Disposable Appliances?

It’s a complaint of a generation – “They don’t make ‘em like they used to” It seems that appliances, both large and small, fall into that category. Mark Kinsler shares his take on this in his own home with their latest crockpot:

We immediately learned its fatal flaw, which was it smelled just horrible. I’m an old electronics repairman, and whenever my spouse was cooking beef soup, I’d start looking for faults in our electrical wiring. The new crockpot, all stainless steel and dark ceramic, smelled like a streetcar motor with a burned-out armature winding, and despite the assurances of the factory that the rich aroma would dissipate with use, it did no such thing.

The last straw came two days ago, when my beloved was cooking barbecued chicken. The entire house smelled as if we’d been grilling roulades of printed circuit board, and as good as the finished chicken was, our eyes would burn when we walked into the kitchen.

Ultimately, as so often happens, we gave up. Feeling vaguely disloyal, we shopped yesterday for Crockpot III, one which we hoped had been improved since they manufactured Crockpot II. We found a nice new one with slick electronic controls, an oval shape and a clear, tempered glass lid that lets you watch things simmer. Thirty bucks.

It’s all a bit disappointing, though. In another era, one in which appliances were expensive and somewhat repairable, I’d have taken the old crockpot, drilled out the rivets, found some nichrome wire and some sort of ceramic core and wound a new heating element. Matter of fact, were I actually living in such an era I’d probably still have my little repair shop and I’d have done exactly the same thing for other crockpots.

But we live in 2009 USA, and so we will just go on being materially wealthy in a world where everyone has a color TV with a remote control and a cell phone that takes pictures whether you want it to or not, which is why I have a lot of pictures of the inside of my pocket, and where you can buy appliances without having to save up for them.

She has processed a test-load of baked apples in Crockpot III, and now the kitchen smells like apples, with nary a hint of microprocessor flambé.

And I am grateful: for baked apples, Natalie and even our era.

Here’s my quick barbecue chicken recipe for the crockpot:

Place 4 potatoes cut in quarters, 5-6 peeled and cut carrots and one onion, quartered, in the bottom of your crockpot. Place a chicken, cut up however you prefer, on top and add one bottle of barbecue sauce and half a bottle of beer.

Cook for about 8 hours on low or 5 hours on high, depending on how well done you like your chicken. It’s hard to overcook this dish.

Stainless Steel Water Dispenser

There are more reasons why you should go for stainless steel water dispenser besides the shiny, glossy look. Stainless steel water dispensers have a kind of brilliance that attracts anyone’s attention. Even if you view them from afar, you can really identify a stainless steel water dispenser from all the other water dispensers around.

Interestingly, there is a lot more to stainless steel water dispensers than just the physical appearance. Stainless steel, to begin with, is one of the most flexible metals around; it is also among the least expensive. Stainless steel is also easy to clean and maintain and does not have residue build-ups, unlike the other materials. They are heat-resistant and they do not easily rust. Because of all these features, this particular metal is very much ideal when we speak about water dispensers.

The human body needs a good amount of water everyday. Drinking at least eight glasses of water everyday is highly recommended in order to maintain a healthy body and a healthy system. It is not enough, though that you drink just any kind of water. Your body deserves something clean and residue-free. One way you can achieve this is by using a good quality water dispenser, and when you talk of quality, there is probably nothing better than a stainless steel water dispenser.



There are different styles of stainless steel water dispenser and it comes in different sizes as well. Many stainless steel water dispensers have dual functions; they have both cooling and heating features. This type is usually electrical. Just plug it in. After a short while, you can start enjoying either hot or cold water. There are also types of stainless steel water dispenser that are not run by electricity. You can expect that they are being sold in the market for a lower cost, while the electrical ones, especially those that have both the hot and cold features are being sold for a higher cost.

Water dispensers are easy to use, even the electric generated ones. All you have to do is simply plug the cord into the socket, and water either heats or cools, depending on your preference. There is usually a LED indicator light which indicates where you can get the hot water and where you can get the cold. Also, you are likely to find a thermostat, as well as a removal drip tray for easy clean-up. There are water dispensers that come with plastic containers, too, but of course, if you are cautious about hygienic practices, go for the stainless steel.

When shopping for stainless steel water dispensers, it may be a good thing to shop around a bit. Compare the prices and basic features of each. Especially look for one that has a hot water child safety guard to prevent accidental burns from the hot water. Finding one that has low energy consumption is a big plus. In addition to this, choose a supplier that has been around long enough to have already established a name for itself. Generally stainless steel water dispensers cost around $350.00, but if you browse online, you may be able to find better deals for your money. Nonetheless, while budget is a strong factor when choosing a stainless steel water dispenser, never compromise your wellbeing for just a few bucks.

A stainless steel water dispenser is a great thing to have in your home. It can serve as a good treat to the whole family. It also provides a healthier way of relieving yourself of thirst. You will never go wrong with a stainless steel water dispenser. Its beauty and functionality are clearly unmatched.

Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Dusts can be found anywhere. More often than not, it is found inside your house. And what do you usually do? Because of the busy lifestyle that you probably have, you would let the dust build up until you can easily vacuum everything in one time. But what do you use? Broom can clean up the mess but it may cause allergic reactions to you and your family. Upright vacuum cleaners may do the trick. However, it would only reach and clean limited areas because of its size. For small areas, corners, appliances, and even in your figurines, you can always use the handheld vacuum cleaners.

Handheld vacuum cleaners are just the smaller version of an upright vacuum cleaner. It can take the dust and other little particles with the use of a suction. It can reach in corners and other parts of the room that cannot be cleaned if you would use an upright vacuum cleaner.

This small home appliance can be used on floor carpets, sofas, and other upholsteries in your house. If your carpet have only small patches where dust and dirt can be found it is not advisable to use broom since it would not take the dirt effectively. Aside from that, upright vacuum cleaners are not recommended as well. You would have to use or consume high amount of electricity because of the big motor of the said cleaner. This is when a handheld vacuum cleaner is best used. You don’t have to open a noisy and big vacuum cleaner. Therefore, you would save energy as you clean the filthy part of your carpet at the same time. Other than that, it could also be used on marbles, woods, and all kinds of materials as well.



Another purpose of a handheld vacuum cleaner is to make it easier for you to clean the insides of your car, RV, or any type of vehicle. Stop scolding your kids if they have dirty shoes inside the car. Just use the handheld vacuum cleaner to brush off the dust and your vehicle is ready to welcome passengers again. The interior of your automobile cannot be cleaned with conventional home appliances so a handheld vacuum cleaner is a must.

The handheld vacuum cleaner is very portable. You can store it anywhere in the room or anywhere in your car. If you are also very hygienic, you can also keep a handheld vacuum cleaner in your bag and take it along with you to clean your hotel room yourself when you travel. Speaking of which, the handheld vacuum cleaner is also best for cleaning the insides of your stroller, backpack, or any kind of travel bag as well.

The old models of the vacuum cleaner would require an electric socket before it can work. However, there are now new units that would allow you to use the handheld vacuum cleaner even without electricity. There will be no dangling cords and limited spaces to reach. All you have to do is to put the necessary number of batteries and you can easily use the handheld vacuum cleaners any time and any place.

There is a wide array of vacuum cleaners that can be purchased in the market. Some were made from stainless steels which are more expensive and can be quite heavy. There are other models that are only made from plastic yet they are highly durable and very functional at the same time. There are also different available sizes that you can find in most appliance stores online or offline. More often than not, these handheld vacuum cleaners range from $70 up to $130 depending on the features that it offer.

Air Purifier

There are many different kinds of air purifiers in the market today, each of them working with different principles. The concept of purifying air within homes has caught on in the aftermath of World War II when people were trying to devise techniques that could prevent the harmful radioactive dust that would enter their homes. These filters were mostly particulate repellants. It was later that air purifier designs began to undergo modifications and developments so that they could rid the room air of most other forms of pollutants also. Today’s air purifiers can clean the indoor space of not only particulate matter such as dust, spores, dander, pollen, etc. but they can also prevent harmful gases and microorganisms from entering homes. Some air purifiers use more than one technology in conjunction with each other so that they can better purify the air in indoor areas.

Activated charcoal was the oldest substance used in air purifiers and is used even today. This is an adsorbent for most gaseous matter. When air is passed over activated charcoal, it can form chemical bonds with the pollutants present in it. Therefore, it prevents these matters from polluting the indoor space. Activated charcoal essentially converts the gases into a solid form and accumulates it. It needs regular cleaning so that these matters can be removed. Such purifiers have an edge over other purifiers because they work even if it is just kept in a corner of the room. It is not necessary to actually pass all the air through it; activated charcoal will attract the pollutants from its nearby area and form bonds with it.

However, activated charcoal needs to come to a particular level of saturation before it can effectively start adsorbing the pollutants. This can take some time during which most pollutants will have wended their way into the room and wreaked their havoc. Activated charcoal filters are also incapable of removing bulkier pollutants from the air, though they are very efficient at removing fumes from the environment such as cigarette smoke.



HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are much in demand nowadays. These are physical filters that can stop pollutants from entering the room. They are installed in vents and all the air is passed through it. Being physical filters, they can only remove particulate matter from the air that actually passes through them. Hence, the manner of installation of these filters is of importance.

The standards of HEPA are controlled by the government. Cheap imitations of HEPA filters are abundantly available but since most of them do not conform to required standards, they are not recommended. HEPA filters are efficient at stopping big sized particles from entering rooms, but they cannot stop gases and fumes. In that manner, they are exactly complementary to activated charcoal. For that reason, air purifier units containing both activated charcoal and HEPA filters are designed so that they can better prevent particulate matter as well as gases from polluting an indoor environment.

A recent development with air purifiers are the air ionizers. They have needle-shape arrangements which can discharge ions into the environment. Ions are incomplete molecules; they will look for other molecules to bond with so that they can complete their chemical deficiency. Once released in the environment, the ions will bond with pollutant molecules, thus making them bulkier. These bulkier molecules are then drawn toward the purifier where they are collected and later removed.

Air ionizers are considered to be very efficient because they work at removing large particulate matter as well as gases and fumes from the environment. They are also low-maintenance, because they can simply be washed or cleaned by vacuuming and require no replacement.

New From Whirlpool – Duet Steam Washer – FanFresh

Have you ever left your laundry in the washing machine by accident, only to find it smelly and wrinkled when you finally remembered to put it in the dryer? Whirlpool brand has heard consumers’ call, and in response, is arming consumers with the best defense — a washer with the ability to keep clothes smelling fresh for up to 10 hours after the cycle ends with the industry-changing FanFresh option.

The Whirlpool Duet steam washer’s FanFresh option intermittently tumbles clothes in the wash drum for up to 10 hours after the cycle ends. Meanwhile, a quiet fan draws out moisture through a vent to help keep clothes smelling fresh and prevents wrinkles from setting in. According to a 2007 online survey conducted by Whirlpool brand, 72 percent of respondents said it is important that their clothes never smell sour when left in the washer, yet only 47 percent are satisfied that their current washer completes this task.

“Whirlpool brand is focused on offering consumers the flexibility to live their lives rather than plan around their laundry,” said Brandon Buckingham, senior brand manager, Whirlpool laundry. “The FanFresh option provides consumers with the opportunity to load their washer, run errands and go to the movies, and not worry about getting back in time to switch the wash.”

While the FanFresh option solves one of consumers’ biggest laundry problems today, the new Duet steam washer garners one of the most efficient energy ratings available from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) -Tier III – meaning the machine features advanced water and energy savings for the consumer. In addition, the new Duet® dryer is the first in the front-load category to offer an Eco cycle that uses 40 percent less energy than a conventional dryer’s normal cycle when paired with a Duet® washer.

According to Whirlpool Corporation research conducted by Harris Interactive in 2008, nearly three quarters (72 percent) of adults actively look for the ENERGY STAR label when making purchasing decisions. With advanced water and energy savings for the consumer, the Whirlpool Duet steam washer is ENERGY STAR qualified and can save consumers more than $1,000 in lifetime water and energy costs when compared to a pre-2004 conventional washer, based on a 10-year life cycle. Couple this with the money saved in the dryer, and the savings of the Duet washer practically pays for the cost of the dryer. In fact, the new Duet pair is the industry’s most efficient laundry care system available based on time and energy usage.

The Whirlpool Duet steam washer has a capacity of 4.5 cu. ft., giving consumers the ability to wash up to 18 pairs of jeans in a single load. The Delay Wash setting can be used to set the washer to begin up to 18 hours later, perfect for timing during off-peak hours when utility rates may be lower or when unloading the washer is more convenient.

In addition, the Whirlpool Duet steam washer comes with the industry-first NightQuiet option, which further reduces operational sound and is great for those whose laundry rooms are close to living areas or bedrooms.

The Whirlpool Duet steam wash system adds the power of steam to select wash cycles to steam out tough stains, virtually eliminating the need to pre-treat, and removes up to 95 percent of tested allergens, including dust mites and pet dander. The Whirlpool Duet steam wash system received the highest rating for water efficiency, cleaning and capacity from a leading consumer magazine.

And steam is not just for the washer. The Duet steam dryer utilizes the power of steam to eliminate 99.9 percent of common household bacteria, ideal for those items that should not be washed such as backpacks, stuffed animals and pillows. And for those who want to avoid ironing and cut down on dry cleaning costs, the dryer offers a Quick Refresh steam cycle that tumbles small loads and uses steam technology to break down odors and smooth out wrinkles. In just 15 minutes, clothes are ready-to-wear.

The Whirlpool Duet steam washer (WFW9750W) will be available in White, Cranberry and Lunar Silver with an MSRP starting at $1,599, and the Whirlpool Duet steam dryer (electric WED9750W or gas WGD9750W) will be available in the same colors with an MSRP starting at $1,599 later this fall.

Recall:Samsung Over-the-Range Microwaves Due to Shock Hazard

Name of Product: Samsung Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens

Units: About 43,000

Importer: Samsung Electronics America Inc., of Ridgefield Park, N.J.

Hazard: If an installation bolt comes in contact with an electrical component inside the unit and the microwave is plugged into an ungrounded outlet, it could create a shock hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves Samsung 1000 watt over-the-range microwave ovens. The following model and serial numbers are included in this recall:

Affected production lots Affected Serial Number Range
From serial number To serial number
All SMH9151x produced from January through May 2009: xxxxxxxS1xxxxxx xxxxxxxS5xxxxxx

Some products produced in June were also affected: From serial number To serial number
SMH9151B xxxxxxOS600001
xxxxxxTS600001 xxxxxxOS600100
xxxxxxTS601100
SMH9151S xxxxxxTS600001 xxxxxxTS601386
SMH9151ST xxxxxxTS600001 xxxxxxTS600330
SMH9151STE xxxxxxTS600001 xxxxxxTS600330
SMH9151W xxxxxxOS600001
xxxxxxTS600001 xxxxxxOS600200
xxxxxxTS602055

Sold at: Retail stores nationwide from January 2009 through July 2009 for between $180 and $200.

Manufactured in: Malaysia

Remedy: Consumers should immediately unplug and stop using the recalled product, and contact Samsung to schedule a free repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Samsung toll-free at (888) 402-6974 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET 7 days a week, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.samsung.com/otrrecall

Milk Frothers: Which Whips Up the Best Coffee Topping?

If what you really like about a cappuccino is the frothy topping, you can easily whip up milk with a device designed for just that purpose. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute evaluated 13 frothers, including handheld ones (with and without batteries) and electric models. We looked at how well and how quickly they froth both whole and nonfat milk and how easy they are to operate and clean, as well as how stylish they'll look sitting on your kitchen countertop. Here, the results, starting with the best performers. The great news: There are many good, inexpensive frothers, and the one that performed best was one of the cheapest of all those we evaluated! What a simple way to add a little "froth" and pampering to your day.

Toasters & toaster ovens: Style is still on display

In recent years, the toaster has undergone a fashion makeover. Manufacturers of this humble one-trick pony haven’t been focusing so much on technological innovation as on style, hoping you’ll be inspired to replace yours with a newer model.

“Design has been a major catalyst” of sales, according to HomeWorld Business, a trade publication. But design also costs. Some models run more than $200 and might coordinate with larger stainless-steel appliances from the same manufacturer.

Unfortunately, some high-style, high-priced toasters we tested performed worse than inexpensive brands like Proctor-Silex and a host of toasters that cost $60 or less. Among toaster ovens, the reverse was true: The priciest, at $200 and $120, worked best. Still, two models costing far less did nearly as well.

Additional results from tests of two-slice toasters and toaster ovens include the following:

Toaster ovens do more but don’t toast as well. All the toaster ovens will melt a cheese sandwich; most will broil a hamburger or roast a 4-pound chicken. Some will even roast that chicken by convection, which can shave about 20 minutes off the cooking time. But toaster ovens generally don’t toast bread as well as toasters do. They leave tiger stripes on one side, and they take longer to do the job--4 to 6 minutes compared with 2 to 3 minutes for toasters, on a medium setting.

The best toasters excel at basics. They provide not only a wide range of browning--very light to very dark--but also consistent color in all the slices of a batch. The best also keep the same color for consecutive batches. (Less-adept toasters cause batches to get darker or lighter over time.)

You can’t always believe claims. A few toaster ovens have infrared heating, which is supposed to speed cooking. Although the infrared models made toast as fast as toasters did, some had lackluster performance on other basic tasks.

Some toaster-oven makers assert that their products accommodate six slices of bread, but they do so only if the slices are small. (Toaster ovens that are able to fit six 4x4-inch slices of bread are noted in

Other choices in the mix

Multifunction machines claim to combine the functionality of a blender and a food processor. The Vita-Mix 5000 (shown) is billed as "10 kitchen appliances in one." This tall, heavy, and pricey machine did well in our blending tests, though less-expensive models did just as well. The Vita-Mix excelled in most of our other tests, though it is loud and not as easy to use as some basic blenders. What the high price gets you is versatility. We tested two of its many claims. The Vita-Mix mixed banana-bread dough well, but cleaning out the dough was a chore. It also made a smooth, creamy ice cream and did a very good job with salsa and blueberry-pancake batter.

The Blendtec Total Blender is another multifunction appliance, which, says the manufacturer, can "Blend, Chop, Grind, Freeze, Cook, Hash, Crush, Mince, Dice, Mill, Purée, and Much More!" The Total Blender excelled at making smoothies and crushing ice. But that power and performance come at a price: This blender is extremely loud.

We also made banana bread, ice cream, salsa, and pancake batter with this blender. The bread was a bit dense, the ice cream smooth though it had some ice crystals, the salsa was excellent, and the pancake batter was very uniform.

If having a do-it-all device is a priority, consider the Vita-Mix or the Total Blender--they both topped our Ratings. Otherwise, we'd get separate appliances.




Handheld, or immersion, blenders are designed mainly to make it much easier—and safer—to prepare many types of soups and purees. The shaft on these appliances features a long neck with the blades at the end, allowing you to puree food in the cooking vessel, say when you want to incorporate vegetables into a soup without having to remove the hot liquid and solids from the pot and pour them into a traditional blender.

Immersion blenders are also handy for mixing powdered drinks, milkshakes, and smoothies. Note that you do have to hold down a switch to keep the blades running, which can become tedious.

While handheld blenders are great for a few tasks, they're not designed to replace countertop blenders or handheld mixers.

We tested the Bosch Todd English Mixxo MSM6A3AUC ($100), Braun Multiquick Professional MR5550MBC-HC ($70), Cuisinart SmartStick CSB-77 ($50), and Hamilton Beach Turbo-Twister 5977 ($25). The Braun (shown at left) has more power and a variety of blender accessories. It did better at puréeing, whipping, and chopping than the other models.

Freezers Energy savings are not a sure thing

Most freezers aren't about style. They look similar to models we tested decades ago, but they use less energy. And Energy Star models must be even more efficient.

But our latest tests of 21 freezers found an Energy Star model, the Haier HUF138EA, that used much more energy than any other freezer. We believe it exceeds the Department of Energy's allowable energy use and should not qualify for Energy Star. Further, neither of the two samples we tested reached 0° F in our energy test. That's why we've called that model a Don't Buy.

We test energy use with the center of the freezer at 0° F, the optimum temperature for storing frozen food. Manufacturers are required to calculate energy use at 0 F, based on test results that can be above and below 0° F. We fill the freezers to capacity. In the DOE test, the freezers are 75 percent full. Our tests and the DOE's tests use 90° F room temperatures. In our tests, freezers, on average, used 17 percent more energy compared with their yellow EnergyGuide labels. But the Haier used 70 percent more energy, when it was full as well as empty.

The DOE relies on manufacturers' test data. Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, continues to believe that the DOE should require independent verification of test results.

Here's what else our tests found:

Conveniences add cost
Most of the tested models delivered impressive temperature performance. Manual-defrost uprights were the exception. Without fans to circulate cold air, temperatures of on-door shelves were between 9 and 19 degrees higher than in the rest of the freezer.

Most self-defrosting uprights excelled in temperature performance. Their shelves and bins make it easier to organize and find food, but they reduce usable space. Some models, such as the A1 and A2 Whirlpool, have an alarm that beeps if the freezer gets too warm. A1 is a two-door model with a large pull-out bin and a faux-stainless look. Though the A4 Kenmore is noisy, it has a soft-freeze section.

Manual-defrost freezers are generally more energy efficient and quieter than self-defrosting models. But defrosting can take hours. Chests provide more space for the money and usually stay cold longer in power outages, which is useful if your area has blackouts. They're also less likely to produce freezer burn in foods. The C1 Amana and C2 Kenmore offer excellent energy efficiency and impressive performance. The C2 is slightly larger and has a power-on light. If you want a small freezer, consider the C3 Kenmore and C4 Frigidaire.

Fireplace doubles as pizza oven

It doesn't get much more comfortable than sitting around a warm fire on a cool evening. However bad the elements are outside, the inside is heated with the warming glow emanating from the fireplace. Usually, the fireplace is in the living room, which makes sense; the living room is the central location of the house.
But there's another room that serves as a gathering spot, one that usually features a different type of heated comfort in the form of a stove. Make that stove a wood-burning stove and add a pizza oven in the mix, and suddenly the kitchen is the new living room.
While it's quite possible that pizza is the most comforting food on the planet, coupled with a wood burning stove the combination is pure comfort overload. The Huemfire Pallas Back achieves just that. In addition to the baking compartment, the top of the unit features three cooking plates, which could be used for other great comfort foods such as soup.
Combustion is controlled via an outside hookup, with air control being handled via a lever on the front. An optional built-in drawer on the bottom of the unit is designed for storing wood. The stove heats up to 1,625 square feet, and uses a patented heat retention system capable of storing heat for up to nine hours after the last fire has been lit. It doesn't get much more comfortable than that.

I scoop, you scoop, we all scoop and stack

Ice cream is a staple of my diet. And with five kids in the house, we serve up a fair amount of the good stuff 'round these parts. But even with a lot of practice, I've never been good at packing ice cream into a cone. I often wind up smushing the cone, which leads to many tears and much whining. And then the kids start complaining!
But seriously, folks, this ice cream scoop and stack tool from Cuispro is a neat little kitchen gadget that lets you create an attractive presentation with very little effort. Its simple twist-and-lift action can cut through even the hardest ice cream, and the push-button release drops your cylindrical block of ice cream right into your cone--no smushing required.
You can also plate your ice cream for easy decorating and classier styling. Each scoop holds 3.75oz of ice cream, and the scoop is top-rack dishwasher safe. It costs about $15, and you can choose the color that best complements your favorite flavor.

Shaking up grill-time accessories

Grilling season is never officially over. Unlike team sports or the weather, the grill doesn't cycle through calendar months, ticking off days, perpetually preparing for next season. While the use of the grill may be directly linked to sports and weather patterns, the fact remains that grilling trumps all. Two degrees above freezing in hockey season is still cause enough to bust out the grill, especially when there are new toys to play with.
For those who can stand the cold and wish for the fire, here is the Grilling Basket and Tray With Lidded Shaker Set available on Amazon. Grilling utensils fashioned into mesh baskets are always a popular item; one can grill small veggies or delicate foods such as fish without worry of losing contents to the fire. Complete with a nonstick coating, the grill baskets form a trifecta of easy-to-handle, easy-to-clean, and tempting-to-use cookware for the grill.
The variety of the three grill baskets brings diversity to the grill, but the standout is the Lidded Shaker (which can be purchased separately). Grilled hot potatoes or home fries can have seasoning added to them throughout the cooking process; a quick flip with the wrist and salt and spices become incorporated with no threat of any delicious morsels falling into the fire. Cold weather grillers should appreciate the affinity of this cookware for potatoes. The classic comfort food should supply enough energy to get through any weather.