The Cooks' Den » Chef’s Choice http://www.thecooksden.com Cooking Tools - Gear for Cooks and Chefs Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:49:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Chef’s Choice Pizzelle Iron Pro | Belgian Cookie Lukken Maker, Express Bake 835 http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-pizzelle-iron-pro-belgian-cookie-lukken-maker-express-bake-835/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-pizzelle-iron-pro-belgian-cookie-lukken-maker-express-bake-835/#comments Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:15:47 +0000 Sharon http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=11976 Chef's Choice Pizzelle Iron Pro Pizzelle cookies are a fun treat to make, especially when you have an easy-to-use electric appliance that will make them in less than a minute. Such is the promise of the Chef's Choice Pizzelle Pro, and considering the rave reviews it has received from cooks nationwide, the Pizzelle Pro seems to live up to its expectations.

The Pizzelle Pro makes three wafer cookies at a time. Since the appliance measures 9 inches wide by 10 inches deep, the pizzelles are rather small, only measuring 3 inches in diameter. The iron plates inside are coated with non-stick material and have an overflow "channel" on the outer rim, catching excess batter. While this non-stick coating can be a turn-off for health-conscious cooks, the ease of removing pizzelles and cleaning the maker afterwards is an asset for others -- making it a good option to consider for those who have never tried making pizzelles before.

Storage is accomodating since this pizzelle iron can be set in the upright position against the counter or in a pantry cupboard. It also comes with a couple extra freebies: a mixing spoon that allots an approximate batter serving size, and a wooden dowel for rolling warm pizzelles into cannoli shells before they cool off.

Compare the Chef's Choice Pizzelle Pro with the similar Cuisinart WM PZ2 pizzelle iron and see which model you prefer.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-pizzelle-iron-pro-belgian-cookie-lukken-maker-express-bake-835/feed/ 0 Chef’s Choice Large Electric Kettle | Stainless Steel Cordless | M677SSG http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-large-electric-kettle-stainless-steel-cordless-m677ssg/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-large-electric-kettle-stainless-steel-cordless-m677ssg/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:29:38 +0000 Dan http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=8776 Chef's Choice Large Electric Kettle If you are looking for an efficient, quick way to heat water for coffee or tea without the potential hazards of boiling water on the stove, then an electric kettle is for you.

The Chef's Choice electric kettle has a 1.7 liter capacity, almost 2 quarts. There are smaller kettles on the market but not many larger than this one. It has a brushed stainless steel body with a large plastic handle for easier pouring. This model features plastic components in a light gray color rather than the more common black. The color compliments the stainless steel and gives this kettle a sleek modern look. This is a cordless-style unit -- it sits on the corded base which supplies the power to the heating element, so after the water boils, you can simply lift it off for pouring. The unit is simple to use. Just fill it up at the tap, place onto the base, and press the start button. The 1500-watt element quickly heats the water to boiling, then the kettle shuts itself off automatically. The heating element is hidden within the stainless steel body, so it is not prone to accumulating deposits from hard water that can adversely affect the flavor.

Among the features are a water level viewing window, push-button lid, and an illuminated power switch. It has received overall positive comments by consumers, the main drawback being that the water boils rather vigorously for a while before the automatic shutoff kicks in.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-large-electric-kettle-stainless-steel-cordless-m677ssg/feed/ 1 Chef’s Choice Electric Food Slicer | Commercial Deli Meat 667 http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-electric-food-slicer-commercial-deli-meat-667/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-electric-food-slicer-commercial-deli-meat-667/#comments Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:16:13 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=7874 Chef's Choice Electric Food Slicer This large, nearly commercial-grade machine, thirty pounds heavy and capable of making nearly a ten-inch slice through cooked meats, has many of the features of restaurant quality machines and is just as hard to clean.

With a machine this big you get the efficient and precise slicing you want when you invest in an electric food slicer. A few compromises have been made on this design, but not too many to forgive. Some fittings and adjustment screws are plastic, and breaking down the machine for cleaning requires an allen wrench and a screwdriver -- but if you really need a slicer you can depend upon for regular work, this will do fine.

The motor is fairly quiet and packs 180 watts of power, enough to handle most meats although high friction jobs like cheese will have to be broken down into workable blocks. A blade sharpener is built into the machine, and a safety device for handling the ten-inch circular blade during cleaning is a real relief to see. (If you've never nearly dropped one, the only thing scarier is the impulse to try and catch it.) The engineers were very safety conscious, including several welcome finger saving features that don't inhibit operation.

The carriage, often a source of binding and other problems in cheaper machines, is mounted on ball bearings for smooth operation every time. The disappointment comes when it's time to clean the machine -- even though the breakdown is fairly simple, there are several awkward pieces involved, and gaps into which juices will surely creep. Elbow grease is the only real solution.

Also see the Waring Pro Electric Slicer to compare.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-electric-food-slicer-commercial-deli-meat-667/feed/ 0 Chef’s Choice International Deluxe Tea Kettle | Stainless Steel Electric Cordless 685 http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-international-deluxe-tea-kettle-stainless-steel-electric-cordless-685/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-international-deluxe-tea-kettle-stainless-steel-electric-cordless-685/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 09:00:38 +0000 Dan http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=5024 Chef's Choice International Deluxe Tea KettleThis kettle from Chef's Choice blends classic teakettle looks with the latest convenience features, and plenty of wattage for speedy water boiling.

The cordless feature means that only the kettle base plugs into the wall. The kettle itself docks onto the base when in use, and can be lifted off at any time-- a genius idea when it first came out. Now, most all electric kettles offer this feature. This model eschews the more modern plastic styles in favor of all polished stainless steel. A winning look for traditionalists, just be certain that it is never confused for a traditional stovetop kettle by a house guest. Been there, done that. Still getting the burnt plastic smell out of the kitchen, thank you.

The kettle has a heating element safely contained under stainless steel, so it is not susceptible to scaling or corrosion as the exposed elements on older models. The 1,500-watt element will heat a full kettle in short order and then shut off when water boils. The unit also will shut off if it should overheat due to lack of water. The large handle promises to stay cool to the touch, and the cord wraps under the base to keep things tidy.

The only thing that doesn't impress me about this model is the price. With all the electric kettles to choose from these days, you can find many alternatives, some with more features, for less money.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-international-deluxe-tea-kettle-stainless-steel-electric-cordless-685/feed/ 1 Chef’s Choice Edgecraft Diamond Knife Sharpening Stone http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-edgecraft-diamond-knife-sharpening-stone/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-edgecraft-diamond-knife-sharpening-stone/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:26:47 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4453 Chef's Choice Edgecraft Diamond KnifeThe Edgecraft Diamond Sharpening Stone from Chef's Choice has been designed as a single stone solution to knife sharpening. One general purpose grit is able to handle major edge restoration as well as put a finished cutting edge on a blade.

If you have fairly loose standards, that's true enough. Diamond stones cut quickly, so you can do major refurbishing with this stone, but it will take a little longer than the right stone for that job. You can put a good working edge on your blades with this stone also, but you can improve on that with finer grit stones or honing steels. Many will want to go just a little farther with edge maintenance than this stone will take them. The Edgecraft Diamond Stone will get your knives to that level quickly, though, and since it has many other good features it's a good stone to consider.

The 2" x 6" surface of diamond impregnated steel is nearly a permanent grinding surface. I say nearly because I'm fairly sure I could wear one out in a lifetime of use. It might take longer, but I'd get close. The wooden stand and cover keep the surface clean of dust and dirt that can at least partially foul the stone; although it can be used dry I'd recommend wetting it with plain water and rinsing it off carefully, otherwise you may see bumps of steel shavings collect now and then.

The rubberized bottom of the holder gives the stone a secure footing on your counter top or table without marring their surfaces, and brings the stone to a convenient working height. Finish the blade with a honing steel for that more perfect edge.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-edgecraft-diamond-knife-sharpening-stone/feed/ 0 Chef’s Choice Krumkake Express | Electric Pastry Abel Skiver Maker 839 http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-krumkake-express-electric-pastry-abel-skiver-maker-839/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-krumkake-express-electric-pastry-abel-skiver-maker-839/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:25:31 +0000 Lora http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4411 Chef's Choice Krumkake Express Even before Ikea came to town, Scandinavian food was working its way into the restaurant scene. I imagine that twenty years ago, you weren't likely to find abel skivers on a menu at an American breakfast restaurant no matter how trendy they were. But things are changing. And what better way to keep up with those changes than impressing your dinner guests with a beautiful Krumkake dessert.

Of course, I must confess I have a weakness for pretty things. Normally, I don't think of food as pretty. Beautiful, yes. Pretty, not so much. But presentation is an important factor in cooking. And making a gorgeous Krumkake is a lot easier than you might imagine.

The Chef's Choice Krumkake express comes with a cookbook which includes Norwegian, Swedish, and German variations on krumkakes. All you need to do is whip up the batter and pour a scoop onto the decorative, nonstick surface, close the lid, and wait sixty seconds. You can select the color of your krumkake from golden to dark brown by adjusting the numbered dial setting which controls the temperature.

When the krumkake is cooked, roll the warm cake around the included plastic form, and the cake will harden into a crisp cone as it cools. In mere minutes, you have a beautiful and edible serving vessel for ice cream, mousse, fruit and whipped cream, or any other delicacy you deem worthy of the krumkake.

The unit has red and green indicator lights and a quick reheat time. It's easy to clean and stores upright to save space. It also comes with a one-year warranty against defects. This is a sweet treat in more ways than one.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-krumkake-express-electric-pastry-abel-skiver-maker-839/feed/ 0 Chef’s Choice Waffle Cone Express 838 | Ice Cream | Waffle Iron http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-waffle-cone-express-838-ice-cream-waffle-iron/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-waffle-cone-express-838-ice-cream-waffle-iron/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:13:19 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4357 Chef's Choice Waffle Cone Express 838 With the Chef's Choice Waffle Cone Express, you're two minutes away from a freshly made waffled sugar cone for ice cream. The nonstick waffle plates are seven inches across. The locking latch and overflow channel ensure consistent results. The unit offers instant temperature recovery, enabling you to make cone after cone without waiting. The color selection control lets you choose how brown you want the cone and how thoroughly you cook the batter. The Express comes with a cone rolling form, recipes, and a one year limited warranty.

Add the mouth watering caramel scent of fresh baked waffle cones to your afternoon treat or dessert menu. The aroma you remember from your local ice cream shop? That is the smell you'll produce when making your cones. With the quick recovery and short cook time, you can have a stack ready to fill in just a few minutes. The cleaning is as easy as a quick wipe. You can vary the recipe to create a cone just right for your occasion, including flavored and colored cone batters. More adventurous users make cones with a delicious flavored lining, as found in storebought treats. Chef's Choice also makes a cone holder with four adorable spiral arms for filling or presenting your treats.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-waffle-cone-express-838-ice-cream-waffle-iron/feed/ 0 Chef’s Choice Cordless Tea Kettle | Stainless Electric 1-3/4 Quart Pot 677 http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-cordless-tea-kettle-stainless-electric-1-34-quart-pot-677/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-cordless-tea-kettle-stainless-electric-1-34-quart-pot-677/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:57:12 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3373 Chef's Choice Cordless Tea Kettle This electric teakettle boils as much as 1-3/4 quarts of water per batch with 1500 watts of power. The design protects the heating element, so it won't build mineral deposits. Safety features include automatic shut off and boil dry protection, plus Chef's Choice added a locking lid to prevent accidents.

The kettle housing is brushed stainless steel with black accents. The water level gauge is built into the handle and the cord wraps into the base for neat storage. This product is UL listed and comes with a one year limited warranty.

This product has a more traditional teakettle look to it than an item like the Panasonic Thermo Pot, but the Thermo Pot has additional safety features such as a cool touch exterior and breakaway plug. It is also more portable than the Chef's Choice, but the Chef's Choice is half the price.

People praise the Chef's Choice for its speed in heating and no fuss functionality. You can use it to quickly prepare hot water for a variety of uses and the kettle can be taken from the base to serve or add water. It makes a nice presentation at the table and is the preferred method over microwaving for heating water for tea.

For a more traditional-looking cordless tea kettle, here's another model from Chef's Choice.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-cordless-tea-kettle-stainless-electric-1-34-quart-pot-677/feed/ 1 Chef’s Choice Non Serrated Blade for Model 630, 632 Food Slicer http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-non-serrated-blade-for-model-630-632-food-slicer/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-non-serrated-blade-for-model-630-632-food-slicer/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:36:13 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3483 Chef's Choice Non Serrated Blade forThe only mystery is why this fine edged (non serrated) blade doesn't come as standard equipment. In restaurant kitchens I've used nothing else.

Of course, for kitchen counter slicing machines the serrated edge does ease the load on the machine somewhat, especially if users are careful not to apply too much pressure when cutting. Only part of the serrated blade's cutting surface is in contact with the food, reducing the friction. That same intermittent contact can make problems if you want the thinnest cuts, with slices pressing into the hollows of the blade and coming out shredded, alternately being cut and torn by the serrations.

This blade is a useful accessory for a home machine, when you want paper thin slices of prosciutto ham instead of ham sprinkles. Don't discard the serrated version--in fact that's still the one you should use most often. Ease the load on your slicer when cutting thicker pieces and the motor will outlast the warranty.

Storage can be a problem. To keep the edge in good condition longer, wash and dry by hand. If you don't have a storage box, put the blade in a sleeve of folded (and taped, for safety) cardboard before laying the disc in the bottom of a drawer--the "envelope" will make it easier to pick up again. Pay attention, though, because this isn't something you should drop.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-non-serrated-blade-for-model-630-632-food-slicer/feed/ 1 Chef’s Choice International Hot Pot | Electric Kettle Stainless Steel Cordless 675 http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-international-hot-pot-electric-kettle-stainless-steel-cordless-675/ http://www.thecooksden.com/chefs-choice-international-hot-pot-electric-kettle-stainless-steel-cordless-675/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:34:22 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3984 Chef's Choice International Hot Pot The Chef's Choice 675 Hot Pot is made from stainless steel with a mirror finish exterior. The interior has a brushed stainless finish. At fifteen hundred watts, the pot boils faster than a microwave to provide water for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soup or hot cereal. The pot lifts from the base for pouring without the trouble of a cord involved. The pouring spout has sieve holes to prevent items like tea bags from falling out of the pot and into your cup.

An automatic shut-off triggers when the water comes to a boil or if the pot becomes dry. The hinge of the lid opens only when a button on the handle is pressed. The power base stores the cord out of the way. The pot has a water level gauge and a one year warranty against defects. A hot pot is a great device for any location where you might want to provide hot beverages or water for instant foods.

People find the unit easy to fill and simple to clean because the heating element is concealed below the floor of the pot. However, ill fitting parts, auto shut off malfunctions, and spillage of hot water due to the design of the spout mean trouble for many. The idea of a hot pot is a good one, but it might be better to go with the Braun Aqua Express (it has a lime scale filter) or even the Chef's Choice 677 model, which appears to be better made.

Compare this with the Chef's Choice Cordless Kettle.

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