Monday, September 1, 2014

Eastman Outdoors 19-Inch Gauntlet Cooking Gloves

Eastman Outdoors 19-Inch Gauntlet Cooking GlovesGreat Product and are certainly classified in the heavy duty category. I run a large smoker up to 12 times a year and these have not dissapointed. I like these, but some users might think they are a bit too long.

Nice gloves. Keeps heat off the hands as advertised. Should last me 70 or 80 years.

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Sunday, August 31, 2014

Cover Only for 5 Roller Commercial Hot Dog Machine

Cover Only for 5 Roller Commercial Hot Dog MachineThere were absolutely no instructions shipped with the product. Took me a few tries to figure out the puzzle. In the end, the curved top cover is not flush with the two side panels leaving a gap. This ruins the aesthetics but it should serve its purpose.

Item also does not look as pictured (at least not the one I received). What I got was 3 glass pieces (the two side panels are glass and not the plastic/metal ones pictured) and four legs. An additional metal band holds the curved panel and ends together at the apex. The legs are attached with the self tapping screws already on the Roller and can be installed with just a Phillips-head screwdriver.

The glass is tempered. I accidentally dropped all three panels (glass is slippery) on the floor with a loud clang but no breaks.

Overall the cover is heavy duty, just don't expect it to also cook your dogs.

I was excited when I received this item. It was neatly packed and not broken upon opening it. The item was heavy glass, which I expected it to be plastic. The unfortunate part of this was it had 0/ none / absolutely no assembly instructions. the item was different than all the pictures of the productg so I couldnt use that as help. It was a total guessing game. I think I might have put it together properly but it appears that you have to drill holes in your hot dog cooker to attach it?? the item in the picture appears to have metal sides. the item I reveived has glass sides. it's nice but definately need instructions.

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his is just a splatter shield and it works fine. I can now place the cooker on almost any surface without worrying about damage to surfaces.

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Cuisinart Simply Grilling Nonstick Grilling Wok

Cuisinart Simply Grilling Nonstick Grilling WokThis product is unfit for its intended use. The first time I used it -to grill vegetables on a gas grill at lower than medium heat (two burners on medium, the third off) -the synthetic part of the "heat resistant" handle melted! Some of the melting "plastic" got all over the food. Even worse, when the entire mess cooled, it was virtually impossible to remove the small globs that had stuck to the body of grilling pan. There are very good products that serve this function. Stay away from this one.

We love to cook vegetables on the grill and this works great.We've used this a few times and had no probems at all. Cleans up easy as well!

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I bought this wok for my husband, and he loves it, he uses it at least once a week on the barbecue, he has tried different receipes and they all turn out really good, the price was right and it cleans up very well.

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The wok worked great until the handle melted and actually dripped on the grill. Look for a wok with a metal handle.

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Anolon Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick 18-by-10-Inch Double Burner Griddle

Anolon Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick 18-by-10-Inch Double Burner GriddleIt's so nice when a simple cooking device is done well. The heating is uniform, the pan is light (read: easy to hold while rinsing) but lies very flat (no runoff of liquids), and nothing sticks (we add butter for the flavor). I like the feel of the soft grip handles but it does get too warm to handle because our gas rangetop shoots heat across and around the edges of the griddle. It was a great way to get my husband to cook for me since there is next to no cleanup involved for his quesadillas and eggs. Lots of space for bacon too although the low rim will permit more splatter than a deeper pan. Enjoy!

Bottom line, you buy one of these mainly to make pancakes. The Anolon Double Burner Griddle is better than a traditional frying pan for pancakes because you can fit more on it at one time, which means less time in the kitchen and more time eating those tasty little crumpets while they're still hot. The kids also get less whiny when you can serve them all at once instead of doling out a few pancakes here and there or worse, serving them all at once when they've gone cold.

Turns out, it's also good at French toast, eggs, bacon, quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches. Added bonus: you only have to add butter or oil if you like the flavor, because after owning and using this thing for two months, I have to admit, it truly deserves to be called nonstick (unlike so many "nonsticks" that have disappointed me after the first few uses).

Some might point out that at 10 inches wide, this griddle is too narrow to fit all their breakfast items at once. Well get two, they're a slim profile and lightweight and at about fifteen bucks less than the Circulon, you can probably afford it.

My 22-year-old recipe for Frickin' Fantastic Pancakes:

1 cup Buttermilk, 1 cup flour, 1 egg, 2 Tablespoons oil, 1 Tablespoon sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. baking soda, ½ tsp. salt.

Heat your griddle to med-low. Mix ingredients in a large bowl with a balloon whisk until just a few lumps remain (no overworking allowed). Pour on the griddle (you know what size you like) and watch for the bubbles in the center of your pancakes to signal it's time to turn. Flip, cook a few more minutes, serve, and notice how much better this is than that mix stuff.

-Andrea, aka Merribelle

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Works perfectly. We have a Wolf ceramic cooktop and so a decent griddle must be perfectly flat. This is. We've had it for months. It wipes clean in hot water with a once-over with a soapy dishcloth. Nothing sticks. Of course, we take care of it. We don't overheat it and we don't immerse directly into water when it is hot. Our stove has a bridge element between the two round elements and we get perfectly even heat across the griddle within degrees when tested with an infrared thermometer. The handles have silicone or something to insulate them so you can position or move the griddle without grabbing for a hot pad. There is a pour spout at one end for draining bacon or sausage grease. Cook breakfast for a crowd in nothing flat. You can manage 6 hearty pancakes at once or 6 fried eggs can be done to a perfect over-easy without overlapping or crowding. Suddenly I look like a seasoned short-order cook for a house full of company. Solid value. Easily worth more in my opinion.

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This gridle is great looking and I leave it out on my 5 burner gas stove.

I use it all the time for everything I can think of. I can keep one side hotter than the other for cooking different types of foods. It responds quickly to heat increase or decrease. This is definitely a good nonstick finish. I haven't found anything that sticks to it yet. The handles make it easy to pick up and it has a pour spount that I haven't had to use yet. The handles don't stick up too high and interfere with cooking or washing. They are one reason I chose this skillet. It is very easy to clean also. I wouldn't advise using this skillet on a glass top. I had one of those and hated it for cooking everything. This is perfect for gas. The price is exceptional for the quality provided!!!

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I have owned two of these pans. The first wore out after several years of daily use. Note that the package says "non-stick" and not "non-stick forever". Eventually, all non-stick pans wear out. Out of the box, this pan is magic. Nothing will stick and it cleans up beautifully. The pan is also nice and thick. I have never had a problem with warping, however heating this pan really hot and then rinsing it in the sink could cause warping. To maximize the life of the pan, be sure to NEVER use aerosol oils such as PAM on the pan. The propellant in the can burns at a lower temperature than the oil, and ends up burning in the pores of the pan surface. It will not take long to destroy the non-stick finish. Also, allow the pan to cool COMPLETELY before washing it to prevent any warpage. No gritty cleaners either. The pan should last for many years and then you can buy another one.

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Smart Planet BBM-1 Brownie Bite Maker

Smart Planet BBM-1 Brownie Bite MakerYou REALLY need to coat the mini brownie cups with butter, flour, or SOMETHING when using this; if you don't, the brownie's will begin to crumble when you take them out. I find that using a fork to lift them out (from the sides) works best, and preserves the integrity of the brownie!

The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because it does not make enough at one time. I have to keep refilling it too many times. Other than that it bakes well. Stores well. Cleans up very nicely.

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Gourmet Classics Pig Junior Chef Apron

Gourmet Classics Pig Junior Chef ApronI love this gift it was perfect for my friend, but didn't wash well. Not the most practice apron, but it was fuN!

My daughter loved this apron. She uses it every night to help me cook dinner. She is a pig fan!

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Got this for my niece for her birthday. She loves pigs and LOVED the apron. Seems to be decent quality and fits an 8 year old (though a wee bit big). Would likely fit a small adult but is perfect for the average kid. I'm happy with this purchase.

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My grand-daughter likes pigs so a pig apron was just what she wanted. She likes it a lot.

It seems well made.

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Saturday, August 30, 2014

CDN Digital Programmable Probe Thermometer

CDN Digital Programmable Probe ThermometerHaving burned out, drenched, accidentally kinked, and destroyed enough Polder probes to fill an oven, I finally threw in the towel and went elsewhere for a digital probe thermometer. CDN's Proaccurate may finally be the end of my search for a worthy successor.

Digital probe thermometers are a godsend for cooks who like to set it and forget it when cooking. You want that steak done to exactly 145 degrees? The probe thermometer will tell you. Just stick it in the meat, set the finished temp, and let the beep tell you when it's exactly medium rare. When it works, this kind of thermometer is indispensable.

Therein lies the rub, though. "When it works...." Most of the digital probe thermometers on the market suffer from the same chink in the armor--their probes are flimsy. Not only are the wires inside the probe itself thin when compared with the braided metal housing that holds them, but they can't take the heat, either. Most probes top out at a little over 380 degrees. You run the risk of burning it out when checking oil temperatures, something every probe should be able to do. And if your oven cycles its heat on and off, you could have it set for 350 but it may vary between 300 and 400 while cooking for twenty minutes or more. The result is a cooked probe.

But not with the CDN Proaccurate. The probe cord itself is significantly thicker (fifty percent or more, from my guess) and the temperature tops out almost a hundred degrees higher than the other guys at 482. Plus, unlike the other guys, this unit carries a full five year warranty--including the probe. You can't find that in any other digital probe thermometer I've seen.

Pros:

* Probe withstands highest heat I've seen offered--482 degrees F--and is far more hefty than competitors

* Meat selector settings (Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Turkey, Pork, Veal) with doneness levels

* Accurate. Approved for Food Service Industry usage

* Twenty-four hour count down and up timer

* Large display

* Includes wall mount, magnetic attachment to metal surfaces, and is free-standing

* Good price point

* Five year warranty

* CDN was swift in answering e-mailed questions I had about the unit

Cons:

* No seconds displayed on timer

* Design won't be confused with anything coming out of Europe :-)

* Non-intuitive operation on a couple functions

* Plastic case is not heat-resistant

* Tiny indicator makes it hard to tell if the unit is running when using timer

* Alarm is not as loud as other units out there

* Probe still prone to water damage (no dishwasher)

* Hard to read times less than ten minutes due to shadow of case on digits near the right side

Overall, as a new user my review is positive. Time will tell concerning ruggedness, but I am hopeful given the clear difference in probes between the CDN and other units out there. This CDN model is almost worthy of five stars, but the lack of seconds on the timer is a bad design decision from my point of view. I know from experience with other units that watching those seconds roll by gave me some assurance from a distance that the timer was running.

So for all you Polder and Taylor users who are exasperated with probe failures on your thermometers, this CDN may be what you've been looking for.

I am a big fan of probe thermometers, and I have owned and ruined several of them; each a different brand. The CDN is the most accurate and can withstand high heat best on the market in this price range. I have owned this thermometer for over a year now, and in this time it has:

1. Been rained on at least 5 times.

2. Dropped in our pool.

3. Been hidden in our sandbox.

4. Been dropped on hot coals and backing partially melted.

Each time this thermometer has miraculously come back to life and worked perfectly! The original battery is still going.

If I had to purchase a new one, it would be this thermometer!

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After much research into these devices, I decided to purchase the CDN brand for my husband as a gift. I chose this brand since it had a higher temperature range than that of the other brands available. This one goes up to 482degrees. So far he seems to love this thermometer. It seems very accurate in reading the internal temp of the meats. He loves that it allows him to program what type of meat and for beef the taste(rare,m.rare,med,well). The cable connecting the device to the probe seems to be pretty strong--braided wire. I have seen other devices by other brands that the cables "burn out". This was one of the deciding factors in purchasing the CDN brand. My husband loves the magnetic feature that allows him to stick it to the side of the oven! I am also excited to see the thermometer comes with a clip for candy making and frying. I havent had a chance to use it for this purpose yet, but it makes the device much more versatile & useful. The temperature display is quite large and easy to read...so it will work good for someone who cant read small print. I would actually give this product 4 &1/2 stars. The only reasons I would deduct half a star are: 1)the casing is plastic (cannot use on BBQ)and 2)the timer beeper isnt that loud (you cant hear it if upstairs or more than a room away, so you need to stay in earshot to hear the timer go off). All in all its a great product. I would recommend it. Buy it and you will never have dried out or undercooked meat again. Its well worth it! The chef in your life will thank you!

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I found myself doing quite a bit of research before buying a digital probe thermometer... it seems that each brand and model has it's 'gotchas,' so unless you spend several hundred bucks on a laboratory grade thermometer, you're gonna have to deal with one or more disadvantages... unreliable probes, inaccurate readings, inconvenient menus, inadequate range, flimsy construction, etc. The questions I ended up asking myself were, what are the most desirable qualities, and what are the disadvantages I could live with?

First and foremost, I wanted one that was reliable. Unfortunately, every single model contained reviews from folks whose thermometers didn't make it a month let alone a year. So the next step was to look at the frequency of problems, and perhaps more important, the warranty. CDN was the only one with a five year warranty (one that they seem to cheerfully honor, judging by feedback), so that went a very long way toward making my decision.

Next was temperature range... most digital probe thermometers peak out at under 392 degrees. I didn't feel that was enough so there was another point in favor of the CDN, which is one of the very few that tops out at 482 degrees.

Finally, it came with a metal clip for use on the rim of saucepans, stockpots and so forth... why this cheap but useful little accessory is an optional extra purchase with many other models is a testament to the idiocy and greed of companies who want to get the product out there for the cheapest possible price and then hit you up later for things they should have provided in the first place.

Now that I've lived with the CDN Proaccurate a month or so, I have to say I'm pleased. Tested against two other thermometers the CDN seems accurate, and though it's response seems a bit slow, it's not really meant for instant readings anyway. Other minor gripes? Well, it's not very intuitive when it comes to setting some of the functions... but once you use it a few times you get used to that. Probably my major disappointment is that the timer counts only hours and minutes, no seconds... this coupled with the very small blinking indicator means that it's difficult to tell when it's running. As I said, these are minor gripes... overall I'm extremely pleased with this purchase.

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The thermometer looks really good at first. Great range for candy making (unlike one of the more inexpensive models that Amazon sells) and reasonable wire length. For the past two months its been great. Then it suddenly gave poor measurements (based on salt free ice water, fully equilibrated, and salt free boiling water). It is approx 25 degrees below what it should read. So I'm sending it back. The unit comes with a 5 year warranty. We'll see what type of response I get.

Update: ended up getting a warranty replacement. This too worked for a while and then failed. Stay away

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