All-Clad Stainless Steamer Insert Review

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(More customer reviews)This insert has been hanging in my kitchen for some years now, and I was recently given another. The new one is made in China despite the exorbitant All-Clad price, though it doesn't seem to make much difference. Both are equally unsatisfactory, except perhaps for draining vegetables, and there are more convenient ways to do that.
First, the steamer fits only one of my many pots --an LTD saucepan. And it doesn't fit it well. The little bead that rests on the pot rim is too shallow to make a good seal even with the pot the insert is made for, and hopeless with any other. Steam whooshes out over the pot rim without going through the veg, and the bad seal cools the steam and sogs the vegetables. The pot lid doesn't fit the insert very well, either, and drips cooling condensate into the vegetables --more sog.
The steaming surface is inches above the water (unless you boil an awful lot of water, when it bubbles up into the veg and sogs them). The steam doesn't circulate well and probably isn't hot enough to start with. An inch or so of water always steams better than 3 or 4 inches --don't ask me why.
The steaming surface is inadequate. All the holes are on the bottom, and kind of in the middle of that, and what steam reaches the top, or business half, of the steamer doesn't circulate well. More sog.
What with one thing and another, no quantity and no type of food cooks very well. Well, it's not too bad for Persian-style rice --the kind you pre-cook slightly, then finish by steaming.
Alternatives? Any folding steamer will do a better job. You can find a nice big one that will fit into your 13" LTD frying pan, if you're lucky. Take a pair of pliers and pull the lifter stem out of the middle (it's not much use anyway). You can get a lot of clams into this rig. Or use a smaller folding steamer in any pan --LTD pans with their tight lids are my favorite. The sauciers have domed lids which work even better.
If you have a steam canner, put a bamboo steamer and its bamboo lid on the plate (the big ones just fit). This makes the best steamed food ever, but it's a bit cumbersome for everyday.

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Maintain the flavors, nutrients, colors and textures of your food, while cooking quickly using steam heat. An excellent method for the low fat preparation of vegetables, seafood, and poultry.

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All-Clad Stainless-Steel Fondue Pot with Ceramic Insert Review

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(More customer reviews)Just bourght and used this set and absolutely LOVE it. We are regular fondue folks and this is, by far, the best set. Other sets we used were typically enamel and ended up with burnt spots in the middle and uneven heating.
Decided to go with All-Clad because I have a few of their other pans which work beautifully.
The set is all dishwasher/microwave safe which is a huge plus. The quality is superb -- even the forks. The pots are wider and much sturdier on the stand than other sets. But, the best part is the quick heat up time and even temperature. No more burnt cheese spots.
The ceramic insert is perfect for cheese or chocolate and makes the set extremely versatile.
I wish I had bought two when I had the chance. The only downside is the set costs more than most but the quality is well worth it.
The only other comment is that I wish makers would offer more forks with the sets and make it easier to identify forks. In other words, each guest should have 3 or 4 forks and all of the same color.

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Stainless Steel Fondue pot with a ceramic insert.Includes six handy slots that hold six color-coded forks upright

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WMF Perfect Plus 6-1/2-Quart Pressure Cooker Review

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(More customer reviews)I received a Perfect-Plus pressure cooker as a Christmas gift. I have used it several times a week since then, because it is so fun to use & experiment with. I have been interested in cooking with a pressure cooker for a while - but was intimidated by them.
I was given a 4.5 quart cooker, which was too small for some of the recipes in the recipe book that comes with the cooker. I exchanged it for a 6.5 quart cooker, and that has been a useful size.
The Perfect Plus is incredibly easy to use. It has a very clear pressure gauge that makes it easy to adjust to medium & high pressure. It does not make any noise. It is very easy to release the pressure gently, without letting out a blast of steam.
I have let the cooker get too hot a few times. It makes a clearly audible "hooting" noise, and you just remove it from the heat.
It is heavy and seems very well made. The handle clicks on, making it very easy to take apart and clean. I have not used any other pressure cookers, but it is hard for me to imagine that they are any easier to use. The Perfect-Plus is a great pressure cooker, and very simple to use.

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Holding 6-1/2 quarts, this attractive pressure cooker handles most recipes and offers many conveniences to simplify both use and cleanup. Made of heavy-gauge, 18/10 stainless steel, the main chamber offers strength and durability while a polished exterior shine gives it an eye-catching appearance. A Trans Therm base evenly distributes heat and brings excellent high-temperature retention. The black phenolic handle is ergonomically designed for comfort and resists heating; additionally, it easily detaches to simplify cleanup. In the event that excessive pressure begins to build up, an integrated safety feature audibly indicates the need to reduce heat. Pressure cooking lessens cooking time and preserves vitamins and minerals for healthier meals. Includes a perforated insert and trivet, and an accompanying collection of recipes.

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