5 comments about Vacu Vin 2977450 Instant Marinater.

1. No gurantee. Manufacturer will not stand behind product. Purchased few years ago. Product imploded upon initial test. Manual does suggest nor warn user that over pumping the pump to create the vacum can cause the plastic container to break (implode). The product itself does not offer enough resistance nor give indications when to stop extracting air to form the vacum inside to marinate the meat. Contacted manufacturer for replacement. Manufactuer refused to replace product while it was still new. Never had a chance to test product on meat. Spent over $30 (probably close to $40). I would not give this product any stars. But I'm forced to give it at least one star. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT! SAVE YOUR MONEY! No matter how favorable the reviews. If the product does not last and the manufacturer does not stand behind what it sells, the product is USELESS.



2. This item is a piece of junk!!
   
   When you seal it the airpressure is so tight that you can not release it to remove the lid. The valve malfunctioned after the 2nd use.
   
   A waste of money!!!



3. I had to replace our old VacuVin Instant Marinater because it cracked under the pressure! This new model is bigger and stronger and it is easier to tell when I've sucked out enough air.



4. This past summer was when I finally started getting into grilling. I had been marinating my meats in either a Tupperware or plastic bag. Then, I read about this item, so I purchased it. It seems to work just fine. I'ved used it more than 30 times. In each case I'd add the marinade to the meat, and place in the refrigerator while I go to work. I haven't had any problems with implosion, and it's easy to tell when there's enough vacuum - it get VERY hard to pump. It's well made out of thick plastic [polycarbonate?] and has plenty of room inside. Now if only I was better at choosing tasty marinades, I'd be all set.



5. I had a much older marinator but it finally broke after many years, so I ordered this one. The pump has greatly improved; so much easier. But the bowl has a very stupid design. The bottom of the bowl is not level...it's "humped" whereby the middle section is raised and the area near the edges (where the bottom of the bowl meets the sides) are much lower. I don't get the reasoning behind this! So, part of the meat (the portion that's against the edge) is in the marinade, but the remaining portion of the meat (the part that's not shoved against the edge) doesn't touch the marinade unless you pour a HUGE amount of marinade in the bowl to fill up the entire bottom. Dumb design. I wish I knew this feature before I bought it, but the picture doesn't reveal this.

No comments about Epicurean Cutting Surfaces 8-by-6 Bar Board, Natural.

5 comments about Oxo Good Grips 7-1/2-by10-1/2-Inch Cutting Board, Black.

1. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I AM VERY PREJUDICED TOWARD OXO - I WAS GIVEN A NUMBER OF OXO KITCHEN GADGETS ABOUT 8? 10? YEARS AGO BECAUSE I HAVE TERRIBLE ARTHRITIS, CARPAL TUNNEL AND NOW NEUROPATHY IN MY HANDS - I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PRODUCTS IMMEDIATELY - I'VE HAD TWO BATTERY OPERATED CAN OPENERS OVER THE YEARS BUT FIND I ALWAYS GO FOR MY HAND HELD OXO - EVEN WHEN I'M OPENING UP ENOUGH CANS TO MAKE 12 QUARTS OF SPAGHETTI SAUCE - SO YOU SEE I REALLY AM PREJUDICED TOWARD OXO AND THIS LITTLE CUTTING BOARD IS NO EXCEPTION TO THE RULE - HOWEVER, KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S SMALL - IT'S GOOD FOR CUTTING A PEPPER OR AN ONION OR A SMALL BLOCK OF CHEESE OR AN APPLE BUT DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE FILET CHICKEN CUTLETS OR CARVE A ROAST ON IT OR EVEN CUT UP A CANTALOUPE ON IT - IT'S VERY SMALL BUT IT'S STURDY, IT GRIPS WELL TO SURFACES AND THE MATERIAL IT'S MADE OUT OF CLEANS UP WELL.



2. I was hoping that this "cutting board" would actually let me cut on it and not score so easily. I'm replacing a much larger one because it has so many cuts in the board. It's so hard to really clean the board when it's all scored. I'd think a cutting board would mark up so easily. The rubber edging does help hold it in place slightly, if your counter is level and smooth. I have tile so it's not perfectly even, and therefore the rubber doesn't always catch and hold. It wasn't one of my better purchases.



3. This cutting board was the perfect size for what I wanted. It looks good and stays put due to the rubber ends. The only concern I have is that it seems rather easy to cut into. Even cutting straight down with the knife cuts into the board. If you are going to use this for meat be careful to clean it thoroughly afterwards.



4. This cutting board is very good. With enough warped cutting boards to shake a stick at, I was pleased to find this one. Plus it is non-slip on a dry surface, of course. Definitely a good deal for the price.



5. I purchased one board, then another a year later. It's just the right size for an onion, herbs or fruit. I don't worry about minor scoring from sharp knives--it cleans up easily in the dishwasher although I often handwash depending on what I have been cutting. The smooth surface is better than some that are rough because you can sweep minced items off the board without the blade catching. I only wish the groove (on one side) were a bit deeper to prevent meat juices from running off but It's fine for small items like tomatoes.

5 comments about Totally Bamboo Congo Parquet End Grain Cutting Board.

1. I bought this because of the high rating fromn "Cook's Illustrated" and it hasn't disappointed. The board is sturdy and pleasant to use. It is large enough to accomodate a large quantity of chopped food, but the large size does make it a bit heavy, but not overly so. The cross-cut bamboo is quite attractive and seems to disguise any nicks that might occur. I'm totally into the bamboo thing!



2. I love the soft to the knife touch surface that is easy to wipe off. Just wish it was about 25% bigger.



3. This board is not only nice to look at, it has great "knife feel"- i.e. clean, positive cutting action. It cleans easily and I have not experienced any warping issues as reported by others. America's Test Kitchen was correct in his praise.



4. Based on the Cook's Illustrated recommendation I bought one of Totally Bamboo's smaller end grain bamboo boards (the Zambia). That board has been great for small tasks, but I also needed a larger board for bigger tasks, so I came back and picked up the Congo. It has likewise been a great board, no obvious signs of splitting or warping, light enough to be easy to handle yet solid enough to stay where you put it. I highly recommend it.



5. I purchased this board on the recommendation of Cooks Illustrated. I was really pleased with this board - for a few months. I oiled it as recommended, but it split in two places after about 3 months. Their ad specifically says it will not split or crack. I wrote to Totally Bamboo, but they never responded. Don't buy this one!

5 comments about Farberware 3-Piece Poly Cutting Board Set.

1. I have had these boards over one year now!
   
   I bought them after a very positive experience with an extraordinarily cheap 1/8" plastic cutting board. I wanted a couple more and a bigger board so I bought this very well-priced set expecting to have a couple similar items to my 1/8" one. Was I wrong!
   
   These turned out to be much nicer than the cheapo 1/8" one, much sturdier measuring a little under 1/2" (just measured at 6/16"), and having a much nicer plastic finish that seems to hold up much better to knives. My 1/8" one is not one of those polycarbonate sheet types, but it would bend a little bit, while these would never bend on you, dishwasher or not.
   
   And the really great thing about all these hard plastic boards is the dishwasher, because when they get a little grubby, you toss them in there and they come out looking like new. I can't imagine a wood board lasting me as long as these are capable of lasting. My one-year old heavily used ones still look essentially new. I'd imagine they could last 10 years easily.
   
   On another important subject, I've found these to be less sensitive to knife cuts than my other boards, which include that cheap 1/8" board already mentioned and polycarbonate sheet "bendable" boards - I haven't used a wooden board in ages.
   
   But on the subject of knife cuts one very important note is that I've found one particular type of cheap, serrated knife to really MURDER these boards. This is a type of knife blade I frequently see sold in supermarkets, having a serrated edge with a sort of "thousand tiny pin" blade when you look at the cutting side up close. So it's not a "scalloped" style serrated edge, but often even an entirely straight edge, but serrated via a "thousand tiny pins" - a long neat row of pins of metal sticking out all along the cutting edge. I have a set of such cheap knives, like six for ten bucks, that I use as steak knives and those things will absolutely destroy these boards. They also destroy my other cutting boards as well though, so can't hold that against this board.
   
   Other than that odd, cheap type of knife, I can use these all day and leave nary a trace on them. I use these daily, do alot of cooking and it's been over a year and if I put them in the dishwasher, when they come out they not only are as white as new, they virtually look new because there are no divots in them or slashes.
   
   So for me, if I simply avoid that cheap supermarket style cheap knife edge, I can use these for ages with no issues at all of surface cuts. I use serrated edges with a "scalloped" profile most of the time though and don't have any super high quality, super-sharp, straight-edge knives. But my serrated knives coexist very peacefully with these boards (again, except for that weird blade profile of that one cheap style of knife already described).



2. As the review title implies, these boards are great for anyone on a budget. They are simple, cheap, and they do the job. If you are building your first set of kitchenware and really need to spend as little as possible, you can feel safe knowing that these boards will get you by.
   
   On the other hand, if you have a few more dollars to spare, you'll want to look for something better.
   
   The Pros:
   -Cheap, cheap, cheap- ideally suited for dorm or "first apartment" cooking
   -Convenient 3-piece set in compact sizes for easy storage or transport
   -Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
   
   The Cons:
   -Forget what it says about "textured surfaces", there are no non-slip surfaces and these boards will slide without something to keep them in place (like a small scrap of rug pad, for example)
   -You're going to want more surface area at some point
   -After a few dozen trips through the dishwasher they will warp ever-so-slightly, which will exacerbate the sliding problem.
   
   In summary, let me say again that for someone on a budget these boards will absolutely get you by. In that respect, these are a good purchase. BUT- If you need or expect more performance than that you want to keep looking.



3. I love this set! The three different sizes all come in handy and I find myself using the biggest one more often than I thought I would!
   These haven't stained like other cutting boards I have had (from things like tomato paste or red bell peppers!) and cope with the dishwasher just fine, even on the bottom rack!



4. These boards are horrible. Warped, bad color, would not use my 99 jc penny knife on these much less my Henckles. Total utter garbage, do not waste your money on these.



5. I was looking to replace my current cutting board and happened across this set. I love it. Instead of just one large cutting board, I now have three.

5 comments about Oxo Good Grips 10-1/2-by-15-Inch Utility Cutting Board, Black Trim.

1. I have many cutting boards but I seem to reach for this one almost everytime. While the board surface is nothing unusual, the non-slip silicone trim makes it worth every penny. No more chasing the cutting board across the counter as you are chopping!



2. No complaints here--works well, does not slip, catches drips, easy to wash...worth the price in my opinion.



3. I wanted something smaller and lighter than a regular cutting board. This one is just the right size and weight. I am very please with it.



4. I have an oxo knife set and can opener which I have been please with, so decided to try the cutting board. It is a nice size and easy to care for.



5. I'm a big OXO fan already. This cutting board has two usable sides - one is flat, the other has a shallow drip channel around the edges. The "grip" feet keep the cutting board in place when you use it. The only drawback is that the surface retains cut marks rather easily, which makes it vulnerable to quick deterioration. The pros outweigh the cons. I would get another one without question.

5 comments about SiliconeZone 11-by-15-Inch Non-Skid Flexible Cutting Boards, Set of 4.

1. These slide around on the top of my counter, so i have to use them on top of a wood cutting board where they sit tight. Which is fine as it gives them a little height, which i like for chopping and the like. Having said that, they are excellent. It is so nice to just change them out during food prep, and toss them in the dishwasher for sanitation (who needs color coding). No more washing a bunch of heavy wood cutting boards after every meal. I use them all of the time and they have held up well. And when they wear out, I'll just buy more.



2. I purchased these form Amazon in 2005 and we are still using them on a daily basis. They are perfect for all of your cutting needs, and they are thick so they don't curl up (like other cutting mats we've had).
   They make it much easier to add just chopped veggies/ meats, into pots on the stove because they are so portable and lightweight.
   They only bad thing is that they get cut up from being used all the time, but since they are plastic they are easy to wash or throw in the dishwasher to sterilize.
   A must have for anyone in the kitchen.



3. The anti-skid stuff is pretty much useless. I give this product 4 stars because, unlike most similar products, it doesn't curl like a sombich. I've had mine for a good length of time and they're still flat after over a hundred dish washer cycles.



4. These cutting boards, being flexible and flat, are easy to store anywhere and are easy to wash. I find that they do skid a little bit but it isn't a major problem. The colours add a nice change to the usual wooden boards or white plastic boards.



5. I teach cooking classes to children and these have quickly become my favorite mats. They do not slip, are easy to clean, and the variety of colors makes a nice presentation to the room when my students walk in.
   There are other versions out there at retail stores like Bed, Bath & ...
   They are not the non-skid version and sell for the same price.
   Take the extra time and order these!

5 comments about Snow River Wood Oil.

1. I bought this for my new cutting board. It is great. Keeps it new



2. Use it on my bamboo cutting board. No weird smell. Works pretty good so far.



3. Why would anyone pay 5 times more for this than mineral oil? You can get mineral oil at any drug store and it is 100% food safe.



4. I have used three diff brands - Tru Bamboo, Snow River and John Boos. I like the last one ( John Boos )the best. It is thicker than the other two. It does a better coating job.



5. I use this on my wooden carving board and it works great. It penetrates really well and there's barely anything on the paper towel when I wipe it off again. It also seems to help repel water and meat juices, which protects my board from staining, and makes washing and drying my board very easy.

5 comments about Norpro Bread Slicer with Crumb Catcher.

1. This product was shipped on time and came in over night like it was advertised. I was impressed with their sevices.



2. This is very nice to have, catches crumbs and makes perfect slices. Now I need a long enough knife.



3. This item works great but it does not come with a knife. I had a long bread knive that fits across it perfectly.



4. Looks great in the picture. It probably does exactly as described, except that the one I received was broken. I'm taking that as a big clue!



5. What canyou say, it's a piece of wood with slits for slicing bread evenly. Works OK, if you bread cutting blade is long enough if not it will not give you uniformed slices.

5 comments about MIU Flexible Cutting Board, Set of 5.

1. Easy to clean. Very Flexible. Green for veggies, red for meat, blue for fish, You make the designation. Lessens cross contamination of foods. How ever I use this in concert with a wood cutting board for more heft.
   These mats do not stand up to the ruff stuff. You will leave cut marks on the mat. How ever I don't think they are designed to last. But they keep my wood board clean and I can just fold my chopped items in the mat and transfer it to my pots and bowls. Very Convenient. Plus if you have lots of helpers there is enough to go around. Nice for picnics too. Please keep in mind these are plastic not silicone! And yes when these wear out I will buy them again. These are far easier to wash and sanitize than that heavy cutting board. They keep my very nice wood cutting board looking very nice.



2. this is a great set of five dif colored thin plastic cutting boards. They are convenient to place anywhere in the kitchen and do not take up a lot of spce. they also roll up nicely if you secure with a rubber band. They are a bit stiff, so dont expect anything that is as flexible as silicone would be. The different colors are convenient when slicing and dicing different items. Overall, a great value! would recommend to anyone



3. Not flimsy like most I find in the stores. I love the color coding, and wrote on one side with a permanent marker so we do not cross-contaminate which one is what. Package has it marked, how cool is that. I just copied it and easy wash up and this probably will last alot longer than most! Love em!



4. I remember seeing these cutting boards a while ago in an expensive kitchen catalogue. I am now in my summer quarters with limited kitchen storage and needed new cutting boards. I went to Amazon and put in the description. Success!! Just what I wanted, easy to clean and storage is less that 1/2". With my Amazon Prime I had free shipping also.



5. 
   Except as object d'art? They are stiff [almost unbendable, so where's the flexible in that?], fairly small and at the bottom of my drawer to be dragged out when everything else is in the sink. Don't like'em really. Yes, they are sturdy. They might last forever - mine will because in two months I've used one, once. Unsuitable to the task.