Kitchen Reviews

If you have cats, you might want to buy two. One for cat food and one for cooking. Never should the two be confused. :)

Now, this can opener is gear driven so you do have to work harder than if you purchased a automatic can opener. I just don't have room for one, so I prefer how easily these store in the drawer.

You can easily remove lids from any size can. The handles are comfortable and the precision-crafted stainless steel will last a long time.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

This is one of the great classic kitchen implements. I've owned and used this can opener for nearly thirty years. And I've given them as gifts to others, both here in the US and in Europe. It works easily, quickly and cleanly. It has been through two of the great blackouts that have occurred in the New York area (1977 and 2003) and, since it's manual, it has worked just fine during them. I would never buy anything else.

This can opener is great for shooting rubber bands i have added alot of things on it to

I received this paring knife (included in the course fee) when I took a Wusthof knife skills course at a local shop. It's everything a knife should be - sharp, solid, well-balanced, and a comfortable fit in the hand. Wusthof got the proportions of the classic-style handle about right; not too fine, not too chunky... just right for comfort and control. After the course I gave it to my mother, who was surprised at its sharpness. (I already owned a Henckels Pro-S 3" paring knife, which has a slightly longer handle... IMO the two knives are similar in quality.)

This is also the knife that inspired a friend who finally bought one to exclaim, "I'm surprised you didn't say, 'You call that a knife????? THIS is a knife!' when you were using my (old, stamped, serrated) knives!" She now understands my addiction to forged German steel.

As always, it's best to try several knives in person and see how they fit your hand before buying, but it would be hard to go wrong with this one.

This is a great addition to any kitchen. I think it will last for the rest of my life! Soon I hopefully can add more of this brand to our kitchen. I highly recommend it!

I've got a cheap-o chef's knife and I've got this little 3 1/2" Wüsthof paring knife. It's a testament to the quality of the Wüsthof that I'd rather use it, even for big knife jobs like chopping vegetables or cutting meat. The quality of the blade more than makes up for the lack in size.

I love these knives. They are extremely sharp, cut well, and have a very comfortable grip. This particular style is more of a pistol grip handle. These are extremely comparable to the Henkle set, both are high quality knives, the deciding factor for me was the grip of the knife. These keep an edge quite well, and do hold a blade that is most excellent. In a years time of extremely heavy use the blade still holds very well. These knives actually making cutting very easy. I honestly grab a knife now when I used to grab the food processor. These by far are the indespensible kitchen appliance in my kitchen.

I own and have tried a number of knives from the standard cheapo's to designer hand-made French knives, and these fill a large general purpose niche. These knives are very sharp (especially after using the sharpening tool) and approach the sharpness of my Kyocera Ceramic knives. Ceramic knives are extremely sharp and hard, but suffer from brittleness and need custom resharpening efforts. The Wusthof knives are well made German "tools" that will hold-up to a certain amount of abuse. For more abuse, I resort to my cheapo knives to cut open packages of food, wine bottle foil, etc.. They are handsome and do have a high-tech appeal but do not approach the beauty of some French knives. The French knives have inlaid wood handles and have a "mirror" finish (which will scratch even with a plastic scrubber), but are limited to tableware use only.
You must be extremely careful not to get ripped-off with a "imitation" German knife. Most knives use a brand-name, but are really made in China. The descriptions and inflated prices can be very misleading. Even with all my research, I was not sure that I had made a wise choice until I looked at these knives and started to use them. Please do the same, since things change all the time and "outsourcing" is all the rage!
Anyway, in summary, these knives are great...so get them before they don't exist!

I have had a set of Wusthof Grand Prix knives for about four years now and I could not be more pleased with their performance, durability, and quality. From the professional chef to the home cook looking for quality to last a lifetime; these knives accentuate the way in which you will prepare meals for a lifetime. The folded stainless steel is of the highest quality available in the industry, and it shows in how long they keep their edge. As with all straight edge knives; never put in a dishwasher, cut on stone or metal surfaces and they will stay in top form.

I have had the pleasure of pretending i knew how to cook for my new husband until i purchased this whole set of cookware. well, know i think i am 'chef boyardee' this cookware is very durable, allows you to cook your foods thoroughly, and helps you if you want to do it the 'atkins' way! The price is somewhat outrageous, but well worth it, and you dont spend your time trying to clean up either. After purchasing this set, i would recommend a cast iron dutch oven to complete your kitchen!

I love this pan. I've just started to enjoy cooking and purchased this pan to help with recipes that I have to double and triple to feed my growing family. The size is perfect for us. Clean up is a breeze. Cooks very evenly. Works well with my glass cooktop. I will be buying more Analon in the future. Be aware however that it is NOT 5 quarts as stated. It is actually 4.75 which is not a huge difference but it is also not what it is advertised to be.

This is the Cadillac of Saute Pans. It's heavy, easy to wash, non-stick, heats evenly, and is big enough to cook paella for 6. Beware though, a friend bought the same one from her Gold Box and it arrived with the lid missing.

And when it came up on my Gold Box offers, I couldn't resist ! And it is great !! Heavy duty without feeling too heavy, this pitcher makes any occasion a bit more special !! And it looks great in my yellow kitchen to boot !! Stylish, slightly retro and looks beautiful ! What more could you ask ??

So when it came up on my Gold Box offers, I knew I had to have it ! It is great ! Beautiful, sleek and also useful ! It looks great in my yellow kitchen too ! The pitcher is heavy duty without feeling too heavy. Makes a nice piece on your table during that special dinner at home !

Wonderful. Adding this to the table makes an average meal seem a little bit special. Well balanced, sturdy, excellent lines. Art that works.

I recently acquired a used Singer Featherweight 132Q which was only used twice prior to my purchase. Although I like that it is lightweight and easy to use, I found it to be very noisy. I do not know if this is typical of the machine, but I would prefer it to be quieter.

I purchased this machine specifically for the doll-making part of my studio work and it has become my favorite machine for most projects, from historic costumes to quilt piecing. It required initial adjustment to the bobbin tension, which was way too tight, but has held up beautifully to heavy use. Handles fine fabrics and denim equally well. A nice little workhorse for an excellent price!

if you can find one, that is. There are several excellent reasons the old Model 221 Singer Featherweights cost several hundred dollars even if they're more than half a century old. This new Model 132's skimpy 90 day labor warranty isn't necessarily one of them.

Zojirushi sells the only Japanese-style hot-water dispensers I can find in America. They are very convenient, and no Japanese kitchen would be without one. In fact, this is better than most of the ones I saw in Japan.

To pour hot water from this dispenser, just hold a cup under the spout and press a button. Oddly, American and European hot-water dispensers follow the kettle metaphor a little too closely. They design their dispensers so that you must pick up the entire device to pour water.

The only drawback to this Japanese-style dispenser is that you can't pour hot water without plugging it in. The assumption is that you always leave it on, like any other small appliance.

I find this unit surprisingly convenient for things like tea, noodles, and instant coffee. It's also a lifesaver if you have to mix baby formula at three in the morning.

For safety, you have to press "unlock" to enable the dispense button. Also, the power cord is held in place by a strong magnet, so that the appliance will safely come unplugged if it is abruptly moved by an earthquake or other natural disaster.

The manual is multilingual. The English-language section is poorly written and typeset, and obviously translated in Japan. On the other hand, the appliance is so simple that you really don't need a manual.

Overall, the Zojirushi CD-DEC30 is small, sturdy, convenient, and very easy to use. If you don't mind the high price, I strongly recommend it.

This hot pot is a must for anyone who wants boiling water 24/7. If you're into making a freshly brewed cup of coffee, tea, or soup immediately, it's ready and waiting.

It's wonderful when my baby granddaughter is visiting. I can make her formula immediately or just warm a bottle right in the hot water. It has two temperature settings. Also great for sterilizing something immdiately without having to boil water.

We bought this heater/warmer for keeping boiled water available for baby formula. We were given advice to boil water first before mixing with formula which became a chore until we got this unit. This unit works great and when we went on a cross country trip staying in hotels and motels, we brought it along to have boiled water readily available not only for the baby formula but coffee and tea. It didn't take up too much space and we didn't have to lug a stove burner or be inconvenienced by having to look for hot water at roadside restaurants. The only problem we have now is that our todler now wants his milk to be warm, not cold. Oh well, can't win them all.

I can find nothing to take to task on the All-Clad tools. I have nearly all the tools they make and I like them all. They are easy to clean, no nooks for stuff to get stuck. They fit well in the hand and have a substantial, but not heavy, feel to them. Their shape is very good for the task at hand. The sole negative is their price but when balanced against the good, including the fact that they should last longer than the cook, they are a bargain at the price.

This is a great kit to go along with any All-Clad cookware collection that you might have going already. Though it comes with a very nice looking stainless steel cup, I prefer to use the hanging rack (also available on Amazon if you search for "all-clad hanging rack"). Plus its not hard to find an alternate use for the cup for something else.

My opinion is going to be somewhat biased because I love everything All-Clad. Everything they make seems to have some kind of heft and beauty that I just cant resist. There aren't many things in the kitchen that you can use and abuse with the kind of ferocious angst as with an All-Clad Product.

This tool kit is quality at a great price.

After watching my mother use her All-Clad tool set over the last two years, and seeing how well it has held up, I decided to go ahead and purchase this item. I have not been disappointed, the quality is amazing. The tools have a very solid feel to them, yet they are balanced and not too heavy. They clean SO easily, and are even dishwasher safe. We are throwing away all of our old tools and replacing them with All-Clad - it's amazing! Amazon's price can't be beat.... I know for a fact that my Mom paid full retail through a very well known catalog (ending in Sonoma). Amazon's price was half of that. If you are contemplating this set, DO IT! You won't regret it.

I have read people's comments about the relatively small diameter (6") of All-Clad's 2-quart saucepan. I find that the narrow diameter of this pan maintains a very hot, moist "atmosphere" in the upper region of the inside, even with the lid off. Because of that, the top of the food in the pan benefits from the radiant heat above it as well as from the physical-contact heat of the bottom and sides of the pan, even as you are adding ingredients and stirring, and with little loss of moisture from the food. The narrowness of the top of the pan helps prevent the wafting away of heat and moisture. (Using a long-handled stirring tool helps to protect your fingertips from the steam!) If you find that you are filling this pot with food, you really should transfer the food to a larger pot. In the 2-quart pan, leave enough space above the food for the "head of steam". A truly wonderful design!

All-Clad makes quality cookware with professional materials and thoughtful design. The two-quart saucepan is specialized yet versatile (see the Amazon guide which suggests making rice, potatoes, hot chocolate, etc.). The materials and weight ensure even heat distribution, non-scorching and relatively easy clean-up, and a cool handle. I am intrigued by the review of the more economical "Sur La Table' brand, but I would recommend calling them to find out the weight of the pan and other specifics to see if the two brands are really comparable.

The All Clad 2 Quart Sauce pan in great....a perfect balance of stainless steel & aluminum. However, the downside to All-Clad is the price. There is an alternative. Go to www.surlatable.com and look at there branded cookware. We have the 1, 2 and 3 quart sauce pans and they are identical to All-Clad, but with more style and at 1/2 the price. The 2 quart sauce pan is $75, 3 quart is $85. They are the same 18/10 polished stainless steel inside and out with a solid aluminum core.

I have tried other brands of cookware and these are the best at any price I've seen. I own both a set of the Tri-ply stainless and the nonstick Contemporary cookware from Calphalon (bought one and won the other) and both are fantastic. As far as any discoloration on the stainless, try some Bon-Ami or Bartender's Friend powder. Works great and keeps everyting very shiny and clean. All-Clad is fine but for the money you can't beat Calphalon. Calpahlon is owned by Rubbermaid so maybe that explains why it is so good.

My fiance and I chose to add the Tri Ply series to our registry based on look and feel alone. We couldn't be happier that we did. They look beautiful and feel wonderful. FOOD ACTUALLY COOKS DIFFERENT IN THESE. I would recommend using lower heat than you would with a cheaper set.

I too experienced a discoloration after using one of the pots for the first time... had a heart attack! As per one of the earlier reviews: a little distilled vinegar... poof, back to normal!

FYI - We chose this set over an All-Clad set based on looks and price... but we have some friends who got the All-Clad set... ours seems better when it comes to quality...

I believe that both All-clad and Calphalon are now made in China. Go and compare both side-by-side. Check the lids for flatness (see if they "rock" back and forth or are level). Turn all of the pots and pans upside down and check for tightness of fit at the handle. Some of the more expensive All-clad have a space between the handle and the pan that you could slip a dime into. Really, go look for yourself. Calphalon has better quality control, the lids rock less (still a little every once in awhile), and the handles fit snug (less chance of food becoming trapped). They just seem to be a surperior product. Thanks for the tip on cleaning the inside with a tbs of distilled vinegar. Brand new and the insides picked up some rainbow color. A little distilled vinegar on the inside, rub with your fingers and rinse. Like new again. As for cooking these are great pots n pans. If you are not a serious cook get the commercial hard anodized or commercial nonstick. These are unbelievably easy to clean. A real pleasure to wash by hand, and they "brown" foods with no real difference if you are an average cook. If I were buying these again I would start with all the deep discount sale pieces and build my own set. Your food will tase better, the colors are much richer (carrots are orange and greens are really "green") I always thought that was just a lot of hype. My wife is a great cook. I am an "eater" and love quality products. Non of the handles get hot. Just use a normal light weight dish cloth. Happy eating