Kitchen Reviews

I purchased this Hamilton Beach mixer over the Kitchen Aid,(both products are already being used in my kitchen) because it was on sale for $129.00 with a 3 yr warranty. The Kitchen Aid mixer was $229.00 with a 1 yr warranty. Hamilton Beach was a much better buy for the same quality. Keep in mind when purchasing your mixer, whether or not you will REALLY need AND purchase all the bells and whistles that come on the Kitchen Aid! Also, what made it easier for me to decide was the beautiful PINEAPPLE color! It really looks more like a light lemon color than a pineapple color for anyone who loves the color yellow like me!

Rather than buy the more expensive Kitchen Aid, I opted to buy this mixer because of the 400 watts power, the tilt back head, and the large bowl. Had I realized what a difference a fine quality tool can make in preparation tasks, it would have been in my kitchen years ago. A large Christmas pound cake recipe with fruit that last year took all my bowls to prepare and nearly killed my hand mixer was done in a jiffy with this mixer, and the kitchen was not declared a national distaster area this time. It also kneaded fondant, making mixing in the color tint and flavoring a 30 second job compared to the evenings I had spent previously preparing it by hand.
The tilt option makes changing the mixing tools much easier.
I highly recommend this reasonably priced mixer.

I snagged this particular color because it was about $30 less expensive than the other colors available at the time. A few days later, when I was checking on my order, I decided to go back to the item to read more about it. Come to find out, the price had been knocked down to $99!! I decided to email customer service to ask if they would credit me for the difference of price, and they did!! AMAZON RULES, BABY!!

Since I have recieved this mixer, I have used it to make all sorts of cookies, scrambled eggs, meatloaf and even two loaves worth of my mother's Italian bread recipe. All have turned out beautifully. The only time I had a problem is when I was mixing the two loaves of bread dough at the same time. I did have to hold the mixer down because it was jumping all over the place, but I think that was my fault for trying to put so much dough in at once...lol. For the price I got it at though, I'm giving it five stars despite the cute lil' dance it did.....it has made my life easier and my time in the kitchen much more enjoyable.

I have the KitchenAid stainless steel saucier in good part because I was struck by its looks. But I like it even more now that I've used it. It heats very evenly; the rounded bottom makes whisking & stirring easy; and the shallow wide shape is great for reducing, which I appreciate because I don't think sauces are done till you can stand a spoon in them! Also, the all-metal construction means you can make a sauce, mix in the vegetables, then put it straight into the oven without hauling out a separate casserole. The handle stays reasonably cool on the stovetop, and the well-curved lip, handle, & lid all seem noticeably better-designed than comparable All-Clad. (Note that their glossy hard-anodized finish does not have the same curved lip as the stainless on all pieces.) The mirrored finish is almost too beautiful: seeing the first scratch is dismaying, but the stainless finish is easy to clean & the performance is more than worth it. The real beauty is in the use. It was my first premium-priced piece of cookware and I am now spoiling for an excuse to buy another piece for myself or a friend. Worth every dime.

I bought this saucier after a sugar sauce I was making in a cheaper pan turned to carbon. It does sauces wonderfully well, as I would expect from this Kitchenaid line. It heats evenly, is nicely balanced, and the rounded interior is perfect for a balloon wisk or wooden spoon.

If you're used to a copper saucier or a thinner pan, expect to throw a little extra heat on this one to keep it up to temperature. The pan also has more heat capacity than copper, so for a very delicate egg-based sauce I would still use a double boiler or a real french copper saucier, since taking the pan off heat doesn't immediately take it off boil.

For other stuff it's wonderful - the shape of the pan reduces stock beautifully, the heat capacity and distribution is comparable to my leCreuset soup pots (without the weight), and the Kitchenaid handles and lids are a joy to work with.

Oddly enough, I've also found that the shape is perfect for artichokes - two or three will nestle in the pan without falling over, and the deep-draw lid means you can put a scant inch of water in the pan and gently steam the chokes for a good 20 minutes without the pan going dry.

The blindingly polished convex lid also makes a good makeup or shaving mirror, for those last minute touch-ups before your dinner guests arrive. :-).

I initially received the cookware set as a gift from my spouse, and have been slowly adding pieces over time (only at rock-bottom sale prices, found by scrounging online). This amazingly-priced saucier rounds out my cookware nicely. Not only are the KitchenAid cookware beautiful and sturdy, their handles are marvelous - great leverage and length. The thick, flat, curved handles stay balanced in your hand, and don't tilt at inconvenient moments like other thin-handled pans do. They have an Old World feel to them, both in heft and looks, except this is stainless steel. This saucier will be perfect for sauce making and reduction, and braising of smaller pieces of meat, or even making vegetable stock. Once you get used to the heft of the saucier and maneuver it well with one hand, you won't want to go back to the lighter weight pans. You will probably find yourself using this saucier for practically everything, everyday.

Although I always liked the look of it, I didn't want this mixer. I wanted a powerful, hand-held model. But I received this as a gift two years ago, and I am very glad I did.

This mixer never gets stored away; it's too often in use. And using it is a pleasure, with its well designed utensils and simple controls for mixing anything--from slow stirs for creaming butter and sugar to fast speeds for whipping cream in a jiffy. It wipes clean effortlessly, the attachments are as easy to clean as conventional mixing bowls and utensils, and the machine's timeless and fluid forms have great eye and hand appeal.

A final word about this mixer's heavy-duty construction and motor. This machine powerfully mixes the stiffest doughs, so you can bake bread twice a day if you want. My bread machine, though simpler to use, has taken a back seat to this machine. This mixer churns a better loaf.

I used to hate to cook. And it wasn't until recently that I discovered why--I never had the right tools! One especially good example is pizza: I love it, but always thought it was too much trouble. Not any more. I make pizza weekly now, and it takes me about the same amount of time it used to take me to make Hamburger Helper (back in the old days). I dissolve the yeast, dump in the other crust ingredients, and voila! In about three minutes I have pizza dough, already kneaded and ready to rise.

Cakes and homemade frostings are a breeze. I never liked the canned frostings anyway, and the manufacturers stopped making frosting mixes, so for a long time my family got only bakery cakes. Now I can whip one up, and later make homemade frosting for it, in nothing flat. The bowl and attachements (except for the metal whip) go right into the dishwasher. Nothing could be easier. And now when friends and family ask about my cakes, I can tell them I made them from scratch.

This is well worth the investment--even if you don't consider yourself a "serious" cook. This will make you look like one!

After burning up several of the lesser expensive mixers, I began my search. I began reading reviews on the Kitchen Aid product lines, liked what I saw, decided to take the plunge, and purchase a Kitchen Aid Mixer. (only exception is mine was white). I had purchased this mixer about 2 years ago, and it works great! It can stand up to the stiffest of doughs with no problem, such as cookie dough, and biroche, and extended mixing times, no laboring what so ever. I was amazed at the quality of their products. I have since upgraded to the 6 qt. epicurian mixer for the larger size, power, etc. especially since I do so much baking and cooking. They also offer a large line of accesories that can be purchased for the mixer(s), which makes this product even more versitile... Only downfall is make sure that once you find a place for the mixers, you leave it there. They are quite heavy, but it is worth it, especially since they are one of the few companies that still make their products from metal, and not plastic.

I recently purchased a funky mini bar for my home, so naturally I needed bar acessories to not only be functional but also match the decor. Thats why I chose the Metrokane bullet shaker. Most shakers look the same-- very blah and ordinary. Not the bullet shaker-- this one is really cool looking and far from ordinary. I got many compliments this Thanksgiving when I mixed martinis with this shaker. The capacity is more than the average shaker, so you can mix more drinks per use. Plus this shaker has a built in strainer-- which is a must for anyone looking for a shaker.

The only fear I had when I ordered this was the quality of the product. I feared that since it was so stylish looking it might not be a quality shaker-- perhaps sacrificing form for function. Not so with this shaker. It's made with solid stainless steel and is quite sturdy. So far is looks like it will definitly last many martinis.

Keep in mind that this is not an "insulated" cocktail shaker. The stainless steel body will get cold when mixing a few drinks in a row-- which is common for all metal shakers. Just keep a bar rag or napkin handy if you plan to shake a ton of drinks.

All in all I'm very pleased with my purchase.

You can't go wrong with the Bullet. My sister gave me this for a present and I have had absolutly no problems using it! I have used mine for a year now and I totally recommend this product to anyone and everyone.

I read these reviews before buying this item. Let me just say if you had any doubts about this product, don't! The cap is easy to get on and off and you CAN shake with the cap on. The shaker does get a little frosty but it's not THAT cold and it looks cool. I love this shaker!! It holds alot more liquid and it is so fun to use! BUY IT NOW!!!

These spatulas are indispensible in the kitchen. I bought them mainly because they were a good deal, and I had seen them being used on a cooking show to scoop muffin batter into tins. The host made it look so easy, but really it's just a matter of working with the right tools - and these are the right tools. Nearly heatproof, with a whole line of matching, well-made kitchen accessories, these things are great!
I don't know why Kitchen Aid insists on packaging all of their kitchen tools with hard plastic bands, though. Opening the packaging can be fairly dangerous. I required a trip to the ER and four stitches in my hand when the scissors slipped while opening this very package. Be careful! ;)

After a mere week of use, our new set of silicon spatulas is already indispensable. They are not only very smart-looking, and modestly priced, but they handle beautifully and stand up to as much heat as you've got. They're just perfect for use with my Creuset pots, and do their duty in keeping the enamel smooth and unmarred.
Highly recommended.

I have been looking for years for a spatula that wouldn't melt or lose it firmness when used in a hot pot or skillet. Here it is at last

This is my first piece of cast iron, so I was a little (I admit stupidly) surprised at how incredibly heavy this was, especially when the two pieces are combined to use as a dutch oven. The handles are also relatively short, which makes it more difficult to pick up, especially when it's hot. You will definitely need 2 really good oven mitts to handle this!

I also had to re-season it twice, since I used too much shortening the first time, resulting in a sticky film that wouldn't cook away. But once it was properly seasoned, I've loved using it. I use it often enough that the weight is never a factor because I just leave it on my stovetop even when it's not in use. I am amazed at how completely non-stick it is, even though I've only had it a short while. Just make sure the first couple of things you cook in it are fatty, like bacon, and nothing will ever stick to it, ever again.

It gets very hot very fast, and it heats evenly and cooks things VERY quickly, especially eggs. It also stays hot for quite a while longer even when you turn the heat off, which means it keeps cooking, so keep that in mind if you're not going to be moving your dish onto a different plate or bowl for serving.

Clean-up is also incredibly easy: a tablespoon of kosher salt mixed with canola oil to make a paste, scour this around with a paper towel, then rinse with water and dry. It takes less than a minute!

It is a little on the smaller side, which hasn't been a problem for me since I usually only cook for myself and sometimes one other person. But if there was a 5- or 6-quart version, I would probably want to get that one, especially if you cook for more than just yourself. And cast iron only gets better with age, so aside from upgrading in size, I see myself using this pot for a long time to come.

I am a total newbie to cast iron...why did it take me so long to try this?

The lid makes an excellent fry pan, (double duty). Try taking your favorite fish, (I use salmon), season (I use lemon juice, pepper, season salt, a little garlic powder and a hint of dill), sear it on one side, flip it and then put it in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 8 minutes, (till flaky). Oh it is mouth watering! This is so good because it sears the outside for maximum flavor, and the weight of it holds the heat beautifully while moving it to the oven, where it continues to sear the other side and bake the rest.

The non stick quality is unbeatable. I couldn't understand how this could be true...but it is the best!

Clean up takes all of hmmm, how long does it take to wipe a paper towel across it? Nothing sticks to it at all. It doesn't need to be washed...I just preheat it the next time I use it which keeps it bacteria free. And I use it so often I just leave it on the burner, LOL. I just love it!

As far as the bottom part of it...great item too. I use that mostly for deep frying foods, and stir frying. If I could give this one a 4 thumbs up I would, (since it is not just a lid and a pan, it is a lid, a fry pan, a baking pan, stir fry pan and a 3 quart cooker)!

I should note, when I first got this I thought it was pretty heavy. But now that is one of the things I like about it, it is solid and I know that I will NEVER have to replace this or buy another fry pan/cooker. I wont complain it would be like complaining that gold is too shiny.

This is really a handy little - well, not so little - item. Great for camp or home. It's really two pans in one. The lid doubles as a round griddle, great for eggs, bacon, tortillas, fajitas, etc. The large bottom cooker serves in conjunction with the lid as a small Dutch oven, fryer, deep fry pan, what have you for soups, stews, fried chicken, etc.

Seasons readily and reflects the best cast iron quality available today. I don't know how I got by without this item - I can probably do away with a good half-dozen pots and pans now that I have it.

It's a real bargain at the price offered. Now that I've used it I probably would pay twice the price to replace it if anything ever happened to it - but (one of the blessings of cast iron cook ware) - if you don't loan it out and no one steals it, it'll outlast you.

I recently purchased this item and LOVE it! The new cast iron that is already seasoned is awesome. I still can't believe what a value this was. I know this will be an indespensible item in our ktchen.

I absolutely love the pre-seasoned items. It saves so much time and is convenient especially for those who are new to cooking with cast iron. I have just about every thing made by Lodge & recommend this as an item you will use again & again.

There are so few "cons" to this pot, it's hard to write a review that doesn't sound sappy.

I have a full set of Ultrex, a snappy modern line sold by a company that makes pans for many big names found in department stores. 55 year warranty, they work fine... But they're non-stick and I've started to worry about that.

Not long ago, a study came out that suggested eating foods cooked in Teflon pans left molecules of something or other floating around in the person's blood for FOUR YEARS. I thought twice about this and decided it was time to look into other pans. It might turn out to be benign - but what if it isn't?

I was addicted to good browning, was used to it from Cuisinart pans and Ultrex. I tried Calphalon hard-anodized aluminum. One burning incident and that pan was RUINED, totally ruined, nothing would clean it.

I've cooked in this Lodge Logic pre-seasoned for a dozen meals now, meat and fish, vegetables too. I've used all types of fats - olive oil, butter, corn oil. Tonight it made a gravy to die for - using heavy cream and mushrooms.

You do have to get used to its different heating cycle. It heats up slower than some other materials. It cools off slower too. But it is fuel efficient and you can do a lot of cooking on Low.

My #1 demand was that it brown meat well. It does that SPLENDIDLY. Really beautiful. Heat the pan for 5 minutes on near High. Throw in two tablespoons of olive oil, throw in stew meat and it will brown in four minutes, magazine picture perfect. Stir with a wooden spoon. Throw in vegetables once the meat's browned. A few cups of water, put the lid on, turn it down to Medium for 15 minutes, Low for another 15 minutes -- it will look like a magazine cover stew. Browning a roast is even easier -- and you can put it into the oven after browning.

If I had to complain of anything, it would be that cast iron is heavy. I'm not sure how much of a problem this will be. This is still a small enough pot to handle for most people. You can roast a whole chicken in it so if that's the quantity you cook, buy this right NOW, you can't go wrong.