KitchenAid Pro Food Chopper Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This review applies to the White version of this unit, however except for color there are no other differences.
Expectation management is important when dealing with these mini-choppers. I have a Vidalia Chop Wizard which is perfect for large amounts of various vegetables, onions, etc. If you only need a small amount this food chopper is both convenient and useful. However you must limit the size of the food you are chopping to perhaps a one to one and one half inches in length and probably no more than about 3/4 of an inch in height. You must also pound the unit with some force to get it to really work effectively. I have carefully watched the Slap Chop infomercial ($27.95 with shipping and handling and an additional $7.95 S&H for the "Graty") and with camera angles that commercial creates a bit of a false sense of just what these products can and can't do. Several people have commented on how difficult this unit is to clean. The cleaning instructions on the box say "Remove container ring and carefully wash with soap and water." This has to be the most misleading and dumb instruction ever! The unit easily disassembles however the instructions on the box offer no assistance whatsoever.
What you need to do is first separate the food container from the unit by twisting the clear plastic container counterclockwise about one inch then pull down. This separates the food container from the cutting unit. Next depress the plunger approximately 3/4 of the way and then twist the sweeper/cover to the right or left pulling down until it separates from the remaining unit. This exposes the blades. You are now fully disassembled and ready to quickly clean and reassemble the unit.
The unit is dishwasher safe (top of DW only). You can use the unit with or without the base however with the base on the unit the food is all captured in the food container rather than on the cutting board.
From my observation this unit appears to be essentially a quality copy of the Pampered Chef chopper at about 1/2 the price. It uses a W wedge blade that rotates and also includes a scraper for the side of the food container unit so that the food doesn't build up on the side. This does not work perfectly but is a nice touch. With a litle practice and with the food size limitation mentioned above you can quickly learn the various techniques required for each of the foods you wish to chop. With a little more practice and some good camera angels who knows, you might end up doing a "Slap Chop" commercial for your friends only with a unit that costs less and works just as well. Just don't throw it over your back into the sink.
To recap, this is a very good mini chopper so long as your expectations are in line with the product's capabilities. However, KitchenAid needs to do better with their disassembly/cleaning instructions.

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Now you can chop anything from nuts and garlic to vegetables, herbs and even chocolates with ease! The Food Chopper by KitchenAid comes equipped with an ergonomic handle and spring loaded plunger for quick and easy chopping and dicing. With just a simple press of the handle, your chopper springs into action. The self-contained base eliminates the need for a cutting board and helps keep mess to a minimum. The sharp stainless steel blades and nonslip base create a hassle-free chopping system. This chopper detaches for easy cleaning and is dishwasher safe.

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WMF Profi Plus 11-1/4-Inch Stainless Steel Potato Masher Review

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(More customer reviews)I was suspicious about purchasing it since it is made in China; when I got it I was pleasantly surprise. This is a great potato masher. It is very sturdy and ergonomic. The head is actually oval unlike other mashers that are round or square and because of this design it fits into a pot much nicer. I didn't get the Rosle masher because I don't like the ring around the base of the handle. I may want to use two hands to mash because I have small hands and that idea would not work well for me. This masher is really great.

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Boiled potatoes are easily mashed and made into creamed potatoes or "kn??del." Also ideal for celery or carrot dishes and for apple puree."Profi Plus" is a range of more than 100 different kitchen gadgets meeting even the highest demands of professional cooks. The heavy design in high-grade Cromargan: 18/10 stainless steel is absolutely stable and durable, watertight, perfectly dishwasher-safe ??? that is: just indestructible. The design which is both sophisticated and timeless fits into every modern kitchen.

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Omega O2 1/3-Horsepower Continuous Pulp-Ejection Juicer Review

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(More customer reviews)I have searched thru hundreds of reviews on a dozen different juicers, and after purchasing the Omega 02 I felt it deserved a little boost to its overall grade.
I have now owned 5 different juicers under the $135 price tag: a department store model; a highly rated 700 watt stainless model available almost everywhere under many names; a OK/nice LeQuip model: the Jack LaLanne model, and now this Omega 02. What a difference it is too.
To begin with, it is by far the best packaged item of all five of them (LeQuip was good). It looks clean and has nice body lines, and works smooth. In comparison, the cheapy is what it is...not much. The all stainless model was not all that well made for the price and jumped all over the place...It did have a similar basket similar to the Omega, but it had a plastic mounting ring and a lightweight blade. The LeQuip is similar to this Omega, but more money and a couple little issues that make it number two on my list. And finally, the Jack LaLanne...it worked OK at first, but with a cheap plastic basket/blade assembly and only a 60 day full warranty it is not worth it at any price. The Jack L is so over-hyped that I would recommend most anything over that device!
So, what is good about the Omega 02? It is compact and does not use a lot of counter space. But it does everything the 3" mouth model can do (in the form of juicing the way a good one should), except you have to cut apples and beets down into slices. And besides, if you juice a lot of apples it is wise not to eat all of those seeds over time(there is much mention of accumulating poison from some seeds)...and lets face it, if you have a big mouth juicer you are going to get lazy and just drop them in seeds and all. Also, other larger fruits that might have a large seed are going to wind up getting chopped and not juiced whole anyway...so cutting is not a really big deal.
What else? It cleans up a LOT easier than the Jack L...largely due to the way the pulp is thrown out of the back and most of it goes straight into the catcher, the way it is supposed to do. **A note for any juicer, put a plastic bag in the catcher and tie it up over the top to make clean up easier and you can save the pulp for compost or meatloaf, etc.** Anyway, some of the tops on other machines get jammed with pulp or have corners that make them hard to clean out. If you can visually see the design of a cover you can more easily determine if it is a smooth arc or a sharply angled model...the smoother the better.
How about power? This version of an Omega has a 1/3 hp, 6300 rpm motor. The Jack L and other cheapies have smaller 1/4 or less motors and some still crank the rpm's to compensate (not good). There is much discussion about rpm's and that lower is better (for reducing oxidation)...but, you cannot find a centrifugal pulp ejector model that is slow enough to compete with the masticator/auger types with reducing the oxidation. So, you need to choose one that can at least separate the juice from the pulp but not be too weak to break. This is why I chose the Omega 02...it is not the full 11,000 rpm 1/3 or 1/2 hp model but it is powerful enough to do the job and strong enough to last as well. Also, don't get caught up in wattage comparisons...watts do not translate directly into horsepower. To grind up tough fruit and veggies, you need horsepower.
If I had to choose another model to replace this one (in the same price range) I would definitely choose this Omega 02 again.
With that said, there are a couple small items to address. First of all, get the black version instead of the white. Or plan to buy the black plastic bowl ring later. This piece of plastic will get stained in short order from carrots and other similar veggies. But it is just a little stain ring around the inside where the basket rides, not bad like other brands. The black plastic will not show this and stay newer looking, longer. But, I will say that even stainless appliances will show wear over time, so use it and enjoy it anyway. Secondly, there is occasional juice that seeps out around the bottom lip of the bowl ring (mentioned above) and the stainless bowl, BUT I have come up with a quick fix: put a small amount of vaseline around the rim of the stainless bowl and then place the white (or black) plastic ring on top before setting the basket and blade into place. Juice will not seep out, and it will not come in contact with your juice either. It does not affect cleanup! When it is time to break the unit down, it merely washes off in hot water. FYI, the LeQuips have the plastic ring formed onto the stainless bowl...stops the seepage, but is a real pain to clean since it does not come off of the bowl.
OK, hopefully that is enough to make it worth your time reading this whole thing and help in decision making.
I would recommend the Omega 02 to anyone...I got it for $90 shipped and I would only consider a couple of other models over this one (maybe) but they will cost 2 to 21/2 times this price (Omega Big Mouth or 4000). And the only reason for considering them is a longer warranty (10 or 15 instead of 3) and larger machines for a little more processing power (but I didn't need more).

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Enjoy healthy great-tasting juice quickly and easily with this electric fruit-and-vegetable juicer. The small appliance features an efficient 1/3-horsepower motor for 6200 RPMs, a stainless-steel blade and basket, and a large feed chute that can accommodate a variety of different-size produce (cut up over-sized items into smaller pieces as necessary). Freshly squeezed juice dispenses from the spout directly into a glass or storage container. Best of all, a receptacle bin in the back of the unit catches fruit and vegetable refuse for convenient disposal and simple cleanup. The juice dispenser comes in a compact size that takes up very little space, making it a nice choice for at home or when traveling. The continuous pulp-ejection-style juicer measures 15 by 9 by 12-1/2 inches and carries a five-year warranty.

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Leifheit Creative Line Tools and Vegetable Mill Review

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(More customer reviews)Just bought this vegetable mill from Amazon, and upon trying it out on cabbage, onions and celery found that it doesn't work well at all. Although it appears well made in every other respect, the cutting "teeth" on the 3 supplied drums are just not sharp enough. In fact, they're not sharp at all. They just plow grooves in what you're trying to run through the machine and then stop cutting. Even applying a great deal of downward force did not improve matters much. Pretty much useless for its intended purpose, I'm sorry to say.


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The nut and vegetable mill has four exchangeable drums and suctions to the bottom of any location for super easy use.This versatile hand use machine can be used to process most vegetables and chop nuts.It is durable and dishwasher safe.

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Fagor Duo Combi 5-Piece Pressure Cooker Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Fagor is the least expensive brand that I am aware of which also has the 'modern' features desirable in pressure cookers. To learn more about pressure cookers and what is desirable go to missvickie.com (a non-commercial site devoted to pressure cooker enthusiasts.) Some of these features deal with safety, e.g. you don't have to worry about plugging the steam escape with Fagor. Fagor cookers also reach a pressure of 15psi (which is important.) Unless a brand advertises that they do reach 15psi, assume that they don't. I suggest getting an extra gasket when you buy the item as you will need one at one point (they don't last forever). I must also compliment the company on its service. I bought this item, and sent in a rebate form (for a free stock pot). They sent me a nice paella pan by mistake. I was satisfied, however I called them to make sure that there was no mistake. They answered the phone right away (without the common maze of annoyingly slow and complex menu options.) The woman I talked to was very personable. This woman checked on what happened, called me back, and told me that they would also send the stock pot to me, and for me to go ahead and keep the paella pan. I will update this if needed as time goes on, as I have more experience using this item.


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The 5-pc. Duo Combi set includes the 4-qt. and 8-qt. Duo pressure cooking pots, Duo pressure cooker lid, tempered glass lid, steamer/pasta basket with support trivet, user's manual and recipe book. The pots can be used as pressure cookers with the Duo pressure cooker lid, or as regular stockpots by using the glass lid.Features:Triple Safety Mechanism: Triple safety features dual pressure control valve plus two independent over pressure release valves: safety locking handle prevents accidental opening under pressure. UL approved.Quality Construction: 18/10 quality stainless steel construction with impact bonded diffuser base for even heat distribution and fuel efficiency - easy to clean, body is dishwasher safe. Use on all heat sources.Easy Operation: Two pressure settings in a spring valve mechanism operated by a dial format. Set to either Level 1 (low 8.5-psi) or Level 2 (high 15-psi). Visual Indicator lets used know when all pressure has been release. Ergonomically designed handles for easier handling.Attractive Presentation: Comes with user's manual, recipe book and stainless steel steamer basket. Packaged in a full-color gift box.

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Reco International Vegetable Baker Review

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(More customer reviews)I had been used to cooking with clay pots many years ago. But, after several moves, my pots had become pot shards. I have many food allergies and have my own large personal garden to help me avoid the contaminants normally found in non-organics and I love fresh veggies, raw or baked. So, in keeping with my resolution to start eating better and healthier without sacrificing quality of taste, I decided to replenish my clay pots and I had this brand of pot in the past and was well satisfied then. I bought the veggie pot and the chicken roaster. The veggie pot was used the night I received it and what a joy it was to taste the meal prepared in it. Onion, potatoe, broccoli, turnip, carrots, green beans, fresh sweet red pepper slices, mushrooms and whole bulbs of garlic mixed with a little olive oil, thyme, rosemary and fresh sage, salt and pepper at 425 for 35 minutes. Yummy---add some steamed brown rice to the meal, not in the pot, and you are in for a nutritious and delicious meal with taste that will make the clay pot a standard vessel for your cooking. The chicken pot was used a day or two later for friends who raved about the taste. Clay is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned.

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The Romertopf vegetable clay baker is perfect for roasting fresh veggies. Vegetables cooked in a clay pot requires no liquid unless specifically called for.The result:Full flavor and taste and all the essential nutrients and vitamins are retained.The taste is truly superb.You can cook all kinds of food without adding any fat, in line with the demands of modern dietetics.The Romertopf is made of a special porous clay and is unglazed inside and out allowing it to breathe during the cooking process.By soaking the pot in water before cooking, moisture is absorbed by the clay.The tiny water particles are released during cooking, penetrating and blending with the natural food juices, increasing flavor, tenderness and enhancing aroma.

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Norpro Vegetable Chopper, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)this unit is great for very small items
but
for larger ones it clogs or you must just put less in it
wish i had realized the size before i bought it

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Chop vegetables fast and easy.Stainless steel blades rotate after each press.Chop on plastic cap or cutting board. Handy cap keeps vegetables contained while chopping. Capacity 1 Cup/8 ounces.

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