FAO Schwarz Baby Chef Cooker Food Processor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My baby was born in September of 2010 so I didn't start using my maker until early February 2011. Since then I have gone through two machines and the third one just broke two days ago! I never had any issues with the steamer part of the machine and it preformed as it was intended with no issues. All of my hatred towards this product is focused on the blender part; which in my opinion is the most important part of the machine! The first two machines I returned to the store (Babies R Us) was because the rubber ring seal came out of the blender during food processing and was chopped up into my baby's food. Wasted time, money and endangering my baby. The only reason I knew it happened was because I ran the food through a sieve and found the plastic pieces. After the seal was gone I still tried to use the machine but, of course, it then leaked everywhere every time I tried to process purees. The third machine, that broke two days ago, is now thrown in my garage! I went to snap the blender into the base for processing, as you have to use the blender because of a safety feature, and the doggone tab snapped off rendering the blender completely nonfunctioning! This whole experience with this product has been a costly hassle! I've since switched to a stick blender and the microwave for making my daughters food. It's actually less clean up, costs way less and is a heck of a lot less likely to break or ruin my baby's food. Don't waste your time with this product. But a $16 emersion blender!


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Zojirushi NS-JCC18 Neuro Fuzzy 10-Cup Rice Cooker & Warmer Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this practically on a whim after a business trip to Japan, where I was impressed with the ubiquitous high-tech rice cookers I saw there. My wife thought I was crazy to spend [price] on a rice cooker, but much to my surprise she has become a total convert! We are using the machine much more than I thought we would--every second or third night, on average. I've been delighted overall with the cooker's performance. We've made a variety of short- and long-grain rices, both white and brown, with great results overall. I was initially disappointed with my results with Indian basmati rice--it came out too mushy--but I corrected this by using less water. I agonized a bit between the 5- and 10-cup models, and finally decided to go with the 10-cup. I would recommend the larger machine (it is only [price] more expensive) UNLESS you live alone. The 10-cup cooker requires a minimum of 2 rice-cooker cups (1.5 US cups) of uncooked rice to do a good job, which yields way too much cooked rice for one person. In our experience, however, this amount is fine for 2-4 people, as in our family.
One thing I would highly recommend, unless you are already very knowledgable about rice, is to get a good rice cooker cookbook. We've been using "The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook" by Hensperger and Kaufmann, and I feel it has really allowed us to get a much higher return on our investment in this machine. The documentation that comes with the cooker is, frankly, pretty awful and does not do the machine's capabilities justice. For example, you may not be aware that this cooker is capable of making FANTASTIC risotto and polenta using the porridge cycle. You can even saute the onion and rice right in the cooker bowl when making risotto by using the quick cook cycle; all you need do is then add the liquid stock, reset the machine and start the porridge cycle. About 45 minutes later, you have perfect risotto with much less fuss than when using the stovetop method. Polenta requires 2 full porridge cycles, but the results are equally impressive. These capabilities, which are not at all touted by the manufacturer, have been a very pleasant surprise indeed!

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The Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker is so quick, it cooks your white, brown and mixed rice 20 minutes quicker than most other rice cookers when on quick cooking menu. The outer spherical pan provides even heating for perfectly cooked rice every time; the inner portion has a durable nonstick coating so clean up is quick and easy. And to keep your rice warm until you're ready to serve, there's even an extended Keep Warm button. The tight-lock lid and steam cap keeps your rice moist as well. Menu settings include regular, hard, soft and porridge. Also included is a recipe book that includes eight recipes (including some for porridge). Note: Although you can use this cooker to prepare brown rice, an additional step is involved. You must first soak the brown rice in water before cooking, at least four hours or overnight for best results. Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer Videos

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Cuckoo Rice Cooker | CRP-FA0610F (Ivory/Gold) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm new to this type rice cooker. I over-research everything I buy and this was no exception. I was looking pretty hard at the Zojirushi brand when I came across references the Cuckoo brand and how more Asians tend to choose it over Zojirushi. There were few reviews, all spoke to how well it cooked rice though there were a few complaints about the lack of English in the instructions and cooking guide as well as the fact it speaks to you in Korean. One review on Amazon gave it one star because it wasn't an IH model so they sent it back.

The way I looked at it was that if there were language issues I could get past them with a little trial, error and language conversion software, which I didn't need by the way. What really swayed me, however, was if it's good enough for most Asians, who really know their rice, then it was going to be my brand as well.
I can tell you that the instructions come in both English and Korean. They aren't the most clear, however, I was able to cook my first batch of brown rice within minutes of opening the box and it came out perfect. The cooking guide is totally Korean, however, I am hopeful that the folks at Cuckoo will answer my request to convert it to English. If they don't, I'm still really happy with this product.
It cleans up easy, it looks nice, it uses fuzzy logic, the cooking pan is non-stick, the controls are intuitive, it is GABA capable, it's a pressure cooker so you can cook anything in it...even cake...most importantly it does a wonderful attention free job of cooking rice, just set it and forget it. My kids really get a kick out of the Korean woman's voice when it talks to me too, I tell them she is complimenting me.


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Cuckoo Rice Cooker | CRP-FA0610F (Ivory/Gold)Type: FUZZYCapacity: 6 personsPower: 110V

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Nordic Ware Microwave Omelet Pan Review

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(More customer reviews)The Nordic Ware Microwave Omelet Pan is quite a nifty little kitchen gadget. Before purchasing, I had said to myself, "Making an omelet in the microwave? Impossible." I got this pan and was proven wrong. To my surprise, the omelets made in this pan come out rather tasty. I was also pleased that the eggs come right out of the pan and don't stick at all. However, as others have said, you must use some kind of cooking spray, oil or butter for a completely non-sticking surface when removing the egg from the pan. It's easy to clean. No stuck-on, hard to remove egg whatsoever.
I remember reading one or maybe a few reviews that said their pan didn't come with instructions. Mine did. I followed them and the resulting omelet was not the best. It came out a bit hard. It was edible and not bad but not particularly the best omelet. The instructions are rather standard and goes as follows:
- 2-4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons of milk or water
- Beat in a small bowl
- Pour the mixture in the omelet pan evenly on both sides
- Cook for 2 minutes
- Stir from outside in
- Place the toppings on each half and cook for another 1.5 minutes
- Remove from the microwave
- Fold the pan to make the omelet
What the instructions do not take into account is the wattage of the microwave you're using or that times may vary depending on the amount of eggs you use.
My findings based on the use of 2 eggs, which I think is more than enough(for me anyway), is that hand or electrically mixed eggs took 1.15 to 1.30 minutes to be completely cooked or when the eggs started to bubble up and it looked like they would bubble over and the wet egg was consumed. Any longer or following the above directions provided by Nordic Ware resulted in the hard or rubbery eggs that I described earlier. However, using the times I indicated resulted in a soft, fluffy, fully cooked omelet which was more to my liking. Another important note is that I'm using a 1250W microwave. Perhaps the factory directions would be more suitable if you have a lower wattage microwave or are using more than 2 eggs.
I mostly make cheese omelets. I like to place the cheese on after I take the omelet out of the microwave because from experience when I did it as instructed, the cheese came out watery.
Pan fried, stove-made omelets taste better in my opinion but this pan still does a good job and in a fraction of the time.
I also use the omelet pan for making eggs to put in my breakfast sandwiches. I just beat one egg and pour it on one side of the pan. Cool gadget for quick eggs in the morning.

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Forget having cereal for breakfast. This pan cooks perfect 2-4 egg omelets in just minutes with your microwave. Dishwasher safe for easy clean up.Proudly made in the USA by Nordic Ware.

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Back to Basics 286 5-Piece Home Canning Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I am brand new at canning, and did my first batch prior to ordering these tools. It went okay, but I was immediately sold on the idea of a jar lifter. I looked and looked locally but couldn't find one, and this set was available for immediate shipment.
The jar lifter is fantastic, and ultimately I think it alone is worth the price of admission -- not because it's worth it in and of itself, but because it's a total necessity, so I would have purchased it at any price that wouldn't break the bank.
The other pieces are either already part of a moderately well-equipped kitchen, are nice but not necessary, and/or are not all that well constructed.
I'd opted to return a relatively expensive set of plastic funnels when I purchased this set, but the included funnel here melted a bit under the heat of the boiling brine I poured over the pickles-to-be. Same for the plastic surrounding the magnet when I used it (quite effectively) to grab the jar lids out of a simmer sauce pan. The lid wrench I'm just not sure I see a use for, since jars aren't supposed to be super tight and they tend to loosen when cooled anyway (or am I misunderstanding what this is for?), and the tongs, well, who doesn't have tongs?
Anyway, in researching for this review, I've come to feel like something of an idiot, because the pieces are available separately and eligible for the free shipping promotion of your choice. Unless you don't already have a funnel, or don't mind the possibility of plastic in your canned food, I recommend saving five bucks and just getting these two pieces:
Back to Basics 284 Jar Lifter
Back to Basics 174 Magnetic Lid Lifter
If you need more than those two pieces, though, this set will do the job.

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Capture summer fruits and vegetables at their prime for enjoyment throughout the year by canning at home. This five-piece canning kit provides all the essential tools needed for getting started--a jar lifter, a magnetic lid lifter, a canning funnel, a jar-lid wrench, and kitchen tongs. To safely remove the hot jars and lids after they've been sterilized in boiling water, use the jar lifter to pick up the jars and the magnetic lid lifter to easily remove the lids--with no risk of burned fingers. The canning funnel directs ingredients into the jar quickly and cleanly and offers a wide design that accommodates both regular and wide-mouth jars. Heat-resistant handles and durable steel construction makes the kitchen tongs a convenient addition to the tool set. And when it's time to enjoy those tomatoes or fruit preserves, the jar-lid wrench effortlessly removes the sticky lid. When not in use, the tools can be stored in their original box, which measures 8 by 6 by 12 inches. The home-canning kit carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Cuisinart FRC-800 Rice Plus Multi-Cooker with Fuzzy Logic Technology Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had this rice/oatmeal/slow cooker now for 6 months. This machine cooks all kinds of rice extremely well and that's what it primarily was designed to do. You can cook sushi, brown, risotto, etc. rices and they turn out perfect. They also stay warm and perfectly moist if you need to set the keep warm function. The parts remove easily for cleaning.
The easy to read display doesn't tell you how many minutes it will take to cook your rice choice. You have to read through the instruction booklet to find out how long each cycle is. A countdown function of remaining time would have been really nice. The first time I made brown rice my family waited almost 2 hours to eat dinner.
This machine doesn't do the extra stuff very well. I made 1 cup of steel cut (Irish) oatmeal with 2 cups of water in a machine designed to hold 8 cups of water. The frothy water boiled over, out of the steam hole, and into the electronics board. It fried the circuit board. Fortunately the unit comes with a 3 years, no questions asked warranty. Cuisinart sent me a replacement unit for $10 shipping/handling.
The slow cooker function runs on the equivalent of "high" temperature for a slow cooker. They don't tell you that in the user manual. When you use the unit on slow cooker, the first 10 minutes of the cycle sautes whatever you put in the pan. This is useful if you need to brown meat or onions.
I love Cuisinart but this one doesn't live up to the usual quality of Cuisinart products. I have the machine and will use it 'till it dies, but I don't know if I would buy another.

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Take the guesswork out of making restaurant-quality rice with this easy-to-use rice cooker. The handy appliance produces up to 15 cups of cooked rice--great when cooking for a group of friends or the whole family. Simply add dry rice, measure in the water, make a selection from the simple push-button control panel with a blue backlit LCD display, and push the "start" button. Equipped with advanced fuzzy-logic technology, the unit automatically makes fine adjustments to the temperature and heating time to ensure perfectly cooked rice every time. Choose from a variety of pre-programmed menu options that include six types of rice--white, hard white, soft white, sushi, brown, and risotto, as well as oatmeal, quick cook, slow cook, steam, soup, and reheat. The unit automatically switches to keep-warm mode at the end of the cooking cycle, for up to 24 hours, and its programmable finish time makes it possible to choose when food will be ready to serve. Other highlights include a nonstick aluminum cooking pot, a removable steam release and inner lid, and dishwasher-safe parts for quick cleanup. Accessories include a steaming rack, measuring cup, rice paddle and spoon, and basic gourmet recipes for getting started. The cooker measures approximately 12-1/5 by 16-1/2 by 10-1/2 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty. From the Manufacturer The benefits of fuzzy logic are clear with Cuisinart!Whether you are cooking rice, soup, oatmeal, or risotto, simmering a stew or steaming your favorite vegetables, our highly intelligent Rice Plus multi-cooker automatically adjusts the heat and timing for perfect results every time. It's easy to use, has an extra large capacity and is beautiful to look at.Now that's a smart way to cook. Smart and User-Friendly Design As Simple as 1, 2, 3 Bringing the Good Life Home Cuisinart products are designed to make life delicious all day long. Specialty items, like the multi-cooker, offer today's consumers a variety of menu options, and fun and easy new ways to entertain family and friends. Cuisinart first came into home kitchens over 30 years ago when it introduced the now legendary food processor. People discovered that routines could be broken and creative cooking quickly became part of the new lifestyle. Preparing fresh ingredients with products that offered easy and interesting new techniques meant healthier meals and more free time. Today Cuisinart develops products to make every meal memorable. From breakfast toast and coffee to elegant five-course dinners, the preparation and cooking have become a pleasurable part of the total experience. Today's relaxed lifestyles and the convenience of Cuisinart products make it easier than ever to Savor the Good Life, right at home with family and friends.

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Presto 8-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a solid, basic stainless pressure cooker, that is quite a bargain at the $41.45 price (or $33 something after the $25 off $125 kitchen purchases).
Advantages:
* Easy to use flip pressure regulator for quick release of pressure
* Only has 15 lbs pressure that is adequate for normal pressure cooking
* Has handles on both sides that makes the cooker easy to carry and stable when full.
* Stainless won't interact with food product such as tomatoes.
* 8 qt. capacity gives 4 qts of capacity when cooking foaming products such as beans or lentils.
* Easier to clean than some pressure cookers I have used.
Disadvantages:
* Only cooks at 15 lbs of pressure, where some recipes call for only 10 lbs and would have to be adjusted.
* Most canning is done at 10 lbs pressure at sealevel and up to 1000 ft elevation
* I respectfully disagree that this cooker is meant for canning. It could process 3 or 4 pints in a pinch, but a 23 qt pressure cooker is the canning workhorse and will hold 19 pts or 7 qts. The manual suggests not canning in it, and it doesn't have a canning trivet included.
* It is much lighter weight than older Presto models, so I don't know if it will last as long as the old ones did.
Overall, it is a great pressure cooker for most cooking, and is a very good value.

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Cooks lighter meals, healthier, fast and easy. 3 to 10 times faster than ordinary methods - faster than a microwave. Chicken, fish, vegetables and more cook to perfection in minutes. Tenderizes leaner cuts of beef and pork. Quick steam release. Stainless steel steamer basket.

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Presto 4-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent pressure cooker. I also have the 8-quart stainless steel model by Presto and I don't like that one as much as this one. I like the little rocker on top better because I know exactly how much pressure it has. It is super easy to carry this extremely lightweight pressure cooker to the sink, run water over it, and in 5-10 seconds the pressure is down! It is not heavy or hot. You just have to be careful when you do this. I actually prefer this method of quick cooling to the method used in the 8-quart, which is to open the little weight and let the steam shoot out the top. That method takes about a minute, plus there's steam all over the place. That seems more dangerous to me than going to the sink.
This model is a smaller version of the 6-quart, so if you think this one is too small, that one would work for a family. This size is just right for one or two people. I always make very small quantities of food in it anyway as I don't like to have a lot of leftovers.
Cleanup with this product is very fast and easy as it is so lightweight. Another nice thing is that replacement parts are very easy to obtain (rubber gasket and overpressure plug).
I highly recommend this pressure cooker and the 6-quart stainless steel model as well.

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Cooks lighter meals, healthier, fast and easy. 3 to 10 times faster than ordinary methods - faster than a microwave. Chicken, fish, vegetables and more cook to perfection in minutes. Tenderizes leaner cuts of beef and pork. New ergonomically designed handles.

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