Shabu Shabu Pot Sukiyaki Nabe 8.5in #821-21 Review

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(More customer reviews)Listing page describes this as a Japanese nabe pot, but it is made in China. It is enameled, which the listing does not say. There is no guarantee that this product isn't going to poison you. When contacted, seller said that I would have to pay shipping and there will be a 20% "restocking fee"...what BS. These pots are not cheap, and there's no reason that they need to be made in China.

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Dimension: 8-1/2in Dia x 3-3/8in H * Enameled Inner Surface for Easy Cleaning * Serving 2-3 people * 1 Wooden Lid & 1 Wooden Base are Included * * Nabemono (nabe cooking pot + mono things, stuffs, kinds) or simply called Nabe, is a term referring to all varieties of Japanese steamboat dishes, also known as one pot dishes. The pots are traditionally made of clay ( donabe) which can keep warm for a while after taken off from the fire or cast thick iron ( tetsunabe) which evenly distribute heat and preferably used for sukiyaki. The pots are usually placed in the center of dinning tables, shared by multiple persons. Most nabemono are stews and soups served during the colder seasons. In modern Japan, nabemono are kept hot at the dining table by portable stoves. The dish is frequently cooked at the table, and the diners can pick the cooked ingredients they want from the pot. It is either eaten with the broth or with a dip. Further ingredients can also be successively added to the pot. Eating together from a shared pot is considered as an important feature of nabemono; East Asian people believe that eating from one pot makes a closer relationship. The Japanese thus say, Nabe (w)o kakomu (sitting around the pot), implying that sharing nabemono will create warm relations between the diners who eat together from the shared pot.

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Calphalon HE600CG Removable-Plate Nonstick Countertop Grill Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had many indoor grills, this one outshines all of them! It is a large grill, with space enough for four burgers, sandwiches, chicken thighs or breasts, etc. It heats up fast with minimal, if any smoke. I love the timer option and control of the temperature. It is super easy to clean and the removable plates fit nicely in the dishwasher. The drip tray is huge and located where it should be, in the back, so when you open up your grill while cooking, the grease goes in it and not on your counter or under the grill. This is a bonus safety measure which I describe in detail later on in this review.
The cooking quality is excellent. One of the reviewers complained about how poorly his chicken and steak turned out. I do not understand that, he must have cooked at the wrong temperatures (too hot), because we've had perfect results every time. It doesn't taste like steamed anything, but like grilled food. And yes, it makes a mean panini sandwich!
This grill is well made with quality parts. The only part that is questionable is the adjustable height knob, which is plastic, and I could see this breaking down the road, since we use this grill daily. I called customer service about it, and they said should it break, they would send out a new part, no problem. Good to know.
This grill looks so good on the counter, that I leave it there. It does not look tacky like the other models out there, where I found myself wanting to hide them right after use.
There was a huge fire hazard defect on a no-name cusinart model that I bought from Walmart for $50, which occurred well after the warranty ended. That grill ended up in the trash can. What happened with it is the grease leaked underneath whenever I opened it while cooking, melting the plastic that housed the wires, leaving the wires exposed. Thankfully I caught this before anything bad happened. So, when I looked for my next grill, I specifically looked for one that addressed this issue (the grease leaking underneath whenever you open the grill while cooking). The Calphalon addresses this issue with the drip tray in the back. Other grill makers need to follow suit!
The price tag seemed high to me, but it does come with a much better warranty than other models, it is made from higher quality parts, and it looks like something one would see in a professional kitchen. My husband is a chef, and is extremely happy with this grill as well. I'm not one known to buy high-end appliances, but in this case I did and can honestly say that I have no regrets. I highly recommend this grill!JULY 18th 2010: UPDATE
I just wanted to update and let everyone know that after daily use for well over a year, I can happily report my Calphalon indoor grill is still going strong!
Cleanup is still a breeze and the coating is still perfect. After you cook on it and the plates have cooled down, place the plates in the sink and spray a little water on them, let them soak for a few minutes. Then rinse. I have never had anything clean as easily as these plates!
I read that some people have problems with the front panel coming off or knobs breaking. I haven't had that happen. I'm wondering if there was a bad batch of these, and somehow I lucked out. I bought my grill from Amazon, if that helps. Everything still works like a charm and we put this grill through its paces!
Someone mentioned the top plate coming off while they were cooking. They must not have put it on correctly. If it doesn't snap in, it isn't on there right. Be careful with that.
My grill heats up in about 5 minutes. No problems there. I love the timer. 350 degrees seems to be a magic temperature for me. I cook almost everything at that setting. This is a wonderful grill. I'm very happy we splurged last year and bought it.

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Cook for a few or for a crowd with the extra-large capacity of this countertop grill. The unit features heavy-gauge cast-aluminum nonstick grill plates that can fit up to six burgers, six 4-ounce chicken breasts, or four Panini-style sandwiches at a time. And, since it cooks both sides simultaneously, food grills quickly and efficiently. To use, simply turn the control knob to select the desired heat setting from 200 degrees F for warming up to 450 degrees F for searing. After about five minutes of preheating, a "ready" light will illuminate. Place food on the lower grill plate, close the lid, and select "always on" for continuous grilling or set the 30-minute timer for a designated cooking time--a bell will sound at the end and the grill will stop heating. Other highlights include an Opti-Heat system for premium heating, adjustable height to accommodate everything from thick steaks to grilled-cheese sandwiches, an internal drip tray to catch excess fat, and easy-to-read controls. To protect the nonstick coating on the grill plates, use only non-metal, temperature-resistant utensils, such as wood or nylon. The removable drip tray and grill plates can go in the dishwasher or be washed by hand and the base wipes clean easily with a soft, damp cloth. For compact storing, simply empty and clean the drip tray, close the grill, move the height selector into the lock position, and tuck the grill away either laying flat or standing upright. Housed in stainless steel with a sleek contoured shape, the 1500-watt grill measures 12-8/9 by 15-2/3 by 6-3/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Meco 5030 Electric Grill and Combination Water Smoker Review

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(More customer reviews)First, let me say that my husband and I are smoker morons - we need a book titled 'Smokers for Dummies'. But, we have always wanted a smoker, and in researching the electric version of this little unit, I found lots of people were happy with it. I also noticed that it can be converted to charcoal (or vice versa for the charcoal unit) with a conversion kit available from the manufacturer. For the charcoal version, I was concerned about having to watch the coals for hours to assure proper heat, and being able to control the 220 degree temperature which is perfect for smoking. After using this little puppy for the first time, I am quite impressed with it. The thermostat allows for constant temperature control, and allows you to go about your life instead of baby sitting a smoker all day.
The large box arrived with lots of parts, but was assembled in about an hour - the instructions were very good. We immediately put a beef brisket into the unit, turned it on, and added mesquite chunks. The unit came with some hickory chumks to get you started, but we will use those later I presume. The neighborhood smelled like a BBQ pit, and everyone came to see what was going on. Talk about a make-shift party! The 4.5 pound brisket took around 4 hours to cook. Hindsite, I would have brined the brisket prior to smoking it to help it retain more moisture, but it was not that dry at the end. A little BBQ sauce on the cooked meat handled that problem.
The unit recommends using wood chunks, not chips. It tells you to put the chunks on top of the electric coils. Not only did I find this difficult to do (balance the wood on the electric coils) but I found that even after soaking the chunks for a hour or more, I had to replace them every hour or so (I used 2 each time). They tended to burn up, and I suspect that is why the brisket was a bit dry (that, and I bought the brisket at a super market near-by who sells 'select' meat, so there was little if any marbling in the meat).
But the taste and the flavor of the brisket was great. Lots of mesquite smoke flavor. We sliced it very thin (as I had said, the meat had little marbling, so tenderness was not the poor brisket's forte). Added some BBQ sauce, and served it up with potatoes, beans and corn bread. As good as any high priced BBQ pit in the area. I was thoroughly pleased.
My one neighbor was shocked that we would purchase an electric version of this unit. He has a charcoal one. He said 'You will miss all of the the flavor with electric! Why not just steam the meat?'. Well, he ate those words right after he ate some of the brisket. We actually got more flavor out of this unit than he gets from his charcoal one because it is difficult to add wood to his, and simple to add it to this one! I would challenge anyone who says you can not get flavor from an electric smoker if you use wood to flavor the meat.
On the positive side of this unit: Great flavor, simple to assemble (allow an hour and have a screw driver and a pliers ready), easy to use (no replacing charcoal), the water container is 5.5 quarts - enough for 5 hours of smoking, doors to add additional wood or water as needed, the bullet shape is attractive on the patio, it has a thermostat and a temperature gauge (although the settings are only low/medium/high and warm/ideal/hot respectively this seems to be adequate), easy to clean, you can add wood and water without removing the cover or meat - heat loss is minimal, .
On the negative side of this unit: There are some gaps where the lid sits on the top of the unit so some smoke is lost (on the plus side, this attracts curious neighbors!), the instructions are for the charcoal version - not the electric one - you are pretty much on your own, it tends to run a bit hot so once heated I would recommend turning the control to 'medium-high' to continue the cooking and maintain that 220 degree temperature, it burned up the wood chunks instead of allowing them to smolder - decreasing the temperature should help this some, cleaning the bottom bowl requires loosening the electric element to remove the pan - although cleaning this is not necessary each time you use it, some of the body parts were a bit bent when it arrived even though the box was fine - a pliers fixed this problem.
I would recommend this unit to even a novice smoker. We had great success with this unit and our first smoking episode, and plan to use it throughout the year for smoking beef, pork, fish and fowl. It also has instructions for smoking cheese and nuts if that is your liking.
When smoking, I recommending having a pair of tongs to add wood to the fire if you like a heavy smoke taste - makes it easier adding the wood through the available door.
Gee, I wonder what smoked beer would taste like?

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Satin Black Electric Water Smoker, Two 15.5 diameter Grids, built-in heat indicator with two access doors.

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Sanyo HPS-MC3 3-in-1 Nonstick Electric Multi-Cooker Review

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(More customer reviews)I am cheap (Asian), and was not keen on plopping down $100 on this cooker. Totally worth it. I got it after I saw some little old ladies at 99 Ranch buying one!
Cooks hot pot like a CHAMP. I was using a single burner with a divided hot pot pot (lol) on top and I had to boil a separate pot the stove to keep up with demand (feeding 4 adults). No more! This thing is sooo convenient. Super easy to adjust the temperature and it heats up quickly.
Nice safety feature that it has a magnetic power cord, in case someone trips over it or you have kids. It stays on just fine.
Also works great as a steamer.
The finish is conducive to easy cleanup.
The grill part...well, I mean...it's essentially a one-sided George Foreman grill. Nothing too special there--but it is very easy to clean.
Buy it! You know if the old Chinese ladies at 99 Ranch were buying, it HAS to be good.
**Update**
Owned it now for almost a year. Still going strong, still highly recommended. It even saved me through a stove issue (2 weeks for the new part to arrive). There are a lot of things you can make with this cooker, I have to say.

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Ideal for any busy kitchen, this three-in-one multi-function electric cooker works great for grilling, steaming, and slow cooking. The unit's generously sized 4-1/2-quart pot can be used to cook up a batch of chili, soup, or stew for the family, and its grill plate works great for making grilled-cheese sandwiches, pancakes, or perfectly shaped crepes. The non-stick titanium-coated cooking pot and grill plate ensure even heating, effortless food release, and quick cleanup. Even more, the multi-cooker comes with a handy steam tray for steaming vegetables, fish, and other healthy foods. The unit provides user-friendly controls and adjustable temperature settings from keep warm to 460 degrees F. Other highlights include a contemporary stainless-steel body, a glass lid for viewing the cooking process at a glance, cool-touch handles, and a quick-release magnetic plug for safety. The glass lid, steam tray, grill plate, and pot all clean up easily in the dishwasher, and the steam tray and grill plate nest together in the pot for compact storage. A multi-language instruction manual comes included. The 1350-watt multi-cooker measures 13 by 15-1/2 by 8-3/5 inches.

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Coleman 9941-768 Road Trip Grill (Blue) Review

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(More customer reviews)We purchased this Road Trip after having a horrible experience with a grill from Cabelas. That grill had the lava rocks that moved every time you moved the grill and besides that the legs fell off. We were looking for something that would have fold under legs and no rocks. The Road Trip saved our camping days. We purchased a bag for it, keep it stored in the belly of the camper and with putting water in the tray below the burners, it is very very easy to clean up. You can place this on the picnic table to cook on or use the fold down legs. We have also discovered that this is the best way to cook grilled onions and potatoes or pork chops or chicken, etc on the griddle. Very very convenient and easy clean up. We both rate this a 5 stars. Great job, Coleman. Signed happy camper, Janet Becker

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Tired of taking your funky hibachi to the ballpark every time you want to tailgate? Turn to the Coleman Road Trip Grill, an authentic open-flame grill that packs up compactly for easy transport and storage. The Road Trip Grill offers two powerful, fully adjustable 20,000 BTU burners, along with support for several mix-and-match cooking surfaces, including a drip-through grill, a pancake griddle, and a stove for heating water (the latter two are separately). In addition, the burners are powerful enough for both cold-weather and high-altitude cooking, so you can use the Road Trip Grill in destinations like Green Bay, Denver, and Buffalo, N.Y. Perhaps the coolest feature, however, is the collapsible frame, which holds the grill at a standard cooking level in its open position, but folds up in seconds when it's time to go. There's no easier way to enjoy the versatility of a full-size upright grill and the convenience of a portable unit.
The Road Trip Grill also includes two detachable side tables for grilling and cooking duties, along with a lockable lid for security. Other details include a 285-square-inch cooking surface, convenient storage hooks for cooking utensils, a removable grease drip pan, and easy pushbutton ignition. The grill--which operates on a single disposable 16.4-ounce propane cylinder (not included) or a 20-pound propane tank (purchase of tank hose and tank required)--carries a five-year limited warranty.
About Coleman The Coleman Company has been creating and innovating products for recreational outdoor use since W.C. Coleman started selling gasoline-powered lanterns in 1900. Inventor of the hugely popular fold-up camp stove, Coleman developed a plastic liner for his galvanized steel coolers in 1957--the birth of the modern cooler--and the company has been improving their utility and design ever since. The array of products that bear the Coleman name now includes just about everything you might need to work or play outdoors, from tents and sleeping bags to boats, backpacks, and furniture.

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