Customer Reviews

Oster CKSTSMM10 1-1/3-Quart Egg Cooker and Mini Food Steamer, White

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The steamer is of good quality and works as intended, but I feel it has design flaws that make it unsatisfactory for me. First thing I noticed is that the knob is very hard to turn. It is a small diameter so it is hard for me to grip tightly enough to comfortably turn as it has a lot of tension on it's spring. Next, the indicator for the timer is just a dimple in the light gray knob. It is only about 2mm and is very hard for me to see. Finally, the trays for cooking eggs are made of a plastic and seem to cause uneven cooking. When the top of the egg is done to perfection the bottom is still raw, so by the time it is cooked on the bottom the top half is too hard. I have used an aluminum measuring 1/4 cup to cook eggs with and it cooks much more evenly with the metal container. In all other aspects it is fine.

This steamer works well, but I wish it had the same timer knob as Black & Decker's round steamer. It's hard to get a grip on the Oster's knob, especially with damp hands. I do like the little slide-out tray that lets you add water without disturbing the steamer basket, and the window that lets you monitor the water level. I thought this model might be smaller than B&D's, to save on counter space, but it's actually about the same size. Comes with several doodads you have to keep up with, such as the egg piercer. All in all, a good buy, I think.

Oster made the original egg cooker/poacher going back to the 1960's. It was called the model 4716 and I got one in the 1970's. It was used several times a week and lasted over 30 years. As a matter of fact the cooker still works but the (then Pyrex) lid broke and I purchased a replacement in the early 2000's. Amazingly they still made the same product, though it now had a plastic lid and weighed about half as much; it lasted 7 years before the thermal switch failed and rendered it useless. I went looking for another only to find Oster to be nothing more than a marketing company and that this marvelous little appliance had been discontinued and replaced by this shoddy example of multi use mediocrity.

Every egg cooker currently available is a poor substitute for the original and are all variations on a theme of cheap components and offshore manufacturing wedded to some flawed vision of "consumer product style". If you want to do something for your fellow amazon customers don't buy this trash and demand Oster bring back the original. The free market only works when we tell manufacturers what we want; not just obediently buy whatever they want to sell.

This product was very disappointing. I followed the directions to make soft cooked eggs but they were raw. Put them back in for more time and they were still raw. I gave up after wasteing so many eggs. I sent the egg cooker back.

This is not only a great little steamer, it is very hot and heats up quickly. Takes up very little space on the counter which is important to me Perfect for small quantities for a solo or couple. True the knob is small and you have to be careful.I also have a Regal Kitchen Pro which is slow and not nearly as hot or as quick.It also takes up a lot more space. I use the Oster almost every day.

I figured since I didn't want this to cook eggs, I could avoid the complaints of other reviewers and use it as a decent small steamer. Instead of setting up the large steamer for only 6 new potatoes, I could use this one.

(SEE UPDATE BELOW) Mistake. This thing takes 45 minutes to steam those little potatoes; the same task which takes 20 minutes on the stove or about 22 minutes in the large steamer. The ONLY reason to buy this thing to steam vegetables is if (a) you have no stove, and (b) you are seriously space-challenged. In other words, it's perfect for a dorm room, and nowhere else.

Unlike other reviewers, I haven't had any problem with the timer knob, which is quite large.

UPDATE: I've discovered that if you fill this steamer to the top line every time, regardless of how much water you actually need, it performs much better and will steam faster. So I've added 2 stars to my initial review, and would actually recommend it for steaming a small amount of veggies, now.

I researched nearly every egg cooker/steamer on the market and picked Oster's mini steamer. As the other reviews stated the knob is really hard to rotate, but that's the only concern I have and I've been using it pretty regularly since my purchase last month. Easy to clean, easy to just set veggies in and leave until the buzzer goes off. Highly recommend.

I don't like this unit because it is not as efficient as their previous model. I'm looking for one of their earlier models so I guess I'll have to find another website. They should've left well enough alone.

I have used the older Oster model egg cooker and have loved it. I know how to cook an egg. The steamer just makes it fast and much easier to peel. This new model does not compare. The cooking times listed in the booklet are totally off. I have had to cook for a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes longer than stated to not have totaly raw eggs. I have yet to be able to fully cook a poached egg in the thing. It just seams like it does not even get hot enough. I am worried I may even poison myself because of the long low temp cooking. I can't return the unit because it has been opened and used.

This little gadget does everything I need it to do...poached eggs are great, boiled eggs turn out perfect, steamed veggies are easy and perfect, even steamed a hotdog it in. I'm very pleased with this steamer. Perfect for a small amount. Fast and easy to operate. I highly recomend this for singles or couples with out children, or with children that don't like their veggies...my 99 year old mother has had one for years and can still operate it with ease..That's why I knew I would like it.