Cuisinart 4-Piece Cookware Set, 12 Quarts, Chef's Classic Stainless Steel Pasta/Steamer, 77-412P1

Due to numerous health and food issues in my family, I cook all the time and I cook from scratch. A good set of pots and pans is absolutely imperative to cook well. I prefer stainless steel because it looks nice, imparts no off flavors and does not leach toxic chemicals. Stainless steel also washes easier than most other finishes. I own a nice set of 18/8 stainless steel pots and pans which includes 2 - 8 quart (2 gallon) stock pots plus 3 different 5 gallon stock pots. But until I purchased the Cuisinart 77-412 Chef’s Classic Stainless 4 Piece 12-Quart Pasta/Steamer Set, I had nothing in between the2 gallon and 5 gallon stock pots. Whenever I made food like chili or chicken and dumplings, I had to either use my 2 gallon stock pot and make a small batch (and risk food boiling over) or use a 5 gallon stock pot and either make a huge batch or inefficiently use my pot. The Cuisinart 12 quart (3 gallon) stock pot has been a much needed addition to my collection of pots and pans. WHAT IS IN THE BOX: One mirror finish 18/8 stainless steel 12 quart (3 gallon) stock pot with pasta insert, steamer insert and stainless steel lid. WHAT I LIKE: Every single piece of this set fits into my dishwasher! I hate hand washing pots because I just don’t think they end up as clean as they do in the dishwasher. This pot is the perfect size for chili! Chili not only tastes better the second day, but it freezes well for “fast food” on days when I don’t have time to cook or I don’t feel like cooking. If I am going to go through the trouble of making homemade chili, then I want to make enough for it to be worth my time. Plus, I always end up with more beans after soaking them over night than I think there will be. It is so much easier to cook chili in this 3 gallon pot than it ever was in a 5 gallon stock pot and I just could never seem to make the under 2 gallons of chili necessary to use my smaller stock pots. The pasta insert is great for boiling whole chickens and other things I want to pull out of the cooking liquid. It is also great when I make large quantities of homemade pasta. I like to entertain and this is the perfect size pot for cooking a big meal. I do a lot of all day cooking with this pot and it has never developed a hot spot or given me any trouble. The heat truly is distributed throughout the bottom of the pan resulting in even cooking. This pot is not so deep as to make stirring contents difficult. It is not too heavy to move around even when full. WHAT I DON’T LIKE: I prefer clear lids to the metal one on this pan. The clear lid is available on a similar sized pot at an increased cost, but it wasn’t worth the increase in price to me. PICTURES: I am including a picture of my 2 gallon and 5 gallon stock pots side by side. I also have a picture of these 2 pots with the Cuisinart 12 quart pot in between them. I purchased the Cuisinart 77-412 Chef’s Classic Stainless 4 Piece 12-Quart Pasta/Steamer Set at full price.

This cookware is amazing. This is a truly well crafted stainless steel set. The pasta insert works great but the thing I love more is the steamer insert. The steamer insert paired with the solid lit make the best steamed vegetables. I am really impressed. The clean up is a snap too. Make sure to clean with non-abrasive surfaces, such as the soft side of the sponge, not the rough side(usually green SOS material). Cloth also works well. In addition I noticed a reviewer say that it scratches easily. The only way I can see this scratching easily is if the pot was cleaned with abrasive material (rough scrubbing), metal utensils (always use soft plastics and wood!!!) or harsh cleaners. These are basic rules for any stainless steel set. This pot works great for stews and soup stocks. The pasta insert is nice, but cooking pasta is pretty fool proof. I bought this set for about $80 and it is money very well spent. I am very happy with my purchase. I fully recommend this set to anyone that wants to steam vegetables, tamales, meats etc. We eat a lot of pasta in our house so being able to cook the pasta while the vegetables steam up top is a huge perk. Also, I had the option of going with a pot set or a plastic electric steamer, but be aware that almost all plastic steamers have BPA. I have a toddler I could not go that route. I have had experiences in the past with electric steamers (plastic) leaving food taking weird, almost plasticy. With this pot (and any stainless steel set) you will not have to worry about strange plastics and strange tastes. Buy this set, you will love it. I've included cooking times for people that are not familiar with steaming. Stick to these times and you won't fail. You will notice that there is a variant in time (example 6-10 min). Shorter cooking times produce crispier vegetables and slower and longer cooking times product softer vegetables. Make sure not to over cook though. Remember, the point of a steamer is to cook the vegetables without losing precious nutrients. Vegetable, Size/Preparation, Time in minutes Artichokes, Steam whole artichokes, 25-40 min Asparagus, Whole spears, thick spears peeled lightly, 7-13 min Asparagus, Cut into 2-inch pieces, 4-7 min Beans, green, Whole beans, 6-10 min Beans, wax, Whole beans, 6-10 min Beets, small or medium-sized, Whole, unpeeled beets scrubbed clean; peel off the skins after steaming, 35-50 min Beet greens, Cleaned and coarsely chopped, 7-9 min Broccoli, Trimmed stalks, 8-12 min Broccoli, Trimmed stalks split in half or florets, 5-7 min Brussels sprouts, Whole, trimmed, 8-15 min Brussels sprouts, Trimmed and halved, 6-8 min Cabbage, Cut in wedges, 6-10 min Carrots, Cut into ¼-inch thick slices, 7-10 min Carrots, baby, Whole baby carrots, 10-12 min Cauliflower, Florets, 5-10 min Celery root(celeriac), Cut into ¼-inch thick matchsticks, 5-7 min Celery stalks, Cut into ½-inch thick slices, 4-9 min Corn on the cob, Whole, husks removed, 7-10 min Daikon, radishes, Peeled and cut into chunks 8-12 min Chicory (endives), Cut in half lengthwise, 5-10 min Fennel bulbs, Cut crosswise into ½-inch slices, 8-10 min Jerusalem artichokes(sunchokes), Peeled or scrubbed; sliced, 5-8 min Jerusalem artichokes(sunchokes), Whole tubers, peeled or scrubbed, 20-25 min Kale, Trimmed, 4-7 min Kohlrabi, Peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes, 5-8 min Leeks, Trimmed, cut in half, 5-8 min Okra, Fresh whole okra, trimmed, 6-8 min Onions, pearl, Whole onions, peeled, 8-12 min Parsnips, Peeled and cut into ½-inch slices, 7-10 min Peas, green, Fresh, shelled peas, 2-4 min Peas, sugar snap, Whole pea pods, trimmed, 5-6 min Potatoes, all, Peeled or scrubbed clean, cut into ½-inch slices, 8-12 min Potatoes, new, Whole, scrubbed clean, 15-20 min Radishes, Whole radishes, trimmed, 7-14 min Scallions, Cut into ½-inch slices, 3-5 min Spinach, Cleaned, whole leaves, 3-5 min Squash, butternut, Peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes, 7-10 min Turnips, Cut into 1/2-inch cubes, 8-12 min Turnip greens, Cleaned and coarsely chopped, 4-6 min Sweet potatoes, Cut into large chunks, 8-12 min Swiss chard, Coarsely chopped leaves, 3-5 min Zucchini, Cut into 1-inch slices, 5-8 min Sorry it's kind of messy but you should be able to read through it. Take care.

UPDATE: Since several people have complained about the capacity of this pot, I went ahead and measured it for everyone interested in buying: The stated capacity is 12 quarts. Twelve quarts fills the pot to about 1 inch below the rim. The pot actually can hold 13 quarts when filled right to the top of the straight sides of the pot, leaving that 1/4 inch rolled edge above the 13 quart level. When using the pasta insert, there is a fill line inside the main pot. The capacity up to that fill line is 10 quarts. I hope this helps clarify the capacity questions people have had. :) Now, on to my original review: This is the best kitchen supply purchase I ever made! Here's some feedback I hope you'll find useful: I've been looking for a good pasta pot and purchased a 6 quart one at a local store. It was fine for 1 pound of pasta, but that's about all. In my family, we normally cook 2 pounds at a time and I worried about the water boiling over in the pot that I bought. So I looked on Amazon and found this Cuisinart 12 quart pasta pot. It's amazing! The insert goes deep - proportionately deeper than the smaller one I bought at the store. That means that it will hold much more food per quart, which is important to my family. Also, Cuisinart is a reliable brand name that I've trusted for years. The pot looks gorgeous and is well-crafted. The size of the insert makes it perfect for steaming whole ears of corn with the stem ends on them. I love making turkey soup every year and chicken soup often. However, it's a real chore to remove the carcass from the stock pot to remove all the bones. I'm really looking forward to using the pasta pot this thanksgiving for my 'famous' turkey soup and my everyday chicken soup. Since I always buy the largest turkeys, I'm confident that one will fit in this pot. Imagine! Now I can simply lift the pot insert to debone the carcass and not worry that I left little bones in the broth! This will be wonderful for other things, such as boiling potatoes or steaming veggies or even stewing other meats. When I make stews, I use bone-in meats and hate fishing around for the meat and bone to cut it down to size and remove the bone. Now that task will be much simpler. Anything that you cook that needs to be drained using a colander will be much, much easier to handle when cooked in a pasta pot. And, for things such as potatoes, veggies or other things one boils or steams, the cooking water can easily be set aside for use in making broths or sauces. I'm sorry I hadn't purchased one before. My life would have been much easier. But now I can look forward to cooking with more enthusiasm again. I'm 65 years old and too tired to cook much these days, so this pasta pot is really making a difference in my life - really!

This is large, relatively heavy, and high quality--exactly what I was looking for. If you plan to use the strainer insert, make sure you have a LOT of room above your stove so your hood doesn't get in the way (ya know, not from experience or anything…).

I've longed for a big kettle with steamer pans for years & finally bought this one. It's wonderful. All components fit perfectly and cleaner up beautifully. This kettle & steamer work perfectly for the job they're intended for. So glad I have mine at long last.

This is an impressive set for the low price. I bought it because my make-shift cheesecloth "hammock" in a large stock pot just wasn't a practical tool for blanching the leaves of many basil plants. It is perfect for blanching large or smaller quantities of vegetables. I also made turkey stock in this pasta cooker. It was a pleasure to simply lift the insert to pull out the turkey bones, vegetables and herbs. So simple, when compared to trying to fish the large pieces out with a slotted spoon and then balancing a large colander over another large bowl or pan and pouring the stock and solids into that arrangement. You would still need to do a second pour through a fine mesh colander if you want a clear broth, but since all the larger chunks have been easily removed, that pour is clean. Two caveats- The first set I received had an uneven set of handles on the smaller steamer insert (there are two different inserts), and it hung off center when held by the handles. I contacted Amazon, and they sent out another set right away, along with instructions regarding how to send the defective one back. The second- Cuisinart's pots & pans seem to have developed thinner sides and covers than they once had 20 plus years ago. Still, I did a lot of research on pasta/steamer sets, and this one best fits the bill in terms of functionality, size and price.

My husband's dream Stockport! He uses it regularly to whip up a huge batch of delicious gumbo.

I've had this pot since September 2009 and am just getting around to reviewing it. Good features: lid fits perfectly and is flat (lay it hot on the counter and a vacuum forms making it hard to lift); thus pot boils water fast and steamer basket works great even though its high over the water; pasta "cage" fits in such a way that boiling water rushes in and out (to be reheated); pot comes back to a boil an instant after pasta cage with pasta is inserted. The only negative is that very thin strands of dry pasta can stick through holes in the bottom. There is no such problem with fresh pasta. (My guess is that there is a tradeoff between small holes and boiling-water circulation.) I think this product is terrific and the price is right. I got it because I was tired of pouring a pot of boiling water and pasta into a colander - steams up glasses until blind - with the danger of scalding one's self. With this pot, you just put it in the sink (stainless steal here), remove the lid, and pull the pasta basket straight up. It feels much safer. You can also return the pot to the stove with the hot water in it and be ready to cook a second pasta in minutes though the water will be a tad starchy. This is something you cannot do when a colander is in play. The hot steamer basket can usually be picked up by its handles without a pot holder. Just take the lid off and wait 10-15 seconds. I think the materials and finish of the basket contribute to this feature. Finally, this pot functions as a (you guessed it) pot! It's great for making soups and stews. For these tasks it's medium sized. Depending on what and how many you are cooking for, it may be adequate or you might need something larges. The size is handy and useful for many dishes. All in all it is a cooking utensil that caries its weight around the kitchen and has many uses. It also seems simple to clean. Simple cleaning might just be a result of my never having burned anything in it. And no burning might (or might not) be a result of good pot design and construction. If you really want to know why this pot works so well, ask an expert. I'm not an expert, just a cook.

An excellent set of stainless strainers and pot great for marmalade making and stock making

MUY BIEN

I purchased this product as I just recently passed my old pasta steamer set to my daughter. I recently brought the All-Clad tri ply 12 Quart Stock Pot and I thought giving the size of both these pots I will be able to use the pasta insert in my All-Clad Stock Pot when making my stock for ease of straining my stock, and it worked a treat!

Super calidad

This expensive product looks fantastic-Unfortunately it was never delivered-so we don’t how efficient it may have been. I suggest that Amazon “VET” the delivery companies they use, with more scrutiny.