12/31/2011

Char Broil Big Easy Infrared Smoker, Roaster, and Grill Review

Char Broil Big Easy Infrared Smoker, Roaster, and Grill
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I purchased THE BIG EASY® SMOKER, ROASTER & GRILL late last year. I have used this item quite a bit since and it works well and doesn't consume a lot of propane like my full size grill does. I have however had some significant issues with this item that CharBroil did not resolve to my satisfaction. On purchasing this grill I read the instructions fully and assembled the grill. I seasoned the grill with cooking oil as recommended to protect the grill as described. I used the grill several times as an infa-red roaster for some ribs, roasts and such. It worked very well. I then put the grill grate on it and used it as a grill most of the summer. After every time that I cooked with it I allowed time afterwards with the flame on to burn all remaining food or grease off the grill. I recently removed the grill grate and found everything that was underneath to be extremely rusty, to the point of almost falling apart. I was very dismayed in my finding and today called CharBroil to discuss the matter with their customer service. I initially spoke with a customer service representative who was very nice and responsive but when he looked into the warranty coverage found that my grill was only covered for 90 days. What a disappointment! A $200.00 grill one season old that was falling apart due to rust not covered by warranty! I asked to speak with a supervisor and was put through to a supervisor that offered to replace my severely rusted basket, half racks, smoker basket, and inner drum, at a discounted rate of roughly $35. I was told that the parts would have normally been a bit over $100. I placed the order but did convey to the supervisor my disappointment at having to pay anything at all. I also asked that she relay my recommendation to CharBroil that they invest in some higher quality stainless for their products that would not rust as badly. It makes sense to me to produce something like a grill out of superior quality materials that don't have to be meticulously washed and dried after every use. I don't believe that it is not reasonable to ask the consumer to do so after every use to make this product last as it should. I wanted to make sure that anybody else considering this grill be made aware of these issues in advance. I hope that CharBroil also take this advise to better their product.

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TIGER JAY-A55UR JAYA55U RICE COOKER 3CUP MICOM Review

TIGER JAY-A55UR JAYA55U RICE COOKER 3CUP MICOM
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I've had this rice cooker for over a year now. Tiger has a great reputation, and I wanted a machine that would be accurate and keep rice warm well. This machine uses fuzzy logic to make great rice, but....I'm not sure why this machine takes a loooong time to cook rice. I don't know if it's because the heater is slow in getting the water boiling or what, but I always have to make sure I get the rice cooking first before I do any of the cooking. It's mildly annoying. It shouldn't take 45 mins to cook 3 cups of rice. Anyway, I'm still giving it 4 stars because it does make delicious rice and the machine is well made. One other note: the readout/clock is powered by a battery which you apparently cannot change out yourself. I thought this was weird, but I did know this ahead of time and still bought the machine. Not sure what I'm going to do when the battery dies.

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Brinkmann 810-5100-0 All-in-One Outdoor Cooker, Stainless Steel Review

Brinkmann 810-5100-0 All-in-One Outdoor Cooker, Stainless Steel
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I've had this for about ten years, now. It works great. The only problem is the non-stainless steel parts. I've had to replace the lava rock pan and burner assembly twice, and I've just ordered new ones. the la st ime I ordered them from Brinkmann, it took over a month to get the parts, and customer service was a disaster. I finally had to go throught he parent company(Remington Firearms) in order to get my parts.

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The Stainless Steel All-In-One is the most versatile outdoor cooking system ever offered. It's modular design enables the Stainless Steel All-In-One to be used as an LP gas grill, LP gas water smoker, charcoal grill, charcoal water smoker, or gas cooker/fryer with 170,000 BTU adjustable high/low burner. The body features two chrome plated steel cooking grills for a 50 pound cooking capacity. A heat indicator in the lid eliminates guesswork and the wooden handles stay cool to the touch. Also includes a drip pan/ash guard, porcelain enamel water pan, lava rocks, and gas hose and regulator. Propane tank and pot not included.

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Back to Basics Microwave Gourmet Apple Dipper Review

Back to Basics Microwave Gourmet Apple Dipper
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I'm making chocolate caramel apples and thought I'd give this a try since it was so inexpensive. This works great with the caramel. It's the perfect size for the larger apples I use and keeps the caramel warm for awhile. I've had no problems with burning it or anything. I'm sure if you microwave it too long without stirring in between, you could, but it's working great for me! I haven't tried it with chocolates yet.

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12/30/2011

Sensio 13408 Bella Cucina Buffet Station with 3 2-1/2-Quart Stoneware Pots Review

Sensio 13408 Bella Cucina Buffet Station with 3 2-1/2-Quart Stoneware Pots
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We used this product at our baby shower to hold toppings for a baked potato bar. It kept the food extremely warm without burning anything and we had no issues at all with changing the temperatures of each individual pot. The pots themselves feel like they are a great quality and we've had success washing them both in our dishwasher and by hand. It does take up a bit of real estate on the counter, but it is well worth it as opposed to having 3 separate slow cookers side by side. This is a must for any party host or hostess!

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Nesco American Harvest 4808-25-30PR Non-Stick 18-Quart Roaster Oven Review

Nesco American Harvest 4808-25-30PR Non-Stick 18-Quart Roaster Oven
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This product is everything it says it is. I am using it as I write this review to prepare 2 huge pork roast for a barbque dinner. It is smelling sooo good! The good thing is that my oven is still free for other baking needs. It is very important to follow the directions on preparation of the unit before cooking in it. We simply found a safe place outside to bake it out several times before I actually used it. I know you will be as happy as I am with this unit, especially if you love to have your family over for memorable gatherings. Buy it!

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The Sharper Image 8127SI Super Wave 1300-Watt 12-1/2-Quart Countertop Oven Review

The Sharper Image 8127SI Super Wave 1300-Watt 12-1/2-Quart Countertop Oven
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We've never had a convection oven in our kitchen, and I looked forward to trying this hybrid convection/hybrid/infrared cooking unit. Overall, the negative aspects of this device outweigh its positives.
Some things to consider:
First: sheer size. I did the math, and at 15" tall (12" if you remove the metal extender ring) and 12" in diameter, you'll need to find a cool cubic foot of storage space when it's not in use. If your kitchen is like mine, and you already have a rice cooker, a slow cooker, a food processor and a countertop mixer competing for cabinet and counter space: good luck. I realize that the volume allows it to accommodate substantially sized contents. Just be aware that you'll have to find a place to keep it.
Second: weight. Approximately 17 pounds (advertised shipping weight is 18 pounds). Wherever you decide to store it, you'll be hefting it.
Third: lots of opportunities to burn yourself. See all that glass in the product picture? It all gets hot (as does the 3" metal extender ring). While it may be intuitive that these get hot, you'll be working in close proximity to them while turning items over or removing them from the cooking container.
Fourth: Clean-up. The main cooking bowl will take up most of a kitchen sink during clean-up. The heating and fan element, along with the power cord and power supply, are integrated into the glass lid. Obviously this is a "do not immerse in water" item. Cleaning up after the spatters resulting from cooking takes some thought.
One of the attractive features of this is the opportunity to cook meats from frozen. Great idea, and seems like a time saver. Here's a reality check for one such scenario: cooking a 6.7 lb frozen chicken.
-the giblet bag. It's frozen inside the body cavity. I tried both running water and a brief stint in the microwave to get is sufficiently thawed for removal...no success. Neither was it extractable at the halfway cooking point (when you turn the chicken over). So I left it in the chicken.
-the cooking instructions for a whole frozen chicken call for it to be turned halfway through cooking. The included tongs for lifting the cooking rack out of the container simply can't accommodate the size of a chicken this large. So turning becomes an adventure with opportunities to both burn yourself...and send your half-baked chicken sliding across the counter..and maybe onto the floor.
Also of note in the included cooking instructions was a surprising difference in cooking temperatures for "whole chicken, 4 lb" and "whole turkey, 6 lb". The instructions indicated the chicken should be cooked at 460 degrees (F),the turkey at 350 (F). As they are both poultry, I was surprised by this, and had no confidence that either was correct.
Bottom line:consider carefully the wisdom of the "whole frozen chicken" recipe selection!
A brief discussion about cooking times and energy savings:
The description of this item indicates "up to 3 times faster" than a conventional oven. Pay attention to the "up to 3 times", and plan on about 2 times faster as a rule of thumb. This is a 1300 watt (110 v) appliance, so it'll use about the same energy as a high powered microwave or hair dryer. I'll assume this is still less than a 220 volt conventional oven (and leave that bottom line to the electricians). It will still use significant electricity when operating.
So, if you have a place to store it, and if your kitchen and cooking are such that you often need to prepare multiple entrees in the oven, and IF you select the correct recipes (stuffed peppers, baked potatoes, air-fried french fries or cuts of meat that can be easily turned), this might be a good choice for you. If not, this may be one of those appliances that finds a distant storage place...and then remains there until your next garage sale or moving day.


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Combine the fast cooking time of a microwave with the quality results of a conventional oven. The Sharper Image Super Wave Countertop Oven works like a standard oven but cooks up to three times faster. Using a tri-cooking system, this 12-1/2-quart countertop oven bakes, boils, broils, air fries, steams, grills, or roasts your meals. Eliminating the need to defrost frozen foods first, the oven lets you enjoy a variety of dishes and low-fat meals with fewer calories while spending less time in the kitchen.
Super Wave Countertop OvenAt a Glance:

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Flavorwave Turbo Oven 4-Piece Deluxe Accessory Set Review

Flavorwave Turbo Oven 4-Piece Deluxe Accessory Set
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These are great accessories for your HALOGEN oven, offering you many different new and interesting ways to play with your new convection kitchen-toy.
The accessories were delivered on time, they were well packaged, and they fit nicely in my Flavor-wave. I suspect that since most of the glass-bowl halogen ovens are almost identical in design, you should have no problem using these trays with your oven if it is not Mr. T's, such as the Deni, or the other varieties available on Amazon and elsewhere.
I was pleasantly surprised by weight, feel and the nice quality of the non-stick coating. I really have not needed to wash them in the dishwasher at all. The clean up is just so easy with soap and water, and they are small and simple by design, so right in the kitchen sink and to the cupboard and you're good to go.
A quick pizza-tip for you: Be aware that the crust does not really brown well on the bottom, because as you may have discovered, food needs to generally be exposed to the heating element, meaning above the food and facing the lamp, in order to cook quickly and efficiently. I have a solution for you. Cook your pizza crust first, in your new tray, but plain and with no sauce or toppings, for let's say 8-10 minutes on 400, or to your desired texture. The top of your crust, will ultimately be the bottom of the pizza. you with me so far?.... Then, take the crust out, flip it over, and NOW, add your sauce, toppings, cheese, etc., then back into the oven it goes. Tada! Clever, I know. You're welcome.
I'm dropping it to four stars, only because, what the heck with the egg/breakfast tray? I have no idea. How do you cook eggs with this thing? Do you just put your eggs in the holders, and like magic, they come out hard-boiled? Anyone try this? Yes, instructions would have been nice, especially for this very peculiar accessory tray. If there are any geniuses out there, who can provide insight or instruction on this oddity, please comment back. I would be eggseptionally grateful.

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Expand your Flavorwave Turbo Oven�s cooking options with this handy four-piece accessory set. Included are a steamer basket perfect for items like vegetables and fish; a breakfast rack for eggs, sausage, and bacon; a browning/pizza tray for heating up leftovers or getting the perfect crust on a favorite pie; and a versatile grilling plate. Healthy, easy cooking in just a fraction of the usual time!

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12/29/2011

King Kooker 94/90TKD Portable Dual-Burner Propane 30-Inch Patio Cart Review

King Kooker 94/90TKD Portable Dual-Burner Propane 30-Inch Patio Cart
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This is powerful burner. I love it. Cooking a crawfish save me a lot of time. Just cooking the small burn. Don't have chance to try lower one yet.

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Ideal for picnics, potlucks, tailgating parties, and other outdoor events, this bolt-together 30-inch-tall propane patio cart features a 60,000-BTU cast burner and a 105,000-BTU jet burner--perfect for searing steaks, cooking vegetables, frying chicken, and more. Listed LP hoses and a regulator with a type-1 connection attach the unit to a propane tank, which must be purchased separately for operation. Additionally, each burner provides a brass needle valve for individual flame control, which makes it easy to gently steam ears of corn on one burner while preparing flame-licked steaks or hot dogs on the other. Constructed of sturdy 1-inch angle iron, the unit provides a sturdy handle that, when lifted slightly, allows it to roll on two large wheels for quick mobility from the patio to the deck and back again. It also includes two deep-fry thermometers for checking oil temperatures at a glance and a helpful instruction booklet with recipes and suggestions for creating delicious cookouts from one season to the next. The CSA-certified patio cart requires some assembly and measures approximately 16-1/2 by 37-1/2 by 30 inches.

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Presto 85397/85707 pressure cooker rack. 11 diameter. Review

Presto 85397/85707 pressure cooker rack. 11 diameter.
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What can be said...it's a plate with dimples...what could be wrong? It seperates two layers of pint jars in my Presto 23 qt. canner.

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Hawkins Ekobase 3.5 Liters Aluminum Pressure Cooker Review

Hawkins Ekobase 3.5 Liters Aluminum Pressure Cooker
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Good that amazon is selling it and you dont have to get one from abroad yourself. Amazon should sell accessories like the gasket.....etc as well.

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West Bend 86712 Rice Cooker, White Review

West Bend 86712 Rice Cooker, White
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I have to agree with the other review. I was excited about my new rice pot. I have a large family and this makes lots of rice. So far we have only made the 4 cups and it boiled over twice. I don't know what kind of mess I would have if I attempted to make the 6 cups. Not recommended.

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West Bend's Automatic Rice Cooker makes 24 cups of cooked rice.Rice bowl coated with premium non-stick.Includes steamer basket, measuring cup and serving spoon.Cook and Keep Warm settings.Water level indicator.Glass lid with vent.Cool touch handles.

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12/28/2011

King Kooker 22PKPTS 22-Inch Outdoor Cooker Set Review

King Kooker 22PKPTS 22-Inch Outdoor Cooker Set
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Purchased this item via one of Amazon's outside vendors after reading the description provided on Amazon's site. While the item appears to be of sound construction and capable of frying everything I wanted, I specifically chose this fryer because it came with a lid for the pot. Both in the description and the photo, there are references to the lid being included. However, when the item arrives, there is no lid and no lid mentioned in the manual. In fact, now going back to the King Cooker site, there is no mention of the lid. My fault for not doing more homework, but don't take the Amazon description as an accurate one.

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Full-size 2.5 Liter Stainless Steel Slow Cooker with Ceramic Pot Review

Full-size 2.5 Liter Stainless Steel Slow Cooker with Ceramic Pot
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Don't know if hubby cooked too long before turning to keep warm but if he didn't the warm is too hot.

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Buffet Enhancements 15 x 13 x 4 Inch Induction Cooker, Glass Top Review

Buffet Enhancements 15 x 13 x 4 Inch Induction Cooker, Glass Top
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The induction cooker arrived with the heavy induction magnet separated from the plastic mounting. To confirm why it was rattling severely on arrival, I did remove the bottom cover to examine. I was not impressed with the construction inside--mostly plastic. I would say that any moderate handling during shipment will break the mountings of the magnet so beware. The ad says commercial, but this is really a basic consumer product in my opinion. I ended up buying a commercial grade induction cooker at a local restaurant supply store. It works great, but, of course, it cost a lot more ($475)! If your cooker arrives in one piece, it will probably be fine for personal use. By the way, Amazon took back the cooker, paid the shipping, and refunded in a timely manner -- so no complaint there.

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SA HB 33130GL Oval Slow Cooker Review

SA HB 33130GL Oval Slow Cooker
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I like the oval shape better than the traditional round. This size suits my shrinking family size. I appreciate the "Locking Strap" and the temperature adjustments--especially the "Keep Warm."

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