CHEFMATE Chefmate 2 Slice Sandwich Maker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My wife and I bought the Chefmate grill from Target for $10.40. First of all, it makes great grilled sandwiches. It takes about five minutes to warm up, then about four minutes or so to make your sandwich. Most of our sandwiches have been grilled nearly to perfection.

Now for the negatives. You have to use fairly small-sized loaf bread to fit on the plates. The correct size bread is easy to find in most supermarkets, so that's not a big problem, but don't expect the Chefmate to work well with big slices of bread. The other negative is that we use the Chefmate mostly for making variations of grilled cheese sandwiches. It melts the cheese just fine, but if any cheese runs out onto the grill (which usually is the case for us), it's a pain to clean afterward. The plate surfaces are nonstick, but you end up using toothpicks to clean out the congealed cheese after the Chefmate cools off. This isn't a huge problem, but it is annoying to know that you're going to spend several minutes cleaning the cheese off. This is the reason that I only gave the Chefmate four stars.

Overall, for about $10, it's a good buy.

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Product Description:
Easy to use convenient way to make hot sandwiches.

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Villaware V2160 UNO ProPress Panini Grill Review

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(More customer reviews)I had lusted after this little baby for some time and finally bought it when I found a great deal on it.It makes the most amazing sandwiches, which you can custom-tailor to your tastes.I also used it for a rolled flank steak, stuffed with mushrooms and cut into thick slices.Each slice cooked perfectly at medium heat, although like all steaks, it requires a watchful eye to prevent overcooking.
My experience with vegetables was similarly good.Peppers, onions, eggplant slices all cook in minutes with good result.I have not tried chicken breasts, but from reading the other reviews, imagine that the results will be similar.
One negative: fish can be a tricky business on this grill.I cooked an ahi steak for only a few minutes and it was overdone.I bought a stovetop grill pan specifically for fish after that (well, I confess I do throw a little bacon on it too from time to time).
I am quite satisfied with this panini grill, and love my homemade paninis.I found that a sliced kaiser or hoagie roll works well, as well as thickly sliced Italian or sourdough bread.My favorite sandwich?: thickly sliced bread, olive tapenade, roasted red pepper slices and sliced fontina.Who said heaven isn't right here?

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Product Description:
Grill thick sandwiches, chicken and meat.Professional highly polished aluminum housing with restaurant-style handle.1400 watts 11 inch by 9 inch grilling surface with non-stick coating.ProPress hinge adjusts for foods up to 3 inches thick.

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Krups FDE312-75 Universal Grill and Panini Maker Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well, this product makes great panini!You can use it to make just about any sandwich very special.If you use really fresh ingredients, the results are as good as at any market in Italy (that is where I got hooked on these).It not only makes Panini, but can be used to grill chicken, hamburgers, sausage, etc, and then throw in the buns before assembling for a gourmet treat.

I got mine as a Christmas gift and used it at least weekly for about 6 months till I moved, and had to pack it for a while.When I got it out of storage (January the next year) it worked for only 4 times, then just stopped.It wouldn't heat; lights wouldn't come on, nothing worked!

I called the local Krups repair site, and they told me if it was over 1 year old, throw it away and buy another.I was royally upset!Appliances that cost over $100 should not fail in 6 months of use!In the old days, a repair shop could fix anything, and they would never tell you to throw it away.

Well, I went to Amazon and read the many similar stories of short life, and sudden failure and realized I was out of luck.After the one year warranty expires, the repair places (who normally would just get a new warranty replacement from Krups and have it sent to you) won't touch it.

Having nothing to lose, I removed the single Phillips screw in the center of the underside of the unit and opened up the unit.The griddle surface separates from the stainless base once this screw is removed.In here I saw a device which looks like a resistor held in place by two small clamps inside a clear plastic tube.I plugged the unit in and tested the voltage across the terminals of this device, and it read 125V.I knew immediately that this was the problem, as it was preventing the entire unit from getting voltage.I disassembled the clamps and slid the tube off, then cut the part off of the two wires.

Looking on the web, I found out the part is a simple and very common "heat fuse", intended to break the circuit if the thermostat (located in the top half) failed and the unit started to melt down or overheat.

This device does not reset once the unit cools, but sacrifices itself.When it exceeds 240 degrees centigrade, it disconnects power to the unit permanently and must be replaced.This is the reason so many people have had failures.

Either the unit runs hotter than the designers anticipated (most likely), the current is too high (doubtful as the unit draws 1500 Watts, 750W per side and the device is rated for 15 Amps at 120 Volts.1500W only draws 12.5 Amps, so that is well below the 15 Amp capacity of the component), or it was a faulty component.Considering that these components are used in a huge number of heating appliances, it is most likely that the designed temperature for this component is too high. Here is an excerpt from the manufacturers web site:

"The temperatures experienced during normal operation, including expected temperature overshoots, will determine the life expectancy of the TCO. Nuisance trips can result if the thermal cutoff rating is too close to the temperatures experienced during normal operation (this is probably what happens!). Continuous temperatures above 200

Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The immediate comparison I made when I received this Panini press was to the Cuisinart GR-3Griddler Jr, Brushed Stainless Steel, and the key difference between the two products (and the reason I'm giving the better constructed, perhaps even better performing press three stars rather than five) is you can remove the plates in the Cuisinart, and you cannot in the Breville.Convenience and ease of use are central considerations when it comes to just how much you're going to want to use these 'extra' kitchen devices, and if it's a headache to clean something like burnt/stuck preserves, then you're going to be less likely to want to pull it out and use it again.

I want to back up a little bit, because I think Breville generally designs and manufactures outstanding high-quality but still affordable products.This press is no exception.Having used both this Breville and the aforementioned Cuisinart, I would give the Breville the edge on almost every single front.It feels more solidly constructed of higher quality materials, it seems to heat more evenly, although the Cuisinart does allow a range of temperature settings as opposed to Breville's one-temp-fits-all approach.I actually like having one flat and one grilled plate in the Breville, compared to the two grilled plates in the Cuisinart -- the flat surface providing a much more even and consistent heat that really radiates into the middle of the sandwich better than the more limited surface contact provided by just grill plates (but you still have the all-important texture and grill marks from the top plate).Both adapt to larger sandwiches.Both sport non-stick surfaces (although the Breville's is much smoother as the Cuisinart employs a grittier non-stick treatment).Both are perfectly sized for a couple good-sized sandwiches, without all the wasted space that comes with and from the larger models in each line.

I like this press enough that even as I wrap this review up I wonder if I should be giving it 4 stars rather than 3.Standing on its own, it deserves every bit of 4 stars.It's when it's held in contrast to a like-priced alternative like the Cuisinart that the Breville loses some of its luster, and then really only due to a question of pure convenience (in the form of removable plates).

If those removable plates aren't of particular importance to you, I actually recommend this press over the Cuisinart.For me, the convenience of cleaning the removable plates provide is what makes it an easy decision between the two when I want to grill a sandwich.

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Product Description:
Easily create restaurant-quality grilled panini sandwiches and more with this convenient panini press. The unit features a powerful 1500-watt element for fast heating, and its upper and lower grill plates provide a nonstick, scratch-resistant Quantanium surface for lower-fat cooking (no need for butter or oil), effortless food release, and quick cleanup. The bottom plate, which measures 11-1/4 by 8-3/4 inches, offers a flat design for more thorough cooking (also suitable for pancakes and eggs), while the 11-1/4-by-7-3/5-inch ribbed top plate creates authentic cafe-style grill marks. Even more, the grill's floating top plate and four adjustable height settings make it possible to accommodate even the most ambitious of sandwiches or to keep the top plate suspended above food, radiating heat down when cooking breakfast items or open-style melts. Other highlights include "power-on" and "ready-to-cook" indicator lights, heavy-duty die-cast arms, nonslip feet for stability, a locking clip for upright storage, and a cord wrap in the base. The included user manual offers simple-to-follow instructions, as well as an array of delicious recipe ideas--from herbed omelet panini, warm Caesar sandwiches, or grilled chicken lavosh with mango and pinenut mayonnaise to dessert items like sweet fig focaccia, toasted chocolate panini, or crispy brioche with berries. Elegantly housed in brushed stainless steel, the panini press measures 13 by 11-3/4 by 5-1/4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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