Brita Magnum Deluxe 3-Quart Water Filtration Pitcher
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $24.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Eliminate 99% of the lead and reduce chlorine, mercury, and sediment in drinking water with Brita's Magnum II Filtration Pitcher. Larger than the standard Brita pitcher, it holds up to 3 quarts of clean, filtered water. Just pop the filter cylinder in the white plastic water reservoir, fill with cold tap water, and in just minutes the pitcher's brimming with healthy, great tasting water. Each filter--one comes with the pitcher and you can order others--lasts for 40 gallons of water. As an added feature, a filter replacement indicator relays when it's time for a new one. The sleek, clear plastic pitcher sports an easy-grip handle, while the white plastic lid features two openings: one for filling the pitcher and one for pouring. --Marianne Painter ... Read more

Features

• Large 3-quart capacity
• Virtually eliminates lead
• Reduces copper
• Softens water and reduces scale build-up in appliances
• Flip top lid for easy refilling

Reviews (18)

Good enough for young, broke apartment dwellers
This Brita is ideal for my personal situation: 3 other (just as broke) roommates, highly suspect NYC tap water, and old water pipes. We needed something to purify the water, make it taste better, and not cost an arm or a leg.

We bought the container for about $30 back in November 2004, and we bought a pack of 4 or 6 replacement filters for about $20 extra. We've gone through 2 filters so far (one that came with the Brita, and one new filter) although I suspect we should replace the filters more often (as we are big guzzlers here). Split amongst 4 people, that's only about $13 each for probably about 8 months of good quality water - each month, that comes out to less than $1.50.

Granted, there are better quality water filters out there that remove more impurities than a Brita filter. But, usually those require hooking up the water pipes to a central filter, and shelling out close to $200...too much effort and $$ for an apartment.

And why not those Pur water filters you hook onto the faucet itself? A lot of my friends have complained about those faucet mounts never fitting well enough around the faucet, causing leaks and sprays. Brita may be more low-tech, but it's just alot easier.

We do refill the pitcher constantly, but it takes less than 3 minutes for all the water to filter. And, because my roomates and I don't like ice-cold water, we like to keep the pitcher outside...plus, we can transport from room to room.

So, if you live in your own home and are serious about water filtartion, buy a high end water filter you hook up to the entire water system. Otherwise, Brita is a good alternative.

Worth your money
I am not a water tasting pro, but the difference btwn Brita filtered water and tap water is highly noticeable.Brita filtred water taste great for me and my 3 rooommates.

It fits well in the fridge, it's easy to refill under the sink, it's durable, easy to maintain, easy to start using...

The only consideration with this particular filter is that it's inexpensive so it's not designed for heavy usage.Four people use my Brita filter and a full filter could only fill about three large glasses.Thus, if four people are going to use this filter, they will have to refill many times to keep its water supply adequate for everyone else.

Surprisingly disappointing design
After 8 years with my Brita Classic pitcher, I decided to get a newer, larger model with the built-in "smart timer" feature.After using it for about 3 weeks now, I am very disappointed in the overall design, especially considering how perfect the original Brita was.The smart timer feature is handy -- it's a small digital indicator on the top of the cap that tells you when it's time for a refill; this should work better (& cleaner) than the previous "analog" mechanism used with some Brita filters.But, that's about it as far as the good goes.

If you fill up the basin nearly all the way, water sometimes leaks out the back of the unit from the top of the handle (and gets onto your refrigerator shelf).Much more annoying, though, is the little flap that rests over the spout.Presumably, this is there to keep refrigerator odors from entering the unit and affecting the taste of the water.However, most of the time when you pour, the flap doesn't properly open up (it sort of sticks shut); this causes the water to pour sloppily or even to suddenly gush out if the flap happens to come un-stuck in mid-pour (more spills).Finally, if you tilt the unit enough to pour out the last drop of water, occasionally the Brita filter itself dislodges from its slot and thumps into the cover of the unit so that you need to re-seat it.

Given the great success I had with the previous unit, I was very disappointed with the overall design of this more recent version. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SU16
Subjects:  1. Pantryware    2. (Pantry)    3. Water Filtration    4. Water Purifiers    5. Kitchen   

Baker's Secret 8-Piece Baking Basics Set
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen

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Editorial Review

This inexpensive eight-piece baking set equips a kitchen for basic baking tasks, from cakes to cookies to breads. Baker's Secret has improved the nonstick coating it uses, making the pans in the set more durable and providing for easier release of baked goods. The set consists of a 15-1/8-by-10-1/4-inch cookie pan; 12-5/8-by-8-7/8-inch cake pan; a 9-1/8-by-5-1/8-inch loaf pan; a 1-cup Pyrex measuring cup; three wooden spoons; and a set of five plastic measuring spoons attached to a ring. To maintain the nonstick surface, the pans should be hand washed in soapy water. The pans carry a five-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 5-year warranty against defects
• Equips kitchen for basic baking tasks
• 15-1/8-by-10-1/4-inch cookie pan; 9-1/8-by-5-1/8 loaf pan; 12-5/8-by-8-7/8-inch cake pan
• 3 wooden spoons; Pyrex measuring cup; 5-piece measuring spoon set
• Pans coated with improved nonstick for easy release, better durability

Reviews (1)

The Secret to Baking
This is an awesome set.I bake often, and I look forward to using this set when it arrives.It has almost eveything I use when baking, and I don't have to go the store to buy each piece separately (and probably spend more money in the process).I highly recommend this to anyone who bakes. ... Read more

Asin: B00005B8KR
Subjects:  1. (Bake Ware)    2. Baking    3. Kitchen    4. Bakeware    5. Bakeware Sets   

Pyrex Prepware 7-Piece Mix & Measure Set with 6-Piece bonus
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $29.99
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Editorial Review

Safe in the oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher, Pyrex is a special glass that withstands the shock of going from cold to hot, or vice versa, without breaking. Designed for kitchen prep work, this set consists of 1-cup, 2-cup, and 4-cup measuring cups and 1-quart, 1-1/2-quart, 2-1/2-quart, and 4-quart mixing bowls. An included bonus package consists of a plastic measuring-spoon set, a plastic bowl scraper, and a plastic egg separator. The bowls can also be used for serving salads and fruit, raising bread dough, and cooking and warming foods. Because Pyrex is nonreactive, won't stain, and won't absorb odors, the bowls are perfect for marinating food in acidic marinades and mixing salad dressings. They come with a two-year warranty against breakage from oven heat. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• Includes three measuring cups and four mixing bowls
• Bonus package consists of plastic measuring spoons, bowl scraper, egg separator
• Use bowls also for serving salads and fruit
• Safe in oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher
• 2-year warranty against breakage from oven heat

Reviews (5)

Great Starter Set
I'm getting ready for my own place and bought this because it was on sale. I like how there was almost everything that I need to start out for those first yet attempts at making something edible (hey, tastes good is the next step!).

I would suggest getting the little Pyrex pinch bowls/condiment bowls because it makes cooking a little easier when everything is measured and ready to go.

This set makes a great gift, too. HINT HINT!!! :c)

I've used this set more than 10 years and love it!
I've been using these bowls and measuring cups nearly daily for more than 10 years, and find them absolutely indispensable.They don't crack or stain, and look as new as they when I bought them!One of my favorite features is that the smooth pyrex makes them extremely easy to clean.I usually just sponge them off by hand, but have never had a problem putting them in the dishwasher, either.The bowls stack neatly in the cupboard, for easy space-saving.The cups are a bit more awkard to stack due to their handles, but I stack those too without a problem.

The bowls - I love the fact that they're see-through.I've used the larger ones for mixing wet or dry ingredients in cakes, muffins and pancakes; and rinsing produce; and I've used the medium sizes for rinsing rice and other grains.I've even used the smallest bowl as an extra bowl at the table!I don't use my microwave, but pyrex is a material known to work in the microwave.

The measuring cups - I like the easy-to-read markings in American measurements on one side, and metric on the other.Also, the handles are easy to hold and the spouts make for a good clean pour. I like the fact that the markings on the American side are both in ounces and fractions of cups.The one-cup measure has markings in 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 cup, as well as 1/3 and 2/3 cups, and calibrations in between the markings.I've never had a problem, even when doubling or halving recipes into odd measures.For measures smaller than 1/4 cup, you'll need to use measuring spoons (4 Tbsps = 1/4 cup.)The large four-cup measure is a great time saver for making soups that call for 8 or 10 cups of water. I also use the two- or four- cup measure when juicing-I put the cup right under the juicer spout and know exactly how much juice I'm getting.Remember I said they don't stain?My larger cups have had quite a bit of carrot/kale/beet juice in them and if they were going to stain, they would have by now!

It's a great deal to be able to get all these pieces together in one set, rather than individually the way I bought them.Given the durability, multiple uses, and the way the set stays in excellent condition year after year, I think it's one of the best kitchen values there is.If you can't find these pieces new, I recommend looking for them used.

A perfect assortment
I got a set of these to replace essential kitchen items lost in a move. I was really pleased with the assortment:

The three sizes of Pyrex measures are useful--the metric marks are easy to read, too.
The glass bowls are good for mixing and also can go in the microwave.What was pleasing were the litte extras included-- a dough scraper, a set of measuring spoons that snap together and an egg separator that snaps onto the side of a cup. ... Read more

Asin: B00005B8KE
Subjects:  1. Mixing Bowls    2. Baking    3. Measuring Cups    4. Measures    5. Measurers   

Baker's Secret 5-Piece Gift Set
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $19.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Inexpensive and versatile, this five-piece nonstick bakeware set equips a kitchen for most baking tasks, from cakes to cookies to muffins. Baker's Secret has improved the nonstick coating it uses, making these pans more durable and providing easier release of baked goods. The set consists of a 15-1/8-by-10-1/4-inch cookie pan; a 12-cup muffin pan that produces 2-3/4-by-1-1/4-inch muffins; two 8-inch round cake pans; and a 12-5/8-by-8-7/8-inch cake pan. To maintain the nonstick coating, the pans should be hand washed in soapy water. They carry a five-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack ... Read more

Features

• 5-year warranty against defects
• Includes 15 1/8-by-10 1/4-inch cookie pan; 12-cup muffin pan
• Also: two 8-inch round cake pans; 12 5/8-by-8 7/8-inch cake pan
• Improved nonstick for easy release, better durability
• Handwash in soapy water

Reviews (3)

Great Value, Great Product
This set gives you the basic baking needs.For a low price have 5 pieces compared to one of a higher grade.I don't do much baking.So why invest?

Disappointed.
I'm really disappointed with this product.It's supposed to be nonstick but unfortunately, it's not.The cookie trays are difficult to clean once they've been used a few times and the metal is peeling.Obviously, you get what you pay for.

Baker's Secret
The five piece set is one of the best on the market. As a professional, I would say that for the money you cannot get a better buy. ... Read more

Asin: B00005B8KQ
Subjects:  1. Bakeware Sets    2. (Bake Ware)    3. Baking