What Product Is Hard for You to Sell?!

[cmdtrgd]

Chef Kearns - the silicone brush is great for keeping hairs out of my food and using it on hot items - basting skewers that are broiling in the oven - and it is a LOT more sanitary!!!Also, a tip for hard to clean stones like the mini-fluted pan - make a paste of 1 part shortening (not butter) and one part vegetable oil. Once that is combined, add one part flour. I keep this on my counter and brush it on the stone before using it...I like using the silicone brush because it doesn't leave hairs behind. Then pour in whatever you are baking and pop it in the oven. The FIRST time I used my fluted pan I did this and the cake popped right out with NOTHING left behind!!! It is a lifesaver!

 

[Evelynt]

I love the USG. I am still out on the new UM because I have not had good results with tomatoes. I made sure they were firm and even spritzed the blade.
The cheese grater requires some additional info: warm soft cheese (cheddar, jack, mozzerella etc) in micro for 8-10 seconds. Make sure you only press lightly that way the cheese will not gum up the barrell.
Egg slicer plus: always put the wires back the same way after cleaning. The wires bow to the guides, so if you invert them they will get stuck.
Love the silicone chef's brush, no more hairs is right and easy to clean!

 

[Evelynt]

Forgot to tell you all that I was very skeptical about the Mix 'n Masher. We are a family that loves our mashed potatoes. Well, we used it last night and we all love it. It is so much easier to use than a traditional masher and easier to clean!

 

[DebbieSAChef]

More stuff I don't like

Debbie! That reminds me about the mini-whipper. My 2 y.o. is obsessed with chocolate milk and I never had any spoon because of it! I bought the mini-whipper and it didn't mix anything up! I tried plunging it QSP style and nothing. Then I twirled that thing so fast between my hands that I thought I was going to start a fire!

About the suds pump- I love mine and love foamy soap. I wish that it had a more triangular shape so that it didn't fall over as much. Mine falls over every time I use it. I cleaned mine once and that made the pump not stay down, but as soon as it gets dirty the pump gets stuck down and you have to pull it up then push to get soap!

That's hilarious!! I see them on the list of door prizes and always wondered what the bid deal was. I am waiting to see when they will be discontinued and something better will come in it's place.

Has anyone ever used the Kitchen Spritzer, does it really work? I had a few complaints about this one too. They even used the replacement and it still didn't work.

I love my citrus press. I find the Deluxe Cheese Grater works when I put my cheese in the freezer for a while. It firms up enough to grate but as soon as it gets warm, it sticks.

Have never used the Cookie press but will attempt to during my kid's cooking class. Wish me luck! I will let you know how it turns out.

Debbie

 

[masterschef]

I'm one of the ones who loves the US&G. Yes, I cut myself once, but it was my fault. If you pay attention to what you're doing, you're fine. I haven't tried my UM yet. I really hope I like it.

I don't like the kitchen spritzer. I had bought one as a customer years ago and it stopped working right away. When I became a consultant I replaced the mechanism. Now it works, but I always get clumps of oil. Mazola has a good spray like Pam but that doesn't burn. I use that.

I can't get the APCS to work. I can never get it attached well enough to anything, and I can't get the apples on right. I would never, ever demo it.

I don't see the point in the balloon whisk. Why would you want to whip cream by hand? My hand mixer works much better. When I said this to my director, she said yes, but we don't sell mixers.

I know everyone loves the Twixits, but why? I put everything in Ziploc bags.

 

[pcjeanie]

I think the reason some people don't like certain products is because they haven't learned little "tricks" to make them easier to use. For example, the US&G is great at slicing tomatoes IMO. You just have to use the V blade, cut them in half and place the flat side down and don't put pressure on it, but slide it fairly quickly (get in a rhythm with it). Also, I like the spritzer, but you do have to let the pressure off when you finish and pump it again after a few sprays. So far, so good with mine. The only products I don't try to sell are a few that are very impractical. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Jeanie

 

[jasonmva]

Stick your Baker's Roller in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before using it - it becomes totally non-stick! I usually do this first thing when I get to the host's house - I sell alot of them - I think because people love the tip about the freezer!

I just put some flour on mine and go to town! I didn't do that the first time I made the Anitpasto Veggie Pizza and my dough was not working. But when I put some flour on the roller and on the dough TADA it worked fine.

I also not only use my Cheese Grater for cheese, but it works fantastic for chocolate chips!

 

[nikked]

...I don't see the point in the balloon whisk. Why would you want to whip cream by hand? My hand mixer works much better. When I said this to my director, she said yes, but we don't sell mixers...

I absolutely love the Balloon Whisk. I've sold quite a few of them with something like this: "When they first announced the new whisk, I was like 'A new whisk? What in the world do we need ANOTHER whisk for?' Then I got it...and I was like 'Ohmigawd! I absolutely love this thing!' Have you ever been to a breakfast buffet where they are making made to order omelets? Ever wonder how they get their egg mixture so smooth without the lumps of whites? I swear they must use something like this! I personally hate chunky whites in my scrambled eggs, but could never get them completely broken up. Now, it's not a problem. Plus, this whisk will do [blah, blah, blah]."

I know I have customer's buying this thing just for the egg whites!

...I know everyone loves the Twixits, but why? I put everything in Ziploc bags.

I love the Twixits for the stuff I don't want to transfer to a ziploc. Like frozen hashbrowns and vegis, and bread. I'm all about saving time, and not having to twist the tie on the bread bag is great! But mainly, it's for the stuff that already has it's own bag that goes in the freezer that I love them.

 

[nikked]

...Not crazy about the Cheese Grater either - I have committed the sin of tellling my hosts its okay to buy grated cheese if they ask.....(shhhh....)

I rarely tell my hosts to buy block, although with the new UM, I'll probably start!

I've started saying at my shows: "Okay, I know that at this point I'm supposed to grate the cheese with this great little tool, but I'll be honest with you. At home, I rarely buy block cheese. It costs the same to buy it pre-grated, and I'm a busy mom, who doesn't have time! I do use the Delux Cheese Grater all the time for carrots, nuts, bread/cracker crumbs, and eggs. But my favorite use is during that "certain time of the month" when all I seem to want is chocolate. I can load this puppy with chocolate chips, lay on the couch and grate the chocolate directly in my mouth. No chewing required, and instant gratification too...can't be beat!!"

I know many of you will be thinking of the stuff they put in to keep the cheese separated, but I am really not bothered by that. I personally think it's a lot of hype made worse by the "urban legends" of the internet. I don't believe I have hurt my sales of this item by not grating cheese, and I get a lot of laughs!

 

[speedychef]

LOVE my Kitchen Spritzer! I'm a tree hugger and I LOVE that I don't have to throw out all those pam cans and I'm not putting any sort of propellant in the air. I don't have anything I don't like, just things I don't use much. A fellow consultant gave away a bunch of stuff from her Super Starter packs and now wishes she hadn't! So whatever it is that you don't like, USE IT and learn to love it!

 

[gilliandanielle]

I absolutely love the Balloon Whisk. I've sold quite a few of them with something like this: "When they first announced the new whisk, I was like 'A new whisk? What in the world do we need ANOTHER whisk for?' Then I got it...and I was like 'Ohmigawd! I absolutely love this thing!' Have you ever been to a breakfast buffet where they are making made to order omelets? Ever wonder how they get their egg mixture so smooth without the lumps of whites? I swear they must use something like this! I personally hate chunky whites in my scrambled eggs, but could never get them completely broken up. Now, it's not a problem. Plus, this whisk will do [blah, blah, blah]."

I know I have customer's buying this thing just for the egg whites!

My big selling point for the whisk is that all the batter or whatever falls right out when you tap it on the side of a bowl. If you are doing anything even remotely thicker you need to use this whisk instead of the others.

 

[Aun]

Cookie Press Cheese Cookie/Cracker Recipe?

...I've had good luck with the Cookie Press - just had to find the right recipe - and I made 700 cheese butterflies and daisies for my daughters wedding reception last summer. They were beautiful!...

That sounds great! Can you post the recipe you used for the cheese butterflies and daisies? THANKS!

Also, I don't like the egg slicer or the vegetable peeler. I don't feel like either one of them are a good representation of the quality of PC products. And the vegetable peeler doesn't even have a nice, grip-py handle or anything. What's up with that???

However, I do like the food chopper, crinkle cutter (usually for cheese, veggies, or slicing eggs to "devil"), easy accent decorator (probably my absolute favorite!), microcookers, and all the stones!

 

[genburk]

I must be the only one who hates the Food Chopper. I've replaced that stupid thing more times! I think the longest one has lasted for me is about three months. I've had them break on the first use before! Of course, being the number one seller in our line, I have to love it to anyone else because I just might be out of business if I didn't!

You might not be the only one that doesn't like the chopper, I am not sure that I like the chopper too well either. I had a (Tupperware ) chopper and gave it to my Mom. I didn't think it cut very well, and it was harder to clean than a knife (I don't have a dishwasher). Also by the time I cut things up small enough to use in the chopper then I had already been cutting and had to clean a knife and the chopper.
Well, when I signed up the Pampered Chef, I thought I would give this one a try to see if I liked it better. It does cut better, but it is still more to wash and I can use a knife and cut things up small in about the same amount of time. I have only used it about 6 times so far, so I will give it more chances, but I am not a great big fan of it so far.

Tina

 

[Jennie4PC]

I have a lot of people that love the veggie peeler I also really like it. I also like the kitchen spritzer I have never had it clog on me, I have never bought the cans of pam.

 

[PamperedPaula]

I love my food chopper. I use it at least twice a day. I do have a dishwasher and put it in there but I really do think it is much faster than using a knife.

I also really love my egg slicer -- I have never used it for eggs but I used it every day to slice fruit such as bananas, strawberries, peaches. The pieces of fruit come out just the right size.

My spritzer has never clogged but I do have to pumped it pretty often to get it to spray instead of just squirt.

Paula Kelley
Independent Kitchen Consultant
Windsor, CA

 

[Evelynt]

Some people just prefer to chop, slice and dice with a knife. No big deal that you don't like the food chopper and the new Santoku Knife is a $70 product, so you go girl! Sell those knives!

 

[cookin'mom]

Item I Love/HateI used to hate the silicone oven mit. I felt like I was going to burn my hand even with it on. But........I've found that it is great for brushing my dogs. It really grabs onto the loose hair, so instead of using a brush, we just use the oven mit. Keeps the hair off our hands too!!

 

[lizcooks4u]

suds pump and Kitchen Spritzer tips..

I do not like:

The New SA stands - I loved the old style. I guess stainless steel type products are in but not in my kitchen. I love the black wrought iron look. These stands look goofy and I really do not like that design with the ball at the top.

I never liked the square mugs but I do love the new coffe and more cups. They are so cute and I love them!!

I love that the new cutting boards have silicone feet grips to hold them in place. I hated using that net to hold the boards in place. I could never find it.

Did not really like the stoneware heart molds from the round up from the heart campaign, but I love the new trivet.

I love the new drainer!!! I am lazy and hate to clean a whole colander after draining foods in the sink. This is going to be much easier!!

The Suds pump for some reason is a product that my customers do not like. I have never owned one before. They said it doesn't work, about 4 of my customers. So I am curious. Any thoughts?

I think the silicone oven mitt will never sell! At least not for me. Yuck!!

I do not see the point to the mini whipper, I have spoons!

I can't wait to try the new decorator bottle set, and the new pastry blender.

I love the new design and packaging of the pantry items!!

I love the new design on the chef's tools that match our cookware!!

Hated the old carafe, love the new one!

And there's much more but that's enough rambling for me today. Ok well for now anyway!!
DEBBIE

My mom swears by both of these. I bought the Suds Pump before selling PC and of course I had to ask her how it worked, you only put a very little bit of liquid soap in the bottle and fill the rest with water. Not like cheap watered down soap either, it comes out like the new foam soaps, in hospitals, nice restaurants and the such.

The Kitchen Spritzer I had a difficult time with as well, until I asked her (Mom) again how to work it. You only put in liq to the fill line, then you have to pump it with the pumper then it sprays like an aerosol without aerosol.

Hope that makes sense?

Liz

PS: I'm the type who needs to view things being done in order to understand, you ought to see me try and figure out some recipes without any types of pics with them, but I do better seeing it done first

 

[Paige Dixon]

I used to hate the silicone oven mit. I felt like I was going to burn my hand even with it on. But........I've found that it is great for brushing my dogs. It really grabs onto the loose hair, so instead of using a brush, we just use the oven mit. Keeps the hair off our hands too!!

I've got to try this one! But, I have a hard enough time keeping dog hair off my supplies without purposefully using a kitchen tool to attract more hair! Might be a nightmare in waiting.