Appliance Reviews

I was lucky enough to find this processor at my local wholesale store as a floor model for dirt cheap. However, in order to get this at such a great price, I was not able to get the disc attachments or any attachments other than the standard blade. I also didn't get the instruction book.
Without the instruction book it took me a while to figure out how to get this rascal open, but once I did I found that this puppy works wonders! I bought this processor to replace a Black & Decker model that I was not exactly happy with (I've reviewed that one as well if you're curious). My husband and I have been doing Atkins, and I had wanted to make this recipe of "mashed potatoes" using cream cheese and cauliflower.
Making this recipe with the help of this food processor was an absolute breeze. It took no time at all to get everything perfectly blended, and it seemed like it was practically effortless for this machine to accomplish its task- something that could NOT be said for the Black & Decker.
This is a very sturdy machine; I see now why Cuisinart is almost synonymous with food processors. It's a great plus that this machine is dishwasher safe, along with all the attachments.
Now I'm hoping to find good deals on obtaining some attachments for my processor. Although I cannot attest to how the extra attachments work, I can say that for finely chopping and grinding food this model is unparallelled in its capabilities. This is a great value at any price; any household that does any amount of cooking at all would be greatly enriched having this processor in its kitchen.

We chose this model because we don't want to move really heavy appliances around on the countertop, but the mini-choppers are too small for our recipes. The 2007 weighs about 13 pounds and uses the same wattage motor and most of the same disks as the 11-cup model in this line, although it lacks the extra slow-speed control button for dough processing, and it uses the old-style plastic dough blade. (In this size, it's probably a pie-crust dough maker, not a bread dough maker, anyway.) It's the biggest motor we found on a food processor this size.

Good stuff:

Easy wipe-clean base--no crevices to catch food. Hurray!

Stable and relatively quiet during use.

Easy top-rack dishwasher clean-up (power-saver no-heat drying)

Easy to add small (or liquid) ingredients during processing. Small inner pusher piece is removable, giving access to a small feed tube. There's also a drip hole for liquids in the bottom of the small pusher piece.

Not so good stuff:

Very fiddly mechanism for locking down the workbowl before processing.

The large outer pusher piece, that goes into the main feed tube, has a metal rod that pushes down another rod on the lid, that pushes down another rod on the bowl, that finally pushes a control on the base.

If you have to remove the large pusher to add more big stuff to the bowl, the mechanism stops. Probably just as well, since a child's hand could easily fit through the large main feed tube.

I do wonder how sturdy the locking mechanism will be in the long run, but so far, so good.

With a seven cup capacity, this device is ideal for small settings and dinner parties but not for commercial use. Two speed settings - pulse and on - provide control over the size of the processed food. Variable sized feed tubes allow for introduction of larger items. It also comes with a ten year warranty on the motor. What else do you need from a food processor?

This model toasts well, bakes well, and the convection feature is a plus. However... the insulation is poor so the oven gets hot to the touch. Also, for the price, the construction feels flimsy. It is however a very good performer. Could be 4-5 stars with better heat insulation.

I didn't think that with the low price and free shipping I would get the best kitchen appliance I have ever purchased. I had shopped around and found this convection oven at twice the price. It is easy to use, convenient, and performs exceptionally well.

We moved recently to Georgia to take care of my elderly parents. My husband and I didn't know whether or not it would be a permanent move so we purchased a mobile home on the property where my parents live. We where having a problem when using the oven. It would heat up the house to a uncomfortable level so we decided to try a convection oven as a alternative. It has really been a great way to cut down on the heat of a regular oven and to save energy at the same time.......

I received this as a christmas present from my in-laws, and I really like it. We used to have an electric opener that did the job, but it was loud and couldn't handle any big size coffee can. I like this one because it can open any size can with ease, it makes a smooth rim around the interior of the can (no cut spatulas), and it's actually very quiet compared to most electric ones. It's also really great when you have to open several cans in succession, because it's just so fast.

I think the only thing you could improve on it would be to have a turn handle on the back, in case the power goes out :)

My family and I are long time KitchenAid users. I have been using my mixer for 30 years, with the can opener attachment. I only remove it when I want to use a different attachment or clean the can opener. It works great! I can hardly cook a meal without it (is it a two can or three can dinner tonight??). If you leave the can opener attached, just remember to lift the handle so it is not in the cutting position.

This attachment is well worth the money! I shop in bulk, and this can opener opens the larger cans with ease.
I leave it attached and now that I use it almost daily I don't feel so bad about not using my expensive mixer as much. Attaches easily and you can tell it is quality.

After having an under counter, (unsightly) a manual,(wrist problems) and a cordless can opener (battery died after 6 mos.)
I refuse to use anything else.

If you just want an occasional nostalgia trip, or a rustic decoration for your kitchen, then buy this freezer. But if you are serious about making ice cream with it, you're in for a disappointment.

The part that covers the ice cream container is made of a cheap, soft metal alloy. Friction slowly wears it away as you crank it, getting black gunk on everything it touches. It even gets black specks in the ice cream - yuck!

I got this for my husband for Father's Day a few years ago. Since then, he has been THE DAD of the neighborhood. Anytime we get the ice cream maker out, it seems, all the neighbors gather too! ... a sign of some good ice cream to come! The recipes that come with the maker are excellent (and easy). The directions are easy to follow. As for the review that comments on "shoddy" materials, I must say, I do remember this being made much sturdier when I was a kid, but I haven't found any black flecks getting into the ice cream. I have some concerns that we'll have to replace some parts in the next several years (we've had it 4 years and use it several times a summer and have had no challenges yet). I know that salt is highly corrosive so I'll cut some slack there. Even knowing we'll have to replace parts at some point, I would recommend this product. We think the hand crank is FUN and the anticipation of the ice cream to come only adds to the enjoyment of the final product! Get out the bowls and spoons and get ready for some all around family fun!

Our family loves using this ice cream freezer during the summer. At every BBQ we make fresh fruit ice cream (the peach is to die for!) and the kids love to participate and help crank the ice cream. It is easy to use and the product is made of heavy duty materials, well worth the money....go for it! This is a family memory maker!

I can't rate it, I am still waiting for delivery, your one to two weeks isn't true. I ordered this item 18 days ago, and you still have not shipped.

I would have rated this steamer a top 5 stars 9 months ago.

I LOVE t-fal ! I have been so impressed by the quality and longevity of their products, I replaced nearly all my kitchen appliances, pots and pans to t-fal items. Until now, I have never been unhappy with any of my purchases.

Unfortunately, the timer suddenly ceased to work last month. Nothing was broken off, and the care of the product has been gentle and appropriate. We used the steamer about two times a week, rarely more. While the unit still steams well , the fact that I have lost this very essential function is a disappointment and renders the steamer handicapped, not to mention the food items that have been overcooked recently. I very much relied on that timer to calculate food preparation and done times.

I will attempt to contact the company and see what their response will be, as certainly I expect T-Fal to do the right thing and either replace the timer/and or the unit itself. I will update the review when I reach a resolution.

Until then: 3 stars, T-fal.

I noticed a change in my skin the first time I used this little machine. It does a great job of cleaning pores and exfoliating dead skin. My skin feels tighter and I look 10 years younger!! Highly recommended!!!

I bought this scale and had it for about a week. I found that it gave me very different readings, one right after the other, by as much as 2-3 pounds. This was disappointing, and I have returned it. Perhaps it was just this unit, though I am hesitant to try it again. However, I did like the function of showing the last reading, and my children each had their own button.

I returned the first scale sent to me by Amazon, and asked for a replacement. The first scale varied at each memory key, and even on the same key by 1/2 pound. The new scale is quite accurate, within .2 pound. I am very pleased with the replaced scale and with the return policy of Amazon.com.

I really love these scales. I like them so much that I bought them as a gift for someone else, who I know will appreciate them because they are so accurate and easy to read. They keep track of your previous weight so you can monitor your progress. These are the best scales I have ever owned.

I purchased my KitchenAid Pro 6 last year and have only used it 5 times. Today, after about 5 minutes of mixing, it smoked a little and shutdown. It's supposed to have a thermal reset function, but it appears it didn't work. It will not come back on even after waiting several hours.
I will be seeking technical assistance and finding out how much repairs will cost. If it's too much, I'll have to trash the unit.

This thing rocks my world! I made probably the best pancakes I ever ate!

I've been wanting a KitchenAid Mixer for years. Several years ago I found a great deal on the Epicurean model, but took it back after the first use because it couldn't handle small jobs. Good thing I did, because all the reviews I've read explain why it was discontinued. However, my desire for this mixer kept me searching.

KitchenAid makes many variations of their Mixer, so I read all of the reviews to establish how they were constructed and what other people liked and disliked to determine exactly what was important to me. Adding ingredients to the Epicurean was a real pain. To avoid this problem I considered purchasing the Artisan because of the tilt head and pouring shield, but was concerned about whether or not it could handle the kids' favorite cookie dough. The stationary head on the Pro is not a problem. With or without the pouring shield, it's very simple to add ingredients. There were also many complaints in the reviews about lesser models with plastic gears that stripped. This model is all metal construction including the gears. Plus it has a large capacity bowl and 525 watts to threaten even the stiffest cookie dough.

I expected to use it strictly for cakes and cookies, but now I'm baking bread regularly. I've never been a bread baker, but I've done wheat bread, french bread and pretzels in the past week and the kids are gleefully skipping around waiting to see what's next on the agenda.

I am so glad I bought this mixer. It has power and size for large jobs and can handle small ones as well. If you like to bake at all I recommend this heavy duty model as once you've experienced its ease and efficiency, you may want to go on to bigger and better things. The metal construction and 525 watts will certainly get you there. I love this thing.

This thing is great, it is the size of an engine block and could toast an 80-pound bird! Rock on toast zilla!

this waring commercial type toaster is just grand! the suggested retail price might be out the window but for what amazon[.com] is selling it for , it is a nice deal. retro stainless stuff is great but this appears to be the real deal. heavy duty ... did i say heavy?... yes i did and does it do/fit bagels? ... i do not know yet. but toast comes out toasty...bottom line is , if you want a really cool looking commercial toaster that does the job and isn't intimidated by flashy "retro" wanna be's , this is the piece of cake and eat it scenario!

The Waring commercial toaster is, as it's name implies, a heavy duty piece of retaurant equipment. The manual tells the casual user that uneven toasting will occur if you use anything but day old bread at room temperature. Following these guidelines the product produces excellent results time after time. The user has infinite manual control over darkness. Well known throughout the industry, this item has a long track record of reliability and heavy duty, continuous use.

I have had lots of griddles and have worn them out using them but this one was the worst. I actually returned one because it had a bad connection between the cord and the griddle and would not stay on, it would lose connection as I was cooking on it and i would have half done pancakes on it.

So I returned it thinking it was a defective one well the second one was worse, the connection between the cord and the griddle started to smoke and caught on fire, good thing I was right there when it happened.

Since I threw the box away I can not return it, so to me I might as well had taken 40.00 and just threw it out the window cause that is basically what I did. The thing is still new, doesnt even have a scratch on it, that is how little I was able to use it. Then when it caught on fire I quit using it.

So if you own one of these please dont leave it unattended.

Xmas 2003, used 5 times, warped, legs do not touch evenly,
grease does not drain into channel,
buyer beware, going to swap out one at Target, as to not pay shipping back to WestBend, You get what you pay for, thank you China!

I use it every weekend for either pancakes or "freedom" toast and have nothing but good things to say. It heats evenly and is easy to use and clean. I would definitely recommend this griddle!

Boy was I delighted for a couple of months with this waffle iron. But as time passed, the temperature knob fell off. I was able to push it back in place and it worked for a while, but then the indicator light no longer worked and now I can't even get the iron to heat up. What a really big disappointment and it sure ain't inexpensive. I am about to buy a new iron for 19.99. This is what I should have done in the first place.

Overall I like the construction and ease of use of this maker, and the fact that it doesn't have the loud alarm people complain about on other models. Seems to be made okay (the plastic shell is a little thin, predictably, since it's made in China--I wish Amazon[.com] showed country of manufacture!). My first response, though, when I made the heart-shaped waffles, is that they're too thin. The Belgian waffle side is nice and deep, but I'm more a standard waffle pattern fan, and maybe because of the depth on the Belgian side, the heart-shaped ones don't have very deep holss. They seem about the thickness of a pancake with pyramid-shaped grooves instead of real square holes. The flavor isn't bad and I think I'll keep the thing (maybe I'll learn to like Belgian) but the texture also suffers a little, and if you have strong memories of standard waffles from an old iron or a restaurant, these don't really look like them. Also, they brown a little unevenly. Good points: waffles released easily, assembly and switching to the other waffle pattern is easy, the plates seem heavy duty. It will remain to be seen if they non-stick surface and the plastic shell's metalic finish hold up. I'd be dissatisfied except I also browsed stores and didn't see anything I thought was a lot better.

Good things about this waffle-maker:
Super-easy to clean
Waffles don't stick at all
the Belgian waffle side makes perfect waffles -- just the right thickness, cooked evenly
Nice-looking

Could use improvement:
the regular waffle plates produce a very thin waffle, not quite the same thing as I got from my old wafflemaker.

If I were going to buy again, I might go for a regular wafflemaker AND a Belgian wafflemaker (I'm not sure about price, but this was a pricey appliance), but then again, there's two appliances you have to store.... So I'm not sure, but on balance I'd have to say I don't regret this purchase.