting a cold piece of chicken.

Also, last night I cooked a breast in it, I noticed that all the juices had nowhere to go. So much of it went under the plate. I DO know that electricity and liquids don't mix.. I hope it isn't damaged now. So now when I cook chicken, I will take out the old frying pan again..

I haven't made a donut, hamburger, or a pannini yet. Donuts look real small though. I do like the way the omlettes come out, but it takes closer to 9 minutes, than 5 minutes as suggested. I feel french toast would probably work, but again, only 2 at a time. 5-6 minutes each.. Good Luck!

Also, I recieved a phone call telling me that since I was such a good customer , that I would be recieving $40 in free gas vouchers in the mail, along with a bunch of other discounts that I could use for a try out period. It would cost me $24, after the first month. If I want to cancel it, just call the number. I did not recieve this envelope, therefore cannot camcel. I called Big Boss Headquarters, and they told me that they have nothing to do with this promo. How dare them give my credit card number to someone else. Now I have to go to my bank and fix this mess.!!

Anyway, if you want to eat waffles or omlettes for one or 2 people, this is for you. I won't use this for chicken or grilled cheese ever again.

I wish I could get my money back.. Maybe I'll stop payment.

DG

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I live in a small apartment with a very small kitchen, and I have an even smaller amount of time to clean a grill. I've had contact grills before (the George Foreman line is so far still the best IMHO), but when you need to save both space and time this is a good buy. It's not great, but it does work once you figure out its quirks. The indicator lights are a great touch so I know when it's come up to heat. Also, the dishwasher-safe plates are a definite plus.

Some things I've found:

-The heater does not have the wattage to deal with frozen hamburger patties. It will, however, work great on fresh ones.

-If you're a culinary nitpicker, the omelet plate won't make a true omelet. However, it does make a tasty breakfast "scramble."

-The grill will hold grease away from the meat, but you need to drain it between individual servings. This can be dangerous to say the least. (I use a set of nomex gloves...good luck finding those.)

-The griddle is good, but not great. It might make a good supplemental griddle for, say, when you have a lot of relatives over and you've got all burners going on the cook top.

For a general-purpose all-in-one appliance, this is a good design. However, it is not the best for all tasks. A good starter, say for the college or graduate student, but not for someone who wants a serious contact grill.

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I bought this thinking it looked very versatile. Well maybe it is but in minature size. Silly me..I didn't look at dimensions. This unit is quite small. The Dounut pan would make dounuts the size or smaller that Dunkin Holes. I don't know what I was expecting but I'm not sure this is it. haven't used it yet as I'm not sure whether I should bother keeping it.

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Cuisinairre Hot Shot 7 Roller Hot Shot Commercial Grade 7-Roller 18 Hot Dog Grill Maker Machine, 14

Cuisinairre Hot Shot 7 Roller Hot Shot Commercial Grade 7-Roller 18 Hot Dog Grill Maker Machine, 1400-wattMy boyfriend and I bought this hot dog machine and we love it. We cook everything (round) on it. Like sausages, sweet, hot and chinese, brats and even corn on the cob. It takes about 45 min for the sausages. But so worth it. Leaves the meat with a crisp crunchy edge. Not a flame broiled burnt edge like a grill would. Everyone that comes to our house thinks it's the best. It's not like I've seen this in a lot of my friends houses. If your on Amazon looking for one of these hot dog cooking machines. I totaly recommend this one.

When I was on here looking for one. I didnt see to many reviews. So I thought it would be a good idea to leave one. Also I am happy with Amazon and the company from which this machine came from.

Terrible product! I ordered 4 of them ALL FOUR broke within 2 months. Just enough time not be able to return them. Do not waste your money.

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Worked very well when it arrived. I donated it to my grandsons High School athletic department. So far, so GOOOOD ! I'm sure it will receive the ultimate test.

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I bought this product back in December for my husband. He LOVES hotdogs and I thought it would be a great gift for him. It is amazing. Everyone gets to enjoy it. Our guests love it! It works perfect and makes the most amazing hotdogs and sausages. They have the perfect 'pop' when you eat them as if you were at the ball game. We used this machine all winter long for sporting events and now are enjoying it this summer for our summer fun. It is effortless to cook the hotdogs and sauasges and the food tastes wonderful.

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Great product works great makes great hot dogs and sausages! Great price for the hot dog roller fast shipping! Can't wait to have a party to use it!

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Breville EW30XL Electric Gourmet Wok

Breville EW30XL Electric Gourmet WokI've done a fair amount of stirfry over the years, and for a long time had a professional level one similar to this Breville. Once it died, I did not get another, and anytime I tried to do stirfry on the oven it was a disaster. Even a new pretty powerful $800 gas oven did NOT get the on-the-stove pan hot enough. I would end up 'stewing' the food, and it bore little resemblance to my stirfry's of the past.

I was VERY impressed with the excellent instructions that are provided in the book this comes with. I studied all their tips for an hour, and was amazed at the things I did NOT know, or had forgotten. Someone who never stirfried before could get first rate results by studying just a few pages. Little things are important I used to just turn it on, and throw in the oil and wait for it to get hot. WRONG! You are supposed to turn it on EMPTY, let it get VERY hot, and only then put in the oil. And I realized I had started to get lazy, and was not doing smaller batches of items at a time, which does end up with better results.

If I need to get things out of the pan, I just hold a big bowl or plastic container next to it, and slide stuff up the side and out or I just tip it up and dump it on a plate. Although it is good to know that once every few months I could actually take it apart for an old-fashioned cleaning, all you really need to do is wipe it out with a sponge. The non-stick surface is fantastic. The temperature dial is excellent, and it comes with the most heavy duty cord you ever saw!

Stir-fry is my teenaged son's favorite meal, and without a good wok, I hardly ever cooked it for him. Now when I tell him we're having stir-fry, he's thrilled. Remember this thing would be good for a lot more than just stirfry too. I was amazed that it could slow cook as well. I can make beef stew a one pot dish. Can't wait to try it out on tempura, which it will also be great for! There are also a lot of great recipes in the book.

I bought this wok based on the reviews posted here. I have to say that I agree that it gets really hot and I am amazed at how well it performs. That being said, I have noticed that the non-stick surface has a lot of surface scratches and I use a plastic spatula. Yesterday, I made Beef Lo Mein and the pan was just as great as beforehand. However, upon washing it up in the sink, I noticed that a piece of the non-stick had peeled off. My experience with that coating suggests that this will continue to occur as I use the appliance more often. This is very disappointing as this is the best performing wok that I have ever used. I'm crossing my fingers hoping that the non-stick won't continue to peel. That would certainly betray the overall performance of an otherwise excellent appliance

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Solid, heavy gage construction cooks evenly. See-through lid is equally thick, which is good because it retains heat and doesn't cause steam condensation as as most others do.

It appears non-stick coating will last -again, because heavier construction dissipates heat and won't sear the surface. Time will tell.

Would be great if base could be removed without turning over. Removing contents to a bowl for serving can be a trick. Removal for cleaning is good.

Size is smaller than Maxim? that I had previously. Not that the larger size is needed for large amounts (wok cooking tends to boil or steam large amounts instead of searing the food; rather, a larger size would make stirring easier.

Would have gotten 5 stars if larger and base were removable while cooking.

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This electric wok is fantastic. Just disregard all you've heard about how electric woks don't match up. The Breville EW30XL is different and it rates 5 stars by many people for good reasons. This wok is extremely well made and should last a lifetime. It gets so hot on the highest setting, that it melted the end of a plastic wok turner I purchased to use with it (use good quality hardwood and toss quickly). It's non-stick coating is there to stay and because of it, you use less or even no oil (be sure to use appropriate oils). Peanut oil is a perfect choice. This is a high quality wok that you will enjoy for years to come.

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I had originally purchased a Rival stainless W73 wok about 11 months ago. The legs loosened and the plastic BB bumps that sit in holes broke off. Those plastic bumps prevent the legs from turning. My wife was last stir frying with it sitting on a measuring cup. I love strir fry and knew that if that continued she would not want to use it so I called the company and their customer service responded by emailing me only one sentence. We have no more legs. To simply state that I was ticked is an understatement. I then read the above reviews on the Breville so I ordered one. I was impressed by the weight and the well thought about design and quality. It is not a light weight by no means. I used the Braise setting tonight and it seared the chicken immediately. I like the selector on the lid for the vent so I can steam vegetables and then after serving I can open the vent and put the lid back on to keep them warm and prevent further steaming. I liked the temp selector how it locks in when you plug it into the wok and then you grasp the side lever on the selector when you go to pull it out and it releases. The big knob on the bottom turns to remove the fry bowl to wash it. To put it back you simply set the temp plug housing into a cradle and then reach underneath to lock it. I also noted that because of the bowl shape I can put my serving plate against the outside of the wok and then drag the stir fry up the inside until it lands on the server plate. No spills and no picking up and tipping. I used very little peanut oil and it cleaned up great with a sponge. I'm already planning the next dish from my Madame Wong's Long-Life cookbook.

CHEFS Granny Fork

CHEFS Granny Fork: 10'I love using a granny fork when I cook. Surprisingly, I couldn't find any in stores when I shopped even in unique cooking stores. Loved finding one with a long handle to keep me away from spatters as I turned things.

You won't find 'Cook' on my resume but I don't know what I did before this Granny Fork came along. You'll find a dozen uses before the first week is over.Granny Fork

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Very handy. I love the quality, and the extra length of the fork makes it extra useful. The price for the quality is worth it.

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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Taylor #806 Weekend Warrior Digital Instant Read Thermometer

Taylor #806 Weekend Warrior Digital Instant Read ThermometerMine came a little inacurate, but after I calibrated it (very easy, instructions included) it was dead one. Not quite instant though...more like 3 seconds or so, but thats more than quick enough. The cover also serves as a handle, which is nice. For the price, a great value.

Bought this from Axiom Merchant Marketing through Amazon. The battery worked for ten seconds, then had to be replaced locally. Now it works fine. Design is not so good. The cover of the probe can be pushed onto the end of the handle in order to extend the handle and make it longer, a handy feature when inserting the probe over a hot grill. However, the cover separates from the handle too easily, and I find myself holding only the cover while the probe remains in the food on the grill.

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This thermometer has been very useful. It registers the temperature quickly and the numbers are easy to read even with bi-focals. The cover becomes a handle so your fingers don't get to close to the flame when grilling. I would recommend it.

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I am impressed with the accuracy and durability of this item, but it is far from "instant read". I conduct several temperatue audits for a major food chain and many of the readings take several minutes to stabilize. Overall, it is worth the cost.

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Thermometer reads ok, handle doesn't hold on, tends to fall off, unit is too small to hold without handle attacted.

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Swissmar KF-77055 Matterhorn Oval-Shaped 8-Person Raclette, Black

Swissmar KF-77055 Matterhorn Oval-Shaped 8-Person Raclette, BlackI purchased this Raclette Dec of 2001 and use it about 5 times a year. I bought it for my wife who spent 2 years in Germany. She says that it is very similar to the ones that she used and is very pleased with how it works. Many times when we invite guests over, we cook brautwurst and polish sausage (cut in 1/2 inch slices) on the top cooking surface. We then place choped veggies like squash, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and whatever else we want with the meal and cook them with the meat. A meal will usually take us 1-2 hours and you just keep eating and talking.

Below is a quick list of pros and cons:

Pros:

Cook top is hot enough to cook meats

A lot of room to cook on top

Nifty looking design

Very stable when placed on a table

The top surface is easy to clean (removes from the base)

8 trays if you have a crowd

Variable heat dial

Cons:

Trays can be tough to clean if food is overcooked

If food is spilled beneath the heating element it's tough to clean under it

Power cord not long enough (plan on an extention cord)

Angled trays make it a bit more work to scrape cheese out ( I think that a square tray would be easy-er).

Be sure to use the little scrapers that come with the Raclette or plastic utensils. Anything else will likely scratch the finish (we use tooth picks and wooden shish-ka-bob skewers).

I would reccomend this Raclette to anyone, it is an excelent product that I am sure will last many years. We have had much fun with it and all those that have used this Raclette have great things to say about it.

I bought this raclette maker for my boyfriend who was homesick for France. He's loving it. We sautee veggies and meats on the grill top, then add them to the small dishes with cheese and cooked potatoes and broil them under the coils(untraditional, but delicious).

The grill top is removeable, which makes it easy pop off and get into the sink, however I've noticed that some food stains the surface, and it can take a bit of scrubbing to remove.

The only real negative so far is the heating dial. You alter the heat of the coils by turning a dial, but it is impossible to tell by looking if the dial is set to low, medium or high. The only real way to know is by how loudly your food is sizzling. This one area truly needs to be redesigned.

Overall, it's a fine machine which will allow you to enjoy many warm, creative and delicious moments with friends and family. Now, if I could only find a decent raclette cheese!

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Being Swiss, I know how what normal wear and tear is on a racelette oven. The oven itself is great, and the little pans are made of good non stick material. The top grill however is of very very poor quality. The coating was starting to chip, in addition to bubbles forming on the surface just after a couple of uses. I do NOT recommend this grill if you want to be grilling on top.

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This is really a wonderful item. The grill heats evenly and to a very hot temperature so that food cooks quickly.

The pans are truly non-stick and the melted cheese slides out easily. A fun item for small dinner parties, as friends will quickly learn to use this item, even if they are not familiar with the tradition.

Only two flaws to this appliance: The electric cord is too short and requires an extention cord, and the non-stick cooking surface, while functional, is too thin and scratches easily, showing metal. Otherwise, you'll enjoy it.

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Was thrilled to discover Raclette cooking last new year. Purchased this in April 2006 but just used it for the first time this past weekend. I agree with previous reviewers that the clearance between the little slide-in trays and the heating element is quite poor. Pile the food too high, even just a small to moderate amount is too high, and it starts to immediately smoke and burn. The top grilling surface is hard to clean, be sure to have a little non-stick cooking spray or olive oil on hand ahead of time to help. After one use the grilling surface already looks a year old with the amount of stains it has.

I was also surprised that at full power, the 'broiling' effect on the cooking of the food in the slide-in trays wasn't that strong and that food took a long time to cook. Haven't noticed any frailty in the food trays, but I will definitely be taking it easy with the grilling top surface.

Kind of disappointed. For the money it should have been better all around.