Skillet Seattle

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Nordic Ware 12 Inch Skillet Cover

This lid is sturdy and fits well on my 12-inch skillets.The steam vent hole in the lid is great for simmering and reducing liquids in food while avoiding splatter. The padded handle prevents finger burns.

This is a well manufactured lid with wonderful grip handle, however, it doesn't fit my skillet perfectly thus the 4 star rating.

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Paula Deen Signature Cast Iron 11-Inch Hoecake Pan

The product itself did not disappoint and is certainly not limited to hoe cakes and the like.It is a great 11-inch general purpose griddle of heavy construction that will hold heat well.

However, the literature which accompanied the pan cautioned against using it on a glass cook top.I am quite satisfied with the quality of the pan, but I have had to cross our glass drop-in cook top off the list of places where I can use it.

I love my hoecake pan, and can't wait until it gets real seasoned.It is already seasoned and ready to use, but it will be even better once it gets a good Old coating on it.It is my go to pan that I keep on the stove.You can cook on it, throw it in the oven to heat something up real quick.I enjoy cooking, and I love gadgets.So I love differnt cooking tools too.Plus you get a recipe for homemade pancakes.Thank you Paula Deen.

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What a complete waste of money. Heat distribution is bad,size is impractical,weight is too heavy.Clean up was a problem as well.I should have known better.

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Anolon Advanced Bronze 11-Inch, 5-Quart Covered Sauteuse with Glass Lid

We love this pot! It turns out we use it far more often than we expected, because it holds a lot, has straight sides so a good flat area on the bottom, and yet isn't too big or too heavy to be a good everyday choice. Not to mention it is quite good looking. The lid is heavy and fits well, the handles are sturdy, and the base is nice and thick.

The one thing I would say is, silicone coated handles are a really nice feature and this pot doesn't have them. But, that being said, we still love the pot.

As it turns out, this pot is a "Promotional" item given to people hosting parties, or some such thing.It is not as heavy as the other items in the full set.Additionaly, it lacks the "rubber" lid handle.This handle is just metal and gets very hot.Otherwise, it is a fine pot.I would rather have had the item though.

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I have purchased 8 of these in the regular non Bronze color. It is an excellent everyday piece and I was sorely disappointed when the two new Bronze ones I ordered arrived. These pans are not completely flat and slightly protrude up in the center. Both have the same exact defect so I'm hesitant to send them back for an exchange. I am returning them as I have an electric cooktop that doesn't allow for even cooking or frying. The original ones I purchased were so good that I bought them for my parents, and an aunt and we have all used them far in excess of all other pots combined. I am ordering the original non Bronze model as replacements.

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The pan is great, wish it had been deeper and more of a stockpot, we did not read all of the description when purchasing. Handles require hot pads.

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Paderno World Cuisine 12-5/8-Inch Carbon Steel Ceramic Coated Frying Pan

This is a generally very solidly built piece of cookware. It has a heavy feel but can be moved easily. The minute I received it I knew this was going to be my go to pan. I do not compare this to my All-Clad stainless steel fry pan. These are different beasts, in two separate categories. If you want non stick I have only 2 brands I would choose and thats the Paderno which is carbon steel with a ceramic non-toxic coat, and the Berghoff Virgo cookware which is also ceramic with either stainless steel core or aluminum core. I personally have an aversion to cookware with aluminum because if the surface breaks down you now have a certified toxic metal leaching into your food. The exception would be the All-clad D5 cookware where I doubt the surface would breakdown enough for the aluminum core to be exposed. But again that's a different beast. I was looking for something non-stick right out of the box. This fit the bill. That being said I have never owned a non stick pan that ultimately did not break down over time.(scanpan, diamond coat pans all of them) So I am going to assume this will break down as well over time but if it does it should still be relatively safe. This is my first ceramic coated cookware of any kind so I am hopeful it will stand the test of time. Which is why I give it only 4 stars. Have not had it long enough to see how it wears and will give a follow up edit of this review when an appropriate amount of time has passed. I'll also do a separate review of the Berghoff Virgo cookware which I just received. So far so good. Hope it stays that way.Definitely like the aesthetics. I don't think this will work with Induction cooking but the Berghoff will. Keep that in mind. Give this Paderno pan serious consideration if you want non-toxic and non-stick cookware. Very pleased so far. This rating could and should jump one star if the hype about ceramic coating is accurate.

Edited update: unfortunately it did not take much time for both the outside paint enamel and the inside non stick coat to start breaking down. Multiple scratches on both inside and out . Very little cooking done and then only on low medium flames. Just another flawed attempt at what is supposed to be non stick ceramic. Do not recommend this product.

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Calphalon Contemporary Stainless 13-Inch Flat-Bottom Wok

I use this wok on an electric range.I find it works well provided I turn the heat all the way up to high on a big burner.The problem, of course, is electric stoves, not the wok.As far as cooking goes it is great.As long as it is well heated before you start nothing sticks, the bottom heats evenly, and with a little bit of stainless steel polish it stays looking good as new.My one complaint is that a wok really needs a good lid for simmering sauces.This one does not include a lid, and I have not yet found anything that I can use for one.

I think this is like an American Chinese wok, because like one of the reviewer said, it has a small flat bottom. (That's what my parents prefers, because that way it would NOT move around on a stove. Seriously, we brought a bottom ring for out previous Chinese wok, but it still moves around!) So far, this is one of the best wok i seen!

Good: VERY easy to Clean, and easy to use

Good: The height of the wok is perfect for steaming overnight dish (trust me, my dad even go as far as to measure it out himself before purchasing it at our local Macy's store!)

Bad: it's kinda heavy (to me at least, because my parents didn't think so, i guess i just need to practice more on using it!)

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I have been using this 13" inches wok about a year.It is a great product for the price.If anything sticks after cooking; just pour water in it and boil, let the water cool down then clean it.Some people might

think is too big(little bit too big for the standard sink) and too heavy.It is a quality product, I think it will last at least 20 years.Unlike nonstick cookware, stainless steel does not react with the food in high temp.It is good for your health.This wok is best use for cooking Asian vegetables.Remeber to use the bamboo turner.I am still looking for the lid.

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I don't have much to add about the wok. It's great but takes a little time to get used to. You don't need the flame as high as on an inexpensive wok as it conducts heat really well. But I was too conservative at first, cooking too low.

One comment was the lack of a lid. E-mail or call Caphalon and get a lid to fit that matches the set. No part number on the lid I just got, but a label on the box says JR1613001. That's the glass lid with a stainless steel ring and handle. Fits perfectly and makes it perfect as far as I'm concerned.

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Very solid and well-built piece... Heatup was quick and even. It is not losing any groud compared other higher price cookware like All-clad...

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T-fal A9108274 Specialty Nonstick 5-Quart Jumbo Cooker with Glass Lid Fry Pan Dishwasher Safe Cookw

Can't speak to durability as of yet since we haven't had it a long while, but it is of good quality and can't be beat for versatility.Everything from hamburgers and roasts to a family serving of eggs has turned out beautifully.No problems with the lid that was mentioned in previous posts.Can't beat Amazon's service.

***Update10/08

Still one of the best skillets I've owned.It's proven itself over and over.Cooks evenly, cleans up easily, and after being used 3-4 times every week, not a hint of wear and tear so far.Great purchase.

I was a bit skeptical about buying cookware that I can not hold and inspect first.But the price was good and I decided to go out on a limb and try it.I have a family of 6 and am always using countless pots and pans to cook a meal large enough to feed the whole family.Well let me tell you this, this thing is big, and I mean big.The cooking area on this is amazing.You read about the size, but don't realize how big this is until you have in your hand.I can finally cook a meal all in one piece of cookware...I love it.I cook over gas and it cooks and heats evenly throught the whole pan, no hot or cold spots.I was able to brown and cook 6 breasts of chicken at one time, with room to spare.Yes the item is made in China, yes there is no Thermospot (however if you know how to cook not a big deal), but the construction seems good and the pan does have some good weight to it.This is definately a piece of cookware to have in you household if you need to cook large portion meals for a big family.

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My T-Fal set of pots & pans didn't include this jumbo cooker, but right away I saw we needed this.It's great for big batch cooking like chili or stovetop meals.I like to cook up enough in one batch to save cooking later in the week.

This has most of the features I wanted: extra handle so you can use two hands to lift it when full, non-stick interior, even heat base, glass lid so I can see the progress of the cooking.I do wish it had the red dot in the center to tell me when the pan is properly preheated.You need to use plastic or wooden spoons or stirers with this surface.

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This is a great pan for those of us who are not cookware snobs. If you go in with high expectations you might be disappointed; this is not a $100 pan and it shouldn't be compared to one. Yes, it is a little thinner and lighter than a top-of-the line cookware product, but so what. It works great and is perfect for everyday use. It is very versatile from frying eggs to cooking several pieces of chicken at the same time. It is very roomy in diameter and depth. The lighter weight of the pan makes it not too heavy to lift when food is in it. It cooks surprisingly evenly and because it is lighter weight, you can cook at a lower temperature = less electricity or gas = saving $$. The lid is a great addition to keep things warm and having two handles makes lifting very easy. There have been absolutely no problems with this nothing broken, nothing coming loose. The handles are riveted so there is nothing to come unscrewed. My only recommendation is to follow the instructions that come with it. Don't use metal or hard plastic utensils that will scratch, don't use scouring pads, and don't soak it with dishwasher detergent, which eats at the coating. I ordered this off Amazon because I had a gift card and got free shipping, but this pan is available in stores too. If you live in the Midwest, Meijer sells it for $25 and a couple weeks ago I noticed it on sale for $20. 4/30/2011

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Pan is very thin walled and light feeling. After washing the pan the first time, I seasoned it as instructed. Used it four times on our glass flat top electric stove. Never high heat. Always hand washed. Never put it in dishwasher or used it in the oven, even though you can. By the fourth time using it, it had warped badly enough that it no longer sat flat on the stove and rocked quite a bit when stirring or even touching the handle. No other pan I've ever owned has done that. Returned it. Bought a T-Fal Signature Hard Anodized 10-Inch Skillet with Glass Lid here on Amazon to replace it. The new one has quite a bit heavier construction and heft. Expecting this one to hold up.

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Nordic Ware Restaurant Cookware 14 Inch Skillet

I like to make scrambled eggs for breakfast before work.This skillet is perfect, as the eggs are evenly cooked and don't stick.Great product.

Chicken just tastes better on this pan. We have had it for much more than a year and use it 4-5x per week. Only problem is that we cannot find a cover for it.

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It's a large pan, but the heat conducts very well to the outside edges.There are times when a really large saute pan is very useful and this does really well.I use it much more than I thought I would.Great for cooking for a crowd.The non-stick surface is very good.

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Arrived in loose packaging that didn't prevent the nonstick coating from being dinged and chipped. Sides were warped. It is REALLY big. Would take two burners on a conventional sized Whirpool gas range to adequately heat the cooking surface area. Returned for defects mentioned.

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If you have been searching for a 14" skillet you no doubt have found that they are big on the top but not so on the bottom; many have a bottom diameter of only 10.5".I contacted Nordic Ware and they told me their 14" skillet has a bottom diameter of 11", bigger than most but not much larger than that of a normal 12" skillet.

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Kalorik WM 30821 Rotate S.S Waffle Maker

I purchased this waffle maker because I used one similar at a hotel. This model is terrible. It is really hard to get the handle lined up to shut it tight, difficult to swivel, & cooks unevenly. It's almost all plastic & the metal is cheap cheap cheap! My waffles were unevenly cooked & even after I greased the surface like mad, the waffles STILL stuck. I will be returning this product & you will too if you buy it.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 3-1/2-Quart Round French Oven, Cherry

The single best pots for doing rich chicken dishes and the like. Conducts heat perfectly, well-balanced and very easly to clean. So many great meals have emerged from these pots that I tend to cook more frequently,especially the more slow-cooking or complex dishes.

I inheirited one ofthese pots and then bought another. Since then I have excused all similarimitations from the kitchen.

If I had to equipt my kitchen with 3cooking pots/pans, this would come right after the skillet and sauce pan.

I have loved the two pieces of LeCreuset that I ordered. I have a glass cooktop (which I curse!) and cookware has to be absolutely flat for good heat transfer. Through the years I have tried various brands (Calphalon, Farberware, etc) and Le Creuset is the best I have ever used. The lid seals tightly, making for an energy efficient design. It has been easy to clean as well and looks great! Ipurchased my first piece in order to bake my favorite no-knead bread recipe: it requires a covered pot to bake it at 450 degrees, and few cookware brands have handles that can withstand that high a temperature. Le Creuset does, and has performed beautifully. It is also great for braising and stewing. Follow directions and do not use the highest heat setting, it is uneccessary and can damage the pot.

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This French Oven is just the right size for the two of us.I can fill it halfway for a typical meal, or make a double recipe in order to freeze some for another time.It browns things well, goes easily from stove-top to oven, holds the heat in during long simmering, cleans up quickly with a little soak in warm water, and looks great. I have owned some other products from Le Creuset, and they never disappoint.

Judy

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I've wanted Le Creuset for 20 years, but could not see spending that much money on a cook pot. Finally, I bought this. I cook a lot of thrifty meals (beans, braising, roasting, soups, stews, chili, and so forth).Everything comes out beautifully, no burned spots, I use lower heat, less liquid, and less time to get even better results than before in my stainless steel pots.

Yes, it's heavy, and yes, you have to hand wash it after use. But like good knives, it's worth the extra trouble and expense for an excellent tool. Would I replace all my cookware with Le Creuset? Absolutely not. For some tasks, I wish I had done it years ago.

Since I'm cooking for two these days, this pot is just the right size.

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I love this french oven.You can use it for almost anything! It heats up evenly and clean up is very easy.The item arrived on time which is perfect for the holidays!

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Lodge Color Dutch Oven

Lodge Color EC6D43 Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Island Spice Red, 6-Quart

Enamel on cast iron cookware like this, was, until recently, only available from makers like Le Creuset.Lately, several lower cost makers have come on the scene, like Target and Innova.The new budget priced Lodge cookware is in the same price range as the low cost alternatives but completely out performs them.

I have all of the brands I have mentioned.The Lodge is the same weight as the Le Creuset which is much heavier than the other budget models.The ridge where the lid and sides meet is a matt black porcelain on the Lodge and Le Creuset but is just exposed cast iron for the other budget models (which leads to rusting if you are not careful).The porcelain resists staining (even tomato sauces) in the Lodge and Le Creuset but the other budget models stain very easily.And finally, the Lodge and Le Creuset maintain a very polished interior finish that resists sticking which others do not.So, I see no performance differences at all between the Le Creuset and the Lodge whereas the comparably priced budget models are certainly inferior.

If you plan of using these pots very heavily (every day for example) you might want to upgrade to the higher priced Lodge product.It has 4 coatings of enamel as opposed to 2 in this model.But if you use them once or twice a week I dont think you will need the added wear resistance.

I purchased this from Amazon around mid-December and have been using it probably 3-4 times/week since then.It is as well constructed as my mother's Le Creuset french ovens, but at a much more reasonable price.I find Lodge products to be a good value, although this piece represents a departure for them as it is not made in the USA, but rather China.Nonetheless, it is very well constructed, with details like the black porcelain enameled rim of the pot and the lid setting it apart from some of the other inexpensive alternatives.I have used mine for mussels in white wine, no-knead bread (more on this below), stew, and various other dishes, and it has held up very well thus far.In another 20 or 30 years I should have a better idea of whether it will hold up as well as my mother's LC pots, but the materials appear to be suitable for the long haul.At one-sixth the price of Le Creuset, I'm willing to take that bet.

One aspect of the pot which I found wanting was the knob.The black phenolic knob completes the Le Creuset lookalike styling, but as with the LC product, it is not heat-safe to 500 degrees.I preheat the vessels for my bread baking at 500-550 degrees for 30-60 minutes, and the knob would not survive.Therefore, I went to the local hardware store and bought a substantial chrome-steel knob of the same base diameter as the included knob, with matching screw, and have used it ever since.For $9 total, the unit is now safe to 550 degrees F and beyond.Net cost: $59.

Great value and I recommend it highly.

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This is a terrific value.The quality and performance match my Le Creuset pieces at a fraction of the price.The only slight design flaw I have found is that the rounded bottom makes browning large pieces of meat awkward.Other than that I have no complaints.Even heating.Easy clean up.I use it several times a week.

UPDATE:I found a second minor problem.The inside rim of the lid has a couple of raised spots which prevent the lid from seating tightly.This causes steam to escape much faster than I would like during a long braise or stew.

Update 2:Three years in I am dropping my rating to three stars.It's still a decent pot at a bargain price, but it will not be an heirloom piece like my Le Creuset.The loose fitting lid turns out to be a manufacturing shortcut.The lids and pot rims on the Le Creuset are machined flat so the lid fits tightly.The lid on this (and other inexpensive enameled cast iron pieces I have looked at) is cast with three raised spots which allow the lid to sit "flat" (like a tripod) on the pot without the extra machining step.This shortcut, unfortunately, makes it impossible for the lid to seal tightly. This makes the pot unsuitable for some tasks unless I make a foil gasket for a tight seal.Secondly, I now have several small chips in the enamel (on the lid and outside) on this pot.My Le Creuset pieces, which I have had much longer and use just as often, have no chipping.

Bottom line: the quality you get is the quality you pay for.

Update 3:I am informed in some of the comments that the products shipping in 2011 have a smooth rimmed lid rather than the "tripod" design.I cannot confirm this, but it would remove one problem I have described above.Meanwhile I am sending this pot to Goodwill and have replaced it with a French made oven from Costco.

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This Dutch oven is absolutely gorgeous! An incredible value in the world of enameled cast iron these days, I have a Le Creuset dutch oven that I love, but wanted another piece that was smaller and to be completely honest, wanted to to test one of Lodge's new enameled cast iron pieces that aremore price friendly. I have other lodge pieces which I love and thought it was worth a try. I have to admit I was lured by the beautiful red color. Now that I have received it and see it, the picture does not do it justice! It is so pretty, but it cooks superbly like my other lodge pieces, but clean up is so much easier and I don't have to oil each time. I can also cook dishes that are acidic that I can't in the regular cast iron. You also can cook at almost half the normal temps in the oven because it retains the heat so well, which is great with the price of electricity and gas right now!I really think these are going to take off with their affordable prices on these. They have the Lodge name security backing them and hopefully they have not sold their name to produce these like a lot of other companies these days, but I doubt it. But for under $50 for a 6 quart dutch oven, it is worth a try! I am very happy and showing all my friends and family. Do give these a try!

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I called Lodge Mfg. They e-mailed me a report showing the testing that they have had done on their enamel coated cookware. All of their non enamel cookware is made here in the U.S. The enamel coated cookware is made in China but has been tested for lead content. That set my mind at ease and thought this review would help others too.

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Calphalon Everyday 8-In and 10-In Nonstick Omelet 2-Pc Set CT138890PWR

these are fantastic, heavy,cook great, real profesional.I've bought a lot of Calphalon pieces at amazon,slowly replacing all my wife's pots and pans.If you can get a great price on any calphalon on Amazon, go for it.Make sure you get the covers too.

These pans are solid and well made. The non-stick coating is durable and has held up well for about a year and a half of regular usage. The handles are big, comfortable, and the silicone handle insulates well.

Made in USA is a nice bonus!

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Would definitely recommend... very high quality for every day use

Says Omelet Set, but we use it for any skillet / fry pan needs

Very satisfied

No criticisms

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I use these two pans every day, and often several times a day.I mistreated my first set, so I turned around and bought a second set after I learned not to use cooking sprays.Wow.These items are top quality and I am SO married to them!

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The Sharper Image 8147SI Stainless-Steel Super Grill with Interchangeable Nonstick Plates

()***UPDATED REVIEW TO 2 STARS***

Changing the rating from 5 to 2 stars and going back to one of George's grills. After using this grill 20-30 times (2 3 times a week for about 10 weeks), the mechanism securing the top plate no longer functions as it should. The grill is still usable, but the plates don't align as they once did and the top half wobbles. The problem allows lots more grease to splatter which leaves an oily outline around the grill on the counter after each use.

***ORIGINAL 5 STAR REVIEW BELOW***

The quick overview is that I highly recommend Sharper Image's "Super Grill" as your best bet for this price range. Compared to similarly priced better known competitors, you'll be happy with the Super Grill's highly desirable differentiating features.

First, but not the most important, the Sharper Image grill is really pleasing aesthetically. It just looks better than any of the others we've owned over the years and we won't park it away after every use. The stainless steel finish provides a more refined look and makes it worthy of a continued presence on the counter.

However, as we all know, good looks don't guarantee superior performance. Luckily for The Sharper Image, the Super Grill kicked butt in the area of performance. Immediately noticeable was that the Sharper Image grill heated up and was ready to cook in just over two minutes. Its ugly rival always took a full 9 minutes. The temperature controls on the Super Grill are also more precise with a more pronounced increase when turning up its settings.

Another marked difference was that the Super Grill has an obviously higher maximum temperature. When grilling, a high temperature is key to browning. If the temperature isn't sufficient at first contact, burgers come out slightly grey and chicken breasts end up looking a bit yellow. The Super Grill gets hot enough to brown food to provide that all important, appetite enhancing, finished appearance often missing when grilling indoors.

A great feature sorely missing from many of its rivals is the Super Grill's ability to open up completely. Many indoor grills only allow full contact grilling where the food cooks in between upper and lower grilling surfaces.

The Super Grill's design allows it to be completely opened so that both plates are available as bottom cooking surfaces. The amount of food that can be cooked at one time is doubled by the Super Grill.

The Super Grill is for home use only, but it feels like professional grade. Compared to the almost same sized rival grill we recently decommissioned, the Super Grill is noticeably heavier and appears to be of a sturdier design. One thing we noticed when contact grilling is that the upper plate rests heavier and more securely when closed atop chicken breasts. Our last grill's top plate wobbled about a bit when closed and didn't rest heavy enough against the food to provide sufficient grill marks.

Besides the two cooking plates that make grilling marks, there is a smooth faced grill plate that can be used to cook pancakes, fry eggs, etc. The remaining two plates included with the grill are for making waffles. All plates are non-stick and dishwasher safe.

Regarding the non-stick surfaces being dishwasher safe, from experience I have to recommend hand washing. The Super Grill may very well have plates with a non-stick surface coating superior to its rivals, but I'm not taking the chance because I really want to keep this grill in operation for a long, long time.

It's been my experience that using the dishwasher to repeatedly clean non-stick coated surfaces can result in blistering and flaking. The plates from our previous grill were also marked as dishwasher safe, but over time the destruction of the coating rendered the plates almost unusable without heavy applications of spray oil, like Pam.

I have a really easy way to keep grill plates clean without subjecting them to the potential harm of automatic dish-washing. Immediately after using your grill, unplug it from the wall. Soak a paper towel and squeeze out the excess water. Quickly lay the paper towel flat on the bottom grill surface and close the top. The resulting steam loosens up most stuck bits. Once the grill has completely cooled, open it and use the paper towel to wipe the plates fully clean.

While I'm rating the Super Grill as worthy of Five Stars, it does have a couple of minor negatives. The first is grease drainage. Many of its competitors have drip pans that run the full width of the unit allowing grease to more easily drain. The Super Grill has much more attractive drip containers, but the grease is channeled to one small area from which to drain. The result is that less grease drains while cooking.

The other improvement that I would like to see is to simply include another of the flat surfaced grilling pans. Obviously,two plates are required to cook waffles and two with grill lines are needed for full contact grilling. The manufacturer probably figured (rightly) that only one plate was necessary to cook eggs and such since one wouldn't do so with the grill in the closed operating position. However, an extra flat grill plate would conveniently double the amount of space available if one was in the mood to cook up a whole mess of pancakes at once.

All in all, the minor detractions noted are minute takeaways. After having owned four previous grills by two other manufacturers, I can most assuredly state that you will realize a huge bang from your buck by buying The Sharper Image's "Super Grill."

Now.. Who else is hungry? Happy grilling!

The unit cooks great....I found it to cook evenly on both sides.Love the interchangable plates.But the instruction booklet is more about covering the Sharper Image for legal liabilities than it is actual instructions for the user.I did not even know it had an articulating hinge until I discovered it on my own by looking at the pictures on the box and on the web.The booklet said nothing about it.That's why it only gets 4 stars.However, I would recommend purchase of this product.Another qwirk is that the unit only comes with one flat interchangable plate.So if you want to cook eggs or pancakes on both sides with the unit flat in the wide open position, you can only cook those items on one flat side the other side will be a raised grill plate.Don't know who came up with that brilliant idea....not a cook!

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My wife was wanting a waffle iron, but I wanted something more.As a kid, we had one that was a waffle iron/griddle.It could be used as a waffle iron (of course) or could be opened all the way, the plates flipped and the other side was a smooth grill plate.We always used it for pancakes.I was looking for something similar.After looking at several others, I found this at a local chain store.

Upon first inspection, I had a problem with was the instruction booklet.Though the English is decent, it doesn't tell you much.The only thing it is good for is the legal stuff and to show you how to change the cooking plates.As far as giving instruction about how to cook with it, you can discern just about as much by looking at the controls.Because the instructions don't give any clue as to where to put the controls for different kinds of meats, sandwiches or whatever it is that you're wanting to cook, it's all guess work.I've only had it for a couple weeks, so I haven't used it enough to know where to set it.The plates fit loosely.I don't know if it actually makes any difference, if not, it just looks sloppy.Finally, as a waffle iron/grill, it doesn't heat evenly.The top plate does not get as hot as the bottom, therefore the bottom of the waffle gets brown before the top.I have yet to use it as a griddle, so I don't know how well the Left side controls work.

So far I must rate this product as OK.It does what it says it will do (as far as I have used it) but as with a lot of more modern products, the workmanship is sloppy and is indicative of being a product of overseas manufacture.

Read Best Reviews of The Sharper Image 8147SI Stainless-Steel Super Grill with Interchangeable Nonstick Plates Here

()Don't let my title fool you, I really like this grill press.

I've cooked several meals in it since we got it and used all of the grill plates except for the waffle plates which we plan to use this week.

First of all it's nice looking. I really like stainless steel appliances so this fits.

It's very simple, while I read the manual before I did anything, my wife figured it out on her own and with the exception of one minor hang up she was able to make her Panini without any hassle.

The 3 knobs on the front are for heating the grill press while it's opened and closed, the knob in the middle determines which way you'll be using the press (again, opened or closed) and the 2 on the sides are the heat controls, one for opened and one for closed. That's it.

Getting the plates on and off is pretty easy, they do seem to get caught at the edge when trying to take them off so a little wiggle is required, I'm sure with time I'll figure it out though, I wouldn't dismiss user error on this one.

Getting it to lean back flat is controlled by a little lever on the handle, very easy to use.

But here's the little annoyance, when you're cooking something that is too thick to let the press close in the normal position the top plate needs to swivel, which it can do but not with out pushing it forward a bit to disengage it from the handle. There is no button or lever for this just a small amount of effort to push it forward a bit at the top.

The problem is that by the time you realize you need to do that the grill is probably already hot. And while the handle stays perfectly cool, the plate (inside and out) does not! In fact the outside top of the grill gets pretty darn hot.

So the solution is to disengage it before you start heating or to use a spoon or something to push it forward, I guess a hot pad would work too.

Again it's a minor annoyance but it seemed like with such a well thought out little grill press this would be a no brainer.

The plates are non stick, so they clean up easy but can't be soaked or put in the dishwasher. They do come with a little plastic scraper that works ok but doesn't really seem to fit in the grooves correctly (my second annoyance). I just let it cool down and hit it with a wet sponge and then paper towel.

So far nothing has gotten stuck despite the fact that I've had cheese burn to the surface. Once it was cooled the cheese came right off.

As I mentioned I've cooked several meals on it and definitely come to some conclusions.

In a kitchen it is pointless to use the griddle part of this grill press. If you have a large skillet this press is no substitute. It's small and the edges are annoying when trying to use a spatula.

I cooked up eggs and ham on it for breakfast one morning and while it did an excellent job I really prefer my big skillet so I probably wont be using it for pancakes or eggs anymore. If you were somewhere that you didn't have a stove or a proper skillet and had thought to bring this along it would be a great travel tool. Thought it only comes with one griddle plate. The grill plate side worked great for cooking up ham and the grooves would also be perfect for bacon and getting rid of the grease.

The "drip trays" if that's what you wanna call them are basically plastic measuring cups, not a big deal since they work but make sure the grill is turned so they're facing away from you while you cook. They look like they'd be really easy to knock over.

Where this press shines is grilling meat and my favorite, Panini's!

I've probably made about 10 panini's in this thing since I got it, they come out perfect. Bread is crispy and browned and the insides are gooey and hot... man... so good. They also cook up fast since you're hitting em from both sides so you'll want to be careful, I set it to 2 for mine and start checking as soon as I hear the butter sizzle. You get nice grill marks too.

I imagine the waffles are going to come out pretty good as well but I'll update this review as soon as we test it.

The only other thing I feel I should mention is the size.

It's not a monstrosity or anything but if you live in a small apartment or have limited counter space you may think twice about this model. It's big enough to monopolize some counter space or a good chunk of your cabinet space when you're not using it. It's about 14" wide and a little over a foot deep, which means when it's open it's over 2 feet long. Also the handle can't be folded down for storage so it's gunna stick up about 8".

Again, it's not huge, but it's not compact either.

I also worry about storing the plates so I kept the cardboard sleeves they came in to try and keep them from getting scratched. Woulda been nice if the sleeves were designed to stay closed so you could use them for storing vertically. The backs are unfinished steel so if you laid them against the non-stick surface on the fronts of the other plates... well your plates would get ruined pretty quick.

I guess it goes without saying that you should only use wood or nylon utensils with non-stick appliances but.. well.. there, I've said it.

So to recap

PRO'S

Looks nice

Easy to use

Easy to clean

Non stick surfaces work really well

Cooks evenly and well.

Handle stays perfectly cool

Works as a waffle iron, grill, grill press and a griddle

CONS

Disengaging the top plate needs to be done ahead of time and by hand

Grill scraper doesn't really work

Drip trays "cups" are kinda cheap and could easily be knocked over if you aren't careful

Griddle option seems kinda pointless in a kitchien

Big, takes up a lot of counter/cabinet space

Stacking the stored plates will scratch them so you'll need to keep the cardboard sleeves or find some of your own.

All in all the pro's heavily outweigh the cons for me, I really like this press and the rest of my nit picks seem like things that Sharper Image can probably iron out with little effort in their next model. But for now this one is great and we are happy to have it in our home.

[UPDATE]

I promised an update so here it is;

Since we got the press I've made hamburgers and waffles on it and it worked out great. The waffles are awesome and the non-stick was nice. They popped right out and on the couple of occasions where they stuck we just nudged them with a spatula and they came loose without an issue. I recommend setting it a bit hot, like 2.5 or maybe even 3 so you get the crispy outsides before the insides start to dry out too much. It took a few tries but we got them fluffy in the middle with a nice golden crisp on the outside. Excellent waffles!

I guess one thing I'll note is that while making burgers the grease didn't run out as easily or quickly as I'd hoped. This could totally be my counter top, it may lean back a bit, but the grease pooled up closer to the back of the plate when it should have run out the front and into the drip cup. I ended up having to lift the unit a bit and guide the grease to the front with my spatula. Kind of a pain but again, I don't know that I can blame the press here. Still, it's something to keep an eye on if you get one.

Regardless making burgers in a press was pretty sweet! Cooked just right, nice and flat, good grill marks. Everyone involved was happy.

Even after burgers cleaning was simple, hot water and a sponge, done.

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()I don't have any other grills in this price range to compare this to, but there are several design flaws in this product that, if I had known about them before hand, would have led me to a different product.I hope they will help you make an informed decision.

Pros: (Most of which are in the features)

1. Very attractive with a brushed steel top and a powdered steel base.

2. Interchangeable plates (2x grill, 2x waffle, 1x griddle?)

3. Can be used as a Paninni press.

4. Can be used completely open, or closed.

Cons:

1. Uneven heating: According to the instructions the top plate should heat to a lower temperature than the bottom.Repeated tests using an infrared thermometer indicated that the top plate would get about 50 degrees hotter than the bottom plate.Heat was also much greater around the edges of the plates than in the center, with a difference of close to 40 degrees between the edges and the center.

2. Low Hi heat setting: The high heat for the open grill or griddle is only 370 degrees, which is really low for grilling.

3. Dial for the closed grill is labeled Min, 1-3 and Max, instead ofnumbers instead of degree markers, meaning that you cannot easily tell what temperature your cooking at.Moreover, the min setting maintained heats of around ~110 degrees which is insufficent for cooking or even for heating.

4.No indication as to the correct setting for waffles etc: Usually on something like this the instructions will tell you, use 3 for waffles, and max for steaks.Or, set it to 2 for thin fish etc.Nothing like that here.

5.Poorly designed drip control: On my unit the grease from cooking meat never actually traveled to the drip channel, instead bubbling out the front.Moreover, on the griddle setting large liquid batches were difficult to contain, frequently running towards the channel.

6. Only one griddle plate: Really? why? I just don't get why they only included 1 plate, you can't even buy a second one.

7. No replacement plates available: As with all nonstick products this grill will only last (safely) as long as the non-stick coating lasts.Normally when something has interchangable plates you would expect to be able to replace a damaged plate, but there doesn't seem to be anyplace to buy additional plates.I searched extensively for a source, and didn't find anything.If somebody does know please post it in the comments.Otherwise, make sure not to scratch anything.

8. No indication as to whether or not this product is dishwasher safe:I searched the whole manual, it doesn't say. And, since you can't replace damaged plates... you better not risk it.

9. Provided scraper doesn't fit the grill gaps:I tried to use the provided scraper to clean the grill but the gaps aren't wide enough so the tines don't come close to scraping in between the groves on the grill.Essentially this piece is useless.

10.The brushed steel of the lid shows every greasy smudge that comes in contact with it: In the scheme of things, not really a problem.

All in all, I just felt like this grill felt short.The combination of inconsistent cooking temperatures, and annoyance with cleaning procedures/fear over scratches, means that I rarely use this.I find that I'm much more likely to turn on the oven, or use the toaster oven than I am to grill on this guy.I do occasionally use it as a Panini press, but otherwise, I really don't use it.In short if you need a tabletop grill, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

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Paderno World Cuisine 7-1/8-Inch Stainless Steel Ceramic Coated Frying Pan

I purchased this to use on an induction cooktop because it's description says stainless steel and many reviewers of induction cooktops state that stainless steel works on them. My induction cooktop did not recognize this pan and a magnet would not stick to the bottom. I googled stainless steel and found that only the 400 series (steel with only chromium added)is ferro-magnetic and would thus work on induction cooktops. If too much nickel is added to the stainless steel (300 series) then it will no longer attract a magnet and will not work on induction cooktops. Unfortunately none of the cookware manufacturers seem to state what type of stainless steel they use.If you need a pot or pan for an induction cooktop then shop locally testing the bottom of each with a magnet or mail-order only if it specifically states that it works with induction cooktops.

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