Sistema Microwave Collection Steamer, Medium, 83.5 oz./2.4 L, Red

i have the larger one (the medium one). i love this one, i actually use it way more, but then i am one person. for me, the smallest steamer is the one i use, it fits the am't of veggies, whatever, that i am making. it's an awesome device. i am a person who does not cook, and yet i am steaming veggies, making that baked (well, steamed i guess) potato, easy as pie. just remember to keep the steam vent open. bingo. cleanup is a dream. i noticed some of these sistema things at a store, that were cheaper than online. but i do love these things. they have changed my life, for the better. they are wonderful, they work so well. i even use them for just plain containers, why not. they're sturdy, and wash up in a jiffy. 5 stars.

--very good quality plastic --comes apart for washing, including the steam tab, which snaps out and back in. Its fitting is very secure and well made --easy to clean, food doesn't stick --pretty --plenty of variety in piece choices. The sistema website has a nifty catalog of all the available pieces. The mixing bowls aren't available yet. --practical design for microwaving without spills --easy to stack and store. Even the steamer inserts are a nice, solid plastic. --all parts fit together beautifully --lightweight, if that's important. In my RV it is. --only the rice cooker is too tall for my small Whirlpool round microwave --see-through lid is handy Don't overfill if you're using milk. Oatmeal made with milk can boil up through the steam hole. I did have it way too full and cooked it too long. Now I watch it carefully and keep the time down. Once it cooks about 4 minutes, I open, stir, snap the lid back on tightly with the vent closed, and let it sit for maybe 10 minutes, or until I remember it's there. Perfect. I sure hope this cookware grows in popularity. The place to get the best selection is on Amazon. B3 has the cup and maybe one other little bowl. The distributor said another site gets the new pieces first. If they were smart, they'd see that Amazon gets them at least as fast. Lot more of us shop Amazon than infomercials, I'm guessing. BTW, Amz could use a video or two of this.

Very well designed and good quality product. Very solidly built. Works very well in steaming all kinds of vegetable. The big advantage of this is once you know the time it takes to cook a particular vegetable, you will be able to get same results every single time without having to monitor it. I cook a ton of broccoli and it is cooked the same every time. Easy to clean. Made in New Zealand which doesn't have to do with anything but interesting fact. Haha.

I have been very impressed with the Sistema Microwave Cookware Steamer. I bought both a small and a large size model. It has been perfect for putting together quick dinners with healthy steamed veggies. Could not be easier or simpler to use. Goes in the dishwasher, although top rack is probably best. Probably the best thing is that it allows you to use the cook top for making other parts of dinner rather than worrying on a pot getting up to a boil and timing and so forth. So you can get dinner done and also have the vegetables or even small potatoes ready via the microwave and have all reach the goal line of ready to plate on time. RECOMMENDED.

I did lots of research before purchasing my Sistema medium-sized steamer, and am more than pleased with my purchase decision. I smiled when I opened the box and saw the pretty read steamer. At first I missed written directions for steaming specific veggies. So I used the timimg and power level instructions in my microwave user guide. The newer microwaves are more powerful, and mine has 10 power-level settings. Then I realized this is not like baking a cake - which also shows time variables. So if the food comes out too soggy, next time set it for less time, and then add 1 or 2 minutes if needed. If food is undercooked, next time try setting for a few minutes more, then add a minute or two as needed. My point is: most cooking relies on trial and error, and steaming in a microwave is no different. For those that prefer specific written directions, go to ASK.COM and ask your "how-long-to-steam" questions. You'll find much more info than you expected. I steam veggies several times a weeek. I've even cooked menus I've found online. Plus, I use the red pot and steamer-basket separately for making other things. The steamer is sooo versatile - you will find many other things to use it for. Enjoy!! BTW, no odors stick to this pot. A very trusted friend said odor is easier to prevent than to later eliminate. So I took her recommended precautions. Voila... no odors, no stains. Was it necessary? I dunno, but i considered it insurance.

I’ve been looking for a steamer to use in the microwave for a long time. I’ve seen other steamers, but they’re very small. This one fits perfectly in the microwave and it’s quite large to hold and serve a large quantity or just for one servings. The inner basket comes out to drain the vegetables and to transport to a serving bowl easy to clean in the dishwasher or by hand. Great product I would definitely recommend.

I've had this little steamer for just over a year now and, as I'm steaming something right now, figured it was a good time to write a quick review. Long story short, Love It. Short story longer... I use this little steamer at least 3 times a week. Being single I don't need any larger. And if you're not, you WILL want at least a size larger than this. Using it is simple: Just add a little bit of water in the bottom, put in the tray, snap on the top (It does take a tiny bit of effort to snap on tight), open the vent and *nuke* for 5 mins or so depending on the portion and power of microwave. For the record, I've only used this for veggies, so for any meats 'n such, this may not apply. As for cleaning, I hand wash it. It may or may not be machine safe, but for some things I don't leave it to chance. This way I don't even have to think about it. One thing of note, I recall seeing something about 'oiling' or something in the instructions... yea, DON'T. Oils, plastic, and a microwave don't mix well. Just make sure that when you use it, it's clean and free from cooking oils and it'll hold up just fine. Or at least, mine has. I've loved this thing, its been great. Hope this helps!

The one thing that I do not like is that is a bit tough to seal all 4 sides - requiring more effort than should be necessary. My hands are old, so I definitely take that into consideration :) but it should not be that difficult for a steamer. Otherwise, it’s great for the small size.