40 Something Reviews

Bissell Steam Mop Reviews

If there’s one thing in this life I can say for certainty I absolutely loathe, it’s mopping the floor. I’ve never had a traumatic experience while mopping, so I can’t actually account for my horrid feelings about this household chore, but – nonetheless – it’s something I dread from week to week.

I’ve tried everything to make it easier, but with an older floor (that I’m trying not to replace for a few more years) mopping gets all the more dreadful.

I’ve been having to use Magic Eraser mop heads on my traditional mop because they were the only things that would get the “old” look off my floors. They work, but are slightly abrasive so I hated to use them repeatedly on any floor, much less an aging one. Plus, that wasn’t any quicker or neater than a traditional mop bucket, chemicals and mess.

So, when I saw the Bissell 1867 steam mop, I was very intrigued. I started investigating the best price on the Bissell steam mop because I wanted to at least give it a try and see if it would do the job.

Thanks to overwhelmingly favorable Bissell steam mop reviews, I decided to buy one. Here’s what I thought after using it.

Pros

It assembled very quickly, with just two screws. It is sturdy and had a nice weight to it… not too heavy, but still solid enough to stand up to repeated use. You fill the water tank with tap water or distilled/filtered water (recommended) and insert the tank into its slot. Put the mop head (you receive two in your package) on the end, plug the cord in and in just 30 seconds, the Bissell 1867 steam mop is ready for use.

All you need is water. No chemicals are required, no messy mop buckets and no dirty, drippy mop heads to deal with. The water converts to steam which quickly penetrates the surface of the floor and around the baseboards to clean. NOTE: From what I’ve read, the steam does not penetrate the entire floor and is not harmful to the backing. It won’t cause wood or vinyl flooring to come unglued. Since mine is not very old, I can’t back this up… at least not yet.

The mop pads are permanent. This is an important fact when looking for the best price. Bissell steam mop heads can be machine washed for repeated uses which will save a great deal of money over the life of the unit. After mopping, just rinse the pad. Every few uses, toss the pad into the wash then into the dryer on the low or air-dry setting.

The swivel head of this Bissell model goes wherever you want. It’s small enough to fit beside toilets, yet big enough to cover a good portion of the floor when mopping. Its shape fits well into corners and up against baseboards, too.

The floor dries almost instantly. No turning on ceiling fans or shooing your family out of the kitchen until the water evaporates. Almost as soon as you’ve finished wiping the surface of the floor, it’s dry.

The Bissell 1867 steam mop is also convenient. Shaped like a stick broom, it can easily be carried to bathrooms, laundry rooms, mud rooms or any other room of your house to clean floors.

And this little wonder cleans! My floor was shiny and beautiful once I was done. It got out drips and dried-up spills. Some stains (where food splattered on the floor during cooking then dried) came up with a single pass. (Normally would have required my thumbnail digging into the floor to get those up!) And it took far less time, effort and mess than anything else I’ve tried… and worked better, too.

Cons

There were a couple of items I would like changed on my Bissell 1867 steam mop. The cord could be a foot or so longer. Half of my downstairs is vinyl flooring. The cord wouldn’t allow me to reach every room I needed to without unplugging and re-plugging the mop into different outlets. Not a huge problem, but a bit inconvenience just the same.

At times the mop head was slightly hard to push. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because my mop head is new. And, if I pulled back too far on the handle (so that the handle was more parallel to the floor), the mop head would sometimes have a tendency to tilt back instead of lying flat on the floor.

Best Price on Bissell Steam Mop

I’ve found the Bissell 1867 steam mop (green tea) online ranging from $78.88 to $109.00. At places like Target and Kohl’s. When you shop around, be sure to include shipping in the final price. With Amazon.com, you can buy it for $78.88 with free shipping, which is about the best price I’ve found. Keep in mind that Bissell makes several models of steam mops so you’ll want to compare apples to apples when you buy.

Overall, I love mine!

Recommended? Absolutely!

Do you have questions about this Bissell 1867 steam mop? Ask! Do you own one? Tell us what you think.

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I know we usually do product reviews and discounts at 40SomethingReviews.com, but when I saw this I had to make you aware.  This is a work-from-home scheme that disguises itself as news from your local area.  With the help of a script, they insert the name of your city/town (which can be found from the IP address of your computer) to make it look as if the local news reported on this company.  And it looks real, too.  I have to admit, they did a good job.

What gave it away?  The fact that we don’t have a News 6 in our area.  Not to mention, clicking any of the other links at the top of the page (Sports, Weather, etc.) takes you to a sales/sign up page.

Don’t fall for junk like this!

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Enameled Cast Iron Skillet

I’ve always known the benefits of cooking with cast iron.

• * More even heat distribution
• * Able to cook at high temperatures without burning food as quickly
• * Lasts forever if you don’t allow it to rust
• * Stick resistant when properly seasoned
• * More tenders meats
• * And others

But the cleanup is a pain. Washing (or rinsing if you’re opposed to using soap on your cast iron) and drying it completely before putting away got old quick. My cast iron ended up in the back of the cabinet. Then, on a trip to Lake of Ozarks one year, my husband and I stumbled into a store that carried enameled cast iron. I knew these types of pans existed, but had forgotten all about them. When we flew home, I began looking for an enameled cast iron skillet and also an enameled cast iron Dutch oven.

I opted for a Cajun enameled cast iron skillet. It was very reasonably priced (about $35 depending on where you get it).

Pros

My husband and I have deemed my enameled cast iron skillet the “magic pan.” We really don’t know why, but the meat comes out so much more tender when cooked in this skillet than a regular frying pan. My husband has actually asked the question, “You didn’t use the magic pan, did you?” He can tell.

Cleanup is much easier with enameled cast iron than regular cast iron. You hand wash the skillet and let it sit in your strainer to air dry. No worries about rust or about your pan acquiring a soapy taste (if you used dishwashing soap to clean your regular cast iron).

Because it’s all coated metal, an enameled cast iron skillet can go directly from stove top to oven. You don’t have to dirty up two dishes if you make a recipe that starts on the stove and bakes to finish.

Cons

You can’t season an enameled cast iron skillet and sometimes the enamel coating will stick. You’ll want to use spray, oil or something else to prevent sticking of food. If you get a skillet with a white enamel coating, it tends to stain. My did after just a few uses. Next time, I’ll get one with a black inside coating.

Cast iron – enameled or not – is heavy! I tend to use the smaller pieces. I’d love to have a larger skillet, but I don’t know if I’d be able to comfortably lift it.

There are several brands of enameled cast iron skillets and cookware that are extremely pricy! Le Creuset is probably the most popular. But even a small, nine-inch skillet of theirs costs $99 at Amazon.com (and they usually have great prices!). As for me, that was just a tiny bit more than I wanted to spend.

Overall, I love my skillet. I use it on a regular basis and can truly tell a difference in how tender the meat is and how it and other foods taste.

Recommended? Yes

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Belkin Windows Easy Transfer Cable automatically transfers files for you.

Well, I did it! I got a new computer. I was about due. Because I use my laptop for work, I’m on it literally all day long five to six days a week. I go through them about every three years like clockwork. While it’s exciting to get a new computer, I always dread (with a capital UGH!) the process of switching everything over from the old to the new.

Forget the installation of all the software. That’s the easy part. It’s recalibrating all my settings and transferring flash stick after flash stick full of files and folders that drives me nuts. Something always seems to go missing in action.

But this year, I’ve been hearing a new buzzword: Windows Easy Transfer Cable. So, when the time came, I got one to see if it really would make the process easier.

Pros

Mine is a Belkin Easy Transfer Cable and it was very simple to set up. Pop the software CD into the hard drive of the old laptop and let it do its thing. Click open the Windows Easy Transfer utility on the new computer. Plug the cable into both PCs and tell it to sync up.

Once it tells you that the computers can see each other, it will begin the process of selecting files to be transferred. I don’t know about other brands, but with the Belkin Easy Transfer Cable you have final say before anything is moved. If you have preferences about what goes and what stays, click the “Advanced” button and you can select folders/files down to the individual file level. Very handy!

Tell it you’re ready to move files and away it goes! Mine took about 45 minutes to complete. Meanwhile, I was free to cook dinner.

Cons

The Windows Easy Transfer utility (which is built into Vista and Windows 7) won’t allow programs or applications to be moved due to copyright violations. This utility will transfer files, folders, settings, address books, etc., with the use of a transfer cable.

The system is not perfect. For instance, the settings for my web design program were not transferred via the cable. Not sure why. Neither were the Quickbooks settings. I wondered if the easy transfer utility was only good for Microsoft programs, but all my FireFox browser settings, bookmarks and RSS feeds were transferred. FireFox is not a Microsoft product. I didn’t think until I was writing this review that I might be able to re-run the process and pick up any files/settings that didn’t get transferred the first go ’round. I’ll have to try that.

Even excluding the fact that some files and settings that didn’t make the leap, it still saved me hours with the ones that were transferred automatically.

The Belkin Easy Transfer Cable is a little pricy if you get it from Belkin for $40 plus shipping. I’ve seen them elsewhere online for anywhere from $23-$43 plus shipping. But the cheapest place I’ve found them was Amazon.com for $20.98. It’s eligible for free shipping with your $25 purchase so order the easy transfer cable when you also need an extra USB cable for a printer, extra SIM card for your digital camera or whatnot and you’ll save some extra money.

NOTES:

1. It may take a few times for the computers to sync. If you get an error message saying your computers aren’t communicating, click the “try again” button. It took mine twice to see each other.

2. You must install your software programs before going through the Windows Easy Transfer utility process in order for it to work as it should so be sure to do that first.

3. Easy transfer cables are available for Vista and Windows 7. You’ll want to choose the cable that matches up with the computer that has the newest version of Windows. If you have a Vista computer and you’ll be moving up to a computer with Windows 7, get a Windows 7 easy transfer cable. If your current computer has XP and you’re going to Vista, get a cable for Vista, etc.

Recommended? Yes

Have you used the Belkin Easy Transfer Cable? Tell us about your experience.

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Discount Shoes Online from ShoeBuy.com

I can only begin to tell you how big of a shoeaholic I am.  At last count, I had 81 pairs of shoes (including flip flops and old, dirty shoes I wear in the yard/garden).  Yes, my husband knows.  He understands I’m addicted, but is thankful that I’m hooked on bargain shoes, not full-priced shoes. Few things thrill me more than to get a good deal on a new pair of shoes.  That’s why I love ShoeBuy.com so much.  There I can find discount shoes online!

Pros

There are lots of reasons I purchase from ShoeBuy.com. One of the biggest is the fact that there’s no shipping either way.  You won’t pay shipping to have your shoes sent to you and you won’t pay shipping if you need to send them back.  That was the primary reason I hardly ordered shoes online previously, discount or otherwise.  By the time you add shipping (and returns) the cost of the shoes would increase by as much as $15 or $20.  No thanks.  But at ShoeBuy.com, you never pay shipping for any reason.

I know what you’re thinking: the same thing I thought.  “The only way you get discount shoes online plus no shipping is if their prices are higher to start with. They’ve built it into the cost of the shoes.”  Nope!  See for yourself.  The pair I just bought are called Easy Street Cheer.  (I know… Easy Street usually makes old lady shoes, but these loafers are really cute!)

I paid $29.56 total at ShoeBuy.com.  These same shoes (same color, too) cost $45.97 at QVC including shipping/handling.  They cost $41.95 at the official Easy Street website with shipping/handling.  I thought I’d found a deal at ShoeStation.com for $19.97 until I discovered they charge a whopping $10.69 for shipping/handling making the total price $30.66.

Other reasons to buy?  They don’t charge sales tax and you get a 100% price guarantee.  Here’s what their website says about that:

If you find a product for a lower price on another website, we will refund you 100% of the difference between the lower price and Shoebuy’s price. We’ll even refund the difference if we lower the price at Shoebuy.com!

Cons

You do have to wait for your shoes.  They have to be shipped so there’s a delayed since of gratification until they actually arrive.  But that little lag in time gives a nice sense of anticipation… sort of like kids on Christmas morning.

I regularly try shoes on at the stores when I’m shopping for other things then order them for less at ShoeBuy.com.  I also order my husband’s hiking boots there since they carry men’s shoes (kid’s and designer shoes, too).  Even narrow and wide widths are available.  They also carry bags and a limited selection of apparel.

ShoeBuy.com has all sorts of styles and brands.  Their site says over 950 brands and 700,000 pairs of shoes. I always make it one of my first stops when looking for shoe deals.

Recommended? Yes

Have you bought from ShoeBuy.com before?  Tell us about your experience in the comments section.

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Kirby Ultimate G Review

It all started when I moved into a different house and had new carpet installed.  While I wouldn’t consider myself to be a picky person in general, I admit I am VERY particular about carpet.  I hate carpet where every little thing shows up on it.  Even more, I hate having to vacuum and shampoo constantly in order to keep my carpet looking clean.

So when it came time to pick out new carpet, I went all out and bought a Karastan frieze shag that combines flecks of different colors.  The result is exactly as I had hoped – a carpet that looks clean even when it isn’t.

Much to my dismay, however, my Hoover vacuum did not work well on my new carpet.  The carpet was too thick for it to handle.  The roller brush was too low and would grind against the carpet, causing it to fray.  Not good.

That’s when I began the lengthy process of researching for a new vacuum.  My list of must-haves included a vacuum that:

• Adjusted in height so that the roller brush wouldn’t grind against the carpet.
• Had the potential to last 20 years or more.
• Is easy to use.
• Has excellent suction.
• Comes with a variety of attachments, including an attachment for hard floors.

I finally narrowed it down to two choices – a Dyson model or a Kirby.  I initially decided on the Dyson, because it was more affordable, and I also didn’t want to have to deal with a salesman coming out to my house to hard sell me a Kirby. The Dyson was selling for around $400 – $500, whereas the Kirby was selling for $1200 – $1500.

Before I was able to make my purchase, however, I discovered that I could get a used Kirby for a decent price on ebay.com.  I was a little hesitant at first, but I watched the listings for awhile and found one that was next to new.  I won the bid on it, and the total amount, including shipping and handling, came to $389.00!  That’s quite a savings over buying brand new and was even cheaper than the Dyson I was going to buy.

Pros

I was thrilled to find my Kirby Ultimate G vacuum in perfect condition when it arrived Christmas Eve 2007.  It looked like maybe it had been used a couple times at the most.  It came with all the standard attachments, and included the never-used before shampoo system.   I was pumped!

While the Kirby is nothing special to look at in comparison to the sleek designs of the Dysons and Hoovers, I love the fact that is mostly made of metal parts rather than plastic.  The plastic designs might be prettier, but my experience is that they don’t hold up over time.

The height of the roller brush is easily adjusted with the tap of my left toe.  No more grinding against my new carpet!  It has excellent suction and unlike other vacuums, the suction doesn’t decline as the bag fills up.  It does a great job of picking up the fur shed by my golden retriever.

It comes with a long cord, so I can easily move from room to room.  It has a hose attachment for cleaning hard floors and for using the many attachments it comes with.  Some of my favorite attachments include the upholstery nozzle, duster brush and crevice tool.  The two extension tubes help me to reach high enough to clean my ceiling fans and vacuum cobwebs off my high ceilings.

My last two Hoover vacuums had canisters rather than bags.  While I appreciated the money I saved by not having to buy bags, I found that the canisters were hard to clean and dust would fly in all directions when emptying them into the trash.  My Kirby Ultimate G uses bags and I must say I like how everything stays contained and nothing escapes, even while changing them.

As a person who suffers from allergies, I especially appreciate the Kirby’s filtration system.  The manual claims it captures and retains 99.97% of household dust, pollen, dust mites and other particles and 99.5% of other particles.

Two years later, I can say without reservations that I love my Kirby!  I’m absolutely thrilled with the deal that I got on ebay and it’s one of the first things on my brag list when I have guests in my home.

Cons

The Kirby Ultimate G is heavy to carry up and down stairs.  It takes a bit of effort to switch from using the floor vacuum to using the hose.  Overall there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to figuring out how to use some of its features.  It’s worth taking the time to sit down with the Kirby and the owner’s manual – it will save you time and frustration in the future.

Recommended: Yes

Have questions about the Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Series vacuum?  Leave them in the comments section and I will be happy to answer them.  Already have one?  Post your review below.

I have long, baby fine hair that damages easily.  When it comes to shampoos and conditioners, I have a tall order to fill.  I need something that will:

• strengthen my hair
• help prevent breakage and split ends
• combat damage from coloring
• give my hair fullness and body

Over the past 20 years, I’ve tried numerous salon brands including Biolage, Redken, and Nioxin, as well as store available brands such as Herbal Essence and Pantene, but nothing has come close to working for me as well as the Nexxus shampoos and conditioners.

Pros

Nexxus Botanoil Shampoo Review

For nearly a year, I’ve been using the Nexxus Botanoil Shampoo and Nexxus Botanphuse Conditioner.   The shampoo makes my scalp and hair feel clean and gives my hair body.  It doesn’t fade my color or highlights and keeps me hair feeling soft.  It has a fresh scent to it.  I love the way it makes my hair feel and smell.

The Nexxus Botanphuse conditioner doesn’t weigh my hair down or make it feel heavy or greasy like so many conditioners do.  It has drastically reduced the split ends and breakage that I get, which allows me to go longer in between haircuts.  I got my hair cut in late February and was able to go until mid-October before needing another haircut.  That’s almost 8 months!

The label says that the Botanoil shampoo is paraben-free and dye-free.  Not knowing what parabens are, I did a little research online.  I found out that parabens are preservatives that are often used in personal care products such as cosmetics, shampoos and deodorants.  There has been concern in recent years that parabens can cause estrogenic activity and possibly cause tumors.  Dyes, of course, can cause allergic reactions.

Nexxus Botanphuse Conditioner Review

While Botanoil and Botanphuse are not 100% organic, they do use a blend of botanical oils, natural emollients and plant proteins.  They don’t test their products on animals and they use recycled material in their bottles.  That’s good news for those of us who are trying to go “green.”

I honestly feel like I’ve found a real treasure with these two Nexxus hair care products.  My hair looks better than it ever has.  I’ve been able to grow it out longer, which is normally a real challenge because it’s so prone to breakage.  My hair looks and feels full and healthy, which makes me feel more like a 30-something than a 40-something. 

Cons

After shampooing and conditioning, I often still have some light tangles to work through when combing out my wet hair.  Not a big deal, but I do have to be gentle in working them out so that I don’t damage my hair.

Because Nexxus is a salon brand, their products are more expensive than store brands, but Botanoil and Botanphuse are well worth the money, in my opinion.

Tip:

This is a new formula of Botanoil shampoo that replaces the old formula previously sold in white bottles.

Have you tried the Nexxus Botanoil Shampoo and Botanphuse conditioner?  If so, how did it work for you?  Let us know in the comments section.

Flavored Stevia Drink Mix

In my house, we’ve always been a fan of Kool Aid. Since we don’t drink tons of soft drinks and since orange juice isn’t the best-tasting drink to have with a steak dinner, we’ve stuck to this fruity drink that adds a little flavor to our lives. However, Kool Aid was also adding a lot of sugar.

Several years ago, I found out about a product called Stevia. It’s actually the leaf of the Stevia plant that is used to sweeten many foods and drinks. Soon after that, I came across flavored Stevia drink mix that uses this same herb (in powder form) as its sweetener. These were available in a rainbow of flavors and tasted much like the sugar-sweetened or chemical-sweetened varieties of Kool Aid we’d been drinking for years. We’ve kept Stevia drink mix in the house ever since.

Pros

Stevia sweetens without any calories, without any chemicals and without increasing blood sugar so it’s safe for diabetics. Plus, it adds a tiny bit of fiber to your diet as well. It is 100% natural and tastes just like sugar.

When combined with the flavored powder, the drink mix is easy to use and convenient to have on hand. Stevia flavored drink mix comes in grape, strawberry, cherry, lime, orange and punch. They use cute little names such as Breeze, Tropical and Spring (although they also denote which fruit flavor each name correlates with).

These drink mixes are more potent than Kool Aid, I think. In fact, we mix ours at half strength which means it goes twice as far. You can usually find the flavored Stevia drink mix for around $6 per 2.8-ounce jar. If you mix it according to package directions, you’ll get about 4 gallons of drink. If you mix it the way we do in my house (2 tsp. per gallon) you’ll get 8 gallons of drink.

I’m not sure how that compares to Kool Aid or other presweetened drink mixes, but I know none of the others are 100% natural and chemical-free.

Cons

Stevia does not dissolve well at all in cold water. So what I do is let the tap run for a minute then put a bit of warm water in the bottom of my gallon drink pitcher. I stir the powder around in that until it dissolves then I add the cold water to fill the container the rest of the way. Works like a charm!

You have to pay shipping when you order. I have not yet found the flavored Stevia drink mix in mainstream stores. You can find them in some specialty health food stores, but you’ll pay much more for them there.

But, after years of buying online and paying for shipping, I discovered a wonderful thing! Amazon.com now offers flavored Stevia drink mix AND it is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping when you order anything $25 or more. I typically just order one of each flavor so I can save the $6 or $8 shipping charge. Problem solved!

Recommeded: Yes

Do you drink flavored Stevia drink mix? How do you like it?

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Waring Pro WMK300 Belgian Waffle Maker Review

We don’t do a lot of big, fancy breakfasts at our house, but when we do, it’s nice to have the option of making something other than the usual pancakes and bacon. That’s where a waffle maker comes in handy.

I initially bought a waffle maker from Target, but I don’t remember the brand. It was a cheapy, and I ended up returning it after all my waffles stuck inside it, which of course ruined the entire batch. Even after trying to wash it up with dish soap and water, it still had batter caked inside it. Yuck!

Pros

I bought the Waring Pro waffle maker after using one at a Days Inn I was staying at while on vacation. Since I had the chance to test drive it before I bought it, I knew that it was simple to use and that the waffles popped right out when they were done. Easy and hassle-free…exactly what a busy 40-something woman needs!

The Waring Pro comes with a measuring cup, so you know exactly how much batter to use to make the perfect waffle. I pour the batter in a circular motion onto the grid and I use a spoon or rubber scraper to smooth and even it out. Works perfect every time.

Once the batter is in place, you clamp the griddle shut, flip it upside down and wait for the timer to beep. Then you flip the griddle upright, open it up, and – almost always – the waffle pops right out. If it doesn’t, it’s easy to coax out using a cooking utensil.

The waffle grid has a non-stick coating on it, so other than seasoning it per the instructions in the manual, there’s no need to use Pam to keep the waffles from sticking. Cleaning the grid is as simple as wiping it down with a damp cloth and it’s a done deal. For the most part, any mess that is made during the waffle making process tends to fall onto the drip pan located directly underneath the griddle. Because the drip pan is removable, it’s a snap to clean up by hand washing or tossing in the dishwasher.

The Waring Pro WMK300 has 6 different settings so that you can cook the waffle to be as light or as dark as you want. I’ve found that I prefer the number 4 or 5 setting to get my waffles crisp without being overdone.

I haven’t tried any of the recipes that came with the Waring Pro, because I found a Belgian waffle recipe online that my family absolutely loves. It makes exactly 6 Belgian waffles with the Waring Pro waffle maker. You can find the recipe here: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/True-Belgian-Waffles

Cons

The Waring Pro waffle maker only makes one waffle at a time, so it can be a time consuming process if you are cooking for a crowd. For the most part, I never make more than 6 waffles at a time, and I keep them warm by placing them in a heated oven until they are all done.

Recommended? Yes

Have you used the Waring Pro WMK300 Belgian Waffle Maker? Let us know what you think by posting your review in the comments section.

Waring Pro WMK300 Belgian Waffle Maker Review

We don’t do a lot of big, fancy breakfasts at our house, but when we do, it’s nice to have the option of making something other than the usual pancakes and bacon. That’s where a waffle maker comes in handy.

I initially bought a waffle maker from Target, but I don’t remember the brand. It was a cheapy, and I ended up returning it after all my waffles stuck inside it and wouldn’t come out, which of course ruined the entire batch. Even after trying to wash it up with dish soap and water, it still had batter caked inside it. Yuck!

Pros

I bought the Waring Pro waffle maker after using one at a Days Inn I was staying at while on vacation. Since I had the chance to test drive it before I bought it, I knew that it was simple to use and that the waffles popped right out when they were done. Easy and hassle-free…exactly what a busy 40-something woman needs!

The Waring Pro comes with a measuring cup, so you know exactly how much batter to use to make the perfect waffle. I pour the batter in a circular motion onto the grid and I use a spoon or rubber scraper to smooth and even it out. Works perfect every time.

Once the batter is in place, you clamp the griddle shut, flip it upside down and wait for the timer to beep. Then you flip the griddle upright, open it up, and – almost always – the waffle pops right out. If it doesn’t, it’s easy to coax out using a cooking utensil.

The waffle grid has a non-stick coating on it, so other than seasoning it per the instructions in the manual, there’s no need to use Pam to keep the waffles from sticking. Cleaning the grid is as simple as wiping it down with a damp cloth and it’s a done deal. For the most part, any mess that is made during the waffle making process tends to fall onto the drip pan located directly underneath the griddle. Because the drip pan is removable, it’s a snap to clean up by hand washing or tossing in the dishwasher.

The Waring Pro WMK300 has 6 different settings so that you can cook the waffle to be as light or as dark as you want. I’ve found that I prefer the number 4 or 5 setting to get my waffles crisp without being overdone.

I haven’t tried any of the recipes that came with the Waring Pro, because I found a Belgian waffle recipe online that my family absolutely loves. It makes exactly 6 Belgian waffles with the Waring Pro waffle maker. You can find the recipe here: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/True-Belgian-Waffles

Cons

The Waring Pro waffle maker only makes one waffle at a time, so it can be a time consuming process if you are cooking for a crowd. For the most part, I never make more than 6 waffles at a time, and I keep them warm by placing them in a heated oven until they are all done.

Recommended? Yes

Have you used the Waring Pro WMK300 Belgian Waffle Maker? Let us know what you think by posting your review in the comments section.