Appliance Reviews

I purchased this based on other review. I must say that after cooking my french fries for over 20 minutes, they were not even golden brown. The temperature is turned up at the highest and the french fries taste like mushed oil. Nasty! I have tried cooking fries several times (in smaller batches too), with the same results each time. I give two stars because being able to see the cooking is nice, as well as the way it is put together. The power cord comes off too easily also.

This is the first fryer I have ever owned, and was hesitant to spend a lot due to the fact I wasn't sure that I'd use it very often. So I did a lot of researching, checking all the reviews and looking at store display models. I found that others for the same price usually got shakey reviews, and didn't have the features this one has. And when I looked at them in the stores, most of them seemed cheaply made.

I am so glad I went with this deep fryer. It heats up quickly, the temperature stays consistant, it's solidly made, and clean up is a snap. The timer has proven to also be useful - which, by the way, is a 30 minute timer, not a 15 minute timer as the description reads. The lid comes off adding to the ease of cleaning. And I believe the bowl coming all the way out is VERY important! It's so much easier to empty your oil, and clean thorougly. Also, the fact that it is cool touch really is nice. Many of the new stainless ones are not cool touch. That's fine for a waffle iron, but a deep fryer is large, and too easy to nudge while working in the kitchen. I just feel safer with this one.

The only thing I would change would be for a digital timer, but for this price I'm not complaining!

My wife and I have been very impressed with this deep fryer. It heats right up and cooks the food to a crispy touch with no oily taste. It also filter the air and has a view window to see food cooking. Highly recommended....

I purchased this MicroHood in December and had it installed in a new home. Delivery was held up due to scheduling delivery with the contractors and the Christmas rush of shipments that UPS had to deal with, but it arrived without damage.

The unit far exceeds my expectations in its cooking ability. Everything we have used it for, from warming up coffee to cooking vegetables, has come out perfectly hot without hot spots. It does a good job of keeping food warm without overcooking. We thought we would only use it occasionally, but is so easy to use and does it so well, we've ended up using it at almost every meal. The fan noise is more than we expected, however there are three settings for the fan and the lowest setting moves considerable air with little noise. The floor of the unit does get hot when the lights are used but we have not experienced any delay in cooking related to a cool down cycle. We have not received the $50.00 rebate yet, though the information with the rebate does say to allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. I wouldn't take the rebate as a deciding factor.

We love our MicroHood and recommend it in spite of the noise, heat and rebate issues. After all, who can find fault with an appliance that is so curtious it tells you to 'ENJOY YOUR MEAL' after it finishes cooking?!

This item was purchased to replace a 20+ year old oven. Different mounting holes from the original but the included paper template made it a straightforward installation. Total install time was approximately one hour. Can be completed by one person but two is easier. A leading consumer magazine considers this a “best buy” in their Jan/04 issue. The $50 rebate was received in about 6 weeks. A Panasonic web page allows one to track a rebate’s progress. Generic charcoal filters are available from Home Depot for $15 a pair. Vent fan will turn on automatically when the internal temperature reaches a certain point. For example, when there’s a lot of activity on the stovetop below. This is a feature that protects the internal electronic components. The night-light doesn’t activate the fan! Overall, a great purchase for $199.

We bought this microwave for $199 last month from Amazon.com. What a good price plus there was free shipping and the $50 rebate! We never had an over-the-range microwave before and did not know what to expect with the install or the size of it. It is huge compared to our old counter top model and it was not too difficult to install. The fan is ultra quiet compared to our old fan- I do not understand how any one can say it is loud. Also we have used to light as a night light all night long, and never had the fan come on as the other review noted.
The buttons are easy to follow and the food cooks much better then in our old microwave. Also the plate never gets hot as it did for us in our old oven. And the food cooks not just on the outside edges, but in the middle as well equally! Amazingly good quality at an amazingly good price! We love it. And it is very pretty in white. The two level cooking with the shelf is awesome as well. The best quality microwave you can find at it price for sure!

After a single month of owning this food processor, we discovered that the "dishwasher safe" bowl was not -- even though we washed the bowl in the top rack of our dishwasher with other plastic items, including Gladware freezer storage containers (which are one half step removed from disposable and come through fine time and again). Somewhat dissatisfied, we sent the entire processor to our local service center, some 230 miles away and the only one in Alaska. That was in August 2000. Now it's almost Christmas 2000 and the processor's still at the service center. The center claims the bowl is on back order, along with parts for 5 other Krups machines people have returned to the center over this summer and fall. So, basically, we threw down [money] for nothing. Evidently, USA's service centers have to get parts from 1 center somplace in New York, and that center has to get parts shipped from the factory in Germany. On top of that, reviewing Krups's list of "authorized service centers," I see that only two or so centers exist in most states (often only 1 exists). Moreover, calling Krups directly as a consumer interested in customer service is impossible unless you merely want to order another product from them. When I tried, I discovered "customer service" is not an option on their phone directory. Forget buying this product -- it and the company that makes it don't match the hype. I recommend buying American or from someone who's interested in cultivating their American market. I give this processor's company less than 1 star, to say the least.

I bought this processor over a year ago from Amazon and still love it! It's mechanically simple to master and cleans up nicely - even in the dishwasher. Anyone who buys this won't regret it. The only problem I can forsee is ordering parts from Krups. Big pain in the neck because of the back order thing.

I bought this food processor solely based on the brand name reputation. And luckily I am not disappointed. I have used it twice so far - once to mash chick peas for falafel, and once to chop veggies, and the machine handled it very well.

The chopping was not a problem but I was afraid that the motor would not be able to handle the sticky chick peas. But it did thanks to its powerful electric motor.

I purchased this juicer after reading a book on fasting and self healing with juice. I thought it would be a breeze since there wasn't any food to cook or extra dishes to clean. I was wrong. There is so much prep time required with this machine. The fruit has to be peeled and cut to fit into the small opening. And cleaning the juicer requires more time. I thought i would stick in some fruit..get out juice and stick the washable parts in the dishwasher. Not so with this machine. But for the price i have to say it extracts the juice very well. Also, for the price, it's a win either way. I suggest buying a more powerful unit if you can afford it. If not...start peeling and cutting.

Powerful but leaves a lot of juice in the pulp. I put a small can of pineapple (fruit only) into it and only got about 2 Tablespoons of juice. Other fruit juiced well but the same thing. When you empty the pulp you can squeeze it in your hand and wring out more juice. The other down side is the very small opening. Fruit and veggies have to be cut into small pieces. The good side is the price and a powerful motor. Food juices with ease.

This Oster/Black and Decker model is a surprising value for the price. Assembly and clean up are easy, the machine is loud but effective. Basically, the drier your pulp the better the machine at extracting juice and this was fair in comparison to better juicers. A Champion I had was top of the line but expensive, heavy and cumbersome. This model is light though and doesn't take up much counter space. If you don't plan to juice much, or simply can't afford the big guys, this is a no-gamble for price and decent performance.

I received this chopper as a gift. Once assembled it works well. My biggest complaint is that the bowl requires some effort to remove or assemble, it must be positioned exactly on the base Also, the lid must be position correctly or it will not work...and it takes some getting use to to get it on correctly. The design could be better.

I don't own a food processer, but I don't need one--this little chopper meets all of my needs. I've owned mine for 5-6 years, and I probably use it at least 2-3 times per week. It's particularly good for chopping onions quickly, easily, and without tears--just cut the onion into a few chunks, stick the pieces in the chopper, and chop away. The two speeds and the amount of time you process determine the extent of the chopping, from very finely chopped onions and garlic to coarsely chopped nuts. I've used this chopper for a variety of jobs, including making bread crumbs, chopping nuts, and more. The unit is small enough to keep on the counter, but it's also lightweight enough to be tucked away and brought out only when needed. Plus, it has an important safety feature in that the unit won't run unless the lid is closed and turned to lock. A great little product that is a perfect replacement for or substitute to a larger food processer.

This little chopper is a wiz. Great time saver for the smaller chopping jobs!! Easy to wash & store. I have rhemitoid arthritis and it does all my chopping needs. My kitchen wouldn't be the same without it!!

If you've ever owned or tried a "home" food slicer, you know they don't really work that well. This one does.

When I first got it, I tried slicing several items -- Pepperoni, bulk cheese (Cojack) and two different kinds of bread --regular "store" bread and a artisan loaf. The pepperoni came out in perfect, exactly the same thickness slices. The thickness knob did not slip, and the blade cut cleanly. My Cojack was perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches, and I got three even slices out of one slice of regular bread without tearing the bread! (That was a test to see what I could get away with). The artisan bread sliced perfectly for crostini. I sliced potatoes for potato chips, and they were all the same thickness,(actually, "thinness") and perfect for frying.

This aluminum and stainless steel German slicer is worth every penny you pay for it. The thickness adjustment knob stays where it's set, and the settings are repeatable, there's room under the blade for a large platter, the instant-on/off switch works perfectly, the motor is quiet and powerful, it's easy to clean and the slicer works exactly the way you always wanted a slicer to work--i.e., just like the one at the deli!

If you have the need, and room, for this rather large slicer, go for it! It's worth it.

We've been using it now for about four months with out a problem. It works well on breads, meats and cheese. Contrary to the previous comment the unit is easy to clean and, in my opinion. (some people wash there hands 50 times a day too!) I would recommend this unit to all who wish a rugged and dependable product.

I'm very pleased with this slicer. Shaves ham and slices bread. Cheddar cheese doesn't slow the motor down in the least. Nicely designed. Easy to clean, it takes less than 10 minutes to disassemble, wash and re-assemble. It fits on the kitchen counter and is good looking. Highly recommended.

The grinder works great. The slicer/shredder is worthless. If you want a grinder, order it seperately. If you want a slice/shredder, order a food processor. The slicer/shredder did an awful job on onions, mushing them up, and dropping large chunks into the bowl. Celery had the celery strings all wrapped around the drum. It did do a good job on potatoes, shredding them nicely. You also need two pairs of pliers to take the drum off the shaft when you're done. And, a plastic spatula from my Braun food processor was great to scrape the potato remains from the drum.

The shredder works great on potatoes for hash browns and bricks of cheese grated for pizza or nachos. The meat grinder is fast and efficient. Pouring shield is awkward..........be sure to turn the mixer OFF before placing the shield on the bowl!

I have one of those big Kitchenaid mixers (mainly for making bread. One of us needs non-wheat bread and the other won't eat American-style bread. Nothing to do but bake our own.)

Well, I decided to put that big mixer to work overtime doing sausage (we got spoiled in Europe on homemade, unadulterated Italian sausage made by the neighborhood grocer.) And we like salad and slaw. This gadget goes together easily. You pop the unit onto the front connector on the mixer and feed the vegetables or meat into the hopper. You can shred, slice and grate.

The only thing this set doesn't do is fine chopping, but you know, you could probably add a tiny mini-processor and still have your counter relatively uncluttered.

For a 75th anniversary production piece, Toastmaster ought to find another line of work than producing toasters. Haven't thought much of this company for a number of years, but fell for the retro look, thinking it might also mean retro quality. Nice exterior. Too bad nice styling was married to lousy performance. Never tasted doughy toast before this experience--essentially browned on the outside and raw on the inside. Too, today, it's an easy matter for all toasters to include a "lift" feature that raises toast an extra fraction of an inch for those smaller than normal slices that don't extend beyond the top of the toaster when done. There's no reason to have to dig into the toaster to bring up the slices. Most toasters today don't hold a candle to their forerunners of the the pre-cheesy eras of the 50s and before. This model from Toastmaster looks beautiful, but if you're interested in more than decoration, buy another product.

Works great! defrost feature is great. Toast fast and never burns. And the slide out cleanout tray is great - I actually clean my toaster now!

While toasters are definitely low-tech items, this toaster has as many improvements as you can get without a computer chip. The 1950s diner design was what caught my eye, and its "cool steel" prevents you from burning yourself. The slots are wide enough for your average bagel, and you can defrost those toaster pastries if you don't want them fully toasted.

I recommend this for those looking to upgrade this ubiquitous kitchen fixture.

I love the idea that this cooler will fit almost anywhere. It's especially nice that the Wagan cooler fits snugly, and relatively securely on the center console between the front seats in my Jeep Grand Cherokee (although I can't lift the door to the console, but you can't have everything).

The Wagan unit keeps things cool (as the name implies), but let's face it, this is no refridgerator, and for an electrically powered unit, I expect that it would keep drinks colder than using ice with a regular cooler, but it doesn't. Unless the Wagan cooler is left out in the snow in the middle of wintertime, it barely keeps things as cool as 40-42 degrees Farenheit when its about 72 degrees outside. WIth ice in a traditional cooler, you can expect to get things down to around 34-36 degrees, and in the summertime. And believe me this 4-8 degrees matters. In fact, the cooler performs much worse in hotter weather.

Also (and this is my biggest peeve), the cooler's AC power adapter died after less than one week of use---it's cheesy and probably not the stuff of power appliances like this Wagan cooler. Therefore, I would not suggest using the cooler as a full-time refridgerator/cooler in your office or den. The Wagan Cooler appliance package just isn't built tough enough for my relatively benign demands. Needs to keep the drinkies cool (I give it a "C-"), and needs to endure through typical (and specified I might add, by the manufacturer) use ("D-").

It does cool to 40-41 degrees as advertised. There are two problems:

1. The AC adapter gets hot during use, almost too hot to hold. This is not good, and was alarming enough for me to send it back.
The adapter does not look like the pictures on the web, and is labeled 'Caution: For Use with Technology Equipment'. What? I don't think this is techology equipment! It *is* rated 12v 5 amps, however.

2. The fan operates continuously and emits a distinctive pitched tone (469 Hz), rather than whir. It is loud and can be easily heard indoors from a distance of 20-25 feet. I found it disturbing. No doubt it would be fine in a car, but I intended to use this mostly indoors.

Studying for the CA bar exam I had to be at the law library for 10-12 hours everyday for two and a half weeks straight. Using the "hot" version, I was able to have my hot meals every day, without having to take off too much time from my studies. The food stayed nice and hot (great home-y feel) after approximately 5 hours from the time I heated it up in the morning. It probably would stay hot even longer than that, but I had to worry about draining my power system.

When it was time for the exam, which is 3 days in CA, the hotel that I was staying at had ran out of their refrigerators. So, I took this little cooler and set it in the "cold" version. My food stayed COLD the whole time, not cool, COLD. I had cold cuts, cheeses, and soup that never went bad during the period of time.

When I checked the temperature, when set as cold, it stayed consistently at 32 degrees (colder than my refrigerator), and when set as hot, it was 120 degrees. It really works well.

The whirling noice that the other reviewer mentioned is correct, but it is not annoying at all. Since it doesn't have a high pitch sound, it was just fine. Even when I had it in the hotel room right next to the bed. And when you take the bar exam, every little noise would annoy you - trust me on that.

Hopefully I passed the exam. I would then give credit to this little cooler for having kept me fed during the ordeal with little hassle.

Clear instructions and recipes are included with the blender?

No way. My wife bought it at a local store, & there wasn't any such thing included.

You need to get the newer version with detachable blade for washing.

Great for quick milk shakes, fruit & yogurt smoothies, diet shakes (no clumps!), and more! We keep it out on the counter and use it daily. It *is* easy to clean. If used for something clumpy then run it in a cup of hot water, otherwise just unplug and hold under the faucet with hot water (tilt up a little, cup your hand under it so water gets inside blade area), then wipe down with a paper towel - just like that, BAM it's clean - simple.

Save the blender for margaritas, this does almost everything else, but it's convenient and quick to clean!