Best Pot Inserts & Steamer Baskets With Reviews

I make beef stock weekly. Straining it has been a hassle - fine mesh strainers are difficult to clean, cheesecloth gets expensive. This insert is a tad smaller than my 8 qt Calphalon stock pot, it has small bumps on the bottom to keep it from sitting directly on the bottom. It's also easy to clean. I do NOT use a bleach-based dishwasher detergent, so I know I can safely put it in the dishwasher. I have 3 Tramontina pots/skillets, all are over 10 yrs old and I have washed all in the dishwasher. The other reviews on this page are for a pot, but this is just the insert.

The splatter guard is a great tool, and it has significantly reduced the amount of oil jumping out of my pans and dirtying my stove / countertop area. One caveat — there is a tendency for the food to “steam” a bit when using the guard, which I somewhat anticipated (but hoped wouldn’t happen) due to the material not fully allowing flow of hot air out of the holes. I was hoping the guard’s holes would be numerous enough to allow the food to fry normally / as close to normally as possible as when no guard is used, but I have found that moisture tends to remain in the pan when using the guard. This in turn has a steaming effect, which seems to both decrease cook time (due to the food being in a “heat bubble”) and slightly compromise the quality of the sear and extent of browning (due to said “heat bubble” being comprised of wet / moist heat, as that steam doesn’t fully vent out of the holes in the guard). Overall, it absolutely prevents oil splatter, but I have to learn how to change my cooking technique (or lower my expectations) for the food to come out the same as when no guard is used. I’ll keep trying and learning!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I used to use a steamer basket that you'd put in a pot to steam vegetables. So when I had the opportunity to try out this 3-Piece Steamer Set, Red Shimmer, I was curious to see if this set would replace my old steamer basket. Since I only have basic cooking skills I wasn't sure what else you could use for this 3-Piece Steamer Set, Red Shimmer instead of just steaming vegetables. So I do wish this set came with some cooking ideas or at least one recipe that goes beyond just steaming a vegetable. I love the color red of this set. The 3-quart covered sauteuse is a very pretty shimmery red. I like how the handles have silicone on them to protect your hands from heat. However, while most of the edges are smooth I felt the top edge rim of the sauteuse was a little pointy to the touch for me. This set is dishwasher safe which is nice if I decided to wash it in the dishwasher. I like how this set can be cooked on all stovetops including an induction stove. I felt the heat in the sauteuse heated up quickly and steamed the vegetable I was steaming faster than I thought it took to steam it to my desired tenderness. So I thought it cooked great.

It is an excellent multi-purpose pasta insert, not just for pasta cooking it is also great for beef, vegetables, and chicken stock. Cooking tasks is less messy and offers convenience to me and to the food, preventing from sticking to the bottom of the pot. This also works blanching food such as fruits, vegetables, and even meat. A very helpful pasta insert, makes my life easier. No matter how tiny those holes are, the noodles will not go through even the skinniest ones such as angel hair, and thin vermicelli. This will also drain solid food when making broth, drop every ingredient for your stock, and will easily drain liquid upon lifting this insert from the stockpot. An awesome multi-task partner in the kitchen and easy to clean, so cleaning is a breeze! This is manufactured from premium quality 18/10 stainless steel with stay-cool 18/10 stainless steel handles that are securely welded and extremely hygienic. Priced-well for a well-made Zwilling product.

This insert fits perfectly into the Motion 5 quart dutch oven or 4 quart chef's pan. It is nice to have a steamer insert for vegetable so they don't get soggy sitting in water. This also works nicely for other foods that you want to elevate from the bottom of the pan like dumplings.

This Cuisinox splatter screen is made very well. I think it should last quite some time. I was so happy to finally get one because I didnt have one for a long time. I finally got tired of oil spitting out at me and often in my face. The oil even in small amount can blast food at you..lol Now I just got to remember after I wash it, (btw is easy) to hang it up so I can easily find it and be ready the next time.

I use this splatter every time I cook it work great. I let someone else cook in my kitchen and I was so upset a man he did not wash it off every time he use it for thanksgiving meal and the grease started to turn the splatter black which I do not like. but when I use it and clean it off this look and works great.

Fits my other 2/3/4-quart tulip-sided sauce pans/pots from another Meyer Corporation kitchenware line! This isn't currently offered from the other line in their branded version of this steamer (both Anolon and the other kitchenware line are Meyer Corporation kitchenware brands), so I was happy to find this in the Anolon line! It's not branded with Anolon, like the other Meyer Corporation kitchenware version is, but it's the exact same thing with slightly different shaped handles. I like the Anolon version better though, as the handle shape better matches the rounded handles of the other Meyer Corporation kitchenware line!

I don’t know why I waited so long to get these! I like having 3 sizes to fit whatever pan I need to use and they clean up well. It’s important to note that these are HAND WASH ONLY, which is disappointing since they collect with grease and food odor and I would rather throw them in the dishwasher. Oh well, no product is perfect

I've used this piece for years. When you need to steam a large bunch of veggies at the same time, this is your man. Perhaps you have a large family? I live alone and still make good use of it. It's my go-to piece when making cream of broccoli soup. It's a production to make the roux, heat chicken broth in a separate pan, etc. You have several pans going. What you do NOT want to do is be forced to cook the broccoli in batches. You'd have to dunk each finished batch in ice water to stop the cooking. Only when it is all at the same temperature could you then add it all to the broth. What a hassle. This steamer lets you cook a whopper batch of broccoli all at once and toss it in the broth while still hot. Perfect! Since cream of broccoli is a production to make, what with all the pans, you definitely always want to make a large batch, so there are leftovers. That calls for a big steamer. Like I said, this piece is your man for the task. I hope you have a great recipe or two that needs a large batch of veggies. They're good for you. Enjoy!

This was to replace a steamer that was lost in a move to Colorado. I like that the new design can be used with 6" & 8" pots. The quality is what I have come to expect from All-Clad, I purchased my first MasterChef pot 45 years ago when I was a professional Chef and still use that pot almost daily and have built a complete set of MasterChef pots and pans over the years. The quality of the product has remained high in my 45 years of purchasing All-Clad. The one thing that has reduced the utility of the product was the decision (for vanity reasons) to move from the cast steel rough surface pan handle about 30 years ago to a finely finished and slippery high polish handle. I love my All-Clads!