Irons Reviews

I recently picked up this iron also at Walmart. Based on my experience with my friend's B&D iron (a different model though), I was hoping to replicate the same experience. After bringing it home and filling it with tap water, I tried to iron a 100% cotton shirt but, it simply did not iron. The wrinkles would not go away even after applying massive amounts of steam, maximizing the heat setting, ironing slowly with increased downward force... nothing would get the wrinkles out. I finally gave up after 10 minutes. Its going back.

I have owned three irons over the past year and a quarter, from $30 steam irons to a $120 steam generator, for pressing my sewing and machine embroidery and for ironing my husband's business shirts. When my one-year-old Rowenta Powerglide DE-013 began to increasingly spit, leak, and subsequently spot on fabric, I ran to Wal*Mart yesterday and bought the B&D AS975, for which I paid the same amount of money ($30). While it has not yet exhibited the flaws of the Rowenta, it has done the following:
- It begins making crackling noises once it has been plugged in-foreboding for an electrical tool containing water.
- Its spray-mist feature sprays over a very large area, and its direction is difficult to control.
- Its INOX stainless-steel sole plate accumulated an immediate build-up when ironing over a mist of "Light Body Magic Sizing."
Since I had a B&D years ago that lived several happy years with me, I thought that I would give B&D another try. I will, however, be returning the AS975 tomorrow. My hope is that I can find an iron that contains the strengths of the Rowenta-directed spray mist and ideal sole plate-without the weaknesses of spitting, leaking, and crackling. Based on past experience, I suspect that this may be a quixotic quest.

Le Creuset manufactures porcelain enameled cast iron cooking vessels as well as other products. Le Creuset casts these cooking vessels from molten iron poured in sand moulds that are used only once. For this reason, one pot may look like another, but each is unique in its own way.

Cast iron is a highly efficient material which absorbs and distributes heat efficiently. It is recommended that cooking with cast iron is done on low to medium heat. However, there are exceptions like boiling water where cooking on high heat is appropriate and okay. Remove cast iron from the heat and it does not cool off quickly. This heat retention helps your food stay warm while serving. Beware; iron tends to be heavy so are these cooking vessels.

Cast iron is an effective material for cooking so why cover it with enamel? Iron tends to rust; iron oxide (rust) doesn't add any complimentary flavors to your food. If your cast iron cooking vessel was not enameled, you would have to season and maintain your cooking vessel. Adding the porcelain enamel not only looks good, but has multiple benefits. The enamel, being a solid coating, is one of the most hygienic surfaces to cook on, does not stain, absorb odors, retain flavors, and is easy to clean. The enamel can be damaged, so limit cooking tools to plastic or wood.

The benefits of cooking with Le Creuset cast iron are many, but lets get down to the buffet casserole specifically. The buffet casseroles are one of the most versatile pieces in the Le Creuset lineup. Use this pan as a sauté pan, a roasting pan, for poaching, or as a shallow braiser. The 3.5 quart capacity can is plenty of space when it comes to casseroles, so consider your recipes when determining the size you need. The buffet casserole tends to do best if at least three quarters full. Any less and you may overwhelm your food with the evenly dispersed heat in the pot.

With a large flat bottom that curves up this pan resembles a curved sided saute pan the only thing missing would be a long handle. The tight fitting lid is mostly flat with curved sides. This lid seals in heat, moisture, and flavors and can be used to hold your meat while you are making a sauce from the drippings. Its shape and design makes this an extremely versatile pan.

I tend to use this pot for basic dishes like smothered pork chops more than anything else. But once you get past the basic functionality that lends itself to recipes such as paella, frittatas, deep dish pizza, and casseroles, you can really open up the possibilities. Keep in mind this is a 3.5 quart pan, feeding two out if it is ridiculous unless you want leftovers. It is probably the perfect size for a family of four in most cases. Try baking pineapple upside down cake or bread pudding for when you need to please many guests, poaching fish, or Mac and Cheese. The possibilities almost seem endless.

One feature that people tend to complain about is the cost. The cost does seem steep compared to other pans made from other materials. Heck, cast iron doesn't seem like it should be expensive when comparing to that old cast iron pan past generations have used for cornbread and camping. However the manufacturing process requires making a mould for each and every pan produced. They then go through the enameling process before shipping these heavy pans. If you take what goes into making and distributing these high quality cast iron products, the cost tends to make sense. Then consider that this pan will easily last a lifetime when taken care of.
PROS:
Extremely versatile
Efficient absorption and distribution of heat
Hygienic enamel cooking surface
Does not stain, absorb odors, or retain flavors
Easy to clean when not abused or misused
Can be transferred from stove top to the oven to the table
Can easily last a lifetime

CONS:
Its heavy, as cast iron tends to be weighing in at about 12.25 pounds.

This unit from Cooking.com is made from China. Consider it to be a disposable unit. The threads on it are worthless. I got one single use out of them. I thought it to be a fluke. Ordered another one. Same thing. Frustrated!
I located a German Made Cast Iron Rosette Iron online, from another reviewer. There is a world of differences, between the $10.00 China junk knockoff and the German made one. It is my opinion that the German Rosette Iron is worth every penny! The German Made Cast Iron Rosette will no doubt be handed down for generations to come. The threads alone are worth the higher price; however the quality is significantly noticeable. The German made set is a much heavier set than the China made set from Cooking.com. It is my opinion that it is worth your time to do a bit more research than for settling for this Chinese knockoff. Don't get me wrong - they are still better than Aluminum any day of the week - but if you have ever owned an Alfred Andresen & Co Cast Iron Rosette set - you'll instantly know what I am talking about.

The irons themselves - rock! They aren't as heavy duty as are old set - but they are still Cast Iron (ya know the kind - a magnet sticks to them). Sure beat the heck out of a Aluminum set - any day of the week! I can cook almost 4 cookies (w/cast iron) two one (w/aluminum). Cookies seem to be much crispier and thinner by comparison too.

Side Note: Cooking dot com lacks recipes and knowledge.
After the fact, we found a slew of recipes at www.rosetteirons.com, how-to instructions, lots and lots of tips and a toll-free number for customer support.

This is a great product, and you can get it, along with any other products on Amazon up to $500 Free! Participate in this special promotion and get a free $500 Amazon Gift Card at this web site: stuffnocost.com/amazon

If you have $300 cash on hand and love to collect Le Creuset, you got to have this great deal. Just take a look at singel item of 5-1/2 Quart Round French Oven and 3-1/4-Quart Buffet Casserole, they cost $189.98 and $149.99 each!! And for 2-3/4-quart lidded soup pot, the set actually comes with 2-3/4-quart Round French Oven, even better!!(Because I already have the same soup pot)
For the quality, I think I don't need to repeat it. I started Le Creuset from the soup pot, and it cooks wonderful soup: the same recipe with much better taste!! So, if you love Le Creuset, you can't miss this great deal!! And I just recieved mine today, and I am so excited and love them. Love the red color!!

Love the Waffle Iron, never received the Waffle Mix Or Waffle Cook Book.