Best Stainless Steel Cookware

We have a winner!

We found what we think is the best stainless steel cookware set on the market

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Best Non-Stick Cookware Set

For Lovers of non-stick cookware

This non-stick cookware set is excellent value for money and we rate it highly

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Best Dutch Oven Overall For Quality and Color

This will be no surprise

There is no doubt about it, we had to rate the as our number 1 choice for Dutch Ovens.

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Kitchen Appliances Archives

I Want to Make My Own Yogurt…Which Machine?

Saturday, June 13th, 2009 at 10:58 am  
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If you love yogurt and eat a lot of it, it’s a great idea to buy a yogurt maker.  There are many models available so how do you choose the one that’s right for you?  Let’s take a look at the features available to help you make the right decision.

What Is a Yogurt Machine?

Most yogurt makers have a heating unit.  This is rather like an enclosed incubator and keeps the yogurt at an even temperature.  This heating unit hold the jars in which you put the raw ingredients for the yogurt.  The most common kind are simply plugged into a power source, although there are a few exceptions.

Some models require boiling water to be added to an insulated incubator at the beginning of the fermentation process.  The insulation means that the boiling water retains its’ heat without the need for – or cost of – electricity.

How Many Jars?

You’ll need to think about how many jars your yogurt maker will hold.  Some machines hold 6 or 8 small jars and others have one single, large container.  The smaller jars are usually around 6 ounces each, which are a single serving and perfect for lunch boxes, snacks and trying to make different flavors of yogurt in one batch.  It also means that you could use different starter cultures in one batch. This can be handy if the members of your family have favorite flavors, so that you can make several flavors instead of one.  However, the reality is that most people with yogurt machines only make one flavor at a time.  Making several becomes fiddly and negates the point of having a time-saving machine.

A problem often mentioned in review of yogurt makers that use smaller jars is that sometimes the heat is not maintained evenly across all of the jars. With a single container, this should be less of an issue.

If you’re not sure whether to go for a multi or single jar machine, you may like to look for a model that takes both 8 ounce and 16 ounce jars.

How Much Does It Make?

Most yogurt makers will churn out between one and two quarts per batch.  Try to work out how much yogurt you or your family will realistically eat and also how frequently you will want to make it.  This should help you to decide whether you need a large machine or a smaller one.

Time is of the essence…

If a machine features a timer, do be careful to check out exactly what sort of timer it is.  Some have a  digital timer which counts down through the fermentation time and then beeps when it is completed.  This is a very useful feature as yogurt can take twelve hours or more to ferment, by which time you may well have forgotten about it!

However, others only have a dial or other system to allow you to set the time you put the yogurt on.  With these machines, the timer is just a reminder and there is no countdown or alarm.

Automatic Shut Down…a pro or a con?

Some machines also have an automatic switch-off, which turns the machine off for you once the yogurt has fermented and is ‘finished’.  This sounds like a good idea but in practice, you really need to be available once fermentation is completed so that you can put the yogurt into the refrigerator.  Even with the power off, the machine would maintain the heat that it had already reached, which would mean that the yogurt would continue to ferment.  This is not dangerous but may lead to the finished yogurt having a tart taste, which you may not enjoy.

The Big Freeze

If you love frozen yogurt, you will need to check if the containers in your new machine are freezer-safe.  Quite a few models have this feature but you must always remember to let the containers cool before transferring them to the freezer.

Remember that the best yogurt maker is the one that will fit your needs and actually get used.  Take your time choosing and then enjoy your own home-made yogurt!


I Already Have a Stand Mixer…why would I want a Food Processor?

Saturday, June 6th, 2009 at 10:52 am  
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Stand mixers are for most preparation to do with baking – pie crust, bread dough etc.  A Food Processor is great for chopping, pureeing, slicing, grinding nuts and coffee, finely chopping herbs…the list is endless.  Try to think of the stand mixer as helping with sweet foodstuffs and the Food Processor with savory.  Although that ‘rule’ is interchangeable, it helps to see why you would benefit from both.

Handy Hints

  • Try not to be seduced by a machine with many ‘extras’. These only add to the cost and you may only use them very rarely – or never at all!
  • Food Processors that live in cupboards don’t get used! So don’t forget to check how much space the Food Processor will take up on your counter top. When you’re deciding where it will ‘live’, make sure it’s near a power point and that you have enough free space nearby for any rough chopping or peeling etc.
  • Check that the parts of the Food Processor are safe in the dishwasher as this can save time on cleanup.
  • For a family-sized processor (9 to 11 cups), look for a model that has a motor of at least 600 watts, to minimize the likelihood of the motor burning out.
  • Choose a model from a manufacturer who offers service options, a range of additional blades or mixing tools and replacement parts.
  • Look for a model with smooth ‘touch’ pad controls rather than raised buttons. This makes it easier to keep clean.
  • Food Processors make graham cracker crusts or cheesecake bases a breeze!
  • They are ideal for pureeing food for babies. Just cook your regular meal and whizz up a portion for your baby (unless you are having highly spiced food which could upset baby’s  stomach!).
  • Make your own peanut or almond butter. Simply put shelled nuts into the bowl and grind until it’s the consistency that you desire.
  • When shredding Mozzarella cheese, freeze it for 20 minutes first. This will make it shred much more easily and stop it clumping together.



I Want a Food Processor…But Which One?

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 10:47 am  
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Many people love the idea of owning a Food Processor.  Especially when they see TV Chefs using them so effortlessly to whip up delicious concoctions.  But don’t forget that the TV Chef has a team who choose exactly the right equipment for the job and wash it up afterwards!

So, where do you start when choosing a Food Processor?  Let’s take a look at what you need to consider, so that you can buy the machine that’s right for you, which will reward you with such easy food preparation that it can even renew your enjoyment of cooking!

Maybe the first and possibly the most important choice is the size of your new Processor.  They range from ‘mini’ (21 ounces) to 14 cup size – which is most often used in a professional kitchen.  If you usually cook for a family of four, a 9 to 11 cup size should be fine for your needs.

When deciding on the size you need, it’s also helpful to try to think of the ways in which you will most often use the Processor and for what foodstuffs.  For example, if you love coleslaw and want something to make chopping a breeze, you may need a largish bowl for volume.

*A handy tip for making your own coleslaw is to use the shredding disc rather than the slicing one.  The slicing disc tends to make the pieces too short but would be fine for, say, making julienne carrots.

If you specifically want to use your processor for finely chopping small amounts of herbs or nuts or for making small quantities of sauces, you have two options.  You could look for a processor that comes with a separate, small chopping bowl and blade.  Alternatively, you could get a mini 3 cup processor to use alongside your larger one.

Keep Your Finger on the Pulse

Check to see if the Processor you are interested in has a pulse switch.  This enables you to whizz the blades for as long as your finger is on the button, giving you greater control over how finely you chop.  It is also better for the machine’s motor to chop in this way.

What Comes With It?

Most processors come with basic attachments but do take some time to check if these will meet your needs.  It’s also worth checking if the manufacturers offer the option for you to buy other attachments for your new machine.

All Food Processors come with a variety of interchangeable discs for shredding and slicing.  The size of the disc is in millimeters and this measurement will tell you the size of the resulting shredding or sliced foodstuff.

Another standard attachment is the feeding tube.  This means that you can turn the machine on and then push foods safely into the bowl, as your hands are nowhere near the blades.  It’s also useful for trickling ingredients into an already moving mixture, such as during the preparation of mayonnaise.

Some processors have a special option for juicing fruit or vegetables.

The heavier processors come with a dough blade which is very useful if you like to bake your own bread or make a lot of pastry.

Which Names Should I Look For and How Much Are They?

The brands that regularly perform the highest in magazine and consumer ratings are KitchenAid and Cuisinart.  They are also in the higher price bracket.  For an 11 cup family sized Food Processor you would probably pay around $130 – although it’s well worth shopping around, waiting until the sales or putting one on your Birthday or Christmas wish list!

Less expensive brands include Black & Decker and Hamilton Beach, with products at around $50 – however, their motors are not so powerful and they may be more prone to burn out.

As with all kitchen appliances, buy the best you can afford to avoid disappointment and having to pay out for an early replacement.

A Guide to Induction Cookware

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at 4:58 am  
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Le-Creuset-cast-iron-cookware-setLife is too hectic these days. It seems that there is hardly time to breathe much less make a nice home cooked meal. There’s an easy option to speed up your cooking time, Induction Cookware. But what exactly is it?

Here’s a guide to induction cookware.

Not to get too technical but induction is an electrical property that uses magnetism to produce heat.

What does this mean for the chef though? Well the first thing it means is that you need an inductive range. Your normal gas stove won’t cut it. Luckily induction range prices are rapidly falling.

Since magnetism is involved you need magnetic pots and pans. If you’re set to start cooking on an inductive stove simply use a magnet to check out your cookware. If the magnet sticks then it’s inductive. Unfortunately this may  mean that great set of copper cookware won’t work.

What will work though is any cast iron cookware. So if you’ve got one of those old skillets passed down from your grandmother you’re set. Just be sure it has a nice flush bottom. The more surface-to-surface contact between the cookware and the range the more efficiently the food will cook.

If, however, you’re in the market for some new cookware to try out on an induction stove just remember you need something ferrous. Bring that magnet along with you to the store.

As inductive cooking becomes more and more popular, manufacturers are meeting the chef’s needs. There are options that simply have some metal cladding built into the pot. So no worries about using ceramic or copper, just look for cookware that’s treated for use on an inductive range such as theLe Creuset Cookware Set as  shown above.

These are only a few quick tips for inductive cookware.  There are plenty of options available just make sure that whatever you choose has a flat bottom, and plenty of ferrous metal to use the miracle of inductive heat.

There is a large range of beautiful and functional induction cookware available at Amazon.com


Review: Black & Decker EHC650 3-Cup 2-Speed Food Chopper

Sunday, May 17th, 2009 at 4:30 pm  
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black-decker-2-speed-food-chopperHow many times have you found yourself needing to chop up some veggies for a dish you were making and you didn’t want to pull out the food processor. While there was a good amount to cut up, there wasn’t enough to warrant a whole food processor set up.

This is where the Black & Decker EHC650 3-Cup 2-Speed Food Chopper can step in and be the hero.

The Black & Decker  2-Speed Food Chopper can easily chop up to three cups of ingredients in nothing flat. This is a great way to get those onions sliced or something pureed without having to bring in the big food processor.

This chopper can be used with just one hand. Rest your hand on the top and push the button with the same hand.

Since this chopper is small and compact, it can be sitting on the counter all the time, waiting for the next time you need it.

The 150 watts backing up the stainless steel blade makes quick work of whatever is put into it.

Additionally, it comes with a non-slide base that will keep the machine still when you are cutting your food items up.

What We Like:

  • The construction and power button allow you to mix with one hand while doing something else with the other free hand.
  • The base has an anti-slip strip to keep it in place while mixing.
  • It’s compact but powerful, not taking up a lot of space but able to chop things quickly.
  • It’s perfect when you are preparing meals for one or two.
  • The rubber base doubles as a storage lid. Anything you have chopped that you don’t use can be left in the container and  popped into the fridge.

Other Things to Consider:

  • Sometimes food gets caught around the blade and some of the other smaller parts  which can be difficult to get out since you are not allowed to submerge it in water.

However, the majority of  reviewers just love this chopper. It does a great job of chopping up the food.

CLICK HERE to buy the Black & Decker 3 Cup 2 Speed Food Chopper.

See what others have to say at Amazon.com


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