12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Novel item,
January 15, 2011 Shop-a-holic - See all my reviews
This review is from: WMF Vitalis Stainless Steel Large Stovetop Steamer System, 16-Inches by 11-Inches (Kitchen)
I just received the vitalis steamer. A few notes for potential buyers:
- at a little over $160+, this price at Amazon is the lowest you will find for the large size (there is a smaller version that is suitable for 2 people)
- the unit is hefty and appears to be made of quality steel
- the unit is NOT made in Germany as the description says; instead it is made in China which is disappointing especially in light of the price they are charging
- the steel is dull looking (I have noticed that Rosle and WMF items made in China appear like this; whereas Fissler which is still made in Germany is beyond compare)
- the inside is not as big as expected for 4 people, maybe 2 or 3 if you want to fit food in there comfortably
- there are 2 trays provided - a large one and a small one. The steamer can hold 2 of the small trays and 1 of the large trays, or 2 large trays. It's no surprise that WMF sells the small and large trays individually for over $30+ each! I can...Read more
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Excellent large stovetop steamer,
March 3, 2011 plhgg (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: WMF Vitalis Stainless Steel Large Stovetop Steamer System, 16-Inches by 11-Inches (Kitchen)
This steamer is, as another reviewer noted, made in China, but it is still heavy, high-quality stainless steel. I had been using a smaller round steamer to cook vegetables and to reheat leftovers, but this steamer's shape makes it easier to steam several items at once, and there is a small thermometer in the lid, so it's possible to steam food at a lower temperature as advised in some of the complex and strange recipes included in the booklet that comes with the steamer. Here's my favorite steam cooked item, a savory egg custard -- 2 eggs gently beaten, mixed with about 4 oz of vegetable or chicken broth, maybe with some salt, pepper, and chopped shallots, cooked about 20 or 25 minutes at 180 to 190 degrees F.
It's really important to avoid having the pan empty on a burner, but I did this by accident; the scorched spots on the pan's surface have mostly gone after prolonged and gentle cleaning efforts. The steamer takes a lot of space on my stovetop, but I use it just...Read more