Kitchen Hearts Silicone Baking Mat Set

I do more baking than anyone I know. As a result, I’ve got a wealth of tools to assist me and I’m always on the lookout for something new and innovative to help me along. Over the years I’ve graduated from wax papers and sprays to parchment and silicone mats. If you’ve used one, you know they quickly become indispensable. But Kitchen Hearts had something I’ve yet to try: A ROUND silicone pizza mat!! Oh, baby!

Silicone mats are probably one of the most versatile tools in a kitchen. They can be used for a multitude of things, and be used hundreds of times before needing to be replaced. From a splatter-catcher in the oven, to making french fries, cookies, macaroons, or biscuits, there’s almost no limit to the goodies one can make on a silicone mat. They clean up with a little warm soapy water, need no oils or sprays to be non-stick, and virtually nothing sticks to them. Fats and oils bead up, and little crispy bits fall right away. They are also oven safe up to 475 degrees, so the limit is really your imagination!

Ideally. Sadly, 9″ Kitchen Hearts Pizza mat came with a critical defect. See, silicone mats are almost just that: silicone. The silicone, however, encases a fiberglass mesh weave that gives the mats some tensile strength and help to hold it’s shape better. But when you puncture the silicone, the fiberglass is exposed and it’s time to toss the mat, both for health and safety reasons. And my round mat had exposed fiberglass all around the outside edge. Not only would that let water in and ruin the mat, but it’s unsafe. One should never consume the fibers from fibergalss, and putting a sticky dough on exposed fibers a sure-fire way to do just that. So I didn’t even get to try it, sadly. The large mat (a now-standard half-sheet 16.5″ x 11.6″ size) did not have these issues. I may contact the company about this because I’m really hoping to a new tool in my kitchen!

Connect with Kitchen Hearts:

• Online
• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Kitchen Hearts.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

Advertisement

The Simple Baker: Premium Silicone Baking Mat for Macarons #Review #macaronmat

 

Being a baker means I need products I can count on and a multi-tasker is a must in my kitchen. The Simple Baker does everything my expensive silicone baking mats do, plus as much as I did not appreciate the circle pattern at first, I became to really like the convince it provided. My cookies never touched each other, so I have to admit I’m not the best spacer I thought I was!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The mat yielded the same results as my french branded mat and clean-up was a cinch. The mat cleans up instantly with a little soapy water and I just fill the sink 1/4 way up, make some bubbles and suds on top of the mat and this I find is the most gentle way to clean the mat with no sponge and/or sink brush needed. I simply roll the Simple Baker mat (without creating fold or creases) and use a silicone band to keep it in place.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

I wanted to test the silicone mat out with by making dark chocolate ganache cookies. The cookies are a butter base recipe and I tried both round shapes and heart shapes when baking. My baking time was adjusted, as these silicone mats provide even baking, which tends to accelerate the baking but produces what I call the “perfect cookie”. You get a soft flaky texture on the inside with a cookie top crust that stays in place and only crumbles until you take a bite.

Dark Chocolate Ganache Filling

Cookies in all shapes can be baked

Perfect results every time!

 

Retail Price Point: $17.97 via Amazon

The Simple Baker Mat will save you money in the long run and pay for itself. I use parchment paper and that gets costly over time and can be a wasteful expense. These silicone mats are reusable, do not hold odors, and are also safe because they are non-toxic. The silicone used is food-grade quality and no need to add extra fats or oils to make them non-stick……their finish stays non-stick time and time again!

Connect with The Simple Baker at:

• On-line
• Amazon

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from The Simple Baker.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

AYL® Silicone Heat Resistant Grilling BBQ Gloves Set #Review #AYLsiliconeGlove

It’s no big secret I cook. A lot. So handling hot dishes and pans is pretty much an occupational hazard. What you may not know is hubby also grills. A lot. Except grilling can be messy, even more so sometimes than normal cooking and baking. Gloves are a must. So these AYL silicone grilling gloves are a product long overdue for this house. Made from heat-resistant (Up to 425°!), BPA free silicone, dishwasher safe, and one size fits most. Let’s dive right in.

And To start, these grill mitts do indeed fit most. Both hubby and I fit into them with no problem when we tried them on.  While they are “heat resistant”, you will still feel the temperature through the gloves. So I wouldn’t hang onto hot things for very long. And while they did fit, don’t expect to be terribly dexterous while wearing them. A plus AND minus is the little grippy nubs surrounding the mitts. They are little heart shaped, which while timely and adorable, might be off putting to overly manly-men types. They also get BBQ shmutz stuck in between them due to being so deep. But, a little soap and a dish brush and you’re good as new. The pair have little hanging holes for storage/drying, and the bright red color means even Mr. Distracted, Hubby, can find them in the dark. Another big plus of the silicone is that it won’t hold scents or smells easily. And if you’ve ever handled smoked meats, you know those scents seriously linger.

Retail Price Point: $19.99 via Amazon

Lest you think these are good for outdoors only, they are winners inside the house too. With normal oven mitts, you’re lucky to have a thumb. Which makes grabbing some pans, lids or dishes a game of “Do I really have a hold of it?”. Anyone who’s found out they didn’t knows how much fun that can be when it’s all down the front of your clothes or all over the kitchen floor. A thing of the past with these mitts. Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives, and with a “free premium lifetime guarantee” included, you can’t go wrong here. I’d say grab a pair and try them on for size.

 

Connect with AYL:

• On their Website
• Buy from Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from AYL®.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.