Showing posts with label convection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label convection. Show all posts

9/28/2011

Cuisinart TOB-195 Exact Heat Toaster Oven Broiler, Stainless Review

Cuisinart TOB-195 Exact Heat Toaster Oven Broiler, Stainless
Average Reviews:

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The Cuisinart TOB-195 costs a little more than most toaster ovens but it is such a joy to use. Some of the things I like about it:
1. Size. You can fit a 12" pizza in it.
2. Controls below the door. It saves a lot of countertop space.
3. Alarm to let you know when the oven is at the right temperature.
4. Digital temperature setting so you don't have to guess at it.
5. Convection oven feature.
6. Non-stick walls for easy clean-up.
The Cuisinart takes only a few minutes to warm up to the proper temperature, unlike a regular oven which can take several minutes. Pizzas crisp up nicely and my favorite banana bread recipe baked perfectly. I expect to use my Cuisinart more often than my regular oven, except for times when company is over.
I relied on reviews of the previous model, the TOB-175, before purchasing the TOB-195 and must say that Cuisinart has continued their great tradition of creating wonderful kitchen electrics.

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Housed in stainless steel with brushed chrome accents, this six-slice convection toaster oven broiler offers not only an attractive addition to the kitchen countertop, but it also provides an array of convenient features. Its spacious 0.6-cubic-foot capacity allows for baking a whole chicken, broiling fish for the family, or toasting six slices of bread at one time. It will even accommodate a 12-inch pizza. The multifunctional countertop unit supplies state-of-the-art electronic touchpad controls and four versatile cooking options--pizza/bake, broil, toast, and convection. Combining sophisticated technology with simple operation, it includes a four- to six-slice toasting button with bagel, reheat, and defrost buttons, plus clock and oven timers. In addition, its Always Even shade control with Exact Heat sensor maintains a precise oven temperature, and cleanup's a snap thanks to the easy-to-clean brushed chrome interior. With its stainless-steel front panels and brushed chrome commercial-style handle, the toaster oven measures 16 by 17-3/4 by 9-5/8 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

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8/22/2011

Sanyo EM-C6786V 1-Cubic-Foot Microwave Oven with Convection and Grill Review

Sanyo EM-C6786V 1-Cubic-Foot Microwave Oven with Convection and Grill
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
We have owned our Sanyo Microwave Oven with convection and grill for almost two months, and have attempted to test all functions in order to write a complete review. We rely heavily on reviews to help us decide what to buy, so we did our best to evaluate this oven. At almost $180.00 it is not a trivial purchase.
The design is sleek, and the controls easy to use -- but as other reviewers cautioned, keep the booklet handy!
The microwave functions -- cook, auto menu cooking (limited to microwave), auto reheat all work as well as our last microwave -- a G/E over the range.
However, the conbined functions -- micro plus grill, convection plus grill, leave much to be desired.
The roast chicken function -- a combination of micro and grilling is neat and works well -- but does not save time, although it probably saves energy and kitchen heat compared to cooking chicken in a standard oven. When the chicken was taste-tested our family concluded that it was pretty good chicken and assumed that the time to cook was materially reduced -- which it was not. It was agreed that in a "time-bind" they would eat this chicken, but preferred standard oven baked. Given that the chicken took about ten minutes longer than it would have in the oven, the saving was a hot kitchen in the summer, and probably many BTUs.
Combo 1(Micro and Convection) works well -- but it is not fast! Nor are there timing guides. (More on this later)
We have not used Combo 2 (Microwave and Grill) for anything but hot dogs. Too slow by half! Steak is a treat for us, so we cook it with much ceremony outside -- but my experience with grilling hot dogs fo lunch caused me to turn on the broiler in our "real"stove to finish them.
Combo 4 (grill and convection) is rather a joke. Today, in anticipation of putting our review on paper, I took two defrosted quarter pound hamburgs and put them on the grill rack. Dialed in 20 minutes on Combo 4 and walked away. At 20 minutes, the hamburgs registered about 100 degrees F. internal -- as in not cooked. I added another 5 minutes and temped them and got to 120 degrees. Another 6 minutes got them to an edible internal temperature of 140. Thirty minutes to "grill?" two hamburgers?
The convection function alone works well for small quantities of food. But, it is important to note that this is not a convection oven -- in other words an oven that cooks more rapidly than a "standard" oven.
So, what is this neat little oven good for? As a micro it's great. In the same space as a micro you can heat dinner rolls on convection when your main oven is tied up, or bake appetizers while the roast is roasting in the main oven.
What's missing? A recipe book would have helped. The first time I cooked hamburgs using Combo 4 I figured they would cook faster than the time to heat my T-Fal Compact Multi-Grill (rather a waste for two burgers!) and I was dead wrong! (The reason for today's test.) If there had been a booklet or time sheet that indicated 30 minutes to cook two thawed burgers -- well T-Fal would have had the whole job rather than finishing it up!
For people who live in dorm rooms (I was once one of those!) who want all the functions of an oven and a micro in one box -- I would have been glad to have this Sanyo. But -- a recipe book that might indicate time to cook various things -- would really help.
Are we glad we bought this oven? Well, yes. But, and this is important, it is not a Micro/Convection Oven -- nor does it claim to be one.
This oven is a great microwave -- we are very happy with the micro functions. It is also a nice "auxilliary" oven for entertaining -- as long as you can work out the times. It probably saves energy over heating up our main gas oven for small things and will likely keep heat out of our kitchen in the summer.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sanyo EM-C6786V 1-Cubic-Foot Microwave Oven with Convection and Grill

More than just a 1000-watt microwave oven, this versatile appliance also functions as a 1000-watt grill and a 1400-watt convection oven. With convection cooking, hot air circulates throughout the oven cavity to brown and crisp foods quickly and evenly--great for baking cakes, cookies, and muffins, or even for browning meats. The 10 convection temperature settings range from 285 to 400 degrees F. A grill rack comes included for during the grill function, which cooks and heats items such as fish, nachos, hot dogs, and sausages. When microwave cooking, choose from five power levels: 10 percent, 30 percent, 50 percent, 80 percent, or 100 percent. The unit also provides four combination settings: combination one (microwave and convection) for frozen entrees and casseroles, combination two (microwave and grill) for steaks, combination three (grill and microwave) for chicken, and combination four (grill and convection) for hamburgers.
For added convenience, nine direct-access push-button menu keys make it easy to cook popular items. Menu keys include popcorn, beverage, pizza, potato, frozen vegetable, meat, fish, and roast chicken, as well as auto reheat. Open the door to access the hidden keypad and to use the digital encoder for setting the time, power, and weight input. Other highlights include a 1-cubic-foot stainless-steel interior, a large 12-3/8-inch rotating glass turntable, multi-stage cooking options, a 95-minute cooking timer, defrost by weight or time, a child lock-out function, and an interior light. To clean, simply wipe the inside and outside with a soft cloth and mild detergent solution, then rinse and wipe dry. The stylish and contemporary-looking microwave/convection/grill oven measures 18-4/5 by 20-1/2 by 13-1/4 inches and carries a one-year parts-and-labor warranty.

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3/25/2011

Remanufactured Cuisinart CBK-200FR 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker Review

Remanufactured Cuisinart CBK-200FR 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker
Average Reviews:

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I'm by no means an expert at baking bread, although for a number of years I owned a Zojirushi bread machine with a vertical pan (their entry level model at the time). Unfortunately, that machine never produced consistent results for me, so when it broke I disposed of it and took a hiatus from bread baking. However, when I spotted this reconditioned Cuisinart priced at $59.99 on Amazon, plus a $10 discount for paying with a Buy It Now account and free shipping, I couldn't resist. My final cost was under $50, and for that price this is a deal you simply can't beat. New ones go for around $130, and as this unit was reconditioned by Cuisinart, only real difference is the length of the warranty (90 days vs. 3 years).
This bread machine is on the large size for a small kitchen appliance and is not convenient to move in and out of cabinets; you really have to leave this one on the counter at all time. Fortunately the Cuisinart features a beautiful stainless and black retro design, so it looks great in my transitional style kitchen. It fits neatly under my standard height cabinets, and is easy to move around on the countertop.
I have baked at least half a dozen loaves so far, and made a similar number of doughs for pizza and bagels. While every result hasn't been perfect, part of the reason is learning the idiosyncrasies of this machine and figuring out how to modify recipes to get the results I want. For me, who is inquisitive and experimental in the kitchen, it's not a drawback, but rather a challenge that I enjoy. And once I have both factors down for a particular bread, the Cuisinart produces beautiful well risen loafs. It just requires a learning curve to get the machine to make what you want.
There are something like 16 different programs and each one can be further modified for light, medium, or dark crust, and for 1, 1.5, and 2 pound loaves. There are warnings buzzers for adding mix-ins before the first rise, and for removing the kneading paddle before the final rise (which also allows you to shape the loaf and apply desired toppings). The only feature lacking is the ability to program and save custom cycles. However, the manual includes a detailed table that specifies exactly which cycles are included in each program, and how many minutes each cycle takes for the combination of program number, loaf size, and crust setting. The information is really valuable in figuring out what's going on, and for modifying recipes, especially since I have been trying out a number of different flours in my baking to achieve high fiber low carbohydrate breads that taste great. It also tells you at exactly what time the warning buzzers ring for each cycle, so you don't have stand around
Generally my experience has been that the crust setting works best at the light; even on medium I found it burned the bottom half of the loaf. There's a small window on top that lets you check on the progress of your bread; unfortunately there's no light so it can be difficult to see the inside. The bread pan shape is a taller than a standard loaf, but still shaped more horizontal than vertical; I personally like the shape of the finished loaf. There's only one kneading paddle, but I haven't had any problems with ingredients failing to mix in, although I monitored the process fairly closely at first until I was sure that I had the right ratio of water to flour. Also, it's best to remove the baking pan from the machine before adding the ingredients, and then snap it back in place when ready to bake; this minimizes the chance of spilling ingredients into some of the nooks and crannies of the machine, which can be hard to clean.
Overall, this machine was an incredible deal for $50; it's a slam dunk in that price range. Considering all of the functions, the beautiful design, and the good performance, I would say the Cuisinart bread machine is probably superior to any machine priced under $100. Even with a street price of $130 for a new unit, I think this Cuisinart is fairly priced and probably compares favorably to most competitors.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Remanufactured Cuisinart CBK-200FR 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker

Fresh bread doesn't get any fresher-or easier-than this. Cuisinart offers expert engneering in smooth brushed stainless to deliver a sensational-looking convection bread maker that automatically adjusts speed and timing, and circulates air while baking. Exclusive low carb, cluten-free, and artisan dough settings are just 3 of 16 preset menu options available with the touch of a button. Cuisinart adds 3 crust colors and 3 loaf sizes, to give bread lovers a choice of over 100 bread, dough, cake-and even jam-combinations.

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3/17/2011

Breadman TR2700 Stainless-Steel Programmable Convection Bread Maker Review

Breadman TR2700 Stainless-Steel Programmable Convection Bread Maker
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I have been a breadmaker my entire life. There is nothing like the smell of baking bread as you walk in the door, especially on a cold winter day. The evolution of the bread machine was exciting for me. I remember the first bread machines with the tall, horizontal loaf pan that was somewhat less than exciting. Then, the "horizontal" loaf appeared. I own two of the first Breadman machines, TR845 with the horizonal loaf and as a "basic breadmaker" those are terrific. They are sturdy, relatively quiet for a breadmaker and the pan secures itself well within the machine. This model does not have all the cycles of more current models and it does not automatically add ingredients as do the TR2500, or Tr2700. However, it does offer a signal "beep" when to add ingredients such as raisons, or cranberries. I love to bake bread and give it away. I often have four breadmakers going at the same time during a holiday.
Last year I purchased the Breadman TR2500, Stainless and Black. Initially I was quite pleased with the performance. However, after several uses I did have problems with the bread pan releasing from the holders on each side requiring a bending and adjusting of the snap in prongs of both the pan and the breadmaker itself. I think this is because the stainless steel on the inside isn't quite as strong as with simple steel of the past models I have used. I LOVE THE COVECTION FEATURE. The first thing I noticed about adding convection to a breadmaker was the crust. The entire crust of the bread, not only the top is VERY CRISPY. For those of you who love to cut off the heel of a fresh loaf of bread and smear with butter, this is a dream (of course the heel is still the best part of the loaf). Now, I just aquired the newer model which is a TR2700. I have not had the problem with the pan coming loose from the holders in the machine as of yet and the inside is similar in construction to the TR2500? Both the TR2500 and the TR2700 make quite a bit more noise during the kneeding cycles which I think is due to the stainless steel construction vs. steel and plastic which I don't think conduct noise as well. Still, the TR2700 is still top notch and well worth the money if you love to make bread and would use it frequently. ONE TIP ON ALL BREADMACHINES. If you find that hole in the bottom of the bread annoying, or displeasing simply keep track of your cycle. After the machine has completed the second kneed going in to the last rise, simply reach in and take off the paddle. End result is a nice loaf with only a small hole from the hub of the paddle. Nice little trick and you won't ever mistakingly give a loaf away with the paddle stuck in it. OOPS, where's my bread paddle?, the next time you try making bread.

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Wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread with this programmable breadmaker. The unit bakes 1-, 1-1/2-, and 2-pound horizontal loaves and can handle any favorite recipe--from cinnamon raisin, honey wheat, rosemary, and cranberry oat to hearty rye, cheesy onion focaccia, and classic French bread, even cinnamon rolls for breakfast or dinner rolls for the evening meal. The machine features a user-friendly control panel with Mylar buttons and an easy-to-read digital display. Choose from over 100 baking options, 16 settings including low carb and gluten free, and the preferred crust color--light, medium, or dark. The unit also provides a delay timer up to 24 hours, a 10-minute random pause control, a one-hour keep-warm cycle that keeps bread warm without over-baking, and instant recall in the event of a power failure. Other thoughtful design details include an automatic fruit and nut dispenser, a viewing window, a convection fan for excellent baking results, and convenient side carrying handles. Avoid the use of metal utensils with the removable baking pan, which should be washed by hand in order to protect its nonstick surface. Attractively housed in stainless steel with black accents, the breadmaker measures 18-3/5 by 11-1/5 by 15 inches.

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3/13/2011

Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker Review

Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker
Average Reviews:

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I am an experienced bread baker (with and without machines) and this is my third bread machine. It kneads better than others I have had BY FAR. This machine makes excellent bread, but there is one big problem. You cannot cancel mid-cycle to start a different process if you like. As an experienced baker, I like to tweak my loaves by using various different risings, etc., but I can't do that with this machine because once you start a cycle you are committed. Even if you turn the blasted thing off, it does not reset. Other machines allow more flexibility for experienced bakers. This machine does come with an excellent cookbook, and seems easy to operate. I can't explain the negative reviews, except to say perhaps they got a defective machine. This one does not budge on the counter like other machines I've had, either. I have used the dough cycle and have baked in the machine - each time with excellent results. I do recommend that those who are having trouble make sure they are using the proper flour and yeast - see King Arthur Flour company web site for lots of info!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker

Wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread with this programmable bread machine. The 680-watt appliance automatically adjusts the speed and timing for foolproof results, while its convection fan circulates air during baking for superior crust color and texture. Exclusive Low Carb, Gluten-Free, and Artisan Dough settings are just 3 of 16 preset menu options available with the touch of a button. The Artisan Dough menu option takes basic bread dough through several long, slow, cool rises for chewier textures and rustic crusts. Along with the 16 preset menu options, the unit offers three crust colors and three loaf sizes, to give bread lovers a choice of over 100 bread, dough, sweet cake, and jam combinations. Its perfect-timing audible tone indicates when it's time to add fruit, nuts, or other mix-ins, and a second tone offers the option of removing the paddle before baking or removing unbaked dough to shape by hand. Other convenient features include a 15-minute pause, a bake-only option, a 12-hour delay-start timer, power-failure backup, and large stay-cool handles. With its classic lines, smooth brushed stainless steel, and embossed logo, this attractive bread machine looks great on the countertop for convenient, everyday use. The unit measures 18 by 12-1/5 by 14-7/8 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

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