I learned about Dexter-Russel knives a few years ago. Ones I've bought so far are sharp on arrival, hold an edge well, easy to resharpen and very cost-effective cutlery. I already have, and love, the white-plastic-handle version of this knife. This wooden-handle version looks like it will become a favorite at my fish cleaning station. Just wish I could have bought it with a sheath.
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I've been walking into Bed, Bath, and Beyond for several years now looking for a decent salad spinner. Last Christmas I bought myself an OXO but returned it after 1 day since the the gears stripped with a minimum of force and the entire unit was difficult to keep steady. Then last week I started looking around online to see where the state of salad spinner technology was and after perusing many reviews I decided to give this Starfrit item a whirl. What a good move that was! This thing is SWEET. Some people might be turned off by the side handle because it might make it difficult to store the unit. But as far as I'm concerned this is the luxury of the item. With the side handle, the gear mechanism is more sturdy and considerable force can be applied to get the spinner really humming. Also, with the top of the unit clear, one can place a hand on top to stabilize the unit while turning the handle. Also, there are some little details like removable liner on the spinner, which can be cleaned separately. Also, the ribbed interior of the basket to keep salad leaves in place. And did I mention the 4 thick rubber feet? Finally, this light blue thing looks cool as all get out like something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey! Open the pod bay doors, Hal, and get me a Caesar Salad....I love this product and advise everyone to immediately bypass the OXO hype and get with the Starfrit revolution! (OK, am I overstating my enthusiasm a bit here? seriously though, this is an awesome salad spinner.)
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I reviewed a lot of spinners before choosing this one, and I'm very glad I bought it. It is quite large, well designed, very sturdy, and does a great job. We've had it for many months, no problems. I like that you can crank the handle just a few turns, and it keeps on spinning on its own for as long as you want, to get your produce very dry--no need to pump and pump. The brake works very well. The lid never seems to get wet either, which makes for easier cleaning. We like to do leaf lettuce in whole leaves, then store them ready for use in an air-tight container. The lettuce seems to last longer, and is certainly convenient for salads and sandwiches. This is a bit too large for de-hulling sprouts.Read Best Reviews of Starfrit Salad Spinner, Blue Here
In the past, I have had the OXO and the Kitchen Aid salad spinners. Both of these were difficult to spin, especially with large amounts and broke within a relatively short period of time. This one, with the crank, is easy to use and gets my lettuce much drier than the others. I am happy with my purchase.Want Starfrit Salad Spinner, Blue Discount?
I must say I'm underwhelmed on first spin with this product. Several review descriptions just seem "off". This is NOT any jumbo capacity spinner, if anything it's a tad less than OXO's and other typical spinners of that ilk. It's taller but narrower. The minimal instructions don't tell you how to attach the handle, just shove it on. Not sure from that if there's a better connection than just randomly pushing it in but the most annoying thing about it is it has a clicking, "skipping" feel to the spinner when you rotate the handle, as though the cogs had already stripped a few teeth. This is apparently the action that was designed into the spin system(they're very few teeth on the spin top) so to me it feels defective right out of the box. It literally sounds like popcorn popping there's so much plastic "gear stripping". You dont get the feel that it can spin as fast or with as much torque as other common spinners. Can't imagine it'll hold up too well with the flimsiness of the handle/gear cog mechanism, but will definitely report back on its performance after a month or two. My initial impulse was to return it but seems like a hassle for a bulky $25 purchase. 10 days later-gave up and returned it. I would guess it never exceeded 60 rpm(with a clattering/ratchedy noise)and left salad dripping wet. Thank you Amazon for good return service.
Very good for chopping. Keeps a nice edge. Handle is somewhat slender, especially for a male user. Would prefer this knife in 5 1/2 inches and a very thin, hard blade. Am wondering if there is a 5 1/2 inch standard knife available and if it has a more slender blade than the Santoku. Used such a blade when vacationing in Hilton Head, staying in a condo.
This is a wonderful knife, I have many very expensive knives and for the money this is the best of the lot. It has a wonderful heft, it is easy to grasp, it cuts superbly, and it is so sharp it rivals my Kramer Damascus blade. I had originally bought a Kershaw sheath knife for camping and discovered what a superior blade it is, i immediately went out and bought a chefs blade for the kitchen. I do not allow anyone in the house to touch a couple of my knives, they are so sharp, and this is one of them.
The design and functionality of this knife is top notch, I really like it. On Thanksgiving everyone envied it; they loved the blade-cover concept because it travels well (which we all did for the holiday and were cooking together) and stores well. However, even though everyone knows that ceramic is fragile, the next day (the second time I was using it) the tip broke right off. It is a shame but the bigger shame is that I contacted the manufacturer TWICE to find out if there is a repair warranty and NEVER got a reply. I would pay to sharpen the tip! Knife sharpening businesses will not handle ceramic blades, I tried. I was told that if my knife was manufactured by Kyosera, they would repair it.
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If you want a knife that never needs sharpening DON'T BUY THIS ONE.
This flatware has substance and is just beautiful. The handles are all etched with Christmas trees and each piece has a delightful little sprig of mistletoe on the bowl/tine area. I bought this box to round out my set to "servings for 12" and so enjoyed using it this Christmas season.
I was moving into my own place and needed some flatware, and this is perfect. I spent probably too much time looking around for a 20-piece set that would do the job. Its not my favorite pattern, but the price was right for Oneida's great brand & warranty. For the price, you get a very good weight and well balanced flatware. This set is very shiny and well made. All of the pieces, even the knives are one piece and you won't have to worry about water getting in or breaking apart. I looked at of Oneida's 18/0 flatware of comparable price (Colonial Boston, etc..) in stores around town and this set was the nicest of the bunch. You don't need to worry about bending at all.
Buy Oneida Boutonniere 20-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 4 Now
I am very pleased with this bowl. It's beautiful! I use it as a fruit bowl on our kitchen island, and now even when the fruit is down to one or two, the almost empty bowl doesn't look bare .... the beautiful golden-pearl mosaic tiles are so lovely that it still looks so attractive and nice! For my use as a fruit bowl, it would be nice if this bowl ran a little bigger (it's 10" across) as we have a big family and go through a lot of fruit per week. But it's still a nice size and will do just fine for us. I really like it thanks!
I found this flatware in a Macy's store and was thrilled by the design of the knives (as well as the spoon sizes). Unfortunately, Macy's only had one 20 piece set left which just wasn't enough for my needs. So I searched online and found it through Amazon. Even though only the fork (why?) was displayed as an image and I had no name for the set, I decided to go for and order it. Fortunately, it turned out to be the right choice and I am now a happy owner of 2 sets. The handles of all pieces have a night weight to them and really sit well in your hand. Very stylish! ...forgot to mention that Amazon's price was 50% cheaper than Macy's...
The quality of the tools themselves is OK, the biggest benefit of the tool collection was that it comes with a full set (8) of corn skewers and a set of kabob skewers, the rest of the set is fairly standard fair although the handle design if more attractive than most. The biggest disappointment with this set was the "Elegant Aluminum Carrying Case", it is aluminum but it very cheaply constructed and didn't even survive being shipped without coming apart in a couple of places, I had to pop the face sheet back into place on both sides since the metal edges that are supposed to hold the face sheet in place are too flimsy to do the job. It simply will not last being used.
This little guy is amazing. It's light weight, durable as all get out, easy to use and attractive. Mechanically the XI2 is very simple and when it comes to a cutter, simple is better. One thing that had me a little worried with the XI2 was the shape. Since I was used to guillotine cutters I wasn't sure if the XI2 would allow a steady grip but rest assured, when gripped properly the cutter won't shift in your hand.
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This is a great product. Very easy to use and ergonomic. Produces a perfect cut every time.Read Best Reviews of Xikar XI2 Cutter, Noir Black Here
This cutter feels solid and I expect it to last me a lifetime. The matte black nylon handles do not scratch or chip, but still look sleek. I have dropped the cutter a few times, picked it up and everything is tight, with no chips. As far as cutting cigars this thing is a champ. Blade is razor sharp. I have used it on many gauges and shapes and every time they come out perfect. Just make sure you snap it shut with a good deal of force. Even the best cutters can mash a cigar if not closed quickly. The locking mechanism makes it very easy and safe to carry in your pocket, and since this thing is so light you barely know it is there. After cutting through 75 or so cigars and a year of use there is not a sign of rust or blade dulling.Want Xikar XI2 Cutter, Noir Black Discount?
Best cutter I've ever owned. I wanted it faster but it was worth the wait. You can't go wrong with Xikar.
We own several ceramic knives by other manufacturers each costing in the neighborhood of $100. This knife compares favorably to all of them. The handle is comfortable to hold, the balance of the knife is good and we find ourselves reaching for it for many kitchen cutting tasks.
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This is a single stone (rather than a complicated series of stones) that gets the job done better than a much more costly electric sharpener. If you wish your knives were sharper, but don't want to become a professional knife maintenance technician, it's a nice choice. I like mine.
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I purchased this item because of a good experience with other company products and a family reommendation for this particular item. The diamond stone has not been fixed exactly parallel to the sides of the wooden base casing and so the lid cover does not sit squarely on the base. It is not worth sending back from Australia but if the manufacturer wishes to distribute internationally they need to do more than just have US address and telephone in the internet age.Read Best Reviews of Chef's Choice Edgecraft 2-by-6-Inch Diamond Sharpening Stone Here
Have had a small cleaver that I like to use for general purpose chopping and cutting, but was never able to keep it very sharp, despite trying to use a sharpening rod kit. The missing piece was not using a stone, you can use either a traditional wet stone, or a hard surface (diamond) one. Since I didn't want the hassle of a wet stone, I opted for this one, and found it to be easy to use. The instructions tell you to try and maintain a 22.5 degree angle while sharpening, which they recommend you do by folding over a piece of paper twice, once to get a 45 deg angle and then once more, and using this from time to time to check your angle. Other than that, it's very straightforward and you end up with a very sharp knife.Want Chef's Choice Edgecraft 2-by-6-Inch Diamond Sharpening Stone Discount?
I used this product as soon as it arrived to sharpen my "dull" steak knives. What a difference! They were as sharp as the day I bought them when I was done. The instructions were very clear and the process was extremely easy.
I bought this set at Costco's for $69.95 on Dec 21, 2012 and my wife loves it. It is really beautiful with a 18/10 stainless steel rating that won't rust like 18/0 does. Usually Amazon has the lowest prices. I'm suprised they sell it for $159.00
Wish I had read more carefully the word 'like' the silverware is tarnished looking. Not nearly the quality I was expecting.
I have gotten this set of flatware based on the picture and on the only review that gave a 5 star. I can say that the product picture is much better looking than the actual product. I bought a set of Oneida Tuscany 20-Piece Flatware 2-3 years ago which is a couple bucks more expensive than this one. It is, however, much better in quality. I am quite disappointed with this set but I suppose with this price, I cannot expect TOO much (the spoons and forks are thin and can easily be bent). Hence I gave it a 3 star instead of 1.
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If you have a recessed under-cabinet surface like I have, with a 1 1/2 inch skirt, nothing provided with the unit will enable you to mount it. The spacers are insufficient and the screws are too short, and nowhere in the documentation is there a cure. But before you go crazy trying to find screws and spacers long enough to jerry-rig a mount, as so many have done, call Black and Decker customer service and get parts. They know about the problem and have long screws and mounts to correctly mount the unit.
Buy Black & Decker CO100 Spacemaker Traditional Multi-Purpose Can Opener, White Now
I had a Rival under the cabinet can opener that was terrific. It had a button to push to swing it up and out of the way when not in use. The Black and Decker is larger but fits well under the cabinet. So far it has proved to be very effecient. I haven't tried the bag opener yet but all in all it is a good product.seems to work fine as a can opener but very loud/grindy sounding motor. I really do not like the fold down front cover and would not have bought this item had the listing made it clear to me that there was a fold down front cover. the last Spacesaver can opener from B & D that we had the entire opener rotated out of view for a closed, smooth surface when not in use.Want Black & Decker CO100 Spacemaker Traditional Multi-Purpose Can Opener, White Discount?
It was easy to install under a cabinet. It works well and is easy to keep clean. I highly reccomend it.
My daughter likes these tools. They are handy for making garnishes, but I question the build quality if they are cleaned in the dishwasher. THe packaging gives no indication on weather they are dishwasher safe or not, so I guess dear old dad has to hand wash them.
A knife is only as good as how sharp and well maintained its blade's edge is. An inexpensive $25 Victorinox chef's knife that has its blade well maintained, is much more valuable and useful in the long run than say, a $200 Wusthof whose blade is neglected. If you do a lot of cooking that involves chopping or cutting and/or have a lot of knives (particularly expensive ones) that you care about, you should have a sharpener.
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This is the largest Mezzaluna advertised on the internet. It was not easy to find, but it was exactly what this individual was looking for. All I need now is a homemade cutting board for this item and one will be set. Again if you are having to chop lots of herbs and garlic for a restaurant, this is what you are looking for. Save your knife and time by purchasing a Messaluna from Paderno World Cuisine with a double blade.
Buy Paderno World Cuisine 11-7/8-Inch Stainless-Steel Double Blade Mezzaluna Now