... It was her birthday recently and she spent part of her money on the Junior Ready Steady Cook Chocolate Shape Maker.
The Shape Maker provides everything (apart from the chocolate and hot water) that you will need to make your own bite sized chocolate shapes.
I must admit, this is not ... Read review
Advantages: A novelty idea for children Disadvantages: Washing up
...her money on the Junior Ready Steady Cook Chocolate Shape Maker.
The Shape Maker provides everything (apart from the chocolate and hot water) that you will need to make your own bite sized chocolate shapes.
I must admit, this is not something I would have bought as a present for anyone, as I am very wary of these type of toys, and the promises they make.
Amber bought this from Argos where it retails at ... ...Chocolate machine comprising six parts as follows: base, shutter, transparent chamber, lid, handle and piston and cover. Everything here apart from the chamber is brightly coloured either red or yellow, and I think these manufacturers know that if a product is brightly coloured it’s going to appeal to kids.
The chamber is transparent and has a middle core, through which the handle is inserted to knead the chocolate.
Instruction ... more
I am afraid my daughter has inherited my obsession with chocolate. It was her birthday recently and she spent part of her money on the Junior Ready Steady Cook Chocolate Shape Maker.
The Shape Maker provides everything (apart from the chocolate and hot water) that you will need to make your own bite sized chocolate shapes.
I must admit, this is not something I would have bought as a present for anyone, as I am very wary of these type of toys, and the promises they make.
Amber bought this from Argos where it retails at £12.99.
CONTENTS ********
Chocolate machine comprising six parts as follows: base, shutter, transparent chamber, lid, handle and piston and cover. Everything here apart from the chamber is brightly coloured either red or yellow, and I think these manufacturers know that if a product is brightly coloured it’s going to appeal to kids. The chamber is transparent and has a middle core, through which the handle is inserted to knead the chocolate. Instruction leaflet Chocolate moulds – two yellow rectangular moulds, each having five shapes, such as star, tree, rabbit and heart. Plastic knife
TO ASSEMBLE THE MACHINE ***********************
The machine is already assembled but will need to be washed before using.
Re-assembling is a very simple process. The base, which is flat and oval shaped, has a prong at either end of its length, onto which the chamber will rest. The base also has a groove for the moulds to be inserted.
The shutter has to be fixed to the chamber. A simple process, of pushing the holes in the shutter onto the fixings.
The chamber can now be inserted onto the stand by placing the two lips either side into the prongs of the base.
Place the lid onto the chamber and then insert the handle through the hole in the chamber.
The cover can then be placed on the top of the machine.
INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE CHOCOLATE SHAPES *************************************
The chamber has to be warmed before use, as does the handle. These can be placed in bowl of hot water, but not boiling, to warm them through. Dry before use.
The transparent chamber now needs to be filled with hot water (again, do not use boiling water). The water must be added to the outer section of the chamber. Make sure the shutter is closed and then add 48grams of grated chocolate to the central core of the chamber.
Lift the piston and handle until the chocolate has completely melted. This does not take long, a couple of minutes, provided the chocolate is grated and not huge lumps!
Slide one of the moulds into the groove provided on the base of the machine
Next, line up the shape you want to drip the chocolate into, with the two arrows that are located alongside the groove on the base.
Pull the shutter so that it opens, and press down SLOWLY on the handle and piston. The chocolate will now in theory go into the shape, unless you have an over-enthusiastic child who pushes too hard, in which case the chocolate will be all over the work tops.
When the shape is full, the shutter can be closed again the process repeated until all the shapes are filled.
When you have filled the shapes, any excess chocolate can be removed with the plastic knife.
The melted chocolate can be levelled out by gently tapping the moulds on a work top or other surface.
Place the moulds into the fridge until the shapes are set. This normally takes about ten minutes.
VERDICT *******
Although Amber thinks the Chocolate Shaper Maker is the bees knees, I have to admit a few reservations.
It would be far easier to melt chocolate over a saucepan of water or in the microwave and then stick it in some moulds (which we have in abundance).
Although the machine is very easy to keep clean, and easy to wash up, I can't help thinking that if I'd just melted the chocolate I would only have a couple of things to wash up, instead of all of these bits and pieces!
However, for pure novelty value, I would recommend the kit for children. The parts are easy to clean, and can be washed with normal washing up liquid. Amber can do most of this on her own, even the hot water part but she is 9!! However, for younger children, adult supervision is necessary purely because of the use of hot water.
Advantages: Looks sturdy Disadvantages: Doesn't work
...good endorsing from the Junior Ready Steady Cook name, had to be good. I opened it, and it came in several pieces that had to be fitted together, no problems, didn't even need to read the instructions for that bit.
Next came the making of the chocolate shapes. You get two great moulds. The idea is chocolate goes in the top, melts nicely, drips out of a hole at the bottom that you control, into the moulds. Moulds go into the fridge, yummy chocolate ... ...you spend on the Junior Ready Steady Crap - I mean Cook - Chocolate Shape Maker.
In short:
Badly designed - kids need as many arms as an octopus
Ineffective
Useless
The shape maker is aesthetically pleasing though, so perhaps use it as some sort of ornament in the kids room???? At least then it would be useful.... ...
sdys15453 10.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ready Steady Cook Chocolate Shape Maker
Advantages: It looks lovely and sounds fun Disadvantages: It just doesn't work
My brother bought this machine for my daughter for christmas 2004.
She was delighted with it and i have to admit i thought it sounded like fun. How wrong could i be?
Putting the machine together is easy enough, and i thought we were on to a good thing!
Then i realised the chocolate had to be grated, so i stood for half an hour grating enough chocolate to go in to the chamber. "Don't use boiling water, only warm from the tap". "Ok," i thought, ... ...the chamber and i filled the outside with warm tap water, then there is a handle to pull up and turn, thus stirring the chocolate in the chamber which is supposed to take about 10 minutes to melt.
10 minutes later, the chocolate was not melted. 15 minutes later, still not melted.
So, i say "lets tip out the water, which is now cold and i'll put boiling water in from the kettle".
I do this and 10 minutes later the chocolate is still not melted.
...
emmalouise2004 13.02.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Ready Steady Cook Chocolate Shape Maker
