5 comments about All-Clad Stainless All-Purpose Steamer with Lid.

1. I have looked at these for years, and wondered how an insert steamer would compare to the cheap aluminum leaf kind that we had used forever. I'm happy to report that this one is fantastic. It heats really fast and steams broccoli, green beans, carrots, etc. quite evenly. It fits both my all-clad 3 qt pot, and an old 2 qt revere ware saucepan quite nicely. It's great to be able to carry the whole thing to the table on a plate without having it fall over. I also use it as a collander. Well-made and worth the price of $55 that I paid.



2. I buy all clad pieces to add to my cookware when I see a good deal and I just love this piece for steaming it also can be used on top of other pieces I have. Easy to clean, and cooks wonderfuly...
   xoxoxo



3. This steamer is not of the same quality as the USA manufactured All-Clad cookware. It is lighter in weight and the handles and lid are not as nicely constructed. You are mistaken if you think you are getting the real deal with this item! I am sending it back. The consumer ought to know what he/she is getting!



4. Okay, I admit I have an All-Clad fetish after spending a small fortune on my Copper Core set, and a stainless non-stick skillet. So naturally I had to have this steamer insert as well. It looks just beautiful with the All-Clad pots, pretty enough to serve from at the table with company, and it performs MARVELOUSLY! Not a bit of steam escapes from either the connection at the pan, or from the steamer's lid. The food steams fast and furious and wonderfully--much better than with the old collapsible type steamer I used with my former Calphalon.
   
   I also like that the moment the food is done, I can toss directly into the steamer a little butter or oil and some salt, and mix it around with the veggies quickly and easily--which was NOT the case with the collapsible type steamers that had to be removed from the pan before anything could be done to them (usually burning at least one finger or thumb!)
   
   It fits my Copper Core 1.5 quart and 2 quart saucepans the best. It does fit the larger 4 quart saucepan as well, though the connection between the pot and steamer is not perfect--almost, but it does not seat perfectly as with the smaller saucepans, which if fine as they are all you need even even when steaming a large batch of veggies or clams in this steamer.
   
   Ahhh, I've reached steamer nirvana, at last...!
   
   Highly recommend this piece of All-Clad for a splurge--you're worth it!



5. I love this steamer because it fits in All Clad sauce pans from 2 to 4 quarts. The other version with the long handle doesn't fit the 2-quart.
   
   Works beautifully. Easy to care for (dishwasher safe).

5 comments about All-Clad Stainless Steamer Insert.

1. An essential and useful item for the health conscious cook. Fits several size pots made by All Clad having the same diameter but different height. Large capacity nice. I have had my MasterChef cookware for over 30 years and love every piece - this was a nice addition to the set. It can be used for many types of cooking whereas those little pot inserts can't - steamed buns, etc.



2. I purchased this steamer several years ago and use it frequently to steam fresh vegetables. It fits perfectly into my 2-quart All-Clad saucier, which is wider at top than the 3- and 4-quart saucepans into which it's said to fit. I put an inch or two of water in the saucier, insert the steamer, and cover with the saucier top. I was surprised to see the reviews mentioning steam escaping. I have never had steam escape and the vegetables have always been perfectly and uniformly steamed -- even when I fill the steamer to its rim with kale. I gave the steamer four stars instead of five only because of the length and weight of the handle (which probably helps to keep it cool, I suppose). I agree it cleans up nicely, even if I put it in the dishwasher instead of hand washing it, and it still gleams like new!



3. I have to agree with the other negative reviews. This insert loosely fits the All-Clad 3-Quart Casserole Pan I bought with it (which I could understand if I were trying to use it with another brand). It being from the same line and company one would think that someone would have tested how well it worked. As with all All-Clad products it's built very well but who cares about that if it doesn't work properly. Someone else mentioned all the perforations are in the bottom of the insert, it would be better if there were holes in the sides as well. I think my artichokes would cook a little faster if tons of steam wasn't rolling out from in between the insert and pan. It works, just not very well.



4. 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.




5. I bought this insert to use with my all clad LTD 9 piece set that I bought a few months ago. I use the steamer with the 3qt sauce pan a LOT. It cleans up very easily, looks beautiful, and fits nicely into my sauce pan. Some people seem to be complaining about steam escaping from the pan. Don't let this ignorant comment deter you from buying this excellent steamer. Steam is SUPPOSED to escape. If no steam escaped, you'd have what is called a pressure cooker. And if a LOT of steam is escaping, then chances are that your sauce pan is warped, which means you aren't taking care of it. Buy the steamer. It's awesome.

5 comments about All-Clad Stainless 3-Quart Colander.

1. All-clad is known for their quality and this is no exception. I absolutely love using this in my kitchen whether it be for veggies or fruit or even pasta. This has a nice weight to it and I'm sure will last me forever.



2. This colander is fantastic. We already had the 5-quart colander when I bought this one as a gift for my wife. At first I didn't see the need for the smaller size, now it's the one we use most often. Three quarts is great size for most things.
   
   As with all of our other All-Clad products, this colander is well made and stands up to lots of abuse. I wouldn't buy any other colander.



3. When I first opened the box and saw this colander, I thought I maybe should have ordered a larger size since it looks deceptively small. However, I quickly found out that this colander is able to hold quite alot! The larger holes also mean better draining. The smaller size of this colander compared to others I've had actually works to it's advantage - it's easier to find room in the dishwasher for it and it fit's under my kitchen faucet better. Also, I just like the look of it. Very well made and worth the money.



4. This is an excellent colander, I love it. All my cookware is All Clad Stainless Steel so I decided to buy this colander and have not been disappointed. Although this is the smaller of the two sizes All Clad makes it is very roomy. This colander can drain a pound of pasta (even a pound of lasagna) without any problems. It is also great for rinsing salad, the solid side handles make it very easy to manage. It is made very well and is very sturdy. The cleanup is also very easy. Highly recommended!



5. THIS IS A TERRIFIC ITEM FOR THE KITCHEN AND IT LOOKS GOOD TOO! IT IS HIGH END QUALITY,AND DOES THE JOB THAT IS ALL I CAN ASK OF ANY THING I USE IN THE KITCHEN,I LIKE IT SO MUCH I WANT TO GET THE 5 QUART NEXT.ENJOY

5 comments about All-Clad Stainless 5-Quart Colander.

1. Another beautiful, useful item from All-Clad. Very sturdy and very large so can handle most anything you need to drain. Also looks great.No complaints.



2. This colander is great and meets all my needs. I love having a large colander for many applications. It is so beautiful I have it displayed on the wall of my kitchen.



3. THOU I,VE ONLY USED IT ONCE SINCE GETTING IT,OR SHOULD I SAY MY SON USED IT IT,S WORTH EVERY PENNY I SPENT ON IT STURDY NOT TO HEAVY!!! AND JUST THE RIGHT SIZE.DRAINS WELL AND CLEANS UP WITH NO FUSS,LATER ON I,LL PURCHASE THE 3,QUART ONE. I RECOMMEND IT OVER THE PLASTIC ONES OR THE BARGAIN ONES,YOU,LL NEVER HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER ONE!!! AND I FELT IT WAS PRICED RIGHT BEING OF STURDY STAINLESS STEEL.



4. I am very pleased with my new collander. It looks very nice too.



5. Beautiful, gleaming 18/10 stainless. I've owned this for two years, and it still looks as good as the day I bought it. Truly a lovely, functional item.
   ...Substantial, but not too heavy. Shines, shines, shines.

1 comments about All-Clad Stainless Professional Universal Steamer Insert.

1. This is a superb large steamer insert. It is great for large quantities of veggies or whatever you would like to steam. There is nothing like the flavor of freshly steamed veggies! It fits perfectly in the 6, 8, and 12 quart stock pots. I have only used it in the 6 and 8 quart stock pots myself. It is made very well and is excellent quality built to last. All Clad truly is lifetime cookware, I am sure you will not be disappointed. And it is backed by a lifetime warranty, what more can you ask for? Highly recommended! A+!

3 comments about All-Clad Stainless Pasta Colander Insert.

1. I love all my all-clad products, and would give them all four or five stars, with one exception--this pasta colander. I bought mine as part of the set with the 7 quart stockpot. As other reviewers have pointed out, you can't put enough boiling water in the pot to actually cook pasta without the water bubbling up the side of the pot and out the crack where the pot and colander meet. I can only boil about 1-inch over the bottom of the colander without this occuring. Can't cook much pasta in 1-inch of water. But as another review pointed out, it does look very cool, and if you have a lot of something to steam, this might just fit the bill.



2. 0 stars for using with the 3 or 4 qt pans. 1 star for using with noodles. What are they thinking? This insert orginally came with the 7 qt stock pot and for steaming clams or a heap, like 2 bunches, of asparagrass, or steaming a pile of brocolli, or new potatoes, its great. It's too small for steaming corn on the cob, at least more than 4 ears. Using it as a "pasta" insert has been a bloody failure. For Pasta, just put the noodles in the water, forget the insert. The only reason to use an insert is if you are making multiple batches of noodles. Only resturants do that, at my house everyone eats at the same time. I mean really, you have to move 6qts of water and both the pan and the insert to the sink before you can lift out the noodles then what? How are you going to put olive oil and garlic on the noodles? You need to dump the water from the pan, in which case you might as well have dumped the whole mess through a collander. (A good collander is well worth owning.)

   The failure comes from you can't put enough water in the pan to justify using an insert. If you fill the pan near the top of those holes it will boil over. Which is again why using it in a 3 or 4 qt pan is a waste of time.

   Does look cool in the cabinet though.




3. All-Clad's usual high quality and performance is missed with this highly disappointing colander insert. I have attempted to cook numerous pastas at varying temperatures and been frustrated every time. The water either boils over (regardless of water level in the pot) or just doesn't simmer. Ordinarily I'd blame my incompetence, but attempts by friends and family to better my performance with the pot returned similar results. I thoroughly enjoy cooking with the rest of my All-Clad collection, but have relegated the colander to the basement cupboard and pulled out the old, but reliable Reverware.