Steamer Reviews

This is just a big mess, splashes through lid and runs down side, very displeased. If I bought locally I would return immediately. Just doesn't work well at all. No instructions. DONT BUY

I don't understand how some people can have problems operating this wonderful, foolproof Frother.........all I do every morning is:
1. Fill the caraffe up to the black line with cold milk
2. Heat in microwave oven
3. Move the plunger up and down a few times and - voila -
the most wonderful creamy foam to top my cappuccino.....bye bye Starbucks..................

Very Cool! Easy to use and quick so you are willing to make a great capuccino before jetting out the door. Was using the steam on my machine but it is easier with the frother, great foam!

First off, let me say that the first time I used this rice cooker, I was immediately impressed with the texture of the rice and the ease of use. It couldn't be easier -- add rice and water, insert the metal bowl, close the lid and hit the "cook" button.

After several months of use, I've realized several flaws in the design. First, there is no "off" button. To me, this seems to be a bit of a fire hazard, as it is far too easy to forget to unplug the machine after the rice has cooked (it reverts to "warm", which WILL burn eventually). Secondly, there is no timer or bell to alert you to the fact that the rice is done. I've never quite managed to "catch" it reverting from cook to warm, so after 8 months, I still don't know exactly how long it takes to cook rice in this cooker.

I've also noticed that the metal "bowl" included for cooking loses its anti-stick qualities over time. After several months, rice began sticking to the bottom of the bowl during cooking, resulting in a lightly burned bottom layer of rice. I've also noticed that during the first few months of use, lots of moisture was captured in the drainage caps, resulting in very sticky rice. Now, no moisture is ever captured, and the rice almost seems wet (and often undercooked).

Finally, unless you're positive you want to cook at least two cups of rice every time you use the rice cooker, this is NOT the cooker for you. I honestly thought I'd want to prepare two cups at a time each time I used it, and now I understand that a cooker with a one cup minimum would have been a better purchase.

In all honesty, I don't feel the quality of this cooker was significantly higher than those a fraction of the cost. While I'm certain I'd love the "smart logic" high-end Zojirushi cookers, I would have been better off buying a cheaper model than this one -- the cost was astronomical compared to the quality, and now I feel I'm a bit turned off from Zojirushi. They just have not delivered the quality I would expect from their reputation.

I've had this rice cooker for about three months now. I wouldn't say that it is a great rice cooker, only slightly better than average. Does a better job with long grain than short grain.

This has been the rice cooker I have ever owned. I threw away my "el cheapo" Aroma after I got this one. The rice on the bottom does tend to get a little more done, but it's no match for the non stick surface. I have made anywhere from 2-10 cups (uncooked) of rice in this cooker and it does equally well with both large & small amounts. I guess if an ON/OFF switch is really that important to you, then I wouldn't recommend this rice cooker. Otherwise, buy and enjoy.

You have to take off the fan part to add an extra tray which causes you to place your hands over the hot steam. Very easy to hurt/burn yourself.

This steamer is very nice. It is large, well made and easy to use. It even cleans up fast. I use it daily for dinner. I just line up the vegetables and meats on the two wide and long trays. Press the up/down buttons to set cook time and hit start, what could be easier? A full, healthy meal for a family that adds no artery clogging saturated fat/trans fat by way of oils. What could be smarter? The only risk involved is when you ignore the instructions and common sense by opening a working steamer, as another reviewer did. Each to their own eh?
But I had to get the truth out about this. This steamer impresses both Donna (my lovely g/f) and myself. I also considered the TCS-60 and other models. But this model is very solid, very quiet and fair priced. I'm very pleased.
Good Luck to you.

This steamer has a big capacity, cooks stuff really fast, and is really easy to use. All the parts are easy to clean, and everything but the base can go into the dishwasher. Nice slippery, tough plastic that your food comes right out of without sticking. It cooks rice as well as anything else, so save yourself the trouble of buying a separate rice cooker. I had a cheap rice cooker that didn't cook the rice well, and broke after about 2 months. Do yourself a favor and get this instead, even if you only want to cook rice.

You can also cook beans in a very short amount of time as compared to traditional methods.

I would agree with the other reviewer regarding the safety factor; you should know better than to open a working steamer. Would you give a stove 0 stars because it was too easy to burn yourself on it? A knife 0 stars because it was just too darn sharp?

I highly recommend this steamer.

Please do not even consider getting this rice-cooker. It is a waste of money. Brand new, we used it for a week and became defective after then. The cooker would not go into the 'keep warm' function automatically and would continue to 'cook' and therefore burns the rice. We tried this unknown brand since it was one of the few that had a glass lid but unfortunately it just was not worth it (I am from Asia so it is not like it is my first time preparing rice; done it all my life).

This cooker is good. It cooks rice perfectly, and does NOT stick at all. I tend to unplug the cooker once it is done cooking, rather than keep it on the warm cycle. The Keep Warm cycle if kept for a long time would dry the rice a little since it has no source of additional moisture. It's stainless steel exterior also looks sleek and very nice on the countertop.

I would recommend that you adjust water levels to suit the rice you are using. Water levels required depend on the consistency you desire and the age and type of rice. This is not for just this rice cooker but for most brands and types under $100.

This rice cooker is very good for it's price. It is easy to maintain and looks neat. However, the cord is a little too short. But for the price it is minor. The steaming tray that comes with it is also very neat. I would recommend this rice-cooker to anyone who is looking for price, looks and a good capacity.

Okay, so a steamer isn't that complicated right? Well apparently, I got the shaft. I can't get steam to come out of this thing. My parents received one from my grandmother as well, and guess what? It doesn't work either. So i returned mine, and guess what? it didn't work either. I wish i could have the results that the other 2 reviewers had, my business suits were really looking forward to the touch up. Very strange and very inconsistent.

I also read the manual (about 10 times) to make sure that i wasn't on crack thinking that i didn't hook it up right or whatever. not the case. i did everything right. I got ballsy with my last one since the store my grandma purchased from stopped carrying them and i took it apart. I dont think there are usable parts inside and it probably voided the warranty, but i received no contact from the manufacturer after writing them. Tisk tisk.

All i wanted was my suits to be wrikle free.

Sniffle.

I received my Homedics steamer today, and it's going right back, I'm afraid! I sell clothing on line, and I had high hopes for this device, as many folks on the message board I frequent said they couldn't live without theirs! It's not really any easier than ironing, in my opinion, and it won't press seams or collars the way an iron will. I spent way more time trying to get the wrinkles out with the thing than I would have just ironing the shirt I was working on, and it still came out looking kind of "limp." The pole is too short, so I had to squat down to steam longer skirts-- forget about dresses! It will also be way too easy to scald myself, and the reset light came on about 5 times in the first 20 minutes of use, for whatever reason-- there was plenty of water in there, and it was not plugged into a gfi outlet-- I finally gave up. I think I will just invest in better steam iron! It was worth a try, I guess.

For years and years I've steamed everything with a hand steamer, not knowing there was any such thing as a descent and affordable commercial-grade item. I was skeptical by the low-low price of this, but I've found it not only exceeds the performance of every bygone steamer I've used, it has many exceedingly handy features I've always wanted. This steamer is a godsend to me!

Assembly was easy -- a prior reviewer covered that. The 1500 watts of power delivers incredible steam, and I think it may be part of the problem one of the prior reviewers had about this unit "not working." I noticed that the automatic shut-off feature, intended low or no water, also applies if your wall outlet is overloaded. When I first used this, after about 10 minutes, it shut off -- remember to check the orange light on the side. I just reset the button, back in business. We have older wiring in this building, and any appliance 1250 watts or higher is a big load. It's not this steamer's fault. I seldom have this problem, but this is the only time the unit shuts off by itself, and "reset" does the trick every time.

This unit works so FAST! I haven't had to wait a full 40 seconds to warm up, I start with the light stuff, and at about 15 seconds I can get to work.

I use this for the things I would never iron (not that I want or need to iron anymore), like: sweaters, silks, light fabrics, knit tops, and suits. It's also brilliant on corduroy (no shine!) heavy wools and cottons, including denim. It does a better job than I'd have thought on linen, the only fabric you might want to iron, like tablecloths or napkins. But I now use this for freshening all my linen garments, and it's good enough that I don't bother ironing them anymore -- linen creases up the minute you put it on anyway, so who's the wiser?

The brush attachment really helps on nappy or heavily wrinkled fabric, and it's a great thing to have. I remove it for thin/smooth fabric or shaped areas, such as the shoulders of suit jackets. It is hot enough to do razor creases on trousers, and also hot enough where I suggest you do what I do -- wear an insulated rubber dishwashing glove on your positioning hand, or it's easy to get a scald while doing your creases or shoulder-shaping. It's that much hotter and the steam jets out more strongly than anything else I've used -- and I can't get away with just being quick-handed with this one. This is high praise, NOT a complaint!

I love having the garment stand, which frees me up to move around the garment. The hose is a perfect length, long enough to work but not so long it gets in the way. The unit is light and rolls easily, making long sessions far easier, but not so light that ever becomes tippy if you have several garments hanging at a time, before you put that batch away. Perfectly sturdy and stable.

Best of all, the huge water reservior means I can get all my stuff steamed without stopping/refilling/rewarming every 5 minutes! So I can really fly with this unit, like maybe 25-40 pieces in one 40 minute session, depending on garment complexity. When it's out of water, I am DONE!

The only thing I wonder about is that the water reservior says "distilled water only," and the manual shows someone filling it up under the tap. I fill mine under the tap, like I have with every other steamer around here, and no problems so far.

The rice cooker seems to overheat everytime and sends froth boiling over. This can be avoided by opening the top from time to time. The rice tends to stick to the metal after you are done. With a close eye the rice will turn out fine. However, this product fails the test for convenience. I'd rather use the stovetop with some good cookware and a timer than use this. I suggest looking for a product with better non-stick material and one that doesn't overheat.

I grew up in Japan, so I am pretty picky when it comes to how I like my rice. This was given me as a gift, and although I wouldn't have chosen an American brand of rice cooker, I was surprised at how well the rice turned out. I was using Japanese rice. The cooker gets the rice pretty perfect in less than 35 minutes for 6 cups, which is fairly fast. Unfortunately, the first time I used it, I left it on the "warm" setting for over an hour. This was never a problem with my older Japanese rice cookers, which do not have a glass lid, but whose tops are normally hinged, preventing you from seeing the contents until they have finished cooking.
After everyone had come and gone and finished eating, I could see the bottom of the pot, and noticed the yellow color of the rice that was hardened there. I soaked the pot, (which is not dishwasher-safe, by the way, as neither the lid nor utensils that accompany this set are) and decided to unplug the rice cooker immediately the next time.
I did unplug it the following night after it had finished cooking and the light automatically switched over to the "warm" setting. However, upon stirring up the rice to loosen it so that the texture would be uniform, I noticed again the same problem on the bottom of the pot. I am disappointed in this particular feature of the rice cooker, but I noticed the price was at least $100 lower than a traditional Asian rice steamer/pressure cooker, and since I didn't purchase this myself, I can't complain - but I do give it only 4 stars because of this problem, as well as the low quality of the rice scooper and paddle.

It is a very good looking pot. I love the look of it sitting on my stove. Unfortunately it is just too big for us as I am usually cooking for only 2 people. It would not be so bad if the insert went all the way down, but it does not. By a long way. So you end up having to put much more water than you need if you are cooking a small quantity. Otherwise it is a nice pot though.

We bought this set because of the great price. I think it is a new item and therefore this is sort of an introductory price. We already have bought 3 other pots from the Multi-Clad line and love them all. Because of the multi-clad technology,it heats quickly and evenly even if its just water for pasta. The steamer
bowl is a decent size and as a bonus you get a really great 8 quart stock pot with a basket to strain most of the ingredients. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because you can't use the steamer basket without the pasta basket in the pot also.A minor inconvience but still a slight drawback.

I loved my iron and used it for about 6 months, using it mostly in my sewing room for pressing my quilt pieces. Then one day when I went to use it, it would no heat or turn on. I did not save my box and can not find my manual. So from loving it, I now have an iron that I can not use. Wish I knew where I could get it fixed.

I have had my Euro-Pro steam generator iron for about 1 & 1/2 years and I love the power of the steam. It is the best iron I have ever used for sewing, crafts and everyday ironing. It can throw steam for a distance of about 8 feet! Once it has heated up there is absolutely no drip or leak onto fabric. The plate that the iron sits on is made of an incredible product that resists heat unbelievably. Once, I forgot to turn off the iron and the next night went into my sewing room and saw that the hot iron was sitting on the plate waiting to be used again; I was amazed that I hadn't burned the house down. As far as I am aware there are two negatives to this iron. First, there is no automatic turn-off and after using an iron that has this feature for years, I found this difficult to get used to. If the iron is left plate down on a garment or even the ironing board for extended time, it can cause burning of the fabric and possibly cause a fire. The second negative of this iron that I strongly dislike is that it takes about 7-8 minutes to heat up and that is valuable time when I am in a rush, and even more valuable time when I am using it in sewing projects.

I was so excited to get this. I pulled it out of the box and no instructions. I decided to go ahead myself and put it together, which I did. It was easy to put together. I'll give it that. I turned it on and waited. No steam. I received this today and am having UPS pick it up tomorrow. What a total waste of money. Guess I'll just stick with my old trusty iron.

Well I HATE ironing - with a passion. In fact if I have to iron something I just won't wear it, or I use the old trick of throw it in the dryer for 10 minutes. I worked at a designer clothing shop where I learned about these fabric steamers. It took a little getting used to, but when I did I loved how quick and easy it was to take the most wrinkled silk shirt and Sha-zamm in about 2-3 minutes it looked freshly pressed. When I started looking around for a residential steamer, I realized how much you could spend. Then I found this one... under $75. Wow! When I recieved it I was psyched. Mine did have instructions and it was easy to put together. It works like a charm. I steamed everything in the house the first day from drapes to furniture, sweaters to jeans, even a spot in the carpet that had been there for awhile. Now in the mornings I steam everything just to give it that fresh pressed look, and it is so easy. I love that this one comes with all the extra attachments too. If you are interested in a steamer but dont want to spend over $100, this may be perfect for you. I love it!

I must say i was a bit sceptical when I bought this product. it seemed too good to be true. For someone who needs as much ironing and dry cleaning as I do, this product appeared to be saving grace. It turned out to be just that. The steamer takes no more than 30 seconds to heat up, and it really just takes a couple of passes over a shirt or pair of pants, and there it is- as good as ironed.

Hey! Let's make it so that you can conveniently remove the water tank and fill it at the sink, then reattach it.

Hmm. We need a button to do that.....let's put the button EXACTLY where you press down with the palm of your hand when you're ironing! Yeah! So when you're pressing hard to get a stubborn wrinkle out, the water tank pops off!

Please, please, buy a different iron. This iron is lovely, it works wonderfully, but I have had to cover the button with a plastic cap to keep myself from depressing it while ironing. I'm too stingy to buy another iron, but maybe I can save you the trouble. :)

I have been very happy with this full size iron. It does what its supposed to do - iron out wrinkles. Lots of steam if you need it. Just for the record, I have had no problem with the removable tank button like the other reviewer. I sort of think a removable tank is silly, but I've never had it pop loose if I didn't want it to. I usually just fill the water tank with it attached to the iron and never remove it.

The cord is extra long, which is great. I don't need to use an extension cord to iron anymore. I bought this iron after looking at reviews at another website. There were only a few reviews on different Hamilton Beach irons, but they were all good reviews. The only negative to me is where the turn-on dial is located underneath the handle. Its in a slightly awkward place, but if that's the worst thing I have to complain about, I'm doing pretty good.

I read every single amazon iron's review before I wisely settled on this nifty Hamilton Beach. I don't mind the setting control being under the handle and the tank has never popped out without an invitation. An iron with a similarly designed/colored water tank had complaints that you couldn't see the water level because of the dark blue. Well, the first time you use it hold it in front of a mirror under light and fill to the level you like and from then on always fill (the EMPTY iron) with the same exact amount of water, what could possibly be simpler. Great steam whether mist or jet; irons beautifully on cotton even without steam; leaves no deposits; doesn't scorch; marvelous long cord; easy to self-clean; every function is useful; doesn't fall over on its side; and, it does not leak. This is the first steam iron I've used that DOES NOT LEAK. I follow the instructions on how to care for it to the letter so it will continue to remain in its current perfect shape. I love this iron.