Wilko Product Review

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Hi, I have a fantastice new style post for you today. Wilko generously sent me some of their Kitchen and Bakeware own brand products for me to review. So welcome to my first Wilko Product Review.

They say ‘variety is the spice of life’ so I hope you enjoy my thoughts on the following Wilko products?

First on my Wilko Product Review list is their Free Standing Mixer. Now I have a stand mixer, so my expectations were high. I decided to bake my Malted Marbled Chocolate Cake. This meant I could also review their Wilko Best 24cm Square Cake Tin.

 

Wilko Freestanding Mixer in black.
Wilko Freestanding Mixer in black.

 

I was impressed with how well packaged the Wilko Freestanding Mixer was within it’s box, so I set about unpacking the mixer and all the attachments. A comprehensive instruction leaflet was also included.

Wilko Freestanding Mixer - in black. Very stylish.
Wilko Freestanding Mixer – in black. Very stylish.

 

This is one stylish mixer and took up a surprisingly small amount of worktop space in my kitchen. Sleek and compact when compared with other mixers I have seen, Wilko’s Freestanding Mixer has a large bowl, whisk, beater, dough hook and splatter guard.

Wilko Freestanding Mixer - comes with a whisk, beater, dough hook and splatter guard.
Wilko Freestanding Mixer – comes with a whisk, beater, dough hook and splatter guard.

 

I found the instruction booklet very helpful and had this baby up and running in a matter of minutes. Soft start ensures no matter what speed the mixer is set to, it starts slowly and builds up to speed. Very handy when mixing cocoa, or icing sugar, as they both tend to fly up in a cloud when switching on any mixer. Using the splatter guard will also help with fine powders and very wet mixtures.

Wilko Freestanding Mixer - tilt and lock mechanism.
Wilko Freestanding Mixer – tilt and lock mechanism.

 

This mixer has a tilt and lock mechanism, the bowl twists and locks into place and changing the beater/whisk/dough hook is simple – instructions on all operating procedures are covered in the accompanying booklet.

A relatively quiet mixer, it also grips to the worktop, keeping it safe during fast speed mixing. It has a 10 minute, maximum, mixing time – with 20 minutes rest period required post mixing. This did not present any problems for me whilst making the cake. It is worth noting however, if you intend to use the dough hook to make bread. All of my bread recipes call for 10 minutes mixing with this type of freestanding mixer.

Overall I was very pleased with this Wilko Freestanding Mixer. Look what I made.

Malted Marbled Chocolate Cake
Malted Marbled Chocolate Cake

 

Wilko Best 24cm Square Cake Tin
Wilko Best 24cm Square Cake Tin

 

Very happy with the Wilko Best 24cm Square Cake Tin. I greased and lined the bottom of this cake tin with parchment paper and the cake turned out beautifully. Good tin, it’s also a great size for baking Brownies!! Like we need an excuse?

Wilko Best Medium Oven Tray.
Wilko Best Medium Oven Tray.

 

The Wilko Best Medium Oven Tray was used to make Walnut Fig Oat Cookies. I also managed to buy the large version of this tray, so impreesed was I by it’s smaller sibling. Both trays performed well and are non stick. I tested this by baking a Blackberry Nectarine Tart and it released from the tray beautifully, without parchment paper being used. I’m hoping to purchase some more baking trays as they get used a lot!!

Blackberry Nectarine Tart - beautiful and delicious.
Blackberry Nectarine Tart – beautiful and delicious.

 

I will admit I was a bit stumped as to what I should cook in the Wilko 24cm Die Cast Aluminium Square Casserole. When reviewing this item it was the middle of Summer and I just wasn’t feeling the whole ‘casserole’ thing!! Then I had a moment of pure genius. I know I should be more humble, but stick with me on this?

Wilko 24cm Square Casserole Pan.
Wilko 24cm Square Casserole Pan.

 

This beauty of a Casserole Pan has a glass lid, what better to make than Vanila Sugar Popcorn? It also happened to be a wet day and our children were bored. Nothing more exciting than watching corn pop, right? Within minutes happy children were watching a film and munching on homemade popcorn. I’d forgotten how good making your own popcorn felt and the wonderful aroma it produces.

Vanilla Sugar Popcorn - with a glass lid it's fun to watch the corn popping!!
Vanilla Sugar Popcorn – with a glass lid it’s fun to watch the corn popping!!

So, whilst I didn’t make a casserole in this pan, it did make good popcorn. There weren’t any burnt corners, suggesting an even spread of heat across the base. That for me was the sign of a good pan.

My Wilko Product Review was going very well.

Now for the knives. Wilko Best Small Chef Knife and Wilko Best Carving Knife.

Wilko Best Small Chef's Knife and Carving Knife.
Wilko Best Small Chef’s Knife and Carving Knife.

I tested the chef’s knife by slicing and dicing peppers, chillis and onions for my Chunky Chilli. This knife is a slicing knife, with instruction on the packaging. It slices beautifully and has become a family favourite in the kitchen. The carving knife coped effortlessly with a Roast Rib of Beef.

Chunky Chilli - called so because of the Chunky diced 2 green and 1 red peppers!
Chunky Chilli – called so because of the Chunky diced 2 green and 1 red peppers!

 

Overall I was very impressed with the quality of the Wilko own label products that I reviewed. I have already recommended several items to friends and family.

For someone who shops online for EVERYTHING see previous post the fact that Wilko offer free delivery on all online orders over £50 is fab! I have used this service and have been impressed with the speed of delivery and quality of own brand everyday products, such as freezer bags, aluminium foil and cling film.

Do you shop at Wilko?

Have you ever bought baking/kitchen items from Wilko?

This has been a great experience for me. Testing products and creating new recipes, a great partnership!

Sammie x

I was provided by Wilko with products to review. All opinions are my own and I did not receive any payment for writing this post. All content is my own.

 

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Am I Being Silly About Silicone?

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Hello there, thank you for stopping by. Do you mind me asking you a question? Am I being Silly about using Silicone???

Cute little chocolate spoons made in a Silicone mould.
Cute little chocolate spoons made in a Silicone mould.

The photo above shows gorgeous little chocolate spoons, made in a Silicone mould.

 

Silicone chocolate spoon mould, available from Lakeland.
Silicone chocolate spoon mould, available from Lakeland.

 

The little choccie spoons are made in this lovely, flexible, Silicone mould.  I’m pretty ok with that.  It’s a mould!  It doesn’t go in the oven, so I have faith that it’s ok to do the job of setting chocolate that’s poured into the little spoon shapes.

So all good so far.  Now here comes the bit I struggle with.  Baking, in the oven, using Silicone as cupcake cases, cake tins (Silicones???) and finally, as well as all the other shapes and sizes that Silicone bakeware comes in, this……..

A Silicone macaroon mould/template.
A Silicone macaroon mould/template.

 

I just can’t get my head around using something ‘plastic’ in the oven, in heat, where it’s hot, to cook something in.

I know it must be fine for use as baking equipment.  I’ve seen chefs and cooks (including Nigella – she wouldn’t steer me wrong – would she???!) use Silicone for baking on the TV and they seem fine.  It’s just, well, it’s not metal.  Cake tins are metal (the clue is in the name!!)!  They are sturdy and strong and don’t, for one moment look like they are going to MELT in the oven (don’t even get me started on whether they are safe, or if they are going to leach poisonous, plastic, chemicals into my food????).

Am I alone??? Are they really safe??  Is Silicone better than metal???  You see I’m just not convinced.  I’ve been wanting to make Macaroons for ages.  Every time I get a new Lakeland catalogue through the post, the Macaroon mould speaks to me – not literally!!! I want to make these…….

Perfect, precise, pretty Macaroons - cooked on a Silicone sheet - help???!!!
Perfect, precise, pretty Macaroons – cooked on a Silicone sheet – help???!!!

 

Please help me?  Have you cooked/baked with Silicone. Does it work?  Did you get poisoned – I’m serious here people.  Is it fiddly to work with – the Macaroon mat looks very floppy and not sturdy, if I have to put it on a baking sheet doesn’t that defeat the object of using Silicone in the first place?  Does it make food taste odd??

I really need your help to decide if I should invest in Silicone bakeware or stick with my solid metal (very reassuring that solid and metal bit!) bakeware???

Please share your thoughts and experiences with me? I really would appreciate your help with this.

Thank you.  Sammie x

Note : All pictures taken from the current Lakeland catalogue.

 

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