Kitchen Reviews

I did not purchase these as a set, but I do have all three dishes, and I use them all the time. They are durable and transition easily from the oven to the fridge / freezer and then to the dishwasher for easy clean up. Each dish has handles that are easy to grip, even while wearing oven mitts.

This set would make an excellent housewarming gift for a college student with their "first apartment", or as part of a wedding gift if you include more pieces. I highly recommend these multi-functional and economical dishes.

What can I say, these are three glass baking dishes that came just as described. Pyrex is a quality product, and these are quality items. I would recommend these to anyone.

I prefer glass bread pans to aluminum ones. You can see how brown the crust is underneath. Be warned, glass holds more heat, so you should reduce your oven temperature slightly or else watch your times--things bake a bit faster.

Glass is neutral--doesn't affect flavors, so if you make lasagna, the acidity of the tomato sauce won't affect it. It doesn't scratch (if you watch out what kind of utensil you use and stay away from the Ajax powder to clean it.) Glass is surprisingly durable--some of my aluminum pans have come and gone, but the glass ones just keep on keepin' on.

Also, any of these can go in the microwave for reheating leftovers (like lasagna.) You can also do microwave cooking in these pans. A great wedding present, if you are on a budget--everyone needs a set of these.

I love these knives. If you want a good set of knives, buy these. You can put them in the washer and not worry about rust spots. Happy cutting!

One of the best knive I have ever owned. I spent about 100 dollars for a set of Knives that were not balanced with plastic handles. Now these not only had the Steel of the blade run through the length of the handle but also had wood handles. The shrap cutting edge is a cooks dream.

This 3-Piece knife set is designed for ideal cutting performance. I love it. I have been using it for long time. They still keep sharp. These 3 knives have different funtions. In addition, they are dishwasher safe. It is convenient.

I attended Tulsa Chef Fest 2002 in November and attended a Riedel conducted seminar sampling a series of wines from around the world. I was skeptical but after the seminar I am rabid convert preaching the word. The effect of these glasses on wine is simply amazing. In the subsequent couple of weeks my wife and I purchased several of the Vinum series - "Bordeaux", "Chablis" (Chardonnay), "Sauvignon Blanc" and "Syrah". We will be adding more in time. The Syrah glasses are particular effective at concentrating the nose of the Australian and South African wines we have already enjoyed. Your satisfaction is guaranteed and the price, even at full retail, is worth every penny for the years you will enjoy with this superb glassware.

For years I've noticed that excellent restaurants all use Riedel glasses. Finally I gave in and bought some. I wish I bought them sooner. These glasses make wine look and taste the best it can. For the price of a few bottles of mid-priced wine, you can make all your wine taste better.

I've done many, many tests on how wine tastes differently in various glass options and in different situations. Riedel is one of the tests that is easy for even beginning drinkers to see the difference in. The flavor is *amazingly* different when you compare the exact same wine in a Riedel glass vs normal wine glasses.

Even if you buy inexpensive wines, you will get much more enjoyment out of them with this glassware compared to other options. If you are buying mid-range wines, the difference will blow you away. Think of the Riedel glass as allowing you to see what the wine in your bottle *really* was meant to taste like.

Sauvignon Blanc is a great white wine with seafood and fish dishes. If you're grilling these up for summer picnics, give this wine and glassware a try!

This is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I have avoided many spills in my car and the simplicity of carry ins at work is wonderful. It is a must!

Although my experience with Rival crock pots hasn't been all that great, I really like this accessory. It is very well constructed and is durable. I use it with my other slow cookers and it is perfect for the NESCO 6 quart roaster oven as well. But because it is well insulated, you can use it as a tote for your potato salad or potatoes au gratin. It also serves as a tote for whatever items you need to transport. The snap-together handles are a particular asset.

For the price, you can't go wrong. You will like this item.

Now that friends and family know I have a Rival Crock-Pot Traveler, I can't say "No" anymore.

The Traveler for Large Crock-Pots zips open to reveal an insulated storage space for any 4 to 6 quart round Crock-Pot or other stoneware slow cooker. A pair of elastic straps hold the lid down and the snap-together handle straps make the Traveler self-balancing when you pick it up.

Set it on the floor of the family car and if you drive judiciously enough, it'll get a pot of soup, chili or stew to your destination without losing a single drop. If you have to slam on the brakes or happen to take a turn a tad too tightly, the Traveler will contain the spill, which will be minimal.

The Crock-Pot Traveler can be turned inside-out for easier cleaning, should you need to mop up a spill. It's also insulated well enough to keep the contents hot for at least 2 hours, so now you CAN take hot German potato salad to a picnic and enjoy it HOT. When it's not in use, the Traveler can either serve as a dust-resistant cover for your slow cooker, or you can fold it up and tuck it into a linen drawer or a kitchen cabinet.

And since a few of you are wondering about that Sausage and Lentil Soup, here's the recipe:

SAUSAGE AND LENTIL SOUP

1 large onion, chopped
1 bulb garlic, minced
1 lb. dry lentils
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
2 broth cans water
1 lb. sweet or hot turkey Italian sausage, whole links
2 bay leaves

Combine onion, garlic, lentils, Italian seasoning, broth, and water in slow cooker. Add sausage links and float bay leaves on top. Cover and cook 10 hours on Low. Discard bay leaves. Remove sausage links and allow to cool 15 minutes. Meanwhile, stir soup for 2 minutes to puree' some of the lentils, which will thicken the soup. Slice cooled sausage and return to soup. Serve with biscuits or cornbread for a "meal in a bowl."

I purchased my Saeco Classico in April of 2001 after getting hooked on espresso on a trip to Europe. I chose to buy a pump driven machine because of a bad experience with a cheap pumpless electric model. Since then, I have had consistently high quality espresso daily for three years and counting. This is a well built machine from a leading manufacturer that I recommend most highly.

The steam (while not as powerful as commercial machine) is more than adequate for home use and allows you to go straight from steam to espresso. It really works as advertised. This machine is also built in a semi commercial fashion in that each part is replaceable and Saeco USA will send you any part you need. (I have not needed any to date.)

This machine also does very well with espresso pods. You may be a die-hard coffee grinder and if so ignore, but I strongly recommend pods (made from high quality espresso of course) if you are into daily use. They are tamped perfectly, are mess free, are packaged to stay fresh for along time, and give you a highly consistent draw each and every time. This machine, with Segafredo or Lavazza pods, has consistently produced espresso shots with a rich crema and mellow roasted flavor that is much better than most professional products I have had in the past three years. If you buy pods in bulk they are currently only about $.35 each.

When this machine finally gives out, I will definitely buy another if it is still available. It's a BIG bang for the buck.

About three years ago I purchased a Krups Novo espresso maching and I've been dissapointed with it's operation almost from the first day. Early on it took about 15 to 20 minutes to foam a picture of milk for two cups. There were times that steam stopped and, what I believed happened, a vapor lock developed and I had to prime the system before the steam started again. This may happen two or three times during foaming. About a year later nothing seem to work properly and I took it to an approved/official Krup service shop. I found that the heater and both thermostats had failed. It took four months for the service shop to get the necessary parts. The service personnel said that this was typical for Krups. After repairs the machine worked for a while but, again, it was slow. Then it started leaking which were repaired. After about eight months the heater failed again. I wrote to the CEO of Krups with my complaints but never received an acknownedgment of my letter. Subsequently I junked the Krups machine and bought the Saeco 30054 Classio machine. At the very beginning I was surprised how fast it foamed the milk, about three minutes, and how much the coffee flavor had improved over the Krups. So far after about two weeks of service I'm very pleased. My only complaint, although minor, it that the water reservoir is awkward to replace after filling. I've resorted to filling the reservoir with a pitcher without removing it.

The first Saeco Classico that I received was defective. The brew head would only produce a few dribbles of water (it took 60 seconds to get 1 ounce of water directly from the brew head when the brew switch was engaged). Dispite this bad first impression, I went ahead and gave a second machine a try. Mostly due to the fact that a good Italian friend of mine has had a Classico for several years and it has proven to be a steady, reliable performer under daily use. I am happy to say that the replacement arrived quickly and performed beautifully!

It heats up quickly, the espresso is just the right temperature, and it produces plenty of steam from the frothing attachment. Almost straight out of the box, it produced shots of espresso that were half crema! It seems to perform best with a finer grind of coffee.

I was a bit leary about the "Rapid Steam" feature. I don't understand how this machine can go instantly from steam to brewing and not burn the coffee with water that is at too high of a temperaturefor proper brewing. So, I actually put an instant read thermometer in the cup and discovered that the coffee actually comes out at just the right temp...

I was looking to buy some higher-end pans without having to refinance the house and these fit the bill. They are durable, the handles are comfortable and they clean easily. Lids fit well, pans sit nicely on a smooth top stove and heat evenly. Walls are thick but pans are not too heavy and have a good balance. You can't ask for more for such a nicely priced set. The only negative is that the outside of the pans will scratch. I found it was cheaper to buy a set with fewer pans and buy the 3-quart covered sauté pan separately.

These pots and pans will give you a new outlook on cooking and the subsequent cleanup. Easy, easy, easy. The cookware is heavy enough to do everything from omelets to fudge, and it cleans up with minimal effort. The lids are excellent also. This was a 'splurge' for me, yet it represents one of the smartest buying drecisions I've made.

These are some of the best pans you could own. First, there is no higher quality, heavy duty pan out there. Second, they is surprisingly cheap for such high quality. Third, I have never tackled a project with these pans that has not come out a success. It is truly professional grade for the home. Even if you are not a professional chef or a food enthusiast, these pans make building a great dish easy. You don't have to worry about those non-stick coatings that peel off but you also don't have to worry about your food sticking to the surface. Ignore the fact that it is more expensive than K-Mart Brand Pan--It is worth the extra cost! Food always cooks evenly and always seems to do so effortlessly. It is the perfect size for a family of four or five and can be used for just about any situation when you don't have the proper pan (although you should really go and check out all of Calphalon's other pans too).

It did take some time to learn how to use this can opener. It is Hand Held, so you must stay there to finish the opening process. My husband and my son have gone to the old manual can opener - WOW - that's a tough one. They curse me every time they try to use it.
I can flip it out and open nearly 99% of the time, but it does take using it quite often to get the hang of it. Those who open often will probably love it - those who open only a couple times a week will probably curse it.
I like it, but my family thinks I'm nuts because I do!

This is fantastic for those of us that have limited use of our hands. I have no grasp in one hand. I was able to use this with the other hand only. I wanted to buy another one for our RV, but sadly it is discontinued.

I've owned this can opener for over two yrs & use it daily. It's by far the best can opener I've ever used. Wall mount or counter top openers can drop & spill cans with dented or irregular tops even while you support the bottem. I can't stress enough how strong & well built this opener is. It would easily survive a fall from a counter top. It cleans up easily as well with just a damp towel. If something happened to mine, I would definately buy another.

Only one thing left desired in this set of measuring cups: no spout for pouring or lip to make it easier to scoop up flour/sugar.

I had been considering several metal measuring cup sets but ended up trying these. I have no regrets. The price is a bargain. Lexan is an excellent choice of material for the kitchen and gives the cups a quality feel. The tapered sides and generous radius on bottom edge make for easy hand washing. The in-between sizes provided are really useful. The halfway line molded into every size (no markings to rub off) is extremely thoughtful and my favorite feature. I use it to measure liquids. In the past, to measure 1/4 cup of orange juice I would fill a 1/4 cup to the brim and it would end up overflowing. With this set, I can simply fill a 1/2 cup halfway and still be confident it is accurate.
These are the best measuring cups I have purchased. If there is one thing that is not perfect, it's the hook that's provided to hang the cups with. Because it requires you to nest the cups in order of size and to pass the hook through the handle of each cup, it is a huge hassle to remove and replace any piece of the set. I simply don't use it.

I esp love three things about these. They are see-through, makes measuring easier. They have a 2/3 and a 3/4 cup size, I hate having to do two 1/3 cups or a 1/2 and a 1/4. And each cup has a halfway mark line which is very handy, esp for the 1/4 cup showing a 1/8 cup. Perfect when you have to halve a recipe. I've recommended these to everyone.

You say in the rival 6 quart oval slow cooker that the insulated carrier is important. But the BIG round one does not appear to fit the oval and the oval carrier says it only holds up to 5 1/2 quart. Help before I buy one of these for my 6 quart oval

Never again will I lug my crock pot around... hoping it won't tip over in the car, or praying my arms won't give out before I carry my crockpot from my car to my office. This traveler is awesome! After I bought mine, all my co-workers went out looking for one, and couldn't find them in stores. One co-worker bought a new slow cooker that came with a "carrier"... but BEWARE of those... they don't have a handle like this one, so you still have to carry it with two hands.

First of all, an oval crock pot is a bit unusual, but a good idea (fits roasts and chickens nicely.)

If you're going to do slow cooking, you'll find many uses for the cooker outside the house; barbecues, parties, church suppers, meetings. The slow cooker is just the thing for hot dishes. This insulated carrier makes it a lot easier to transport.

If you order the cooker, don't forget to order this accessory.

Well, these knives start discoloring pretty much right away, as they are supposed to.

Who cares??? Unless you're a TV chef, pick up a couple of these babies. They hold an excellent edge and feel pretty good in the hand (but not great).

My Henckels are more comfortable, but I have been using the carbons almost exclusively since they landed on the step six weeks ago. (I also bought a boning knife.) They feel like serious knives, more professional than most of the upscale blades I've tried. They're certainly easier to control, more finesse. Sharp is better.

I have had this knife for twenty-one years and it is a faithful kitchen companion. Watch out with its care however, they do stain and must be washed and dried immediately. You may see some dicoloration when cutting fruit or onions with this knife but it is a true chef's knife.

I have a collection of Sabatier Au Carbone knives, all at least 30 years old; few days go by when I don't use the at least the paring knife. They do rust, they do stain, they can leave dark residue on very acid foods, and they can't go in the dishwasher. But in my humble opinion, there is no knife which will cut like a carbon steel knife. A stainless steel knife will solve all the above problems, but will never have the sharp edge of the properly sharpened carbon steel knife. A couple of passes over a sharpening steel will restore that edge on a carbon steel knife, but, again, in my opinion, a stainless steel knife, takes a lot of work to sharpen and will never be as sharp as a carbon steel blade. So if you want a pretty, easy to care for knife, buy a stainless steel. If cutting with ease with a razor sharp blade is more important, get carbon steel. The Sabatiers will last a lifetime if cared for properly.