Oster 5712 Electronic 2-Tier 6-Quart Food Steamer
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List Price: Our Price: $39.95 You Save: $5.04 (11%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $32.49 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Oster 5712 Electronic 2-Tier 6-Quart Food Steamer
Customer Review: Mold + BPA (synthetic estrogen) = unhealthy
Summary: 2 Stars
This product would have been one step up from the previous generation of Oster steamers if it weren't for two major flaws.
Good Points:
-it's inexpensive
-the electronic timer works really well (this was the new upgrade from previous models)
-it's versatile especially for Asian cooking
-it works really fast
Bad Points:
- MOLD the steamer's water inlet, that also serves to help you measure how much water is in the steamer, is a great way to collect mold. Currently it is nearly impossible to dry this inlet completely without pushing a qtip or tissue through; and no, turning it upside down doesn't help since the inlet's curves are designed to keep water in. Cleaning this part is also near impossible for the same reason. This is just really stupid. Oster should spend more time testing their products. This should have been fixed before being released.
- As other reviewers have noted, this product made with #7 plastic. This material has a great chance of leeching biphenyl-A, synthetic estrogen, when it's heated. BPA is just not good for general health (it has links to causing obesity, cancer, heart problems, neurological problems and so on); for children the issues are even more complicated. Google can tell you all the details. This just isn't something you should put in contact with your food.
Customer Review: Bought 3 - average time to breakage: 5 weeks
Summary: 1 Stars
Mailed to Oster customer service:
I've purchased 3 Oster 5712 steamers in the last 4 months.
All three have broken.
On 2 digital units the display went blank and stopped working.
On 1 mechanical unit the timer mechanism ceased unwinding.
Now you may ask why I'd keep buying these? Because the plastic is recyclable and looks like it may hold up in the dishwasher. The plastic on all the other brands I've tried cracks after 9mos in the dishwasher. But since the mechanism of yours doesn't last long enough to test the plastic in the dishwasher I can't say for sure. What I can say is I'll avoid any future Oster purchases - non-steamers included. From my point of view, your products look like Ford's, Chevy's in a world dominated by Toyota and you deserve the same future. This is the same message I'll post at amazon.com where all were purchased.
We decided to try another on 2/2010 after reading Oster improved the electronics. No problem with the electronics on this one happy to say. The only remaining problem is the plastic cracks and falls apart after 6 mos of use and has to be thrown out. That's just the clear plastic. The opaque plastic is just fine. But this is a problem we've encountered with ALL other brand steamer's we've tried in the past 4 years.
Customer Review: Still trying to figure it out.
Summary: 4 Stars
I just bought this product last weekend and am still trying it out. The main reason I bought it was that my mother, who lives with us, cannot eat fried foods any longer. Soooo, I shopped around and this looked like the best bang for the buck. There are more expensive models available but the extra money did not seem to equate to extra value.
I got it home, and cleared a place on the counter (no mean feat). I went to Publix and bought some raw carrots, various types of rice packages and a bunch of broccoli.
The accompanying cookbook is laughable - 2 pages. It does give estimated cook times for various foods and that is all. Maybe steaming products is supposed to be so simple it doesn't need instructions. Maybe.
I peeled and sliced my pound of carrots and put them in the steamer. They were very good (after I put butter on them). The broccoli was OK but started a fight over crisp vegetables vs well done vegetables. My husband likes them with a bit of crunch. Mom wants mushy.
The fact that the rice takes 45-50 minutes was very disappointing, but the rice was very fluffy.
Next week I am trying seafood.
It is certainly worth the $29 and maybe we will accidently end up eating healthy!
Customer Review: Oster 5712 Electronic 2-Tier 6.1-Quart Food Steamer
Summary: 4 Stars
I was going to buy a new egg cooker to replace my old one with a broken egg rack (the price for a new egg rack from that company was out of line). While searching the idea of a food steamer came up that would cook my eggs as well as many other foods. Having a multiple use product made much more sense to me. I have used it for a couple of weeks now, cooking eggs, rice, fish, pork chops and beef ribs in it and I love it. The meats are moist and tender, and like using a slow cooker, it is great to have the dinner completed in one process.
I would have given it 5 stars if the instruction book gave more cooking tips and some recipes. I learned by experience that if one cooks eggs in it from the refrigerator the cooking takes much longer (which is expected of course), but finding the right amount of time is a learning process. It does take longer to cook eggs in this type of unit compared to one of the egg cookers that are much smaller, but I allow for this because of its versatile use. It also has a handy delay timer feature, and cleaning it after use is a breeze. It would be nice if the drip tray had handles. It is not easy to remove when filled with drippings and juice. I used a baster to remove the liquids before trying to take out hte drip pan when it was full.
Customer Review: excellent food preparer
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a little concerned about cooking in plastic - but I solved that problem! I have some old corningware pans, pyrex would be excellent too - I put the food in those, put them in the steamer - and voila!
I've always been "cooking with gas" - but after burning/destroying 2 pots & 2 kettles - electric it is!
I am delighted at how easy this is to use. Cooktime is a little longer than gas - I'm experimenting as I go along. But so easy to taste - and reset the timer for additional cooking time. -
One concern is keeping enough water in the steamer underneath. That seems to need periodic checking on - the unit turns off if the water level is too low, and then cooking stops.
I have found a funnel helps when pouring water into steamer underneath.
So far I've made cereal, pasta, rice, soup, steamed vegetables. Everything tasted quite good.
I'm grateful for all the warnings about not removing the water pan until everything has cooled off - but once cool the unit is very easy to clean.
So I am very happy with it - and SO grateful that I can cook without worrying about destroying my beautiful pans (sigh) - and God forbid - even burning the house down!