Kitchen Reviews

Get ready for some serious gushing. You really need this.

It's hard to describe how much better the microplane is than any other cheap, old-fashioned, knuckle-scraping box grater, or even most of the competing "modern" graters. The cheese goes where you want it to, you don't break a sweat, and there's nothing awkward or strenuous about the action. You have the handle in one hand, and the cheese (or what have you) in the other, and you just rub smoothly back and forth. No effort required. This is really one of those kitchen gadgets that makes you wonder where it's been all your life --- I never even stopped to think about how much of a chore grating was until I got one of these. I got one for my mother, grandmother, sister, and mother-in-law, and they're all equally amazed. (Well, maybe not quite as effusive about it as I am, but they really like them)

After two years of owning my microplane, I use it as much as ever. I can't tell you how delightful it is to have effortless grated cheese every time I serve pasta. The construction is solid, and it doesn't dull. One of these days, I'm going to get around to buying the rest of the microplane line -- the zester (which I think is their original product and looks just like a rasp), the spice grater, and the different grades of this style. But for now this does the trick in every situation. I love this thing like I've never loved a kitchen gadget.

I have always avoided recipes requiring the zest of this or that. And while I love fresh parmigiano reggiano, the knuckle-busting, finger tearing zester/grater that I have been using for years tempered my appetite for it. The Microplane popped up in my list of Recommendations from Amazon and I decided to read the reviews of this product. I was amazed at the nearly unanimous raves about the grater. Suffice it to say, I ordered one. It arrived a few days ago and I have been busy grating cheese and zesting lemons and oranges.

The cheese literally disappears into fluffy mounds and the fruit peel zests into uniform and aromatic bits. The blades are very sharp (I took an earlier reviewer's suggestion and ordered the slider attachment that keeps your fingers away from the blade). You won't have to worry about cleanup either. It rinses right off and there is no residue or food particles left on the blade.

All I can say is 'Why didn't I buy this years ago?' Don't wait! Pick this one up and while you are at it, get the fine grater and the ribbon grater too!

Microplane also makes a fabulous zester (all cooks know that the words fabulous and zester are contradictory but not so in this case!). Same overall shape as this item but narrower, with smaller holes. The company calls it a grater-zester. Many people who reviewed that item use it for grating cheese as well.

But for me, THIS is the cheese grater. It has any type of cheese begging for mercy in mere seconds, as the grater-zester does with the dreaded citrus, nutmeg, ginger, etc. True, the company says its zester will grate hard cheese -- and THIS grater can also make zest (although larger and coarser than the grater-zester creates).

Both items are well-made, sturdy, easy to hold & balance, and *VERY* sharp. My personal opinion and experience: try both.

I purchased this after spending 2 hours zesting limes for a gourmet cookie recipe with the traditional potato-peeler+ food processor method. The most time consuming part is carefully scraping way all the white pith on the inside of the peel. The pith is very bitter and can ruin your recipe. This zester did the same job in 30 seconds and didn't even touch the pith. Just pure, perfect lime zest with no effort. Totally worth its weight in gold. Now I can make those cookies again without my hands cramping up after hours scraping the peels. Who has time for that?

I've also started using it for grating parmesan. Definately takes Ceaser salads and pasta up a notch. I'm purchasing several more as gifts for my friends. Would make an incredible (and cheap) holiday/birthday gift for anyone, even the casual cook. Please note that the size of the grated zest or cheese is very fine and not ideal as a garnish. Parmesan or Romano grated with this tool melts quickly into the pasta, and doesn't lend much to the presentation. Tastes great, but hard to see. If you're looking for a garnishing tool, this is not it.

I'm a cook who knows how to make do. (i hardly miss the temperature control dial that fell off my oven over a decade ago.) But if you were to take away my food processor, scissors (they're sharper than my knives) or now my microplane grater, i'd have to hang my apron. The secret to loving it as much as i do is to think "citrus": lemon zest in pasta, lime zest in a southeast asian curry, orange zest in a cream sauce, zest up your mayo. seriously, this tool and a couple of lemons or limes can transform a mediocre recipe into a gourmet dish.

This is probably the only tool in my kitchen that I've also found in my dad's workshop. I use it for a variety of grating tasks including hard cheeses, chocolate, nutmeg, cinnamon, and citrus zests.

For hard cheeses such as parmesan, you'll get a nice, light fluffy pile of cheese as opposed to the grittier result from a traditional box grater. This is because the Microplane actually produces tiny, thin strips as opposed to hard little granules. Your cheese will melt faster and will actually look somewhat elegant perched in a snowy mound atop a bowl of pasta.

Hard spices such as nutmeg grate quickly and easily, and it's a snap to run the Microplane over an orange or lemon for just the right amount of zest and no pith (unless you press to hard or work the same spot too long). With wetter foods like zest, you will have to slide the resulting product from the backside of the plane as it does tend to stick, but this only takes a quick flick of your finger. Chocolate will need to be quite cold so that it's hard enough to grate without melting or slipping.

Finally, the Microplane is extremely easy to use because you can grate right into the pot or onto a plate. It's long enough to rest on the lip of most bowls, and it's elegant enough to bring to the table. In fact, we recently had a dinner party and we passed around this tool so that our guests could grate just the right amount of bittersweet chocolate into their black-bean chili.

Cleaning can be a bit tricky with this tool, since its sharp holes will catch on a towel when you try to dry it. Personally, I find that a few hard taps dislodge any gunk and I seldom need to actually wash it. But if you do get it wet, be sure to dry it thoroughly as you would with any fine kitchen knife. If you wipe toward the handle, it shouldn't be a problem.

Before I bought this product, my biggest concern was wasting a big chunk of the fruits when juicing.
This product did a very good job of taking most juice out of the fruit.

This is my first juicer, bought based on recommendations here. I love it! It's so powerful, I cranked through well over a gallon of juice (freezing it in 16 oz water bottles). It's so easy to clean up. I'm thrilled with it. I had never tasted simple carrot juice before, what a treat. Everyone at work is turning up their nose at my tomato/green pepper/celery/lime juice--that's ok, it's my secret just how good it is, and good for me.

This is my first juicer so I have nothing to compare it to, however, I can tell you that this machine is very powerful and very easy to clean. These are two points that make this an easy choice for anyone thinking about a juicer. I know myself pretty well at this point and if this machine was difficult to operate or to clean, it would be swiftly retired to the "Island of misfit gadgets" in the back of the hall closet. Thankfully, the machine has proved worthy of a permanent place on the counter, much to my wife's displeasure.

The machine performs the grinding and separating tasks very well so the resulting juice is free from seeds and other unwanted matter while still containing lots of healthy delicious pulp. I'm very pleased.... fruits and vegi's taste terrific juiced. I'm having fun experimenting with different combinations of ingredients.

One suggestion though is to buy the fruit ahead of time. It's hardly ever ripe when you buy it and I can tell you that your success (defined by great flavor) is heavily dependent on the fruit being ripe and sweet. Organically grown fruits are a plus if you can find them...no pesticides. There are some tricks to extracting the most juice from your ingredients in the instructions. Oh yeh, the juicing process results in a fair amount of the ingredients ending up in the waste bin. This is a normal part of the process so don't be too surprised by the amount. There are recipes for using this left over stuff, although I haven't tried any yet.

Now for the best part......the fresh juice I make in the morning, sometimes vegetable and sometimes fruit, is so satisfying that I have it for/as breakfast. It satisfies me until lunch, and surprise, surprise, I'm loosing a few pounds, slowly but steadily. A great bonus!

I'm a make-do cook. When I saw a well-known personality touting this stuff on her TV show, I just poh-poohed the notion. Then, at a pre-Christmas sale, I decided to try a sheet. Whoa! What a wonder! I promptly bought a second sheet, and I would never try to bake cookies again without one. The savings in time (1-2 min per sheet), headaches (cutting parchment to size every time and then running out), and clean-up (nothing - I say again NOTHING - sticks to this stuff) make it worth every penny!

I LOVE this product - it works so fantastically I may never butter a pan again! I understand they have different sizes/shapes that fit in cake pans, muffin tins etc. and I'm going to start looking for them. I know that Martha Stewart uses a similar product, but these are quite a bit less expensive (about 1/2 the price as far as I can tell) and, since I've always wanted to try something like this but didn't want to pay the price, I was thrilled to find these. My only very SMALL quibble is they're a little hard to clean - my sink isn't really conducive to their size/shape, and I don't really want to put them in the dishwasher - so I put a little grease-cutting dishwashing liquid in the sink with some HOT water, let them soak a little while, then sponge them off and rinse. I sometimes have to do it a couple of times since they still feel "greasy" to me after I wash them - However, that is a VERY small "con" in a multitude of "pros!!!" I just wish there was something like Matfer sheets to help me with ALL the sticky situations in my life!

Silicone baking mats (the matfer is one of several widely available brands) are amazing. If you bake, then get one. No if's, ands, or buts. I've used them to line the baking pan while making cookies, cakes, even sticky candy. Worked great every time - no more problems with your baked food sticking to the bottom of the pan, or dealing with tears in the parchment or whatever sort of liner you used to use. And no matter what I've cooked on it, cleaning the mat has taken mere seconds with a sponge and soapy water.
These mats aren't just a gimmick; they're truly an example of new technology making possible significantly better products.

Before I purchased the Dyson Dc07 I tried Orick Vac and that thing had only a few advantage over the Dyson and that is the Orick was really light weight and it could go under coffee tables and chairs with ease.
The Dyson sucks so well when I use the floor attachment on the bare floor I cannot lift it for it sucks the floor! Not even me and my husband can break off the suction. Its amazing! Right away it pulled up so much dirt in my carpet which I had it profestionally cleaned not even a week ago! So I am shocked at the power.
There are a few draw backs but I would still pay the money for it.
1>)One is its a little heavy for my taste and if you pay the price it should have power stearing like my old vac.
2>) Its made out of plastic and the first vac Amazon sent me was broken so I dont think its a good sterdy plastic so I am very careful. Normally I am very hard with my vacs.
3>)Third, Unless you get the floor attachments you cannot get it under a coffee table or chairs.
But for the power your getting is well worth all the above sacrafices!
It actually Makes your Carpet FEEL and LOOK Clean!

This is the single best appliance I've ever bought in my whole life. I'm in love with it. I have two hairy dogs who blow their coats at different times and no vacuum ever seemed to put a dent in the dog fur embedded in the carpet. Then I saw an ad on TV for the Dyson and did a little research. The science seemed solid -- this is the sort of innovation where everyone thinks it should have been obvious from the start -- so I took the plunge and bought the Dyson.

Every claim made by the manufacturer is true. The Dyson picks up everything, is incredibly easy to empty, and my carpets and floors look better than they ever have. Every time I use it I'm astonished all over again by how long I was willing to put up with lesser vacuums and poorer results. Yes, it costs a good bit of money but I don't regret a dime of it. And when I pass by the vacuum cleaner bags in the grocery store, I just laugh, knowing I'll never have to buy them again, let alone try to wrestle them into position or get them back out.

This is a superb product -- a genuine advancement that produces superior results. No one should put up with anything less than that which a Dyson can provide. It's just a wonderful thing to have. So stop reading already and go buy one!

After carefully studying all types of vacuums, I bought a Dyson a year ago. At the time, I thought I had a good vacuum, but it was needing a part that would cost almost half what a new vacuum would, so I took the Dyson plunge. I vacuumed my floors with my old vacuum immediately prior to using the new Dyson, and I was horrified at what the Dyson picked up out of the carpet. I have been a believer ever since. The attachments are so easy to use and always at your fingertips. Emptying the vacuum canister is so simple and clean. I have recommended it enthusiastically, and as a result, I have 5 friends and family who have also bought one. My housekeeper was extremely impressed with its cleaning power and ease of use. She praised it so much to her other clients, some of them have purchased a Dyson based on her recommendation. After one year of use, I still can't praise the Dyson enough.

I own two Lodge cast iron skillets... a 12-inch one, and a smaller one (6 or 8 inch?) I *adore* them. They are the only skillets I have, in fact; for any bigger jobs that a stock pot won't work for, I use my wok.

These skillets can be used for just about anything. Very even heat, dependable. I haven't tried to make crepes in them yet, but I suspect you could. On the stove or in the oven, they just rock. Keep them clean and well seasoned, and you'll have a fantastic tool for decades.

Even though the saying goes to never use tomatoes in a cast-iron pan, I have... and it's just fine as long as you don't cook the stuff too long, and clean your pan out well right away once you're done. Clean it out, brush it out with a paper towel to get off the excess moisture, then set it on the stove over heat until it's dry, that's all it needs. The cast iron skillets are wonderful, too.

In contrast to the previous reviewer, I highly recommend the preseasoned pans. I own a preseasoned 12-inch skiller as well as a regular Lodge dutch oven which came unseasoned, but was seasoned by me before use.

The seasoning process of the preseasoned pans is NOT equivalent to that capable by the home oven. Seasoning at home with Crisco results in a pan with the color of caramelized sugar, whereas the preseasoned pans arrive pitch black. After 1.5 years of regular use and proper maintainence, the dutch oven is only now beginning to take on the black appearance and superior non-stick quality of the preseasoned skillet.

I will only purchase preseasoned cast iron if possible. The price is not much more at all, and sometimes it's even cheaper vs. the unseasoned version at Amazon.

I recently purchased the Lodge 12" skillet and am pleased well beyond my expectations.

I do a lot of French roasting (preheating the skillet to 400+ degrees in the oven, then placing it on stovetop over high heat to sear the meat/poultry, then placing back in the oven at reduced temperature). I don't have to be concerned about melting handles, ruining non-stick coatings or warping; the skillet is the equivalent of a Sherman tank!

The heavy cast iron absorbs, distributes and retains heat beautifully, as advertised. I have found that it is unsurpassed for browning/caramelizing onions, which it does very quickly and evenly, although toss stirring is a task for a weight lifter!

Clear instructions for care and seasoning came with the pan. During the seasoning process the pan turned ugly (just like it's supposed to) and the kitchen took on the faint aroma of a foundry, but now it is truly non-stick, especially if you start off with a very hot pan.

The flavors of foods cooked in the pan are so much better! I could say it was my imagination if not for the fact that I've heard this claim from so many other cast iron users.

I wash it with clear water and a soft brush, dry it with a dish towel, then place it in a warm oven for about 15 minutes to dry it thoroughly, then wipe a light coat of vegetable oil all over it and it's ready to go again. The 'household' understands that I am the only one who cleans the pan and that it is never to be soaked. The standing rule is "Just leave it and I'll take care of it". There are no objections.

I was so happy with the skillet that I went after the 7 qt. Dutch oven (especially after I read one of the other reviewer's tip that the lid also fits the 12" skillet, which it does perfectly).

All this for a fraction of the price of the 'trendy' cookware (and it will easily outlive them). I would consider my new skillet a bargain at twice the price.

Tom Chekouras

I chose this pan for the calphalon name (and it was on sale). It was great for the first 2-3 months,...then unfortunately the non-stick surface self destructed, and the pan had to be tossed. This is despite taking very good care to always use plastic cooking utensils, teflon safe sponges etc. I was very dissapointed and expected way more from calphalon.

I have upgraded my rating after using the pan every day for a month. I am giving it five stars because it is a tremendous value. I was too critical in my initial review.

This is my first Calphalon pan. I purchased it primarily to use as an egg and breakfast fare pan. I wanted a good non-stick pan, because most of my other pans are stainless steel.

I consider it a very good buy for the price. It has a very attractive design and the interior non-stick cooking surface appears to be very durable. However, the pan is slightly heavy and slow to reach the proper temperature compared to stainless steel. The manufacturer's enclosed brochure says the slow warm-up is due to the non-stick surface (true of most non-stick pans). Once it arrives at the required temperature, it performs very well. This aluminum pan is the equivalent of a permanently seasoned cast iron griddle. It produces foolproof omelets and the food never sticks. I use it to warmup chicken breasts and make grilled sandwiches too. It is the most used pan in the house, because of my passion for eggs.

This product, like a few other Calphalon products I have examined, slipped past the quality control inspector. On my pan there is an interior area, smaller than a grain of rice, that was not sprayed with the non-stick coating. It is high enough on the pan where no one will ever cook on that spot, but it is there in plain sight. The lack of quality control may have something to do with the Calphalon pans being manufactured in third world countries - no offense intended. This pan is made in China. You would probably not have any trouble forgiving the stray blemish. Especially, when you consider this pan's beauty, functionality, and price.

Here is my list of PROS and CONS for this purchase.

PROS:
- Good price.
- Excellent non-stick surface - appears to be very durable too.
- Excellent stain resistant exterior.
- Cool & comfortable handle.
- Attractive appearance.
- Lifetime warranty.

CONS:
- Slow to warm up, because of the non-stick surface.
- Fairly heavy pan - you won't flip anything without a spatula - think griddle.
- Quality control at Calphalon could be better.
- The handle is beautiful, but the finish on the handle and rivets are not as refined as some of the more expensive cookware brands. However, it has no impact on the cooking.

Conclusion: Excellent pan for the price.

My 2 older teenagers, always hungry, cook with this pan daily and, although it's not looking new anymore, it is still an excellent, very useful pan. They use it to fry an egg, saute some sausage, whip up a single serving of hash browns, or grill a cheese sandwich. It's also made preparing crepes a pleasure--the crepes slide right out. The pan is quick to clean, and still retains it's non-stick qualities after constant use for more than 2 years. I am just about to order a second pan for my daughter to take with her to college.

This pan is a definite buy. The nonstick coating has stood up beautifully to use. My family and I cook everything imaginable in it- eggs, veggies, chicken. Every item cooks evenly and comes off the pan with no hassle. Cleaning is a breeze with the nonstick. The pan also heats up quickly.

The size is big enough for a family, though I wished it was bit deeper.

My only concern for this pan is that it is a bit heavy. Due to its weight, when you want to empty the pan, you need to hold the handle with both hands. The handle is long enough for a two-handed grip, but I wished that they had added another grip on the opposite side.

The final verdict? If you can get it on Amazon for less than 15 bucks, then go for it!

I purchased this pan with the intent of making those "once-in-the-while" big meals when family comes over. However, it is so flexible that I have used my pan numerous times since I have purchased it. This pan is wonderful for stir frying, sauteing or pan frying. It is nice and deep keeping all the vegetables from falling out of pan and oil from splasing out. You don't need alot of oil to cook with this nonstick feature. It also heats up very quickly and distributes heat evenly across the pan. The curved edge makes it easier to stir your food. It is also very easy to clean up.

For those of you who are wondering if the handle gets hot...nope! I thought I would have to spend extra money buying a heat resistant handle cover but it wasn't necessary at all. I hope the pan lives up to its' name. I have gone through at least one nonstick pan every year or two. Not to mention that they were not my primary pans. The only thing that I would like is a matching cover. Then it'll be perfect!

Overall, if you are looking for that perfect multi-purpose pan...try this one for the price!

I cook Chinese food EVERY day. The Anolon pans, to me, are kind of expensive that I have never ever thought about trying until one month ago when this pan had amazing price here at Amazon.com. My Gold Box offered me a very great price that I will blame myself if I don't take it right away.

I am so glad that I took the offer. This pan is amazing! The handle, which is my biggest concern, stays COOL even after 10 minutes cooking on the stovetop. The pan is heated up quickly and evenly! This pan has such a perfect curve that I can flip food easily without using any utensil!

The 12 inch Deep skillet is the perfect size for cooking for 2~6 people. It is about 2 3/4 inches deep! Great pan for stir-fry since the surface of the bottom is bigger than the stir-fry pan. It shorten the cooking time!

I have to make 2~3 stir-fry dishes for dinner every day. Stir-frying for 10 minutes for the 1st dish, I have to wash the pan right away for next stir-frying. I usually don't like those washings between dishes, but this pan is so easy to clean that I really enjoy washing it! Remember: NEVER put hard-anodized nor non-stick pan in the dishwasher.

Having this pan is like the best thing ever happened to me in kitchen! Thanks, Amazon.com!!

Let me begin by saying that I have three dogs and two cats. Pet hair is the biggest cleaning challenge in our house.

After convincing my wife to discontinue our professional cleaning service, due to increasing costs, I volunteered to take the cleaning duties related to the floors and the furniture. My wife foolishly took on the kitchen, bathrooms, and dusting. What my wife didn't know was that I had been reading up on the Dyson "Animal".

The "Animal" arrived just two days after our last professional cleaning. I immediately vacuumed the entire house and was absolutely amazed at how much pet hair and dirt I pulled out of the carpets and off our hardwood floors. Our house has never been so absent of pet hair. Even my pets were beside themselves. My wife was thoroughly impressed. She said that the house looked and smelled cleaner than ever!

The "Animal" is a total cleaning machine. It easily attacked hardwood floors, carpets, curtains, furniture, and stairs. It's the best cleaning machine I have ever used. Adding a sixth animal to our family was the best thing I ever did!

If you have pets and need a high powered cleaning machine, get the "Animal"! It's worth the money! I donated my old cleaning machines to our YMCA.

*
My last vacuum, prior to finally purchasing a Dyson Animal, was a top-of-the-line Hoover WindTunnel V2. When it was new, the Hoover performed well, and I really loved the Turbo Tool (a smaller version of the similar attachment which comes with the Dyson); but the main H.E.P.A. filter cartridge was clogged and ruined in short order by the super-fine local dust in my carpet (I live on a hill, surrounded by protected, undeveloped County land, in a semi-semi-semi-rural area, and there is always a fine coat of dust on everything), not to mention the dog hair and cat hair, the parakeet down and birdseed, dried bits of grass, burrs and foliage which get dragged-in stuck to the cats, and the dirt left behind by a messy plumbing contractor husband (he comes home with his jeans covered in clumps of dried-on mud, which of course flakes off and crumbles all over the place as he walks around the house, and he wonders why that upsets me).
In my house, the Hoover H.E.P.A. filters only lasted about 20% of the recommend filter life. After replacing the filters only 5 times, I had already nearly doubled the original cost of the Hoover vacuum within about a year!
I had known about the Dyson for quite a while, but was reluctant to invest the extra money...until I allowed myself to face the fact that replacing the Hoover filters was costing an arm and a leg on a fairly frequent basis, and continuing to buy filters was just dumb, when there was an alternative.
I started searching for the best price on the Dyson (I'm virtually always a staunch comparison shopper anyway, just on principle). I shopped and shopped and waited and waited and finally got the Dyson Animal on sale.
Man, I wish I had just broken down and bought it earlier.
What a difference! Like another of the Reviewers here, I tested the Dyson by first vacuuming with the Hoover WindTunnel (new filters installed), and following immediately with the Dyson Animal. The Dyson made the Hoover seem like a toy! It removed 2 times over again the amount of dirt, dust, lint, fuzz, bits of dried grass and leaves, crumbs and pet hair from carpet I had just vacuumed with the Hoover moments earlier! And I had thought that my carpet was pretty clean after vacuuming with the Hoover WindTunnel. YUCK!
The Dyson grooms the carpet really well, too; lifting the nap and making it appear all plush and nearly new. Must be that constant suction power.
Any other readily available vacuum, bag or bag-less, upright or canister, just cannot compete with the modern Dyson cyclonic technology.
A Dyson is also simple to operate, rolls smoothly, doesn't tip over, and is not heavy (once you get it out of the box and assembled). The controls, multiple functions, cord holder, attachments, etc. are well designed and easy to manipulate. It is easy to lift (has a strategically placed handle) for moving about or to carry upstairs. The "Lifetime" filters can be easily cleaned just by rinsing or washing in mild sudsy water - follow the instructions and the recommended timetable; it even has a built-in reminder of when the filter should be cleaned.
The Dyson is also a lot easier to clean, and to empty the catching bin. It seems to generate far less static electricity than other plastic-housed machines, and dust doesn't build-up on it as readily.
It is far more versatile than most other vacuums, especially with the accessories that come with the Animal model, and - considering its power - IT IS VERY QUIET! You can actually carry-on a conversation while vacuuming with a Dyson, by speaking only a little louder than normal, instead of shouting "WHAT?!" or having to stop your cleaning when somebody just simply cannot wait to ask you something.
Based on my experience, I would highly recommend a Dyson for anyone who is shopping for a full-sized vacuum cleaner.
Yes, it seems quite a bit more money to spend for a small household appliance, and is even very expensive for many people; save-up for it if you can! It will be well worth it. The Dyson cleans better than any other vacuum currently on the market, and keeping your carpets and upholstery clean will extend the fabric life, and help keep them looking in top condition.
I can hardly wait for Dyson to come up with a compact, "light-weight", "stick" version. Wonder if that's in the works?

Well I decided to purchase a new vacuum since our Hoover V2 just wasn't cutting it. After reading all the rave reviews on Amazon and shopping around on the internet I decided to buy one from Linens and Things. I was lucky cause my girlfriend had a Bed Bath & Beyond 20% off coupon that I was able to use there and the Dyson Animal was marked incorrectly at $429. After the discount and tax I paid $368. This was a start to a great experience, lol. Once I got it home I put together and that was pretty easy. Then came the true test. My household has 3 cats and 2 dogs so you can imagine the amount of hair and dust that can accumulate. I plugged the Dyson in and my first impression was "WOW". This vacuum was a lot quieter than the Hoover we had. Then I started to vacuum the carpet and I couldn't believe how easy it was to push and manuever. I kept thinking that there was no way this was picking up that much dirt but boy was I wrong. Keep in mind I just vacuumed our house yesterday. The Dyson picked up so much dirt and hair!!!! It works great on both hard floors and carpet. This is by far the best vacuum we've owned. I strongly recommend this to anyone. The price may seem steep but consider that you don't have to buy replacement filters, bags or belts and this thing pays for itself.

This is possibly the best kitchen item I have ever purchased. I am now making cakes, cookies and so many more things just because it's FUN! And so much simpler and quicker. The item arrived in absolutely perfect condition - though some other reviewers mentioned having problems with the reconditioned model, I have never had this experience ordering ANY reconditioned product from Amazon(.com). Amazon(.com) is the only place I buy my kitchen items - I have never been disappointed, and they have always exceeded my expectations.

Every serious cook/baker should own a KitchenAid stand mixer - their reputation goes without saying. I have always wanted one of these, and thanks to Amazon (.com) and their amazing prices I finally went for it. Having recently been diagnosed with carpal tunnel (these days I'm not sure who doesn't have it), this mixer is making my life a lot easier and my time in the kitchen even more enjoyable. Do not hesitate to buy this product! It comes with everything you need (whisk, dough hook, beater and instruction book which contains quite a number of excellent recipes) except the pouring shield - after using this mixer, I'm not sure I need a pouring shield, so right now I'm perfectly happy without it. Give yourself an early Christmas present and get this mixer!

I just received one of these mixers as a gift, along with an extra mixing bowl and an accessory pack, and couldn't be happier. It comes in a plain white box labeled "Refurbished," but once you open the box and take out the mixer you can't tell it from a brand new mixer that cost a lot more! No scratches ware marks, or blemishes, it looks brand new! I have been putting my new mixer though a gambit of mixing chores and it works wonderfully. At this price I would recommend getting some attachments and extras it makes the mixer a much more versatile machine.

A must-have for all serious (and mildly serious) bakers. Not as useful as I thought it would be for other things, but I use it for all my baking needs: from pizza dough & muffins to zuchini bread & pumpkin pie (of course I have the slicer/shredder attachment). The initial price is formidable, but it is endlessly useful.