Showing posts with label best. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best. Show all posts

Pedrini Black & Satin Swivel Blade Peeler Review

Pedrini Black and Satin Swivel Blade Peeler
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
A vertical peeler (where the blade is parallel to your fingers) feels so much more natural to use than a horizontal one. However, I've been used to a stationary blade, and getting used to the swivel is taking a little time, particularly on smaller food. However, I like the shape, weight and feel of this one, and think it will be worth the extra price once I get used to it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pedrini Black & Satin Swivel Blade Peeler

Stainless steel peeler with swivel blade

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Pedrini Black & Satin Swivel Blade Peeler

Read More...

Reusable Grocery Bags / Reusable Produce Bags (Set of 15: Large, Medium, and Small Sizes) Review

Reusable Grocery Bags / Reusable Produce Bags (Set of 15: Large, Medium, and Small Sizes)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've been wanting to get some reusable bags for some time now, so, being the nit-picky shopper that I am, I didn't just settle for the most popular bags; I tried to find the best deal, not just on Amazon, but across the internet. These seemed like the very best deal I could find. There was only one review at the time for them, but they were cheap enough that I decided to take the plunge.
I've been using them since August now, and LOVE them! They all seem to be hand sewn, and are very, very sturdy. They are made of a thin, but strong plastic-type cloth material. The picture for them isn't the best, as it makes them look very very thin, weak, and like they are made of pantyhose. In reality, the holes are larger and they're thicker. You may be wondering if that adds any extra weight: it does. In fact I measured them, and a typical plastic produce bag, and found that they weigh a few grams more, but at the very most, all that is going to add in price is 1 cent, but probably not even that much.
Unlike some reviewers, I didn't have ANY trouble at all with the cashier seeing into the bags. They are colorful, but very easy to see through. My only problem is that I sometimes forget to bring these bags into the store, but I can tell you: there is no WAY I'm going back to plain old plastic bags!
IMPORTANT NOTE: They also DO work very well for leafy veggies: just make sure you but those greens in the fridge as soon as you can (which you would probably do anyways if they were in a plastic bag). Some greens, such as herbs, will go bad in the fridge faster if they're exposed. In those cases, you probably shouldn't leave them in these bags for long. But they are perfectly adequate for storing those kinds of greens until you get home, or even for several days, until you get them in another container. In the case of herbs, for me, I will bring them home in these, then put them into a plastic container in the fridge. No problem.
They come in three colors, and three different sizes: the smallest is only big enough for a few cloves of garlic, medium could fit citrus or tomatoes, and large could fit about any other produce. The large is a bit smaller than the average plastic produce bag, which isn't a problem at all, but if I would have any advice for the seller, it would be that you could possibly offer some even bigger sizes, or offer some white bags, for people who don't want colored ones. These are just really quite petty concerns when it comes down to it though, as the bags preform much better than I'd ever hoped.
For the people who have concerns about using your own bags, and how that may make it harder for you, and for the cashier: have no fear. It's actually easier to have these in your cart at hand than to have to go looking for the nearest bag dispenser. So you may actually be saving time. As I said, my only problem is that I sometimes forget them. They are compact enough that you could easily put some in a purse, pocket, handbag, in your other reusable bags, etc. If you are getting a really, really large vegetable, then you may have to use another bag, but basically all fruits and veggies I've tried have fit. For the cashiers, some may have to press the bag against the produce to see the number, but that's about as "troublesome" as it gets. At most, it'll only take them a few seconds more. You may have people asking you where you got your bags though, in which case, it will take more time. ;)
Even if it does take a tiny bit longer, it's well worth it.
I think the only reason flip and tumble 5-Pack Reusable Produce Bags are better sellers, is because they are from a large company. These are just as good of bags, possibly better (the seams on them are really strong), and are almost the same price for three times more.
In short:
Pros:
* Environmentally, much, much better than plastic bags. If you don't have reusable bags yet, get some! Even if you aren't concerned about that they're actually really fun to have. :)
* Not noisy like a plastic bag
* You can have them on hand and never have to go searching for another plastic bag
* Fits basically all produce
* Very strong the sturdy
* Handy drawstring means you'll never have to use a twist-tie or struggle with a knot
* Produce can be washed IN the bag
* Some plastic bags may have harmful chemicals such as BPA in them. I'm not sure about these, but I very much doubt, judging by what they're made of, that they have BPA in them.
* Kids love usin' em
Cons:
* Not big enough for the very biggest produce
* Sometimes a little hard to see through
* Shouldn't store greens that go bad easily in these for too long
* TINY bit heavier than regular plastic bags. May add $.01 to total price at the most. Most likely won't add anything to price.

So there you have it: I think the pros FAR outweigh the cons, and if you compare them against plastic bags, these are far superior, and, as I said, the absolute BEST deal I could find on the whole internet. So what are you waiting for? :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Reusable Grocery Bags / Reusable Produce Bags (Set of 15: Large, Medium, and Small Sizes)

ELIMINATE PLASTIC WASTE and SAVE THE EARTH!!! Average family throws away at least 10 plastic grocery bags (the bags we pick from the rolls to fill fruits and vegetables in the grocery stores) a week. Ultimately these will end up in land fills, contaminates drinking water, harms marine life to name few. With the reusable bags you get to do everything you currently do with non-reusable bags (pick up grocery, check out, and carry in tote bags). Store the grocery as is in refrigerator and reuse. Set of 15 bags: - Multiple sizes suitable for various types of produce. Assorted colors - approximate dimensions: - 8" X 10" (6 pieces), 10" X 12" (6 pieces) - 12" X 14" (3 pieces)May not be suitable to store leafy vegetables based on some customer feedback.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Reusable Grocery Bags / Reusable Produce Bags (Set of 15: Large, Medium, and Small Sizes)

Read More...

Mary Washington Asparagus 100 Seeds - Veggie Review

Mary Washington Asparagus 100 Seeds - Veggie
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My seeds arrived in timely manner and seller included planting instructions, which was very helpful. However, my seeds never germinated! I followed the instruction carefully and planted them in a rich garden soil. I am not sure what I could do wrong. I have some gardening experience and never had any problems.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mary Washington Asparagus 100 Seeds - Veggie

Mary Washington is still the standard garden asparagus. Reliable year in and year out. Mary Washington produces thick dark green stalks and is resistant to some strains of rust.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Mary Washington Asparagus 100 Seeds - Veggie

Read More...

Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue SR8016 Stainless-Steel Beer-Can Chicken Rack with Drip Pan Review

Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue SR8016 Stainless-Steel Beer-Can Chicken Rack with Drip Pan
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
"Beer can chicken" has become quite popular in recent years because (1) the steam and vapors flavor the chicken from the inside cavity out and help keep it moist, (2) upright roasting has been popular with chefs because it's the optimal position to roast a chicken (fat drips away, heat surrounds the chicken 360 degrees, skin crisps up better).
This pan is a truly well made and well thought out solution to a problem. Using a beer can to roast chicken has several drawbacks and complications. The chicken is unstable and can easily tip over. A pan is still required to catch drippings and fat (even in an outdoor grill). You also might not like the idea of an aluminum beer can being inserted into your food and exposed to high heat. Recent studies have linked aluminum consumption to Alzheimer's Disease, for example, and who knows what chemicals or fumes are entering your chicken from the dyes and the can itself as your meal cooks?
With this pan, all those issues are no longer issues. A sturdy stainless steel construction ensures that your bird is held upright and sturdy with less risk of ruining your meal. The rack holds the can and bird in place very nicely. I was surprised just how heftily this pan was built. You can tell where your money went, as the pan is not at all cheap or flimsy as you might fear.
The pan comes with a stainless steel (non-reactive) canister to replace that questionable beer can you were thinking of shoving up your chicken's rear. Another bonus of using the canister is that you don't need to have a beer can handy just to make dinner (although I'm sure that isn't a problem for many people, but for those that don't drink or don't drink on a regular basis, it's a nice plus). Not to mention you can use any liquid you like: including wine, which is very nice indeed. Acids like wine or citrus actually react with aluminum to produce funky flavors (and also help leach out aluminum from the metal), but stainless steel is non-reactive and gives you peace of mind that your food will taste great and that you wont develop some strange disease.
There's also a heavy gauge drip pan to catch all that rendered fat and drippings. This is nice if you plan to make gravy, but equally nice to avoid needing a cookie sheet and preventing flare ups. The pan is very small, which is great for small grills and less clean up, but it's just the right size for most chickens. If you're cooking in an oven, you might wish you might still wish to place a small sheet of foil or a cookie sheet underneath the chicken, just in case your bird is a little on the large side and any drippings miss the pan. I've had no problems so far, though. The pan has two nice sturdy handles for easy insertion and retrieval. It even has a little pour spout designed to make emptying the drippings easier.
Clean up is also very easy. In fact, it is much, much easier than traditional chicken roasting pans (the kind with the slits that let the dripping run off into the bottom and the grease bakes right on). The small size limits evaporation of the juices (they pool up more, so less surface area) so they don't burn onto the pan and make clean up a real pain (not to mention ruin your gravy-making fodder). It's also much easier to fit in my sink to soak. As long as you soak it right after you cook, it's easy to clean and is dishwasher safe anyway.
The only complaint I have is that there were no recipes included in the box. Normally I would just ignore these anyway, but since the manufacturer is a BBQ guru, you'd think he'd at least throw in a couple of recipes for rubs and some suggestions. Eh, no big loss, though. Recipes are freely available online. I just used my pan for tonight's dinner and it came out fantastic. I prepared "Saint Nino's Chicken" (a Georgian recipe in honor of the current crisis) that I printed off Food Network's website. It was one of the moistest chickens I've ever had and the flavors were incredible and proliferated throughout the meat. It reminded me of the results of using a flavor injector (another new toy I recently acquired).
I highly recommend this pan, as I checked out all the other offerings and they all either seemed flimsy, unstable, cheap, or (in the case of the Weber) used a nonstick coating. I'm quite happy with my decision to buy this pan, and I'm sure you'll be satisfied too.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue SR8016 Stainless-Steel Beer-Can Chicken Rack with Drip Pan

Durably built from stainless steel, this innovative rack and drip pan make beer-can chicken practically fool-proof. The unit's square design ensures stability, so there's no need to worry about the bird tipping over or the beer spilling. Its metal rack will hold either a beer can or the included stainless-steel canister, which can be filled with something other than beer, like wine or fruit juice. Simply clean the bird and place it over the beer can or canister, legs down, so it stands upright like a tri-pod for cooking. The metal pan collects meat juices for making gravy, plus it prevents the fat drippings from creating flare-ups. For added convenience, two loop side handles offer easy transport and all the pieces can go in the dishwasher for quick cleanup. The beer-can chicken rack with drip pan measures 9-3/5 by 7-2/7 by 5-1/2 inches.

Buy NowGet 34% OFF

Click here for more information about Steven Raichlen Best of Barbecue SR8016 Stainless-Steel Beer-Can Chicken Rack with Drip Pan

Read More...

Calphalon Katana Stainless-Steel 7-Inch Nakiri Knife Review

Calphalon Katana Stainless-Steel 7-Inch Nakiri Knife
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The meals I prepare are complicated and often include a good amount of sliced vegetables. I have two Santoku knives and have found myself using this knife more and more for my preparation work.
PROS:
-Great feel, perfect balance
-Sharp easily maintained edge
-Heavy enough for the big stuff (squash and pumpkins)
-Balanced enough for the small stuff (garlic and ginger mincing)
-Works great whether you hold the handle (like I do) or the blade (like they show you in some cooking schools). If you are a blade holder, then you'll love the feel of this thick backed `clever' like knife!
PROS/CONS:
-You have to hand wash and dry this knife immediately after use, but you should be used to this with any high end knife (wouldn't want to ruin your edge in the dishwasher...)
-It's a bit expensive, but then, it's very well made
-Thicker then a Santoku, not good for cutting meat, but it is not advertised or made for that purpose
If you don't own a Santoku knife, then do yourself a favor and get a Santoku first. You'll find the diversity and utility of a Santoku unmatched regarding preparation cutlery! If, however, you're like me, and have a variety of knives, then this knife is a GREAT addition to your collection.
A pure vegetable knife: simple, beautifully crafted, balanced like a weapon... the best in its class. You will not be disappointed!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Calphalon Katana Stainless-Steel 7-Inch Nakiri Knife

A true Japanese innovation, this traditional vegetable cleaver wields a straight edge to gracefully slice, dice and julienne fruits, vegetables and meat. Ultra-tough VG-1 Japanese steel is elegantly clad with an impressive 33 layers, providing ultimate sharpness and edge retention. Lifetime warranty.

Buy NowGet 8% OFF

Click here for more information about Calphalon Katana Stainless-Steel 7-Inch Nakiri Knife

Read More...

Black+Blum Spudski Potato Masher Review

Black+Blum Spudski Potato Masher
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I ordered this for my sister-in-law for Christmas because I thought it was funny and clever (and because honestly, who needs another pair of slippers?). My brother reports that she LOVED it, and the whole family got a real kick out of reading everything on the packaging. The packaging? I've never seen it. But I'll take that as an added feature of the product. :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Black+Blum Spudski Potato Masher

A potato masher based on the old fashioned ski pole (note the cross stitch detail on the back of the rubber handle). It has an ergonomic easy to grip rubber handle that allows you to hold it from the side or from above. The mashing plate really works well. After much testing, we found a design that pushes the mashed potato away from the stem to help it mash faster and self clean. The packaging is our usual style and it also comes with Martin's Swiss grandmother's recipe for mashed potato. We want to show that designed products can be made affordable without compromising their quality. The aim is to create innovative products that will charm and entertain. Hopefully you will get as muchenjoyment from a Black+Blum product, as we got from designing them.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Black+Blum Spudski Potato Masher

Read More...

Seeds of Change S17164 Certified Organic Green Zebra, Colored, 50 Seed Count Review

Seeds of Change S17164 Certified Organic Green Zebra, Colored, 50 Seed Count
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I loved these. The germination rate was incredible. The taste was kind of tangy and added a new element to all of the recipes I added them too.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Seeds of Change S17164 Certified Organic Green Zebra, Colored, 50 Seed Count

Green Zebra Tender Annual 2-4-ounce (100-110-day) Round, green and yellow striped provide diversity in heirloom tomato mixes. Fruits have a bright, acidic tomato flavor. Productive plants. Indeterminate. Planting Depth:1/2-inch 1/4-inch Soil Temperature:70-85F Plant Spacing:20-30-inch, day to Maturity:80-90 Full Sun Moderate Water

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Seeds of Change S17164 Certified Organic Green Zebra, Colored, 50 Seed Count

Read More...

Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer Review

Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is an excellent slicer. I've used everything in it from carrots (when making my carrot version of thai papaya salad) julienned into matchstick thickness to wide thin slices of Korean radish. Never failed me.
Two drawbacks though:
1. The safety guard is a joke. It doesn't hold the veggies very well and is a pain to use effectively...which means I usually don't use it. I've cut my fingers on this mandolin twice now, which isn't bad for two years of regular useage, but I don't like the sight of blood so I'll leave it as a major detractor. Luckily for me, I cut myself on the julienne part and not the actual wide slicer. In other words, my finger meat was left shredded but intact. Whew!
2. The metal parts rust. Yep. They rust. Hence the reason I am now shopping around for another slicer. Don't know yet if I'll get another Benriner. Might look into the Bohn.
***Update***
Apparently Benriner realized the metal parts rusted because their mandolins now come with plastic screws to hold the julienne blades in place and to adjust the thickness level.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer

Make quick work of consistently thin slices of fruits and vegetables with the Benriner Japanese Mandolin Slicer, which features sharp-sharp, high-quality stainless steel blades that are double-edge for cutting in either direction. Offering excellent versatility, the Benriner comes with 4 blades. The standard flat blade cuts perfect slices that can be easily adjusted for thickness, while the fine toothed blade will help you create elegant vegetable garnishes for professional looking meals--great for carrots, radishes and other firm veggies. A medium-toothed blade creates uniform slices sized just right for stir fries, and the coarse-toothed blade can make chunky and crisp cuts of vegetable or fruits. It comes equipped with safety device, so fingers stay safe. Hand washing recommended.

Buy NowGet 34% OFF

Click here for more information about Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer

Read More...