Matfer Mandoline 2000S Review

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(More customer reviews)My first mandoline was the Bron which is visually the most serious/macho/cool of the bunch, but its shortcomings were unacceptable - the slicing blade is one-piece stainless, and can't hold a sharp edge; the julienne blades are not sharp and can't be sharpened; and the safety carriage is designed to not go past the cutting edge. I sold it.
I now have a Matfer (the all-stainless model) and it has a 2-piece slicing blade: the cutting edge is high-carbon steel (which can be sharpened and hold its edge) welded to a stainless part. The julienne blades are very sharp (altho can't be resharpened). The safety -gadget thing works well, but can't be used for waffle cuts. I use the Matfer only for waffle cuts and if I have large quantities of slicing. If you want french fry size potatoes or are slicing celeriac, you're better off with a sharp knife. The disadvantage of this machine is that you can't adjust the slicing blade's uniformity of thickness - my slices are thicker on one side (the Bron had more adjustment leeway).
The machine I use the most is the Benriner - the slicing blade is very sharp and is sharpenable. The (unsharpenable) julienne blades are extremely sharp. It can't do waffle cuts and is not good for massive quantities of large cuts. It's best for finer julienne and thin slicing such as potatoes, cucumber or daikon.
Don't even consider using these machines without the safety gadget.
Unless I have a large quantity of slicing to do, I'd opt for a sharp knife, because cleanup time counts too.

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Instead of pulling out your food processor, consider a mandoline as an alternative the next time you have to prepare vegetables or fruits. The slicing blade has both a straight edge and serrated edge for different uses. Julienne blades create vegetable and fruit snacks of varying widths, and the guiding plate adjusts to vary the thickness of the vegetable or fruit slices. Straight edge slicing blade is ideal for slicing a variety of foods from carrots and cabbage to lemons and potatoes. Serrated edge creates crinkle and waffle cuts, and the three julienne blades make perfect, classic strips in three degrees of thickness. Blades are crafted from high carbon stainless steel, and the frame, safety guard/pusher are made of heat-resistant, nonporous fiberglass.

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Simac MX700 PastaMatic Pasta Maker Review

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(More customer reviews)Having read all of the reviews of the machine, it strikes me that people who have had trouble are probably not used to making things that require a level of attention. Making pasta is not like using a breadmaker. You can't just put all of the ingredients in the machine and walk away. Having used a CTC Pasta Express for years and being generally satisfied with it, I wasn't in the market for a machine as expensive as the Simac. But as an earlier reviewed observed, a large mail order company was selling it for 119 dollars including shipping. I decided to give it a try.
The PastaMatic 700MX operates differently than most models. For one thing, you have to weigh your flour and carefully measure the egg mixture(I use Egg Beaters). It takes longer to knead than my CTC too.
BUT...it makes the best pasta I have ever tried. The strands are much thinner than the CTC and a short dip in boiling water produces a superior pasta. I have purchased additional dies from Lello and look forward to trying them. The complaint about not being able to use 100% semolina is a recognition that that flour alone is just too dense and coarse for an extruder. No electric machine recommends using 100% semolina. But you can use a mixture of semolina and durum flour, which is a finer grind of semolina.
As for the cleanup, I was expecting all kinds of problems but it really wasn't any more difficult than any other appliance. Let it sit for an hour or so and the remaining dough will harden and be much easier to remove.
In short, I really like this machine! It takes time to make it work but that is time well spent.

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FRESH is best, and easy! Simac PastaMatic Pasta Maker. BIG BUCKS OFF! This mixes and shapes your own fresh pasta... super fast and easy! It's a pro-quality machine, made in Italy. Just add flour and water (or egg) and it mixes approx. 1-lb. batches. Patented double-action mixing paddle kneads it as if you were doing it by hand; Includes mixing and kneading blades, and 8 pasta-shaping discs; Marked measuring cup. Feed slot for adding ingredients for the perfect mix; Compact, sleek plastic case, just 9 3/4 x 9 3/4 x 10 1/4"h. Cast aluminum gears, sturdily designed for long life; Dishwasher-safe parts, removable for easy cleaning; Weighs 15 3/5 lbs. UL-listed. Get this tasty bargain while they last! Simac PastaMatic Pasta Maker

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Westinghouse WST2002 SaladXPress Salad Spinner Review

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(More customer reviews)The spin speed is much less than that achieved with our previous hand crank salad spinner. It does not spin fast enough to remove excess water from lettuce. After a short time, the SaladXPress became appreciably slower. Under the terms of the warranty, it was replaced with what appears to be a new unit. The new one isn't any better than the first. We've given up on the SaladXPress and purchased an OXO SoftWorks hand powered salad spinner.

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Think of it as a hybrid food processor/salad spinner. The 400 watt motor can grate or slice fruits and vegetables as well as spin them dry after rinsing. It can also grate and spin cheese, meats and more. With storage space always at a premium, it's the multi-function appliances that win the day.

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Farberware FBL500SS Millennium Stainless-Steel 2-Speed Blender Review

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(More customer reviews)I got the faberward blender and at first use I thought it was OK. Very soon it got louder and started to take longer each use to make a smoothie- yogurt and a frozen banana pre-chopped into little pieces. By two months it can no longer blend a fresh banana, is horribly loud, and is leaking liquid out of the center bottom around the bearings. Faberware would not refund my money, buat will only give me a re-built blender of the same model.

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With its durable stainless-steel housing and powerful 500-watt motor, this countertop blender works great for liquefying frozen fruit, whipping up creamy smoothies, or making pureed soups. Its detachable stainless-steel blade finely crushes ice, frozen fruit, and other ingredients for smooth results, while its three-speed dial with pulse maximizes blending versatility and control. Perfect for entertaining or everyday use, the blender's large 48-ounce glass jar features a generous handle, a dripless-pour spout, and a removable measuring cap in the lid for adding ingredients while blending. Other highlights include a micro-switch safety device, non-skid rubber feet to ensure stability, and dishwasher-safe parts for quick cleanup. The blender measures approximately 6 by 7 by 13 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Electrolux DLX-2000 Magic Mill Assistent Stand Mixer, MagicMill DX200 N24 Assistant Review

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(More customer reviews)Electrolux DLX-2000 Magic Mill Assistent Stand Mixer is a superb dough kneader. I make bread so I have not used it to make other food items. I took up bread making last year after a 25 year lapse. I started with an all in one bread maker but it was not versatile enough. I sold it. I then tried a Kitchen Aid Professional 600 which burned out after 5 minutes of kneading 6 cups of whole grain flour. I returned it. I bought the DLX-2000 and I haven't looked back. It handles 12 cups of whole grain flour without a hiccup. The resulting dough is beautiful.
This mixer is solidly constructed. The foot print is about the same as the large Kitchen Aid stand mixers but it is not as tall. It is much easier to use because the bowl is completely open. I bought the grain flaker attachment. I'll report later how it works.

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Hamilton Beach 68055 Ice Shaver, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)My fridge's ice maker turns out crescent shaped ice cubes and they don't work well with this machine. The ice went round and round in the shaving chamber but rarely engaged the shaving blade. There just isn't enough downward pressure to force the ice onto the blade.
Update: I went out and bought some ice cube trays hoping that the size or shape of the ice cube was a factor. No luck, this thing still doesn't work so I'll be returning it.

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This handy Ice Shaver makes snow cones, slushies, margaritas and other frozen treats quickly. Whether conquering the sweltering heat, hosting a party, or having fun with the kids, the Icy Treats Ice Shaver from Hamilton Beach will make frozen concoctions fast. Snow cones, slushies and icy drinks are all easy to make using soda, juice or fruit. This cool appliance uses ice directly from the freezer and will shave into either a bowl from home for snow cones, or into the included mixing bowl for other icy treats. Fun recipes are included for the whole family. Why not choose something refreshing like apple juice or strawberries to make a healthy treat for the kids? All removable parts are dishwasher safe and the bowl includes measurement markings so icy drinks will turn out great every time. Features Include: Make your favorite icy treats in minutes Make slushies, snow cones, margaritas, and more Add ice cubes from your freezer Shave ice into your own dish or use included mixing bowl Fun recipes included All removable parts are dishwasher safe

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VitaMix Vita-Prep 1002 Blender with 64-Ounce Carafe Review

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(More customer reviews)A wonderful machine that does everything except cook. It has opened a new storehouse of cooking for me.

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The Professional Chef's Power ToolTMVita-Prep® produces silky smooth purèes, grinding whole spices and grains, chopping vegetables and more. Vita-Prep outlasts other blenders 3 to 1, and for many well-known chefs, the Vita-Prep has become essential in the back-of-the-house commercial kitchens.The Vita-Prep just got Juiced!The new Vita-Prep 3 has more power to handle the thickest, toughest ingredients! Grind meats for pâte or chop tough vegetables for authentic Mexican salsa without overheating! Use the variable speed for perfect purèes, savory soups and delicious frozen treats. The Vita-Prep 3 is a must in kitchens where volume and quality are key ingredients to a successful back-of-the-house. More power, larger cooling fan, Vita-Mix quality...a great recipe has been perfected!

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