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Workout Equipment
Stamina Exercise Stepper Machine Provides A Safe Workout
August 31st, 2017
If you like the thought of adding more exercise into your routine, but have issues finding time or money to frequent a gym, then this stepper machine might be the solution for you. From Stamina comes its InStride Electronic Stepper. The big draw of this unit is its size, making it easy to take virtually anywhere. This stepper machine measures twelve inches wide by sixteen inches long (that translates into 192 square inches) and weighs in at about twenty pounds. Use it throughout the house to squeeze in an effective workout, or toss in a bag to take it with you to the office for a bit of lunchtime exercise. Now let’s move on to the features.
The stepper features two hydraulic cylinders and is meant to give a workout similar to commercial steppers. Battery-operated, this Stepper Machine counts each of your steps and also keeps track of the amount of time spent exercising and also displays this info on its LED screen. It is constructed of durable steel frame and also has wide, textured foot pedals for added stability. Squeaking noises from the unit seem to be a fairly common concern from consumers providing online reviews. Also, many consumers did report the unit breaking after a time of use. Even these users, however, did say the unit was very portable and really did provide a great workout. If your short on time, space and money, this stepper could be a good investment in your health.
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Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances
Bake Homemade Donuts With The Smart Planet Mini Donut Maker
August 25th, 2017
Who doesn’t love a good donut now and then? With the Smart Planet MDM-1 Mini Donut Maker, you can make your own donuts at home easily, saving both time and money. What’s neat about this donut maker is that it appears safe as well as easy to use, so even younger cooks can join in the (supervised) donut-making process. Highlights of this donut maker include its non-stick surface, its ability to be used with any store bought donut mix, and its fast cooking time. In fact, the manufacturer reports being able to whip up a batch of donuts in 4 minutes. The donuts the maker produces are also on the smaller size.
Which some may find find as a product con, but others may like because it is, in essence, portion control. Product owners provided a lot of insight into this model of donut maker. One such online review noted that the machine makes six donuts at one time. That’s fine if you’re only cooking up a batch or three, but expect longer waits for larger numbers of donuts. Also, the home donut maker’s fast cooking time, while a plus, also can end up being time consuming if you’re making more than a few batches at one time. Consumers did report these donut makers were extremely easy to use. This appears to be a great product for those wanting to produce donuts at home that are sized just right for kids or those more calorie conscious.
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Cookware & Utensils
The Colorful Silicone Treated Calphalon Twill Pot Holder Delivers
June 28th, 2017
Even those cooks among us who don’t fire up the oven too often still need a quality pot holder from time to time. There are a lot of options out there today, including this Calphalon Twill Pot Holder. This pot holder is constructed from heavy weight cotton twill. A silicone treatment on both sides of the holder ensures a sturdy grip that can be used for right- or left-handed cooks. As far as heat resistance goes, this model will protect hands up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Though it does feature silicone on each side, the middle is free from silicone which makes the holder flexible for easy use. It is oversized, but is not bulky and it is also made to resist stains.
When cleaning is called for, the kitchen pot holder can go both in the washer and dryer. A hang loop comes attached for storage. Consumers providing reviews online were overall very positive regarding this twill pot holder. A few concerns from consumers were that the silicone treatment develops a grungy appearance despite washings and that the shape of the pot holder takes a bit to get used to. However, most consumers appeared to really like this potholder. One went so far as to create a video detailing how much better it works than regular pot holders. Overall, this looks like a good, durable, sturdy silicone pot holder for every day kitchen use.
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Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances
Magimix Cuisine Systeme 5150 Is A Heavy Duty Slicing Machine
May 13th, 2017
You’ve probably heard an infomercial before touting a product: “It slices! It dices!” This product, the Magimix Cuisine Systeme, really does. In fact, it goes above and beyond a regular food processor’s duties day in and day out for superior kitchen performance. This Magimix food processor can perform several kitchen functions, including a variety of food processing as it comes with a Sabatier double blade, a slicing and grating disc, a chocolate or parmesan cheese disc, and a julienne disc. Besides processing, the unit also comes with a bakery-grade dough blade and is sturdy enough to withstand the mixing of uneven and often heavy mixtures like bread dough.
Use the unit to whisk eggs (yes, it has its own egg whisk) or to whip fresh cream. This model also comes with a juice extractor as well as a citrus press. Three dishwasher safe and shatter proof bowls, in 16-, 12- and 6-cup sizes, are included with this unit. A commercial grade motor, complete with a 12 year warranty, rounds out the features of this Magimix processor. Storage is not a concern with this model; though it powers through a wide range of kitchen jobs with ease, it also stores all accessories inside its compact frame. Reviewers online had overwhelmingly positive things to say about their Magimix products. Those providing reviews noted the unit was sturdy and readily powered through any task it claimed to be able to do. One reviewer stated the Magimix replaced at least four other appliances in her kitchen.
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Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances
Panasonic Inverter Microwave Delivers Consistent Microwave Energy
May 2nd, 2017
A microwave is pretty much a kitchen necessity these days. One with inverter technology that provides consistent cooking results is great for today’s busy kitchens. The Panasonic Prestige Microwave Oven seems to be a good, reliable fit for today’s consumers. This Panasonic Inverter Microwave is 1250 watts and has 2 and a half cubic feet capacity. It offers a pretty neat array of features including the above-mentioned inverter cooking and turbo defrost technologies. Going a step beyond the microwaves of yesterday is this model’s Genius Sensor cook/reheat feature that calculates cooking times and adjusts power levels all on its own.
There are also 10 cooking levels, 5 cooking stages, a keep-warm option for 5 different foods, a popcorn button, and a sensor cooking feature for 18 food items. Did I mention the turntable yet or the stainless steel, fingerprint-resistant finish? Other features include a more/ less control, a delay start and a timer. The microwave can be placed on a counter or installed in a wall. Also, instructions to use the microwave scroll by the large, bright LED display in English, Spanish or French. Consumer reviews online were pretty much overall positive. A few did mention having a chip on the microwave’s door right out of the box.
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Air Products
The Eva-Dry Electric Petite Dehumidifier Operates Quietly
November 17th, 2016
Have you ever felt that your bathroom, camper or other small space could use its own personal dehumidifier? From Eva-dry comes their Electric Petite Dehumidifier, intended to help reduce moisture in smaller spaces. This petite dehumidifier comes with a few neat features. First, it is said to run quietly as it uses Peltier Technology which uses no compressor. Next, the Eva Dry Dehumidifier size lends itself to be used in bathrooms, RVs, or any small room or office where humidity and dampness are an issue. The unit also is easy to use; just plug it in and let it do the work. When the sixteen ounce reservoir is filled, the dehumidifier will automatically shut off.
A light that indicates the unit is full will let you know the spill proof reservoir needs to be emptied. Out of the nearly 250 reviews provided on Amazon, customers did voice concerns with the unit’s noise level, stating it wasn’t as quiet as the product description claimed. A few customers had issues with the unit not working after a month’s use. Most reviews were positive, stating the dehumidifier worked well in their small rooms.
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Exercise Machines
Exercise In Comfort With This Schwinn Recumbent Exercise Bike
October 2nd, 2016
It’s no secret that part of a healthy lifestyle is regular exercise. The Schwinn 240 Recumbent Exercise Bike makes keeping a fitness routine easy as it allows you to exercise in the comfort of your own home without monthly memberships or fees. This bike has a lot of features, so here are the highlights. The Schwinn Recumbent Exercise Bike has sixteen resistance levels, and seventeen workout programs. Monitoring the heart rate can be done as the bike is telemetry-enabled with an integrated grip heart rate system. Measure your progress right on the easy to read and backlit console with the Schwinn Advantage workout tracking.
The bike also features a twenty pound flywheel. The seat, which is part of a system that is padded, ergonomic with lumbar support, as well as the handles and console are all adjustable. Other nice features include a reading rack, a water bottle holder and storage space beneath the seat for magazines. It’s worth noting the maximum usage weight is 300 pounds. Consumers providing reviews of this Schwinn exercise bike online were overall pleased with the bike. It did seem that some people had difficulty comprehending the assembly and programming instructions included with the bike. However, the online community offers many tips and feedback that can be found helpful by other users. Overall, though, people really seemed to like these Schwinn Recumbent Bikes, its features and the at-home workout it provides.
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Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances
Create A Breakfast Feast With This Pancake Griddle From Presto
September 8th, 2016
The Pancake Griddle from Presto will let you cook up some pancakes as well as eggs, bacon or whatever else you’d want for a complete breakfast. This model will also provide a cooking space for lunch and dinner fare such as hamburgers and grilled sandwiches. The 1500 watt pancake griddle features a large and flat nonstick cooking surface, and its construction from heavy cast aluminum helps to evenly distribute heat and resist warping. A groove runs along one side to remove excess grease from cooking food and deposits it into a removable container. A neat feature is the removable heat control; which allows unit whole unit to be submerged into water for cleaning.
As mentioned above, the surface features a premium, professional nonstick surface which makes clean up easier and negates the use of excess fats for cooking. Be warned, however, that this is a large cooking unit (22 inches) that might present storage issues to some. Online reviews are a mixed bag. Some reviewers felt the product did not heat evenly as its feature highlights claim resulting in burnt or undercooked food. Other reviewers raved about the size of the surface, saying it is great for large families. Overall, the unit received a positive rating with most reviewers stating the griddle cooked well. Overall, these pancake griddles appear to be a good bet for large families or those cooks who need to produce large quantities of food.
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