Customer Reviews

Orka Personal 12-Ounce Oval Steamer, Blue

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is just great! So much easier than dragging out the pot of water and metal steamer. I have had no trouble cleaning it, I just swish it out and rinse while it is still warm and damp.

Keep in mind that this is quite small, definitely not enough for a side dish for two people (well, maybe if it's peas or something) and barely enough broccoli for one if you are a big vegetable eater. I bought a larger one as well for bigger meals.

This is great! You can steam veggies in the microwave in just a few minutes. I make corn on the cob in 2 minutes. I also use it to steam carrots and sweet potatoes to puree for baby food (these take about 3-4 minutes). I can fit a whole sweet potato in if I slice it. I love it!

I own three different sizes (all blue) Orka silicone steamers: 12oz oval, 33oz square, and 27oz round.
My favorite is the square while we can do a veggie dinner for two in it. The oval steamer is good for one person only or for a portion of a meal for two. The round steamer is the least used in our household due to its flimsiness. The square steamer is the sturdiest. The square and the round steamers are the same oz amount even they are labeled differently.
All the steamers work as advertised, they seal well and keep the moisture in while food is being microwaved. Some people state that their steamers do not seal. Perhaps they overload the steamers and do not line up the top correctly with the bottom. It happened to me once. Not anymore, I do overload the steamers but make sure the lid will line up with the bottom after the veggies melt down from their frozen stage.
I do use these steamers for 8 months now and I did not notice any discoloration. I steam carrots a lot. So I am not sure what would discolor them.
I did notice an after smell if I didn't wash these steamers within a couple of hours or so. The worst smell was from the potatoes. So I make sure I wash them with Palmolive before I go to bed. They still do smell a little, but hey, it is a silicone which is plastic. Plastic retains smells, I knew this will happen.
The booklets do include only a limited timing suggestions. I found timing guides all over the internet and posted them here on the cooking forum. A GLAD Microwave Cooking Chart can be used for these steamers as well.

I orginally purchased this item on QVC and loved it. I wanted another, and being a devoted Amazon shopper, ordered this one and the Square Orka. They are amazing for doing leftovers in the microwave. No more messing with plastic wrap over a bowl, the food comes out perfect, never rubbery. Even steak, which I always had trouble reheating, is just the right temperature without comprimising a medium rare or medium 'doneness'. You don't even add any liquid, just pop the food in. Clean up is a snap on the top shelf of the dishwasher. I will eventually order the 20 ounce oval too. (And Amazon was cheaper than QVC!)

I use this for microwaving frozen vegetables. Love it. How simple -- put the frozen veggies in, add a wee bit of water and put on High for about 3 and a half minutes. Very easy to drain the water off. I usually use this right to the table. For just one or two people, it's an OK size, but I do find that it is a bit shallow, so if I put too much in, it boils over rather quickly.
Somehow these silicone steamers do a nicer job for me in the microwave than anything else I've ever used.

I don't like to reheat things in the microwave in plastic containers and this seemed just the thing to do that safely and also keep the food moist. It does that and more. I frequently store leftovers in plastic containers and even bought some glass ones so I could reheat without switching to a different receptacle, but the cold glass from the fridge lengthened the heat up time, plus the lids are really hard to get on the glass containers and if that's not enough, storage is a problem. When I saw these advertised I wondered if they'd solve my problem and I couldn't be more pleased.

The 12-oz size is generous for one serving and the thing cleans easily in the dishwasher or by hand. The cover just sits on top but manages to retain the moisture of the food or steam raw veggies very effectively. The silicone is pliable so can be squashed into a small space for storage if necessary and is nice enough looking that I'm content to eat my reheated meal right from this little gadget if it's a soup or stew sort of dish. It doesn't get hot in the microwave, but because it is pliable you do need two hands to transport it.

While I haven't tried cooking things such as salmon in the container,I understand that works well. For me, just having a safe container to reheat things makes this item well worth its cost. I'm even buying more for gifts. Great little device.

I've had the Orka 12 oz. oval steamer for a few months now, but it didn't take me long to get in the habit of using it several times a week. It is so convenient for heating up frozen food and leftovers! I probably use it most for for asian-style dumplings like potstickers and shu mai. I'm eating more fish now because it cooks frozen fish quickly and thoroughly without drying it out.

The silicone doesn't seem to hold odors or stains. If the frozen foods you're steaming are awkwardly shaped, it can be difficult to get a seal between the lid and the dish piece. In that case, you would want to adjust the arrangement of the food after about a minute of cooking in the microwave. Not a bad idea to wait until the food is in the microwave to put the lid on, either, since sometimes the lid becomes a tiny bit askew while you carry it across the kitchen. That is one downside to using a flexible dish.

I wasn't expecting that much when I bought this - perhaps just another option for microwave cookware.
What I got far exceeded those expectations. I don't understand the science of it, but the top seals itself to create a fantastically efficient steamer, with the vitamins locked in. Perfect for steaming brussel sprouts in about 2 - 2 and 1/2 minutes. Broccoli, carrots, more - great results. I make a burrito mixture and can get two burritos out of it with a little leftover. I haven't tried a great variety of foods but I look forward to that cooking adventure. Keep in mind it's a 'personal' steamer - food for one, (and a little more). Cleaning is unbelievably easy, hand washed or in dishwasher - huge plus. Really great product.

We use this for microwaving everything from string beans to frozen burritos. Easy to clean and perfect size when you are making something for one person or a side of vegetables for two. I'm buying a second one to stash at work.