Pasta Multi-Pot: Love It or Hate It?

September 26, 2009

Whenever I watch Rachael Ray or Anne Burrell make pasta on the Food Network, I get all dreamy-eyed by their pasta multi-pots. You know what I'm talking about? Those two-in-one giant pots that hold water and pasta. The inner pot is actually a colander, so when you remove it from the outer pot, the water remains and the pasta is drained.

While I marvel at how they appear on television, I can't justify getting one for myself. They're expensive (this one by Williams-Sonoma is $130) and bulky, and my studio kitchen is already overcrowded. How do you feel about them?

18 Comments

DCStar 3 years 33 weeks

Here's a link to a nice looking one - at only $40! http://tinyurl.com/yd9oytj

Baby Girl 3 years 33 weeks

I have one I purchased in Canada almost 10 yrs ago. It was on sale and I got for $30 USD. I barely use it because it's on the other side of the kitchen.

muse2323 3 years 33 weeks

I love the theory. I imagine it works pretty well in practice (though could be a mess if you overcook the pasta).

Lavinie 3 years 33 weeks

i have one and i love it - the top part is also a steamer for veggies... so it has a lot of use. i love it! and i got mine pretty cheap at ross.

Lavinie 3 years 33 weeks

i have one and i love it - the top part is also a steamer for veggies... so it has a lot of use. i love it!and i got mine pretty cheap at ross.

sunshinepointe 3 years 33 weeks

I have one and I love it. It was a gift but I'd bet money that it wasn't 130 bucks. It's a great investment but find one on the cheap ;)

fashionista119 3 years 33 weeks

$130.00?? That's insane. I have one that I got at Target. Paid about 25 bucks for it. Has the pasta strainer, and came with a steamer tray too. I love it, and use it all the time.

fashionista119 3 years 33 weeks

$130.00?? That's insane. I have one that I got at Target. Paid about 25 bucks for it. Has the pasta strainer, and came with a steamer tray too. I love it, and use it all the time.

Spectra 3 years 33 weeks

I'd like one. I have this stupid cheap pasta pot that has a strainer in the lid. When the pasta's done, you're supposed to put the lid on and dump the water through the lid. Problem is, it seems like the lid doesn't always stay put and you end up with pasta in the sink. I would rather have one that you can pull the insert out of. I'm pretty sure I could find one for less than $130 though.

3 years 33 weeks

I also find these pots a little impractical. They're bulky, only "necessary" if cooking for 4 or more and when it's time to strain the pasta, you have to be super-careful when you pull out the inner pot because the boiling-hot water still in the outer pot splashes out. I find the traditional method much more convenient.

lms 3 years 33 weeks

I just bought one of these recently and I like it in theory. I used it twice so far and am not sure how much water to put in it. So far it has overflowed both times.

opentypeA 3 years 33 weeks

My mom always just used the lid of the pan to drain the water. I didn't know what a colander was until I came to college, lol

bethinabox 3 years 33 weeks

My mom has one of these, it's really helpful. No idea how much it cost, but I'd be willing to bet it was nowhere NEAR $130. My parents are cheap. ;)

kitchenhacker 3 years 33 weeks

I have one of these. It cost nowhere near $130. Try shopping somewhere other than Williams-Sonoma.

Kimpossible 3 years 33 weeks

I have a pasta pot that I know did not cost 130.00. I got it as a gift years ago. I do like the insert on the one shown a bit better, I like the mesh. Mine has holes in the stainless steel insert which works fine too, I just like the look of the one in the picture better. There are much more affordable pasta pots out there.

RoaringSilence 3 years 33 weeks

I apologize. I meant to say stainless steel of course. Guess I was still thinking about how ridiculously cheap it is :P

RoaringSilence 3 years 33 weeks

Here's an idea: Buy this $10 colander from IKEA (it's stainless steal) http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90011829 and put it in a random big pot. Done.

lovelipgloss 3 years 33 weeks

I love just looking at these things, it reminds me of my Italian grandma. She had a huge one that always seemed to be on the stove. These pots are always a gift at bridal showers, though not usually one from Williams Sonoma. I have one but when I'm cooking for just myself and my husband it's a little overkill and a pain to wash.

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18 Comments

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