Reviews about Kitchen Items

AdventureQueen says "COOL baked goodies with your Kitchen Living cooling racks!" about Kitchen Living Nonstick Three Tier Cooling Rack

AdventureQueen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:07:00 GMT

Baking is something I truly enjoy (and eating the scrumptious finished goodies is even better); usually cookies and muffins, and because we just downsized from a house to an apartment and there is not much counter space where we live now, I purchased a set of Kitchen Living nonstick three tier cooling racks. So far I have only baked cookies and the racks cooled wonderfully stacked up. Next I must bake some muffins or cupcakes to see how well they fit on each rack while they are stacked. The legs fold under for easy storage when not in use (a plus due to our lack of storage now), and they are dishwasher safe (though we no longer have a dishwasher). They measure a generous 15 inches by 9 inches with 2 inches of clearance, so cooling 9 inch round cakes or pies on the racks would probably work as well. The reinforced nonstick coating released the cookies I made easily, and clean-up was simple. They are remarkably sturdy and were very reasonable priced at $6 for the set, and I would recommend......

AdventureQueen says "Small measurements are easy wirh Anchor Hocking's 5oz measurer!" about Anchor Hocking 5 oz. Measuring Glass

AdventureQueen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:08:21 GMT

We recently moved and in the process the glass 4 cup espresso carafe for our Krups 872 Espresso Bravo Plus espresso machine was broken. A replacement carafe costs $25, which is more than I wish to spend at this time, so I began looking for something different which would work and found an Anchor Hocking clear glass measurer with red markings on the side showing; one to ten tablespoons, three to thirty teaspoons, fifteen to one hundred fifty milliliters and one half ounce to five ounce measurements along the sides. It cost less than $3 and fits well under the espresso filter holder. The lid to the broken carafe does not fit the Anchor Hocking measuring glass, so as the espresso empties into the measuring glass there is some splattering that is easily wiped up off the counter. The ounces are the measurements I use when making espresso; we enjoy lattes a minimum of five days a week and we like a double shot (two ounces espresso per person) in each. The markings on the Anchor Hocking 5 oz measuring...

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theann says "Perfect for people that eat pizza a lot." about Presto Pizzazz Machine

theann — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:51:25 GMT

Our family eats pizza a lot, and this is a really useful product. It wasn't super expensive. I think we bought it for around 30 dollars. It does a really super great job on cooking pizza. All you have to do is plug it in, and then turn the timer on and it starts to cook. Then once time is up, it automatically starts cooling, so it doesn't get burned if you leave it on too long. It spins too, so the heat gets all the way around the pizza. Top and bottom. It also cooks them a lot faster. The oven burns them, and it just doesn't work. This is made for pizza. The only thing that I don't like, is that it doesn't cook larger pizzas, just 12 inch. But that really doesn't matter. I also love that it doesn't take up too much room. Instead of a big pizza oven, it just fits on the corner of your countertop. I would definitely reccomend this for any family that eats a lot of pizza, and doesn't like it burnt. It is worth the money.

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JamieM413 says "Extremely versatile, can't be without it!" about Pampered Chef Bar Pan

JamieM413 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:31 GMT

Years ago, I got rid of all my aluminum and non-stick pans because of the possibility of toxins leaching into my food. I switched to glass and stoneware. I much prefer stoneware! This pan is perfect for just about anything you can make -- from pizza, to oven fries, to cookies or brownies. It is large enough to make a very large batch in no time. I actually have two, and use them both frequently! I use them so often, I don't even put them away. They stay in my oven at all times. It does take a while to heat up the bar pan, but retains its heat for quite a while. It also didn't take a long time to season at all. I used higher fat items the first few times, and now I never have to grease the pan at all. The few downsides are that it is *very* large -- I have to quadruple my brownie recipe just to meet the edges of the pan. And it is very heavy. It can be difficult to remove from the oven because of the size. But those are the only drawbacks. I love this pan!

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ewilson says "Fantastic stove except for the price!" about Coleman Classic 2-burner stove -- Model No. 3000000492

ewilson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:48:09 GMT

Yes, I am willing to pay for quality-- within reason. This stove is great, but it's just so expensive. I almost bought the cheaper model and I guess I'm glad I didn't. The quality is superb despite the initial sticker shock of something like eighty dollars.

Despite this, it has been my angel when camping. I use it at least once a day for a hot dinner and I never regret it. It cooks consistently (well, get the right cooking pots, too) and it doesn't use a ton of propane each time. As a matter of fact, I went through one small propane in about 15 days of use! That's quite a lot of meals and I am generous with its use. This is easy to clean and compact.

Overall, I would buy the same stove again and I've been pleased with my purchase ever since. Coleman is always a brand I can count on and I'm certain to buy more of their products in the future. They also sells at most retailers that I visit all the time anyway!

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ewilson says "It looks great and works even better" about KitchenAid 50360 Gourmet Essential 2-Quart Porcelian Tea Kettle

ewilson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:39:40 GMT

What I appreciate most about the kettle is that it works quickly and efficiently. It's a staple in most kitchens and my wife insisted on having one of these. It has a porcelian base which makes it especially great. There are many cheaper options on the market, but the great thing about this is how nicely it fits with the rest of our kitchen appliances.

This product comes in so many colors and makes a nice gift because of its medium price range. We actually received ours as a gift and we're really happy the person who bought it "accidentally" ordered the porcelian one rather than the cheaper counterpart.

The only problem we noticed was that it attracts grease when left on the stove near other items that are cooking. Other than that... no issues at all!

I would recommend air drying the kettle and not leaving water in at all times, though. But that goes for any kettle and it's strictly for sanitary purposes.

Excellent buy and looks great!

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ewilson says "These are standard in any kitchen." about Pyrex 10-piece bakeware set

ewilson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:27:06 GMT

This bakeware set is something my wife adores. She uses at least one piece every day or two and raves about how reliable they are. The glass itself is tempered... so it can be baked in the oven at high temperatures. Because it is glass, you can see whether your food is done from the bottom.

This particular bakeware set comes with the very trusty measuring cup. I think we have 3 of these in our house and would not have it any other way.

My wife brings these when she is going over to a friend's house and we often throw these in the dishwasher and there's never any problem. We've even dropped them on the ground and they never break. Durability is very imporant, and these are quality products.

They're such a great price that it's worth it to invest in the sets that come with tops. This way, you can store the food item in the refrigerator for leftovers with no problem on covering with foil or saran wrap.

Excellent buy and quality for your money!

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brandywilson says "For the most part, I'm pleased with this purchase!" about Calphalon Calphalon Contemporary Non-Stick (JR12A / 16853004850)

brandywilson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:33:06 GMT

While I live for quality in my kitchen appliances and products, I always cringe at the price of cookware sets. I manage to get good deals and shop where there are giveaways... but it still makes me uneasy looking at the prices.

This set I found to be a happy medium. I'm not an expert chef, although a decent one. I lead a busy life and didn't want to deal with the issue of pans without non-stick... but I still wanted a sleek design. These to me... were nice looking and appeared to be durable.

I have two complaints... and only two (otherwise these are perfect): The small sauce pans are SO expensive. WHY? I can never find a good enough deal. I bought a set and supplement with extras I want, but I just can't fork over the $80+ for another small saucepan (those get used a lot in my house). My second complaint is about the lids. They are not very easy to clean... and beyond that, they rust in small parts near the screws. That bothers me a little.

For the most part, these are great pans for their...

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pitcherday says "Slice and chop easily without cutting your hands!" about As Seen On TV Vidalia Slice Wizard

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:15:50 GMT

My luck with As Seen On TV products is hit-or-miss. The Vidalia Slice Wizard is a definite hit, the out-of-the-park kind. This makes slicing, dicing, and julienne cutting of vegetables easy and quick!

The Vidalia Slice Wizard is a plastic ramp with a non-skid leg that folds out and holds the slicer at a 45 degree angle. There are two metal cutting blades that come together and form a deep "V" in the middle of the ramp. The slicer comes with five different inserts for the cutting blade: thin julienne, thick julienne, thick slicing, thin slicing, and medium slicing. It also comes with a safety insert to place in the blades for storage, comes with a safety holder to hold the item being sliced, and a storage rack to hold all of the different slicing inserts.

The safety holder is bell shaped and has a plunger with sharp prongs on it. You stick the fruit or vegetable onto the prongs and your hands are protected from the sharp slicing blades. There are arrows on the safety holder to show you how...

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ApriBambino says "My Polder Steel Dish Rack is form follows function good looking." about Polder Home Tools, Polder Home Tools Stainless Steel Dish Rack

ApriBambino — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:46:03 GMT

Polder Home Tools Stainless Steel Dish Rack

Recently, we did some home renovating and updating to our living space. We decided we wanted the clean look of stainless steel around the kitchen so, while looking in stores and online for a decent looking dish rack with drain tray, I came across this Polder Home Tools Stainless Steel Dish Rack and really liked the way it was designed.

It's very sturdily made of 18/8 stainless steel and features a reversible catch rack/draining tray along with an extra large ventilated mesh utensil holder. It measures 22"W x 15"D and can hold a lot of dishes, pans, cups, glasses etc. and nothing topples over as dishes fit and sit properly on the rack.

One of my favorite features is that the stainless steel is of course rust resistant but also anti-microbial which I really like. It's also super easy to clean, I use baking soda and white vinegar to wash it down and it comes out gleaming and refreshed, it also dries quickly too.

This is a modern design dish...

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DizzyKiz says "Hubby's Favorite" about Pampered Chef Large Round Baking Stone - 1370

DizzyKiz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:43:34 GMT

I purchased the Pampered Chef Pizza Stone and removable rack holder as a gift for my husband several years ago. He is a pizza fanatic and had always wanted to try cooking pizza on a stone. Needless to say, he was thrilled with the gift and has used it many, many times since receiveing it.

I personally think it works well, but I also have used aluminum pizza sheets that seem to work just as well to me. I dislike cooking stones, as they are not really made to be washed thoroughly, and I definitely like to scrub my dishes clean using very hot water. I have the scrapper that you are instructed to use to remove any stuck on food from the stoneware, and that does work well. However, sauces and oils just are not able to be removed as easily. (I have tried cornstarch or lightly flouring the stone before baking, which seem to improve the amount of food sticking to the stone.)

Overall, a good piece of kitchen equipment, but perhaps not totally necessary.

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kwhipkey says "Goes with me everywhere!" about Sigg Water Bottle

kwhipkey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:20:19 GMT

I was originally attrached to Sigg waterbottles last year for a few reasons. First, I was not happy with how many plastic bottles I was wasting daily. We do not have a water cooler or even good tap water at my work, and I knew the plastic I was going through (even though I recycle) was not very green. Second, I love how Sigg bottles look. I have a 20oz bottle that I use all the time and the art on it is awesome. I like the 20oz size too because it is easy to carry or fit in a bag or purse. Finally I chose this bottle over some cheaper plastic options out of concern for BPA in them. I have been very happy with my Sigg waterbottle all along. I will admit that when I first started using it I thought the taste of my water was a little off, but I am used to it now. I have never put other beverages in my bottle, but I know you can put other hot and cold bevs in there. The only other downside is they are a bit hard to clean since you are not suppose to put them in the dishwasher. ...

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zebrachicy says "The best smelling fabric softner around" about Snuggle Fabric Softener Snuggle Exhilaration 3x Concentrate

zebrachicy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:14:50 GMT

I have always loved to have soft, good smelling clothes and towels and bed sheets. For years I have looked for the perfect fabric softner and have come up short many times.

Recently I tried Snuggle Exhilaration fabric softner. The first thing that got me was that I loved their scents. The combinations of the scents is like magic.

The second thing I liked about the softner is that my clothes retained this wonderful smell when finished being washed. This was important to me because my daughter has a special blanket that she carries with her everywhere. This blanket has the tendency to smell kinda yucky and this fabric softner was able to penetrate that.

The third thing I like about this softner is that my clothes were very soft and flully more than when I use other brands.

To me, Snuggle is the king at the top of all fabric softners. I love to save money but when I run out of fabric softner and this isn't on sale, I will STILL buy it.

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DizzyKiz says "Very Useful" about Pampered Chef Apple Wedger

DizzyKiz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:09:17 GMT

The Pampered Chef Apple Corer/Slicer was my second purchase from Pampered Chef. I was able to try out this product before I committed to purchasing it. As soon as I saw how easily it slid through the apple, I was hooked and purchased one immediately.

I had preciously owned a store-brand apple slicer which was the pitts. It could barely cut through the apple peel and I was sure I was going to slice a chunk of my hand off my the amount of pressure I had to apply to get it to move through the apple. After this expereince I was a bit apprehensive about buying another slicer, but thought that perhaps knowing Pampered Chef's reputation for quality, it might be worth trying. Boy, am I glad that I did!

Living in the midwest my family and I love picking apples every fall, bushels full of apples. My kids eat at least one apple a day, usually 2 or more. Having this great corer/slicer makes it so quick and easy to prepare an apple for my kiddos.

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DizzyKiz says "Can't live without this little beauty" about Pampered Chef Small Micro-Cooker

DizzyKiz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

The Pampered Chef Micro Cooker is simply amazing. I purchased my first micro cooker about 8 years ago as my first purchase from Pampered Chef. As soon as I got this little cooker home and put it to use, I was hooked, how did I ever live without it?

The Micro cooker is very versatile and is able to cook so many different kinds of foods. I typically use it for heating canned soup, steaming fresh/frozen/canned vegetables, cooking a batch of oatmeal, or re-heating dinner leftovers.

I love the easy attach lid that comes with the cooker. It keeps your food from splattering, perfect for melting butter, warming red sauce, etc. I also appreciate that the lid is ventilated and can double as a strainer.

I own the small micro cooker as well as the large and love them both. I am so deveoted to them that I also have purchased them for my mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and many a wedding shower. The recipients have all expressed to me how much they love and use their cookers.

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tigres13 says "wonderful piece of gadgetry" about Oxo 6.5" Garlic Press

tigres13 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:45:08 GMT

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago during a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond. I love adding garlic to my meals and have always found peeling and cutting garlic to be bothersome. I am able to put the whole garlic clove in this press and squeeeeeze and out comes freshly pressed garlic without all the hassle. It can be kind of hard to squeeze with those more stubborn cloves but all in all it is a very sturdy piece of equipment. If you decide to take off the skin you can get even more garlic out when you do press it though this gadget. It is super easy to clean because it comes apart cleanly and those little red nubbies help to push the excess out. It is also dishwasher safe so that is a huge plus. The handles have these great rubber grips that make it even easier to hold when you are using it. It is compact enough to fit in my gadget drawer and easy to find because of the red nubs. It is a high quality brand that I expect to be using for many many years to come.

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bachichasurvey says "Love them!" about Pyrex Baking dishes

bachichasurvey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:32:40 GMT

I've been using Pyrex brand dishes for over 10 years and I love them. I love the convenience of using them to mix then bake and then store with. I have never had a problem with them bursting in the oven or anything like that. They are also very easy to clean which is great. I think my most favorite thing about them is the look of clear glass on the table or for a countertop buffet. I also love that I can re-heat food very easily. Plus, the price of these dishes are moderate for the years of use you will get out of them. I buy them for gifts and will be using this brand for the rest of my life. They are fantastic.

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dmlichnerowicz says "Brilliant tool to cut down on all the junk in my kitchen drawers" about Pampered Chef Adjustable Measuring Spoons

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:35:10 GMT

I hate measuring spoon sets. If they are detachable from their ring, I can never find them and they go MIA in my drawer. If they're on a permanent ring, using just one gets them all dirty! Someone with a brilliant mind at Pampered Chef created a nifty little gadget that removes both those irritations from my life!

The Pampered Chef Adjustable Measuring Spoons come as a set of two: the smallest spoon measures from 1/8 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon, and the larger spoon measures from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon. Each spoon has an adjustable slider with a comfortable thumb grip that move up and down on the spoon to give you just the right amount for each ingredient. The spoon is shaped to fit right into spice jars, so there's no more ridiculous shaking of spices into spoons that are too small! The sliders can be removed for easy cleaning and pop off and on with ease. The spoons and sliders are dishwasher safe. You can purchase these spoons for $8.00 for the set, and it comes with a...

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dmlichnerowicz says "The only Pampered Chef product my husband wanted!" about Pampered Chef BBQ Grill Basket

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:14:34 GMT

Before my Pampered Chef party, I asked my husband if he wanted any products. He took a cursory look through the catalog, and the only item he identified was the Pampered Chef BBQ Grill Basket...of course. While I didn't think we would get much use out of it, I agreed and added it to the order.

When my order arrived, I was really pleased with this 11" x 8 1/2" x 2" stainless steel mesh basket. It is light-weight but sturdy and doesn't flex at all. Having paid over $25, I was pleased, since I was afraid it would be very chintzy and not hold up well. We immediately used it, and made several different dishes, from potato wedges to veggies to shrimp, all made on the grill without the fuss of tin foil or skewers! Because of the size and low weight of the metal it's made from, the Pampered Chef BBQ Grill Basket easily fits on the warmer rack on the grill without my being worried that it will fall. We've eaten a lot healthier foods by using the grill basket, and I have to admit,...

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dmlichnerowicz says "Makes my snacks easier" about Pampered Chef The Corer

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:57:59 GMT

Since I try to be healthy, one of my favorite snacks is sliced apples with peanut butter. I added the Pampered Chef The Corer to my party order about a year ago and have eaten more apples in the last year than in my entire life before that!

The Pampered Chef website gives the following description of the product: "Instantly remove cores and seeds from apples or cucumbers. A stainless cutting edge easily pierces apple peels. The ejector cleanly removes cores. Includes safety lock. Dishwasher-safe." The Corer sells for $10.50 and has a 2-year guarantee.

What I like about it: It took me a few tries to really get the hang of the easiest way to use The Corer, but after trial and error, it's a really simple tool to use. The design is great! The ejector works well and once it's been cleaned, a simple twist at the bottom locks the ejector into place to cover the sharp end.

What I don't like about it: The only problem I have run into is that if you don't have The Corer perfectly...

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