Amazon.com Review

Get a nutritious start to your day with fresh tomato, carrot, apple, or orange juice--or invent your own healthy blend. This powerful (and some would say noisy) 600-watt juicer churns out a quart of juice in just one minute. An extra-wide feed tube saves chopping time since it accommodates whole tomatoes, carrots, and small apples, and the removable parts make this one of the fastest juicers to clean. To operate, simply turn the juicer on and insert washed whole or chopped fruits and vegetables through the feed tube--pulp and seeds will shoot out one side into the provided pulp container, and juice will pour out the spout. To catch the juice, you can use either a glass or a provided juice container with lid. The juice container features a handy divider to separate the juice from the froth when pouring. Weighing thirteen pounds, the juice extractor measures 15 by 6-1/2 by 16 inches and comes with a one-year warranty. A helpful instruction booklet that includes tips and recipes is included to get you started. --Ann Bieri

From the Manufacturer

Changing the World, One Apple at a Time…

Unrivalled power meets highest quality components and revolutionary design in this life changing appliance. Touted as North America’s fastest juicer, after being timed making an 8-ounce glass of juice in an astonishing 5 seconds, the world’s fastest juicer might be a more apt description.Designed by innovative, world-renowned engineer Keith Hensel in 1999, the Breville Juice Fountain was the world’s first domestic juicer to accept whole fruit and vegetables with no chopping, peeling, slicing, or dicing.

Named for its ability to produce literally a fountain of continuous juice, where other juicers generate a mere trickle, the JE900 Juice Fountain has seriously changed the way the world looks at juice. Where traditional juice extractors require time consuming preparation, feeding, and cleaning, the Juice Fountain completes the whole home juicing experience in less time than it takes to brew a cup of coffee.The Juice Fountain’s ability to juice whole fruit, to reduce juicing time by up to 90%, and to yield up to 30% more juice, stems from a combination of innovations. Even its unofficial tagline as "a juice bar in your own home" doesn’t do justice to just how fast and convenient the machine is.Thousands of families from Australia to Japan and everywhere in between enjoy fresh, healthy juice every day thanks to the Breville JE900 Juice Fountain.

Amazing Innovations

600-Watt Centered Motor The Juice Fountain’s motor is positioned directly under the drive shaft so no power is lost in electrical transition or resistance. At 600 watts, the motor is one of the most powerful domestic juicers available, and its centered location directly over the drive shaft means a true 600 watts of power is delivered to the cutter and filter. The higher wattage not only delivers faster and more efficient juicing, it’s also powerful enough to juice regularly without significant stress on the motor. Patented Center Knife Blade Cutter Assembly The Juice Fountain is the world’s only large feed tube juicer to feature a centered feed tube and knife blade cutter assembly. Other juicers receive fruit and vegetables toward the circumference of the cutter-blade putting uneven pressure on the cutter and filter. As a result, it is not possible to balance the cutting assembly to attain sufficient speed for optimum juicing.The patented Juice Fountain design accepts fruit directly on to the center of the cutting assembly where a small, dual-bladed Italian made knife shreds the pulp into tiny particles and pushes it against the filter.

Over 14,000 RPMs!

The unique centered cutter assembly, together with the 600 watt motor, allows the Juice Fountain to deliver unparalleled speed to the filter.The Juice Fountain’s Italian micro-mesh filter spins at an incredible 14,500 revolutions per minute.The greater the revolutions, the faster the fruit can be juiced, and the greater the pressure on the pulp against the filter. Breville’s lightning speed filter ‘G-forces’ the maximum amount of juice from the pulp and makes an 8-ounce glass of juice in as little as 5 seconds (tested using apples). The 14,500 rpms of the Juice Fountain compares to about 5,000 rpms on most other juicers.

Italian-Made Stainless Steel Micro Mesh Cutter and Filter

Italian engineering is renowned for its uncompromising quality and eye for detail. The Juice Fountain’s micromesh filter is no exception. Comparing this to other filters it is easy to see that the engineering differences are significant. The filter holes on the Breville filter are so tiny that the individual holes can’t be detected with the naked eye yet the screen is see-through. The thousands and thousands of tiny, micro-mesh holes maximize the juicing surface area to squeeze every last drop of juice from the pulp.Because the holes are so small, they effectively block any seeds, pulp, or rind to deliver nothing but fresh, delicious juice.

3-Inch Wide Feed Tube

The Juice Fountain features the largest circular feed tube of all juicers in America. The unique rounded shape allows for easy insertion of whole apples, pears, tomatoes, peeled oranges, even handfuls of carrots at a time. Where other juicers take several minutes of chopping, peeling, slicing, and dicing, the Breville is large enough and powerful enough to accept whole fruit. This revolutionary design reduces juicing time by up to 90%, making the Juice Fountain a practical way to get natural nutrients and vitamins for the whole family each and every day.

Extra Large Pulp Container

The extra large pulp container is designed to fit a standard plastic grocery bag to capture all the pulp for no-fuss clean up. Because the pulp is exceptionally dry with the Breville Juicer, and the pulp container is so large, it is practical to juice continually for several minutes before the pulp container needs to be emptied.For those that don’t want to waste the pulp, the Juice Fountain’s free instruction manual has delicious recipes for muffins and cakes using the pulp.

Smooth Rounded Dishwasher Safe Parts

Easy cleaning was at the top of the priority list for the Breville design team when engineering the Juice Fountain. Having tested dozens of juicers and spoken to thousands of consumers, the overwhelming response was that juice extractors are just too difficult to clean. The Breville Juice Fountain is a delightful contrast. Not only is the pulp container designed to insert a grocery bag to capture the pulp, but there are only three other parts that require cleaning. All of them are top-shelf dishwasher safe and feature smooth, rounded surfaces that rinse easily under the tap. Even washing by hand takes only seconds as pulp residue slides right off the smooth surfaces. The Juice Fountain comes with a bonus cleaning brush designed to slide effortlessly around the micro-mesh cutter and filter making cleaning a breeze.

Bonus Juice Pitcher with Froth Separator

The Juice Fountain comes with a bonus 1-quart juice pitcher. Like the machine itself, the pitcher is cleverly designed with an adjustable froth separator. Some juice recipes produce a froth residue at the top of the juice and while some consumers enjoy the froth, others would rather drink their juice without it.The easy slide froth separator allows the user to have as little or as much froth as they desire. The bonus pitcher also comes with an air tight lid to store left over juice in the fridge.

The Breville Story

Breville’s first electrical appliance rolled off the factory line in 1932. Over 70 years, and 30 million satisfied customers later, they’re still one of the world’s most innovative name in kitchen electrics. From the world’s first scissor action sandwich maker, to the world’s first juicer to juice whole fruit, Breville continues to bring clever ideas to life. Their renowned design team ensures that every Breville product makes life simpler, works smarter, and looks better, than any other appliance on Earth. Despite Breville’s global success, they only entered the U.S. market in January 2003 and are quickly becoming one of the fastest growing brands in the country. Breville have a proud history of innovation and an uncompromising vision to bring more great ideas to life. ... Read more

Features

• Stainless-steel micromesh strainer; base cord-wrap
• Powerful 600-watt motor produces a quart of juice in one minute
• One of the easiest juicers to clean
• Extra-wide feed tube accommodates whole apples and tomatoes
• Large capacity slide-out pulp container

Reviews (69)

Powerful and easy to clean!
This is my first juicer so I have nothing to compare it to, however, I can tell you that this machine is very powerful and very easy to clean. These are two points that make this an easy choice for anyone thinking about a juicer. I know myself pretty well at this point and if this machine was difficult to operate or to clean, it would be swiftly retired to the "Island of misfit gadgets" in the back of the hall closet. Thankfully, the machine has proved worthy of a permanent place on the counter, much to my wife's displeasure.

The machine performs the grinding and separating tasks very well so the resulting juice is free from seeds and other unwanted matter while still containing lots of healthy delicious pulp. I'm very pleased.... fruits and vegi's taste terrific juiced. I'm having fun experimenting with different combinations of ingredients.

One suggestion though is to buy the fruit ahead of time. It's hardly ever ripe when you buy it and I can tell you that your success (defined by great flavor) is heavily dependent on the fruit being ripe and sweet. Organically grown fruits are a plus if you can find them...no pesticides. There are some tricks to extracting the most juice from your ingredients in the instructions. Oh yeh, the juicing process results in a fair amount of the ingredients ending up in the waste bin. This is a normal part of the process so don't be too surprised by the amount. There are recipes for using this left over stuff, although I haven't tried any yet.

Now for the best part......the fresh juice I make in the morning, sometimes vegetable and sometimes fruit, is so satisfying that I have it for/as breakfast. It satisfies me until lunch, and surprise, surprise, I'm loosing a few pounds, slowly but steadily. A great bonus!

DAILY JUICER
VERY POWERFUL MACHINE AND VERY EASY TO CLEAN. YOU CAN MAKE FRESH JUICE DAILY AND TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO CLEAN. THE UNIT ITSELF SEEMS VERY HIGH QUALITY AND WORTH THE INVESTMENT. THIS PRODUCT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE JACK LALANNE'S POWER JUICER (MOTOR IS VERY QUIET) BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS THE BREVILLE FOUNTAIN JUICER HAS A STRONGER MOTOR (VERY NOISY) AND SMALLER IN SIZE. I'VE BEEN JUICING EVERY DAY SINCE USING THIS PRODUCT AND VERY SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS!!! I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT FOR DAILY USE AND THE JACK LALANNE'S POWER JUICER FOR THREE TIMES A WEEEK OR LESS. 10 STARS.

Great juice with some catches
Have had it for about a year now. The juice always turns out great. Other reviewers gave all the good points about this machine so no need to repeat them here.

Some irritating catches are...

The base where you snap in the blade gets harder and harder to take out over time. I've been very careful with the unit so I don't know why it happened to me.

A bit of shelf/countertop space is needed just for this juicer. If you have a lot of gadgets you are definitely going to clutter your countertop area since the unit is not small.

Though most parts are dishwasher safe, they may not fit in your dishwasher top rack. Even if they do, they will take up almost the entire rack. Also the funny shapes of the pieces leave lots of water on them so I have to rinse them after running them in the dishwasher.

Some tips for new users if you are to get one: the large chute is a big plus -- reduces the cut up time significantly. In fact, the smaller cuts you try to prepare, the less efficient this machine will be in terms of spinning more unjuiced (small) chunks into the waste bin.

If you juice carrots, try to keep the "juiced" meat for something like meat sauce. Adds wonderful texture and flavor to it. I always feel so wasteful while dumping the waste bin.

In sum, I wish they would design a more streamlined compact juicer. Yet, given what are currently available in the market, this is the one for me.

THE BREVILLE JE900 IS A MIRACLE TO ME!!!
i have previously owned a salton juicer and used a waring juicer. while still using the salton product, i did research on this and other juicers for over 1 month. i even considered the newer, more powerful breville model. I AM SO GRATEFUL I DID THE RESEARCH AND CHOSE THE JE900! i now have used the 900 4 times. i do not peal my citrus fruits nor melons. i make a gallon of juice or more each time. i am FINISHED JUICING AND CLEANING ALL PARTS OF THE MACHINE IN LESS TIME than it took to cut and prep my fruits and vegetables before. the motor is more than powerful enough to easily juice anything i have tried thus far. all parts are easy to clean and the machine is very user-friendly as is described in other reviews, right down to that plug AND scrub brush. i don't line the pulp container w/ a bag and it is STILL wonderfully easy to clean due to it's design. this machine IS NOT LOUDER than the ones i have previously used when juicing. i appreciate the recipes added to the manual book and look forward to trying many of them even though i haven't yet. i cannot thank the people at breville enough for an amazing product and i couldn't be happier w/ my JE900 machine.

Worst Company Ever
Do not buy Breville!

I had the misfortune to break a portion of the juicer while housesitting, but was not too worried believing that a replacement part would be on its way in no time. That was 2 months ago!
I though the juicer broke a little too easily, but that is not even close to the extent of my annoyance. First of all, it took me almost 2 weeks before I even got a person on the telephone--only an answering service where no one returns your call. Then when I did get someone I ordered the replacement part with no trouble. Or so I thought, but it never was delievered to me.
I had also attempted to order it throught their website--which was a joke, they forwarded me a 14 page excel spreadsheet that I was then supposed to call into their unanswered telephone number. Anyway all this has happened and I have repeatedly tried contacting them with one assurance that my part would be replaced. Still nothing and no one will answer my emails. I returned to the website to get the phone number and I see that they deactivated the link to the phone number.
What good is it to buy an appliance that is comprised of 5 different pieces and the company refuses to honor replacement orders?
I would not buy anything from this company! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Housed in a nine-slot wood block, this Grand Prix set offers Wusthof’s excellence in a highly-versatile grouping. The set includes the following knives: 2-3/4-inch narrow-bladed trimming parer; 5-inch serrated and pronged tomato knife; 6-inch all-purpose sandwich knife; and a hefty 8-inch chef’s knife for chopping, dicing, and slicing. Also included are kitchen shears and a 7-inch sharpening steel. The Grand Prix knives feature a pebble-grain synthetic handle molded over an extended tang for a sure, comfortable grip. Because the steel tang does not run the full length of the handle, a Grand Prix knife offers slightly less heft than its Classic counterpart, yet more than the trim Le Cordon Bleu. Grand Prix differs from Grand Prix II in that the latter features a more ergonomically-curved handle with a blunt end. Grand Prix handles are straighter with rounded ends.

All Grand Prix knives are precision forged from a single piece of high-carbon, stain-resistant German steel. Each blade has been impeccably honed by hand and its edge laser-tested for uniformity. An edge may be re-sharpened professionally or with a sharpening steel. Though the utensils are dishwasher-safe, Wusthof recommends washing all fine cutlery by hand. Made in Germany, the set is fully guaranteed to be free of defects in materials and/or craftsmanship. --Ann Bieri

What’s in the Box
1 knife block set. The set consists of: wood storage block; 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch sandwich knife; 5-inch tomato knife; 2-3/4-inch paring knife; kitchen shears; 7-inch sharpening steel. ... Read more

Features

• Made in Germany; lifetime warranty
• Set includes: 2-3/4-inch trimming parer, 5-inch serrated tomato, 6-inch sandwich, 8-inch chef's, 7-inch sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and wooden block
• Knives are precision forged from a single piece of high-carbon stainless steel
• Molded synthetic handle with rounded end provides nonslip comfort
• Not-quite-full tang lessens weight without sacrificing heft or balance

Reviews (7)

what a bargian
as a wife, and mother of 5 this is a gift set perfect for the whole family.With a knife for each kid, no longer will i have to be the mediator of fights and arguments.this allows self expression, not commonly found in average families.and boy punishments just are not the same.Some mothers might think i am crazy, but how many of your kids cancut a steak in 15 seconds.a great buy, and this product not only looks good, but you could say its "sharp"

Wusthof Grand Prix 7-Piece Block Set with Bonus knife
I received my set which also did not contain the silverpoint bonus knife. I e-mailed customer service and got a reply in a couple of hours that they would rectify the problem. Practically the next day I received a new set which, to my disappointment,also did not contain the touted silverpoint knife. However, now I had to go to the post office and return one of the sets.At this point I beleive that none of the sets contain the knife.
This problem aside, the knives are awsome. They were sharp right out of the box and I was able to slice grapes with just one stroke while holding them over my cup of cereal.

Missing item too. Hope Amazon makes good on it.
I received the set today and I, too, am missing an item. I am missing the bonus Silverpoint knife. I have written to Amazon and hope they do make good on it.

The knives were sent in a cardboard box, stuffed with rolled up packing paper. Each knife had a cardboard sleeve. But an extra sleeve with no knive in it. I assume this sleeve was for the missing silverpoint knife.

The knives had little white dots on the handle but removable with a little water and wipe. The steel had streaks but also easily cleanable.

But for $154.99, I really expected to get the whole set as shown and written above. Be sure to check yours, it's easy to pass over it. Just waiting for my reply....

Product Not as described
I just received this knife set and although I've not yet used the knives, the product description stated that it would include a bonus 3-inch Silverpoint paring knife that was NOT included in the box.I have just notified Customer Service and sincerely hope that Amazon will make good on this item.

The knifes are great but one is missing
The set I recieved is missing either a trimming knife or a 2-3/4-inch paring knife:
According to the label on the box, the set should include a trimming knife, cook's knife, tomato knife, sandwich knife, sheers, sharpening steel, block set.
According to the item description on Amazon site, the set should include: 8-inch chef's knife, 6-inch sandwich knife, 5-inch tomato knife, 2-3/4-inch paring knife, 7-inch sharpening steel, kitchen shears, 9-slot storage block, and bonus 3-inch Silverpoint paring knife.
Neither trimming knife nor 2-3/4-inch paring knife came with the set.
... Read more

Features

• Reconditioned by the manufacturer to "like new" condition
• Pause setting permits meats to be browned on spit
• Indoor and Outdoor use

Amazon.com Review

Recommended for rooms up to 200 square feet, this portable airpurifier is equipped with a UV germicidal light to help kill airbornemicroorganisms and a three-speed fan to continuously circulate airthrough two filters that remove smoke, pollen, dust, animal dander,dust mites, molds, bacteria, viruses, and odors. Helpful forasthmatics, allergy sufferers, and in a cold or flu patient's room, thepurifier contains a true HEPA filter that is at least 99.97 percenteffective at trapping airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.There's also a carbon prefilter to reduce odors. A digital readoutdisplays air quality--good, fair, or poor--and the fan can be set toautomatically adjust speed according to air-quality needs. One speedsetting is called "whisper" for bedrooms and nurseries. Digitalindicators show when filters need replacing. Filter replacement issimple: open the front, remove the prefilter and/or HEPA filter,position a new filter(s), and reclose the front. The purifier carries athree-year warranty against defects. I>--Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 3-year warranty against defects
• Recommended for closed room up to 200 square feet
• UV germicidal light helps kill bacteria, viruses, mold
• True HEPA filter at least 99.97-percent effective; prefilter reduces odors
• Digitally displays air quality; three fan speeds or automatic adjustment

Reviews (19)

Silent night
We live in Hawaii and like many people here suffer terribly from allergies, especially when the Kona winds are blowing from the big island, bringing the dreaded "vog" (volcano smog) with them. On top of that, my husband is allergic to our two beloved cats (the cats and I decided to keep him anyway) and I was allergic to his subsequent noisy snoring, so I purchased this item. I must admit I thought it might wind up just being another gadget lying around the house, but I am very pleased to report that it is an extremely useful device that has made our sleep significantly more peaceful and restful. We keep it on automatic most of the time; it's a tad noisy at night if it kicks into high gear, so occasionally we switch it onto whisper quiet before we sleep. I'm so glad we bought it, and I'd recommend it to anyone who suffers from allergies or has pets that they don't want to banish from the house. I also like the streamlined design of the Hamilton Beach model, the others looked too heavy and obtrusive.

Great purifier for the price!
I recently purchased this unit with hopes of reducing dust and other particulates in my bedroom. For reference, I live in Manhattan where the air quality is sometimes not the greatest.

Summary: Great unit for the price. Super ergonomics and clear displays make this unit a winner!

Positive aspects

1. Inexpensive price. Good value for the buck compared with many other filters on the market.

2. Good ergonomics. I actually liked the fact that you can monitor filter lifespan and air quality on a clear to read LCD. You can also see if the anti-germ UV bulb is working by seeing a glow out of a darkly tinted (for safety!) window on top.

3. Easy to set up! I had this puppy up and running in under 10 minutes. Pretty foolproof installation makes this one a keeper.

4. Great filtering technology. The unit can automatically adjust to the air quality in your room. Very nice! Also, I noticed a change in the air quality within 1 hour of operation.

5. Small form factor. After all, no one wants a huge unit in their bedroom!

Some minor complaints:

1. Power cord. I wish the power cord were a bit longer so that I could have greater placement flexability. Not a big deal.

2. UV bulb. Replacing the UV germicidal bulb is tad bit expensive. Again, not a big deal.

Great, but doesn't seem to last
This air cleaner has to be one of the coolest air cleaners out there. So far, I have not seen any in this price range that automatically adjust to the air quality. I like that it comes with a guage to let me know when I need to change the hepa filter. The gauge and a cleaner for the air sensor each have a special storage spot, so they don't get lost.

The one I have now is the second one I have bought, but the third one that I have had.

The first one worked for about 9 months, then the motor started to squeak. I called Hamilton Beach, and they asked me to send it in for warranty service. I got a brand new one back. I was about to have to change the filter in mine, so it worked out kinda nice. The new unit lasted about a year, then the motor just stopped. It was out of warranty by this point, so I went out and bought another.

Now I have had my third unit for about 6 months, and the motor died again, so I am going to have to call Hamilton Beach again, and probably ship it out.

I would think the motors should outlast the HEPA filter, but it hasn't been the case. I am a smoker, so it cycles from low to high quite often, but I wouldn't think that should be a problem.

When this filter works, it works great.... It helps keep my place from stinking from the smoke, and helps my allergies. The customer service has been great so far too. I just wish the unit would last.

Excellent Product
I bought this machine to help me with my allergies. It has worked tremendously and I highly recommend it. Running the purifier in the bedroom overnight has allowed me to sleep peacefully. The purifier is also excellent in the kitchen at removing any odors from cooking.
The machine is louder than I would like. On the lowest setting it can still be heard but is tolerable, and after a while you don't notice it. On the highest setting the noise is deafening and forces me to turn it to a lower setting. However, on the highest setting it is very fast and effective at cleaning the air in an entire room.

Does it all
This air filter is designed amazingly well. It can even be placed against a wall. The air enters through the front passing through a carbon and hepa filter, then the air exits through the top on its way back out into the room. Before the air exits, it passes by an ultraviolet light which kills mold spores, bacteria & viruses (a must for the au courant hypochondriac). It is very quiet & has a sensor which automatically & temporarily increases the fan speed to clean the excess pollution from the room. It even has a digital display to let you know it's working. This air purifier has everything you need and all for under $150. After owning it for two weeks, I bought a second one. If you have allergies (and even if you don't), buy one and your nose and lungs will most definitely thank you. ... Read more

Features

• Dishwasher-safe; 10-year warranty
• Medium 14-by-14-inch cookie sheet, 8-inch sqaure cake pan, medium loaf pan, 2 9-inch round cake pans, cooling rack
• Heavy-gauge carbon-steel construction
• Nonstick coating encourages lower-fat cooking
• Reinforced rolled edges prevent warping; oven-safe to 450 degrees F

Amazon.com Review

Yogurt is a great, guilt-free snack for both adults and kids. With this yogurt maker, it's easy to add favorite flavors--including exotic and sweet fruits, rich crunchy nuts, and natural sweeteners--to basic yogurt. Just follow the recipes, supplied by the manufacturer, and a nutritious snack, with very little fat and no preservatives (like most commercial brands), is not too far away. Making yogurt takes from 4 to 10 hours to process, depending on desired tartness of the batch. If you're looking for frozen yogurt, you do have to chill it for 2 hours in the freezer before consumption after it's made. The yogurt can be stored up to one week. --Teresa Simanton ... Read more

Features

• Clean container and lid with hot soapy water and base with warm cloth
• Makes up to 1 quart
• Temperature controlled
• Internal container is freezer-safe
• Power cord storage on the base's bottom

Reviews (63)

Fantastic and the Best!
I have tried many yogurt makers, this is the best.

The Easiset thick lush delicious yogurt
1. 1 qt. whole milk+1/2 cup alba calcium fortified dry milk( you can use any powdered milk... this is for extra body and calium)
2. Heat in microwave until 175 degrees approx 7 min on High.
(check your microwave of course for shorter or longer time))
3. Cool between 110-115 degrees
4. Scoop some of the warm milk into a clean glass
add, some active yogurt(dannon plain is okay) or add 1 package of Yogourmet Yogurt starter(best starter Ever, at health food store), stir throughly but not viciously!
5. Add the starter mix to large container of cooled milk, stir.
6. Pour milk into Yogurtcantainer that comes w/ set.
7. 4 hours and fantastic Yogurt. Make sure you let it chill, gets thicker...and you won't believe your eyes and taste buds at the thick yummy yogurt!

No additives, sweeteners, strange thickeners. I make every two days, can't keep it in the house, everyone waits for new batch. My husband has colitis and this is saving him!

The price beats all on this appliance!

Happy After One Year
I bought this product one year ago based on Amazon reviews and, after some fine tuning of the included directions, routinely make yogurt as I get ready for work--as often as 4 times each week. I heat the milk in the microwave while I feed the cats, then cool the hot liquid in the refrigerator as I shower, and finally mix in the starter yogurt and pop it all in the yogurt maker before I head out the door. I remove the finished product when I come home for lunch. Even if I let it cook all day, I don't find the yogurt to be too tart. Making yogurt with this Salton product is easy. I like the large container size. The yogurt itself tastes great and has a good texture. I've only had two failed batches all year--can't remember why now, but probably my fault. I am buying another Salton Yogurt Maker to give as a gift.

wonderful little machine!!!
I had a 6 (separate) cup yogurt maker which was difficult to keep clean. The yogurt maker made by Salton is very easy to use and makes perfect yogurt every time! Just follow the instructions and you have nice, wholesome, yogurt with no additives and at a fraction of the cost too. Truly, it is one of the best gadgets I own.

Easy, Cheap, Reliable!
I have always loved homemade yogurt and absolutety love this machine! I had never bought a yogurt maker due to the high cost and most of them being too big. (I mean, really, can a single person really eat a half gallon by themselves before getting sick of it?) Making yogurt is really easy and some of the other machines out there make it more difficult. Also, this machine is very user friendly, designed simply (low-tech is best) and very practically. It maintains the correct temperature, takes up a minimum of space, cleans up fast, doesn't make too much, and since I use it almost every day, and have for almost a year, I am very impressed with its reliability. What else can I say? If it were a man I would marry it.

Why pay more for store-bought plain yogurt?
I eat a lot of yogurt. Plain. So why should I shell out so much for store yogurt when making your own is so easy?

Some of the secrets of yogurt to help you be successful:

1. Cleanliness is next to Godliness for any dairy recipe. Bacteria or other microorganisms you are inviting to the party can make off flavors, goopy results.

2. Yogurt is thickened commercially with dry powdered milk to add body to the product. American milk from Holsteins is thin and lacking in protein. Adding dry powder milk puts back in the casein that sets up to make a nice creamy, thick yogurt. Jersey cow milk is higher in fat and protein; if you have access to Jersey milk, then you might not need to add dry powdered milk.

3. If you DON'T SCALD THE MILK (bring to a boil) you will leave in enzymes that will result in a thin, porridge-like yogurt, if you are lucky. If you aren't lucky, the result will be liquid milk but spoiled. So scald the milk.

4. After you scald, take the milk's temperature. It has to be around 80-85 degrees and no more, or the culture you stir in will be killed off and again, you won't get any yogurt. Plain yogurt starter works fine. Make sure it's fresh, however.

I like my yogurt plain or with apple and sunflower seeds stirred in. But feel free to flavor yours with apple butter, jam, fresh berries, honey. Kids like it with whipped strawberries or blueberries and maple syrup. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

An inexpensive introduction to the delights of rotisserie-roasted meats and poultry, this countertop device is large enough to spit-roast two chickens, a 15-pound turkey, a leg of lamb, a rack of ribs, or six kebabs. Place the spit through the wire food basket that accompanies the rotisserie, and it will rotate chicken wings, salmon steaks, or other foods through the roasting cycle. Meanwhile, place the enameled-steel steaming tray atop the rotisserie, cover with its plastic lid, and the rotisserie will steam vegetables or shrimp.

At this price you wouldn't expect the rotisserie to be restaurant-sturdy, but it's not flimsy, either. Measuring 17 by 15 by 13-1/2 inches, it delivers 1,250 watts of cooking power inside an enameled-steel case with a tempered-glass door. Three spit settings permit normal rotation, no-heat rotation to keep juices distributed evenly until serving, and pause-to-sear so meats can be browned. Six kebab rods, a syringe to internally flavor meats and poultry, 12 elastic ties to bind foods, a pair of heavy synthetic gloves for removing items from the unit, and $100 in coupons for other Ronco products accompany the rotisserie. Because it stars in an infomercial, the rotisserie also comes with an excellent instructional video. --Fred Brack

Editor's note: This is a reconditioned small appliance. Reconditioned generally means that the appliance has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the appliance back to like-new condition. Some appliances may contain cosmetic blemishes. Includes a six-month factory warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Instructional video; 6-month factory warranty
• Reconditioned by the manufacturer to "like new" condition
• Pause setting permits meats to be browned on spit
• Tray fits atop rotisserie for steaming foods
• Includes 6 kabob rods, flavor-injecting syringe, heavy gloves, 12 elastic ties

Reviews (159)

Better than storebought!
I got my Showtime Rotisserie 2 weeks ago and have since fixed roast chicken (juicy and done perfectly after setting it on sear for 4 min on each side to brown even more), salmon in the small basket, and 2 porkloins, as well as 3 club steaks (think I prefer the outside BBQ, but the snow was too deep!). The food has been very tasty, moist and easily cooked and cleaned up. It beats standing in the cold by my outside BBQ. It's even easy to entertain while you use it. The instructions work well. ON Today show Al Roker took the chicken out too early, as it needs at least an hour + for a 3 lb chicken. Took 1 1/2 hr for 6 lb one-done to perfection. Try it and you'll enjoy life again!

Best Kitchen Appliance I Have Ever Purchased
I purchased this reconditioned rotisserie about 4 months ago and it has been the best purchase for me. I was a little skeptical about purchasing it off the T.V. informercial, so I checked comments and prices first. Only to discover you could purchase reconditioned ones for a fraction of the price of a new one and it offered a warranty as well. I saved a lot of money and it proved to be the most awesome little machine! It makes the most wonderful roasted chicken, you'll never eat fried chicken again! The clean up takes a little more time but it is worth it! I use it about 3-4 times per week and it is so easy! I highly recommend it for healthy eating and great tasting meals.

For those of you who have doubts...
I want to assure you, that this machine is phenomenal. I was very interested in this product as soon as I saw it on TV, but I felt really stupid for even considering purchasing an infomercial product. I had serious doubts, particularly in its ability to perform "as advertised", as well as the durability and quality of the machine's construction.

I did extensive research via consumer reports and user feedback (such as here on Amazon.com). While these sourced did much to assuage my fears, what finally convinced me to make my purchase was a friend whom I knew in real life who had actually used the machine (her roommate owned one) and assurred me the machine was as good as was advertised. With that final assurance, I purchased my Rotisserie and I have NOT been disappointed.

The food tastes *great*, is always tender and juicy, cleanup is (relatively) easy, and it cooks your food *fast*. The price is a bit steep, but it is worth it (if you have the cash). I just wanted to write this review to help others feel a little more confident about their purchases, since reading reviews such as these were so important to me in my final decision to purchase. Happy buying everyone!

Do not order if you need it soon or by x-mas
Great product (I have one already, this is for my sister), bad service. I ordered this from amazon.com on Oct. 9th and they keep extending the delivery day. Now the latest expect delivery day is Dec 26th. Right, like it'll be deliver during the Holidays. I am very dissapointed with Amazons Customers service.

The best tasting food ever!
This oven produces the best tasting, most crispy skin on chicken and turkey I've ever tasted. I can't wait until dinner tomorrow so I can cook something else. I've read various reviews good and bad, and almost didn't buy this item, I'm so glad I did. I don't know what those people did to get smoke from their ovens or squeaks while operating but I have none of these problems.Just put a dab of vegetable oil (as suggested by the manufacturer) on each of the two little protrusions on each side of the spit wheels and you will not have any squeaking, as for the smokeing dilema. If you properly tie up your chicken, turkey, roasts, etc. you will have no smoke.
Try it you will love it. What do you have to lose? If you don't like it return it for your money back.
I got the 4000T model remanufactured for $75.00 No tax no freight How can you beat that? ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

With raised, concentric grooves in their bottoms providing extra protection for an exceptionally durable, DuPont Autograph nonstick coating, the pots and pans in this 12-piece set equip a cook with easy-to-use, easy-to-clean cookware that stands up to heavy use. The set comprises 2-quart and 3-quart saucepans with lids; a 4-1/2- quart Dutch oven with lid; an 8-quart stockpot with lid for simmering stocks and soups; a 5-quart, high-sided sauté pan with lid for frying chicken, sautéing lots of fish or vegetables, and braising a pot roast in the oven; and 8-inch and 10-inch slope-sided skillets.

The cookware's "hi-low" system of concentric grooves creates narrow ridges to take utensil abuse, leaving low, wider grooves unscathed to readily release food. Exteriors are charcoal-gray, hard-anodized aluminum for easy cleaning and harder-than-steel durability. Synthetic handles stay cool on the stovetop and are oven-safe to 350 degrees F. Domed lids are 18/10 stainless steel polished to a mirror finish. This cookware, heavy enough to conduct evenly yet light enough to handle easily, carries a lifetime warranty against defects. --Fred Brack

What's in the Box
2-quart saucepan with lid, 3-quart saucepan with lid, 4-1/2-quart Dutch oven with lid, 8-quart stockpot with lid, 5-quart sauté pan with lid, 8-inch skillet, 10-inch skillet ... Read more

Features

• Stay-cool handles oven-safe to 350 degrees F; lifetime warranty against defects
• Set comprises 2- , 3-quart saucepans with lids; 4-1/2-quart Dutch oven with lid;
• 8-quart stockpot with lid; 5-quart saute pan with lid; 8- , 10-inch skillets
• Hard-anodized aluminum, with polished 18/10 stainless-steel lids
• Concentric grooves inside protect exceptionally durable nonstick

Reviews (5)

The finish wears off in 6 months
I don't have time to baby my cookware! The pans that I use often worked well for a few months and then I noticed the circles were chipping into my food! My neighbor found the same thing happening with hers! I bought mine in 2001 and now I am looking to replace them!

Totally Unacceptable !
How can you use cookware that you can't get hot??! Want to sear some ahi tuna? Forget it. Cook a large batch of pasta? Have a good book handy while you wait for the water to boil on medium heat! Your cooking times will double, and if you try to rush the process by using high heat you'll end up with cookware that sticks badly.

What's next, a Circulon line of stemware that is ruined if you put liquids in them?

Best pans in my kitchen!
I couldn't decide what pans to get when I was ready to get rid of my mixed, hand-me-down collection of old pots. Although I was attracted to this set, I delayed for quite a while because I thought having to hand wash pans would be a pain. I was wrong!

I've had a set of Circulon pans for over two years now, and it was the best purchase I ever made. They are so incredibly easy to clean, that you simply swish some soapy water over them and they are done! Nothing sticks, and the finish is incredibly durable.

I've simmered hours of soups, stews, spaghetti sauces, stir fries, etc., in these pans, and they still look like new.

The pans are well made and distribute heat evenly. The circular pattern in the finish seems to help foods brown too.

Warning: the Manufacturer's instructions tell you not to use cooking sprays (like "Pam"), but to use oil instead. (Apparently cooking sprays can get too hot, hurting the finish.) That's the only down side. However, I hope the tiny drizzle of olive oil I use doesn't add too many calories to my dishes!

The Manufacturer's instructions also tell you to hand wash the pans. I believe doing so is why my pans still look like new after years of use. However, my husband did put them through the dishwasher once or twice while I was gone on a trip, and it didn't seem to harm them. (Whew!) So, maybe they can stand up to ONE machine wash! But, hand washing them takes just seconds, so you won't mind doing it.

The best cookware I've ever used
Since I purchased my set I've sworn off all other cookware. These pots and pans are simply amazing. Non- stick, easy to clean and a delight to cook with. I can fry in just a teaspoon of oil since the grooves prevent meats from sticking. I don't even mind washing pots and pans anymore since cleanup is a breeze. I don't need any abrasive sponges or cleansers. A regular yellow sponge and some dtergent will get rid of the greasiest, messiest grime you could cook up. I have never been happier in my kitchen.

wonderful ware
This set of cookware is absolutely delightful. It is stylish and yet very durable. Light and solid. The handle is solid and you don't wonder if it will hold as you transport a dish. The non-stick surface is just that and requires minimal effort. I also have the utensils made by Circulon and you can tell they are quality too. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Perfect for deep cleaning without excessive strain, the self-propelled Hoover WindTunnel Ultra upright takes charge of its own locomotion both coming and going. In addition, Hoover’s WindTunnel technology creates a powerful double air path for maximum suction and cleaning. The vacuum even provides feedback on cleaning progress with the Embedded Dirt Finder--a feature that scans the floor for debris, signaling you if there’s still dirt to be picked up. You can operate the Dirt Finder on a regular setting for your routine cleaning or on a high setting for your deep-cleaning sprees.

The WindTunnel Ultra is designed for both bare floors and carpets, with a 15-inch cleaning path and three adjustable nozzle heights to accommodate variation in carpet depth. Dirt collection is bagged using Hoover’s Microfiltration system, and a helpful indicator signal keeps you posted on the bag’s status. A HEPA filter assists the bag, trapping 100 percent of dust mites and 99.98 percent of ragweed and common grass pollens.

The vacuum comes handsomely equipped for attachment cleaning with a stretch hose, two extension wands, a crevice tool, an upholstery tool, and a dusting brush all on board. (The Dirt Finder does not work with the attachments.) The most rigorous attachment is a powered hand tool with its own rotating brushroll--great for carpeted stairs and durable upholstery. Other useful elements include quick-release cord hooks, a carrying handle, a headlight, and a view window over the brush roll. Hoover covers the machine with a one-year warranty. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• 14 by 15 by 43 inches
• Self-propelled locomotion with WindTunnel technology
• Allergen filtration with HEPA filter
• Embedded Dirt Finder system
• Onboard hose and attachments, including powered hand tool

Reviews (29)

Thought it was good, but SO disappointing
I thought for the money this would be a good vacuum. Easy to push, suction to pick up cat hair and dust. Boy, was I wrong. The suction never really was that great, and the self-propel feature stopped working about 2 years after purchase. What a disappointment.

Please withdraw my review
Please withdraw my review of this product (evh70) since, although I believed that is was accurated when I posted, I discovered that it contains errors.

9 months old - dead as a door nail
I picked one of these up August 2003 and I turned it on this afternoon: nothing happened. I checked the off/on switch with an ohm meter and it seems to be working. The "helpful" troubleshooting guide suggested that maybe there was a problem with my house's electrical system or that the cleaner I had not used for several days was overheated -- wrong! I suspect that the thermostat to detect overheating is broken. I agree with the other reviewers that the product is bulky, heavy and awkward. I cannot get in under the coffee table to clean because it is so large. It also tends to fall over when I use the applicances, also mentioned by another reviewer. The only really cool feature is the air-powered beater brush extension -- which I will not be using today because the Hoover does not suck...Avoid this over-priced piece of junk. Next time I will go with cannister vaccuum like the Kenmoore I had that lasted 15 years.

Hoover - Good Performance
Have had this Hoover for over 2 years - purchased online. This Hoover has been a reliable product and has the best suction of any machine I have used/seen. My prior Eureka Christian Klingspore signature upright model had significant durability problems and not near the cleaning power which drove me to evaluate the Hoover based on the Consumer Reports rating. Am satisfied with its overall performance - good suction (not through the motor), good tool set with power brush, and is reasonably quiet, although it is a bit heavy (carry handle is conveniently placed).

Downside: When using the tools with the short hose, the vacuum tips too easily and can easily hit you, or nearby walls or furniture potentially causing damage (scratches/scuff marks).

I am satisfied with this product and would consider purchase of another many years from now, as all functions/features still work as when new.

Worst Vacuum Ever!
DO NOT BUY this vacuum. It needs the belt replaced every few weeks and constantly smells of burning rubber even when you have just replaced the belt. The roller bar constantly gets stuck. After about 10 minutes of vacuuming (if you can stand the burning rubber smell) the vacuum gets too hot and turns its self off. It is very heavy to lug up and down stairs and it doesn't get into the corner of the carpets at all. All I wanted was a good vacuum that would work and even if this vacuum was cheap (which it isn't) it is still the worst vacuum ever!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

KitchenAid's stand mixer is a substantial piece of equipment: 250 watts of mixing power make child's play of creaming butter, kneading dough, and whipping cream. The kid in you will appreciate how quick and easy it is to mix up a batch of cookie dough; the 4-1/2-quart bowl can hold up to 8 cups of flour, which translates into as many as 192 sweet treats.

This model comes with three attachments: a flat beater for making batter, meat loaf, and all textures in-between; a wire whip for egg whites, mayonnaise, and more air-infused creations; and a hook for mixing and kneading yeast doughs. All three are solid in construction and easily secured to the beater shaft with a simple twist; untwisting them is a bit trickier because the attachment stems are short and can be hard to grasp, especially if they get the least bit greasy. The bowl itself locks tight to the base.

Standing 14 inches high, jutting out a foot, and weighing more than a grown woman's bowling ball, this stand mixer isn't the sort of appliance you'll wipe down and put away. Better to find a square foot of free counter space for easy access; besides, this machine is as pretty as it is rugged--you'll want to show it off.

To complete the package, KitchenAid includes a spiral-bound guide with instructions, mixing tips, and 67 recipes, from crispy waffles to a caramel walnut banana torte. --Betsy Danheim ... Read more

Features

• Measures 13-8/9 by 8-2/3 by 14 inches; 1-year warranty
• 250-watt, 10-speed mixer with tilt-up head
• 4-1/2-quart bowl holds dough for 2 loaves of bread
• Three handy accessories: flat beater, wire whip, and dough hook
• Includes a guide with instructions, mixing tips, and 67 recipes

Reviews (71)

Does a lot, does it well
This mixer is the version of KitchenAid that lifts the head away to remove the beaters. The bowl sits on a round stand on the base. (Some larger units have a lift to move the bowl under the beaters.) At 250 watts and 4 1/2 quarts, in white, this is a mixer that fits most people's needs.

What this mixer does particularly well is tp prepare bread dough, using a dough hook that slaps the dough around the bowl, stretching it and beating it in an effective kneading motion. But if you are a cookie baker, this makes short work of the creaming stage where butter or other solid fat and sugar must be mixed together. The wire beater makes short work of eggwhites or whipping cream. Just remember to keep the bowl and beater free of any grease or oil when you do the egg whites.

In a way, the KitchenAid is a good substitute for a bread machine, doing everything but the unattended kneading, knock-down and loaf baking stages, which are pretty easy. I tend to make bread more in the KitchenAid than in the breadmaker because I prefer the freedom to make a round loaf, a braided loaf, rolls or heavier dough than a machine can handle. And for making cookie dough for Christmas or parties, this is a must. Five stars for this mixer.

A mixer that is absolutely unbeatable
I'm one of those lucky people who has a kitchen full of top-quality appliances because I love to cook. Over almost 50 years of preparing meals and catering parties for family and friends, I've worn out several mixers. When the last one gave out I decided to try the Kitchenaid. After all, the brand had produced a dishwasher that I loved and the mixer certainly seemed sturdy enough.

Actually "sturdy" is an understatement; this is the most rugged, most solid mixer I've ever owned. It attacks the heaviest ingredients with efficient dispatch and never "walks" on the counter. On the other hand, it can be gentle with more fragile ingredients and processes. Its versatility is amazing.

The machine itself is no lightweight -- too heavy to move around much so it really needs to be easily accessible on top of a counter. Fortunately it's attractive enough to keep in full view!

There's a locking mechanism that attaches the bowl firmly to the base so it won't move when you turn the motor on. The three mixing attachments lock in place with a slight twist and are easy to remove. The paddle attachment is great for mixing cake and cookie batters, whipping potatoes, and blending any combination of ingredients. The wire whip incorporates air into egg whites or other blends with an impressive efficiency and the hook makes quick work of yeast doughs. It's easy to shift the speed lever even when the machine is operating so the cook has complete control of the process.

If you love to cook and you have a limited budget you can't go wrong if you splurge on this mixer. This machine is a winner.

Awesome
I have had this appliance for a few years now and it is still going strong. This was such a great "KITCHEN AID" in the kitchen. I would recommend this product to everyone. This is worth the price.

buy the right kitchenaid
Have never heard a bad word about Kitchenaid stand mixers until I read one here from someone using the smallest mixer for big chores. In the last two years I have purchased a total of 14 Kitchenaid mixers, from the classic to the 6 quart professional model...all on sale. They were purchased for gifts for my daughters, church members, choir director and friends. I bought 7 Classic models, 4 Heavy Duty models 2 Artisans and the 6 quart professional for myself. I have not received one negative comment. When you purchase a Kitchenaid, do not purchase it by bowl size...you must purchase it based on the motor size for the jobs you do. If you are constantly mixing bread and double batches of very heavy dough, you should purchase a mixer with a heavy duty motor. This information is found on the Kitchenaid website. The company clearly tells you what each mixer is capable of doing. I know women who have had these mixers since they were brides 25 years or more ago...they are still up and running. They are an investment like good knives and heavy cookware...no real cook should be without one, but should be smart enough to buy the right one. I only wish I had one when I started baking 43 years ago, maybe I wouldn't have tendonitis from mixing all those cookies by hand with a wooden spoon!!! They are worth every penny.

If you don't have one, GET ONE!!!
I always looked at the price of these mixers and just thought that it wouldn't be worth it, well, I put it on my bridal registry and lucky me, I got it for one of my showers. This thing can do anything. I haven't ever had so much fun baking in my life. I love making bread, but i didn't do it as often because of all the mixing and hard work. The mixer does all of the work, the dough hook is so awesome. I've tried many other things with it too, like mixing salad dressings, waffles, pancakes, cookies, it will work for anything. They are a little expensive, but they are totally totally totally worth it. Any cook must have!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Fully automatic and precisely controlled by a timer, thismachine takes the trouble and guesswork out of making ice cream,sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato, and frozen drinks at home. Ingredientsgo into the bowl, the timer is set, two buttons are pressed and about30 minutes later 1-1/2 quarts of a frozen confection are ready forconsumption. Because the machine doesn't require its bowl to be frozenfor hours in a refrigerator's freezer (like less expensive machinesthat only churn), it can immediately begin making another batch. If abatch becomes too hard the machine shuts off automatically. Not onlydoes it work professionally it looks the part, as the housing, bowl,and paddle are made of stainless steel for sanitation and easycleaning. The 100-watt machine measures 12 inches wide, 11 inches high,and 18 inches deep, and it weighs 38 pounds. Made it Italy, it carriesa one-year warranty against defects. An instruction booklet with manyrecipes is included. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 12 inches wide, 11 inches high, 18 inches deep; weighs 38 pounds
• Makes up to 1-1/2 quarts ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt in 30 minutes
• Fully automatic: pour ingredients into bowl, press two buttons
• Timer controls operation for different frozen confections
• Housing, bowl, paddle made of stainless steel for easy cleaning

Reviews (30)

MINT
My father is the most discerning food gourmet. Not only did he attend culinary school, but he also is a phd in chemistry, so he knows his stuff. When we learned that he paid the six bills for this machine, we thought he was insane. Then we tasted the ice cream. Put simply, this machine will make the best ice cream you will ever eat in your life, period. It will humble store bought ice cream or the expensive kind in all those specialty boutiques, and make Ben and Jerry eat their shorts. Everyone in my family proceeded to gain twenty pounds soon after his purchase. Frankly, the ice cream is [wonderful]. The machine itself is top quality, everything stainless steel and bulletproof. If you are ready to step up to the ultimate in ice cream, this is it . . .

I'm gonna get fat!
One word describes this machine -- WOW.

PROS
1. Fast. First thing I did with the Musso was pour in a can of warm soda, turn it on, and enjoy a slurpee like drink within 40 minutes! Probably could shave ten minutes off with a chilled can, but the UPS delivery-person had just dropped it off.
2. It is so easy to use, the first three batches of ice-cream I made with this machine was devoured at a party, despite everybody claiming to be "stuffed."
3. Clean-up? Bowl of warm water and a cloth. The blade comes off to be cleaned separately. (If you screw the nut on too tight, it's hard to get the blade off afterwards. I don't know if trapped moisture freezes it on, I just know that it can be tough to unscrew.)

CONS
1. Noise? For something that packs its own refrigeration unit and motor, I wouldn't complain.
2. Calories? Whipping cream, heavy whipping cream, sugar, and egg yolks are not good for the waistline or arteries.
3. Price? Yes it's expensive, though cheaper now than before. But I no longer have to go out and buy high quality ice-cream or Slurpees. That's money saved in the long run.

My only complaint is that the bowl seems relatively small for a 35 lb machine. However, since it "only" makes a quart in 30 minutes, I'll keep my mouth shut.

5 star performer, 3 star price
We love our Musso and use it 2-3 times per week. The ice cream turns out beautifully. We put in rm temp ingredients, and the ice cream takes 35-40 minutes to make. We have saved money and calories by making our own low-fat ice creams. The ice cream tastes amazing because we can put in quality, fresh ingredients without additives.

The main cons against the Cuisinart, Krups and other makers requiring a pre-frozen container:
1) Space-- insufficient freezer space for the pre-frozen containers. 2) Time-- the containers require 24 hr. inside the freezer. 3) Insufficient freezing of ice cream. The ice cream does not get cold enough!
The ONLY pro for the container: easy to clean.

The Musso with its self-contained freezer works faster and chills the ingredients to a lower temperature. It easily makes multiple batches of ice cream, one after the other. The machine is a gorgeous example of modern design. Italian industrial design still leads the world.

The main cons of the Musso: the bowl is part of the machine and is harder to clean; the machine takes up counter space and is heavy; it's expensive.

I will grudgingly admit that the Musso is worth its high price.

WONDERFUL! ..... and S-O-O-O-O-O easy!!!
I have owned this machine for two weeks and have made ice creams, sorbets, and sherbets. I grew up making ice cream with the old-fashioned, hand-cranked ice cream makers, with all the attendant mess and physical exertion. The 4080 makes it so easy that you almost feel guilty eating the final product! Cleaning is EASY and the noise level is moderate.

It might be a great product
The musso 4080 might be a great product, but try and find anyplace that sells it outside the US. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This straight-sided 2-1/2-quart pan can be used for sauces and, covered with its flat lid, for stews and casseroles. Shallow (3 inches) in relation to its capacity and diameter (8-3/8 inches), this pan, unlike conventionally proportioned saucepans, exposes lots of surface and is therefore ideal for reducing sauces or even stocks and broths. Though it's not nonstick, like some Calphalon cookware, the matte-finish pan is anodized for stick-resistance as well as hardness. Metal utensils won't harm the surface. The contoured, textured handle is cast stainless steel and resists heating on the stovetop; it's also triple-riveted for durability and balance. Made of heavy-gauge aluminum, the pan cooks without hot spots or warping and carries a lifetime warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Hand wash with mild detergent; made in China
• Straight-sided pan ideal for sauces; use also for stews and casseroles
• Heavy aluminum with thick bottom to heat evenly, quickly
• Anodized for hardness and stick-resistance
• Riveted, oven-safe handle is cast stainless steel, resists heat on stovetop

Reviews (118)

A great saucepan
I recently ordered this based on my appreciation for Calphalon products and the great price. This is a fantastic saucepan that can practically double as a saute pan. It is surprisingly large and roomy, and the extra diameter gives it plenty of room for fitting in two or three chicken breasts, a modest steak, or a handful of veggies. I love it for making coq au vin since it isn't too large and goes right in the oven.

Nothing sticks to this pan if you add just a dab of butter or oil, and it heats up and cools quickly. One great feature of pure aluminum cookware is the fact that aluminum dissipates heat quickly, so pulling the pan off the heat is a great way to regulate the temperature when making a sauce. This is a great product and a wonderful addition to my Calphalon cookware collection.

what a steal!!
Ok, let me get this straight...Amazon has 2 different 2.5 quart Calphalon Commerical Hard-Anodized saucepans, the regular, and the shallow. Inspecting the technical details of the two pans, one quickly realizes that they are identical except for the diameter and the height of the pan. The shallow is, naturally, more shallow (3 in. compared to 3 7/8 in), and therefore wider (8 3/8 in compared to 7 in) to accomdodate the fact that they hold the same amount of volume. What does this mean? More SURFACE AREA. What does surface area do? Well, think about it for a second: more of the pan is in direct contact with the heat because of the larger bottom. As a result, more of the food is exposed to the heat. The result? Faster cooking!
And this is a "sauce" pan after all. So what does this mean for sauce? Same thing as above, but remember, more of the sauce comes in contact with the air. More surface-to-air ratio = faster reducing times for sauces.
So we've established that from a technical standpoint, the shallow saucepan seems superior. It cooks faster because of a greater area for heat to contact food and for the surface of a sauce to contact the air. With that in mind, take a guess which one costs more. Surprsingly enough the pan with the lower amount of surface area costs at least %50 more than the more useful shallow saucepan.
So unless you are looking for a pan that reduces more slowly and has a much lower amount of versatility (try browning a couple of chicken breasts in the regulation sized saucepan...you'll have squished chicken), I recommend this pan whole-heartedly. The anodized aluminum does not react with acidic foods such as tomato sauces, looks really cool, heats quickly and evenly (aluminum is an incredible heat conductor), and won't bust your budget. This is the perfect way to own a piece of excellent cookware for a bargain basement price. Just remember, it is stick-resistant, not non-stick. This browns up much nicer than the Calphalon non-stick stuff, and you don't have to treat with kid gloves. About the only thing you can't do is throw it in the dishwasher (which you shouldn't do with any decent pot or pan) and use a knife or electric mixer in it (a hand blender is fine...the blades never touch the pot).

more than a saucepan
I bought this pan toserve mostlyas a deep frypan(3 inch deep/8.375" diameter)whileI'vebeen using a stainless steel/non stick double deep(4") frypan by Farbeware forsauteing and stir frying, but the nonstickinterior is unsuitablefor high temp cooking requiredfor proper Oriental cooking,;alo the stainless exterior is hard for me to keep brilliantlyimaculate(having onlyonefunctional arm)as mycookwarehangsfrom a wall mount Calphalon pothanger and brighten mytiny kitchenby reflecting 99.9% ofthe light andthisbrings meto mymaincriticism of all hard anodized cookware; the matte black absorbs about 90% of the lightthat strikes it, thusreducing general visibility inthewhole kitchen and even more inside thepan where ithampers visibilty ofwhat's cooking! Couldn't the cokwaregeniuses anodize a white inside anda colorful external surface?I'd love a bright orangey red and brightstainless lidwith a red knob.I really wantedto rate this Calphalon 4½ stars but itis not possible.At the Amazon price hurry buy two, the secondfor you best friend(I can'tbelive tha amazon will keep this giveaway price forever and you'll love me forthesuggestion.the only alternate I'd consider is the
Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless 3-1/2-Quart Saute Pan with Helper Handle & Cover by Cuisinart another super bargain from Amazon)bless their cotton-picking heart!)One moresuggestion:unless youhavethewrists of Alexeyev the weight lifting reord holder, stay away from "clad cookware in the home even ifthe outrageous prices don't deter you;muchtoo heavy and after all you won't live 200 years to benefit fromtheir extremelongevity and new technologies havealready appeared, merging the benefits of stainless, nonstick and hard anodized; still expensive but wait awhile: we're notamericans for nothing!)

Accurate info for prospective buyer research
If you are considering the purchase of this pan or any of the caphalon products in this line. Totally disregard the Toledo vs China comments. They have no validity WHATSOEVER! I've purchased two of these pans (1 Toledo's, 1 China), and there is absolutely no difference in quality, thickness, or weight. I've also purchased the Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 9-Inch, 2-Quart Chef's Skillet with Lid(2 Toledos, 1 China), and again,there is absolutely no difference in quality, thickness, or weight. There is a difference in thickness & weight, if you compare them to other caphalon product lines. However, that is not to say they are inferior. They have a nice thickness and weight, great heat retention and dispersment. Awesome for browning, making sauces, stir frying, etc. If you follow the instructions for use, you will have no problems with cleaning,food release, or sticking. I have read most of the reviews, and the bad ones can be attributed to two things: 1. We alway seem to think stuff is way better made in America ... not true in this particular case. Those who made statements about Toledo pans vs China pans, could not own pans from both plants. 2. Complaints about sticking, or cleaning, ...they didnt follow the SIMPLE instructions. For the price, brand, warranty, and quality, this is one of the better kitchen purchases.

Love it.
This is a great everyday pan. Great price too. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Creating a new branch in the Hoover family tree while stilladhering to the company's reputation for innovation and quality,Hoover's Floor Mate is the ideal machine for anyone who has hard floors(including hard-wood floors, linoleum, tile, and others). A completefloor cleaner--and almost the definition of multifunctional--the FloorMate vacuums, washes, and dries a floor. It has both wet and dry pickupfunctionality (you make the choice via a foot-controlled pushbutton),meaning that it combines a broom and a mop, getting rid of the need fordustpans and mop buckets. There are two removable containers on thefront of the machine, one that serves as a receptacle for dirt and dustand another that can be filled with floor cleaner. The Floor Mate stands 43-3/4inches tall, is 11-1/2 inches deep, and has a 20-foot cord, whichconveniently wraps on the back. --A.J. Rathbun ... Read more

Features

• Convenient wrap around cord storage
• Great for cleaning hard floors (wood, linoleum, etc.)
• Both wet and dry pickup functionality
• Vacuums, washes, and dries the floor
• Sturdy at 43-3/4 inches tall, 11-1/2 inches deep

Reviews (401)

Cannot Live Without
After using this product for the past three months, I have decided that I could not live without it. I have tile floors in my kitchen and hallway - and the grout had become so dirty and I never felt that mopping was doing much more than redistributing the dirt. It is a pleasure to clean the floor with this machine! I use HOT water which really helps to kill the germs and by taking the dirty water up off the floor after it is scrubbed, it truly gets the dirt up and off the floor. Thirty years of dirt embedded into the grout is coming out - and my once blackened grout is now white again.

The other benefit of this is that the floor is dried almost instantly - which prevents my small children from slipping on a wet floor.

If this machine ever broke - I would replace it immediately. I put it in the same indispensible categories as my dishwasher, vacuum, and washer/dryer.

I recommend this machine - which is especially nice to be able to clean floors such as basement, garage, and other areas where a sink is not available to aid in mopping - besides, this gets it much cleaner.

handy... but messy
My family has owned a Hoover FloorMate since March of 2002, and it has been a great investment. It's much easier than getting down on one's hands and knees to clean the floor. My mom, who is in a wheelchair, can run the machine if someone fills it for her and cleans it up afterwards. The floors in the house have never felt cleaner. Using it still feels almost novel even after a year and a half of use.

However, it's disgusting to clean out the dirty water (which I guess can be a good thing, as it means the machine is working). The filter gets dirty easily, as do the scrubbing bristles, and have to be cleaned out after every use. Sometimes the machine gets an odor that is reminiscent of wet dog. The dry pickup also does not work very well. It is usually much more efficient to sweep rather than use the dry pickup.

The pros definitely outweigh the cons, but this is a solid four-star performer: a better than average product, but not close to perfect.

The Day my life Changed Forever.
I finally bought the Floormate after researching it for about a year. I have read many mixed reviews about it and decided to purchase it figuring I could return it if it was awful...nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Now I have A LOT of very shiny, smooth porcelain flooring throughout my new home that I would have to clean on my hands and knees; buffing each tile dry or I would get hazy, foggy streaks. It took me on average about 4 hours to get it perfect (and the kids, husband and dog approximately 4 minutes to dirty it up!)

I got it assembled no problem (all I needed was a screwdriver.) I loaded it up with water and vinegar (all I can use on this type of floor, besides white ammonia. ) I couldn't believe the job it did on my highly difficult floors. Beautiful, shiny clean floors! I was so excited I was screaming Thank you! Cleaning it up when I was through was a breeze. All the parts pop on/off for easy cleaning.

There are some downsides. NO, don't expect it to scrub the grout, it will reach down there but not very effectively. If your grout was gross like mine was, use baking soda and peroxide and several toothbrushes (or the Scum Buster, which I don't have, but I hear it has a grout attachment.) The Floormate also doesn't get into the corners/edges all that well (I just do minor touch-ups here and there when I am through.) Yes, it makes a loud noise like a vacuum. Big Deal. It does seem to go through a lot of solution and the canister is a little small, so expect to make a couple of trips to the sink to reload. Again, no big deal. No, it doesn't pick up big pieces of food or the like, but I wouldn't use it for that reason anyway, that's why I have a vacuum. It does pick up sand and dog hair and minor dirt, which are my main concerns. It also isn't very quick. To be effective, you have to move it slowly over the tiles (forward to clean, backward to dry.) It did, however, cut my torturous cleaning time in half (and saved my back.)

So goodbye (and good riddance) to all my old mops. Goodbye Clorox Readymop, Swiffer Wetjet, and the hideous, hated O'Cedar string mop and pail. I am in love with my new Floormate!!

Manilow warned me that it sucks
This product sure tells a good story BUT...I ended up selling mine in a garage sale for $5!!! Not only did it not perform as promised, when I tried to clean the dirt sucked into the roller area, I couldn't get it out. Then it started making a squealing noise every time I turned it on. Hoover has lost their TRIED AND TRUE product status with me. This brand name will be the LAST one I look at for future purchases.

The Best!
I love this thing. Maybe the previous reviewers had defective machines. I think it is so easy to use, and my floors have never been so clean. I did the mop test too, where I cleaned the floors with a mop and then used my floormate, and you wouldn't believe what the mop has been leaving behind. I couldn't live without my floormate. ... Read more

Features

• Reconditioned by the manufacturer to "like new" condition
• Pause setting permits meats to be browned on spit
• Tray fits atop rotisserie for steaming foods

Amazon.com Review

Providing 1500 watts of steam power, this heavy-duty cleaner requires no chemicals and is easy to use. Ideal for cleaning and detailing cars, trucks, motorcycles, or boats, the cleaner removes stains and odors from upholstery, carpeting, and floor mats, as well as grease and grime from engines, wheels, and chrome accessories. It also works well for removing stuck-on dirt from the BBQ grill, patio furniture, or garage. The "steam ready" light indicates when the unit is ready to use, and a steam-control switch provides control over the amount of steam coming from the unit. The cleaner features a storage compartment for its 10 attachments, which include a steam jet nozzle, two extension wands, a triangle brush, an upholstery/floor brush, and a utility brush, as well as a squeegee, funnel, measuring cup, and terry cover for the floor brush. Its 12-foot power cord, caster wheels, and included accessories offer convenient mobility and make it easy to clean nooks and crannies in hard-to-reach places. The 13-pound steam cleaner has a 50-ounce water-tank capacity, which allows for one full hour of use. The unit measures 17-1/2 by 11-3/7 by 9-1/4 inches. --Catie Unger ... Read more

Features

• Measures 17-1/2 by 11-3/7 by 9-1/4 inches
• Heavy-duty steam cleaner with 1500 watts of steaming power
• Requires no chemicals; 50-ounce water-tank capacity; steam-control switch
• Removes stains, grease, and grime from cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boats
• Storage compartment for 10 included accessories; 12-foot power cord; caster wheels

Features

• Assembled unit with lid open measures 62.5 x 68 x 34.5
• 902 sq. inches of total cooking area
• 57,600 BTU-per-hour input
• 6 stainless steel burners
• Rear-mounted infrared rotisserie burner 9600 BTU-per-hour input

Product Description

Summit Gold A4, Stainless Steel, LP Gas Grill, Updated For 2005, Features A Sleekly Styled Stainless Steel Hood With Center Mounted Thermometer, Robot Welded Steel Frame, Enclosed Cart With Stainless Steel Doors & Door Handle, Also Includes 2 Thermoset Wo ... Read more

Features

• Measures 62-1/2 by 60 by 34-1/2 inches with lid open; limited lifetime warranty
• Propane gas grill; powerful, even heat; precise control of cooking temperature
• 4 stainless steel burners; double-walled stainless steel hood; Flavorizer bars; cast aluminum cookbox
• 44,000 BTU-per-hour input; StopWatch Engineering for assembly in less than 40 minutes
• 700 square inches total cooking area; warming rack; warm-up basket; 1 removable and 2 swing-up Thermoset work surfaces

Reviews (1)

Awesome Design and Performance
This is a serious grill that is well designed and built to last.Its 200 pound weight gives it a solid feel and MOST of the components are heavy gauge stainless steel.A major exception to this are the cooking grates, which are a very lightweight stainless steel "hollow shell" type of design.They are very flimsy and aren't well suited for a grill of this caliber.To get the welded solid rod design, you'll need to step up to the Platinum Summit, which runs $200 more.I would have rated this grill 5 stars out of 5 if it had a better cooking grate.As far as cooking performance, the 4 burner control is awesome for direct and indirect cooking.Assembly of the grill was also surprisingly easy.Taking my time, it took about 90 minutes to unpack it, read the directions, and completely assemble it.Also, despite the Amazon.com review, it does not come with a propane tank so you'll need your own.Lastly, you cannot lite all 4 burners sequentially with the single touch of a button.You can lite one set of burners with each touch of the igniter button (this grill has two sets of burners). ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This knife block set carries a useful assortment of standard knives for outfitting a kitchen. The set includes an 8-inch chef’s knife, an 8-inch carving knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, and a 4-inch paring knife as well as a sharpening steel and a pair of shears. All components fit within an 11-slot hardwood block, which offers four extra slots for future knife acquisitions.

Part of Henckels’s Twin Signature of knives, the cutlery in this set have high-carbon, stainless-steel blades that have been stamped from one piece of metal. The edge is cut by laser for a more consistent angle on the blade and hand-honed for sharpness. Blades have also undergone Henckels’s Friodur ice-hardening process, which further strengthens them and protects them from discoloration. The ergonomically designed traditional-style polymer handles are securely fastened to the balanced full tangs with three rivets. Handles seamlessly encase the tangs on these knives so no food particles can ever become trapped in a gap. Twin Signature knives are all dishwasher-safe (although Henckels recommends washing by hand) and are covered by a lifetime warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde

What’s in the Box
8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch carving knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 4-inch paring knife, shears, sharpening steel, 11-slot hardwood block. ... Read more

Features

• 7.8 pounds; lifetime warranty
• Includes 8-inch chef's; 8-inch carving; 5-inch utility; 4-inch paring
• Also: sharpening steel, shears, 11-slot hardwood block
• Stamped high-carbon stainless-steel blades with laser-controlled edge
• Ice-hardened blades for strength; hand-honed for sharpness

Reviews (3)

A good starter knife set but don't expect too much
Having used some of Henckel's higher-priced professional lines, when the time came to buy a new set of starter knives I figured I'd stay with the brand. I ended up choosing the Twin Signature line 7-piece block set because it was a good compromise between quality and price.

Because the knives are stamped, not forged, you won't get the precise lines you get on the $80-a-knife lines, but the edges are well-finished and stay fairly sharp if you hand-wash them. I've been generally pleased with how they cut, and the chef's knife in particular has an excellent heft and balance for my somewhat larger hands.

The paring knife and the serrated utility knife are also gems. They're extremely well-sized, and have just enough flex to get the job done without feeling flimsy.

The scissors are sharp and extremely sturdy; I'm hard on this particular piece of kitchenware so I'm very pleased by that. Finally, the block is well-made and thought out. It has room for several more knifes as you expand your set.

The tips on the larger knifes aren't as well-finished as I would like, but that's about my only complaint. Just don't expect the sort of sturdiness you'd find on professional knives; these won't last quite as long without sharpening and you can't bang them about quite as much. For a serious home cook on a budget, though, they'll do just fine.

My plan is to use these for starters, and over time pick up two more Twin Signature paring knives, and one more 8-inch chef's knife from the Five-Star series for serious work.

Excellent quality, excellent price...
My mom & aunt bought these Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Block Sets and they absolutely love them.
I bought a Pro S set at Macys last year but didn't get a good discount like Amazon does... The knives are 1 of the best investments in my kitchen.

More Bang for Your Buck!
I SPENT A GOOD FEW HOURS LOOKING OVER ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HENCKELS KNIVES AND REALIZED THAT THE TWIN COLLECTIONS HAD PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE SAME FEATURES AS THE 4 AND 5 STARS YET THEY WERE ATLEAST HALF THE PRICE. THEY ARE MADE IN GERMANY, FORGED, ICE HARDENED, FULL TANG, STAMPED HIGH-CARBON STAINLESS STEEL BLADES WITH LASER-CONTROLLED EDGE ETC. I ALSO LIKED THAT THIS BLOCK SET CAME WITH KITCHEN SHEERS AND A SERRATED KNIFE, WHICH SOME OF THE OTHERS DON'T. FOR AN AVERAGE PERSON WHO COOKS AT HOME AND IS LOOKING FOR A DEPENDABLE KNIFE TO DO THE TRICK, THESE ARE WELL OVER QUALIFIED. JUST ONE NOTE: I GIVE THUMBS DOWN TO AMAZON FOR SHIPPING THE KNIVES ONLY IN THEIR MANUFACTURER'S BOX AND NOT IN AN AMAZON BOX AS WELL. THESE WERE TO BE A GIFT BUT CAME UNDISGUISED AND RUINED THE SURPRISE. I WOULD THINK AMAZON WOULD HAVE ENOUGH BRAINS TO KNOW BETTER BUT THEN AGAIN I'M SURE THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW THAT THEY ALREADY COME IN THEIR OWN BOX SO WHY SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY TO PUT IT INDSIDE ANOTHER ONE. THAT'S PRETTY BAD! SHAME ON AMAZON! ... Read more