Home & Garden Blog » Cookware

As the temperatures begin to drop and the leaves begin to fall, it’s time to start enjoying all the tastes and trends that the season has to offer. Pumpkin picking, apple orchards, homemade soups and chilis, this season is filled with delicious tastes and smells. Ever wonder how you can make the perfect soup or slow roast? Look into buying a slow cooker or pressure roaster!

Slow cookers are perfect for homemade chili or stew because they maintain a relatively low temperature over a long time. When looking to buy a crock-pot or pressure cooker/ slow cooker, think about how big you will need the pot to be (how many servings will you need, in general, for your family and a little extra in case of guests or leftovers). Other than that, crock-pots usually vary in price depending on how many settings they have for the temperature, which is all based on preference.

Some of the top slow cookers on the market:

Cuisinart Pressure Cooker: $99.95 (market price of $270.00)

Slow Cooker 2.5Q White: $12.82 (market price of $24.99)

5.5 QT Slow Cooker: $51.04 (market price $59.99)

Shop through a variety of affordable crock pots and slow cookers.

Walmart’s newest dedication to using social networking tools and Web 2.0 interfaces may be rooted in capitalism and greedy corporations, but there are some great user benefits that save the college-bound a few hundred in shipping, packaging, or unnecessary double and triple trips back and forth to the local department store. Walmart.com’s new College 09 site has a wonderful selection of thrifty and stylish supplies for the young and the educated, including some “Value Bundles” that should be checked out for their super thrifty status. Featured on their top selling value bundles are:

Kalorik Sunny Morning Basic Kitchen Appliance Set, Tangerine and White: $85.00 Coming with a toaster, a blender, a coffee maker and a kettle, this is a cute set that will brighten any freshman’s smile when they wake up for that first 8 a.m. class.

Another great steal is the Girl’s Twin Bedding and Towel Set at $45.00, with a bright lively pattern for the comforter and sham and 6-piece towel set for all your bathroom needs.

Now what about the boys? While the girls have their bright orange kettles and striped comforters keeping them colorful and hydrated during finals, what will the boys use?

I won’t lie, I’ll suggest the Mainstays Tall Corner TV Stand and Viore 26” Class LCD HDTV Bundle for $349.00 out of experience and necessity. 26″ HDTV with digital tuner and the stand makes this a complete package, and perfect for the Xbox hookup. No joke, these things are a necessity! Video games are a growing market, the boys are doing “research” into a prospective career field. No lie!!

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more kitchen appliances and tv stands.
Discounts on towels and twin bedding.

It’s summertime, and the drinks are sweating more than you are. What do you do to chill off? Consider buying a blender to make some fun fruity drinks that are nutritious and–perhaps?–alcoholic. Fresh margs, pineapple juice, maybe event your own blended beverage for the next pool party or summer grill. You want to make sure you’ve got a solid, working blender, especially with an ice crushing function that is sturdy and reliable–I’ve been there, when the blender breaks, smashing ice in a plastic bag with a sledge hammer in the backyard. It’s fun, but not practical or delicious, especially when you get grass or dirt in the uneven ice chips that scatter across the driveway when the bag breaks (and believe me, it always does!).

Some tips for blender shopping:

1. Ice crushing function. Already been described above.
2. Long cord/ functionality outdoors. You want to be part of the barbeque and picnic! It’s so much more fun than making the drinks in the kitchen while everyone’s outdoors enjoying the fun and the sun.
3. Removeable top pitcher for easy pouring and handling. You want to make sure the bottom is securely fastened, too, or else your yummy beverage is going to fall all over the place!

Some of our top picks for blenders for the summer season:

1. Back to Basics 3-Speed Brushed Chrome Personal Blender Express, BPE3BR: $22.00

The thriftiest of all designs, this is for the college kid on a major budget crunch with a sweet tooth.

2. Oster 14-Speed Blender from Kmart.com: $24.99, marked down from $29.99

Beautiful standard design with many speeds to play around with. Much sturdier top than the Back to Basics blender above.

3. Cuisinart SmartPower Premier 600W Blender: $99.95

With a 600-watt motor, this is the best blender on the market, with the price to match. Buy this if you’re looking for a real lifetime investment in partying and happy drinking.

Shop for through a wide selection of affordable blenders.

Rice is really easy to cook, quite cheap, can be used like a garnish, and eaten cold or warm.

I’m going to give you next some tips to improve your rice cooking technique:

The first thing to do is reducing the amount of starch in the rice.  How do we do that?  Simply washing it over and over again until the water comes out clear.  If you don’t want to wash it, another option is frying it for a few minutes in oil or butter and then throwing it into the boiling water.

If you liked the second option better, there is another great way to cook the rice.  After it has fried in a pan for two or three minutes, pour boiling water with salt on it and stir it just once, so that the rice doesn’t get mushy. (Note: The water really needs to be boiling)

Now, how do we know how much water we should pour?  The universal rule to cook rice is that the proportion of water should be double than the proportion of rice.  If we use one cup of rice we must use two cups of water.  If we use two cups of rice we must use four cups of water.

If we cook the rice like this there will be no need to strain it, which is much better since it helps to keep all the nutrients that would go away with the water.

If you see that the rice is not cooked yet and already dry, you can add a little bit more boiling water.

I recommend cooking it at first on high fire and turning it into low fire later.  The amount cooking time the rice needs depends on what kind of rice it is.  It could take from ten to twenty minutes. (Always check the instructions on the pack and try the rice to be sure is not raw.)

There are many kinds of pans that could be used to make rice, but my favorite will always be the wok pan.   That’s why I’m showing you this great wok pan I found on Smarter.com.

I think woks are great to use when preparing rice because its shape keeps the heat uniform, guaranteeing even cooking.

Pictured: Pan Wok 14036K : $132.00 $106.40

Now, if you really don’t feel you are going to succeed in the kitchen, don’t worry!  I bring you the Electric Rice Cooker.  It is really cute, compact and easy to use.  By pressing only one button you will get your rice cooked and automatically kept warm for up to six hours.  This is definitely a very practical choice.

Pictured: Electric Rice Cooker : $41.25

Image Source: Gallina Blanca

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more wok pans and electric rice cookers.
Discounts on rice.

Nothing is quite as soothing or as relaxing as a steaming cup of tea! If you are an adamant tea drinker take a look at the Chantal Whistling Teakettle from Williams-Sonoma. 

When water comes to a boil, this teakettle’s Hohner harmonic whistle sounds off with all the resonance of a train whistle. The kettle’s flat base promotes fast heating while the wire-loop handle provides a cool, secure grip.

The teakettle is made of steel, it comes in your choice of colorful enamel finishes. (The stainless-steel version has a brushed finish.) The other colors are: blue, red and platinum.

The smooth enameled interior prevents mineral buildup.

Price $120.00

If you are interested in shopping or purchasing the Williams-Sonoma Chantal Teakettle, click here.

To shop for more Discount Teakettles, click here.

Let’s face it, the holidays are so exciting and yet sooo nerve wracking at the same time, aren’t they!?! These stunning terra cotta bowls from BLAIR can save anyone cooking a full Thanksgiving feast a lot of stress!

Terra cotta is famous for it’s ability to retain heat. Perfect for keeping your squash, mashers or applesauce warm while you set the table! These festive, primitive decor items are fully functional and a beautiful addition to your holiday table. Go straight from your counter top, to the oven or microwave, to your table! Phew! I know I’m wiping my brow in relief! Easy, tasteful, functional decor at your fingertips! Oven, microwave and dishwasher safe, they measure 3 inches in height by 10 inches in width. Each holds a generous 6-cup capacity AND at just $19.99 (on clearance) you need to get them NOW! They will not last long at this price!

I’m going to buy mine now… please comment on whether you do, too! This is MY VERY FIRST article for Smarter.com and I’d LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to hear from you all! Happy Harvest!!

My all time favorite meal growing up is corn beef and cabbage! Now I know you naturally assume that I may be Irish, but I am actually Filipino! My dad would pressure cook the corn beef until it was moist and juicy. I fondly recall eagerly awaiting the sound of the whistle, which indicated that enough pressure had built up and the corn beef brisket was ready for prepping.

The strange part is I had no idea that “pressure cooking” was a delicate art. My friend and I tried using her mom’s pressure cooker and we nearly created an atom bomb packed with potatoes and beef. I mistakenly assumed that the whistling meant not only that the meat was ready for consumption but also served as an outlet for the steam. I had no idea that you had to take a wooden spoon and prop the valve open until all the steam was released. Opening at that point was both dangerous and messy! Luckily for my friend and I her mom came into the kitchen and asked whether we had released all the steam. Potatoes and Beef Bomb Crisis averted, whew!

My suggestion is having someone who knows what they are doing come over and show you how to use it once, then have at it! Nothing compares to the moisture and softness that is derived from using a pressure cooker.

I did some browsing and think that the Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker offered by JR.com is a great deal! It cooks 3 to 10 times faster than ordinary cooking methods, has a stainless steel body and bi-metal clad base. To avoid my previously mentioned possible disaster, this pressure cooker has a cover lock indicator that shows at a glance if there is pressure inside the cooker. The bi-metal base provides fast and even heat distribution, while the stainless steel body provides lasting beauty and easy cleaning.

Price $49.99

If you are interested in shopping for the Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker, click here.

Want to keep bargain shopping for other low priced cookware, click here.  

It’s never too early to start thinking about holiday details, decorations and cuisine. I happen to believe that a great Christmas tradition is making and decorating Christmas cookies. The whole process is a delight. I remember helping my Mom roll out the dough and pushing down our assorted cookie cutters, then letting the fragrant aroma fill my nostrils as they baked in the oven. Followed by the assortment of icing and the sheer madness of my “Pop Art Deco” cookies. Ha! ( I was going through a ‘Blue’ period)

Also my advice for you shoppers who are searching for cookie cutters, stick to the simple forms. I once bought these really ornate ones and the cookies look liked a morphed mess after baking. I think they were just for cookie crisps type of dough, but how was I to know? Plus no one in my family really digs those kinds of cookies.

I like the Holiday Tree Shape Cookie Cutters (set of 5) from Wrapables.com. They are ideal for a fun-filled afternoon of baking. Made from durable plastic, each set includes five delightful red tree shapes that release dough with ease. Perfect for a seamless cut of cookies or canapes. When finished the cutters conveniently snap together, for neat compact storage.

 Price $14.95

If you are interested in shopping for the Holiday Tree Shape Cookie Cutters, click here.

Well I had friends over this weekend and I feebly attempted to make them an edible dinner with my hyper novice skills and motley set of cheap pots and pans. Suffice to say the whole thing was a disaster! I ended up chucking the whole thing and we all ate out.

After I got home I came home to a pan with cooked on burnt crusties! So much for “non-stick”, I had to soak the pan for damn near 5 hours just to loosen the grime. Well one of my best friends told me I should invest in some decent cookware. Their suggestion since it is painfully clear that I am no Martha Stewart in the kitchen is at least one decent pan that I can use for pretty much all the novice cooking needs.

So I went ahead and did some shopping online and came up with the following options. The one featured above is called the ScanPan Professional 11 inch non-stick Fry Pan.

Scanpan Professional Features

* Heavy-duty pressure cast aluminum base for consistent heat distribution
* Patented, PFOA-free, nonstick surface will not warp, peel, blister or crack
* Can safely be put in dishwasher
* Use metal utensils without worry
* Cast 18/10 stainless steel handles stay cool longer
* Heavy-duty stainless steel rivets permanently secure handles to pan body
* Stay-cool handle covers
* Oven safe to 500°F (260°C)
* 11″ x 1.5″
* 4 lbs
* Made in Denmark
* Full Lifetime Warranty

Price $79.95 + Free Shipping

If you are interested in purchasing the ScanPan Professional Pan, click here.

Here is my second choice: The Henckels Classic 10 inch Non-Stick Fry Pan

The reason I like this pan is it’s Henckels and they are world renowned for their knives so I figure they probably make decent cookware as well.

Plus check out the features :

* It heats quickly and evenly so you can rely on consistent performance
* The handle stays cool and it’s length will keep your hands away from the cooking surface
* It is safe for your oven up to 400 degrees

More Features:

* 10″ diameter
* 2″ deep
* Weighs 4lbs.
* The nonstick surface releases food effortlessly and makes cleaning easy
* Pure aluminum inner core throughout for optimal heat conductivity
* Lifetime warranty

Price $69.95

Shop or browse for the Henckels Classic Fry Pan, click here.