Review: Recipe Keeper

During the day I work for DocFinity which is software schools, businesses and governments can use to eliminate paper and optimize their processes, so for us printing and filing paper should be avoided at all costs.  A digital recipe box is perfect and I've been using one for many years.  No paper recipes allowed.

I started using Pepperplate because it was free and had all the things I cared about at the time, easy to add recipes, each could have a picture, and notes, and they even had a way to grab recipes of specific websites without having to type anything in.  I moved all my paper recipes to Pepperplate and it served me well, however over the 10+ years I've been using it they have not improved it at all.  The website grabber has not read a recipe I've found online in years but I paid nothing and it still functioned.  Then a couple months ago all Pepperplate users got an email saying we had 2 weeks to subscribe to continue using it, to the tune of $36/yr.  They claimed to need money to improve it but failed to list any planned improvements.  That got me looking for it's replacement and I'm glad I did.

I searched, downloaded and tested Yummly, RecipeBox, Epicurious, Big Oven, OrganizEat, Recipe Keeper and probably others.  Some were not really organizers and much as places to find recipes.  Others were klunky or complicated, in the end it was between Big Oven and Recipe Keeper and I chose Recipe Keeper

It's easy to use, can grab recipes off the web from almost anywhere perfectly, imports from other products, syncs recipes between all your instances, allows for custom organization, even let's you take a picture of a recipe to add it and uses OCR so it's searchable.  It runs circles around Pepperplate in every way.  But it does cost a little bit to get all this quality, which I'm glad to pay for once I used it.

Beth and I had our own Pepperplate accounts and kept our recipes separate but we do have many in common too.  Ideally we'd share one digital recipe box. Recipe Keeper has a two level organizational structure (taxonomy) - Course and Category.  There can only be one course per recipe but each can be in unlimited categories and you can add your own and remove any default categories you don't need.  I added a "Jim" and "Beth" category so we could see only our own recipes if needed.  I also added "Low Carb", "Crockpot", "Pressure Cooker", and "Try" for recipes that we have not made but added because they looked good and we want to try them.  If we are looking for something different we can check out what's in the try category.  As you can see in the picture above we have 23 things to try. 

It allows easy resizing of recipes by simply specifying how many people you want to feed and based off the "servings" listed for the recipe it does the math for you.  It also stores nutrition information and will grab it from a website recipe if available.  I use notes to tell me what worked and what did not and what to try next time.  There is a 5 star rating you can give each recipe so you can quickly find your best ones.  If you want step by step pictures you can upload those too.  If someone asks you for a recipe you can quickly share it right from the app by entering their email address.  This gives them a direct link right to that recipe.  I've already shared recipes a couple times.

We never bothered using the shopping list or planner with Pepperplate because it was more hassle than it's worth but with Recipe Keeper we have tried it really kind of like it.  Pick some things to make for the week using the menu planner, then go to the shopping list and all ingredient are there to make it all, simply click on all the things you already have, add things not part of the recipes like laundry detergent, and it creates a dynamic shopping list organized in grocery store categories automatically and you can reorder them once and it remembers, so ours are in Wegman's order.

We shop together and start at opposite ends of the store and as you pick something up, mark it off the list and it shows as picked up on the other persons phone immediately.  High tech shopping at it's best.

Recipe Keeper is not a website but a collection of apps which sync together, so we bought iOS version for my iPhone and iPad and then Mac version for our Macs.  Beth had to get her own on her iPhone since it's a different Apple ID.  Each app is $5.99 per platform, so we ended up spending just under $18 for all our devices.  Not bad for a top quality product.  They also have apps for Android and Windows.

The only complaint would be cooking off your phone is tough because the ingredients are on one tab and the directions are on another, so flipping back and forth to get quantities is a pain.  But on the iPad and laptop this is not an issue at all.

I highly recommend it. 

Review: Carbon Steel Pan - Matfer Bourgeat 11 7/8-Inch

Non-Stick pans have been the rage for home cooks for a long time, but they don't last and they should not be used on high heat.  The chemicals are either coming off as a dangerous gas or flaking off in our food when we use them too long.  They can't handle metal utensils but a good one let's a egg slide right out.  When our Pampered Chef non-stick pans wore out I went looking for the new and improved versions which solve the previous issues and while there are some improvements the same issues still exist.  What do the pros use?  The answer is Carbon Steel.

A carbon steel pan is similar to a cast iron pan but 1/2 the weight and much smoother so when it's seasoned it becomes non-stick, or so they say.  But they are also about the cheapest pan you can buy.  From a restaurant supply site you can get them under $10.  They heat evenly, can handle high heat, oven baking, and are possibly the best pan to sear a steak.

I picked America's Test Kitchen #1 rated 12" carbon steel fry pan made in France - Matfer Bourgeat 11 7/8-Inch for $37

It was heavier than I expected.  A cast iron pan this size is 7lbs and this is only 3, but holding 3lbs on the end of a long stick is not as easy as it sounds.  That said it way way easier to manage one handed than a cast iron pan.  I like the lack of rivets which always catch food and become a pain to clean.  The pan has a very smooth finish, though it looks a bit rustic with it's welds and rough looking edges.

The downside of cast iron or carbon steel is the prep and maintenance.  You must never use a dishwasher, or soap beyond the initial cleaning and you need to season the pan before use and perhaps occasionally refresh it.  I'm willing to put in the work if it is everything they claim it is.

This brand has one of the most bizarre seasoning rituals I've ever heard of but America's test kitchen and others have said it's the best way.  You put 1/3 cup of sunflower oil, 2/3 cup of salt, and 2 potato skins in the pan and sauté that mess for 15 mins. The last 2 minutes will fill your house with smoke, but as you can see from the pictures the result is amazing.

It's a beautiful color but is it really non-stick?  The answer is a resounding YES.  In fact, it is the most non-stick pan I've ever used.  That chicken appeared to be stuck to the pan and yet barely touching it caused it to slide across the pan.  As you can see it left a nice sear on the chicken too.

However, I had the heat too high and as I cooked the 2nd batch of chicken I noticed the remnants, fond, left  in the pan started to burn.  That should have been my clue to turn down the heat, but I pressed on removing the burnt bits and deglazed the pan with broth for my sauce.  The broth immediately turned to steam, clue 2 it was too hot, and as I stirred the sauce I noticed more than fond was coming off.  In the end much of the seasoning on the pan appears to be gone.  

Is it still non-stick?  Do I need to re-season it?  From what I've read it may be just fine and the seasoning and color will build up with continued use.  I'll report back once I use it again.

My over all conclusion:  I love the idea, the pan seems like a good one, and I'm excited to keep using it and experimenting with it.  I need to up my game, but that's really the point isn't it?

UPDATE (2/26/2020): My second use was cooking Smash Burgers as a test to see if the pan was still seasoned and still non-stick.  The result was great.  It was perfect, the burger got a great crust and none stuck to the pan.  I'm happy to say the color does not indicate the effectiveness of the seasoning.  I plan to continue using it and will report back any issues.

UPDATE (3/3/2020): Third use was sautéed onion and prosciutto. It was initially like a non-stick pan but as the meat started browning a nice fond began forming on the bottom of the pan. Note how amazing that crust looks. I really should have deglazed it and made a sauce. I was afraid it would be tough to remove but a little water and nylon scraper is all it took and it came right off. So far so good. 

Review: Pampered Chef Quick Cooker

Pampered Chef has their own pressure cooker based multi-cooker ala Instant Pot with a unique look and outlandish list price $240-299.  I’m glad we only paid $23.

Bottomline:
Is it worth it?  No
Is it better than a $70 InstantPot? No

The Good:

• Pressure cooking works well and is simpler and quieter than a stovetop pressure cooker
• Outside stays cool due to insulated plastic outer cover
• Sear mode works well for things like reducing sauces, but not searing as you’ll see below
• Lid is easy to lock, unlock, and remove
• The carrying handles work well 
• Accessory kit is high quality and I’ve read others say it’s amazing, I have not used it yet
• Everything I’ve made so far tasted great.  The ribs recipe which came with it was simple and great. 

The Bad:

• Controls are the worst.  One problem with Instant Pot is having to click + or - a million times to set the time, so I was excited to see a dial which could save time and hassle.  However the dial only selects the mode, not the time. You still have to click + or - repeatably every bit as bad as Instant Pot.  But unlike Instant Pot which has a button for each mode so you can set with one click, you must spin the Quick Cooker’s dial until the proper mode lights up...spin, look, spin, look, spin, look...ridiculous. Is it a big deal? Not really but I’d be embarrassed if I was Pampered Chef. 
• There is no way to control the temperature, so you can’t use it for Sous Vide,  The custom mode only sets pressure and time and it only works for pressure cooking, not slow or sear..
• The steam vent design differs enough from Instant Pot to make steam direction accessories not work
• The steam vent does not always close tightly so steam leaks as it’s heating.  You must fiddle with it while steam is coming out to get it to seal.  Not expected or safe.
• Searing in a deep pot has very limited usage.  Searing a big hunk of meat should be OK but searing diced chicken is unbearable.  It sticks firmly, needs tongs to flip, there is no way to slide a turner/spatula under it, the surface area is small so it needs to be done in batches which means removing one batch to add the next and managing a mess.  Just use a large skillet or fry pan on the stove, easier, faster more effective.  This is the same for all pressure cookers.
• Slow cook only has one temperature which I tested to be 185.  That is a normal low temp on a Crockpot.  Instant Pot has 3 slow cook temperature settings low, mid, high.  
• It’s unclear if the clear Instant Pot slow cook lid will fit and Pampered Chef does not offer one.  Not required but nice to see what’s going on without having to open it up and release heat and moisture.
• A cheap Crockpot has 2 temperature settings, and wide pot and clear lid.  As a result, the Quick Cooker is a poor slow cooker.

General Information:

• Proof keeps water at about 95 with top off (too low for sous vide)
• Slow cook keeps water at about 185 with top off (too high for sous vide)
• Warm keeps the temp at about 165 with top off (too high to souls vide)

Conclusion:

• We had a couple lifetime warranty Pampered Chef pans fail and the credit they gave us allowed us to get the Quick Cooker with accessory kit for $23, otherwise I would have bought a different machine. 
• If you don’t have a pressure cooker, a true multi-cooker could be a versatile tool in the kitchen.  I would look for one which has multiple temperature settings for slow cooking, precise temperature controls for sous vide, a stainless pot like the Instant Pot and Quick Cooker because a non-stick one will wear off and simpler controls.  I would not worry about how many modes it has because they are all just different temp/time/pressure settings and most are max temp and pressure.  Being able to set all 3 allows unlimited “modes”.   
• If you absolutely have to have the Pampered Chef cooker wait for a sale, they have been discounted 50%, but know you are buying one of the worst multi-cookers for more than the most popular one even at 50% off.
• This might be a better all around multi-cooker for 1/2 the price though I have no experience with it:

Update: I found out who makes the PC Quick Cooker - Midea in China.  The Amazon reviews are pretty positive about it and those selling it now are asking over $600 for it. I'm guessing in China is sells for the equivalent of $50.  I stand by my assessment, there are better machines for less money.

Update: Searing works pretty well for reducing a sauce.  If you cook meat for instance and want to turn the juices left into a sauce use sear, add additional ingredients and stir.  It will work for that fairly well and reasonably quick.  You are still leaning over a deep pan and getting steaming sauce in the face but it smells great, so you have that going for you.  You are also not likely under a vent fan as you would be on the stove, so look up at the ceiling after using your Instant Pot for a couple years and I bet you'll be able to tell where it sits when in use.

Review: Exercise Ball

Exercise Ball

Price: $25 (street)

Pros: Cheap, unique, versatile, promotes movement, available in several colors

Cons: No back support, does not encourage proper posture, can burst with proper application of scissors

Notes: I used the ball for several days and initially it loosens up the back, but I found if I used it for more than an hour or 2 my back hurt later in the day. Exercise may be its best use. Several people at work use them as chairs, one popped (ouch) and another lady fell off hers today.

Review: Humanscale Liberty Chair

Humanscale Liberty

Website
Price: $910 (list) $750 (street)

Pros: Minimal simple controls, sturdy construction, understated style

Cons: If you are not average build you may need more controls to get comfortable, does not look like an expensive chair

Notes: This was a very comfortable chair. The clean and simple design would go with any decor. Constructed mostly of metal makes it look solid. I needed something with a little more adjustability so I reluctantly left this one in the store.

Review: Humanscale Freedom Chair

Humanscale Freedom

Website

Price: $1180 (list) $950 (street)

Pros: Great looking, solid construction, weight controlled recline, nice headrest and moves

Cons: Weight controlled recline tension was not firm enough, hissing sound every time you sit, seat back a little narrow, looks like a dentist chair

Notes: I had high hopes for this one due to the good looks and great reviews. However, I did not even need to take it back to the office for a test. The back was a little narrow and the weight adjusted tilt was noisy. It seemed to be implemented with an air or gas chamber so that every time you sat on it the chair would hiss, releasing gas, for 30 seconds or more. It was very annoying. It did not "learn" and went through it's hissing routine with each use. However, it still did not have enough recline tension. Perhaps this chair is best suited for a smaller person.

Review: Herman Miller Aeron Chair

Herman Miller Aeron

Website

Price: $1277 (list) $750 (street)

Pros: Sturdy construction, good looks, super adjustable, 3 different sizes match to different builds, 12 year warranty

Cons: Only colors choices are shades of gray, hard lip on the sides of the seat, cable driven controls can be unreliable, basic lumbar did not work well

Notes: This is the one that started it all. It's still very popular and seen in TV shows and offices everywhere. I fit best in a size C, which is a big chair. Adjustments are nice and I was able to dial in just what I liked. The basic lumbar adjustment was pretty easy, but the foam block you move up and down or flip tended to move throughout the day as I moved, and almost fell out. The demo chair I had seemed to have much more wear on the lumbar foam then the rest of the chair. The PosterFit support might be the best option although I only tried it for 5 minutes in the store. The recline tension adjustment is too fine and literally took me 100 turns to tighten it enough. The deal breaker however was the hard lip in the sides of the seat. I found I sat to the side or with my legs spread enough that after a day of use my thighs had bruises. I really noticed it the next day when I sat down and my thighs hit the edge again. A coworker who sits with his leg pulled up under himself cracked his ankle on the lip. I really like this chair and would have excused all issues except the hard raised lip on the seat.

Review: Herman Miller Mirra Chair

Herman Miller Mirra

Website

Price: $1020 (list) $510 (street)

Pros: No hard edges, many color options, good price, easier adjustments than the Areon, nice lumbar support adjustments.

Cons: Only suitable for average to lighter weight people

Notes: Seat mesh sagged far enough that I could feel the hard frame underneath. A lighter weight person would not have that problem. If the seat had not bottomed out I may have bought this chair. The optional fabric cover is a nice addition as it adds a minimal padding and softness to the plastic back.

Review: Kimball Skye Chair

Kimball Skye

Website
Price: $850 (street)

Pros: Headrest option

Cons: Looks like a dentist chair, plastic headrest feels cheap, price is a little high

Notes: The gas piston leaked due to lever not quite returning to position which made it hard to judge properly. Tilt mechanism was unique but not quite right for me. One person preferred this chair over the others

Review: Allsteel Acuity Chair

Allsteel Acuity

Website

Price: $1250 (list) $750 (street)

Pros: Great design, simple controls, solid construction, many fabrics and finish options, a favorite among those of small to average build

Cons: Back is a little narrow for bigger than average builds, not quite enough resistance on back tilt even set at maximum, price of leather is outrageous, but beautiful.

Notes: This chair has a super design. The controls are very easy to use and are located on the sides of the seat. It gives a very clean look and is the easiest to use that I have ever seen. No need to twist a tension knob 400 times to tighten the back, just slide a simple lever. Allsteel is very proud of their fully loaded white leather model and it is a stunning chair. They feature pictures of it from every angle on their website and the paper brochure opens up like a centerfold to reveal an extra large image. However the white leather and polished aluminum adds $2300 to the price, for a total over $3000. The ironic thing is the leather defeats several ergonomic features of the chair, namely back and seat ventilation and the slippery leather does not hold you in place as you recline.

Review: Allsteel #19 Chair

AllSteel #19

Website

Price: $1800 (list) $900 (street)

Pros: Great looks, solid construction, great casters, simple design, lifetime warranty on everything

Cons: Weight controlled tilt resistance was not enough for me, not quite as comfortable as some others

Notes: Weight controlled tilt resistance works by lifting the seat as the back reclines, effectively goosing you each time you lean back.
I really like the looks of this chair. Aesthetically it is my favorite. The exoskeleton looks and feels great. The metal frame and controls are all silky smooth and work flawlessly. I really wanted to buy this chair but in the end it was not as comfortable for me partly due to the back tilting too easily. I assume the chair was designed for someone shorter or lighter. However, the chair was rock solid and could probably support a 400lb person.

Review: Steelcase Think Chair

Steelcase Think

Website
Price: $1038 (list) $600 (street)

Pros: Solid chair - more metal, simple controls, 100+ fabric choices will blend into any decor, good warranty

Cons: Not as comfortable as others, not enough adjust-ability

Notes: My foot went to sleep in a 90 minute meeting. Preferred by smaller people. Warranty is 5 years on fabric, 10 years on gas cylinder, lifetime on the rest.

Review: Steelcase Leap Chair

Steelcase Leap

Website
Price: $1315 (list) $750 (street)

Pros: No hard edges, arms - solid and very adjustable, 100+ fabric choices will blend into any decor, good warranty, most comfortable - moves with you

Cons: Too much plastic for the price, does not look like an $800 chair

Notes: Comfortable cushioning with a flexible plastic seat and back to give even more comfort. Adjustable tilt resistance.
A couple bad comments on amazon.com for v2 of the Leap gave me pause.
First day on the chair my back felt significantly better. The second day, the following week, I did not notice the same improvement, but it was no worse. Warranty is 5 years on fabric, 10 years on gas cylinder, lifetime on the rest.

Tips for buying a new chair

I spent 5 weeks researching office chairs before deciding on the one that was right for me. During this search I learned a few things that might be useful to anyone looking for a new chair:

1) Different people have different needs. Just because I liked a chair may not mean you will like it at all. Just read other reviews, they often run the gambit from love to hate.

2) A chair often fits a person of a specific size or weight. The Herman Miller Aeron comes in 3 sizes to help match size and weight issues, others use adjustments to span the gap, but in the end there are chairs which are better suited for smaller people and others for bigger. Look for reviews that mention how big the person is and give those more attention.

3) It takes more than 15 minutes sitting in a chair to know if it is right for you. One chair made my foot fall asleep after 90 minutes. Another chair gave me bruises on my thighs that I only noticed once I sat in it for a 2nd straight day.

4) Looks mean nothing when it comes to comfort. Unfortunately the best looking chairs were not the most comfortable for me.

5) Looks matter if they matter to you. Some would argue if it does not look like an $800 chair then how can you spend $800 on it? Know how important looks are before you start and it can save you some time.

6) Big office furniture companies can design a chair as well as a specialized chair company. Years of research often go into the best chairs and big companies can afford to do that. Steelcase for example spent over 4 years researching the Leap chair.

7) Some companies can customize a chair to any decor. The Steelcase Leap can be wrapped in over 100 choices of fabric and you can even put a different fabric on the seat then on the back.

8) Most places will let you borrow several chairs for a week or more and will deliver them and pick them up when you are done. It's a very common practice for them, so don't feel bad about asking.

9) There are 3 price levels for chairs:
* Under $200 = low quality, short lifespan, non-ergonomic
* $200-$500 good quality, long lifespan, non-ergonomic
* Over $500 high quality, long lifespan, ergonomic

10) Higher priced chairs may be a better value. If a $100 chair lasts 2 years and an $600 chair comes with a 12 year warranty, which is the better deal?

11) Some people will think you are crazy for spending $800 on an office chair no matter what anyone tells them.