Reviews about Cooking Tools & Gadgets

nicek says "Terrific" about KitchenAid Stand Mixer

nicek — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:41:49 GMT

I receivd a new Kitchen Aid StandMixer Pro600 series, for my 50th birthday this year. I also own a 4 1/2 quart ultra power Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer that I have had for over 10 years. The new mixer has a 6 quart bowl and much more power which allows me to make double batches of the yummy desserts I prepare for my large family. I am vey pleased with the results from this mixer. It performs as a very fine and durable machine, just as the trusted Kitchen Aid treputation advertises. I would recommend this item to anyone who enjoys baking and cooking....

RudiXeno says "Ming Tsai Tru Bamboo Cutting Board: So Conveniently Green" about Ming Tsai Tru Bamboo Large Palm Beach Cutting Board w/Groove

RudiXeno — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:43:48 GMT

When I noticed the large crack that had developed in my hard maple cutting board I knew it was goner. It had been with me a long time through more than a few kitchens. I was going to miss it, but truthfully, part of me was happy to have the opportunity to replace this board.

Some of you know that over the last couple of years, Rudi Xeno has gone green. No, not "lunatic fringe green", but rather, what I like to call "conveniently green". Whenever practical, I take the best next step in the direction of green. With a cutting/slicing board it's not very difficult. The answer is Bamboo.

Bamboo? The New Wood?
Well yes...and no. Yes, bamboo is a woody plant that produces a hard, durable surface suitable to replace hardwoods such as maple in many applications. No, it's not really wood at all, it's a grass, a very fast growing, renewable grass. Unlike hardwoods that after cut may require as many as 30 years to replace, bamboo never stops growing. What is harvested today regrows......

andrewmom says "Don't like it!" about Pampered Chef Cutting Edge Food Chopper

andrewmom — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:28:08 GMT

I can not get it to work very well - not practical for the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ that pampered chief charges for the item. I have to cut the onions in cmaller pieces jus to get them to fit and it does not even chop it up but seems to crush it. Not very conveinient in my opinion. I woudl rather just chop it myself and suffer the watery eyes than to use the Pampered chief chopper....

ashbomb02 says "I love this food chopper! works great, fun, and cleans well!" about Pampered Chef Cutting Edge Food Chopper

ashbomb02 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:42:51 GMT

This Pampered Chef Cutting Edge Food Chopper is great! it is fun to use, super easy, and chops very well, i have not experienced my chopping blade getting dull at all, and I love that the parts come apart very easily to clean. it is fast and easy, I love the large press on top to chop down, so much easier than cutting w/a knife, and a lot quicker as well!...

dumplingnia says "you got to use this!!!!!" about Pampered Chef Cutting Edge Food Chopper

dumplingnia — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:43:40 GMT

pampered chef cutting edge food chopper is really good and it works awesome it cuts up the biggest chunks of vegetables or fruits in a matter of seconds its so easy and very handy but if your not a cooking person then i dont really recommend it to you its more for the people that like to cook and the stay at home parents but if your trying to start cooking without the hassle then its good for you to plus it is very portable you can take it anywhere and you dont even have to any cleaing up.(unless you squirt any juices from the friut or vegetables) so go out there and buy your pampered chef cutting edge food chopper today.

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nancyw92 says "Practical and easy to use" about Pampered Chef Garlic Press

nancyw92 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:35:54 GMT

I purchased this item at a home party and some of the other women present highly recommended it. I was instantly sold on the idea. I use garlic in just about everything, but I hated having to chop it up and then having the smell on your hands. This gadget is great as you don't have to peel it and it crushes it perfectly. No more garlic smelling hands either! I use it for other food that I also want minced. Works great!...

cmohr80 says "What a money saver!!!" about Food Saver Vacuum Sealer (V2480)

cmohr80 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:27:22 GMT

The Food Saver Vacuum Sealer is AWESOME!!!

Product Rundown:

"Remove oxygen around food and you radically slow down spoilage and deterioration. FoodSaver home vacuum packaging systems offer a two-step process of removing air and sealing it out, so that your food stays fresh up to five times longer than conventional storage methods.

By keeping food fresh you eliminate freezer burn. Meat, chicken, fish, vegetables and fruit will stay fresh in the freezer for months, even years. Make an entire plate of food or vacuum package last night's pizza to eat months later. The taste difference between just-cooked meals and leftovers will be indistinguishable when you vacuum package and freeze.

Cheese stays fresh in the refrigerator for months and produce will stay fresh for weeks. Dry goods and snacks won't become stale or tasteless when you vacuum package and store in the pantry. A full range of FoodSaver accessories let you keep almost all foods fresh longer in the freezer, refrigerator and pantry....

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filleheureuse says "The Rival Crockpot makes life easier" about rival crockpot

filleheureuse — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:59:05 GMT

The Rival Crockpot is really easy to use and makes my life so easy! All I do is throw in some ingredients in the morning, and come home to a yummy meal at night! It comes with a couple of settings, depending on how much time you have, and also a carrying case if you're going to a pot luck or something. I love it! The only drawback is that you might need to soak it overnight to get cooked-on food off....

penfetish79 says "the best thing since ziplock sandwich bags ... but better!" about Glad Press 'n Seal Wrap

penfetish79 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:54:47 GMT

Glad Press 'N Seal Wrap rocks! It makes ordinary cling wrap look pathetic. I can use it alone or on top of any container, and it has this way of sealing in the freshness. I can make all foods in a bowl, cup, dish or plate air-tight, which is great! I always make sure to have plenty on hand because it's worth its weight in gold!...

suzalynn says "Worth the hype!" about KitchenAid Stand Mixer

suzalynn — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:27:41 GMT

I am an avid baker and wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer for years. I knew they were worth the $$, but never seemed to have the extra cash (3 kids!). My husband bought one for me for my birthday and it might as well have been a new car! It was all I hoped it would be and more. Seemed like every year i was buying a new, cheaper stand mixer that i thought was all I could afford, but it never lasted. I bake heavily around the holidays and the cheaper models just couldn't hold up under the pressure. This KitchenAid is so sturdy I know i will be handing it down to my daughter when she's grown. ...

vivasuzi says "A gadget that actually works? Who knew!" about Progressive Onion Chopper

vivasuzi — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:51:38 GMT

I bought this Progressive Onion Chopper gadget on a whim, and on a discount. I actually bought it for my mom but she already had something better, so I kept it and finally just used it this weekend! It worked great and saved me about 10 minutes of chopping onions.

The onion chopper is a very simple gadge that consists of a tupperware base that collects the diced onions, a grid shaped blade that dices the onions and a lid that is used to push the onions through the blades. Let's examine each of these.

The Base is quite large and holds an entire chopped onion. You could probably collect more than 1 chopped onion, but I think it's easier to clean it out after each onion. The base is clear so that you can see the onions coming through and see when it is time to empty it.

The Blades are sharp and shaped so that the onion is truly diced. Since the blade is a grid, the onion is chopped into little squares. The onions were the perect size for my enchiladas and the perfect size for most...

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jamie062900 says "AWESOME" about Reynolds Handi-Vac Handheld Vacuum Sealer

jamie062900 — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:03:09 GMT

I have one of those older counter style vacuum sealers so I was interested to see how this compairs.
Let me tell you...IT WORKS GREAT.
It sucks all the air out of the bags and leaves your food protected. I have used it for meats in the freezer...no freezer burn, veggies in the fridge....stay fresh longer.
It is comparable to my counter top one (which is now in the cabinet :)
And its easy to store because its so small.
The bags are a decent value too, though I'd stock up while theyre on sale :)

The only thing I wish they'd improve is making it rechargable!

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LaurieM says "My Three Favorite OXO Good Grips Kitchen Gadgets" about OXO Good Grips Apple Divider, Jar Opener and Pizza Wheel

LaurieM — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:32:16 GMT

After being married for twelve years, having two children and several animals, I have tried many different brands of kitchen gadgets to make life a little less stressful. Through trial and error, I found that OXO kitchen items are very durable and definitely help make my job at home easier. The following are my favorite small OXO kitchen gadgets that I own and love:

OXO Good Grips Apple Divider

I cannot count the number of times that I have given my kids whole apples to eat and later found them left on a table or in their room with three or four little bites out of them. What a waste of a good apple. I started slicing the apples for them instead but would have a difficult time getting the knife through and would always end up with some pieces with the seeds in them. A friend suggested that I try the OXO Good Grips Apple Divider and I am so glad that I did!

For a mere $6.99, I got a very durable product that saves me time and apples! With this handy little gadget, I am able to core...

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NattScatt says "An inexpensive gadget for chopping veggies, nuts and herbs." about Farberware Food Chopper

NattScatt — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:34:28 GMT

If you are like me, anything that can help save time in the kitchen is a plus. I have quite a few time-saving kitchen gadgets, including food processors and blenders, to help me with cutting, chopping and mincing. Sometimes you only need a little chopped onion or one minced garlic. Sometimes you just need a few chopped nuts to top off a sundae. That's why I have the Farberware Food Chopper with soft grips.

The Farberware Food Chopper with soft grips is just right for when you don't need to or don't feel like dragging out your big food processor. It also comes in handy when you don't feel like crying over your chopped onions. It is very easy to use and clean-up is a breeze. All you need to do is open it and rinse. It will chop or mince almost any vegetable. It will chop herbs and nuts. I even use it to chop certain candies to use in cookies or ice cream. It is a good size to keep on the counter and comes in different colors to match your kitchen decor. Mine...

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LaurieM says "It's a no brainer; go buy the Pampered Chef Can Strainer! " about Pampered Chef Can Strainer

LaurieM — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:22:52 GMT

I can't tell you how many times that I have drained cans of vegetables, fruits and tuna fish with the top of the can and gotten the juices all over my hands. I would lose some of the contents and even got a cut once from a jagged edge. I went to a Pampered Chef party and found the Pampered Chef Can Strainer. Such a simple concept but what a great one.

The Pampered Chef Can Strainer

Pampered Chef says that this "unique little tool fits most standard-sized cans and strains fruits, vegetables and tuna without the mess." It is dishwasher-safe and 3 1/2" big. There is a one-year guarantee and this gadget is currently selling for $4.25.

My Experience

I absolutely hate the smell of tuna fish and the smell of it on my hands is even worse. I don't have to worry about that happening anymore now that I have my can strainer. It is so easy to use too. All I have to do is place the strainer upside down on open cans of veggies or fruit, hold on to the handles and turn the can over. The liquid drains out...

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alicat8 says "I like the Oxo measuring cup." about Oxo Angled Measuring Cup Set

alicat8 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:30:03 GMT

I like this measuring cups angled feature, I can read the measurement from the side or the top. I don't like that it's plastic and it is showing some wear, I've had it a couple of years now. The handle is very comfortable, something I like about all the Oxo products.

I like this one, but I know it won't last forever like my Pyrex measuring cup!
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Jo says "I'll be buying Press 'n Seal Plastic Wrap." about Glad Press 'n Seal Wrap

Jo — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:35:05 GMT

To the Point

Cling wrap is to the kitchen like toilet paper is to the bathroom. I can't imagine not using it; however, the fact that the better brands stick to themselves; the cheaper brands don't stick or get caught up in the box; and neither really sticks to a plastic bowl has been a pain. In comes Glad (made by Clorox) Press 'n Seal Wrap which I used all weekend while visiting friend in New York.

A Closer View

Glad Press 'n Seal can be used on paper and wood as well as the plastic I mentioned above. We used paper plates a lot of the time and I had no problem with Glad Press 'n Seal. My pictures show the corn I was wrapping. When I use regular cling wrap, it inevidentally starts to unfold in the refrigerator. The Glad Press 'n Seal never did that. The corn was covered and just as fresh the next day.

For your information from the website www.glad.com "Glad food containers, wraps, and storage bags and other food contact products are not made of Polycarbonate nor is Bisphenol A (BPA) used......

alicat8 says "This measuring cup is Classic Pyrex!" about Pyrex Glass 2-Cup Measuring Cup -Red-

alicat8 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:49:00 GMT

You all know this measuring cup, you've seen it a thousand time in countless households. It's big and glass and clear with red printing, it's the measuring cup. I have been using my measuring cup for over ten years I think I paid about $3 for it at the time and have never had a problem with it. I am able to scoop large amounts of hot liquids with it while canning, but I can also freeze things in it. I'm a bit clumsy at times and have broken or cracked many dishes in my time, I know for a fact that I have dropped this Pyrex measuring cup more than once, yet, I have never broken it. That's quality glass from the glass company, Pyrex!...

Katrena says "I use my Williams-Sonoma Apple Peeler-Corer almost every day" about Williams Sonoma Apple Peeler-Corer

Katrena — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:47:43 GMT

Fresh apples are something that my children love to eat. Imagine that--a gluten free healthy snack that my kids actually want to eat. I found that the Williams-Sonoma apple peeler-corer saves me loads of time and the kids are more likely to eat cute fruit.

I first saw this type of apple peeler-corer at a fun day that my employer used to provide for employees each year. I would love to go down by the old log cabins and find the apples. There was just something about a freshly sliced apple that made it taste much better than the apples sitting in the bottom of my refrigerator waiting for a knife. I would usually go back for seconds. After having kids, they joined in my enthusiasm for apples.

After searching numerous stores, I could not find an appliance that would peel, cut, and core an apple at the same time. Finally, I began looking online and found this one on the Williams-Sonoma website. The price, $28.00 at the time, was a bit hard on the pocketbook for us, but it was near Christmas...

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andi2ducky says "Pampered Chef bamboo is too good" about Pampered Chef Bamboo Spoon Set

andi2ducky — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:53:44 GMT

The bamboo is the way to go for wooden like spoons and spatulas. These spoons are sturdy, won't break, don't stain and don't burn or get ruined when you leave it in the pan on the stovetop. They good and safe to use with all kinds of foods and applications. They simply the best and worth the money! In fact, they really aren't that expensive....