Cestari Microwave Vegetable Steamer | Omelet Maker | Fish Poacher | Oven Roaster | Cloche Bread Baker | BPA Free Microwave Cooking | (Original Easy Pod, by Cestari KItchen, Jade Green)

As a pescatarian, I eat a lot of fish and vegetables. I’m concerned about preserving nutrients, so do a lot of steaming in my older style metal vegetable steamer. It’s worked well, but does have some problems with stability, takes a while to heat up, and I sometimes find the metal interacts with more acidic foods and sauces.The Cestari Kitchen Easy Pod promised to simplify my life by allowing me to steam fish and vegetables in the microwave with a minimal amount of water and much less time than a stovetop steamer.The dishwasher safe silicone steamer basket, is heat resistant, microwave safe, and doesn't contain BPA. I really like that they used certied LFGB silicone, which satisfies European food safety standards – meaning that it has been tested to not transfer ANY chemicals into the food that’s being cooked.The microwave steamer has a flat bottom for stability, and rolls up for easy storage. I use a rubber band to keep it in a tight roll for compact storage in my tiny kitchen – I wish they included a flexible tie or ring with the product.The Pod unfolds into a silicone serving bowl, so you can cook and serve without transferring the food to another dish. This works particularly well for corn on the cob, as having a separate corn plate allows me to not worry about the corn rolling around and getting covered with barbecue sauce – it just sits nicely in its pod with some melted butter until I’m ready to eat it.This microwave vegetable steamer is more versatile than my older metal steamer. I like being able to steam vegetables in the microwave, then add beaten eggs for a quick omelet. That’s definitely something you can’t do with a stove top steamer. I also like being able to steam potatoes in the pod to start them cooking, then add butter and herbs, open the pod, and crisp them in the oven. I get nicely browned roasted potatoes in much less time, and cleanup is also easy.PROS:Steam in the microwaveCan start in the microwave and finish in the ovenRolls up for compact storageSatisfaction guaranteedCONS:None noted

I used to microwave corn on the cob using waxed paper - but I recently noticed that (like everything else) the product is cheaper and thinner. It no longer works. This bowl is a wonderful idea! It worked perfectly for cooking the corn - I added a little bit of butter and a few drops of water - perfect! Now I’ll use less paper and less butter too! Can’t wait to try other items in this marvelous bowl!!

This is actually a pretty cool gadget. You can cook vegetables in minutes, and they come out tasting really good. It’s also good for cooking eggs. I haven’t tried bread yet, but everything else has worked great. The only real downside is the size. It is small, and it is kind of easy for your ingredients to spill out as you are trying to put it into the microwave. If you can get the knack for that, it’s something that works pretty well.

Omelets could not be any easier with this tool. It microwaves veggies for 1-2 people so easy & fast too. Need some onions or peppers cooked quick for a casserole—use the green bowl! It will poach a couple of eggs too. I have purchased 3–one for home, one for our winter home and one for a gift! It cleans so easily, stores in little space, is no stick, and fits a quick meal life style. One of the best kitchen tools I have ever found

So many ways to cook with the Easy Pod!Light, functional, easy to store and a breeze to clean up. What else can you say about your favorite new kitchen tool.I love asparagus and now it's so easy to steam in the micro. Just add your favorite seasonings and three minutes later - boom.The clasp on the top secures everything inside and takes no effort - no more fumbling with tin foil or tupperware lids. Also, thebottom is flat so it won't roll around and spill. I haven't had a chance to bake yet but look forward to it. Recommend!

I purchased it mainly with the intent of using as a roaster inside of the oven. So I am reviewing the product specifically with my experience using it as a roaster in the oven, not as a product that can be used in the microwave.So-yes it does work as far as being able to roast items in the oven. My problem is the awkwardness and difficulty in retrieving the product from the hot oven. Most of us, I would guess use some kind of oven mit to retrieve a hot item from the oven. There is simply nothing really to grab on to in a practical way. Good luck trying to grab with a mit the tiny extruding closing flap on this product to lift it out of the hot oven. I could not. Then I decided a pair of tongs would work. Technically the tongs will work-but then while lifting the product out of the oven with the tongs, you have to keep the product perfectly level while lifting and removing from oven, as if it tilts to any small degree the juice or liquids inside will spill out whichever open end that is tilted downwards-even slightly.So-to remedy that scenario-you would have to place the product inside a cooking tray and then use the mittens to retrieve the entire cooking tray with the product in the cooking tray.

I mainly use the steamer to prepare frozen vegetables straight from the freezer. It's perfect. Most veggies are ready in less than two minutes. Nothing seems to stick to the plastic, which is made of very high quality silicon. To clean I simply rinse with running water, no soaps or scrubbing. I especially like that the foods don't have that cooked-in-a-microwave taste or texture, nor that over-cooked taste when I steam over boiling water on the stove. This is an item you will use everyday. Highly recommended.

If I heat up the vegetables for more than three minutes, the microwave is filled up with steam, which I really don’t like.