Any raves you have for puchases in the last year? (1,476 views)
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Post by wallycat on Aug 12, 2018 11:00:55 GMT -5
We had a thread here about carbon steel pans. After browning my tofu in the one I got and having it glide out better than teflon, I cannot stop raving about
this pan!! It is lighter than cast iron. It reacts faster to heating up and cooling down than cast iron. It works beautifully on induction. Cast iron has a place, but I think with these two pans, I could live happily without much else. No wonder the Asians use carbon steel for their woks.
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Post by soupandstew on Aug 12, 2018 18:14:12 GMT -5
We are loving our Breville multi-purpose system which serves as chopper, immersion blender, food processor etc.
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gilgamesh37
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Post by gilgamesh37 on Aug 13, 2018 9:14:00 GMT -5
I feel almost stupid admitting this, but we bought one of those red copper frying pans they advertise on TV (what can I say? some evening, my iPad + several glasses of wine winds up being a dangerous combination). I think it was $20. I suspect it probably won't last terribly long, but I have to say it works like a dream. Nothing sticks, it cleans up like a breeze (I'm being careful to only use a sponge and not the green scrubbies) and it's a great size. My husband made fun of me for buying it, but it's the first pan he reaches for now, no matter what he's doing.
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applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on Aug 14, 2018 10:51:47 GMT -5
Wallycat --- Thx so much for the review! I remember the posts when you first bought it and I read and saw the videos by Americas Test Kitchen raving about the pan too. If I needed another pan, I think I would give that one a try. Is the clean up/maintenance similar to a good ol' cast iron?
soupandstew --- I've heard great things about Breville products.
gilgamesh --- Hey admit it with pride. Ha! We've all done that kind of impulse buy before (it is so easy on tv and online) -- but you like the pan so far, so a total win!
No exciting kitchen buys this year, the only thing I bought was a new pyrex set of storage bowls (with the lids). One of my favorite kitchens items and grabbed them at a great price. I'm a huge Pyrex fan! I've actually been getting rid of some kitchen items ---- love the bit of extra room in the cabinets too.
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Post by soupandstew on Aug 20, 2018 16:23:17 GMT -5
I feel almost stupid admitting this, but we bought one of those red copper frying pans they advertise on TV (what can I say? some evening, my iPad + several glasses of wine winds up being a dangerous combination). I think it was $20. I suspect it probably won't last terribly long, but I have to say it works like a dream. Nothing sticks, it cleans up like a breeze (I'm being careful to only use a sponge and not the green scrubbies) and it's a great size. My husband made fun of me for buying it, but it's the first pan he reaches for now, no matter what he's doing. Years ago I bought a set of knives off a late-night infomercial. I don't care what anyone said, those were great knives. So enjoy your copper pan without shame!
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traildoggie
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Post by traildoggie on Aug 21, 2018 11:46:15 GMT -5
I bought a set of 3 Contigo water bottles,the ones Costco likely still has. somewhere around $15. they are 24 oz and have a round opening with a push button top. easy to open and close with a handy way to lock shut. I didn't need these..... I had other Contigo ones with a big flattened drinking straw type top. nothing wrong with them... but you have to suck to get water, and they squeak, and I think I swallowed a lot of air with those. when I saw these new ones...well, I love the way they work. I have issues drinking enough water but I don't buy disposable bottles. I don't like metal, I can taste it. glass breaks. if a hard plastic bottle will work for you, take a look at these. www.gocontigo.com/water-bottles/if the link works, it shows 3 different lids. they don't work for everything too big for a bike bottle cage. a little large for the car cup holder, can splash if lid is open but will work. measurements marked on the side. I make sure I get down 3 of these every day. a nice loop to carry with. the lids fit older bottles but I have not found them for sale separately.
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Post by swedishcook on Aug 22, 2018 19:54:46 GMT -5
At the beginning of the year I posted about needing new oven mitts. I ended up purchasing long, silicon mitts from RedLantana in small/medium/youth size. Having used them for seven months now I absolutely love them. I cook a lot of dinners in the oven.They are the perfect size for my small hands and spills wash right off  In April our beloved toaster had to be replaced. After much searching and agonizing we decided on the Cuisinart Artisan Bread Toaster. DH toasts bread every day and is thrilled with it. He gets evenly toasted slices be they thick or thin, "artisan" or "regular".
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Post by Catbatty on Sept 13, 2018 18:03:39 GMT -5
Main purpose is for dish scrubbing. I love these scrubbers! I will be buying again! (Even thinking of ordering for my daughter as another cheap--but good--gift. She loves getting packages in the mail. haha) IF U BUY, you will not be sorry. Yep. You will want to kiss me. Yep. Best scrubber I've ever found. Nice on hands. Great on surfaces. Gets grime off pretty easily. Doesn't seem to get dirty, but I'm tossing into washer anyway. Weird to fall in love with a scrubber. (Set of 6 in box I bought.) www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F9S0S4G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Post by wallycat on Sept 14, 2018 9:58:25 GMT -5
I've made something similar but never imagined to buy these (I have used netting bags from onions or avocados)...fascinating. I wonder if they would do better on the soap scum on my shower door. Catbatty, do they do well wiping countertops?
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Post by swedishcook on Sept 14, 2018 16:35:40 GMT -5
Main purpose is for dish scrubbing. I love these scrubbers! I will be buying again! (Even thinking of ordering for my daughter as another cheap--but good--gift. She loves getting packages in the mail. haha) IF U BUY, you will not be sorry. Yep. You will want to kiss me. Yep. Best scrubber I've ever found. Nice on hands. Great on surfaces. Gets grime off pretty easily. Doesn't seem to get dirty, but I'm tossing into washer anyway. Weird to fall in love with a scrubber. (Set of 6 in box I bought.) www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F9S0S4G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1That's great news! I still have a stash of the old red and yellow Tuffy SOS dishwashing scrubs. When I realized x years ago that they were being discontinued I purchased A LOT. Now I know there is an alternative. Yippee! These are going on my Amazon wish list 
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Post by Catbatty on Nov 2, 2018 15:19:44 GMT -5
Countertops - I dunno. I suppose depends which kind. I have used mine on many surfaces. We have tile and I don't see any problem there. My husband sure likes them for scrubbing pots and the big glass pans he likes to cook with. (Pyrex?) They are great for crusty, baked or cooked on foods. I have washed mine many times now...no changes. They are actually attractive, too, which surprised me. Like sparkly squares of fabric. I've made something similar but never imagined to buy these (I have used netting bags from onions or avocados)...fascinating. I wonder if they would do better on the soap scum on my shower door. Catbatty, do they do well wiping countertops?
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Post by swedishcook on Nov 7, 2018 23:11:46 GMT -5
You were correct catbatty! Time to send you x' and o's  Those scrubbers work really well even on my old nonstick (yep) everyday pan. Do you toss your scrubbers in the washing machine? The netting makes them very easy to rinse out after each use. Thanks again 
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Post by Catbatty on Nov 8, 2018 15:37:09 GMT -5
Aha! I'm so happy you like them! Yes, I throw mine in the washer and dryer when I've used them a bunch. They make dreaded cleanup so not dreaded. We haven't replaced our dead dishwasher, so we have to do dishes by hand. You can imagine how helpful these scrubbers are for us. Baked on stuff is a breeze now.  You were correct catbatty! Time to send you x' and o's  Those scrubbers work really well even on my old nonstick (yep) everyday pan. Do you toss your scrubbers in the washing machine? The netting makes them very easy to rinse out after each use. Thanks again 
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traildoggie
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Post by traildoggie on Nov 11, 2018 13:12:46 GMT -5
Wallycat, which brand carbon steel pan did you get? I need a flat bottom wok type pan. the big non stick does not get hot enough to stir fry right. even when you plug carbon steel pan into searches, you get a lot of things coming up that are not carbon steel.
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Post by emma on Nov 13, 2018 14:46:44 GMT -5
Re: Soap scum in shower. Remove the soap scum with Lemon Pledge.
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Post by wallycat on Nov 19, 2018 14:52:04 GMT -5
Traildoggie, I have the Matfer (recommended by Cook's Illustrated), but not sure they make a flat bottom wok. Try googling black steel. I know lodge makes carbon steel now and most traditional woks and "americanized" woks are carbon steel. Emma...really?? I am giving it a try tomorrow!!! SO excited (sad, huh?)
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Post by PattiA on Nov 20, 2018 12:37:58 GMT -5
A new rave is this candied ginger from Verdant Kitchen. (It is also available on Amazon.) While looking through my messy pantry cabinet for something else, I found a package. I didn't remember buying it but then I saw that it was from Georgia. I must have it last December when I was visiting a friend in Georgia and it got lost. Very unlike me to lose something that I love so much. I opened the package, popped a piece in my mouth and swooned. Even though it has been sitting in my pantry for a year, this is the best candied ginger I have ever had. It is nice and soft. And the best thing is that there is not a ton of sugar on it. I snacked on it for a few days and then chopped up the rest and added it to a batch of granola. Then proceeded to order 3 bags of it.
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jayh
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Post by jayh on Dec 7, 2018 0:58:11 GMT -5
I'm cheating a bit here since I bought this more than a year ago, but one of my favorite and most used kitchen tools is the Rosle stainless steel grater. I hemmed and hawed over this purchase for a long time because it was so much more expensive than even a very nice box grater. Finally I took the plunge and haven't wavered a bit in how glad I am that I did. It has a huge shredding surface. The legs bring it up off the work surface, leaving room for the fingers that are holding the food, and allowing you to use all of that big shredding surface. About the only negative thing I can say is they've lowered the price since I bought mine and Amazon is now selling it for half of what I paid. I have the medium. It also comes in coarse and fine. The medium is great for cheese you're going to melt. I've also used it for potatoes and carrots.
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traildoggie
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Post by traildoggie on Dec 7, 2018 16:54:07 GMT -5
Wallycat thanks for the links. I somehow missed it for weeks. I had a nice wok yrs ago but it had a round bottom with a ring and I think it would have been trouble on an electric glass cooktop. finally gave it away. non stick pans do not get hot enough for a stir frying IMO.
wallycat I read and looked, and decided to try a heavy duty stainless instead. I will report back after I try it. its a gift to xmas myself. I expect to use a little oil but I don't want a bucket ful to keep things from sticking. the non sticks do not get hot enough. I have an anodized (calphalon) aluminum pan that was supposed to be a stir fry pan but it doesn't heat up no matter what I do, and everything sticks. reviews on these pans and on the carbon steel go all over the place! thanks for the links. I can come back and try a carbon steel one if this doesn't work.
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Post by mcgee on Dec 8, 2018 11:45:46 GMT -5
I'm cheating a bit here since I bought this more than a year ago, but one of my favorite and most used kitchen tools is the Rosle stainless steel grater. I hemmed and hawed over this purchase for a long time because it was so much more expensive than even a very nice box grater. Finally I took the plunge and haven't wavered a bit in how glad I am that I did. It has a huge shredding surface. The legs bring it up off the work surface, leaving room for the fingers that are holding the food, and allowing you to use all of that big shredding surface. About the only negative thing I can say is they've lowered the price since I bought mine and Amazon is now selling it for half of what I paid. I have the medium. It also comes in coarse and fine. The medium is great for cheese you're going to melt. I've also used it for potatoes and carrots. Hmmm, I was just telling DH last night I need a new grater. I’ll have to look at this brand.
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Post by Catbatty on May 24, 2021 17:43:24 GMT -5
NEEDLE-NOSE PLIER !!! I keep one in kitchen drawer and use it daily. Why? Everything lately seems to have pull-tab light-weight metal or plastic lids/toppers, for instance: wet cat food, Reddi-Whip type pull things (that always either won't pull or break as you try). These PINCHERS are the BOMB!!!!! FREEDOM!! For the Sheba cat food, I just let the pincher grab and roll the top, like you would roll pie dough over a pie pin. SUCH JOY!! NO STRESS! NO CUSSING REQUIRED!!
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applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on May 26, 2021 15:09:34 GMT -5
At less than $10 this "plant mat" comes in super handy if you have houseplants and short of space (and no outdoor space). I bought it months back and used it many times ---- so much easier to clean up (no more soil on the floor when using newspapers etc) when repotting plants. It keeps everything contained with its snap closures --- after I'm done, I just wipe off and store. 
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gilgamesh37
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Post by gilgamesh37 on May 27, 2021 8:06:26 GMT -5
I bought a small rice cooker with a Christmas gift card last year, and I can't imagine why I waited so long. Well, yes I can. It's a unitasker, it takes up counter space (albeit not much, since it's a small one) and I thought, what's the diff, I can make rice fine on the stove. All accurate, but man, do I love it. Being able to be completely hands off with rice while I'm doing other things was a real game changer for me (and that it switches automatically to the "keep warm" function when it finishes, which means I can lazy with my timing). Also, since I can walk in the door at night, start the rice cooker, and then do my usual end-of-day routine (check through the mail, chat with DH, rinse lunch containers, shower, etc,) while the rice is cooking, it means stir frys and other asian dishes are back in the weeknight rotation (when I didn't start rice until after I'd wound down, we'd end up eating too late, or if I tried to do it on the stovetop concurrent to my wind-down, either it would wind up under/over cooked or cold). I haven't used the timer function yet, nor have I tried other grains or steaming veg at the same time, but it's still been a great addition to our kitchen. We've also been having sushi and gimbap a lot more often.
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Post by wallycat on May 27, 2021 10:03:15 GMT -5
Gilgamesh, I have an old type of rice cooker and when I use it, it foams up and spills over. It was always in need of monitoring so I put it in the garage. Do you rinse you rice first? Maybe I should bring it back in and try again.
Traildoggie, did you see the new Kuhn Rikon wok that Milk-street, chris kimball was hawking? He was selling it for $80, but I spotted a huge sale on the KR site itself and got one for a steel. Between my carbon steel skillet and this, I almost never use a non-stick. I love that wok!!!!!!!
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Post by beth on Jun 18, 2021 21:45:12 GMT -5
Wallycat, we bought a carbon steel pan with the intent of getting another larger one, but this thing doesn't hold a seasoning. We keep working on it, but I'm less than impressed. I have a ceramic finish for my one nonstick skillet for eggs. That's really the only time I need one.
For soap scum in the shower, try borax. I don't remember how I stumbled on it, but borax just makes the soap scum ball up and wash off. Bio Clean Hard Water Stain Remover does a good job with the mineral deposits.
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Post by wallycat on Jun 19, 2021 10:45:19 GMT -5
Beth, did you try the potato skins frying method to season. I did that to my carbon steel skillet and stuff GLIDES out of it. I should use it more often but even with the moderate use, it has held the non-stick aspect well.
Borax for glass....hmmmmmmmmm. I will have to try that. I used Bon Ami on my shower door the other day and was impressed. Still not perfect, but so much better. (maybe I'll pretend I bought clouded glass and give up, LOL).
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Post by beth on Jun 25, 2021 10:09:51 GMT -5
We did not fry potato skins. DH followed the instructions that came with the pan -- at least 3 times. We have also cooked greasier things in it to try to help it season naturally. Maybe it will eventually get there. BTW, it was a Misen pan -- they make a good non-stick, but do not like their carbon steel.
You can get deposits off shower glass, but minerals left on the glass over time can etch the glass and the etching doesn't come off. BUt that makes me wonder. We gave etched drinking glasses as a gift -- the recipient put them in the DW and they lost the etching. I wonder what would happen if you used DW detergent on your shower glass?
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Post by wallycat on Jun 25, 2021 12:38:56 GMT -5
We use a powder pack. Maybe worth getting a small bottle and try. I tried Jet Dry a few years ago with no success.
I've not heard of Misen pans. Off to search. We're having a heat wave here so I'll be hunkering and surfing the web, LOL.
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