Oster CKSTGRRD25 20-by-10-Inch Digital Griddle with Removable Plate, Gray

I've cooked on griddles for decades and I like the design of this griddle, I like the detachable cooking plate, I like the fact it gets up to 400 degrees, but the non-stick coating is a complete joke! Right out of the box the non-stick coating was less than non-stick as everything that was cooked on the griddle stuck to it... even after spraying it with Pam food stuck, used bacon grease and it stuck, lard it stuck, butter it stuck, oil it stuck, ghee it stuck... so to call this griddle non-stick is a huge stretch of the imagination. And since everything that was cooked on it stuck to the surface it made cleaning it without damaging the surface was extremely difficult and in the end you had to scrub it to clean it. The digital read out is nice and size is good the fact that the non-stick surface is so inferior this product gets 1 star and it's being returned to BB&B were it was purchased.

I've purchased a couple of griddles in my time and I'm only 26.

The first one was to go on top of two burners of a stove. It was okay but I didn't get the results in even cooking.

Then the second one, was a Black & Decker model from the day after Thanksgiving from Target. It was okay just not great. I don't remember it much other than I sold it a year later in a garage sale.

Both the above items I purchased for around $20 or less.

Now, the Oster Digital Griddle I found at my In-Laws house. They moved into a newer home last year and got a bigger kitchen & pantry. So they purchased a few small appliances and other items. One of the items was the Oster Digital Griddle with Removable Plate.

We were house sitting for them one weekend a couple of months ago and I decided to make the kids pancakes. They LOVE pancakes and I practically make them every weekend for them. That gave me the opportunity to use the digital griddle. I was able to make 6-8 pancakes on the griddle at one time. It was awesome! Usually I make the pancakes in a skillet one at a time. The kids thought it was fun to watch me make them, but they also received their food faster. It was effortless, quick and uniformed.

I did read the instructions manual on how to take care of the griddle. You know, can it go in the dishwasher, etc. I can't remember now, if the removable plate can go in the dishwasher, but I'm not taking any chances. I've been hand washing it & it's very easy since everything washes off easily.

Normally I stick everything in the dishwasher, but I didn't want to ruin this thing. It's not cheap but it's not too expensive either. With my 20% off coupon from Bed Bath & Beyond, I paid $40 for it.

The one thing I will mention that the instruction manual stated, is to condition the removable plate with oil to keep the non-stick going strong. I've not had one issue with food sticking to the plate.

So far, I've cooked tons of pancakes, some sausage and I LOVE cooking bacon on it.

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I've read the reviews on here about issues with inconsistent heating and not being non-stick.I received my griddle as a Christmas gift last year (purchased at BB&B), and I've since used it about a dozen times.I've cooked French toast, pancakes, and grilled cheese sandwiches, all with no sticking problems.Everything cooks evenly on any part of the griddle, as well.This thing has changed breakfast for us.The whole family is fed in a matter of minutes and no kids are whining about who gets the first pancake.Love it!The reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because the grease tray was dropped on first cleaning, and the handle cracked right way.It was easily glued back together, but I'd like to see some improvement on the durability.(Btw...I'm wondering if the previous reviewer who had "sticking" issues seasoned it with oil prior to first use, as instructed in the manual.)

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I purchased one from BB&B and, through careless cleaning, damaged the protective coating. I tried several places, including the manufacturer, to obtain a replacement griddle, but they just aren't to be had. Oster told me the item had been discontinued. However, I went back to BB&B and purchased a second unit. It works fine. I like being able to remove the griddle for cleaning. If you buy one, handle it with care, because you can't replace the griddle if it becomes damaged. I have had better griddles than this unit, but I like the convenience of the removable griddle. I rated it 3 stars since Oster won't back up their product by selling parts.

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I am not sure what they were thinking advertising this as a non stick skillet!There was no breakfast food I cooked on this that did not stick.Even Bacon was sticking.Absolutely Terrible!

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TRU 3-Crock Buffet Slowcooker

We just received the unit today.Got it on sale at Kohl's for $29.99 from $59.99.If I paid any more, I would be livid.Since it was so inexpensive, I am OK.Shipping was sloooooow from Kohls.I guess I am just used to the speedy shipping of amazon.comOne of the black nobs on the top is at a 45 degree angle. When the pot sits on a flat surface (we tried many), it rocks.Called customer service for Tru. Very nice woman, but did not resolve anything.She asked if all the feet were there.They were, so she said that I would have to return it to Kohls.What a pain! I need it for tonight. The cord is so incredibly short, it is almost comical.We have a outlet at the end of our table, which is up against the wall.This means that the plug has to go straight down from the table, to an outlet that is well off of the floor; and it still does not reach.The crocks seem well made.They look similar to my large Crockpot crocks.They seems to adequately warm up the food.As a matter of fact, I went out, and ruined my fondue :)I did not turn it down, so the cheese boiled and turned into a glob.We also had oil for the meat fondue, and it warmed up adequately to cook the meat.

Awful! A huge dinner I had been planning for weeks was ruined by this thing. First, the terrible smell that it gave on, from the moment I turned it on, was enough to make you want to open a window. All of my guests commented on the smell. You couldn't even smell the food 'cooking' inside of it. I had beef in one, chicken in the center, and vegetables in the third, you couldn't smell any of them. After 8 hours on high, all of the meat was still raw even though the outside of the crock was super hot. Absolutely horrible. Dinner was ruined and we had to scramble to find somewhere to go. 1

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I got this for my first Easter with the family. I loved it make the sides ahead of time and kept it warm until dinner, so i wasn't rushing around at dinner time and I could enjoy.

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Excellent.Easy to clean.Reqireslittle space, and could line the back of any kitchen counter top ,canisters in another corner.Nothing more need be said.

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I got this as I have MS and standing and cooking is difficult for me.I loved my old crock pot but sure wanted some varieties.This way I can cook veggies, meats and a dessert and have enough to freeze as well.I am eating better and not in pain by standing over the stove

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CucinaPro 1448 12 Inch Griddle & Crepe Maker

I wanted to make dessert crepes and purchased this because of the price.This baby works like a charm!Takes about 5 minutes to heat up and man it gets hot!For best results, put it on level 2 or 3 and pour the batter right in the center.That way you got time to spread the batter around the surface before it firms up.Try to control the thickness of the crepe because you don't want it spongy.You want it as thin as possible.

Other points to note:

1.The only way to clean it is to use a cloth and wipe the surface clean.

2.The included spreader is very good. Maybe a bit too big for it, but it works great.

3.You don't need to buy a wooden spatula or anything like that.A regular plastic spatula works great.The crepes don't stick to the surface even without spray or butter.

4.The edge of the surface is elevated.This is not like traditional, larger crepe makers which are totally flat allowing for the crepe to be handled by a straight spatula.This isn't a downside though because it can keep the batter from dripping down the side.

Overall this is an amazing crepe maker for the money.You won't be disappointed.

There is not much more than I can say.This is a fantastic crepe maker.I have used the villaware flip over and the pans and never enjoyed making crepes like I do with this maker.It takes a little practice using the spreader but when you get it, you will make perfect crepes every time.I used to love going to the pier in San Francisco and getting crepes, now in Florida I really missed that.The only thing I can mention about this is to thin your batter a little bit.This will help the spreading of the crepe.It also makes some of the best pancakes around as you can really control the temperature well.

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I have been looking for a crepe maker for a long time now and finally found this one online. The price is what drew me to purchase the CucinaPro 1448 12 Inch Griddle and Crepe Maker. When I received this I was a little worried to open the box because it was shipped only with its original manufacturer's box and not placed in a shipping box. The box was a little beat up. However, the crepe maker was unharmed. It had styrofoam packing materials so the crepe maker was not damaged.

I was skeptical at first if it would function like the crepe makers I see in crepe restaurants, but after my first try I was really impressed. It heats up fast and it has an indicator that tells you it is ready. It does not stick and produces a well-shaped crepe approximately 12-inches in diameter. It came with an instruction booklet and basic crepe recipe. It also has a wooden crepe spreader, so you would not have to buy one. Buying separate spreader can cost you at least $15.00 so that is money you can save and use for ingredients! Furthermore, it is easy to clean and lightweight. I use it to make crepes for my family. I make breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert crepes with this one. A lot better than doing it in a pan. It's a great conversation piece whenever I am entertaining friends and family. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a crepe maker that works and easy on the wallet!

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Had it for 4 weeks now, and love it. The only thing I wonder about is the thermostat; anything over 2.5 is too hot,and you wont have time to spread the batter out before it gets to hard. But that's OK, just set it at 2 or a little above, and everything is fine.

The recipe in the manual is not really for a real "French" crepe though, this is the basic recipe you should use:

10-12 crepes

50g (scant half stick) butter, melted

4 eggs, regular size

2 teaspoons of sugar

a pinch of salt

250g (9 oz) of flour

and 1/2 liter (2 cups) of milk

Mix dry ingredients then add eggs milk and butter and let rest for at least 1/2 hour before using.

I use it mostly for breakfast crepes, and I recommend trying it. Immediately after you flip the crepe over, quickly, and I mean quick, add cheese, some diced ham, some chopped tomato (remove seeds first), and an over easy egg. Then fold the 4 "sides" over so it becomes a square package. Remove and serve.

Use whatever stuff you have, like seafood, sausage, mushrooms, herbs...

Make a batch and practice using the wooden spreader before trying to impress on your friends and family. It takes some time getting the hang of it. And remember: THIN crepes! We are not making flap jacks here...

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I passed a crepe snack shop up at San Francisco a couple of weeks ago and stopped and bought a fruit crepe, and it was incredible and I found myself wishing to be able to have these tasty treats when I could whenever I wanted.This crepe maker was a great find and for the price very affordable on the wallet, it's neither to heavy or bulky for a persons kitchen and it's very easy to use so don't worry about to many complicating directions an the like.The machine just has the on/off button and a temperature lever in front to decide the varying degree you want to make your crepe at as well as a wood spreader to spread the crepe mix evenly over the cooking plate, that's probably the only mess you'll have with this machine as I expect that with first time crepe makers like myself will have to learn how much of the batter to put on and to spread it fast and evenly on the cook plate but no worries live an learn with the experience and soon you to will be an expert crepe maker too.You can of course make pancakes as well on this if you want there's no reason not to and it works fine doing that as well but if you're like me and bought this for a more easy way to make crepes than just use the standard frying pan for pancakes and leaves this for the crepes, also for first time makers like myself who have no recipes on how to make real crepes the manual with the machine will give you two recipes to make crepes but if you want more this site has some great crepe recipe books for affordable prices or you could just go to your regular book store and buy one as well.So for people who have had the craving for crepes or have tried them at crepe snack shops and like myself now want to make crepes themselves here's a great item for your home to try out....

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Magnalite Classic Cast-Aluminum 14-Quart Covered Stockpot

I live in Louisiana and I purchased this Magalite Pot just to make seafood gumbo in.I was tired of the roux sticking to the bottom of my old thin pot.The Magnalite pot is excellent for cooking gumbo.Nothing sticks and I would recommend it to everyone.

Thank You.

Betty

Have had magnalite for about 20 years.I also own all types of All Clad stainless.For some reason, when it comes to cooking big pots of stews, chicken and dumplings, and chili, I always get out the 14 quart magnalite.I hope they have not changed the quality as the over review states. The roaster is also fantastic.I could never fry eggs or chicken in the fry pans however, they seem to want to stick.I always had very good luck with receipes that have a good amount of liquid called for and will always use them for fudge because the bottom is heavy, and roasters because the roast comes out super.I have to have my magnalite lined up by my all clad!!!!

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I grew up in a house where we made homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs in a 40 year-old Magnalite stock pot. This one is just as good as the original. In some aspects it's even better. The surface is easier to clean. The lid is sloped more so you can percolate better without the lid "chatter".

If you haven't cooked with cast aluminum pots, you don't know what you're missing. Meals like meatballs, stews, and soup will cook perfectly at low to medium temps in this pot. The lid on this one also comes with a plastic handle, something I wish our old Magnalite stock pot had.

Our traditional meatball recipe wound up flawless. Although it may seem like prices here are a little high for a "stock pot", they're quite low for the quality of even cooking temps and consistency you get from them.

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I promise...I do not work for now; nor, have I ever worked for Magnalite; but, I did stay at a Holiday Inn once when I was in high school! Seriously, Magnalite is magnificent & a dream to cook with no matter your level of culinary skills!As a matter of fact, someone just learning to cook should learn on Magnalite because of its simplicity and awesome metal& handle quality that allows even the newest kitchen queens (and kings) look like they're not new to the kitchen or excellent purchaser of these kitchen "must haves!"You can't help but be proud of yourself.

The sizes are perfect for growing families, empty-nesters and singles alike!My turduckens, roasts, gumbos etc. fit into a piece of magnalite no matter the size or height needed. Magnalite products maintain a constant temperature allowing your food to cook evenly and thoroughly (or to your desired shade of red, pink or well-done.)Treat yourself to what will surely become an heirloom for your child, children, grandchildren, family members and/or friends.A single piece of Magnalite given as a moving-in, wedding or birthday gift and the like not only shows that you have great taste; but, that they are special to you.

I have a few special pieces of Magnalite that were given to me by my grandmother,my mother and wedding gifts that range from brand new to AT LEAST 50 years old and they still look brand new.I had the good fortune this past year (2011) to receive my own new 13 piece set plus, 8 additional roasters, skillets & small pots from Hannah Claus & Santa Claus.He bought them for me through Amazon this past holiday season!I must have been very good!Working with Amazon is a breeze and free freight is available on a lot of goods especially during holidays.

There is nothing like a well-seasoned piece of Magnalite.I am a Cajun and someone who is always browning, reducing, or cooking something several times a day or week.You cannot ask for a better surface to make the perfect brown gravy, roux (for gumbo's & thickening agent), white gravy, soups, roast and so forth.

My collection or war chest of kitchen products has at least one piece of every size & style made by Magnalite. In addition to those I have several pieces of various sizes & heights just in case I ever need them.A woman or man can never have too many pots and/or skillets! (Note: I use all of them for special events during the holidays or any special occasion such as an after party for an art opening.) The weight is perfect and the handles sturdy.I have never had a handle break or a stain that would not come out.TIP:If your Magnalite ever becomes discolored on the inside simply cook a spaghetti or something with a tomato sauce as a base/acidic based food and it will make your pot/skillet looking like the day you bought it.In closing, my Magnalite products guarantee that no matter what I prepare in them...it will be cooked to perfection and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.It's as though my family is with me at every meal!The gift that keeps on feeding and giving!

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Very Happy with the product and service.

Just what I wanted, Sure we would always like to get things for less, but it was a fair price.

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Demeyere Proline 5-Star 11" Frying Pan

I'm very happy with the pan, heats up evenly. The welded handle (no rivets) is definitely a plus when washing it, I wish all manufacturers would do this... Handle design is also more comfortable than All-clad.

Very good pan. Thick material up to the edges really makes a difference in terms of even heating. Even though there's not a nonstick coating on this, it cleans up easily. (Furthermore, there are ways to cook without making a mess in the first place.)

I actually think people put too much emphasis on their cookware. As long as you're not cooking in a bad pan (e.g. a $20 one from Ikea), most pans work well. People fall for the cookware endorsed by Martha Stewart and Michel Bras and other celebrity chefs. When I was picking out cookware, I almost decided to go with Mauviel upon seeing a large display of it, simply because it looked nice and I knew it was a "high class" brand of cookware. That said, these pans have the benefit of working on induction stoves and having welded (rivet-less) handles. (Mine has a helper handle across from the main handle, but I don't see it in this picture?) My dad has restaurant-grade pans (Lincoln or WearEver), and they perform similarly despite the price difference. His are, however, not ones I'd leave out or display in an open kitchen system.

I also own Demeyere stock pots and sauce pans, and like them all.

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This is the best frying pan I've used. When I first received it, I noted that it came well-packaged inside a nice carton box. So far, so good. When I opened the box, I noticed that the pan was quite heavy. This was a good sign for me since it tells me that the pan was made of high quality materials. I've used a lot of cheaper pans before and although they were very light, I had to throw them away after a while.

The pan heats quickly and evenly. Thus, your food will cook evenly and you can use the whole inner surface area of the pan for cooking. The long handle remained cool to the touch while cooking. The helper handle (shorter handle) became slightly warm after a while but you can still touch it while cooking. Even though the pan does not have non-stick coating, the food did not stick to it. However, you need to make sure that the pan is hot enough for use before you start cooking. You may sprinkle a few drops of water on the cooking area and if the drops move around, the pan is hot enough to start cooking.

Cleaning was very easy. The food and sauce that I mixed with the food did not stick on the pan. I cleaned the pan with a soft sponge and dishwashing soap before rinsing with warm water without any issues. In addition, the pan is more hygienic and easy to clean because there are no rivets or screws attached to the inside of the pan.

I am now a fan of Demeyere cookware. They are made to last and are very easy to clean. Demeyere cookware may be more expensive than other brands, but you are investing in cookware that offers a lifetime of healthy meals (no nonstick coating), high quality materials, and easy cleaning. Moreover, I highly recommend visiting Demeyere's official website for more information on their cookware. Demeyere is the only company I've seen that uses different technology depending on the purpose of each cookware.

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I ended up deciding on Demeyere after reading many reviews and watching a few youtube videos from the manufacture. First impression, I liked that it did not have rivets! Especially with fry pans, rivets can be so difficult to clean as food gets trapped; which also worries me about potential bacteria.

This pan is incredibly heavy, which took some time to get use to but so well made. It takes a while to heat up as others have mentioned. I use the water test to make sure it's at the correct temperature before adding anything, including oil. (Check out the free video on they have sample videos and one of them is on pan frying.) Once the pan is at the desired temperature, food does not stick and it cleans up beautifully. If it's not at the right temperature, it's a mess to clean. (I've learned the hard way.) You do have to make sure to keep the flame down to medium, even while heating for best results. I treat it much like preheating my oven. Put it on the stove, then start preparing my ingredients and within 5 minutes or so it's ready. If it is a bit messy, I will add a little white wine over the heat as if I'm deglazing, works like a charm. Also use barkeepers when needed; but am now ordering Demeyere's special soap to give it a try to. I love the 11" size, perfect for my family of four. Also looks beautiful hanging from my pot rack! It's an investment, so I am buying one piece at a time.

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I enjoyed reading some of the other reviews about this pan and have to say most of them are very accurate.The only exception I find is that the pan doesn't seem to be as easy to clean as some would claim.It is a stainless steel pan, so if something gets a little too hot or you don't have enough oil it will stick (eggs come to mind).I now use a carbon steel griddle for eggs which works so much better with less oil.To clean the Demeyere proline, I found that one of the blue scrub sponges is usually sufficient for anything that gets stuck (it is designed to scrub but will not scratch the surface of this pan).In one particularly bad case, some canola oil splatters got very sticky and I couldn't get it off until I used some Dawn Power Dissolver.The pan looked absolutely new again.

Go to Sur La Table to see these pans in person, then buy it for much cheaper here at Amazon.You will see that the handle is the most comfortable of anything out there.The11-inch has a helper handle.

The even heating of this pan is incredible, so much better than a cast iron skillet.This pan is a true joy to cook with!

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ExcelSteel 8 Inch super lightweight cast iron frypan

I use this pan regularly.I cook eggs every weekend and also use it during the week.It is VERY easy to clean if you use it properly.Always make sure the pan is HOT before putting food in.After its hot put in your oil or butter then immediately your food.Its best to use a stainless utensil to cook with.NEVER "steam" it by washing when hot.NEVER use soaponly hot water and a clean rag or paper towel.Always dry and season immediately (I use olive oil).It's very light weight.Quality pan.

I find it hard to get the pan clean without using soap, so I am reseasoning after every use.It is still pretty heavy for a little old lady with not very much muscle.If you are strong and healthy, I recommend it.

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The 8 inch Excel Steel pan is light weight but doesn't work so good.Maybe it isn't seasoned well.Food sticks unless I use lots of oil. Yuk!I thought I was buying a Starfrit cast iron light weight pan to match my 11 inch Starfrit cast iron pan.I can really tell the difference when cooking with them.The Starfrit is much better.Nothing sticks. Starfrit is the way to go.

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Cuisinart GreenGourmet Eco-Friendly 12-Inch Skillet with Helper Handle

As of this writing, there are 64 reviews for these pans.Unfortunately, Amazon is selling 9 different pans that all share the same reviews.Since so many people have been complaining about what sound like defective pans, I wondered: are some of these 9 different pans defective more often than the other ones?Are some earning the high marks while others often disappoint?

As of this writing, the review totals are:

5 stars:35

4 stars:7

3 stars:4

2 stars:6

1 star:12

Since the reviewers usually do not specify which pan they purchased, I tried clicking, "" for each reviewer.Looking through their reviews, you find which pan they actually reviewed!Many just reviewed the GreenGourmet line, but many others reviewed specific pans.You will see greater specificity among the 5-star and 4-star-rating people than you will among the 2-star and 1-star-rating people, which is unfortunate, but I'm willing to draw a lot of conclusion from only a little data.You may choose to do the same or not.

12"Fe12"Al10"Fe10"Al8"Fe8"AlAl Set

5 stars:287161

4 stars:5

3 stars:11

2 stars:1

1 star:11

key: 12"Fe means 12" stainless steel, 12"Al means 12: anodized aluminum.

NOTE: GreenGourmet pans are available on Amazon in stainless, aluminum, or hard-anodized aluminum.The basic aluminum line is not present on Cuisinart's website, however, nor did any reviewer specify having purchased it.I wonder, therefore, if it is an older, inferior line.

Unfortunately, only 2 of the 12 one-star reviewers specified which pan they were reviewing, but 1 of those 2 said they'd bought the 10"Fe.25 of the 35 five-star reviewers specified the pan they were reviewing, and none of them said they'd bought the 10"Fe.

Amazon also sells the anodized aluminum set on a separate page on their site, with its own set of reviews.That set of reviews is much more top-heavy:

5 stars:14

4 stars:5

3 stars:2

2 stars:1

1 star:3

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Revere 7-Ounce Copper and Stainless-Steel Cleaner

I read online to buy this to help remove scuffs from stainless steel. It didnt work.. It made everything around it shiny so I guess its good for polishing but wont help with scuffs or scrapes. I then had to polish the entire refrigerator so it matched.. But the fridge is nice and shiny now.. Scuffs and all

My Revere pots and pans are over 50 years old. They still look good enough to display, thanks to Revere copper and Stainless-Steel Cleaner.I also have some expensive stainless steel pots, and this cleaner keeps them looking like new too.

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Not only my copper cookware shines, this even cleans the rust on the bottom of my cast iron cookware. A very good product.

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I HAVE USED THIS FOR YEARS ON MY REVERE PANS. IT WORKS GREAT. MAKES THE PANS LOOK LIKE NEW.

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I recieved 2 bottles that were not even half full. I did try and clean the bottom of a skillet and I didn't see any difference.

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Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddler

()I bought a G4 Griddler from Amazon in 2005, and used it a couple of times a week (at least) until it had to be put out to pasture in 2010 due to failure of the non-stick coating on the plates.(The coating started to bubble and peel, and no one wants that in their food...)I loved it. (See my review of the Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler Stainless-Steel 4-in-1 Grill/Griddle and Panini Press) It was still working great, but replacement plates were not available.

I was elated when offered the opportunity to review its smarter younger brother, the GR-4NAM Griddler.I could hardly wait for it to get here and run it through its paces.

At first glance, the GR-4NAM looks virtually identical to the G4.However, closer inspection reveals that it has been totally redesigned, and for the better.

Improvement:The grease catcher used to be a little cup that had to be set under a spout on the side of the bottom plate.If it was positioned incorrectly, (or forgotten about), greased dripped out on the counter.The grease catcher is now integrated into the Griddler as a drawer-like device that can be pulled out to clean, and then put back in place for the next use.

Improvement:The original G4 had two sets of plates one flat set, one ridged set (for paninis).There is now one reversible set of plates (ridged on one side, flat on the other), and therefore no need to find a storage place for the plates not in use.The new plates have a good substantial weight.I don't have the old ones here for comparison, but the quality of the plates certainly was not cheapened.

Improvement:It used to be a little tricky to put the plates in place and to remove them.There was also a difference between the top plate and the bottom, so you had to be careful not to try to put them in the wrong way.The plates now have an identical shape, so they are interchangeable, and the release buttons activate a spring-loaded mechanism that pops the plate loose for easy removal.

Now, to see how it cooks:The Griddler takes about as long to warm up as a good-quality waffle iron.Just when you start to get impatient with it, it's ready.

The first thing that I cooked was a no-no in the eyes of Cuisinart a bone-in, skin-on leg and thigh chicken quarter.Too thick, they say.HA! says I, because I am a bit of an anarchist.I marinated the chicken in olive oil and rosemary, heated the Griddler to Medium. I cooked it on the panini plates because I love those little fake barbeque stripes across my food.It worked just fine.(I should have taken a picture, it came out looking beautiful.But I was hungry.)

Word of warning:Do not cook thick or fatty meat on High you will get grease spatters all over the place. Medium works just fine in such instances.

I discovered from my old Griddler that when cooking meat it's best to turn off the heat before it's done, and let it finish cooking with the residual heat in the plates. That way the meat does not get overdone.

For clean-up, I let the plates cool down, and then put a wet paper towel across the bottom plate and close the lid and let it sit for a while.The dampness softens anything that is stuck to the plates, and then it can be easily washed off with a sudsy sponge or dish wand.

Today for lunch, I made myself a sandwich with sliced sourdough bread, cooked sliced chicken breast, fresh grated parmesan cheese and dried basil.I followed the panini directions in the small cookbook that comes with the Griddler.Well, I sort of followed the directions...Cuisinart recommends brushing the outside of the sandwich with olive oil.I prefer to use melted butter on panini because it makes the sandwich crisper.

I preheated the Griddler on High, placed the sandwich inside, and applied light pressure for about 30 seconds, and then let it cook.The directions say to cook panini for about 4 -5 minutes, but my sandwich was ready to eat in 2 minutes.Maybe the butter makes the bread brown faster than olive oil.

In any case, it was beautiful evenly browned, crunchy and delicious, and I did take a picture (see product images).

How durable will the GR-4NAM be?Good question.From everything that I can see so far, Cuisinart has only made the Griddler better.But time is the real test of quality. I will report back from time to time regarding durability.

Right now, I'd say this looks like an excellent buy.

UPDATE, January 2011:

The Griddler is still in great shape.Granted, I am not using it as frequently as I did my original one, but that's because there are fewer mouths to feed in my household now than there used to be.I have no cautionary tales to add to the review.Hmmm... I think I'll go make a grilled cheese sandwich....

Additional thought:Do not spray the non-stick plates with Pam or similar non-stick coating.I did not realize that this was not a good idea until I purchased some high-end non-stick cookware, and the manufacturer stated that doing so may leave a residue on the coating that destroys the non-stick properties.

I have tried the Villaware Uni panini grill, the Delonghi open countertop grill and another panini type grill (approx $90), and returned them all (ouch, those return shipping charges hurt). I never considered the Geroge Foreman grills because they always felt cheaply made to me, not to mention many unfavorable reviews).

None of the grills/panini presses that I tried got hot enough to work well for me. They just did not grill as much as steam,bake cook the food, and they all took a longer time to do so than I was willing to wait.

I never was bothered by cleanup, though. I always just wipe the hot plates with wet paper towel, let it then cool a bit, and wash with wet sponge. Works on them all.

So I just gave up and bought some stovetop grill pans and have used them for the past year or so. They do get as hot as you want but you do have to turn the food to cook both sides.

Being a kitchen appliance junkie, I decided to try the Cuisinart Griddler this year.

I love the size (great for just 2 people, though) as I do not anticipate using it in the full open position. And it is handsome as handsome can be to me. Very commercial looking on a very small scale. (I was chef/owner of a restaurant for 13 years.)

And cleanup is easy. Although I still use the wet paper towel and sponge for immediate cleanup, the removable plates (very easy to take off and put back on) make washing in sink or dishwasher other options, Although the plates are nonstick, it is best to use vegetable spray or oil on the food (I prefer this rather than spraying the whole plate.)

There are 3 controls--griddle temperature selector, on/off to select either griddle or panini/grill, and panini/grill temperature selector. There is no timer so there is a small learning curve to learn when your food is cooked. Expect to overcook many things at first as the griddler really cooks quickly.

There's a short electrical cord, about 34" usable length. Solid construction. Hinged top does settle squarely on the food. Because there the griddler is flat with no slope like the Foreman and other grills, vegetables will not roll off or toward the front.

It takes about 5 minutes to preheat and then, wow, it really grills. Salmon took just 3 minutes. I overcooked my halved zuchinni in just a few minutes.

You can hear the instant sizzle sound but don't go to far away as it cooks more quikly than you might be used to.

We don't eat fatty meats (like burgers) so I cannot comment on the grease/drip factor but with fish, seafood, chicken and vegetables, there is absolutely no splatter.

It can cool down quickly if left open, a disadvantage while cooking but an advantage for cleaning.

Again, the most important factor for me was how hot the grill got (and quickly as well)This, of course, leads to perfect grilling on both sides.

I just love my griddler.

Shelly

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We have had this product for over 1 year.This product has a few of great features:

1.The interchangeable nonstick plates that are dishwasher safe.

2.The unit opens up to a large griddle.

3.The cooking plates are dishwasher safe.

However, the nonstick surface has started peeling off of the plates even though the plates have never been abused, and we have never used metal utensils on them.

Our biggest complaint is the thermostat.The unit will reach the desired temperature, and then turn off.The cooking plates will actually cool off so much that the food will stop cooking.The thermostat will then kick back on and take about 3-5 minutes to get back up to temperature.It is very annoying, and doesn't always produce good results with food.

There also is a large temperature difference between the two plates when the unit is opened as a large griddle.This causes items being cooked to finish at different times.

This could have been a great product, but Cuisinart seems to have gone "cheap" in areas that are integral to the function of the griddle.I would not purchase this item again.

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Improvements over previous model are the reversable grill plates that snap in and out very easily and now you do not have 2 extra plates to store somewhere.The grease catch pan is integrated into the bottom and removes very easily for cleaning. Cleanup is a snap: take off the 2 grill plates and they wash and cleanup so easy I don't bother putting them in the dishwasher. Clean the drip tray and you are done. Fast & easy.

I disagree with those that say it is great for cooking small meals or for a small family.It cooks the meat so fast, you better not walk away. First thing I cooked were good sized hamburgers & they were at 180° in 5 minutes. The next 4 were perfectly cooked at 4 minutes. Used the Sear setting per the instruction book with the grill preheated. New York Strip sirloins were done in 3 1/2 to 4 minutes on the Sear setting.Fast cooking & the meat is eye appealing with the grill marks on both sides.Batch number 3 will be pork chops tonight.

Granted, it doesn't quite do the job my Weber grill does outside, but when it is 15 below zero, the Griddler is very nice to have for indoor winter usage.

Great indoor grill, cooks fast, easy cleanup... I highly recommend it.

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We have had good luck with Cuisinart products over the years, so we decided to try this one, mostly based on the large number of favorable reviews here at Amazon. Clean-up is a dream.This product has an excellent non-stick surface, and even burned-on food comes right off with minimal effort.After reading the critique about the grease spattering all over, I tried a small experiment.I cooked salmon filets, marinated with lemon juice, dillweed and olive oil.No problem.I cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, also marinated with olive oil.No problem.So then I brought in the Big Guns skin-on bone-in chicken thighs, marinated and cooked the same way as the breasts.It did make a mess.I cooked all of the above on High, however.The problem came from the fat in the skin, and the thickness of the meat the lid sits farther open, so more splatters can escape.How to solve the problem?Put a couple of paper towels on the counter, and cook the meat at Medium.Just with any kitchen tool, there is an effective way to use it, and a dumb way to use it.A little common sense goes a long way.I am extremely happy with this grill.

_____

Update:September 2008.I am still constantly using this grill it's a winner.

Update:February 2010:I had to stop using the panini plates because the non-stick coating was bubbling up and peeling off.Very disappointing, but we all know that this type of coating has a limited life-span.Given how much it's been used, I can't get too upset about it.Time to get a new one.

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Deep Fry Pan, 8-Inch, Black

Ok, it is not exactly an 8 inch pan. As other reviewers have mentioned. But, so solid and heavy. Made me order another larger back Silgaran pan. Too bad Amazon does not carry more of them and the matching lids. Maybe not as no-stick as some pans but it always does clean up nicely. Cannot imagine it not lasting forever.

I bought this pan due to the Silit brand. I thought it would be a non-stick pan. It's actually a fully-stick pan, that means every kind of food sticks to this pan from day 1. I kept trying to use it with less or more oil and it still sticks like crazy. Would never buy this brand again. Not sure what they did wrong with the make of it even though the shiny coating which I believe is ceramic is fine.

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Cuisinart GR-1 Griddler Panini and Sandwich Press

I feel like I am back on the streets of Paris every time I plug in my beautiful Cuisinart Panini and Sandwich Press.This press makes the best grilled cheese sandwich you ever ate, I guarantee it.I love how you can stick a whole hoagie roll or chunk of french bread loaf with sandwich makings inside into it and squish it into a hot & yummy hunk of cheese-oozong goodness.Or, you can use regular bread and make toasty club sandwiches or grilled cheese.

This guy hangs out in the cupboard and is easy to pull out, just plug in and wait for the green light to come on.You can have a quick french dip dinner ready in 5 minutes that everyone will lovealso perfect for grilled cheese and tomato soup nightor just want to make some garlic bread to go with your spaghetti without heating up the whole oven?I LOVE my panini press.

It is really easy to cleanalthough I haven't tried grilling meats or anything beyond sandwiches and bread.Gooey cheese comes off easily and the whole thing wipes down quickly with a damp washcloth.

Elvis would have died over the peanut butter and banana sandwiches we make in this baby!The frying pan's got nothin' on our Panini Press.

Normally I'm not one to go crazy over kitchen appliances but I am compelled to sing the praises of this little wonder. This is sad, but my wife and I eat grilled cheese sandwiches a couple of nights a week because we love them so much. It's sort of our dirty little secret. This little miracle has opened up a whole new universe of possibilities. Our old-style Salton grilled-cheese maker would invariable push the top slice of bread out from the rest of the sandwich because of the operation of the hinge, and forget about putting anything in there other than bread and a couple of slices of cheese because it couldn't handle the thickness. With the GR-1 though, you can put a Dagwood-sized sandwich (the floating hinge allows HUGE sandwiches) in and in just a few minutes, the weight of the top plate has compressed the whole thing into a critical mass of concentrated goodness. Anything I can put between two piecs of bread is becoming a panini these days. This will probably take five years off of my life because I have doubled my weekly consumption of molten cheese, but it's worth it.

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After reading the reviews of similar products and this one and knowing that I'm always disappointed when I go for the cheap stuff, I bought this one. I am SO glad I did. My son has been a big fan of grilled cheese sandwiches for 5 years now and it's not slowing down. I hate getting out the frying pan (and the butter) and making them the old-fashioned way. With the Cuisinart, I don't have to use butter. The taste is still great! My son gives it a thumbs up. Plus in less time than it takes me to make one the old-fashioned way I can make two. And my son can use it too. It's so easy, just put the cheese in the bread, wait for the green light, put the sandwich on the griddler and watch it do all the work. I've experimented with other kinds of sandwiches and they all turn out perfectly. I even use it to do quesadillas and heat up fish sticks. It works and makes them crunchy. Plus it doesn't heat up the whole house like the oven does.

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The GR1 works just fine but it is impossible to clean and there is no temperature control. Those are it's faults.

You can buy the GR35 at Costco for $39, it is the same size and it has an on off switch with temperature control,and the plates are removable and flat on one side.

I did not like sandwiches that were like waffels when you heat them from the grooved side of the plate. I use the smooth side so they look like they were done in a pan. If you think wiping out grooves is easy just try it for it is not.

With the temperature control you can slow heat the sandwich so the whole sandwich gets hot rather then just the outside.

To turn on the GR1 you must pull the plug in and out of the wall each time, this is just wrong, it will arc each time you do it, this is hard on the wall side and will wear it out. A very bad way to control anything electric.

Get the GR35.

My GR1 is going on ebay.

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I looked at several panini presses before deciding on the Cuisinart.We have been very happy with the performance of this panini press.It heats quickly and the floating hinge allows the cooking of thicker sandwiches.The press is simple to clean, even if cheese has baked onto the grill surface.The only thing that might make this press better is a larger grilling surface.But, for the money, this press certainly does the job.

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Mauviel M'steel Frying Pan, 8-Inch

I bought the Mauviel M'steel Frying Pan in the 8 inch and 9.5 inch this Christmas to replace some Calphalon Non Stick pans that were wearing out.Real Simple magazine had a review on this brand and indicated they were a great buy/great find.

They arrived very well packed, and had a layer of wax on them to protect them as well.It was a bit daunting to get the wax off, and took a bit of time to cure them--we did the process (peanut oil and high heat) two times, and then were very careful when cooking with them for a few times after.

The effort was well worth it!The pans are the perfect sizes for just an egg (8 inch) or eggs or an omelette or potatoes (9.5 inch) and they are completely non stick now.The handle feels substantial and very comfortable (I have small hands, my honey has big hands and we both like the handle equally).My honey says that eggs taste better in these pans than any pan he has cooked with in many years--and he is a wonderful cook with lots of experience!

We do not use soap, and we wash out the pans by hand, dry them and hang from our pot rack in the kitchen which protects them from bumping into other pots and pans.

We have used the pans almost every day since Christmas--10 to 12 times each at least.

I really like the way they look too.Very utilitarian looking, they make a statement about how serious we are about cooking and preparing tasty meals.The old adage "use the right tool for the right job" applies here--these are definitely the right tools for this "cook a lot couple"!

We are extremely happy with these pans, and expect that they will serve us well for many years to come.

Simple elegance, functional, it just works.I use it for creeps, omelette, fish (not at the same time).Cleaning is simple just rinse with water or heat slightly and wipe clean with a paper towel.Looks like a very old piece in a matter of weeks, really cool patina.

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Calphalon Contemporary Stainless 3-Quart Sauté Pan with Glass Lid

Good sturdy pan. Handle stays cool to the touch.Easy to clean.Nice, even cooking.Not too heavy.Lid seals well.I have the 5 Quart too and recommend that one as well.If I'm cooking, one or the other of them is sure to be in use.

I have recently replaced all my old "Costco" cookware with most of the recommendations from the editors of the Cook's Illustrated "Best Recipe" series of cookbooks.

I'm delighted with all they function fine at 6700 ft here, and are more attractive than the old stuff.

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This pan arrived in great condition. I used it for the first time tonight, for making risotto (which is notorious for sticking unless stirred furiously) . The pan was perfect, nothing stuck, and it was easy to clean. The lid also fits well. If I change my mind with further use I'll be sure to update this review!

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This Pan is excellent!!!Just make sure of the size that you want because it could be too big or too small. This was perfect for my cooking and stovetop. It has great weight and structure and cooks with perfect distribution and evenly. This would make any iron chef happy!Plus it is excellent for finishing recipes in the oven(Pan Roasting Proteins like chicken, lamb, beef etc).The seller is excellent also, the post office had delayed the delivery and she re-sent the replacement immediatly.

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Le Creuset Forged Hard-Anodized 11 3/4-Inch Nonstick Stir-Fry Pan

I LOVE this pan! It is amazing and is a great addition to my kitchen. It is very deep and large so you can fit a lot in it. I only cook for two, but still, with veggie stir-frys they can start really big before the water is cooked out with this pan you can still easily stir everything even when it has a lot in it. With my older pan, I had to "fold" things over carefully and would have a lot fall out the sides. This pan is heavy, but it is really easy to move around since it has handles on both sides. Nothing has stuck to it at all, it's been a complete breeze to clean and I can use less oil. We even forgot about it and had leftovers dry in it over a few days, and even with dried crusted on food, it just rinsed off! I am incredibly happy to have bought this. I also own the 8" forged nonstick fry-pan from Le Creuset, also amazing and highly recommended, and between the two I no longer use any other pans.

Purchased this stir-fry pan several weeks ago and I am really happy with it. Unlike other products which claim to be 'non-stick' this pan is actually non-stick great for health conscious people as you really don't need to use much oil when stirfrying.

This pan is quite heavy, so you know you are getting quality here and heat distribution makes for more even cooking (no hot spots).

Deep pan means I can cook a stir-fry/fried rice to feed about 4-5 people with an appetite, without worrying about over-filling.

Certainly recommend this product, especially at this price!

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The pan is heavy and incredibly well made. Exactly what I was looking for. In difference to other Le Creuset products, it is not made in France, but in China. That does not seem to have any negative effect on the quality.

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The build quality is good and it feels sturdy to use. However the diameter measures only 11.75" to be exact, not really 12"; so smaller than I expected. This should be described clearly in the spec page.

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Earth Pan II by Farberware 10-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set

In a previous life I was a professional chef, but now I cook for pleasure. So, trust me, I know how to handle cookware. I bought my set for the environmental and health benefits and because they were marketed as very durable. They are not.

Without doing a little research I can't say for sure when I purchased the set, but my memory says no more than a year ago (perhaps less). I followed the care instructions carefully and diligently; like stacking the pans with paper towels in between them, handwashing only and with a non-scouring pad.

The 12-inch saute pan is rapidly chipping/flaking.The smaller saute pans are also chipping/flaking but not as bad. So too is the skillet.The pots seem to be doing well.Though I use all of the pots and pans equally and I only use teak or plastic utensils.

And as for non-stick I'm not impressed. You're instructed not to use non-stick sprays like Pam or margarine. A little butter is okay. I tried first not to use anything and my fried eggs adhered to the pan like cement.

If I can find the time I will investigate the possibility of some sort of warranty compensation. Otherwise I'll fork over the cash for a whole new set of stainless or hard anodized aluminum.

So, all said, I would definitely not recommend these pans.If you're like me and you're looking for environmental and health benefits along with durability and affordability in your cookware, then do what I'm going to do go stainless steel.

I may end up adding a little more fat to my diet because I'll be using a little more butter here and there, but I've already offset that by switching to brown rice, whole wheat breads and pastas and a little more exercise.

I have been using this set non-stop for over a month.I love it it is the best non-stick surface I've ever used.I haven't had any problem with carbon build-up, but then again, I don't use non-stick cooking sprays I use an oil spritzer.The difference between the two is that non-stick sprays contain soy lecithin which is totally fine and won't harm you in the least, but it builds up on your cookware over time.As long as you avoid these, any non-stick cookware should last you for years, assuming you use wooden or silicone utensils.I love that they are oven safe because the handles are silicone instead of rubber.

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I bought these pans on advice from sales lady.Really loved them until finish on bottom and side of frying pan started flaking off after only 4 weeks of occassional use.Will be returning set to store for refund.I only hand washed them and never used more then low medium heat with them.And only rubber utinsels.I am really dissappointed because it is a nice set if they would have held up in quality.

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We bought these cookware items based on the "green" tag and good reviews.And my wife loved the color.Unfortunately, the bloom soon came off the rose.

The smallest pan, the one least used, was the first to show wear, as the paint started to flake off the bottom.Then the larger pan lost its...non-stickiness.Soon we were forced to scoop items out of the pan, leaving large strips of cooked eggs, fish, or chicken clinging to the cooking surface.We then needed to soak the pan for awhile to facilitate food removal.

Non-stick?I think not.Rest assured, these pans have never seen the inside of a dishwasher, nor have they been scrubbed with anything harder than an orange and yellow plastic scouring pad.No metal utensils either.In fact, the "non-stick" coating, though discolored, is intact.No scratches or dings.It just doesn't work as billed.

And all this in less than a year.

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I purchased this set after reading the Consumer Reports reviews and comparing to the Xtrema Cookware.I was sadly disappointed after three months of use, that the coating began to scratch off using wooden and silicon utensils.Subsequent uses has resulted in burnt food and very difficult cleanings.I'm sooo frustrated! Buyer beware.

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