Back to Basics TEM500 Egg-and-Muffin 2-Slice Toaster and Egg Poacher
by Back to Basics
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Back to Basics TEM500 Egg-and-Muffin 2-Slice Toaster and Egg Poacher
Customer Review: A MUST HAVE FOR WEIGHT WATCHERS
Summary: 5 Stars
Back to Basics TEM500 Egg-and-Muffin 2-Slice Toaster and Egg Poacher
I have had my toaster for about a month now and use it on a daily basis. I was very nicely surprised at how easy it was to learn to use as well as the varied things that I use it for. It has really helped me in watching the scale in that it helps me to prepare a quick and nutritious morning breakfast - vs just cereal. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Charley
Customer Review: A MUST-HAVE!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this contraption thinking, "Hmmmm, if this works, it could rock my world. If not, what's [...] bucks for yet another kitchen gadget that didn't deliver on its promise?" It didn't take me many mornings at McD's buying McMuffins before I realized this gamble could save a ton of moolah.
I was MORE than pleasantly surprised and could not believe how well this little guy performed out of the box! My family all crowded around as it cooked, jaws-dropped in excitement--talk about "set it and forget it"!!
It's really great for people who are rushed to get to work/school in the morning, and has been this working mom's dream! My son and I can cook our breakfast while we get ready, then have a piping hot and fresh breakfast sandwich waiting for us as we scurry out the door. His favorite combination is egg/ham/swiss, and my combo of egg/bacon/pesto is to die for!
Only one issue: the egg cup SAYS it's non-stick, but really isn't. No biggie: we just give it a shot of Pam before cracking the egg into the pan, and life is good.
Clean-up is a snap. All the water cooks out as it poaches your egg, the bacon is already pre-cooked, so it leaves no greasy mess. All you have to do is swab the egg pan with a paper towel to remove any residue and you're good to go for the next batch.
I'm giving this to my parents and in-laws this Christmas. My in-laws work, and my mom is currently caring for her mother. I think this will be a great way to save them time, too.
My only complaint is that I didn't order the two-sandwich model. Not knowing how reliable this machine would be, I was hesitant to pay twice as much for something, not knowing what the quality would be like or how much it would be used. If you're wavering, upgrade to the two-sandwich model--you'll be glad you did!!
And, OH, the [...] we're saving on McMuffin's!
Customer Review: A Nifty Gadget
Summary: 4 Stars
I really like my egg poacher and toaster. I agree with other reviewers that it is best to clean the removable parts right away after use, which takes a minute or two. Still, this makes a quick, warm breakfast.Customer Review: A Pretty Cool Kitchen Gadget, but Fear Not McDonalds Stockholders
Summary: 3 Stars
The Back to Basics Egg n Muffin Toaster was a wildly popular gift this Christmas. Supply ran so short that givers were very lucky to pick one up in time. But were the receivers lucky to find one under the tree? Well, in some ways yes and in other ways no - it depends on their preferred recipe for breakfast.
This unit lets you make breakfast sandwiches at home thanks to an ingenious steam heating chamber attached to the end of the toaster. You simply add a few tablespoons of water to the chamber's cooking surface and the load up your ingredients in a series of nested pans above it. The amount of water you supply gives you control over how well done the eggs turn out and I was very pleasantly surprised how well this works. My greatest skepticism about the toaster is that you'd end up with runny undercooked eggs no matter how much water was used, but that wasn't the case at all. Poaching a real egg gave the best results, but we also tried scrambling an egg right in the toaster's pan (no additional cookware to clean up) and it was very good as well. On the other hand, liquid egg substitutes turned out a little soft/runny for my taste no matter how long they were cooked. There is also a separate basket for hard-boiling eggs in the steamer instead.
There is also a removeable shelf that can heat up pre-cooked bacon or sausage. Its results were not good at all - basically, the steam heat just made the meats soggy. If you really like some meat on your breakfast sandwich, have a microwave nearby.
The most impressive feature is the internal timer which allows you to set up all of your chosen ingredients and then simply push one button. It knows that the toast doesn't take as long as the egg, so it calculates both of the appropriate times so that all of your foods finish up together without you having to think about it. The toaster also takes into consideration how light or dark you've set your toast and it does a good job of giving you the desired result.
Cleanup was very simple after each use once the entire unit had cooled down. However, the egg heating surface showed some permanent white marks from the hot steam right after the very first use; I guess this portion will look more and more faded as time goes on. Plus, while the intent may have been a modern appearance, the black matte finish is a terrible choice by the manufacturer. Think about it: black matte + greasy food = neverending fingerprint smudges that won't come off without applying a lot of effort. These appearance considerations, coupled with its bulky dimensions, make the toaster unsuitable for everyday countertop display. We keep ours tucked away in a cabinet when it's not being used.
To summarize, this kitchen gadget and delivers good toast and surprisingly well-done eggs. However, fans of well-done bacon and sausage may still find themselves in the drive-thru line in the morning. It's simple to use and is actually a fun alternative to the usual methods of cooking a breakfast-on-the-go. Cleanup is quick and easy as well. The unit's large size and unattractive appearance make it a prime candidate to be stored out of sight, so make sure you've got some room in a cabinet.
PROS
* Accurately toasts bread, bagels and English muffins according to your preference
* Makes surprisingly firm eggs, either poached or scrambled
* Timer makes sure that all of your foods finish at the same time
CONS
* Heating up pre-cooked sausage or bacon makes it more soggy than hot
* A big boxy unit that takes up too much counterspace and has an ugly finish
Customer Review: A Pretty Cool Kitchen Gadget, but Fear Not McDonalds Stockholders
Summary: 3 Stars
The Back to Basics Egg n Muffin Toaster was a wildly popular gift this Christmas. Supply ran so short that givers were very lucky to pick one up in time. But were the receivers lucky to find one under the tree? Well, in some ways yes and in other ways no - it depends on their preferred recipe for breakfast.
This unit lets you make breakfast sandwiches at home thanks to an ingenious steam heating chamber attached to the end of the toaster. You simply add a few tablespoons of water to the chamber's cooking surface and the load up your ingredients in a series of nested pans above it. The amount of water you supply gives you control over how well done the eggs turn out and I was very pleasantly surprised how well this works. My greatest skepticism about the toaster is that you'd end up with runny undercooked eggs no matter how much water was used, but that wasn't the case at all. Poaching a real egg gave the best results, but we also tried scrambling an egg right in the toaster's pan (no additional cookware to clean up) and it was very good as well. On the other hand, liquid egg substitutes turned out a little soft/runny for my taste no matter how long they were cooked. There is also a separate basket for hard-boiling eggs in the steamer instead.
There is also a removeable shelf that can heat up pre-cooked bacon or sausage. Its results were not good at all - basically, the steam heat just made the meats soggy. If you really like some meat on your breakfast sandwich, have a microwave nearby.
The most impressive feature is the internal timer which allows you to set up all of your chosen ingredients and then simply push one button. It knows that the toast doesn't take as long as the egg, so it calculates both of the appropriate times so that all of your foods finish up together without you having to think about it. The toaster also takes into consideration how light or dark you've set your toast and it does a good job of giving you the desired result.
Cleanup was very simple after each use once the entire unit had cooled down. However, the egg heating surface showed some permanent white marks from the hot steam right after the very first use; I guess this portion will look more and more faded as time goes on. Plus, while the intent may have been a modern appearance, the black matte finish is a terrible choice by the manufacturer. Think about it: black matte + greasy food = neverending fingerprint smudges that won't come off without applying a lot of effort. These appearance considerations, coupled with its bulky dimensions, make the toaster unsuitable for everyday countertop display. We keep ours tucked away in a cabinet when it's not being used.
To summarize, this kitchen gadget and delivers good toast and surprisingly well-done eggs. However, fans of well-done bacon and sausage may still find themselves in the drive-thru line in the morning. It's simple to use and is actually a fun alternative to the usual methods of cooking a breakfast-on-the-go. Cleanup is quick and easy as well. The unit's large size and unattractive appearance make it a prime candidate to be stored out of sight, so make sure you've got some room in a cabinet.
PROS
* Accurately toasts bread, bagels and English muffins according to your preference
* Makes surprisingly firm eggs, either poached or scrambled
* Timer makes sure that all of your foods finish at the same time
CONS
* Heating up pre-cooked sausage or bacon makes it more soggy than hot
* A big boxy unit that takes up too much counterspace and has an ugly finish