Product Reviews

Review of Instantpot IPDUO60 Multi Cooker

This is my in-depth review of Instapot IPDUO60 7-in-1 Multi Cooker. In this review, I put the unit unto a series of tests and I documented each of it by including the details in the video. You might be surprised with the result. There are affiliate links in this posts which will lead to the site where you can buy this product.

The video below shows my detailed review on the Instapot IPDUO60 7-in-1 Multi Cooker. The first part s the unboxing wherein you will see what is included in the box. There are also scenes in the video wherein I demonstrated how to use the cooker to prepare some dishes.

The first thing that I did was to test on how well this product is in cooking rice. Check the video to see how it went.
If you love dishes such as stew, you should see how I used this unit to cook Beef Mechado. This will also work well for pork mechado and other dishes that require tougher meats.
I also took some time to test the slow cooker functionality by making Slow Cooked Pulled Pork. It was awesome. I was using this product to make pulled pork ever since.

Watch the video below to see the details of my review:

T-fal Actifry Low-Fat Multi-Cooker review

Preparing healthy meals every day is simpler than ever with this Multi-Cooker. With very little to no oil needed, you can cook anything from vegetables to meats using T-fal Actifry Low-Fat Multi-Cooker. With a patented design and features to match, you can devour low-fat meals that will help to get and keep you in good shape.

What are the features?

Heat is distributed through a system that pulsates to ensure food is well and thoroughly cooked. To start and stop it, you simply press one of two control buttons. Heat levels can go up to 380F and it comes with a 99-minute timer you can adjust to set your desired cooking time. While your food cooks, an in-built paddle mixes food for you to make sure it ingredients and heat are distributed evenly.

This Multi-Cooker is an electric cooker that can prepare up to 2.2 pounds of food. You can cook meals using a little oil or no oil at all. Food cooks on a non-stick pan that is coated with durable ceramic. You can monitor your meals while they cook through the clear lid, which is also anti-steam.

Non-steaming lid opens automatically and the pan can then be removed to clean. Paddle, lid and filter can also be removed and are safe to wash in a dishwasher. Purchase includes measuring spoon and a recipe book.

What are the pros?

The fact this Multi-Cooker does not need oil makes it a winner in the health category. Many cooking oils contain fats that can harm your body and widen your waistline. By eliminating them, you can look forward to healthier food packed with essential nutrition.

The heating system is another champion feature. It produces enough heat to cook any kind of meal quickly and easily. Whether you are preparing a meaty dish or a small vegetable casserole, it will be evenly cooked. Many dieters are also happy about the size of the cooker because it helps with portion control.

With only two buttons for operation, it is incredibly easy to use. The timer is reliable and audible to prevent overcooking.

It is an easy appliance to clean. Non-stick pan makes sure food doesn’t get stuck and all you need to do to wash it is to remove it, run it under water and wipe to clean. The lid doesn’t steam up which means even less dirt. The cooker is easily disassembled so you can wash the different parts either by hand or in the dishwasher.

What are the cons?

Many users advise against using oil at all because adding even what you think is a little can make food oily. If you do want to use oil, be vigilant about the amount you add.

Some are disappointed that although you can hear the timer, it is incapable of switching off automatically like most cookers in its caliber. Its high cost is also a matter of concern to many.

Should you buy it?

The T-fal Actifry Low-Fat Multi-Cooker might be expensive but it is a quality appliance that delivers healthy cooking. Its parts are durable, especially the ceramic-coated pan, which means you can use it for years without any glitches. Convenient, simple and stylish, it’s worth what it costs.

Chicago Cutlery 18-Piece Insignia Steel Knife Set with Sharpener review

If you are tired of buying a new set of knives every year or so, you will appreciate the quality and durability of the Chicago Cutlery Steel Knife Set. The set comes with knives designed to be used by professional chefs and cooks, and a sharpener to preserve their sharpness. You can chop and dice vegetables, fruits and meats effortlessly and enjoy well-made gourmet meals every day.

What are the features?

The stainless steel of blades is high in carbon, which is very resistant to wear and tear. The metal also repels stains and rust, which makes them durable and easy to clean.

This Chicago Cutlery 18-Piece Insignia Steel Knife Set with Sharpener comes packaged with a parer, boning, utility, steak, bread, slicing and chef knives. All can be kept in a block with 18 slots with built-in sharpeners. Knife blades are made from stainless steel with Taper Grind capability to provide ultimate sharpness. Taper Grind edges are also easier to sharpen and stay sharper for longer.

Knives are designed to be lightweight and balanced to give you more control over your cooking and help you cut faster. Lightweight design also makes them comfortable and easier to handle. Bolster is made to protect your fingers from coming into contact with the blades for safety.

What are the pros?

One of the first things users notice and love about this Steel Knife Set is the sleek design. Stainless steel gives the set a polished, sophisticated look that looks fantastic in any kitchen. Knives are well organized and well presented.

Taper Grind knife blades are impressively sharp and can slice through foods effortlessly and flawlessly. They stay sharpened and in tip top shape thanks to the in-block sharpeners. This saves a lot of time because you don’t have to sharpen knives manually anymore.

The set gives you a wide variety of knives made to cut through specific types of food. Instead of using the same knife for everything, you get to pick and choose a knife specially made for certain tasks. Steaks are cut meticulously, bread can be sliced with minimal crumbs and fish can be deboned professionally.

Caring for this set is not an issue. To some extent, the knives are self-cleaning because of their stain-resistant metal and because food doesn’t stick to the blades, washing them is quick and easy. Stainless steel also comes in handy when it comes to durability. It can outlast other metals which makes it one of the longest lasting substances you can have in your kitchen.

What are the cons?

The only common complaint is that the light weight of the knives takes getting used to, especially if you are used to heavier knives. However, once you start using them regularly, they feel much better in your hand.

Should you buy it?

You get a whole range of professional knives and a block that sharpens them every time you slot them in. Blades are sharper than ever, food is finely cut and cleaning is simple. There is really no reason why you shouldn’t invest in the Chicago Cutlery 18-Piece Insignia Steel Knife Set.

Bonavita BV1800 8-cup Coffee Maker review

Give your guests a heart-warming welcome by treating them to rich, delicious and flavorful cups of coffee made by the Bonavita BV1800 8-cup Coffee Maker. You can expect to enjoy cup after cup of steaming hot beverages all made in a matter of minutes.

Features

The Bonavita BV1800 8-Cup Coffee Maker with Glass Carafe features a 1400-watt heater to boil your water to the ideal temperature. The contact time of water and coffee grounds is precise and its shower head drip is made to achieve optimal extraction and saturation.
It brews up to 8 cups of coffee and keeps them from getting cold for 2 hours with the Keep Warm feature. After 2 hours, the coffee maker automatically shuts off.

This brewer uses a #4 cone coffee filter which is included with your purchase. It also comes with a carafe so guests can serve themselves. The design is finished with stainless steel for appearance and longevity.

Pros

Considering the large amount of coffee the Bonavita BV1800 8-cup Coffee Maker makes, the brewing time is quite short. The 1400-watt heater is powerful and boils water very quickly. The rest of the process takes no more than 6 minutes. This is ideal if you don’t have time to wait in the morning. If you grab a cup to go and forget to switch the machine off, it shuts down automatically after 15 minutes to avoid fires.

A brewer that makes 8 cups of coffee at one time is beneficial if you have a coffee-loving family, when you are hosting guests, for staff rooms or in waiting rooms.

The fact that it makes coffee quickly is great, but what the coffee tastes like is more important. Fortunately, the Bonavita BV1800 8-cup Coffee Maker does not disappoint. Grounds are well-saturated thanks to cone filters and shower head. The result is strong coffee with bold flavors. The water heater makes sure it’s steaming hot and the Keep Warm feature ensures it stays that way.

Coffee usually cools a bit when it is inside the carafe but this is not the case with this coffee maker. The carafe is designed to maintain the temperature of beverages for a long time. This means you can drink your coffee immediately or at a later time.

This brewer is a very neat appliance. The carafe doesn’t drip when you pour, the water tank is precisely marked and the stainless steel finish only needs a few wipes to clean.

Cons

This maker is known to give out a little too much steam. You can remedy this by placing it away from cabinets. Another shortcoming is the price. It is much more expensive than other makers but for the quality of coffee it delivers, as well as time-saving features, it is not much of a surprise why it costs so much.

Should you buy it?

Truthfully speaking, the Bonavita BV1800 8-cup Coffee Maker is one of the best products available today. You might experience slight hesitation when you think about the price, but once you taste your first cup of coffee, you’ll be glad you bought it.

Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set review

Reliable cookware is always a clever investment and the Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12 piece Set
gives you top of the range pots and pans you can use for years. This non-stick range lets you fry, boil, steam and simmer great meals every day with ultimate style and convenience.

Features

Every item in the Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set is non-stick for easy, clean cooking. Interior of cookware thoroughly coated to provide an evenly heated cooking surface. Handles are brushed with stainless steel that remains cool regardless of the cooking temperature. This makes the cookware safe to handle and move them around comfortably.

The exterior is made of tough aluminum and glass lids have rims that are highly resistant to food stains. All cookware is safe to use in your oven below 450 degrees and can be washed by hand.

Cooking does not require any oil and the best utensils to use are wooden, coated or nylon.

Pros

Non-stick is convenient because there is no food to scrape up off the cooking surface during or after cooking. Even with no oil at all, food releases effortlessly. This is beneficial for sauces and other foods that tend to burn easily.

Non-stick design also helps when you need to reuse pots or pans. Because they clean so easily, you can hand wash cookware quickly and use it immediately to cook something else.

Stainless steel handles feel pleasantly cool and never heat up no matter how hot the food inside the cookware is. You can move it between plates with little effort and dish up without having to hold the handle with a kitchen cloth or gloves.

Pot rims can be irritating to clean but the Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set rims repel stains to save you time cleaning up. They are also clear to let you watch food closely as it cooks.

Cons

The non-stick nature of the cookware means it is not compatible with metal utensils. Using metal spoons, forks and spatulas can easily damage the coat. Another flaw is that these pots and pans are not safe to wash in the dishwasher. A few washes in the machine can cause irreparable damage to the interior and cause food to start sticking to the surface.

Another recurring complaint is that they tend to age faster than expected. The exterior stays intact but scratches appear on the interior surface. Other users find unsightly stains that are irremovable.

Should you buy it?

Non-stick coating on the Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set’s pots and pans is enough to win anyone over. It makes cookware very easy to clean. Foods that would otherwise stick to the surface release without effort. Although this coat is somewhat sensitive to damage, making sure not to use metal utensils can prolong their condition.

Having 12 pieces of cookware to work with means you will have the pot or pan that is appropriate for whatever you feel like cooking that day. Apart from its questionable durability, this is great, modern set to have.

FoodSaver V3240 Vertical Vacuum Sealer review

You can save pounds of food and thousands of dollars every year by getting you and your family the FoodSaver V3240 Vertical Vacuum Sealer. It uses improved sealing technology to suck air out quickly and prevent bacteria from growing on and rotting your groceries. Food stays fresh for many months and will be safe to eat when you need it.

Features

Instead of sealing once, the FoodSaver V3240 Vertical Vacuum Sealer and FoodSaver double seals food to keep it fresh and edible for longer. Bacteria-inducing air and moisture are completely sucked out of the food bag. There are two separate settings for sealing dry and wet foods. There are also additional settings to determine the speed at which the food is sealed.

Vertical design is practical and frees up space on the kitchen top. The appliance can also be rolled and stored away in the cupboard for future use.

Pros

Having a reliable food vacuum sealer like the FoodSaver V3240 Vertical Vacuum Sealer in the kitchen is a great investment. In an unpredictable economic climate and skyrocketing prices, it helps to saves as much money as you can. Sealing food can cut down grocery costs significantly and leave you with enough money to spend on other expenses.

This sealer is also ideal if you enjoy cooking with fresh produce. You can stop vegetables and fruits from growing mould, whether peeled or unpeeled, cooked or raw. It also helps to preserve homemade and store-bought breads, meats and poultry. Foods that usually spoil quickly like fish and other seafood can remain fresh for weeks.

It works well with cooked meals as well. If for any reason you lose your appetite halfway through a meal, you can seal it and eat it at a later stage. Many types of food can be saved, whether in solid or liquid form.

The newer vertical construction of the FoodSaver V3240 Vertical Vacuum Sealer saves a lot of space. Instead of spreading out horizontally, it extends upwards to take up as little room as possible.

The quality of food preservation is doubled by the double sealing feature. Food is protected from harmful germs and burn from keeping it in the freezer too long. You are allowed to season or marinade foods before sealing. When you open sealed bags, food will taste as great as it did before.

Cons

There is not much negative criticism from users about the FoodSaver V3240 Vertical Vacuum Sealer. Some people have a hard time learning how to use it but an instructional booklet is available with each unit for guidance if you get stuck. People struggle particularly with purees and sauces but with enough practice, it gets easier.

Should you buy it?

Sealing food is not something that only doomsday preparers do. It comes in handy in your home, camping trips vacations, and the office and in many circumstances. Having a double-sealer like the FoodSaver V3240 Vertical Vacuum Sealer is even more beneficial because food can be preserved for a long time to save you money.

KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Display Hand Mixer review

You can become a pro in the kitchen with help from the KitchenAid KHM920A 9-Speed Hand Mixer.
. This mixer is great for multiple purposes. It whisks, mixes and blends ingredients beautifully and its turbo charged motor makes sure you prepare any mixture you need in seconds. Whether you are baking mouth-watering treats or making your own milkshake, this mixer is the best tool for the job.

What are the features?

The KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Display Hand Mixer is a whisk, mixer, beater and blender in one device. It comes with useful attachments so it can transform into whatever you need it to be. Mixer includes dough hooks, a rod for blending fluids, whisk and a bag to keep all your accessories safe.

Because the locking cord swivels, it is easy to use regardless of whether you are left or right handed. Controls are digital so you can adjust them as you please and information is displayed on a modern LED screen. You can choose the speed you want from 6 varying speed levels and rest it securely on a bowl and other cookware when you need to take a break.
The hand mixer comes in different designs, all of which are noticeably stylish and sleek. It is very light so you can carry and use it for longer and compact to store away in the kitchen cupboard.

What are the pros?

You can tackle whisking and mixing jobs with ease using the KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Display Hand Mixer. Eggs and whipped cream have perfect texture. It’s also great for whipping up milk shakes and drinks for your family and friends.
Varying speeds are convenient because you can mix ingredients at the intensity you want. It gives you great control over how thick or frothy you want your mixtures to be. Speeds range from very slow to very fast, which allows you to progress gradually as you get accustomed to using it.

Users love its light weight. It can be easily carried and moved around during cooking. Digital buttons make it simple to adjust settings and the info you need is clearly displayed for your convenience.

What are the cons?

Although this mixer might be a winner when it comes to light mixing and whisking, some say it struggles with larger tasks. Mixing dough in particular is challenging for the device and consumers are advised to only mix a small amount of dough or use larger mixers instead.

Others complain that the price is too steep for a device that only handles light mixing jobs.

Should you buy it?

The KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Display Hand Mixer has the versatility, function and style you need in a mixer. If you need to mix and whisk regularly, it is a product that will come in handy in your home. If you are used to making large amounts of mixtures and dough, you might consider a product with heavy duty capabilities. With everything said and done, this KitchenAid mixer is a good quality product that delivers.

Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker review

Whether you are a master baker or you’ve always wanted to learn how to make a decent loaf of bread, the Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker is a wonderful appliance to have in your kitchen. From large French loaves to small quick cakes, this bread maker can help prepare a variety of baked goods in no time.

Product Features

The Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker gives you settings for baking whole wheat, French, multigrain, white bread and small cakes. It features a yeast dispenser that adds yeast to dough at the best time. It mixes and kneads your dough for you and uses a 13 hour delay timer to help you manage your cooking time. You can choose the loaf size from three different settings and make bread up to 2 ½ pounds.

It gives you control over the darkness of the crust and has a separate setting that prompts you when to add nuts, raisins and other ingredients. It comes with a recipe book that teaches you how to make up to 40 different kinds of dough and offers useful baking tips.

The Pros

The Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker is more suited to novice bakers than to the experienced. It’s easy to use which is great if you are still learning the ropes. Every bit of the baking process is done for you. It does the mixing, kneading and adds yeast for you. The end result is well-baked bread. The yeast dispenser is particularly useful because most beginners find it a bit challenging to layer ingredients properly.

Using this bread maker is a great way to learn how to make different kinds of bread. You can make white bread, cakes and healthier loaves like French, multigrain and whole wheat bread. Because it also comes with a recipe book and baking tips, you won’t get bored making the same bread over and over again. You can experiment with add-ins and create unique loaves with help from recipes.
It is also a tall, well-designed machine which looks good in the kitchen.

The Cons

If you are an avid baker and know your bread, the control panel can be a little frustrating. You can’t tell between the different baking phases. There is no window to monitor your goods. If you have recipes of your own you love, this maker might not be able to mix them well. The best option is to use the baker to mix your own dough, remove it and complete the baking process in an oven.
Another flaw is that determining the loaf size might be a bit confusing. The unusual measurements in the recipe book might complicate this even further.

Who is this product for?

If you are a beginner, the Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker is definitely a good buy. However, if you are experienced to a point where you are making your own recipes, you are better off using this maker as a mixer and baking your bread in a conventional oven.

Breville BJE200XL Compact Juice Fountain 700-watt Juice Extractor review

If you love your fresh juice or power proteins shake first thing in the morning, you might want to consider trying the Breville BJE200XL Compact Juice Fountain 700-Watt Juice Extractor. It is essentially a juicer that allows you to throw in your selection of fruits and vegetables to make your own juices, smoothies and shakes. What makes this juicer different from its competition is the features it claims to have.

What are the features?

The Breville BJE200XL Compact Juice Fountain 700-watt Juice Extractor has a 14000rpm motor designed to juice light and dense fruits and vegetables thoroughly. It features an extra large feeding tube so you can throw your fresh produce in whole without having to cut or peel them first. Dual centered knives make sure that your ingredients always stay in cutting range and shred them until they are minute. It has a built-in micromesh strainer to filter the juice.

The body of the juicer is made of polymer for durability and it is dishwasher safe. Each Breville BJE200XL Compact Juice Fountain 700-watt Juice Extractor comes with a cleaning brush and one liter jug included.

What are the pros?

The motor is as powerful as the manufacturers claim. Juices, smoothies and shakes do come out smoother and finer than with other juicers. You can get the most juice out of your ingredients because it pulverizes to a pulp. Hard fruits and vegetables are shredded as effortlessly as soft ones, which is a plus if you enjoy mixing and making your own drinks.

Users also like its compact size and because it’s lightweight, you can move it around the kitchen with ease. It is very easy to use and does not require reading complicated manuals to start using it. You don’t have to adjust settings because it uses a simple on and off button. Its design makes it very quick to clean for convenience.

What are the cons?

Many have complained about its lack of adjustable settings. One setting applies to all fruits and vegetables so it is possible that you’ll have to re-juice others. Because the motor is so powerful, juice sometimes spits out of the machine while it’s busy.

It has also been criticized for not having a container that can be removed to clean the pulp. Another little glitch is the ways the locking arm can at times scrape the plastic, which makes it look older.

Is it worth buying?

The kind of quality the Breville BJE200XL Compact Juice Fountain 700-watt Juice Extractor produces is worth the buy. Although it might not juice some vegetables and fruits as well as others, you can simply re-juice them or limit the number of ingredients you slot into the feeding tube. There is no need to do any additional straining because the micromesh strainer gets the job done. Polymer is quite durable and can keep the juicer intact for a long time if you use it carefully.

Product Review: KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

Kitchen Aid’s Artisan Series Stand Mixer is one of the best kitchen equipments that I have. This stand mixer is unlike any other; it is durable, dependable, and always does a great job.

I have used other stand mixers before I got my KitchenAid KSM150PSWH 5-Qt. Artisan Series with Pouring Shield
. I never really paid attention to the good reviews thinking that they are all for marketing purposes. However, all my doubts disappeared when I started using it. I did not realize that KitchenAid Stand Mixer makes mixing and kneading very fast and easy. It has a unique mixing action wherein the beater spins clockwise as the shaft spins the opposite direction. This enables the beater to move around several directions which makes blending thorough. I also don’t need to hold and rotate the bowl while mixing. This makes me complete other important things while mixing or kneading. By the way, it is up to you to select your desired speed from the 10 speed options. Pretty neat, isn’t it?

Another cool feature that I love is the versatility of this mixer. Imagine: I can attach different accessories for different purposes. Good thing, three of the tools that I always use come-in with the package: flat beater, dough hook, and professional wire whisk.

I use the flat beater when I make cakes or cookies. It does not really matter how much dough you put in the 5 qt stainless steel bowl because this machine is equipped with 325 watts or power. This enables the mixing of larger amounts of dough possible.

The biggest time and effort saving element of this machine is the dough hook. I do not need to tire myself anymore when kneading the dough for Siopao and Pandesal. All I do is attach the dough hook and set the speed to low.

Aside from the three attachments that come with the package, optional attachments can also be purchased. Two of the attachments that I enjoy using are the pasta press attachment (which helps me a lot in making my own pasta) and the sausage stuffer attachment (I use this when I make Longganisa or any type of sausage).

Overall, I would say that I am very satisfied with the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer and I highly recommend this product.

There are more than 20 colors to choose from. Check out your favorite color.