The most impressive and probably the best cooking utensil investment I have made was today:

A sheet of Silpat
and
A silicone basting brush


Thank you silicone for not only being in the body parts of Dallas women but helping me with my cooking.

A silicone glove is invaluable for holding hot meat while carving.

i work with silpat and similar products since 1983.

silpat is evan thicker than other products what make it long-lasting.

the bad thing about them is that they do insulating the food from the "floor-part" what makes a diffrence when you whant to have a crust.
or if somting has to caramelise (tarte tatin)


i never tried the silicone brush, i have seen it in stores but dont know if it has real advances
against good brushes.

The silicone brush works just as well as a normal brush. The advantage that I was told is that you can just throw it in the dishwasher and it is ok. Also, the silicone brush is heat resistant up to 400 degrees; therefore, you are able to brush a hot pan, if needed.

Bella,

Try the Silpat with the Parmigiano Crisp recipe. Absolutely essential. Then post your results. I've been needing a Sapril/Bella cooking story for a while now....

PH

My wife has the brush and says it's fabulous. She also has the cookie sheet liner.

I've seen the pot holder but it seemed rather expensive. Has anyone found a source that is reasonably priced?

okay, bella donna,

finely i got a siliconebrush and a silicone wire whisk

have not used them until now but as soon as i test them i'll let you know how i find them.

I also got a Silicone brush this past week. Winespectator has cost me all kinds of money this past few months. I need to get a second job.

The brush should have only cost $10 unless you picked up "other" silicone products.

My wife does not look at price tags, she went to Williams Sonoma and paid $25 for it.

I am using my Silpat to bake some pizza right now...there is this funny burnt rubber smell. I've used it aout 5-6 times now and the smell has not gone away.

I hardly ever go into Williams-Sonoma to buy anything, just to look. There is a gourmet specialty shop less than a mile from my house called Asher's, and they sell everything you need to be a professional gourmet cook and the prices are very reasonable.

Tanglenet,

The potholders are alright. They don't have the same sense of feel that you get with a regular potholder. They're thicker and I find they slip a lot. I just like my old insultated potholder better. However, they do work nicely as a hotplate in a pinch.

I got mine at Sur La Table. The best was they were 80% off because it was part of the Christmas collection. Big deal, they're white with nondescript snowflakes...I'm not so anal that I need in-season kitchenware.

quote:

Originally posted by Bella Donna:
I am using my Silpat to bake some pizza right now...there is this funny burnt rubber smell. I've used it aout 5-6 times now and the smell has not gone away.

I will never cook/bake with silicone and fiberglass.

quote:

there is this funny burnt rubber smell.

Bella, are you sure that what you smell is not left over Goodyear tire?

quote:

My wife does not look at price tags,

Glad I'm not alone.

quote:

Originally posted by Trigirl:
Tanglenet,

The potholders are alright. They don't have the same sense of feel that you get with a regular potholder. They're thicker and I find they slip a lot. I just like my old insultated potholder better. However, they do work nicely as a hotplate in a pinch.)

The ones that I saw were thick and rubbery and sort of translucent and the color of pale rose petal. I think they were asking $20-25. I'm pretty sure I've also seen them at Whole Foods.

Good score on the Xmas decor!

quote:

Originally posted by seanr7:

quote:

there is this funny burnt rubber smell.

Bella, are you sure that what you smell is not left over Goodyear tire?

Ha ha...funny funny. After baking some hamburger buns this weekend, that damn smell just won't go away.

quote:

Originally posted by seanr7:
My wife does not look at price tags, she went to Williams Sonoma and paid $25 for it.

Do you guys have Target in OKC?

I saw TWO small silicone brushes at Target for $5.

Bella, we do have a Target, but when it comes to kitchen stuff she always goes to Williams Sonoma.