Showing posts with label cook s illustrated. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cook s illustrated. Show all posts

All-Clad Stainless-Steel Saute Pan Review

All-Clad Stainless-Steel Saute PanI own the 3-Quart version of this pan, purchased in a set before I knew better, and have used this 4-Quart. I prefer this one because its taller sides make doing a true sauté (which means "jump" in French) of the ingredients a bit easier. Taller sides like this are what are found in most European sauté pans. The previous review is inaccurate in that both the 3-Quart and 4-Quart All-Clad pans are identical in diameter, which can be verified at All-Clad's web site.
Per All-Clad, the LTD and Master Chef lines use thicker aluminum so if you don't need the ease of maintenence and durability that comes with a stainless-steel exterior, I would suggest you consider these other lines for their more even (i.e. better) heating performance.
Also, there are higher-end cookware lines out there than All-Clad. Don't think that All-Clad is the "best" available. Brands such as Demeyere and Bourgeat have features such as more durable exterior finishes (Demeyere Atlantis, etc.), thicker aluminum cores, more comfortable handles (an All-Clad weakness), and even full copper (more conductive than aluminum). These come at a higher price than All-Clad. On the other hand, there are less-expensive product lines such as Calphalon Commercial (often cheap on Amazon.com!) and brands used in commercial kitchens like Sitram.
Still, this is a nice pan and I don't think you can really go wrong with All-Clad. It's the best commonly available at consumer kitchen shops and easy to order on Amazon.com.

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Product Description:
Designed for cooking foods in a small amount of oil or butter while continuously tossing, stirring, or shaking, the saute pan is wide to provide ample room for food movement, with a flat bottom to slide smoothly back and forth on a burner, and straight sides keep food from sliding out. The slightly domed lid lets you finish a dish under cover without changing pans. Stick handle stays cool during normal stovetop use, and the helper handle makes it easier to lift when full.
- 3-Quart: This size is great for pan-frying potatoes or batter-dipped vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini, or sliced green tomatoes; also wonderful for slow braising.
- 4-Quart: We like this pan for three-step cooking of steaks or chops: sear them over high heat, finish cooking in the oven, then return pan to the stove to make a wonderful sauce from meat drippings, wine (to deglaze), butter, and herbs.
- 6-Quart: Great for shallow braising, this 6-quart saute pan can also be used as abain mariewhen preparing custards.

All-Clad's leading cookware line is brilliantly styled with a hand-polished gleaming stainless-steel finish that many of the world's professional and home chefs prefer. The 18/10 stainless-steel interior will not react with your food, leaving the pure taste you desire. Dishwasher-safe.

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Wilton Excelle Elite 12-Cup Muffin Pan Review

Wilton Excelle Elite 12-Cup Muffin PanThe pan works extremely well:bakes and browns evenly.The thing is so non-stick that pam beads up and hardly does anything.I haven't brought myself not to use pam, but given the beading, I doubt it does much good.The muffins do stick slightly in the corners unless you let them cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, then they slide right out.The whole thing is non-stick, so cleaning is a breeze and baked on spillage slides right off.

The only problem is that with the handles, which are tremendously helpful in keeping your oven mitt out of the batter or baked good, the pan is so long that it does not fit front to back in my oven, which is a full size range.I thus need to turn it sideways and cannot put two pans on one shelf.Not a major negative, but something to consider.

Not that these things are likely to rust, but an easy way to take care of them is to hand wash them and put them back into the still-warm oven to dry.Works like a charm.

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Product Description:
Excelle Elite 12 cup muffin cup pan. ExcelleElite combines superior non-stick performance, serving convenience and elegant design, to provide the highest level of baking satisfaction. There is an Excelle Elite pan for every baking need.

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Vollrath Co. Jelly Roll Pan 18x13x1-in. Review

Vollrath Co. Jelly Roll Pan 18x13x1-in.I have a couple of these for general use. They're good quality, sturdy aluminum "jelly roll pans" though I tend to use them as cookie sheets.

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Product Description:
Jelly roll pans are practically a baker's best friend. This particular aluminum jelly roll pan by Vollrath is an ideal size for the half-size silicone mats. Easy to clean and easy to store.

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Victorinox Cutlery 10-Inch Round Tip Slicing Knife, Black Fibrox Handle Review

Victorinox Cutlery 10 inch Round Tip Slicing Knife, Black Fibrox HandleI have ,as a professional cook,done a lot of banquet and buffet duty using the 12" Granton edge version-rosewood handle. Cross rib,Prime Rib,tri tip,turkey,ham,the Forschner was up to the task. A couple years ago..I picked up the non-granton 12" for myself at a yardsale. At home,I rarely roast anything that big...so it didn't get used really until I wanted to slice a potato VERY thin. I was surprised...this second hand knife with it's over-long blade easily made potato chip thin slices and I'd never even properly sharpened it.

Inspired....I gave it a little tuneup on the steel...went to town and got some fresh salmon and wasabi and had a Sashimi binge. I was rather surprised how well it was working and just kept slicing thinner and thinner pieces. Sweet.

The blade is thin..a bit flexy,quite sharp with no drag.As a Sashimi knife...I think the round tip will get reshaped,but in case I need to fillet a salmon or carve a roast-I have plenty of faith. I'll be taking it to work after the holidays to fine edge it on the nice stone there.

For home....10" is plenty long,and if you can do slivers of raw salmon...a roast beef is way easy. Forschner's Fibrox handles don't look as good as the rosewood-but are less apt to get slippery. You can spend more for cosmetic reasons....get a brand with a more artsy looking handle. I'd rather be more fussy about the food and use one of these to get beautiful thin slices...like the pros

Click Here to see more reviews about: Victorinox Cutlery 10 Inch Round Tip Slicing Knife, Black Fibrox Handle

Product Description:
From the inventors of the famous Swiss Army knife comes a line of fine cutlery designed for accomplished and aspiring chefs at work or in the home. Each blade in the Stamped collection is expertly made in Switzerland from high-carbon stainless steel and undergoes a special tempering process for an edge that can be resharpened again and again. The result is a knife that can keep its original sharpness throughout the entire life of the blade. Each blade is conical ground throughout its length and depth, and laser tested to ensure optimum cutting power and durability. Ergonomically designed to minimize wrist tension, the unique, patented Fibrox handles are slip resistant when wet. Plus, all Stamped cutlery with Fibrox handles is approved by the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF). Although cutlery steel is naturally sanitary, materials and construction details of these handles minimize crevices that may otherwise offer hospitality to bacteria. The Victorinox Stamped collection is an extensive range with open-stock pieces as well as handy and versatile sets.
For the person who loves everything about hosting, from prepping to serving, the 10-inch Slicer is an ideal tool. The slicer makes short work of carving roasts, poultry, and fish into neat and even slices in one continuous stroke. It makes a great gift for the home chef who already has everything else, or anyone looking to round out a collection. All Stamped cutlery should be washed by hand for best care, and Victorinox covers each piece with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.
From the Manufacturer
Who is Victorinox?
Although Victorinox is known the world over as the creator of the Original Swiss Army Knife, the company started out in 1884 as a cutlery workshop. By the time company creator Karl Elsener delivered his first pocket knife to the Swiss Army, his cutlery business was already booming. Over the next century, Victorinox cutlery became a top-rated choice among professionals worldwide, with over 300 blades to offer.
Victorinox knives have regularly appeared as highly ranked and recommended kitchen tools in Cook's Illustrated, Men's Health, The Cincinnati Enquirer, New York Magazine, and Natural Health, just to name a few. In 2009, the company announced a partnership with professional chef, Daniel Humm, of Eleven Madison Park in New York City. In addition, building on the success of its cutlery business, Victorinox has brought all the same quality and expertise to a wider range of products and accessories, including other kitchen tools, pocket tools, watches, luggage, and clothing.
Who is R.H. Forschner?
Victorinox had been a staple in European commercial cutlery for over 50 years when approached by New York's R.H. Forschner, known since 1855 as a builder of scales for butchers, to be their sole cutlery supplier. The two companies joined forces in 1937, and R.H. Forschner subsequently became North America's dominant professional brand, as ubiquitous in the bustling meatpacking plants of the Midwest as it is in the gleaming, four-star restaurant kitchens of Midtown Manhattan.
As a division of Victorinox/Swiss Army Brands, R.H. Forschner marketed cutlery under the brand name "RH Forschner by Victorinox" and distributed to the commercial, food service, and retail trade classes. That brand has been considered a top choice of professionals worldwide with over 300 styles of blades bearing the R.H. Forschner name. However, in 2009, in conjunction with Victorinox's 125th anniversary, the company, Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc., has decided to remove the "RH Forschner" name from all blades. Blades thenceforth only include the "Victorinox" name.
What is a stamped blade?
A stamped knife can usually be identified by the absence of a bolster. Stamped blades are cut into their shapes from cold-rolled pieces of steel and then ground, tempered, and sharpened. Creating them requires many less steps than forging and results in lighter, narrower blades. Some professionals prefer the thicker, heavier forged blades, but many pros, who spend much of their day cutting and slicing, enjoy a lighter knife since it's less fatiguing and easier to manipulate at speed.
Stamped knives are easier to produce and therefore less expensive. They perform very well and can approach the quality of a forged blade, but not the weight or feel. Victorinox manufactures a complete range of stamped blades with unique, patented Fibrox handles and they are considered among the greatest values in the knife industry.
What knives do I need to own?
Knife choice or selection is determined by many factors--size, function, style, and preference. The most important factor is function. Different knives have different uses. It is important to use the proper knife for a specific task, since proper knife selection and the use of a proper-sized, sharp knife make for safe cutting. General kitchen tasks and the knife to use for them are as follows:
Paring: The most common to own and use, a paring knife is generally for small cutting jobs and peeling of vegetables or fruit. The blade size is usually from three to four inches. Choose the shape and size to fit your hand. Since this is one of the more versatile knives, owning more than one is recommended.
Chef's: The most important tool and essential to every cook, a chef‘s knife is most often used in a rocking method to mince, dice, and chop vegetables and herbs. This one is known as the chef's best friend.
Slicer: Most commonly used to slice meats, poultry, and seafood, the slicer is an important companion to any host or hostess.
Boning: As its name suggests, a boning knife is used to trim or remove meat and fish from the bone.
Bread: Designed with a special edge, a bread knife makes easy work of cutting through crusty bread, pastries, or any item with a crust and a soft interior.
Fillet: Most often used by pros and seasoned home chefs, the fillet knife is used to fillet meat and fish.
Cleaver: An important addition to any collection, a cleaver is often used to cut or chop through bones.
Santoku: This knife combines the features of a cleaver with a chef's knife. The curved blade helps the rocking motion used for chopping, and the wide blade works well for scooping sliced food off a cutting board and for crushing garlic. The santoku can also be used to slice meat and has a narrow spine for making thin cuts.
Utility: An all-purpose knife often referred to as a sandwich knife, the utility knife peels and slices fruits and vegetables, and even carves small meats.
Shaping: With its curved blade, a shaping knife is great for small precision cuts where control is essential, such as peeling, trimming, or garnishing.
What are the different knife edges and what do they do?
Straight: The vast majority of Victorinox knives come with a straight or fine edge. This means it has a perfect taper along the blade and no serrations. It is designed to cut without tearing or shredding.
Serrated: An edge designed with small, jagged teeth along the edge.
Scalloped: A blade with waves along the edge generally used to cut breads with a hard crust and soft interior, as well as tougher-skinned fruits and vegetables.
Granton: This edge has hollowed-out grooves or dimples on the sides of the blade. These grooves fill with the fat and juices of the product being cut, allowing for thin, even cuts without tearing. Even with the grooves, these are still straight-edge knives and can be honed with a sharpening steel.
How should I care for my cutlery?
After use, knives should not be allowed to soak in water. The best practice is to hand wash and dry them immediately. This is especially true if they have been used on fruit or salty foods, which may cause some staining, even on stainless steel. Most knives require very little maintenance and it is worth the effort to protect your investment.
Though Victorinox knives are dishwasher safe, this is strongly discouraged. The dishwasher's agitation may cause damage. Additionally, harsh detergents can be harmful and cause pitting and spotting on the blades. The handles may also discolor and develop a white film with constant use of the dishwasher. Plus, intense heat associated with dishwashers is not good for the temper of the blade.
How do I keep my knives sharp?
All quality knives require proper maintenance to keep them in perfect cutting shape. The best of edges will quickly dull if it strikes metal, glass, or Formica. A wooden cutting board makes the best cutting surface. And, if a slip occurs, a proper cutting board is safer for the user. Frequent use of a Victorinox sharpening steel will keep blades in tip top working condition. All straight-edge knives need steeling to keep their edges.

How to "Steel" a Knife
1. Hold the steel firmly in your left hand with the guard positioned to stop the blade should it slip.
2. Hold the knife in your right hand and place on top part of steel as shown.
3. Raise back of blade one-eighth inch.
4. Now, moving the blade only, draw it across the steel in an arching curve, pivoted at your wrist. The blade tip should leave the steel about two-thirds of the way down.
5. Repeat the same action with the Blade on the bottom side of the steel. Always maintain the same pressure and angle on both sides of the steel.
6. Repeat five or six times.
When a sharpening steel no longer does the job, it's time to take the knife to a qualified knife sharpener who will place a new edge on it. This, along with use of the sharpening steel, will give you many years of sharp, safe blades.
Please note that electric knife sharpeners can be harmful. They have to be used carefully as they remove too much metal, can harm the temper of the blade, and most important can change the factory-applied edge angle.
How should I store my knives?
Safety is the biggest concern of storage, both to the user and to protect the knife's edge. Choices include a knife magnet, knife block, drawer insets, and also individual knife protectors.

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Frieling 9-Inch Glass Bottom Nonstick Springform Pan Review

Frieling 9 inch Glass Bottom Nonstick Springform PanI bought this springform pan based on the recommendation of several trusted sources, including Cook's Illustrated magazine. (They actually tested the model with handles--had that one been available I probably would have spent the extra money for it, but as it is I haven't found any significant inconvenience to the lack of handles with this model).
Although the quality and construction overall is excellent, the most obvious feature that distinguishes this from other springform pans is of course the glass bottom. I have been VERY impressed with this innovation! It overcomes a couple of the problems I've had with other (especially cheap) pans: the base's rolled metal edge that traps water & crumbs (which makes for quick rusting and difficult cleaning), and the tendency of the bottom to ding & bend, preventing a tight seal with the collar. This model seals very tightly--when I filled mine with water to check it, the majority of the leaking occurred not around the base but through the collar overlap (an inevitable weak point in the system). Batter of course is much thicker than water, and I haven't experienced any leaking problem when actually baking with it.
Baked products don't stick to it (either the base or the non-stick coated collar), and they don't need to be transferred from the base for cutting and serving, because you won't damage it by cutting on it--something all too easy to do with metal bottoms. The rimless glass bottom presents no impediment to a spatula when lifting out nice, neat slices. You can also look through the glass to check the browning of the crust as it bakes.
I do wish they offered other sizes, but if you're only going to have one size the 9" is the most practical. That's what almost all of my recipes call for, and if necessary you can bake a 8" recipe in a 9" pan (decreasing the baking time slightly)--but not necessarily the other way around.
I'm getting over my initial fear of breaking the glass. The truth is, when securely seated in the collar, the glass is quite well-protected. Probably the biggest recommendation for this is the fact that other manufacturers (including Kaiser) are now starting to copy the glass-bottom idea!

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Product Description:
Frieling's 9 Inch Springform with Glass Bottom eliminates the tricky task of transfering your finished product to a serving platter. Unlike traditional non-stick springform bases that you cannot cut directly on, the glass base easily goes from oven to table and can work in any table setting. The base also lets you monitor the browning of the cake as it bakes and is dishwasher safe.

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All-Clad Stainless-Steel Loop-Handle Sauce Pan Review

All-Clad Stainless-Steel Loop-Handle Sauce PanWhether you are simmering a delicate soup, making jam, reheating yesterday's dinner, or you have put beans on the stove, at a boil, and forgotten them - utterly, with a trip to the library and an assortment or errands done, returning hours later to a smoke-filled house and unrecognizable ashen material on your All-Clad Saucepan - this wonderful pot will handle the task. Conscientious cooks will love its weight, even heating,and versatility. Distractable cooks will especially appreciate the fact that it cleans up without a hitch. In addition there is a sensible 'loop' in the handle for hanging from a rack, and another in the lid's handle, so that you can slip the lid handle down the pot's handle, and hang the set neatly from a pot rack. I've had mine for years. The weight is just right, it is good-looking, made in the USA, and a double-boiler insert is available for this size, which is also a good item, and usable as a separate saucepan if need be. Great product, and worth the money, especially if you tend to occasionally depend on your smoke alarm to remind you that something's on the stove.

Click Here to see more reviews about: All-Clad Stainless-Steel Loop-Handle Sauce Pan

Product Description:
All-Clad's leading cookware line is brilliantly styled with a hand-polished gleaming stainless-steel finish that many of the world's professional and home chefs prefer. The sauce pan warms, simmers and boils with quick, even heating thanks to the pure aluminum core. The 18/10 stainless-steel interior will not react with your food, leaving the pure taste you desire. Extra loop handle makes pouring and transferring a breeze. Magnetic exterior is ideal for induction stovetops in particular. Dishwasher-safe.

Product Features
- 3-ply bonded construction for a lifetime of use
- Mirror-finished magnetic stainless-steel exterior is hand-polished to a lustrous shine
- Pure aluminum core covers bottom of the pan and extends up the sides for greater heat conductivity
- Easy-to-clean 18/10 stainless-steel interior helps prevent foods from sticking
- Stainless-steel interior will not react with foods
- Cookware maintains even heat distribution that prevents "hot spots" when cooking
- Signature stay-cool handles are cast from solid stainless-steel and designed for ergonomic comfort
- Handles, rivets and lids are polished stainless-steel creating a striking impression
- Loop handle ensures more convenient pouring and transferring of foods
- High-strength, non-corrosive stainless-steel rivets keep handles permanently secure, making cooking safer
- Suited for all stovetops including electric, gas, ceramic, induction and halogen
- Bonded cookware handcrafted in the U.S.A., lids and components manufactured overseas.

All-Clad Cookware Lifetime Warranty: From date of purchase, All-Clad guarantees to repair or replace any item found defective in material, construction or workmanship under normal use and following care instructions. This excludes damage from misuse or abuse. Minor imperfections and slight color variations are normal.

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Nordic Ware Platinum Collection 6 Cup Cast Aluminum Bundt Pan Review

Nordic Ware Platinum Collection 6 Cup Cast Aluminum Bundt PanThe quality of this cast-aluminum bundt pan is amazing!It's small size is ideal for a two-person family.

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Product Description:
The cast aluminum bakeware provides fine details and superior baking performance. The heat reflective exteriors allows for uniform browning so as to enhance our unique designers. The 6 cup capacity on this pan is great for desserts for a smaller party of people.Proudly made in the USA by Nordic Ware.

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Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker Review

Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure CookerI use to own an electric pressure cooker, and after many scorched meals, decided to try a stove-top model.It was the best move I could have made!18/10 stainless, surrounding aluminum on the bottom has kept every meal scorch-free.I feel completely safe using this pressure cooker.It locks easily, and the dial indicating if the pot is at pressure and if it is at high or low pressure is fool-proof.There is nothing complicated about using this pressure cooker.I just can't say enough about this pot. I have cooked professionally, and I have cooked for many years.I would not be exaggerating if I told you that this is the best-loved piece of cookware that I own.Fagor has produced an outstanding product.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fagor Duo 8-Quart Pressure Cooker

Product Description:
Includes Fagor Duo 8QT. Pressure Cooker Instruction manual Recipe book.

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