Kitchen Reviews

I really enjoy all of my Calphalon, and while I do use this pan, it is always third in line after my commercial hard anondized 2 1/2 quart saucepans (also purchased at Amazon.com) unless I need a non-stick surface for some reason.

I purchased this originally for making rice and other grains so I could monitor them cooking without peaking and releasing all the steam. Unfortunately, the steam clouds the glass cover and makes it impossible to see into the pan anyway which negates that use. The glass cover does allow me to make sure that liquids or sauces are only simmering or to make sure that they are below a simmer which is a nice feature.

My two major pet peeves with this saucepan and lid are the lid itself and the handle. The lid and handle, as mentioned by other reviewers, do get very, very hot. A stay cool handle would have been a great improvement. The other thing I dislike is the handle on the saucepan itself. While this is very nitpicky, the end is open and almost sharp, making it uncomfortable to hold or carry. While my commercial anondized pans are probably twice as heavy and harder to handle, they seem better balanced than this pan and the handles are much more substantial.

This pan is still an excellent buy - and much better than any other glass topped non-stick saucepans I have tested. So if you are set on either a glass top or a non-stick surface, this would be the pan to choose. If you are just looking for a nice little saucepan, I would grab the commercial hard anondized while you still can. (Or even two since they are such a good deal!)

...I purchased this cookware a week ago and would consider giving it a 5-Star rating. I will provide here the reason.

First, the craftsmanship is superb (Made in USA, I believe, because the box doesn't say the country of manufacture - the common case of American made Calphalons), especially the glass lid, which is heavy, very well made and fits the pan perfectly. The equipment of the glass lid instead of metal lid is probably a drawback in terms of being classic in style, but it does help when you are cooking something that needs constant attention without opening the lid.

Secondly, the weight balance is among the best of Calphalon I've used (I own more than 10 pieces of Calphalon cookware). It is a rather heavy cookware. That's why it's called professional, opposite to "Commercial" or "Simply". Considering the majority of professional chefs are men, this is a great pan for them.

Thirdly, the aluminum core of the pan is necessary. As said in the review below, aluminum is indeed harmful to human body. However, unless you are chewing it, you are not in any form of immediate danger. The reason is aluminum, especially 99% pure aluminum, provides fast heat transfer and even cooking no other metal could ever match. The surface of each hard-anodized and non-stick cookware is either hard "anodized" or applied with an outer layer, which isolates the aluminum core from any contact with the food you cook. Be very careful with the hand tool you use to cook though, as long as you do not damage the surface of a cookware, you need not worried about aluminum contact and its danger.

In all, I personally like this pan...

I bought this pot last year because it was on sale and a friend of mine swears by Calphalon Cookware. Well I guess I agree with her. I love it so much I am going to purchase the whole set. The Professional II line is no longer available but the Contemporary Non-Stick line took it's place so that's my next purchase. I have always uses Revereware, as did my mother, until I cooked with Calphalon. This cookware is very heavy and cooks even plus this line is non-stick in the pots as well as the friers. Plus with the glass lids you can see the food cooking without raising the lid. Also I have a ceramic stove top and your pots have to be perfectly flat on the bottom to use on that type of stove. This cookware is perfect for ceramic stove tops. Plus oven proof and lifetime warranty what else could you ask for?

I love to bake, and so when I registered for wedding gifts, I saw an ideal opportunity to own a quality mixer (as opposed to the many cheap versions I've used in the past). I liked the basic appearance and features of this KitchenAid version, and after reading reviews of it here, I added it to our registry. This little mixer is tough and makes baking a breeze. The beaters appear delicate, but despite being lightweight, they can handle heavy dough without having the batter stick. The best thing about this mixer is the noise level--I have NEVER heard a mixer that is this quiet, making it pleasant to use even at the highest speed. This is an excellent quality mixer at a reasonable price, and it should be able to meet all of your baking needs.

Wow, I can't believe how great this mixer is. I bought it mainly to knead dough. The dough hooks worked just as well as a stand mixer that I had. They didn't hesitate at all. The mixer has a sensor inside that will compensate for the current to make sure it doesn't bog down. I kneaded on setting 4 for 2 minutes and the dough was better than when I used to do it by hand, and it was also better than with the Farberware stand mixer I had. I never got the impression that it was straining at all. It was also pretty quiet. It felt solid in my hand but not heavy enough to make it tired. It is a well-built product. The owner's manual has several recipes that look pretty good and even a few bread recipes.

I enthusiastically recommend this mixer to anyone who wants to knead dough.

This is a great product. When I needed a new mixer, I chose this one for two reasons: (1) It is made in the USA, thus preserving jobs for American workers; and (2) It included dough hooks for mixing yeast dough. This is a quality product, and I would like to make a suggestion for those reviewers who said the beaters do not stay in. Look at the stems of your beaters or dough hooks carefully, and you will see that one is just a tiny bit wider than the other one. Insert one in the right slot first until it clicks. If it doesn't click, it is the wrong one, and you'll have to insert the other one. The remaining beater or dough hook should then click easily in the other slot. The click locks it in place. Unfortunately, Kitchenaid does not mention this in their user manual. Tonight I followed the "Basic White Bread" recipe in the manual and made a perfect loaf of bread. There was no tedious hand kneading, only a very short mixing time. It is truly amazing. I will make bread and rolls much more often, now that I have this mixer.

I have owned this panini grill for about 9 months and used it regularly. I loved every sandwich and grilled meat that I cooked in it. But one Saturday, I plugged it in as usual to make my favorite grilled cheese and it was dead, although it had worked perfectly well the day before.

I cannot give a hands-on review this Krups, as I do not own one. However, I saw it being demonstrated in a Sur La Table store alongside the Flama Panini Grill. I bought the Flama. The Flama has more wattage (1600), removable drip tray, removable nonstick reversible grill plates (the other side is smooth), 5 heat settings for different types of food, a "broiler" feature to brown the tops of mini pizzas or cheeseburgers. None of these features are available on the Krups model. The Flama isn't as pretty to look at, but it does the job better. Go with the Flama.

I love this machine. It's hot, it's fast, and it makes the crunchiest thin sandwiches in minutes. I use the olive spray on the outsides, and either ham, turkey or chicken slices, or grilled veggies, all with a little cheese on the insides. Thin tomato slices with some mozzerella and basil leaves are also great as well as a little brie with just about anything. Use your imagination. I like the idea of the small, gourmet style sandwiches for today's eating. The flatter the bread, the better but the pain rustique bread at Costco works quite well too. Just measure each slice about 2 1/2 inches wide, cut it in half horizontally and fill. Or the straight grilled slices make great crostini and I just top it with an olive spread or a tomato, garlic and basil bruschetta, or a tuscan white bean spread with rosemary. Make them any size you wish. Guests love them with a nice Chianti either for an appetizer or a snack. I will keep my grill for panini and not use it for meat. It's easy to clean; I usually wipe it with a paper towel. It's truly a quality piece of work and I'm totally satisfied with my purchase.

This blender has been completely satisfying. It crushes ice consistantly and thoroughly. My smoothies alwalys come out like silk. I use the blender several times a day, and the motor hasn't burned out. The steel adds a unique touch while leaving me fearless of broken glass. And, the warrenty that comes with it is a comfort in the event I have problems with the unit. I highly recommend this product for it's quality, distinctiveness, and dependability.

I've long been interested in having a really great blender. Something that will crush ice, puree soup, make smoothies for breakfast or snacks and of course blend up a nice margarita. :)

I looked at dozens of blenders, and finally chose the Waring bar model in stainless based on design, other reviews and power. The metal jar was also very important. I have always been afraid of breaking the glass on other blenders I have owned, and in fact have broken one.

This blender is just lovely. It is loud, but because it is so powerful and simply *works*, you don't have to run it very long anyway. There are no plastic buttons to get sticky and goopy. One *metal* switch and two settings are plenty.

Rather than the "turn to lock the jar in" method that most blenders use, this one drops in. You can't do it "wrong" -- it just won't go in if you have the canister turned the wrong way. The jar, which does need to be held steady with one hand, never kicks or bucks when crushing ice. You never feel like the machine is going to burn up or fly off the counter. And when you're done, you just grab the handle and lift it off, without fighting the locking mechanism -- because it doesn't have one.

The simplicity of design and use is a very big part of why I love this blender, but the fact that it's metal is a huge plus. It keeps the drinks cold, it washes out *very* easily, even when doing hot stuff that would instantly stick to the glass jars of most blenders.

My blender has never failed, never struggled, never even broken a sweat while performing any task I ask it to. It looks good, cleans easily and is easy to use. What more does anyone need in a blender? I can't think of a thing.

Hi. If you're like me, you've killed more than you care to count blenders in your life time. You know that a good margarita requires finely chopped ice without lumps! You've probably cut up a few of those rubber things that come with the other blenders because you put it together wrong. It's embarrasing when your guest sees chopped up grey rubber in their margarita glass. Let's not forget the numerous parts to those other blenders and when your toddler runs off with one of the parts, never to be found again. Well, the Waring PBB25 Professional Bar Blender does away with all those unnecessary complications in your life. I ordered this blender and gave it to myself for christmas. Let me tell you, I love this blender! I love this blender! I love this blender! It's beautiful, it's a single unit with no parts (except for the lid), no rubber thingys, it's powerful, it's affordable, and best of all, it makes the best margaritas, the best chocolate shakes, and the best diet/protein shakes. The only problem is that my five kids love it as well. ;-)

using either white or red potatoes the lever does not have enough leverage to push through and cut the fries....we bought it for use in small (49) fries... more leverage needed. We did not buy on line but at an outlet mall in San Marcos Texas..l

Note: on the ad for this it says $11.99 as soon as you say buy it comes up $12:99 which is what we paid for it in the mall.

The product itself get 5 stars for ease and functionality and 4 stars for a cleaning problem and lack of accessories.

In the package are 2 different sized blade grates and push blocks that are easily assembled and removed from the main body by depressing a small lever and turning a latch, respectively. Cutting capacity is less than 4 inches in length. You'll have to "cut" large Russets before "cutting!"

Clean-up is mostly easy, if you have a baby bottle nipple brush to poke through the grate holes and cross brush the push blocks (a toothbrush for the latter works also). However, the main body has slots where the push block slides. This area collects and traps small potato fragments and is difficult to clean.

I would like to see different shaped blade grates, just for the heck of it. You never know what strange moods you will be in!? I would enjoy a larger capacity in the main body, but this would cause more strength to cut the potatoes. Right now, there's a good compromise between capacity and cutting effort.

Don't forget to double fry your potatoes: about 2-3 minutes at 325F, pat dry, then about 5 minutes or golden brown at 375F.
You can check the cooking sites for variations.

I bought this product a while ago, and it is fine, except you have to cut up the potato, etc.

I just received today, a Progressive JUMBO Potato Cutter that I saw in a catalog. Progressive now makes a cutter that is larger, and can cut the whole potato. Perfect.

Worked fine for about a dozen bottles, then broke. Same thing happened with one my mother-in-law bought for herself. I would not recommend.

Traditional wine bottles are sealed with corks. The Screwpull does a fine job with only two simple lever movements of removing the cork. Wax-sealed corks are another matter. Wax is a challenge for all types of conventional wine openers including this one. For operation with wax I recommend removing the screw every 10 bottles and cleaning off the wax in order to preserve its slippery Teflon surface. When the screw gets coated with wax it is resistive to penetrating a cork, thus it exerts vertical pressure on the cork and drives it inside the bottle - not a good thing when your guests are wearing a white top and you're opening a bottle of red - keep those screws clean, Teflon or not.

Other than the wax issue the Screwpull works great and is a nice tool to have in the kitchen. If we all stayed away from high production wines with those waxed bottles the world would be a better place and the Screwpull would be an absolute dream. The Screwpull is well-built and sturdy - highly recommended!

This is it--the end of the wine opener line. It takes about 2 minutes to get the hang of gracefully gripping the top of a wine bottle with the handles, and when to flip the lever up (which leads the teflon screw to do an effortless swan dive through the cork) vs. flipping it down (to extract the cork), but once you have it down, all other openers seem skimpy and pale. To pop the cork off the screw's tip, you repeat the same motions, with the handles in "closed" position: lever up, lever down. The cork plops onto the nearest surface. The humble foil cutter may seem like an accessory, but it's an essential: it usually takes about a half twist around the top to lift foil; if the cork is capped with wax instead, you don't even need the cutter--the screw slips right through wax. From foil to cork-plop takes about 10 seconds. It works on the nastiest, most resistant corks (even crumblers and stubborn synthetics). If you're entertaining, and opening more than one bottle, let your guests see you open the first--without fail, they'll want to try it. Designers love it. Engineers like to figure out what the gear mechanism is up to. Wine connoisseurs already own it. I received mine as a gift, but if it ever disappears, I'll spring for the high-altitude price. Individual pieces in this gift set are also worth owning, including the spare teflon screw--which is one of the keys to the opener's success. (After 6 months my original screw is nowhere near needing replacing.) I only wish the name of this wonderful thing matched the elegance of its design. Note: the Metrokane Rabbit is based on the same design for a notably lower price, so it's a good option--but I've tried both, and for me this is just It--it's sturdier, has a great hinged storage box that fits in a drawer, and there are no ifs. (The one time I used a Rabbit, it wouldn't let go of the extracted cork.)

I have had this product for only a couple days, but I am already very pleased, especially for the price (Friday Sale). Based on the reviews, I did not expect the permanent filter, and there was not one in the box. My local gourmet kitchen store has one that fits for pretty cheap, though, so I'll probably pick one up soon.

This machine makes muuuch better coffee than my old cheap machine. The charcoal water filter is a nice touch, and I especially like the choice of warmer plate settings.

The only down sides so far are a small scratch on the side (expected with a refurbished model), and a top lid that does not always close all the way (no leaks though)

A great value!!!

Would I buy this coffee maker for the full price of the new model? Probably not. But the reconditioned one is a great value.

It looks great, as is apparent from the photo. Keep in mind, though, that as a reconditioned unit, it may have some minor blemishes to its appearance. Mine, for example, has a very small dent in the stainless steel on its left side. It's not noticable unless you're looking for it, and that alone wouldn't keep me from recommending this coffee maker. (Also, as previous reviewers have noted, this model does NOT come with a permanent filter like the new model does.)

What's a little iffier about it, though, are a couple strange design issues that affect usability.

Every coffee maker I've ever owned has had a flip-top carafe--but not this one. You have to physically remove the lid to pour water into the carafe--a minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience nonetheless.

You need the carafe to measure water, because there's no water-level indicator on the coffee maker itself. Additionally, the water filter takes up a lot of the space under the lid, meaning that there's a relatively small space to pour the water into from the carafe. It's enough room that someone without any mobility problems shouldn't have any issues getting the water in, but it takes a little getting used to.

Overall, I'd recommend the reconditioned model of the Brew Central. It's not so great that I'd replace it with another one of the same model if it became unusable, but good enough that I'm glad to have it on the counter.

This is my second attempt into the "higher end" coffeemaker ranks, and I can honestly say the Cuisinart Brew Central has fulfilled all my expectations.

The coffee is just marvelous! It works fast and quick, and it's H-O-T, which is fine by me since the previous Krups disaster absolutely blew big time and produced marginally warm coffee at best.

I'm no coffee diva, but I grind my own beans and have for years. Of course it takes a little fine-tuning to get the right measure of coffee vs. water, but I hit the mark on the second pot.

My local tap water is actually very good, so I didn't think the charcoal filter would do much. But actually, the coffee tastes even better - so who knows? I think I'd try brewing coffee without the filter once this one wears out, just to see if there's much of a difference.

I purposely bought a reconditioned machine, since I spent $100 on the previous Krups horror, and I didn't want another repeat of a waste of money. My Cuisinart arrived without the gold filter (which is fine by me; I don't like permanent filters anyway), but the machine itself looked absolutely unused. No dents or dings. As to the "seeing inside to pour the water" thing, my machine has white marks with numbers on it, so it's easy to get the right water level. (I'm also tall, so that probably didn't hurt. I can see where a shortie would need a stepladder to look inside - this is a tall, imposing machine!)

My only complaint, if you can even call it one, is that the price of the filters can add up. I've been looking around on ebay and on amazon, and the average price per filter is about $3. Now that doesn't sound like much, since you replace it every 60 pots, but we're BIG coffee drinkers here, so that filter isn't going to last a month.

Oh well. It's probably a small price to pay for a machine that so far (knock wood!) has exceeded all my expectations.

But if anyone does know of a good place to buy DISCOUNT charcoal filters, lemme know! Between air purifiers and hypoallergenic vaccum cleaners, filter replacement can chew your wallet up!

We have been using this product for the last six months... and, of course, it's nice to be able to look up at your ceiling in the dark of the night and realize that it's 3 a.m. ... BUT, as a Minnesotan, it's downright comforting to see that [sometimes all too negative] outside temperature projected on your ceiling. In addition, it's very nice to have an alarm clock that actually checks the time and makes a weather forecast... this is certainly the most entertaining alarm clock we have had... so, why not 5 stars? That little matter of an internal button that had to be re-seated before I could set the timezone gives me some pause about recommending this product without hesitation. Fun product with perhaps some quality control risk.

Love the clock but wish the buttons were a little less cumbersome - hard to manipulate with just one hand. Indoor temp. reads a little high. Perhaps the projector heats the internals. Other than that, the time and outdoor temp. on the ceiling is quite entertaining!

I am impressed by the accuracy of the weather forcaster,since the clock itself decides what the forcast will be,without any help from the weather service.The only two things I was not completely satisfied with were: That I discovered it was made in china.And the projected image only displays the outside(remote sensor)temperature,not both.Neither are too big a deal,and wouldn,t have prevented me from buying and enjoying the clock. It is great to have a clock that sets itself,keeps great time,forcasts the weather,measures temp inside & out,and projects the time on ceiling or wall for easy viewing at night,without being too bright for sleeping.As you can probably see by now,I am happy with my purchase.

Obviously this machine is an equal show piece and appliance and as such might not be the premium device for everyone. True there are very minor limitations, but the inability for a user to muster the strength to slide the '16 lb. machine' across a foot of counter space to insert water behind the pedestal is sad indeed. I have been using this machine heavily and haven't run into any life altering problems. Much like any unique machine the intrinsic engineering eccentricities are the welcome price to be paid if the user takes the time to learn how to make the machine work for him. I scoff at the complaint about a lack of labeling on the machine- how hard is it to learn the function of 3 switches, a couple lights and a knob??? And frankly, I don't have hordes of strangers running through my kitchen using every available item daily. ... There is a cup heating rail on the top for keeping the china toasty. ... The machine can handle single or double servings of coffee, and if you have a preferable brand of coffee this machine does not turn it to dung as some might infer. Think of this machine as an MGTD, not a '02 Ford Escort and learn to drive it appropriately if you make the purchase choice.

The steaming function works fine, and cappucino is easily prepared as any machine. I recommend the Illy ESE pods for quick convienient coffee, but everyone has their own particular tastes.

Do not purchase your machine from AMazon. You can get a much better deal on Ebay. You will save over $200 if you purchase it there, and you will still get a warrantied machine. This is a great espresso machine, by the way.

What can I say? There is simply no comparable home espresso machine on the market. When you buy francisfrancis, you're not buying simple function. You are buying excellent, beautiful design--IN ADDITION to quality materials, construction and function. In response to an earlier poster's comments, the Silvia may provide technically perfect function. But it's also awkward and ugly. Coffee--and particularly espresso--is about a daily ritual as much as it is about swallowing down a cup of this brown brew. It's a sensual, romantic experience. Ever notice that many of the old Italian machines were beautiful, stylized pieces with polished brass, eagle finials, etc? Sure a plain steel drum might be able to do the same job. But that robs you of a meaningful part of the whole experience. The francis recaptures that spirit, and is concieved with that sensibility in mind.

If the ritual really means nothing at all to you, then the Silvia may be your choice. If you're an espresso enthusiast however, that's not likely the case. As another reviewer said, I love getting up in the morning and seeing the bright red francis sitting on my counter top. It's really a joy. Plus, it makes a damn good espresso.

One further word. I never thought I would want to go this way before buying the francis, but give the pod thing a try. They are really high quality, consistent, and CLEAN and EASY... and produce great results. Cleanup is greatly simplified. Before actually trying them, I was really the purist about buying and grinding my own coffee. These really make life simpler though. They virtually eliminate cleanup. And again, they ensure you consistent, quality results.

What a deal! Lots of useful features, my favorite of which is the pause and pour. I can pour a cup in the middle of brewing and no more coffee pouring out on the counter. I am very surprised to hear other reviewers having trouble with the quality of coffee brewed. I find it outstanding, you can control the strength of the brew easily. Also, there is no need for gourmet coffee blends, my maxwell house is just fine. I have washed the carafe in the dishwasher, but usually do it by hand. I do not use paper filters, the gold filter is much easiser.
This is my 3rd Braun coffeemaker. Its easy to clean, easy to operate. However I will admit that the programming buttons on my previous model were easier to see and to read. If you're like me and don't change settings very much, then it should be a piece of cake. Set it and forget it. I also prefer the 10 cup carafe size over the 12 cup, but its not that big of a difference. I also have never used the coffee filter, as I have a Brita filter pitcher and just use that water, or plain tap water in a pinch. Quality of my tap water is good though.
Best of luck choosing, I doubt you will find an alternative with this many features at this price. Reliable, doesn't leak, easy to pour and makes a tasty cup of coffee!

Braun makes the most reliable coffeemaker that we have ever owned. After our second Braun finally failed after nearly 3 years, I found that retail stores in my locale no longer carried the Braun line of coffeemaker. So, I proceeded to try what was available locally. After the second unacceptable brand that we tried, I went to old reliable Amazon and ordered another Braun. It's great to have a reliable product, and a good cup of coffee. I'll never switch again, as long as Braun is available.

I've been buying auto-drip coffeemakers for years. They never lasted longer than about a year, so I am regularly replacing them...

I finally got tired of that a couple of months ago, when my latest Mr. Coffee cheapo started leaking water and coffee profusely all over the counter. I figured that I would at last try out a "high-end" coffeemaker, to see if there is anything to it besides the cost of a fancy brand name. I bought the Braun KF180 FlavorSelect.

And I've never been happier. There really is a lot more than just a name you pay for. This coffeemaker is marvellous! The carafe actually pours! Yes, without spilling! It is beyond easy to load and operate and clean, very nicely constructed, top design. It makes HOT coffee, and it tastes as good as out of a percolator. It is solid, not some cheap flimsy thing. It has a small footprint for a 12-cup maker, it's full of options like when it will automatically turn itself on in the morning, to how long the hotplate stays on before the safety switch shuts it down (select a time between 10 minutes to 4 hours!) It uses a "multi-path drip brewing" system and features the eponymous "flavor selector." I do not know for sure what makes it tastes so good, but I'm not complaining. This coffeemaker was worth every penny! I knew that Braun was a good name, but now I know that it is backed up by excellent design, manufacturing and features, and not just hype.

FYI: This machine has the compartment to place the water filter, but doesn't come with one out of the box. (The compartment does not take up any room in the tank, it will make 12-cups with or without the filter, unlike some other makers.) If you use municipal tap water (with chlorine added, etc.) you will want to get that filter. They should be replaced around every 2 to 3 months. (Amazon sells them.) If you live out in the sticks like me and use well or spring water, note that this filter is not recommended for untreated water.

It uses No.4 paper filters (more like a pouch than a cone, with a flat, "stitched" closing, not the cones with a circular bottom). If you want to use a reusable filter, you have to get the Braun GF4 Gold Screen Filter (which, like the water filter, is included with the KF 187 version of this coffeemaker, or you can get it separately.)

NOTE: Other brands of No.4-sized reusable filters WILL NOT fit in a Braun FlavorSelect model. (I've tried it with the Krups Gold Tone Filter sold here, and no.) Braun coffeemakers have small, rounded protrusions on the inside of the filter compartment. Paper filters bend around them just fine, but rigid reusable filters will not sit, and the compartment cannot be closed. Make sure it says it can be used in a Braun FlavorSelect before you buy it. I did a Google search for "braun gf4" and found several online vendors for it. (Great filter, BTW.)