MISTO Brushed Aluminum Oil Sprayer, individual, Silver

MISTO Brushed Aluminum Oil Sprayer, individual, Silver ($7.73)I have started using avocado oil and I wanted something to use to be able to spray it in small amounts for cooking. Visiting the grocery store I would find spray oils but all of them were in non-reusable packaging or used propellants. I saw this and wanted to give it a try. This is not what I expected. With the cap you have to pump it up and down in order to activate the mist ability. The instructions indicate only filling the container half way for it to work properly. I have used this a couple of times and it works great. A nice fine mist that coats the pan, just how I like it. I like that this is reusable and easy to clean as well. No complaints (thus far).

I had a Pampered Chef sprayer that I loved, but it got clogged and stopped working after 2 or 3 years. I should have tried harder to find a Pampered Chef rep to buy another one, the Pampered Chef one works better than this one.However, this is not a horrible product. One drawback compared to the Pampered Chef one is that you can't see through this one to see how high the oil level is. You want to fill it just a bit higher than halfway, and when it is less than 1/3 full you need to fill it back up or it won't work as well. This unit is even more finicky than the Pampered Chef one about the level, it almost won't spray if the level is too low. But since you can't see through it, even holding it up to the light, you have to look down in and estimate how high it is. The reflective coating inside makes it very hard to see how high it really is. You don't want to fill it all the way up, either.Then, you need to pump it more than the Pampered Chef one needed to be pumped. This one sprays a very fine spray, finer than the Pampered Chef one. And it sprays quite nicely if you have the correct level of oil in there.I think I know why my old one got clogged. So I'm trying something new: each time I'm done, before I put it away, I twist the screw on cap around the nozzle and release the pressure. I think if you leave it pressured up all the time, like I did with my old one, it damages the nozzle over time. But time will tell if I'm right.Another tip -- don't fill it with anything but olive oil. Other oils evaporate and leave a sticky/greasy feeling on the outside of the sprayer. You know what I mean if you use vegetable oil for stovetop cooking a lot, you get that greasy feeling on things that you leave near the stove or that hang over it. Olive oil doesn't do that, that's why I now don't use anything else on my stovetop (except sometimes peanut oil for stir frying). This type of sprayer will work much better if you just use Olive Oil in it, trust me.But if you have a choice, go find a Pampered Chef rep and by their sprayer. It's cheaper and better quality.

I've had a Misto for several years, and use it 3-5 times a week. I love it and consider it an essential kitchen tool---and an excellent gift.But sometimes, it just sorta "pees" instead of misting.WHEN IT DOESN'T MIST:> Be sure that the container is only 1/2 or less full of oil. The other half of the space is essential for holding the compressed air which powers the spray.> Remember to hold it upright. It doesn't spray on it's side or upside down.> Be sure the top is screwed on tight so that it doesn't loose pressure between uses.> Pump it up. You've gotta have good air pressure to get a good spray.> Clean it. I've found that about once a year, a lot of gunk accumulates in my Misto. Black gunk accumulates in the piston and cylinder, and probably causes the pressure to leak away between uses. The black gunk is easily cleaned with tooth picks, cotton swabs and paper towels. However the main cause of a poor spray is clogging of the intake filter with an almost invisible fine mat of "threads". Thorough rubbing with a paper towel can clean the filter. A small soft brush (e.g., a toothbrush) may help.> I've tried blowing out the spray nozzle with canned air, which never seems to help---but if the first four suggestions don't fix the problem, then clearing nozzle is worth trying. (I hold the nozzle down, to blast canned air backwards through the nozzle and supply tube to clear any clog.)SUGGESTION> It is worth having several Mistos, and fortunately they come in a variety of colors---so you can tell them apart. For example one for peanut oil for spraying frying pans or grills, and one for olive oil for salads and cooked vegetables. The glistening surface on vegetables enhances the presentation without actually adding much oil.> Personally I would hesitate to use an aluminum Misto for vinegar or lemon juice. However there are glass and plastic models made by Misto and other companies which I consider more suitable.> Despite the photos for some glass/plastic misters, and recommendations by some reviewers, I strongly recommend that you DO NOT put garlic or any herbs/spices in the container---they will disintegrate and clog the filter or the nozzle. Similarly, lemon juice or other juices should be filtered (you can use a coffee filter) before put into a mister.> Click on “Stoney” just below the product title to see my other reviews, or leave a comment to ask a question.