Ilsa 7-Inch Cast Iron Heat Diffuser

This device is worth it's weight in gold.I cook a lot of pasta sauce and like to simmer it for 2-3 hours.Without this diffuser I would have to stir and scrape the bottom of the pot every 15 minutes to prevent scorching now it is every 30 to 40 minutes between stirs.It evenly distributes the heat to the entire bottom of the pan.

We've had ours for over 20 years now, no sign of rust at all. There is some discoloration but doesn't affect it. I don't know if it's mentioned but the different sides are used for the type of stove you have. The glossy side is used facing down if you use gas, flipped over if you use electric.

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It works like promised. I have a gas stove that runs on propane, producing a high flame even on simmer. This takes care of the problem giving a true simmer. There is some discoloration after you use it and it can get VERY hot be careful after cooking.

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I've used this particular diffuser on my gas cooktops for more than 25 years.I dragged two back from Europe, where you find them in virtually every home, when they weren't yet available in the U.S.It allows you to control heat distribution under a pan with great accuracy.You wouldn't be able to make fine sauces, like a beurre blanc (yes we're still allowed), without it.Rice never sticks to the pot for those of use who just throw a pot on the stove instead of rummaging around for yet another 'groovy' appliance.Well, nothing burns to the bottom of your pots and pans with these cast iron heat diffusers. It's not needed on every burner most of the time, but when you're doing something with difficult ingredients or want a long, slow simmer, it makes the difference between garbage and gourmet. Like all the other reviewers, I won't live without it, period.

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For people with glass top stoves, this cast iron defuser is essential.I do alot of steam canning and this defuser keeps the canner from sticking to the stovetop.The only thing that i have found, though, is that the paint on the defuser began to bubble up and slough off onto the bottom of my canner.But, all in all, i like this defuser.

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Proctor Silex 38513 Electric Griddle

There isn't much to say about an electric griddle unless it's very badly designed.

This one has a slight lip around 3 sides, the 4th side has a recessed area for fat to drain into so it can collect in a small drawer in the middle, and the thermostat goes from warm to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros-

Size, I can make 8 pancakes about the size of my palm at a time

non-stick surface is very non-stick, no greasing required

Heats fairly fast325 is about the perfect point for most things that I make.

Doesn't put out a lot of ambient heat, so good for cooking on warm days

Heat is evenly distributed, everything on the surface cooks at about the same speed.

Cons-

The draining area seems a little flimsy, and the drawer is loosely put in

Not made for really easy clean up. If you're making anything with a lot of grease it might be hard to completely clean it.

So I wouldn't use this for hamburgers, but for things with not much grease like turkey or chicken sausage, French toast and pancakes, this is very convenient.

I plugged this in to test it and cranked the control all the way to an indicated 400F.The heating element never turned off.Concerned, I went to the shop for my infrared thermometer "gun".Over five hundred degrees!Teflon releases toxic gases at high temperature and my griddle was smelling.Turned the thermostat down to an indicated 250F and the thermometer gun read 375F and the heat distribution is pretty even.My pancakes were too brown at that set point so I turned it down further to an indicated 225F.It makes good pancakes (which is what I bought it for) but if it wasn't for such a bargain sale price at a big-box store this would have been returned.

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Our older (5 years or so) unit from another company never seemed to cook evenly.The PS was on sale and on a whim we purchased it, and broke it in per the instructions (was and dry).My first task was cooking several pounds of bacon for an upcoming event.Compared to our old unit I was pleased that it seemed to distribute the heat evenly, and more importantly there were not as many cold/hot cycles (meaning it maintained an even heat fairly well).I cooked the thick sliced bacon per the PS recommendations; 375 degrees.It did a good job.What I didn't like was the thin lip around the unit; it was too easy to push a food item off the griddle when trying to flip it over.And, the grease seemed to pool more than I liked; the back legs of the unit should be a little higher than the front so the grease runs off, but it seemed to fairly level instead.Whether because of the little lip, the temperature, or other factors, it seemed to splatter more; the dial was covered in grease by the time I was finished.If you are looking for a budget griddle and don't have too high expectations, this is a decent unit.At this point I would recommend it.

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Purchased 3 of these griddles as gifts for Christmas.Gave one to my mom, who used it once in two months.Went to her place in March and plugged in the griddle and it wouldn't heat.The tip of the prod that plugs into the griddle had melted and it wouldn't fit in right to heat the griddle.I thought, no problem, I'll take it back.Can't take it back to the store..they suggested calling Proctor Silex since they carry the warranty.Called twice.Both times got really rude people.They claim under warranty I would still have to pay shipping, handling, and processing to get the new plug sent.This would cost about the same amount I purchased the griddle for.Even went so far as to tell me it's like buying a car....doesn't matter how little you drove it, once you buy it, it's yours.I dont' see the relevance of a car compared to a griddle.They wouldn't stand behind their product.I tried to talk to someone else higher up, but they won't even try to transfer you unless you give them your name, address, phone number, and other stuff.Won't buy anything Proctor Silex again!

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So maybe I am a little OCD, but I like to fit stuff into my cabinets..... Not into and can't shut the door because the gridle is too f'ing long. The unit works as designed to make a bunch of pancakes at once, hence, making my husband happy So, I give it three stars becuase it has to be stored width wise, blocking my crockpot and skillet pan... On second thought I should probably give it 2.5..... I hope they rethink it and shave an inch off so it can nicely store.

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Berndes Tradition Fry pan Set, Includes 9-1/2-Inch Skillet, 11-Inch Skillet and Spatula

Shipping was fast & product is amazing!!!These pans are the best investment I've made.After cooking with these you are going to want to replace your entire cookware collection, like I did.Clean up is a breeze & everything cooks so much better.Plus, nothing sticks to the bottom.I use a small amount of nonstick spray & I'm good to go.These pans are a must have.Most definitely recommend this brand/product.

I found one of these pans in a Marshall Fields store many years ago at a very discounted price. When the pan bit the dust after about 15 years of everyday, faithful service, I replaced it with this set and am very happy that I did.

The pans have a nice weight to them and nothing, absolutely nothing ever sticks to them.

The only thing that is of concern is that the old pan did not have a wooden handle, and I was able to run it through the dishwasher from time to time.I am afraid that the wooden handles will not tolerate the dishwasher as well.

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Johnson-Rose French Style Steel Fry Pan, 15 Inch x 2-1/4 Inch

This arrived yesterday and I would send it back today if I hadn't thrown away the box.I used it last night to fry some scallops for company.I found that if the heat was enough to brown the scallops in the oil, then the fluid that seeped from the scallops burned and if I turned the heat down to avoid that, then the scallops wouldn't brown!!This morning I have burned on residual that won't come off despite lots of scrubing.Again, I'm learning that "you get what you paid for" i.e, $30 for a huge skillet results in junk!!

This pan is excellent!The size was perfect for fitting on a gas burner, so we could fry fish outside (no odors.)It has a nice "heft" and fries beautifully.This is highly recommended!!!

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T-fal D913SC64 Signature Hard Anodized Oven Safe Nonstick Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator 12-Piece Cookw

First of all, sorry about my bad grasp of the English language; I'm not a native speaker, but I'll do my best.

I decided to buy these after I got tired of having food burnt "in the middle" due to the pan being extremely hot at the center. I value nonstick surfaces for the easiness on cleaning, but I also had bad experiences in the past with scratches and losing the nonstick properties after a while.

I've owned this set of pans for a little over a year now, and it is amazing how they are still as good as their first day. The nonstick surface is still new, and the pans are very easy to clean, with the right weigh and thickness that allow for a decent distribution of heat.

If you are not a professional cook and need a set of reliable cookware for daily cooking, I highly recommend this. They are not extremely expensive as the professional-grade cookware in the market, but I found out they perform almost as good (no noticeable difference for an amateur like me).

I have a large stainless steel set of cookware and had some odds and ends of non-stick for many years.I wanted to replace my old non-stick but didn't want to pay the price of some of the higher end brands.This cookware has a nice weight to it and fits the purpose just fine.I've been able to do some required high temperature cooking without sticking or burning.The only drawbacks for me would be that I wish the set included a 12" frying pan (w/lid) in lieu of the dutch oven.Also, it would be nice if it was dishwasher safe, but it is so easily cleaned that small negative shouldn't deter a purchase.

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A couple of comments on other reviews prompted me to provide some more information about the T-Fal Signature Hard Anodized 12 Cookware Piece Set.

The set includes 8 and 10¼ inch sauté pans, 1, 2, and 3 quart covered saucepans with lids, a 5 quart Dutch oven with lid, a slotted spatula, and a serving spoon. The lids are made of tempered glass and each has a small hole to allow steam to escape. The lids from the Dutch Oven and the 3 quart saucepan also fit the 10¼ inch and 8 inch sauté pans. The sauté pans are equipped with the T-Fal Thermo-Spot heat indicator which changes appearance when the pan reaches proper cooking temperature.

A generic set of Use Instructions is available in paper form in the carton and in pdf form at T-Fal's website. It provides information about seasoning the cookware a necessary step to ensure longevity.

You may register your product at their website or by mailing in the card that comes in the carton. Warranty registration forms ask for the UPC code so you may wish to write it down before discarding the carton.

The set I received today was made in China.

(When purchasing sponges with scrubbing surfaces or other scrubbers, make sure that they are approved for non-stick cookware. I recently learned that lesson using different cookware. Alas.)

If I've failed to mention something of interest to you, please leave a comment and I'll try to provide the answer.

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I was so impressed with this 12-piece set that it actually motivated me to write a review for it.I had not done any research on T-FAL before I made my purchase, I knew only that I wanted Hard Anodized.Being so close to Christmas time it was hard for me to find one under $100 but I finally found this set, the last one at Kmart for $80, so I grabbed it.

I am SO GLAD I did!

You won't believe how easy they are to clean, how well they cook, and how convenient the interchangeable lids are.You can use all utensils!(Exceptions Below)

I was but wasn't surprised by all the positive ratings I see.

It's true!

Drawbacks:350 degrees max.NOT dishwasher safe.No cutting or whipping.Also, my dutch oven has a spot by the rivet where the non-stick surface coating is not consistent, as if it had been scratched, but I have not noticed any peeling or ill-effect from it, so I haven't even contacted them in regard to the warranty.

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I rated these a 4 because: They deserve a 4.

They are very nice pans, don't get me wrong, they are not HIGH END pans, but they are GREAT PANS FOR EVERY DAY USE.In my case I wanted pans that were not too heavy and were easy to clean up.I have owned a set of Kirkland (Costco) Hard Anondized Cookware for years, they are EXCELLENT PANS and very easy to clean, my problem with them is that the big pots and skillets ARE VERY BIG AND ARE HEAVY.Now that we are empty nesters and not getting younger those big, heavy pans will be reserved for things the somewhat smaller (esp. the skillets and stock pot) T-Fal pots cannot accomplish.

These T-Fal pans look like the perfect solution to ease of care and not too much weight to haul around a lot.They are non stick which requires special attention, if you mess that up it's over far as I'm concerned, but so easy to clean!I won't even stack them w/o something in between for fear of scratching them.

I hope my review helps you decide if these are the right pans for you.

Cheers,

Emily

PS the handles are nice but don't cook them, 350 is max in oven.There are permanent vents in the lids, which is fine by me, less boiling over!

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Anolon Ultra Clad Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

I ordered this set using my frequent flyer miles. It is the nicest cookware set I've ever owned! My previous sets were non-stick, so it did take a little getting used to cooking with stainless steel (hot pan, cold oil; food won't stick). I've only been using it for about a month but they seem very durable. They are also very stylish! I'm very satisfied with the purchase.

These are made by Meyer Corp, who also makes Circulon, Faberware, KitchenAid, Silverstone and Bonjour products. All their brands are great. I you can get these pans for less than $300 than this is one of the best buys out there for Stainless steel cookware. Consumer reports rates this set very well. It retails for $399.99, which is much to high to pay, but amazon has them at a good $300. This set is tri-ply which means that it has 3 layers of metal. The center metal is aluminum which conducts heat better than other metals. They heat fast and uniformly, which makes it nice to cook anything on/in these. My set came with some minor cosmetic damage, whether due to shipping or manufacturing, but will not effect the performance of the cookware. These tend to be fingerprint magnets as well. Overall they are a great value for what you are getting. I would also recommend one good non-stick skillet for more delicate foods and when you don't want to cook with oils.

They clean up well and unlike the reviewer who said his stained easily they have not had any issues retaining color from anything cooked in them, or changing color. The handles are very sturdy and i can see these lasting a very long time under standard use. The handles are coated in s silicon rubber that stays cool/warm to the touch. They should be somewhat safer to use with utensils than their non-stick counterparts, but I've already put scratches in one of the sauce pans. On top of it all they are oven safe up to 400F in the oven and dishwasher safe as well. I will still clean mine by hand and use wooden or plastic utensils, just because I'm like that.The overall look is nice and they shine when clean and fingerprint free. I use mine on a gas range, but they say these work well on glass and induction based cooking tops as well. I really wanted to get an All-Clad set, but the price just ins;t justified for their product. This Anolon set has surpassed my expectations and I think that you'll enjoy cooking with it as much if not more than I do.

*I'll update my review with more as I continue to use this cookware.

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I received this set yesterday, it's an excellent set of cookware.The pieces seem to be built in a very quality manner, and appear to be indestructible.I cooked a small meal, and can absolutely say that this set creates a very even distribution of heat and cooked everything very nicely.

The only issue is that this set can be bought much cheaper directly from the manufacturer.

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The cookware set was bought for use on an induction cooktop.It meets all expectations and cleans easily.I would like to be able to find other sized pieces to add to my set.

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I used to have three pans of All-Clad, and hoped, over time, to get more. I got a portable induction burner, which changed my cooking life, and needed appropriate pans. I got an inexpensive set at WalMart and though they weren't bad, I missed my wonderful cookware.I first bought the 1-qt saucepan and fell in love with it. I now have 3 more of this type. They are sturdy, quality pans, which also look great.

I don't like nonstick pans because one eventually ends up eating the finish, though I will get a frying pan eventually for the occasional fried egg.But, I don't really have trouble cleaning these pans. At worst, I will soak one for an hour or so, and then it cleans up easily. Usually, by the time I am done cleaning the other dishes, and if I have soaked the dirty pan while I am doing it, it cleans readily.I couldn't be happier.

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Earth Pan Plus Nonstick SandFlow Skillet, Bronze, 12"

I love this large skillet, and it's amazing onstick feature.I also purchased a full set of the Earth Pan II nonstick SandFlow, in the Bronze color.I'm thankful that they're dishwasher safe, and have the most unique finish, inside and out.I've cooked breakfast foods, grilled cheese and formal dinners in this cookware, and it's all awesome and highly recommended!

Looked great. Pan was well recommended, including raves by Consumer Reports magazine. On CR web site, average reader review is now only 1.5 stars. See: Reality has now kicked in for me, and pan cannot be cleaned or used at all after one last omelet. Only got seven months of careful use. Looks were deceiving.

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At first this pan was perfect but then 2 months after mild use it started flaking. Hopefully I didn't ingest too much of the teflon. A flaking pan after 2 months is unacceptable. And no I did not scratch it with metal utensils. I do not recommend this rip-off.

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We have had this pan only three months and already it is ready for the scrap heap.

We have taken care of it very carefully but already it has several chips out of the finish and food is sticking on the bottom of the pan. In fact, I tried to fry an egg this morning and it stuck, even in bacon grease! Seems to me you should get more than a few months use out of a skillet before having to throw it away. We really feel ripped off.

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We received these pots and pans quickly and one of them had been damaged in shipment.We contacted the manufacturer and they immediately sent a completely new set by priority shipping.We received the replacements in two days along with free postage to return the damaged set.They are proving great to cook with and are very easy to clean.Provided they stand up to usage, they will be a great addition to our kitchen ware.

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