Does this sound legit about "As Seen on TV"? (The magic meatloaf pan)

[UTUSN]

O.K., those gimmicks grab me once in awhile. The last time it was that foot scrubber brush and I've only used it a couple of times.

This time it was the magic meatloaf pan that has an inside pan like a liner but without the sides so that you can lift the baked loaf out and slide it over onto the dish, with the bottom of the loaf not being soaked in the fat.

So I shopped around for weeks, at local department stores and saw similar baking pans with inner pans with holes for the fat to drip down to the outer pan, but none of them had the sides removed on the inner pan, get what I mean, they were all two complete pans, the inner one having holes, but you ended up plopping the loaf out.

So, anyway, this item was not at the local stores that have "As Seen on TV" displays, the way the foot scrubber thing was at Target, where you can get the thing locally and pay sales tax and not do the shipping and waiting thing.

So the "As Seen" website offers a two for one with the 2nd one supposedly being only S&H. I didn't need it and refused it, but the offer in checkout said it was $10 for the 2nd one, not just S&H. So I said no, but then, after it had already taken down my billing info, it asked whether I wanted a "Deluxe" version of the non-stick coating, which would be super-duper non-stick.

Now, the commercial and the website just mentioned the one, non-stick item, QUOTE: " Thanks to a durable non-stick coating nothing sticks!" And yet, hidden away somewhere is a MUCH BETTER non-stick version, for $10 more or I don't know how much since you have to be in the Order mode to get there.

So then the final price was not just $19.95 plus $7.95 S&H, but rather $15 more for HANDLING, so the total came out to $35.

I'm thinking my trust has been played. (I want my own meatloaf because I hate it with that red goop on it and have trouble finding it without the red goop.)

[HappyMe]

1. Sorry, but maybe you've been had.

I just use my glass loaf pan. :shrug:
The red goop is ketchup (I think). I don't smear the top with ketchup either.

[Lucinda]

2. I have the kind with the second full pan with holes that fits in the first

That one works well. Not really a big deal to me to turn a meatloaf out of a pan though, so I'm fine with it.
I also often bake a meatloaf in a cast iron skillet. Which also works. :)

[Paper Roses]

3. Check out reviews of these "as seen on TV " products.

NECN, New England Cable TV has a segment where they evaluate all these products. Worth a read before purchasing any of the products advertised. They may not have done the meat loaf pan but there are many items covered.

It is about a 10 minute segment with the real segment,good and bad reviews are shown. Won't help you now but maybe he next time.....

Edit for link:
http://www.necn.com/pages/doesitwork

[sakabatou]

7. Thanks for the link

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. THAT is a cool site!

Bookmarking under my "Consumer" tag.

( You have knack for finding the neatest sites, btw)

:hi:

[Orrex]

4. Incidentally, Meatloaf passed out onstage while performing in Pittsburgh

At this time there's no indication that the non-stick coating was a factor.

[muffin1]

5. The best way to make meatloaf

is free-form, on a cookie sheet. Loaf type pans tend to "steam" the meatloaf. Learned this tip from Barefoot Contessa.

[RebelOne]

6. Give it time and it will be at your local CVS

and Walgreens. I see many of those As Seen On TV products a few months after they hit the TV airwaves.

[Kali]

8. yes you have been had, those things sound cool until you realize now you have two things to clean

and one of them has lots more crevices for crap to get stuck. Teflon sucks.

if you want less grease, use leaner meat

also as mentioned above cook it on a baking sheet or use a cake pan but make the loaf much smaller (although taller) than the pan itself (this is better for greasier meat, as the higher sides make it easier to handle without spilling hot grease)

[txwhitedove]

9. Another DU'er here who uses a cast iron skillet, the best cookware ever and

easiest to clean. Many ways to cook meatloaf with or without the red goop (catsup or tomato sauce). You can put cheese in the middle or on top, green peppers, or mushrooms and beef/onion soup mix. But then I don't understand people who need a special $50 steamer just for rice. Free yourself from the gadgets, and TV hawkers.

:hi:

[UTUSN]

10. To clarify the "legit" question, the sale process seemed to be adding $ onto the original deal

All along the billing process there were add-ons in price, hidden product enticements, and just HUH? kind of practices.

I had thought the "As Seen" thing was a reputable kind of brand --- hokey or gimmicky, but honest?

[txwhitedove]

11. TV hucksters, so no, most likely not honest. I've seen ads like that, then

see the exact same product in the stores for less and no shipping fees. Granted, I live in a populous city and there are many rural areas where people are happy to order oddities on TV. I'm too cheap and wary, must do price comparisons before committing to buy.

[quakerboy]

12. Ha

Im sure that given the contentious nature of people here this has already started many a flame war. But easiest to clean? Maybe if you are some kind of kitchen guru. I end up with rust every damn time I try.

As fer the rice cooker... The $10 version worked fine for me when I was eating rice. But I have the attention span of a chess genius. It just focuses on moving objects or words on a page, to the exclusion of things like cook times. If I do it, other than in a machine, I end up with mush.

So enjoy your fancy cooking life style full of good food, secure in the knowledge you can always mock those of us with less ability. And feel good about it.*








*meant to be taken in light hearted jest. I do suck at most cooking, but I do not hold it against those who are good at it. Especially if they share their cooking with me at some point or another.

[txwhitedove]

14. I mock, haha. My grandson dubbed me the Magic Food Lady. Poof

there's dinner, his favorite macaroni and cheese. Mom's are creative by necessity, and cook to save money - like Mama McMuffins instead of McDonalds. I'm no purest on cleaning a cast iron skillet. Don't use soap, but hot water and salt to scrub or it's great to just add water and simmer clean. Best to wipe out with a little oil/olive oil right afterwards to prevent rust. As for rice, try cooking it in the microwave, it doesn't get as sticky. Hey, I bet you can grill better than I can!


;)

[quakerboy]

19. my problem with grilling

is that I like meat at any stage in the process. from a brief sear to a bit past well done. So however it comes out works for me. So Ive never had the need to figure out how you are actually supposed to do it.

As for the rice, If I am going gadgety, I'd rather make use of a $10 steamer than a hundred dollar microwave.

[Redstone]

15. It's probably legit - but then again, now many times do you make meatloaf?

Redstoned

[UTUSN]

22. You have SO nailed it. NOT often. Every 10 yrs?!1 n/t

[Shagbark Hickory]

16. Do you have a Bed Bath & Beyond near you? Usually they have all that ASOTV shiznit. And 20% coupons

are easy to come by.
And they take anything back if you don't like it.

I saw a commercial for (i think it was called) Eggie... You break open an egg and pour it into a plastic egg case and then you boil it. Then you have hard boiled eggs without having to peel the shells. That's something I'd be willing to try if I can find it locally.

[UTUSN]

21. I *LOVE* that non-peeling thing!1 So they're LEGIT?!1

I trust YOU!1

[Amerigo Vespucci]

17. You were just like Dorothy, fresh from Kansas, getting off the bus in East L.A.

I don't want to sugar-coat it. You basically got off the bus with your hair in pigtails and your little dog Toto safely cradled in your arms, with your battered hand-me-down suitcase that Auntie Em so lovingly packed for you, and stood on the sidewalk and said "GOSH! Is this REALLY Los ANGELES?"

Ten minutes later, you were the proud new owner of a $35 meat loaf pan.

Enjoy your meat loaf, Dorothy.

:rofl:

:toast:



PS: I have an Achor-Hocking Glass meat loaf pan that costs half of the one you purchased during your ordeal, and you know how I make it magically non-stick?

Spray it with Pam before I put the meat in.

Perfect cooking (I like the way the heat is conducted far better than metal loaf pans). Take out the meat loaf, let it soak with some hot water and a little dishwashing liquid, and it's the easiest cleanup ever. So sorry for your loss.

:rofl:

[UTUSN]

20. You're definitely invited and withOUT the red GLOOP!1 I love your company!1 n/t

[UTUSN]

23. Dedication (from Fanny Lu) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_kjdCYC_o0

[trof]

18. Alton Brown HATES 'single purpose' utensils.

'Nuff said.
:-)

[Denninmi]

24. Hate to break this to you, but ...

... on the 'America's Test Kitchen' program on PBS, they had the same goal, to make a meatloaf with a nice crust, not soaking in its own grease and liquid.

Their solution was a lot simpler than a specialized pan -- they just baked it on a baking sheet with a tiny foil rack underneath, so that all of the fat and juice drained away. And, when partially done, they applied a glaze to it to ensure a crisp crust. I haven't made the recipe, but it looked like it came out great.

[Kaleva]

25. They make their money on shipping and handling.

[Lance_Boyle]

26. Waste of money.

Simple, free method to accomplish the same thing:

1) make meatloaf and pack into loaf pan

2) flip loaf pan over on top of a roasting pan to remove loaf

3) bake and enjoy