Amazon.com Customer Reviews
Short lifespan. - Review written on September 16, 2007
Rating: 2 out of 5
6 customers found this review helpful.
I purchased this set because I was sick of cleaning the typical wood cutting board built into the counter. What I wanted was something that would fit in a drawer, clean easily, and allow me to prepare ingredients without cross contamination.
Upon first use, I noticed that both chopping and slicing at usual speed and force were out of the question. The plastic is flexible but easily chips when chopping with the force required to dice a russet potato, this is most evident as the bright colored pepper contrasts starkly with the insides of a potato. Although I only saw this once when cutting a wheel of cheese, slicking may also remove a thin curling bit of plastic which is simple to remove.
After running through the dishwasher the third time, 2/4 have become too brittle to be of any use. Of the remaining two, both have creases from areas where the material didn't stand up to knives and the sheets tend to flex in these areas which means they probably host a family of nightmares.
Since I like to avoid adding more stuff to the landfill than is necessary, I have used the green one for a template stencil, red for a lens filter, blue for a wind chime, and orange as a warming gel that goes around some five year old compact fluorescent lights which put out harsh light compared to the newer ones.
One of my 3 CAN'T DO WITHOUT kitchen items!!! - Review written on August 25, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
4 customers found this review helpful.
I've had 2 sets of these simple but marvelous mats so far, not only the handiest thing I've bought for my kitchen, but friends keep talking me into giving them one. I only need one or two but one is always on my countertop for various uses the past few years.
I'm a senior lady and disabled, and my time standing in the kitchen is limited so I hate cleaning up messes, picking up dropped stuff on the floor, sterilizing unweildy wood or plastic cutting boards. Mainly love the ease of chopping or slicing vegies on it, folding it over like a funnel and dumping right into a salad bowl or a pan with NO SPILLS, or vegies onto another can't do without item, faithful George Foreman Grill, beside my meat entree. Top down, vegies and meat dinner in 4 minutes.
So simple to just put under the faucet and run hot water over it, or wipe with a little bleach on a sponge. Very few knife marks on mine, but I don't like super sharp knives, and if I seldom have to cut meat I use a scissors and wax paper on the mat to then wrap and freeze pieces. I buy boneless skinless chicken or pork or sirloin chops. The grill gets a once over with a damp paper towel. So simple and time saver, not like cuts on a wooden board which is most unsanitary.
Beyond a slicing surface, great for placing cannisters on to fill with coffee or sugar, salt shakers, or stuff I seem to always have to spill some, shakey hands at 70. Just roll it up, shake in the trash or sink disposal, rinse if necessary and reuse, keeps counter clean and free of stains. I put hot or cold things on it to protect the formica, made a few stains with coffee but cleans with bleach ok, not ruining my counter top. They wear well but at the price, and the work they save they can be tossed for another new one. Best features are flexible enough to roll and empty, easy cleanup forget the broom, and no storage problem in my cramped space - stack them on the counter and peel top one off for next job.
Besides these mats and the elec non stick grill, my micro rice steamer is the third CDW to make food preparation easier than ever in my life. If I spill dry rice filling it, roll and dump in the cooker. I am not kitchen friendly, want to spend as little time on my feet as possible, hate to cook, hate cleaning up, dinner in 6 minutes and I'm done.
So glad to see these are on the web, had a hard time finding more in stores when I want to gift someone. If you want the job done clean and fast, tired of bending picking up rollaway strays off the floor (or always between stove and counter narrow space) buy these for a staple in a kitchen, especially for seniors - I've no dishwasher nor disposal I might add. Why in the world would one need a cutting board heat resistant? not for oven or stovetop use. For glue guns and crafts which I also do, put a piece of wax paper over your extra mat if you want to protect a table top, I use one on my desk and serves as a coaster too. I didn't even know about the silicone part, who cares.
Just can't rave enough over these. Saves work, saves time.