American Kitchen Tri-Ply 3-Quart Stainless Steel Steamer Insert

 (2 customer reviews)

I was suspicious that this pan could have almost as much material as a 2 quart tri-ply sauce pan and cost less than half, but I bought it anyway expecting it to do the job but not be as nice as the set. It is very thin metal, much thinner than the American Kitchen 10 piece set. It tips a little when it is empty and in the sauce pan, but not enough to make a visible gap. The lid from the set may be a little small, but not enough to matter to me. I've had enough of those fan things that always make the vegetables wet and hard to get, so I am happy with it. It matches the American Kitchen set handle perfectly (its weight is what causes it to tip), and it fits in the 2 quart sauce pan better than the 3, but you can use either. It made perfect green beans and broccoli and is easy to clean.

I bought this because the review for the Marcus cookware line (manufactured by Regal, but now discontinued) asserted this line was a rebadging. This steamer insert feels cheap compared to the Marcus line pieces--it lacks the heft and professional feel (it appears to be a single ply stainless steel). While the style is very similar, it's not the same: for instance, the handles are slightly smaller and the riveting looks different. The lids for the Marcus don't quite fit either (they are a slightly smaller diameter).

All in all, while perfectly functional and close enough in appearance to the Marcus line that a casual glance isn't going to reveal the difference, I am disappointed the the quality relative to the price ($30).