• Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances

    Thermos King Stainless Steel Travel Mug Touts Leak Proof Travel Lid

    March 11th, 2016

    Small product picture of stainless steel travel mug review.

    In these tough economic times it is hard to justify spending upwards of $5 on that morning cup of java, especially when you can make it yourself at home with a $12 coffee maker and a can of your favorite coffee. Transporting that morning cup of a coffee has always been a challenge, until now. With the Thermos Stainless King Travel Mug you’ll have warm coffee wherever you go, in a leak-proof cup. This travel cup features a stainless steel construction on the interior and exterior, along with a leak-proof DrinkLock seal on top. With a 16 ounce capacity the stainless steel travel mug will transport the perfect amount of coffee with you wherever you go.

    Best of all, the Thermos insulated mug stays cool to the touch with hot liquids and remains condensation free with cold liquids. Your drinks will remain hot for up to 12 hours, or cold for up to 24 hours for cool beverages. A wide variety of travel mugs are available for purchase, so choosing the best will be up to the individual. Several leak-proof stainless steel models exist so the capacity of any given mug is likely to be a major deciding factor. The vast majority of online reviewers were happy with the performance of the Thermos Stainless King Travel Mug. Not everyone was pleased with it however, and those who dissented had the same issue all across the board. Numerous reviewers noted that their unit either leaked during their first use or after a short period of use, a detrimental factor for a insulated travel mug that touts its leak-proof design features. Given that the majority of users were pleased with their purchase, the Thermos Stainless King Travel Mug will no doubt make a great morning coffee companion for most people.

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  • Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances

    This Compact Microwave Oven Is Small In Size But Not Features

    March 5th, 2016

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    If you are making dinner for a small amount of people or cooking in a small amount of kitchen space, or both, you are probably in the search for compact appliances. However, many times size does matter when it comes to features and power. Not so with this compact microwave oven from Sharp! The Sharp R-230KK 800-Watt 4/5-Cubic-Foot Compact Microwave Oven is just the right size for singles, empty-nesters or those with tiny kitchens. However, what this compact microwave oven lacks in size , it makes up for in features. Comes with fifteen settings to time how long food cooks and at what power level you need in delivering good results.

    So you’ll never be victim to an overcooked freezer dinner or an under thawed strip steak.Although, the features are truly what make this compact microwave oven shine, it should be noted that the buttons are on the small side. Not so small that you will need a magnifying glass, but if you find yourself bleary eyed and heating up some coffee in the morning you will need to memorize where the right button is. Other than those early morning trips,before the caffeine hits, most will not find this to be a significant problem. Overall, the Sharp Compact Microwave is a good choice for anyone looking for a compact microwave oven that doesn’t take up too much space or skimp on features.

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  • Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances

    Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster Is Rated As One Of The Best Toasters

    February 26th, 2016

    Small product picture of best toaster review.

    There is nothing better in the morning than a nice hot breakfast to fill the stomach before heading off to work or school, but let’s be honest we don’t all have time for eggs, bacon, and pancakes. You can have a warm breakfast though without much hassle, just pop in bread, English muffins, or a bagel into your toaster and in minutes you’ll have a warm breakfast to fill you up and start your day off right. Don’t settle for just any toaster though; go with the Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster. A best toaster contender considering the amount of rave reviews it’s received. Though on the surface this toaster doesn’t appear to differ from others.

    It looks just like any other 900-watt 2-slice toaster with 1-1/5 inch wide slots. If you dig deeper though you will discover that this toaster is unique from others. It features a one-touch button that automatically lowers toast, muffins, or bagels into the toaster and has buttons to adjust browning settings for the various items. Perhaps the best feature of the toaster is the lift-and-look feature that allows you to check on the toast without canceling or resetting the heating cycle. On top of everything else, the brushed die-cast housing is easy on the eyes. Toasters come in a variety of shapes and sizes; and while this one doesn’t boast four-slice capabilities, it does have smart technology others lack. Despite the majority of reviewers giving the Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster, there were numerous reviewers who pointed out major flaws in the toaster. Two of the most common included inconsistent toasting of bread and extremely long toasting time. Other minor flaws included an inability to accommodate longer bread slices. The Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster is a great concept, but for many it appears that it is not a feasible toaster to keep around the house for fast, everyday use.

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  • Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances

    Ove’ Oven Gloves Handle Hot Pots And Pans With Ease

    February 19th, 2016

    Small product picture of oven gloves.

    Tired of oven mitts that are too large or don’t offer any firm grip? Ove’ Gloves are the perfect alternative, as they feature a five-fingered flexi-grip and can be worn on both right and left hands. They’re super comfortable and lined with cotton, being just the thing for working in the kitchen or around the grill. Plus, you can toss them right in the wash when they get dirty! These oven gloves come in a pack of 2 and are comparable in price with other mitts on the market. However, these oven gloves are in a class of their own, as they have a cozy fit and feature a DuPont Nomex and Kevlar exterior that offers heat resistance up to 540 degrees Fahrenheit.

    And, if the gloves are exposed to fire, their flame resistant properties avoid them from catching fire or melting. Consumers often get the Ove’ Glove Hot Surface Handler, and The Original Oven Glove confused, but the two products are separate. Coming in at the same cost, product reviews found the Oven Glove to be too small and not durable enough against heat. The Ove’ Glove continues to come out on top, as product owners rave about the grip and heat resistant surface that are major improvements over the Oven Glove. The only negative complaints were from product owners who found the silicone gloves to be too bulky and not protective enough against hot liquids. Having spilled liquids is an issue with any oven glove however, as the liquids can penetrate through the surface. Overall, these innovative oven gloves with fingers are a great buy, as they’re affordable, durable and versatile for a number of cooking tasks.

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  • Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances

    Morning Coffee Stays Hot In This Lightweight Nissan Thermos Flask

    February 17th, 2016

    Small product picture of thermos flask review.

    There is nothing better in the morning than a warm cup of coffee to boost your energy and heat your senses, but in most travel mugs that cup of coffee is luke-warm at best half-way through the morning commute. If you had the Thermos Nissan Stainless-Steel Briefcase Bottle you’d never have to deal with cold coffee again though, and its small enough to travel with you anywhere you go. The briefcase bottle from Thermos is constructed of stainless steel and features a vacuum insulation system. These two factors allow the Thermos flask to keep warm drinks hot for up to 12 hours, and can even keep cold drinks cool for as long as 24 hours.

    The bottle’s vacuum insulation and easy to secure cap ensure that your liquids remain inside the bottle where they belong. A variety of travel mugs for cold and hot beverages are available on the market, but the Thermos Nissan model includes superior design features that set it apart from much of the competition. Despite a vast majority of online reviewers falling in love with the Thermos Nissan Stainless-Steel Briefcase Bottle, other reviewers did note major flaws in their bottle. The two biggest complaints were of a terrible plastic smell emanating from the cup, and of a failure to keep warm liquids heated after just a few uses. Although drawbacks were noted by some reviewers, the experiences of the vast majority of reviewers suggests that the Thermos Nissan Stainless-Steel Briefcase Bottle is a great choice as your morning coffee companion.

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  • Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances

    Nordic Ware Microwave Pressure Cooker Cooks Meals In 30 Minutes

    January 10th, 2016

    Small product picture of microwave pressure cooker review.

    For those that enjoy using pressure cookers but want their meals even faster, the Nordic Ware microwave pressure cooker is the perfect alternative. This favorite microwave accessory holds three pounds of meat and has a 2 ½ quart capacity. In 30 minutes or less, you can have your favorite meats, veggies or rice tenderized and cooked with a wonderful blend of savory seasonings. Made in the USA, this microwave pressure cooker only requires an 8.5 inch clearance in your microwave – and some great recipes! Consumers love this microwave cooker, as there’s no need to heat up the stove or wait hours for meat and poultry to cook.

    This Nordic Ware product is a bit more expensive than others on the market, and some consumers have chosen the less expensive Handy Gourmet cooker instead. The lower price also means a lesser quality product, and some product owners quickly found that the Handy Gourmet cooker lacked the seals and pressure valves needed to provide adequate pressure for cooking. With the high quality of the Nordic Ware pressure cooker and ability to cook meals in 30 minutes, product owners have been happy with the product. Online reviews refer to this cooker as the best kitchen gadget, turning inexpensive cuts of meat into delicious meals! Plus, it’s the perfect size, easy to clean and includes a cookbook with great recipes. Just be sure to seal the cooker properly, as a few product owners found that the pressure cooker will explode in the microwave! All in all, this cooker is a great product that makes cooking meals healthier, faster and tastier!

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  • Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances

    West Bend Bread Maker Produces Bakery Style Artisan Bread At Home

    January 9th, 2016

    Small product picture of West Bend bread maker review.

    Bake delicious breads right from your countertop with the West Bend Bread Maker! With a sleek design and compact structure, this bread maker can whip up artisan bread for all your meals. Try delicious raisin bread for breakfast or buttery garlic bread sticks for dinner. The electronic dual-blade makes it possible to create all types of bread and there are 4 loaf sizes ranging from 1, 1 ½, 2 and 2 ½ pounds. The West Bend bread maker also comes with 11 pre-programmed settings and 3 crust shades that can be operated from the digital control panel. If you’re on-the-go a lot, don’t think you can’t bake delicious breads.

    The 12-hour delay timer allows you to set the timer up to 12 hours in advance. To use the West Bend bread maker, simply pour in your ingredients, set the display and go! Watch what you bake through the large viewing window and enjoy easy cleaning afterward with the nonstick bread pan. The various settings allow you to choose the type of bread you want, including wheat or French, and the maker also includes a measuring cup, measuring spoon and a recipe book. Reports online have great things to say about the West Bend electric bread maker, as it’s affordable, contemporary looking and bakes delicious bread! In fact, some reviewers compare it to the high-end bread makers from Zojirushi! Even with all the variety over baking bread, some reviewers found that the maker didn’t bake the bread as it should. In order to reduce the chance you’ll bake “flat loaves”, users recommend not using the recipes in the instruction manual and keeping the blades extra clean by soaking them in warm water.

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  • Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances

    EdgeStar Countertop Dishwasher Is A Solid Fit For A Small Kitchen

    December 16th, 2015

    Small product picture of countertop dishwasher review.

    If you’re limited on space, but tired of washing dishes by hand, the EdgeStar countertop dishwasher will be a lifesaver. With a stainless steel interior and spray arm, the unit is durable and built to last. A dish rack and silverware basket is included, and the sleek design includes a windowed front that looks great in any modern kitchen. There is no permanent installation, and instead, the unit uses a quick connect faucet adapter that can hook up to any faucet system. When not in use, the dishwasher can be kept in a cabinet, leaving countertops open for cooking. Finding countertop dishwashers that are both attractive in design and functional can be difficult.

    This is especially true when shopping on a budget. Yet the EdgeStar counter top dishwasher has an affordable price tag and excellent reviews regarding its washing ability. It gets dishes clean and has an internal water heater that heats water up to 185 F degrees and features a rinse agent dispenser to reduce spotting on dishes. Ratings from owners say that the EdgeStar countertop dishwasher is a great buy, as it fits in small places, offers exceptional cleaning power and quick cleaning cycles. Some consumers have complained about the size of the dishwasher, claiming that it doesn’t hold the 11” plates it specifies. There have also been concerns regarding the unit leaking. It’s recommended that the setup is done carefully and the hoses are tightened with a wrench, not by hand. For those in need of a small portable dishwasher, this unit is the perfect compromise and will change the way you clean your kitchen!

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