pasta pan with strainer?

[happymommy]

do you have the combo/set? I have been looking at the pasta pan with strainer inside and I cannot figure out if this would be a waste or not. If you have one, has it been helpful to have a place for the pot w/strainer already inside.

Thanks a bunch

[homesteadmamma]

Nope I don't. I have a stainless steal strainer though that I absolutely love. I use it for everything.

[Kimberlina]

I'm afraid I'm not much help as I don't have one, either. I don't think I would want one, though. I'm happy with my regular pots and strainers.

[Emerald_Mommy]

I have one from Williams-Sonoma and I LOVE it! We use it 3-4 times a week. It came with the pot, the strainer (fits in the pot) and a steamer basket and it's really nice quality. It was a gift so I'm not sure exactly how much it cost. HTH.

[Darlene]

I have one and don't use it as much as I thought I would. I guess I'm more of a strain & put back in pot kind of girl.

[canadian gardener]

no, I have a stainless steel colandar (the thing with a base, and lots of drain holes) probably the same as CJ's.

I plop it in the sink, run some hot water on it so the starch in the pasta water doesn't stick and dump the whole pot of pasta out into it.

I use it to wash veggies and fruit from the store, just plop it in the sink on it's base which keeps it up off the sink surface and rinse under cold running water. Then just let them drip dry.

When I've cooked up a bunch of hot veggies, such as potatoes, or carrots, I can drain them in a flash using the colandar, as the hot water won't damage the steel. Put them back into the hot pot with a bit of butter and mash or stir coat to glaze or whatever.

I use it to drain the cooking water off my ground beef for OAMC freezer packs of ground beef browned (I boil mine in an inch or so of water to reduce fat to almost zero, and it tastes the same but much easier) by setting it over a soup pot. I chill the broth, and peel the fat and the colandar of ground beef goes out to the porch to cool after dumping out on a long roasting pan.

I use it to strain my soups from the bones, skin and other discards by setting it over the pot. Fast, and then I chill the broth to de fat it.

I would never be able to do all that with a plastic colander.

Consider getting a steel colandar whether or not you get a separate pasta pot, it's just so much easier.

[Kimberlina]

http://www.krbctv.com/Does%20It%20Wo...king_pasta.htm

Found this consumer report segment from a tv station whilst browsding.

[Michelle]

I'd love to have one. I think because it always seems like I am fighting with dishes in the sink when I'm trying to strain

[happymommy]

Thanks for your comments

[Jeanna]

I actually have one like Karens and I use it regularly. But you can do the same with a colandar. If I didn't have it I could survive, but I do enjoy using it.