Telebrands 4615 -12 in 1 Kitchen Tool- Chef Basket

The thin wire is not very sturdy, it isn't well made (wire ends to poke you) & will bend easily, perhaps burning you if you try to lift something heavy out of the pot & it breaks. Once it gets a little bent, it will not fold flat. If you know anything about cooking, you know you can't jam pack the thing with fries or chicken like they do on TV and expect it to cook evenly or within your lifetimeeven a professional quality deep fryer won't do that. When it's stuffed like they do on TV, you can't stir the food either, so the bottom can burn & food won't cook evenly. Given that & the size (it looks bigger on TV), it won't really cook that much of anything.

Perhaps the worst thing is that the mesh is so large you can't cook anything but big food in it. It will not cook macaroni, spaghetti, or noodles nor will it cook fries except for the big fat wedge ones. It will only cook large whole vegetables & you will lose a lot as pieces of stuff like broccoli tend to break off. It would be useless for potato chunks to make potato salad or mashed potatoes as pieces will break off w/ the wire & then you will need to strain the water w/ your colander....so why would you need this???

I just laugh at those infomercials that try to make you think something you already have that works just fine (i.e. your colander) are so dangerous & hard to use. If you can't use a colander, you probably shouldn't go near the stove & you also probably bought a Snuggie because you couldn't figure out how to work a blanket.

It's a shame that this isn't a better made and designed product. The spaces are so large that the pasta falls through the basket so you still need to strain the pot. And it is a little flimsy it's a shame that it isn't sturdier.

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I did not buy Chef Basket from this vendor, so am commenting on the product only. The Chef Basket I received arrived lopsided, bent, shallower than shown on box, with sharp wire ends sticking out to catch your hand. Fortunately Carol Wright Gifts credited my charge card in full, and did not require me to send it back.

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This is a great concept and I really wish I could love it more, but I can't. I agree with what another reviewer said that the holes are too large. They are great for large pasta, but not for regular spaghetti, macaroni, etc. Also, after just one wash, we are already starting to see signs of rust around the top rim.

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I'm 52 years old and this item has been in my mother's kitchen all my life. In fact, it still is, in her cabinet under the colanders. We used it as a lettuce dryer when I was a kid. Wash the lettuce, load up the strainer, take it outside and swing it around until the water flew off! I loved that.

It was never sturdy enough for even half the uses claimed in the infomercial. I wonder if the original patent expired and someone else picked it up an repackaged it as the "newest tool for your kitchen." Hilarious.

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The Large Cheese Knife

We like cheese. Nearly all of it is the kind you cut off large blocks like Tillamook Extra Sharp Cheddar wrapped in black plastic.

This knife will not cut the plastic. Use a regular knife to cut plastic at corners, peal down, then use this cheese knife.

Of the many cheese knives we have this one is about ten times cleaner, smoother, easier cutting. If you are not really happy with your cheese knife this one deserves a chance. We bought the longer version so I can put my fingers on the tip to guide straighter cuts especially when they are thin.

With the medium firm cheeses there is nothing to wash off the blade. It glides through the cheese like nothing I have ever tried and comes out clean on the other side. Sponge wipe and rinse. Perhaps the plastic edge might be delicate? Store it like any other good knife where the edge will not bump anything.

I was a little sceptical after looking for so many years. At least for medium firm cheeses this is the BEST.

Wow!! I love this knife!! I used the smaller one at a friends house and had to buy my own. Unfortunately I read the reviews which directed me to buy the big one instead of the small one. In my opinion you need both. The big one is HUGE and would be great for a big party where you buy 7 blocks of cheese from Costco and have to cut them in to half inch squares. For a regular dinner party the small is perfectly adequate. You can't take the big knife out and hand it to a guest. It would be akward! Buy both.

This thing cuts thick sharp cheeder blocks like butter. The way the blade is shaped it has multiple ridges which seem to allow air in while a regular knife allows no air and becomes more and more "stuck." This is the best way I can describe the way I understand how it works. Whatever it is, it's wonderful. I can remember cutting block after block for parties and my hand hurts SO bad while using my best knife. NO MORE!! NO MORE!

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I have to admit that I was more than a little skeptical about purchasing a plastic knife but this knife is great. It really does slice through cheese like butter. I went back and forth between this and the "original" 9in The Cheese Knife. I'm glad that I chose the larger, 12.5in, one. The smaller one would have been fine for me but it would have cramped my husband's hand.

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I bought this for my aunt who ownes a wine and cheese shop in Montana. When she received the knife as a gift, she informed me that she already had two of the smaller knifes and was very excited to have the larger version. Great shopping experience, and according to her it is a great product as well!

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I specifically wanted the knife for slicing cheescakes. Doesn't work any better than any other knife! Otherwise, it works great for hard and soft block cheeses.

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Kapoosh Knife and Utensil Holder Kitchen Caddy

Kapoosh works great for the first few months, or if you hardly ever use it. But my wife and I are avid cooks and discovered that, after about 3 months of use, the product fails miserably. The problem? All those little spaghetti-like strands that hold the knives become crossed with one another and when you stick a knife down into it, those strands get cut. So when you go to pull the knife out a bunch of half strands come with it.

Its a great idea, especially for people who seldom cook. But for avid home chefs, count on strands wearing out in just a few months.

knife and utensil holder work well if used with care. Must insert knives slowly as noted in other reviews. It works well if you don't "Slam Bam Thank You Mam" the knives into the holder.

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Originally purchased just the Kapoosh Knife block and liked the usefulness of it. When I needed to replace it I found this and loved the added utensil holders.

Received it and loved the fact that the company reduced the number of "spines" in the block, making the replacement of the knives into the block so much easier. My only complaint is that the utensil holders (which have my can openers and shears) are held to the knife block with magnets. Wish they were attached.

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I really like this thing but it is already falling apart at the edge: the front left corner came apart and we had to duct tape it back together.

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My wife LOVED it. I would recommend this to anyone with a mix match knife set like we have. It fits more than you would think.

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J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge Pro 3-Piece Knife Set

Purchased these to go with a 7 inch Henckels International santoku that I've been using for years, and the phrase that comes to mind to describe all Fine Edge cutlery is "good enough." No, it isn't restaurant quality, and yes, if you put these through the dishwasher they'll tarnish and probably even start to rust (any metal designated as "stainless" is rust resistant rather than rust proof, and reviewers of other Henckels products complaining about rust and tarnish probably aren't treating their knives very well). As a graduate student on a budget who enjoys cooking, but doesn't always have the time for it, these knives are an ideal compromise between price and quality. Be aware that they will occasionally require sharpening I've had the santoku for almost three years and run it through a commercially available ceramic disk sharpener every few months and it still cuts very nicely and should probably be hand-washed for longest life. With that little bit of maintenance, however, this three piece set can meet nearly all of your cooking needs (it meets all of mine, but then I don't often dress poultry, filet my own fish, or do much that would require a cleaver or really subtle boning knife) for quite a nice price.

Having sharp, quality knives in the kitchen is essential. I have owned this set for a couple years and it is still in great shape. Good form, easy to hold and they stay sharp with the right care.

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I'm a senior in college that has recently moved into my first apartment and obviously needed to get some kitchen essentials without breaking my very malnourished bank account. I came across these three Henckels knives at a pretty decent price and decided to go with it. The knives are amazing I only wish I could find a good yet cheap knife sharpener to go along with it as they (like any other knives) will lose their fine sharp edge after continued use without sharpening. If you're looking for a cheap and essential knife set with good quality this is the product for you.

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These knives are wonderful. When they are new they are extremely sharp. It is important to be very careful when cleaning them, because it is so easy to cut yourself. I have had my set for over a year now. They are still very sharp, however I notice they require sharpening more frequently now to retain their sharpness. If you are the average cook, these knives will serve you well.

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Purchased two sets for heavy duty everyday use, and love the short paring knife. Replacement of SAME that had worn out from use. While the blades themselves are of the same quality, there is something off about the handle material. it looks a bit beat up and even with handwashing, it isn't looking so good. However, the knives themselves are of great quality and perfect if you like a smooth edge that you can sharpen.

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Harold Imports Intruder Mesh Cutting Glove, Medium

It's not entirely clear how the glove is sized it's sized on the Men's chart. Julia Childs might have worn a Medium (she was over 6' tall). And the fingertip seams are quite bulky.

Sorry, no feedback on long-term durability.

I purchased this glove around the beginning of the year and have used it less than a dozen times and it has already developed a small hole. I use this glove almost exclusively for mincing items on a microplane so the glove does make a lot of contact with sharp objects. I purchased a size medium and found the glove to be pretty long in the fingers. For size comparison; I wear a medium large golf glove (when golfing not cooking) which fits perfectly. It's also important to know that this type of glove will not protect you from pointed objects such as the tip of a knife. For the price it's a very good deal for most people. If you want a truly blade proof glove I think you'll have to spend about $70 and get a chain mail glove.

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I purchased this product for my son because he's always cutting his fingers while in the kitchen. He likes cocking and only has 11. Thanks for such a great product.

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These are the best gloves ever!!! Got 2 of them for our granddaughter to use when she is rotary cutting in our sewing room. Until now she had to use scissors and these gloves have really helped us out. Good pricing too!!

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No DNA lost since I started using the glove! I bought two, one for home for my left hand (that holds the veggies) and one for work for my right hand (holds the scalpel used in pottery restoration).

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Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

I have always liked the Farberware cookware for over 30 years. The steel pots are perfect. I am not crazy about the non-stick ones, wish they had covers too, and a bit heavier. Besides, I don't care for non-stick surface as much because it could leave toxins after a scratch. I like the glass lids, they are easier to clean. The size of most pots in this set is fairly small which you may not realize from the size provided in quarts, but appropriate for a small household's kitchen. Overall, it's a pretty good quality set for the price compared to all those other brands with highly inflated prices.

I have owned my Farberware for 12 years and love it.It was made in the USA. So when I wanted to get cookware for my daughter, Farberware was my 1st choice.I ordered a "10 piece classic set" from Amazon(They sent it through another shipper but it came on time and was well packed)

When the set came my daughter cooked oatmeal in the small sauce pan for 3 mornings and noticed the finish on the bottom of the pan was chipping off I called the plant and they said that they would replace it. Before I could send it back we used one of the larger pans and noticed it had a small chip in the bottom and was discolored on the sides and bottom. I looked for the warranty which said it was "limited lifetime" but didn't cover discoloring and a lot of other things. This was STAINLESS STEEL. It didn't say what was meant by "lifetime" so I guess it was the lifetime of the pan, which was 3 days in this case.I then checked to see where it was made and it was Thailand. I called the plant again and they don't make anything in the USA anymore.I boxed it all up and returned it.I learned most cookware is made overseas now, so I don't know what to buy. But it won't be Farberware. It is a bunch of junk! I'm hoping some other factories overseas are better, they couldn't be any worse.

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I love the farberware cookware. the pots are perfect. some lightweight pots my wife purchased actually warped and thus rattled on the stovetop. since i am the cook, it drove me crazy. i threw them out in less than a month. the only "problem" and the reason for 4 not 5 stars is the non-stick pans. I hate the non stick surface because they scratch and can leave toxins in the food . cant convince my wife that you must use wooden utensils, so i just threw them out

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Great value for the price. I have always found Faberware quality to be trustworthy. I recommend this set for everyday use for a small family. The pots are not big so if you cook for a lot of people, this is not the set for you.

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Received this set UPS today and returned to Amazon.com today also. Made overseas from thin cheap steel. Faberware has sold out their reputation by backing these sets of poor quality stainless steel. Bought individual pieces made by Hamilton Beach from a local kitchen store and got better quality and a better price.

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Fiesta Sunflower 5-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 1

Well I love these for the great colors which is what I wanted.. and of course they are dishwasher safe etc.. on the downside they are clunky and the teaspoons are almost the size of an average soup spoon. I ordered 4 sets of these at once in different colors.. I might not have done so given the downside but that is a matter of taste..the colors are delicious indeed.

Nothing not to like, if you like Fiesta, these are sturdy and pretty. Coordinates well with other Fiesta pieces. Easy to clean.

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I purchased this set for my granddaughter who is getting ready to go off to college. She hasn't used it because she doesn't leave for two months. However, we are very pleased with how it looks now. It's an attractive set and the quality is good.

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absolutely love my fiestaware silverware. it is very durable and comes with a 25 year warranty. a lot of the silverware is only available in the newer fiestaware colors but it still looks great with my older pieces. it feels good in your hand because the handles are built up and are quite ergonomic. everyone raves about my silverware when they come over to eat.

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A great compliment to Fiestaware! Good quality for the money; knives are not sharp enough to cut easily and the handles will take a little more room in the dishwasher and/or silverware rack. However, they are well-made and a fun addition to the table setting!

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AccuSharp 001 Knife Sharpener 2 Pack

• Sharpens your knives quickly, easily and accurately
• Just draw the AccuSharp over the tool and your work gets easier
• Renew your edges in an instant
• Safety hand grip prevents cuts
• Diamond-honed tungsten carbide

Use these at work. They are handy and work real good. I use one every day to sharpen my core at work.

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This handy little tool is easy to use and is easily stored so it is readily available. I use this sharpener to put a quick sharp edge on my knives. I hate dull knives. A sharp knife makes everything go faster and safer. This can be used by those who are not skilled with a steel. It does not replace the need for a really good electric sharpener when knives get really dull. Bought ones for my grown kids

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The brand name speaks for itself.The poduct is 100% sure-sharp.I am so happy to have this product,it makes my job easier because I am able to sharpened my knives when needed.Love this product,

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I have owned one of these for many years and have found them to be very useful for sharpening my knives. I bought four of these for my daughters for Christmas and they love them too. Knives are sharp with very little effort. A good buy for the money.

Easy and fun to use on the first three or so knives, but if you're like me and waited until all your knives were dull before buying a sharpener then either stagger your sharpening or be prepared with some icy hot for your dominant hand lol! It sharpens quickly, and the two pack was awesome to get because I have a habit of not being able to find something when I need it, so a spare is always great! It's pretty small so it doesn't take up much room, and I'm happy I didn't go with an electric sharpener even after I overworked my hand sharpening every knife in the house, plug space is a much needed commodity in my kitchen!

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Knife Sharpner

Have been using the Ecko knife sharpener for years. Wanted to get the same thing for my kids and a few friends. Checked literally every kitchen aid store, big box store kitchen department for this item and it just couldn't be found. I believe in this product, it works, and its economical. They don't make them like this anymore but want you to buy more expensive, less capable products. Highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a low priced, effective, knife sharpener.

I've had one of these ekco knife sharpeners for years and they work fantastic. I've been searching and searching for a new one and was so excited to find it on amazon.

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I've had one of these for years and needed one in Florida. Love it, they last for ever and ever.

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I have had this kind of sharpener before, and it was wonderful, I lost the last one that I had in a move. I ordered this from Amazon, and tried to sharpen a dull knife, it did nothing. It did not sharpen the knife. No matter hard I tried, it would NOT sharpen the knife. if anything the knife is duller than it was before I started. Please avoid this product, I would send it back, but It isn't worth the effort.

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Shun Steel 3-1/2-Inch Vegetable Knife

The Shun vegetable knife is comfortable and easily fits in your hand for paring and peeling. It has a very sharp blade, but the light, aerodynamic handle makes for precise cutting. The handle does take some getting used to--especially since other knife brands are heavier. Once you use a Shun, no other knife is close in caliber.

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Cuisinart Advantage 5-Piece Prep Cutlery Set

While I was somewhat surprised to find that one of the knives was serrated, the set has proven to be very useful. My wife cooks a lot and she loves the paring and chef knives.

my only complaint is the block it came with, seems like it was made in a backyard, other than that great knives.

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Harold Import AC1 Amish Cake Tester

Keeps the art feel when baking. So easy to tell when cakes are done. Love the simplicity. Feel so "green" using this. Great affordable gift for new bakers, and veteran bakers too"

I love this! Now I do not have to find a toothpick to test the Donets of anything. I just reach on top of my stove and there is my cake tester.

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This product looks great but does not work. I have used it several times now and the sticks always come out clean. Even when the cake is not done, the stick comes out clean.

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I really like my Amish Cake Tester. It has so many bristles (I'm going to venture a guess of about 200 bristles), it is going to take a long time to use this up. The bristles are really easy to snap off so you don't have to fumble around trying to get one while juggling a hot cake with the other hand and I like the fact that it is safe for the environment. It looks cute hanging on the wall near my stove.

It does its job well.

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I like the design. Can hang it in the kitchen. The only reason for lower than 5 is because removal of the straw use to be easier. My husband liked it for cake testing like his grandmother use to do. My aunt tried it and liked it just like her mother's testing. However, she had the same problem of removing one straw.

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Old River Road Wine Cask Cheese Tray

This cheese tray presents a lovely presentation. The wood is absolutely gorgeous and it's size allows for plenty of room for a number of different cheese, fruit, dip, and cracker displays. The handles make it easy to carry to your table/buffet or party. A very warm, substantial and beautiful piece for elegant entertaining!

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Rogers 20-Piece Chelsea Flatware

Was exactly the right item for the recipient! Thank you for your timely shipping and product was exactly what was hoped from the descriptions and photos!

If you look at the product of the first picture its not the Rogers Chelsea Line. You can google it and you will not get this picture. Its the second picture. Before you order find out what your getting.

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John Boos 18-by-12-Inch Reversible Maple Cutting Board

This is a wonderful utility wood cutting board.

When shopping for a cutting board, there are several factors you want to consider: Material, Size, Shape, Upkeep.

Material:

There are several to choose from, but Wood is the best if you care about your knives and your chopping arm. Wood is the easiest on your knives because the blade will sink into the wood instead of dulling on it (as if you were on granite/glass). It absorbs the shock of the impact, unlike granite/glass, which can be quite jarring to cut on. Wood also has natural antibacterial properties. There was rumors going on for awhile about the dangers of wood harboring bacteria, but after extensive research, they found out the wood actually seems to kill bacteria naturally. Scientists were not able to recover bacteria on a wood board after an hour, yet they could recover bacteria from plastic after days... There's extensive material on this, so I'll let you research more of it on your own as I continue the review of this board.

The advantages that a plastic cutting board has over a wood board (it's easy to clean, dishwasher safe, light, easy to store) goes downhill over time whereas the advantages of a wood board deteriorates very little over time. The biggest reason for this is that a plastic cutting board is only "cleaner" than a wood board when it's brand new. As soon as it gets knife scored, those little crevices harbors bacteria. People say that can be taken care of by scrubbing with soap but think about it, you can't FULLY clean your teeth by just brushing! Why? Because brushing does not get into the crevices between your teeth, that's why it's crucial to floss. Now think about how much smaller a knife cut in plastic is than the crevices between your teeth. Microscopically smaller, yet large enough for lots of microscopic bacteria to live in. Then some people say to soak the plastic board in bleach water. This doesn't work either because of the vacuum effect and water's surface tension. You'd need to be able to force the bleach water INTO each knife score to rinse out the bacteria in there. Water will not force it's way into a vacuum like that on it's own (what you're doing when you simply dunk it into a container of bleach water). Bottom line when it comes to plastic vs wood wood has natural anti-bacteria properties that does not diminish over time, and a knife scored plastic board does not. Even all studies and people recommending plastic over wood tell you to toss the plastic board when it becomes badly scored.

Size & Shape:

I think that this 18 x 12 x 1.5 size is the smallest board you can consider if you prep meals for 2 people. I like having a board that is large enough to chop on, and then move items over to little piles off to the side while I chop something else. The rectangle shape allows me to do this better than a square or circle. An oval shape might work, but it would be harder to store since you can't stand it on it's side. There are larger and smaller of these John Boos boards so there's plenty of choices. I would say this size is the smallest to consider for a main prep board. I prefer the 20 x 15 x 1.5" as my main board as that board is just about the topmost limit that my kitchen countertop can handle, along with my sink to wash the board in). This board is also 9lbs, which makes it manageable. A smaller board would not be sufficient for my chopping needs. Consider making a simple meal with onions, garlic, parsley. That's 3 piles, while leaving room to chop some more that's what this sized/shaped board can do well. These boards also comes in 2 thicknesses: 1.5" and 2.25" thick. I think if you buy a wood board you want it at least an inch thick. Thinner boards warp/break easier. You need it to be hefty. The 1.5" thick of this board is perfect. The 2.25" thick one is good for heavy chopping as in bones, and is more in line of a "butcher block".

Upkeep:

Glass/Granite can break/chip, but otherwise can last forever. It's easy to clean, can be very pretty, and is dishwasher safe. It's just jarring to cut on and will dull your blades.

Plastic is superior on everything easy. Dishwasher safe. Light, easy to store, cheap, comes in different colors...but be prepared to replace it as soon as it's badly knife scored.

Wood. Of all the materials, wood needs the most to upkeep. You can buy John Boos Mystery Oil which is a mixture of Mineral Oil, Linseed Oil And Tung Oil. You can't just use any oil because it needs to be safe to eat in case of any oil transfer, and you don't want an oil that can go rancid. You just oil the wood every 4-6 weeks . Wood is not dishwasher safe. You want to avoid ever soaking wood in water, although a quick scrub and rinse through the sink, along with a quick and thorough drying with a towel will do the trick just fine. Yes, it's more work than the others, but it's not THAT much work, and I think it's defnitely worth it.

One more note about wood boards. Maple is the best material becaues of it's small pore size ratio to hardness of wood. You might think that oak is very hard wood, but it has bigger pores, so stick with Maple.

John Boos Cutting Board Conclusion:

I think this is a perfect cutting board. The material, size, shape, weight, is all right. John Boo has also been doing this since 1887, so it's a good American company that's been around long enough to know a little something about wood. The customer service is great as well. My only complaint is that it's not very pretty. It's quite plain looking. The wood boards are a gorgeous addition to my kitchen, warming it up and giving it a very earthy and real feel but being a girl, the cherry on top would have been if it were just "prettier".

One last thing, this board is reversible. I don't like when they put little feet on one side of the board that prevents you from using both sides. This extends the use and life of the board and I think it's a shame to take that away. You can always just place a removeable, nonslip surface under your wood board to keep it in place like silicone pad or a sheet of that non-slip drawer liner stuff.

This board is well worth the money. I have enjoyed and used it everyday. Cleans up well, I have had this item for 2 years now and it still does not show the cutting marks. Very little staining involved from berries and such.

You must invest in this board.

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Mercer Cutlery Renaissance 8" Chef's Knife

I've used Mercer Cutlery for over 7 years now and their product seems to get better. These knives are probably the best valued knife in the market. They hold their edge relatively well with proper honing on the steel on everyday use. If you're looking for an intermediate priced knife at home or a knock around at work this knife fills both.

Got it following a recommendation of a chef from my cooking class, and I am completely satisfied.

Very nice balance, good length (I am 5'1" tall), and I love the fact that it can be sharpened all the way through the blade (no dull edge near the handle).

Having said that, I did not have to sharpen it yet, so have no comments on the sharpening process.

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This has become my favorite veggie dicer and meat slicer. I've sharpened it once since I got it (after about 6 weeks, using a ceramic sharpener) and the new edge brought it back to out of the box condition.

There are larger knives on the market, but I prefer 8 inch ones because they are easier to clean and are nicer to handle. I am a male with average sized hands -I think 10 inch chef's knives are too big.

Mercer knives are used by many student chefs. I am sure there are better (and much pricier) knives out there. I started reading knife discussion forums and after a point I realized there are knife snobs just like for other products, and a lot of the discussion is ego-driven hooey. But coming from a house husband who cooks for a family of five, this is the finest knife I've had so far. So if you are considering Henckels, Wusthof or other big store high quality brands, you might want to test a Mercer against them. (Don't price compare this to Henckel's budget International knives, but to one of their better knives.)

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BUILT Neoprene Bottle Tote

This is just perfect for holding a water bottle or a slim thermos. I live in Florida and the heat requires that you carry water. These help keep the product cold or warm, and keep condensation off me and out of my tote bag where I usually keep my water. I bought extra so I now have one at work so my desk stays dry.

I have 24oz Polar Water bottles and they fit perfectly. I have an assortment of aluminum and other insulated bottles and all fit securely.

The neoprene sleves are well made and have enough stretch for perfect fit. The loop lock is secure yet easy to use. Has 2 positions, loop locks over the bottle or loop lock over the side away from the drinking area. I clip these on to my tote or rolling cart and have had no issue, easy on, easy off!

I also own a Built Neoprene Kindle DX case and a lunch tote, both of which I love, and was the reason I looked to Built first when looking for an insulated bottle/thermos carrier.

I even like the patterns, in that they make it ease to always find where I put my bottle down, or which is mine.

Will buy again if I need more!

I wanted to send my daughter's 16oz/500ml Camelbak bottle with her to school, but I wanted the water to stay colder longer, and I didn't want it to leave condensation rings on the table to muck up her papers. Buying an insulated Camelbak was not an option because that yields a bigger bottle for the same capacity (and little hands cannot easily manage a bottle that is too big). I didn't want any sort of metal that could be dented or messed up anyway. At last, I found this product.

It fits her standard 16oz Camelbak perfectly. The top edges of the sides hit right at the bottom of the lid. The "handle" of the tote has enough clearance even with that loopy thing on the Camelbak bottle. It's not cumbersome or needing to be folded down. I attach the handle part back (as in the product photo on this page) and tuck that other clip on the left into the sleeve itself, so it doesn't bug her. The cup sits stable and flat in the sleeve, no problem at all.

I mix her cup 50/50 with ice and cold water, and it stays cold and icy (at varying degrees of clankiness) for about 2-3 hours, depending on outside temp, and it stays cool for an additional couple/few hours.

My only complaint is that it does leave your hand the slightest bit damp when the cup is producing lots of condensation, but I'm not sure there's a way around this short of defying science. And a little damp is better than dripping wet and leaving water rings all over your table.

The dot print is more random on ours, which I think is cuter. She's thrilled with it, and it meets all our requirements.

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I bought the city grid with orange lining 12/18oz tote for my thermo. This is my 3rs BUILT bottle tote. I have a red/green tall sling for my 20oz Hydro Flask, a Camo one for my Nalgene 32oz, and this one for my 18oz tea thermo.

The blk/wht graphic and orange lining are very attractive. Although I suspect that the tea stain will get the white dirty eventually. Hopefully it can be washed off.

The dual handle position is a nice touch if you want to clip the handle to a tote bag or a backpack.

Since I have been using BUILT bottle tote for over 5 years, the first one (Camo) is still in great shape, not stretched out or unraveling. Therefore I believe that I will be using this one for years to come, too.

This 12/18oz size is too short if you have a 20, 24, or 32oz bottle because of the width and length.

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I've used (or seen friends use) a few different kinds of water-bottle covers, and think this one is the absolute best for this size bottle! (I've got the 20-30 ounce cover) I can use this cover with either of these 2 water-bottles: Eco Vessel Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Flip Straw Top Vacuum Sealed Thermos Bottle (my new favorite the steel with vacuum-insulation keeps my water ice-cold for over 24 hours!) and also with this bottle: Trudeau Cool Off 24-Ounce Hydration Bottle, Blue (mine is actually pink, but that didn't show up in the product-link search). The Trudeau is the bottle I used to use and love, but after breaking 3 in less than one year, I switched to the Eco Vessel Stainless Steel bottle and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! And this cover only makes it better! My Eco-V bottle has a beautiful shiny metallic finish, but I chipped the paint fairly quickly when I knocked it over in a shopping cart... With this cover, that will never happen again, as it does a beautiful job protecting the bottle, AND I can clip the strap to the cart, so it can't fall over! Of course it also adds a good deal of extra insulation to the bottle, and makes for a nice cushy surface to hold as well.

I LOVE the neoprene fabric for water-bottle covers, because it is stretchy enough so it will mold to the shape of the bottle, and still hold it snugly. It is also really nice for absorbing condensation so you don't leave water-rings or drops, etc.

I got the bottle-cover that is navy with magenta dots and magenta inside, and love it very cute! I will upload a couple pictures shortly, showing the cover in use on both the Eco Vessel Stainless Steel 25 ounce bottle, and the Trudeau 24-ounce bottles. For size reference the EcoV bottle is 3.5" wide at the bottom/base and 11" tall (not including straw/spout), and the Trudeau is just under 3" at the bottom/base, and is 10.25" high, not including straw. Both bottles have tapered shape, and this holder molds itself perfectly to both of them, and does a great job of covering the bottle well. (The bottle-holder I used before getting this one was a Neosling: NEOSLING, Adjustable Neoprene Bottle Holder, Violet That one is much shorter, leaving a good deal of the bottle uncovered though I did like the long strap.

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I have a 48 oz GLASS water bottle from Bed Bath Beyond and this Neoprene bottle tote holds it perfectly and keeps it from cracking if it drops. This particular one is thicker neoprene than my other Built brand neoprene 20 oz bottle sleeve.

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Prodyne CK-300 Multi-Use Cheese Fruit and Veggie Knife

You must get this knife. We own over 100 knives and this is currently my favorite.I keep finding new uses for it;things you wouldn't think of using it for.My better half keeps saying: "It's a cheese knife!" I like cutting up smoked sausage into 1/16-1/8" slices and frying it until nicely browned.With other knives,the sausage sticks to the blade and it's very frustrating to have to keep stopping and knocking off the pieces. With this knife,I can keep cutting the entire foot-long piece without stopping and the slices can be as thin as I want. I've tried it on tomatoes,especially tough-skinned ones and it works as well as any other knife.Oh,and for cheese,hard or soft it is fantastic.I love thin slices of Parmigiano-Reggiano on my Caesar salad and again,this knife can cut it as thinly as I want.I think I'll buy another one to add to the collection!

I was hesitate to order a cheese knife online but when I couldn't locate one like mine in the store, I decided to order this one. It turns out, it is nicer than my other one! Nicely constructed and should last for years to come. I was pleased to give it as a gift and if mine ever dies, I'll order this one again.

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wonderful knife. i'll be buying more as presents this year. work's as will as my sister's Cutco!!!

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This is simply an excellent product for a terrific price. It is made of materials found on more expensive knives, is sharp, cuts smoothly, and has a nice stable grip. The blade is angled on one side only, but that seems to add to its ability to cut very thin slices. I would not use this knife for cutting a block of cheese into uniform slices. It is like any other knife -the uniformity of slices will depend on your ability. This is more of knife to set out when you serve a chunk of manchego or gouda or brie for a get together. There will be no awkward cutting and fingering of cheeses sticking to the knife. It has already become a staple in our household!

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My friends had been envying my $40 Cutco cheese knife for quite some time, and it seemed like a great gift to share ... but not for $40+. The Prodyne CK-300 does quite as well for a quarter of the cost!

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Fischer Bargoin 12-Inch Sharpening Steel Classic, Fine Cut

A good piece of top steel, really does the job. Great length makes the work easy. four more words required

I just received this and its a heavy duty quality item and works great.. My old steels were worn down and I wanted a 12" anyway since I've acquired longer knives and this is perfect.. I didn't realize how much my old ones were worn until I made a few passes with this and I tell you "Wow what a difference".. I still can't get over how inexpensive it was and how well its built so I highly recommend it..

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Escali Pico Digital Scale

The tare function doesn't with objects weighing more than approximately 500 grams/18 ounces. So if you have a heavy bowl, you may not be able to use the tare function with it.

I only found this out after talking with a technician at the company; this limitation isn't documented anywhere in the product manual or the company website.

I purchased this scale because it was recommended to me by some other bakers. I was unable to get the scale to zero after weighing multiple items. The ad claims that scale weighs up to 11lbs. The seller sent me second scale and again the same problems. I would not recommended this product.

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I have used Escali scales for many years and have always found them great. My only complaint in the past has been the fact they use harder to find batteries than the standard AA's or AAA's. This has been changed in recent years. I rent vacation condos during travel. Having this small scale makes it possible to cook, bake and keep track of calories while traveling. I would recommend this scale to anyone looking for a small, sturdy, and accurate unit.

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The scale is a lot smaller than I expected (I have another model Escali scale &

ignored the "pico" in the description). My fault there. The scale has more features

than the larger one for weight choice. I compared the 2 & the pico is a couple

grams shy on the higher weights. No big deal (I don't have calibrated weights) so

I really don't know which one is closer. The "hold" feature is great, sometimes

necessary with large objects. Almost everything you normally weigh is going to be

larger than the scale! It suits my needs just fine, no complaints about function.

It's a tiny scale capable of weighing up to 11 lbs., the small "footprint" helps

save storage space (as if that would be a problem with this scale)! So far, it's

great.

P.S. I did some research and found the weight of a penny is 2.5gr., and a nickle

is 5.0gr. So there ya go, cheap, accurate calibration weights everyone can afford !

Pile them on, great way to calibrate these small scales.

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Just started really watching serving sizes. This little scale works great and fits easily in a travel bag so you can take it with you.

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