Appliance Reviews

After burning up several food processors, we finally took the plunge and purchased this food processor, and it's worth every penny!! I have on several occasions put carrots, potatoes, onions, etc into this food processor, and even doughs, and it slices, chops, and or mixes with ease. Kitchen Aid ships this with a very convenient case for all attachments that fit quite neatly into it, such as slicing disks, shreader disk, chopping blades, as well as a mini bowl for chopping small jobs like garlic with ease. Another great product. It is somewhat heavy, but well worth it!

I was going to buy a Cuisinart but the reviews from Amazon customers convinced me to try the Kitchen Aid. The KFPM650 comes with 3 discs, a general purpose blade, a dough blade, an egg blade and a minibowl with blade. It also comes with an instruction/cookbook and a video.

I haven't watched the video. The cookbook gave a lot of good ideas for using the processor.

As for the processor itself, amazing! It made short work of veggies. This was the first time I was able to make Cajun food without spending a half hour chopping vegetables first. I ran som onions through the large slicer. While they were caramelizing I had more than enough time to slice the celery and peppers. Slicing bell beppers is fun. Just quarter them vertically and drop the pieces into the running processor. Don't blink or you'll miss it.

I'm really looking forward to putting this thing to good use for sauces, marinades, doughs and more. I don't know how I was able to live without it.

I am retired male who loves to cook/bake in my spare time which I have. This food processor was purchased 8 months ago and I think it is the next best thing to sliced bread. I use it for everything from pie crusts to chopping/slicing foods for salads. Speaking of pie crusts, It makes the best flaky and delicious crusts using the recipe that was included with the processor. It kneads bread wonderfully and in a very short time. I also make wonderful meringue pies and sauces for anything. I do not use my Kichen Aid mixer or blender anymore. This is a definite MUST for the kitchen.

This toaster is beautiful. I love the way it looks and how large the toasting slots are. The reheat and defrost features are also nice. It toasts well although seems to toast the bottom half of the bagel/toast more darkly than the top. I am still getting used to the settings however, and will hopefully rectify that. You should read the directions that come with it because they are helpful. For instance, it tells you if you are toasting only one piece of bread to turn down the dial because the chamber heats up as if it were toasting two slices and if only one is in there, it will over-toast it. Good to know! Overall, I like the toaster and am glad I purchased it.

This toaster has the look that I love, with maximum functionality. The factory reconditioning (whatever it was) was flawless. The two slots are wide enough for bagels, and work equally well on normal bread. The Cancel button elegantly ends the toasting without shooting the bread across the room. The Reheat button prevents hot-but-extra-crispy syndrome. There is also a Defrost button that I have never used. The Dark/Light settings (from 1-6) appear to run pretty dark. My setting of choice is between 2 and 3 for an allover medium tan. This lovely toaster is the gadget you need in your quest for perfect toast.

I bought this reconditioned toaster from Amazon over a year ago, and I have been very happy with it. Cuisinart put a lot of thought into how people use their toasters. For example, there is a handy "defrost" button for making frozen waffles; you can use either slot to make a single slice; and the cord coils up beneath the appliance. Also, if you press down for a second cycle of browning, the toaster senses when the toast is done and pops it up before it has a chance to burn. In addition to its great performance, this toaster is beautiful to look at.

The oven is well made but their are a few thing it does not do for the price.

1. The top of this oven gets extremely hot. Not just hot to the touch. People used to a microwave will be very suprised by this.
A little insulation would have gone a long way here. This is a serious safety consideration.

2. This item keeps cooking after the beeps. Auto shutoff occurs after 4 hours. Microwave users beware. If you dont respond to the beeps your food is "TOAST". This could be a fire hazzard unless you are real carefull.

3. Their is no light inside to help determine when your food is done.

4. The LCD display is not backlit. Not good for the baby boomer generation.

In summery: This item is designed to overcook the food you can`t see and burn you at the same time.

This is the nicest toaster oven I've even used. It has the most even heat and reproducible results. As an oven, it's better than most full-size ovens, provided what you want to cook will fit. Since this is a fairly large toaster oven, it can fit most small meals. The convection function is very handy if you're in a hurry or want extra crispness. Convection will shave 20-50% off your cooking time, depending on the thickness of your food.

The good: Even heat. Temperature sensor gives accurate toasting time after time. Convection feature. Looks slick.
The bad: Loud beep when done. Door does not pull bottom rack out. Interior light would have been nice. Expensive.

We live in a NYC apartment and the appliances are typically the cheapest that can be purchased by the penny pinching, tight fisted landlord. Try to bake or broil in a bad oven and your results won't be great and you end up with a nice Power/Gas bill.

So, I went online to search for a decent toaster oven. I never intended to find a unit which would allow me to cook roaster chickens. I just wanted it for quick use such as for bagels, garlic bread, nachos, etc. After reading the reviews for this machine here and at epinions.com I decided to blow the (much more than I wanted) dollars on this unit. It has not disappointed me. It has been perfect actually. It pre-heats quickly (a beep lets you know it's ready) and it cooks perfectly especially with the convection feature on.
We have used it for two months now and it is perfect for 5-6 pound chickens (cooks very fast!) and bagels, cookies, toast, garlic bread, etc. To my way of thinking, it makes no sense to spend less $$'s on a lousy unit which rewards you with a few years of poorly cooked food. Spend the $$'s on this one and you won't be disappointed. I bought it on Amazon(with free shipping and no tax!- Sorry NY, no 8.6% for you:)and it was delivered in two days. Amazon has got their $h-t together!! I now buy just about all small appliances from Amazon even if they aren't the cheapest and they deliver fast and efficiently and don't waste my time.

Zojirushi makes excellent rice cookers, and they deserve their great reputation, and their home in many Asian and non-Asian kitchens.

This cooker makes perfect rice every time, to the consistency you desire (regular, soft, hard, etc.). It's foolproof and helps make sure that dinner won't be a disaster.

Supposedly the neuro-fuzzy logic helps it make decisions to get it right. But I think the main asset of the extra-cost electronics on this unit is greater programming flexibility. E.g. you can set it to start cooking and have it ready when you get home.

However, a few negatives prevent me from giving it a 5-star rating:

1) The unit's electronics are powered by a lithium battery which supposedly lasts about four years. When it dies, you have to bring the unit to a service center to get the battery replaced at your expense.

If you think four years is the lifetime you expect out of this cooker, this won't be a problem. But if you don't like this, look toward the non-neuro fuzzy models and save your money.

2) A more serious problem: it takes longer to cook rice with this cooker (and most electronic rice cookers) than the old-fashioned way (with a pot over a stove). Regular rice is supposed to take 40-49 minutes in the cooker. I can cook rice on the stove in about 25 minutes (5 minutes to boil, 20 minutes for the rice).

The tradeoff is that I can make more errors on the stove (cook the rice too long, too short). However, when you're trying to whip up dinner quickly, the extra time of the rice cooker might frustrate you, and you'll find yourself bypassing it and whipping out the pot.

Do you cook rice with any kind of regularity? If the answer is yes, then you know how easy it is to botch. For those of you who have perfected the technique, you still know the attention necessary and the pain of clean up (especially if you've tried to keep rice warm for any extended period).

Most any rice cooker beats the heck out of stove-top hands down when it comes to ease of prep and clean up. Zojirushi's Neuro Fuzzy cooker adds consistancy and reliability to the mix. Use this and you will NEVER worry about keeping an eye on the pot. You will ALWAYS be happy with the end product and clean up is a cinch.

Think outside the box of white rice with this unit...porridge, exotic long grains, fried rice, jambalaya and absolutely everything else that I have tried...it knows how to get perfect results.

Are there downsides? Yes. The measuring cup is an off size (try not to lose it). The machine is pricey. The battery eventually dies. You may wait a few extra minutes. Should you care about these downsides? No. It's just that good. Look at the ratings and read the reviews...not one hint of regret...there's a reason.

The icing on the cake is the great kitchen kitsch of an elephant logo and the "Neuro-Fuzzy" designation...it gets more attention from visitors than my KitchenAid stand-up.

I bought this little beauty almost a year ago and at first balked at the price, but it has more than proven itself. We make rice almost every night and this is so convenient. I especially love the easy clean-up (compared to stovetop rice pot). I usually use the "quick cook" feature as I'm cooking after work, and that works fine, too> We've tried all kinds of rice, and even steel-cut oats. I have not had a single complaint about this great machine. Pay attention to the size you buy, though. The 5-cup doesn't make a lot, probably only enough for two people.

For those floundering between purchasing a Cuisinart or KitchenAid Food processor......Go for the Cuisinart every time.If you are a former Cuisinart Processor user, you will be very dissappointed in the KitchenAid Professional Ultra Power! I have an old Cuisinart with all available discs. Got a new KitchenAid for Christmas (early) with the 5 disc set of extra blades. I used it twice tonight for the first time. First to shred medium hard cheddar cheese....variable motor sounds, bogs slightly, moves around on counter and design of bowl lid is difficult to clean (no rinse and go as with my Cuisinart. Decided to make the soft dough for Pecan tartlets containing two sticks butter, 1 8 oz cream cheese and only 2 cups of flour. This was too much for this machine! It nearly stopped completely several times! I couldn't believe it. It wavered back and forth, not maintaining the speed, even on pulse. Just imaging if I was trying to make bread dough!! I was looking forward so to getting this new KitchenAid Processor (made in France). I had read many rave reviews about the Ultra Power. Guess those cooks never had a Cuisinart!!! I figured theysince bPacking it up tonight and sending it back! Going to keep my old Cuisinart and buy new bowls.

I had a cheap food processor. Since I already own a Kitchenaid stand mixer, I had high expectations for the Kitchenaid food processor. I was not disappointed. This things chops, shread and slices with incredible speed and ease. It is well-built; everything fits together solidly and tight (but not too tight so that it's hard to use). The measuring cup that fits inside the food chute is handly and convenient. Even though I initially thought the mini-bowl would be useless, it's actually come in handy a few times already; (I've used it for chopping onions and pickles). I have always made pie crust by hand, but I tried making it in the food processor. I was amazed at how fast it did the job. Cleaning is easy, but you do have to be careful as the blades are extremely sharp (as you would want them to be). My only negative would be the storage container for the blades and disks; it's huge and it only holds 3 disks and the 3 blades that come with the machine. It would be nicer if it were more streamlined. All in all, that's a pretty minor "concern." I am thrilled with the food processor; between this and the stand mixer, I'm all set.

This food processor is yet another star in the KitchenAid family. I have the 7 speed ultra power plus hand mixer, Artisan stand mixer, ultra power plus digital toaster, ultra power blender, mini chopper and the coffee grinder and I love them all! This food processor does a great job, it is very solid and it couldn't be easier to clean. It is a powerhouse and is very easy to use! It comes with all the accessories (blades etc.) you need and it even comes with a container to store them in. This is a top quality food processor built to last! Highly recommended!

This has become one of my favorite kitchen appliances. It saves alot of time because now you can mix/blend whatever you want, wherever the food is, whether it's in a cup, pan or bowl. It doesn't matter! The variable speed knob gives you the freedom to blend how you please. Cleaning this couldn't be easier. You just snap off the bottom section and rinse it. It also comes with a chopper attachment to chop practically anything. The attachment wire wisk comes in very handy as well to mix things. When I used to make shakes just for myself, it was such a hassle using a regular blender and CLEAN IT! Now all I do is blend in the cup I will be drinking from, snap off the bottom part and rinse. Highly recommended!

I bought this hand blender to replace our old Braun 4166 hand blender which is 13 years old (still working fine, although the blades have dulled). The biggest advantage of this unit is cleanup. The plastic shaft on our old unit has gotten somewhat yellow from blending curried soups. The MR550MCA has a stainless steel shaft that is, well, stainless. Better yet, it easily detaches and pops into the dishwasher for painless cleanup! The motor is also more powerful and less noisy. There's every reason to believe that this unit will also last 13+ years. I haven't tested the chopper and wisk attachements -- that's not why I bought it. The chopper looks pretty good, though. This makes a great gift. (I gave it to my wife for Mother's day.)

If you don't already own a hand blender, you don't know what you're missing. We use ours almost daily to make smoothies. It's especially good for pureed soups. No need to transfer the soup to a blender, just pop the hand blender into the cooking pot! Hand blenders may not replace regular blenders all blending jobs, but for many tasks they're easier to use and reduce cleanup.

Seldom have I ever bonded with a kitchen gadget so quickly! This blender definitely deserves to be called a kitchen tool. It is used in our kitchen almost daily and replaces a lesser Braun hand mixer. In fact, my wife and I burned through two of the less expensive Braun models before we found this. And it has been hard at work in our kitchen for about nine months now, showing no signs of wear.

We use this unit most often as a blender - about 90% of the time it is used to blend protein drinks or make fruit smoothies. I find it much easier to use a hand blender with a large container for making drinks than to use a conventional blender. Clean up is much (MUCH) easier and quicker as well.

I didn't think I'd be using the other attachments, but the chopper and whisk attachment have proven useful and effective. The whisk attachment is great for beating egg whites. I use the chopper for medium sized jobs like chopping and blending herbs, shallots or garlic. I find it doesn't give enough control for jobs like chopping onions.

The other killer app for this appliance is blending soups. Rather than the mess and burn risk of pouring hot soup from sauce pan to blender - just stick the Braun directly into the sauce plan and blend in place. It works great and is again much easier.

If you have used a lesser model hand blender, you have no idea what this unit is like. It has far more power, is more flexible, and generally more useful. If you are thinking about buying this unit, I can heartily recommend it!

I purchased the Oval Slo-Cooker as an alternative to replacing my 30+ year old crock pot with a newer model. I researched crock pots and slow cookers until I was presented with this model. I am so grateful to the reviewers who wrote about this product. This cooker has become my favorite small appliance and is indespensible in my kitchen. The 6 quart capacity is very adequate for large quantities of chili, soup or one-dish meals. The non-stick surface makes cleaning effortless. I really like the graduated heat selection which ranges from very low to hot - a feature which I find extremely useful and superior to most crock pot settings. The oval pan can be taken to the stovetop for browning or food assembly which is definitely a plus. You can even use the non-stick base as a griddle if you desire. Unlike the "crock" in a crock pot, the oval pan is very light weight making the entire assembly easy to transport. I also like the glass lid so you can see the food as it is cooking at a glance. I would highly recommend this cooker. The name says it all - Versatility !!

It's my first slow cooker and I love it. It's easy to clean, light-weight, and cooks evenly. I have not had any problems with the lid because thanks to reviews on this site, I have been very careful. As far as browning ingredients in the pot before slow-cooking is concerned I have found the surface area a little too small for proper browning- so, if you wanted to brown 1 cut up chicken you wold have to do it in 2 or more batches otherwise you'd end up just stewing it (which doesn't save you any time).

This slow cooker is light, versatile, and EASY to CLEAN! It ALL goes into the dishwasher (except the heating element of course). Its a good size for a family. I would buy it again.

I bought this ice cream maker a couple of weeks ago. I read all the reviews on all the different models. Based on the reviews for this machine, I purchased it. I was not steered wrong!! This machine certainly lives up to the name Cuisinart. I liked the idea of this model being a double so I could make two flavors at once or double of the same flavor. The machine is very quiet when it's running. Easy to clean too. Depending on the flavor that I make, some need to freeze a little longer (soft serve consistency)in the freezer to set up. Others are ready to eat immediately. What a wonderful way to give my family healthy ice cream. The looks on their faces when they are eating it is priceless!! I highly recommend this ice cream maker!!

We have really enjoyed this machine. It is easy to use, easy to clean, looks really good setting in the kitchen, and is very affordable. We tested the recipes in the instruction booklet and have found them to be very good and delicious (though we prefer using half-n-half, along with 2% milk, instead of heavy whipping cream and whole milk).

The noise of the machine isn't an issue. It doesn't even come close to the loud sound a blender or mixer makes.

Best of all, is the ice cream you can make within 20-30 minutes with no mess or hassle!! What more could you ask for!!

I recently bought this ice cream maker because I am a pastry chef and I wanted to experiment and have some fun. The first time that I made ice cream, I couldn't believe how easy it was! I made the pineapple sherbet from the recipe book, which has since become a family favorite. I also have made rose petal ice cream, lavender ice cream, pina colada ice cream, and bailey's Irish cream ice cream. This machine has opened many new doors for me in the dessert world. I absolutely love it, I can't wait to try out new flavors!

I definitely have not used the oven since I got the rotisserie, food with a lot of fat or skin comes out amazingly delicious. Dont bother with fat free foods, you'll just dry them out and waste money. Dont do pork chops either. The unit comes apart easily for cleaning, but its a pain to scrub the wire basket - take out stock in Brillo pads! Also, the metal back wall that slides out gets stains like watermarks even when it is clean, it never will look shiny new again no matter how clean. The white on the unit is yellowing from the heat, and my turn knob broke off from the heat as well - I had the unit about 2 inches from my toaster oven on the right side and it contained too much heat outside the unit. It is also difficult to clean the upper insides of the unit, since you cannot remove it. Did I mention it makes a mean chicken wings dinner (just dont put them on top of eachother in the basket). Also, dont cook meat as long as the time recommended in the booklet, the small size of the unit cooks it much faster and everything comes out well done if you dont keep checking.

I SURE LOVE THIS ROTISSERIE. I HATE TO COOK AND IT SHOWS. I'VE BURNT AND OVERSPICED MORE MEALS THEN I CAN REMEMBER IN THE LAST 24 YEARS WITH MY HUSBAND. I'VE LEARNED TO TONE DOWN THE SPICES OVER THE YEARS BUT JUST HAVEN'T IMPROVED OTHERWISE. NOW SUDDENLY I HAVE GEORGE FORMAN AND LIFE HAS GOTTEN BETTER. I HAVE THE FORMAN GV5 AND I DO MY VEGY'S IN THAT AND IN THE BABY GEORGE I DO THE MEAT. WE'VE ONLY USED IT ONCE. MY GRANDSON WENT WILD FOR IT. HE WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN WITH JOY. GO FIGURE. WELL I WAS ENTERTAINED TOO. I'D ASK HIM IF HE WANTED TO SEE THE CHICKEN AND HE'D RUN TO THE KITCHEN. THE CHICKEN TURNED OUT "PERFECT". WE LIKE IT BROWN ON THE OUTSIDE AND MOIST INSIDE. IN 24 YEARS MY HUSBAND HAS NEVER SAID "PERFECT" UNTIL NOW. WE ALL LOVED IT. IT WASN'T GREASY LIKE THE GROCERY STORE CHICKEN EITHER. CLEAN UP WAS SO EASY. THE CHICKEN WAS EASY TO PUT ON THE BARS AND WENT IN EASY. GEORGE IS MAKING ME LOOK TOO GOOD. THERE GOES ALL MY MATERIAL. I HAD SO MANY GOOD JOKES ABOUT MY COOKING. LOVE YOU GEORGE

For cooking meals for one to three people, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I may never oven-roast a chicken again. There are 2 things you should know, though:
1) Truss anything you put on the spit. Several people have mentioned having problems with 4-5 lb. chickens. I've done chickens up to 5 lbs with no problem, but it IS a cozy fit, so tie them up well. The same goes for beef and pork roasts. Even if it looks like it should be no problem, keep in mind that the roast isn't going to be balanced, so it's likely to sag. Truss tightly and all should be well.
2) If you don't already have one, get an instant-read meat thermometer, and use it frequently until you get used to the rotisserie. It does cook a bit more quickly than the instructions and your oven experience might suggest.

The only real complaint I have is shared by several other posters as well. The reflector gets stained after a few uses and won't come clean. Thus far, it hasn't seemed to matter as far as cooking performance goes, so I'm hoping for the best down the road...

All caveats aside, this does an excellent job, and I use it at least once a week. It doesn't heat my small apartment up, it allows me to use my tiny stove and oven to be creative with the veggies and such, and, most of all, it turns out perfectly done meats. If you're cooking for a family, I'd recommend going for one of the larger ones, but for a single or couple, it's pefect.

My former roommate had this mixer when we lived together, and we used it all the time, especially for making salsa and smoothies. This unit takes the place of about 5 other appliances! I was in the market for a mini food processor, but after rediscovering this now I don't need one! It is also extremely easy to clean, and you should keep the box for storage-makes it a lot easier to put away. I can't say enough about this Braun Multimix!

If you don't have the space or the money to invest in three products--a mixer, blender, and mini-food processor--this is a great deal. (It also has dough hooks.) I just bought my second one. The first wore out (motor began to die) after about 8 years of nearly constant use. Some of the plastic parts are delicate--I dropped the chopper adapter soon after I got it and it chipped--but still worked. After about 7 years--the blender shaft broke. (There is a model called the M880M that has a steel blender shaft--but it's really hard to find.) I was able to find a replacement part rather easily (on-line) for about 8 dollars. Someone who cooks a lot might want a larger food processor that could support different blades and slicing disks--but this works well on many items--nuts, tomatoes, onions, etc. The chopper also has a lid for storage--which is a nice plus. The hand blender is nice for small jobs too--a smoothie, or to blend some soup. Again--if you really use the blender a lot or for large volume items--you'll probably prefer a stand-alone product. The mixer is fine for all needs. It beats egg whites, butter, and anything else I've tried quite well. The whole thing cleans very easily as well and is quite easy to use and store. A good buy.

I teach cooking classes at a local community college which has its own large food processor. But I found that by the time we got the food processor set up, chopped what we needed and then washed for the next student to use, a lot of time was wasted. So I started bringing my own Braun Multi-Mix to class. They were so imporessed that now the school owns some and we hardly ever use the large food processor anymore.

I love what this powerful little motor can do. I love cooking with nuts and chopping them is a breeze. I can even make nut flour because it chops the nuts so finely. I can enjoy making bread because of the dough hooks, I love the blender for pureeing soups - the motor is strong enough to plow through any thick dough you could mix up. But I would have to say my favorite thing about this processor is the chopper.If I chop meat into small pieces I can even have ground pork or chicken. I do a lot of Thai cooking and I am always chopping vegetables. If it wasn't for this gadget to chop my nuts and my fine Wusthof knives - I don't think I would enjoy cooking so much! This processor makes cooking fun.

The other great thing about this is that cleanup is a breeze (unlike that of a large food processor) and it stores so easily.

Some people have mentioned that they have a hard time finding it at a land based store. I bought mine (I own two) at Linens 'N Things or at look at Bed, Bath & Beyond. I believe I bought mine there for around $40 but that was many years ago and worth every cent. Look for it by the blenders and small applicances.