Kitchen Reviews

After reading some 100+ blender reviews I purchased this classic blender. The metal drive was certainly a deciding factor, good looks notwithstanding. But even more decisive were the claims that this is an ice crushing monster.

And guess what? It IS. I used the Oster in a side by side comparison test with the Cuisinart 7-speed Smart Blender in a ice-off. The beehive made a much more frothy pina colada. The Cuisinart had to blend longer in order to pulverise the ice, which it finally did, but it definitely struggled. The Oster immediately chewed up the ice cubes. These are both 500 watt blenders, sufficiently powerful and up the to task, but the Oster is the clear winner.

This particular Cuisinart is also chrome and very handsome and it has a very nice large glass beaker, but the Oster can't be beat for price and performance. SO..........if you're out there researching and reading about the blender wars, this is another vote of confidence for a classic machine.

This blender is excellent. It crushes ice very well & has an all-metal drive. 2 speeds is just enough. We compared it to very expensive models and it won us over with the cool retro beehive look from the 50s. We like the glass container too. It sits securely in place when blending. This model also made excellent all-fruit drink by blending ice cubes, juice, chunks of apple, orange, and pineapple and it worked just perfectly.

Tip for ice crushers: nuke cubes for 10-15 seconds & pour on top of liquid in the carafe. You will get perfect drinks every time in this blender.

We like the professional results like the professional models at a very affordable price. Can't beat it. We would recommend it to anyone.

I bought the Oster blender a few weeks ago, largely based on the reviews I read on here. It has lived up to its reputation. This blender is a powerhouse. I'm still trying to get used to blending things for a only a few seconds rather than a minute or so. The only thing I don't like about it is that it only has two speeds. After seeing this blender work, I'm not sure I really needed 7 speeds in the first place. You can't beat the price either. The cuisinart and kitchenaid blenders are $100, while this one is half the price.

This product consists of a passive brush the size of a chalkboard eraser, a spray and a vacuum. Because the brush neither rotates nor vibrates, it can't deep scrub carpeting. Indeed, the product is so lightweight, the brush just really laps at the surface of the carpet, at best lifting off any surface dirt, but little else. Saying that this device has "6 rows of powerful cross-action brushes" is a meaningless term that reflects the fact that the bristles in the eraser-sized brush come in 6 rows. But there is no power to the brush, and there is nothing "cross-action" about it. It's just a soft brush that sits there doing nothing.

So in addition to the fact that the bristles aren't capable of releasing embedded dirt, the vacuum filled up after I covered a 4x5 foot area. My floor is wet, and not discernably cleaner than the portion that I hadn't cleaned. With a little more elbow grease, I should have saved myself nearly $70 and bought myself a bottle of Resolve and a new laundry brush. Spend more money and get something with a rotating brush, a bigger tank, and preferably heavy enough to actually put pressure on the brush; or spend less and do spot-treatment by hand. The Bissell 19603, which would take impossibly long to clean my 15x18 foot room (the only room I have with carpeting), and which would do so poorly, is not a happy medium between those two extremes.

I just purchased the Bissell Quicksteamer Plus at Target on January 21, 2003. I had priced other models, but they were quite expensive. I opened the box and thought, "How is this going to get my carpet clean - it's so small and light!" Well, I tried it, and was amazed. It got my carpet clean and smelling wonderful. It is surprisingly powerful. The best thing is that it's easy to refill, clean and store because the design is so simple. Having two small dogs, we need a good carpet cleaner. I also have a Bissell vacuum cleaner and Little Green Steam Machine - they all work wonderfully. Don't let the size or price fool you - this thing really works!!!

"We Mean Clean" is Bissell's motto, and they live up to it in this lightweight beauty.
For small areas, and carpets that do not need a heavy-duty machine, this is ideal. I was horrified at how nasty the liquid in the "Dirty Water Tank" was the first time I used it, and amazed at how soft my rugs were after only one cleaning. I have almost wall-to-wall Persian rugs (I filled the "Clean Water Tank" with warm instead of hot water for them), with terrific results. A "rug expert" might scream "carpet abuse" at using a Bissell on Persians, but these are tough old Iranian tribal rugs, and seem to be very happy in their immaculate, fresh-smelling state, and have never looked better, with a velvety texture and lustrous colors. It also works wonders with the less than ideal carpeting under my rugs, that came with the apartment.

It is very simple to assemble; all you will need is a Phillips head screwdriver and about 5 minutes. The components are easily removed from the body of the machine to fill, empty and clean, and the only thing I would give a word of caution to, is that if you want to empty the "Clean Water Tank", not to unscrew the opening at the bottom, but use the filling hole, with its "Formula Measuring Cap", instead. The bottom opening, which has the nozzle that sends the water into the cleaning aparatus, is hard to screw back on, and if not done correctly, will cause a leak.

As someone who likes everything spiffy-spotless, and lives with two four-pawed friends that manage to cough up at least a couple of hair-balls each a week, this is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I also like walking barefoot, and love the clean, soft feel under my toes.

After seeing a french press on TV and reading the reviews I wanted one of these things to get the "greatest cup of coffee ever". After following the directions and recommendations on using it for about a month I can say that I have not noticed any big difference from the drip coffee I used to make. The press does take an insignificant amount more of effort than a drip maker but it's not hard to make or clean. I just haven't noticed any more flavor, richness, or aroma in the coffee to justify the cost of the press. I'm going to go back to the drip coffeemaker for everyday coffee making and use the press only when I want to "impress" somebody. LOL

This product has a number of negative aspects to it, particularly if you're accustomed to the Mr. Coffee style makers. You have to boil water separately. You have to use a coarse grind of coffee. You have to manually pour the water into the container, stir, wait five minutes, and then manually press the plunger to the bottom of the container. Cleaning the coffee press involves considerably more than tossing a paper filter in the trash and rinsing out the basket. The coffee press will not keep your coffee warm for you.

The one thing it has going for it is the ability to make one of the finest tasting cups of coffee you've ever had.

If you value convenience over quality, if you typically get your coffee out of a can, if you actually like coffee made according to the directions on the side of the can, if you ever drink instant coffee, this is not the coffee maker for you.

If you're willing to sacrifice time, convenience, and economy for the sake of a wonderful, rich cup of coffee, you will not be sorry about purchasing this coffee press.

Anyone who says a drip coffee maker is easier and faster is A) Lazy, B) wrong, and C) NEVER cleans their Mr. Coffee!

This is a GREAT thing ... makes GREAT tasting coffee with none of the bitterness of a dirty Mr. Coffee ... and takes just a minute to clean up. If you love coffee, buy this! The coffee REALLY tastes MUCH better and cleanup is really NOT bad!

Simply boil or microwave the exact amount of water you want, pour in your coarse ground coffee, pour in the HOT water, stir and wait a few minutes (the longer you wait, the stronger it will be), press the bugger down, and drink a GREAT cup of coffee.

BTW - Most coffee makers CANNOT get the water hot enough to brew quality coffee and release all of the flavors. This does not have that problem since you pour boiling water over the grounds.

The Braun MPZ22 Citromatic Deluxe Citrus Juicer is a great find!
I make a lot of lemon and orange tea breads/muffins. The arduous task of juicing the fruit kept me from preparing my favorite recipes. After reading the Barefoot Contessa's must have lists for the kitchen, I set out to find this juicer. Amazon.com was the only place I found this juicer. I bought it and I love it!! The seeds and pulp stay in the easy to clean trap. The anti drip spout is a nice feature too. I cup my hand over the fruit as I juice it as it does splash a little, but every bit of juice is extracted from the lemon or orange.
I do not like clutter on my counters, but this sleek little juicer has it's own place on my kitchen counter.

With one small detail explained below, I loved this product so much that I bought three more as Christmas presents for members of my family. First of all, it's easy -- just the pressure of your hand palming the half orange starts the machine, there's no need for an on/off switch. Secondly, the cleanable parts lift off easily so that a rinse under the faucet cleans everything quickly and completely. There is a top cover to prevent dust collection during non use. Thirdly, there is easily adequate power (torque)to juice any citric fruit. The only fault, from my point of view, is that only a typical short breakfast juice glass or cup fits under the dispensing chute. I happen to like a tall glass now and then so I wish the machine was just an inch or so taller to accomodate a taller glass.

I'm very happy with this juicer. It's very easy to use and easy to clean. It's not too loud or too big. I'd recommend it.

I purchased this vacuum after much research. It was heavy, but worked great, even along baseboards, for the first few months. Then I moved, stored it for a few months and when I began to use it again -- just a few days after the one-year warranty expired, it broke. Cost me more than $90 to repair it at a Eureka authorized dealer. It broke again almost immediately. I fixed it again. This vacuum was not abused and overused [it's been suggested by some smart-aleck friends that it died from LACK of use!]. I live in small quarters -- always less than 1000sf and have a 50-50 mix of tile and carpeted floors. Also, if you have vaulted ceilings, it's a real stretch to reach that high with the attachments; even getting the cobwebs from a regular height ceiling isn't easy. I still have this two-year-old vac, but would be afraid to purchase it again. I sure miss my [very] old eletrolux that never broke, but I admit I wonder if I didn't just get a lemon with this one.

My wife and I have used this vacuum for about 3 months now, and we're astonished at how well it functions. We had been using a mid-80s well-known brand before purchasing this one, and thought we'd give the new Eureka a test. We vacuumed with our other vac, and then vacuumed with our new Eureka. We had to change one bag for every 800 square feet of carpet covered -- that's how much stuff the new Eureka picked up, that our old vac missed. And the house even smelled cleaner afterwards. I had expected lower quality due to other reviewer complaints but found most of them to be baseless: 1) "Hose too short." Yeah, it's too short. I'll concede that one. I need to buy an extension. However, there's no way the mfgr could put on a longer hose without making the vac unweildy. 2) "It's plasticy." Yes, it's largely made of plastic. It's a solid vacuum and I don't have the impression that it's flimsy in any way. 3) "It's too heavy." It is somewhat heavier than less powerful models; it has a big engine. Doesn't bother us a bit; as easy to use as our previous, much lighter vac. (We are not frail; if we were, we might want a lighter vac. I prefer the power.) 4) "Bag's hard to put in." That's a non-issue. The first time maybe. There's a latch that keeps the bag from slipping, you gotta use it. 5) "Belt comes off or burns." Haven't had that happen. Have inspected the belt often and see no signs of belt wear. 6) "It clogs up." When the bag is full, yeah. No fault of the vac's. Change the bag and you're back in business. Using the hose tools have given us zero problems. I'm not the kinda guy who normally gets excited about housewares or writes reviews but this vac deserved it.

I'll admit that I'm one of the worst when it comes to sweeping the floor with a broom. No matter how hard I try, there always seems to be some elusive dustbunny that resists all efforts to corral it in the dustpan. So, when my wife and I went shopping for a vacuum cleaner, we zeroed in on models that were capable of vacuuming the acres of wall-to-wall carpeting in our home and sweeping the tile and vinyl that make up the rest of our floors. A HEPA filter and disposable dust bags were necessities because of her allergies (your allergist will tell you that bagless cleaners are an exercise in futility unless you take the cleaner completely out of the house and shut the door behind you when emptying the dirt container).

After we pared down the list, we consulted the leading consumer reporting magazine and bought the highest rated model we could afford. And that's how we came to own this cleaner.

I vaguely remember reading that Eureka's engineers cobbled together the prototype for The Boss SmartVac series by actually mounting a classic "torpedo" canister cleaner and its motorized carpet brush on a wheeled rig with a handle. Once they determined that it COULD be done, they refined the design into a unit that really does combine the suction power of a canister with the carpet cleaning ability and easy mobility of an upright, with the added convenience of having the cleaning tools along for the ride. You can see the "canister cleaner on wheels" inspiration in the large photo here on Amazon.com.

In operation, the cleaner is surprisingly quiet, producing a breathy drone that still permits conversation. Though not self-propelled, the cleaner's brush roller turns so rapidly, it almost propels the cleaner for you. A headlight helps you spot obstacles in the cleaner's path.

The 15-inch wide cleaning path shortens your vacuuming time and offers right-up-to-the-baseboard edge cleaning ability. For more difficult debris, you can put together the extension wand and attach the crevice tool. The upholstery tool does an admirable job on carpeting under, say, a bed that can't be moved. One notable feature: When the handle is returned to the fully upright position, as when cleaning with tools, the brush roller stops, preventing worn spots on your carpet. A brush roller switch lets you turn off the brush roller at other times for sweeping bare floors.

After vacuuming the carpet in the master bedroom and some of the living room, we already noticed a measurable level of dirt in the first bag, an indication of the dirt left behind by our aging Hoover Decade 80 upright. We expect bags in the future to last a tad longer.

Save your money on this one. All it does is toast. It does not have any other temperature, not really very good at reheating. buy a regular toaster instead of this one.

I've had this model for nearly two years now. It takes nearly twice as long to toast bread as a normal toaster, because it has energy saving quartz elements, which don't heat up as quickly. Since there is no temperature control, there is only one setting - really hot.

This could ruin your day if you just want to reheat something through, so here's a piece of advice: for things like frozen pies, pizza and reheating rolls, put them on the top shelf and turn the heating element knob to Bottom Rack. That way you don't char the surface while the interior stays cold.

The 'Bagel Best' setting is great for people who, like Sting, like their toast (or bagels) done on one side. It's a nifty feature, but the bottom line is that this toaster oven is limited to toasting and heating only certain kinds of foods. I would recommend it for people who want just a very basic toaster oven.

I want more versatility in a toaster oven these days, so I am shopping for a new one.

1) I love the design of the toaster. It's vertical with two trays on top of each other. This helps save counter space for those with limited room. And personally I like the unique design. 2) It heats up fast and you have the option of heating up just the top rack, just the bottom, or both at the same time. 3) It's reliable and seems well built. 4) Price-wise it's a great value.

Update Feb 13, 2003: I've had the toaster for around 3 months and the oven is in good working order. My only complaint is with the "cookie sheet" pans that go in the oven---they flake easily. Like the surface of a non-stick cooking pan that's gotten old, these pans started flaking shortly after. One of them I left in the sink and my guess is that the continued exposure to water caused it. Whatever the reason, they're pretty cheap pans. Overall, I'm still happy with the way the oven performs.

I purchased my fryer in January after my other open top fryer died. I researched many days before deciding on this one. The first two times I used it, I was in heaven! THEN the third time I added the same amount of product that I had in the past and it proceeded to boil over! ( through the filtered vent area) I had to raise and lower the basket constantly in order to keep the unit from boiling over. I read in the manual that this could happen with wet food or if I added to much. I adjusted my amounts and also dried off the french fries with a paper towel (very time consuming) It still boiled over! I lowered the temperature and guess what?? it boiled over! And if that isnt enough, the oil that condenses on the top of the lid pours out the back of the unit as you open the lid. What a terrible mess it makes. So, either I bought the only lemon out there, or Delonghi needs to make some changes!

I have been searching for a good deep fryer and finally found one. The Delonghi D690 is excellent. It looks nice and it does not feel flimsy.

The timer is a good feature although it feels like a last minute add-on. The tube for emptying the oil is very helpful. I think it is patented because this is the only fryer that had one during my research.

The temperature setting is not flimsy as the majority of the fryers out there.

The only bad thing about this product is that it has Teflon non-stick coating on the sides of the pan. The bottom is not coated so I guess it is not going to be a cancer hazard since it is the bottom where the heat is generated.

The 690 deep fryer is the best in this price range without a doubt. I bought one last month right here, after EXTENSIVE shopping and comparing of prices. It has the biggest basket of any of the 2.2 pound capacity listed fryers. Yes, I went to Sears, Target, Walmart, The Navy Exchange (I'm in the Navy), and
other stores and looked at them ALL. It has a drain hose to drain your oil, heats up great, cooks great, has a timer, window
to view your food, an excellent filter, and clean up is painless. I've deep fried onion in batter, like you get at some restaurants, chicken, Stuffed Jalepenos, Egg rolls, and even made Funnel cakes like at the carnival, all with out problems and a lot of greasy food. I highly reccomend this fryer if you are in the market for one. Oh yeah, the wife loves it too. Very little smell.

I have had these knives for a few months now and even bought some as gifts. They are very beautiful and a pleasure to use. Mine were very sharp right out of the box and hold up very well. They are a little lighter than some knives but with normal use and hand washing I expect to be using them for years. Highly recommended, especially at Amazon's price.

I'm not really much of a cook, so I have made do with a drawer full of cheap knives for a long time. What attracted me to this set was the appearance and the price. I'm not the type that is going to spend $250 for a set of knives at Macy's. I have no idea if the 'list price' on the Amazon page is anywhere near a real number, but at $35 this set seemed to be a bargain. And I was really struck by the appearance of the copper handles. I wasn't disappointed. They look just as good sitting on my kitchen counter as they do on the Amazon page. Better really. And for the money, I haven't seen anything to beat this set.
The knives are lightweight relative to their appearance. They are nicely balanced. I find myself inventing things to chop just to hold them. The knives were very sharp right out of the box. I haven't had to sharpen them yet. I have had to learn to be a little careful, however. I am not used to sharp, efficient blades like these, and I have a small puncture wound in one pinky to prove it.
I don't think anyone would be disappointed in this set of knives. They are really beautiful, a pleasure to hold and cut with, and for the price I don't see how you can go wrong.

I am very pleased with this set! I have had it for several months and really enjoy the durability and impressive look of the knives. I am a guy and I imagine that almost any guy will love the look and feel of these knives. They seem like the perfect gift for someone (a guy) who might normally look askance at "kitchen stuff" as a gift. I bought the additional 8-piece steak knife set-- several months after buying the block-- so I must like them! I have not had one problem with the sharpness of the set... everything has cut easily and evenly. Guests have offered only compliments. When I first ordered the knife block, I bought a knife sharpening tool (like the Sharpening Shark) because of the other reviews you see below. I've never had to use the tool, however. I know that "true" chefs/gourmands insist on the "best" cutlery (and say that the proper knives make all the difference in the kitchen) but to the average guy-- like me-- these knives are fantastic and classy... And worth EVERY BIT of the purchase price. They look cool, they cut well... what more could you ask for?

This grill is definitely better (dollar for dollar) than the infamous George Foreman grill. My college roommates and I usually buy about fifty frozen hamburger patties from costco every month. Each frozen patty takes only 15 minutes to cook, making it perfect for a quick inbetween-class meal. You'd be suprise at how much grease is extracted from each meal!

Now, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to use this grill in a small room (ie. dorm) unless you don't mind your place smelling like a busy kitchen for a few hours.

The Extra Large Contact Grill is only large compared to the smaller foreman grills. It really will only hold about two steaks, 3 burgers (2 if they're big), 3 chicken breasts, and about 2 lrg pork chops. If you have a big family, I suggest you go up one model to the even bigger grill.

I really don't like washing cleaning. This grill is improved from the previous model, because the heat panels come off, and are dishwasher safe.

In conclusion: Great grill for smaller families. Awesome grill for college folks in an apt/house. Not so good for dormatories. Easy to clean.

The Hamilton Beach Meal Maker Express is not only better designed and more sturdily made, it has more features, and BETTER features. After owning and using this marvel regularly for two years, I do nothing but rave about it to everyone I know.

Fast easy meal for one: 2 frozen chicken thighs, sliced onions and bell peppers. Set the cooker/timer for five minutes, flip chicken (I usually slice it into fajita strips at this point), move onions/peppers around on grill, add some salt and pepper, set timer for 8 minutes and DING! Dinner's ready!

Of course, cooking non-frozen food is quick and easy, too. And, if you've got a lot of mouths to feed, simply lay it flat and get twice the cooking surface.

As others have noted, cleanup is a breeze - just toss everything into the dishwasher if you're lazy (like me). And the grease collector is INSIDE the grill, so you'll never spill the grease all over your counter and floor, as so often happens with George Foreman's crummy shallow-grease-dish-on-the-counter design.

If you're looking for a superior countertop grill, you won't regret replacing your Foreman with the Hamilton Beach Meal Maker. It simply can't be beat. The price is right, too! ...

I used the grill for chicken tenders and in 5 to 7 minutes it was done and very tasty. I marinated the chicken in Teriaki sauce before grilling. Also had steak and did a wonderful job of cooking it. Its fast, easy to clean with the removable grids (grills) and a side drip grease tray. I brought this cause I wanted to cook the meal fast and is easy to clean.

I highly recommend this for a single or a couple of people, otherwise get a bigger one.

I had a lower end foodsaver sealer for 7 seven years, till the heat sealer bar went. Bought this one and love it. Read the review from people in Denver who had problems with the alitutde there, I lived at 10,120 feet above sealevel and mine works great(St.Mary Glacier CO.) We used it to put meats up, like wild game, to seal potato chips bags, and lunch meats, and meals. Don't have a problem with liquids either, if you hold the bag below the sealer(like on the side of the countertop), and keep the liquids in the bottom of the bag, if seals fine. Also on not sealing, I notice my husband has problems, he usually doesn't seal the 1st side of bag right, and has a air hole, which allows air in. I double seal the 1st side. A great product, with so many uses. I use mine everyday, and can't see life without it

This is one of those pleasant times that you find that the hype meets expectation! Here in Oregon, fishing and hunting are dominant activities and making the most of one's bounty is critical. I shopped on-line with all of the major stores for this midrange model and Amazon provided the best price and free shipping! The shopping experience was excellent! This device extends the freshness of your catch, whether you wish to eat fresh, smoke your game, or freeze it. I use it hand-in-hand with canning, smoking, or otherwise preserving meat and it performs its duties flawlessly. It is much like this was designed especially for the fisherman! This particular model had the features that I was looking for such as a Vac Channel for moisture dispersal, an adjustable time switch on the sealer, and a Manual Seal button. The mason jar sealer works extremely well and is an efficient method of keeping foods fresher longer. I would recommend this particular model to anyone interested in long term, efficient, food storage, (without having to pay up to twice as much for the Professional Model).

The FoodSaver Vac1050 is my second vacuum sealer unit from Tilia. An earlier model just wore out from constant use. The unit works flawlessly and will pay for itself many times over. My freezer is full of foods bought in bulk and separated in vac bags for individual meals. I especially love the ability to seal foods in canning jars. Coffee, brown sugar, rice and flour are just a few of the dry items that will retain their freshness in these containers. I like to make large meals such as lasagne and stuffed shells, divide them into individual servings and freeze the portions in the resealable bags for lunches. And the bags are reusable even when used to store poultry. A little dish soap mixed with a few drops of bleach will kill any bacteria that may have formed. One suggestion on bags: Cut the bags much larger than you need. In this way, you can reuse them many times and just throw away the part that you have cut away when you open the bag.

This is an absolute 'must have' for a family. You can purchase food in bulk and never have to worry about spoilage or freezer burn. It will be one of your most used kitchen appliances and you will wonder how you ever got along without it!