Appliance Reviews

The KitchenAid mixer is a solid and reliable work-horse. As an experienced and avid cook, I can attest to the versatility and craftmanship of this mixer. It is not only able to handle everything I have thrown at it, but the results have always exceeded my expectations. Some people may balk at the price tag but rest assured that, in the long run, you will save plenty of money because this is the last stand-up mixer you will ever need to buy. My only complaint about this mixer is the fact that my particular unit doesn't seem to engage very well when I select the first (and slowest) speed. Sometimes, I need to play with the speed knob to get it to engage the slowest speed. Despite this minor complaint, I am still rating this mixer as 5 stars because of its durability, ease-of-use and overall appearance. Once you have mixed and kneaded with a KitchenAid mixer you wil never want to use any other mixer!

When I bought this stand mixer, I nearly purchased a Kitchen Aid hand mixer instead, thinking of cost and kitchen real estate. I'm so glad I decided to get this stand mixer after all. I've only had it for a week, but I've already used it several times. Now I'm beginning to wonder what I did without it. Although this is a lower-end version of the Kitchen Aid stand mixer, it has all the important power and punch of the Epicurean model (one I'd highly recommend if you have the extra money). The only thing I really miss in this one is the size of the bowl, but it works for the jobs I need it to accomplish- I'm just spoiled from having used the Epicurean.
This machine mixes everything very well: smooth cake mixtures to chunky muffin and cookie mixes as well.
Perhaps one of the best selling points with this machine (aside from its aesthetics- it's heavy, but you won't want to hide this in a cabinet, so you don't need to worry about moving it from counter to cabinet and back again) are the wonderful array of attachments that can be added on. Buy the meat grinder attachment, and you can prepare your own groud beef and sausage. Add the pasta attachments to the meat grinder, and you have saved yourself the extra step of buying a bulky pasta maker. Or, if you'd like, you can keep this mixer all by itself.
Any way you look at it, this is a must for any cook, from the occasional cookie baker to send with the kids to school to the experienced chef.

Even if you don't like the color, the Kitchen Aid mixer is the "must have" brand name small appliance. Because of sturdy construction, and tremendous power, the Kitchen Aid mixer's reputation is indesputable! Baking will once again become a joy with this product that is endorsed by both Martha Stewart and Julia Child. It is made with solid metal components, and comes with a sturdy metal mixing bowl that includes a handle for easy control. One of the great things about the Kitchen Aid mixer is the attachments like the bread kneader and pasta hook, which are made of heavy steel and extremmely sturdy. Not to mention that Kitchen Aid guarantees their products reliablility. GET THIS PRODUCT!! Do not settle for a less expensive mixer that you will have to replace in a few years or even months..The Kitchen Aid will last forever! I still have the Kitchen Aid Mixer that my grandmother used in her kitchen to make cookies for me as a child.

People who do not like or who do not cook and bake probably cannot fathom why anyone would pay so much for a mixer. Well, the reason is simple. Reliability, power, adaptability and the fact one machine can do so much.

I ditched the bread machine someone gave me and stick with the KitchenAid with the dough hook, and I can make 2 loaves of bread in 20 minutes and then allow them to rise and then bake.

The grater attachments allow me to interchange blades so that I can make shredded carrots for carrot cake, then sliced onions for a pasta sauce. the KitchenAid whisk beaters make better egg whites and whipped items than any machine I have ever used or owned. The basic beater handles batters and cake mixes better than any other brand.

I know of no excellent cook that doesn't own a KitchenAid mixer.

I purchased the 41/2 quart Kitchen Aide just to make home made bread. I have never regreted the money spent. ....I still knead my dough after using the mixer, just to keep my hands in the dough.

This mixer is an animal. My family has owned one for almost 20 years and it has yet to break down. With the available attachments it can do almost anything that a food processor can do, except chop herbs or puree things. Do not be concerned with the high price of this item, you will have it for the rest of your life.

I love this toaster, it's by far the best I've ever owned. The slot handles both bread and bagels with ease. The lever allows you to push the toast up above the top of the slot for easy and safe removal from the toaster.

Let me say first that I am a Toaster Strudel and Toaster Scrambler fanatic. If you've ever tried these things in a normal toaster you know that to get the inside hot you usually burn the outside. Not with THIS toaster. The FROZEN button pre-heats for a little while before cranking the heat to maximum. This thing does a great job with frozen pastries. No more burnt outsides. Another thing, the slot is long enough you can load up three Toaster Strudels side-by-side. For Toaster Strudel perfection with 3 pastries hit the frozen button and set the darkness control to 7. Code-slingers take note...get one of these for your break room.

I recently received this toaster as a housewarming gift and have had fun with it ever since. Fun with a toaster, you ask? Yes. The construction is ultra sturdy and the digitally controlled browning feature works perfectly. Also, if you buy thickly sliced homemade bread, oversized bagels or toaster waffles, this toaster will accomodate them without a problem. This toaster will spoil you for all other toasters. If you are looking for quality,skip the inferior, cheap alternatives and make the investment. I anticipate using this quality toaster for many years to come.

I bought these trays for my nesco Snackmaster FD-60. Even though it says these fit the FD-50, they fit mine as well. My dehydrator is the one with the motor on top. These trays are the exact same ones that came with my machine. Buy 2 to get the free shipping!

I had four trays and bought four more. 4 is a no brainer because of the free shipping. Now I have 8 trays and can make 5-6 pounds of deer burger into jerky at one time! Get the jerky kit with the caulk gun thing. It is great! Ground burger ends up as jerky quickly and easily.

Even for the not-so-serious dehydrator users (like me) the 4 trays the FD-50 comes with are not enough. The extra trays allow me to dry a whole batch of food at one time instead of stringing the operation out over several days. These trays are identical to the trays that come with the FD-50 dehydrator in every way (size, color, quality, etc).

I bought a no name microwave last time around, I am very happy with this one.

This is a great powerful, easy-to-use microwave. I highly recommend it.

Well, I'm no expert on these things, but this microwave seems to do the job pretty damn well by warming/cooking my food quickly, efficiently, and consistently.

I have had no problems at all - it's a breeze to use and has more than enough power for everyday use.

Definitely recommended.

I recieved by Presto sharpener yesterday and it turned my knives back to like new again. Thank you Target and Presto, my Henkels are sharp again.

I look at the gold box every day, and saw this sharpener on sale. I already own it...purchased it locally, not from Amazon, and it cost me more than the gold box price. It does an amazing job on sharpening knives. I have an older set of Chicago cutlery, and it sharpens them razor sharp whenever I use it.....which my wife says it not often enough!! I sharpened our knives the day before Thanksgiving, and the bird practically carved itself. It's also very easy to use, and has a foolproof design. I recommend it highly.

This is a wonderfull purchase. I love to cook and sharp knives are essential. Originally I bought it with the intention of putting it with my husband's Christmas gift stash so he could use it for sharpening fishing knives. However, after getting a good look at my own kitchen knives, I cracked it open and started sharpening. It is easy to use, and does a great job. Incidentally, I have two sets of the Henkels knives and just bought a set of Calphalon. All are wonderful. The Henkles are going on ten years of solid use and even when dull did a respectable job. Now they are sharp and ready for more good things to come out of the kitchen. Definately worth checking out. Oh, I bought mine (sharpener) on clearance too, gotta hit those clearance end caps Target devotees!

I had one of these for over 10 years and it never gave me a day's trouble. The only reason I purchased a new one was that the old model did not have a removable crock. Fantastic addition to the small family's kitchen.

Just bought this crockpot this weekend or actually on Black Friday 2003, it was inexpensive and it is a great way for me to learn how to cook for one instead of making large meals and having to freeze a ton of food.

A great crock pot if you are cramped on space i.e. apartment, studio, small townhouse, cape cod living. Doesn't take up much room and can fit a decent size portions of food in the crock pot.

Makes flavorful food...delicious....the toughest of cuts turn out perfection!

I love this smaller crockpot for dips of any kind. My family has food at every get together and having this 2 1/2 quart crockpot is perfect. It makes cleaning up easier too.

We really love the Weber Chill and have not had any guest to our home who hasn't asked where we got it and even how much it cost! We ordered the silver and would recommend to anyone ordering to get the two wire baskets (extra cost) to go with it. This allows you to stack many 12 oz. cans of soft drinks/beer, etc. Also would recommend keeping cooler out of harsh sunlight and turning up when stocked completely full. We entertain outdoors all summer and have used the cooler every day. Highly recommended!

Keeps the beer cold! I could stop there but I'll continue! Had party 2 weeks ago and moved the chill out on the patio so people wouldn't have to be going in and out the door every 5 minutes. Worked out great!

I keep all my can pop (soda) and beer in it so I have more room in my fridge. Everyone who has seen the chill loves it and 2 of them have even bought one for their home.

This thing rocks!! It comes packaged nicely and secure and sets up in no time. It cools down fast and is the must have patio item for your summer. Baskets are a must get. I will be chillin and grllin a lot with this badboy come summertime!!! Go load it up with your favorite brewskis!!!

100% of our bread at home is homemade and heavy texture. We've worn out a lot of electric knives. Most wear at the joint at the front of the blades or the blades start to separate in the middle so that they shave up a thin piece of meat between the blades.
We got our first B&D ERGO based on a test report in a cooking magazine. So far it has held up very well and is the best electric knife we've had. It didn't like being dropped on a concrete/ceramic tile floor but continued to work while wrapped in tape. I think that this is the first time we've tried to get a specific model as a replacement.

This is an excellent knife. It is sharp, cuts with minimum effort, and has unique safety features. Most importantly, is very easy to use because it is comfortable for the hands.

Now that I have the fuel and tried it out with some pre-made fondue cheese I found at the grocery store, I can say that this fondue pot works great! (This is using the glass insert to melt the cheese.) I struggled initially to find fuel for this pot which is probably why it is on sale. The brochure that comes with it says to use "Sterno Canisters" gel fuel and nothing else. From what I can tell, there are no Sterno items that fit this pot. So I called Bodum and they said Crate and Barrel carry the fuel. This fuel normally cannot be shipped via mail order or internet sales but you can find it at Crate and Barrel locally or online at a few places.
The fuel that works is Firestar brand gel chafing fuel which is made in Switzerland and sometimes called "paste". It comes in packs of 3 and is very inexpensive(about [$] per pack of 3). These are packed in foil containers that fit inside the burner of the pot. I have also seen it for online purchases shipped via ground only.

This fondue pot is cleverly designed as a double boiler. A glass liner, supported by a metal frame, is immersed in water. No more scorching fondue again! The intelligent and stylish design keeps the fondue evenly heated from the first bite to the last! Bravo to bodum.