Customer Reviews

Presto 06003 Options Electric Multi-Cooker/Steamer

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I bought this EXACT model in 2001, and along with steaming, blanching, roasting, etc., it clearly advertises itself as a "deep fryer" of which it does an excellent job. The manual even includes full frying instructions!

If Presto has decided to now say "don't fry in this", it is strictly a legal move. The problem is that Presto's "fry daddy" line has no temperature control, and it's preset low enough so that you can't set any frying liquid on fire. But these also have no versatility.

The multi-cooker can do so much more, because you can set the temperature from "warm" to 400 degrees. This is higher than the smoke point of some frying mediums (lard and shortening in particular) and therefore IF you don't know the smoke point of what you're using, you can get in trouble. This is probably why Presto's lawyers decided to say it's not a fryer anymore, although it clearly is. I, however, will happily continue to use my multi-cooker to make great fries, fried shrimp and chicken, donuts, etc. in addition to steaming and blanching vegetables, as well as braising. It's the most versatile appliance I own!

I just got this today at Walmart for more than 1/3 off Amazon's price and it says plain and clear that it IS for frying among other things..I tried it an the temp was accurate too. IT also has one of those new magnetic type cords for saftey and you can stick all of it (the pot and lid) in the dishwasher except the cord and thermostat thing. This is a great deal! IT does the job off a fryer, steamer and a crock pot and cost less than most of them do by themselves. I tried the steamer fuction too and it works great! I highly reccomend this, Try it , you won't be dissapointed!

I come from a large family, so i do a lot of cooking. This year everyone came to my house for Christmas, and not only was my mom impressed with my cooking,but also the way everything taste coming out of the steamer.She actually tried to take it home with her.... A week earlier, some of the guys came over, and my wife made her famous deep fried hot wings. The guys went nuts, especially, my brother Jarrick, he loved that there was little mess and because of the drop basket and tempature gauge, not mistakes.I'm buying one for my mom and my brother, at least that way i know i can keep my own! Thanks Presto

I have had this Multi-Cooker for years, and I still love it. I started out using it to steam clams and crab legs. Then I went on to use it as a stock pot - it's great for quickly reducing to freezable size. I recently have found a great hot wings sauce (Ken's) and have been using my true-blue multi-cooker as a fryer, and it is working out great. I just love this thing. It is easy to clean up. It's light and easy to handle. It heats up quickly and has had no technical problems. I love being able to tell what temperature I am cooking on (can set degrees - not just high medium or low temps) and be able to see through the glass lid at how the contents are doing. This is definitely a kitchen must-have.

I, too, bought this cooker at Target believing it was a fryer and was disappointed that the instructions noted it was NOT a fryer. Unable to find anything I liked better (the plastic machines seem flimsy and clunky), I took the advice of the last reviewer and tried it as a deep-fryer for tofu and eggrolls. It works! The thermostat seems reliable, and it heats up quickly enough. Plus, it's dishwasher-safe and nonstick. The only disappointments include the fry-basket, which isn't optimum for draining oil and is awkward to handle with a removable pinch-handle-- but I improvised with tongs. And it would be nice to have an airtight lid to store the oil-- but the glass one does just fine if you change the oil occasionally. As someone who usually avoids frying foods for health reasons, this little pot allows me to cook the few fried goods I'd normally go out for as well, or even better, than how I'd get them at a restaurant-- and it makes my "it-ain't-good-unless-it's-fried" husband feel like he's got a place in the kitchen.

I researched fryers costing from $100 on down to this very reasonably priced Presto "Options" multi-cooker. I settled on this fryer for it's simplicity, since the easier it is to use and clean the more likely I am to use it, hence my five star rating. I bought the silver non-stick coated model so that any inevitable knick in the finish wouldn't be visible against the metal underneath. It also comes in black. It has a temperature range from 155 degrees to 400 degrees, which will cook anything, but I bought it mainly as a deep fryer. I use two quarts of peanut oil, which has a higher flash point than other oils, and start frying in oil that is as hot as the thermostat will go. This is the recommended procedure in the instructions that came with this unit. This method sears the outside of the food retarding oil from being absorbed while the temperature is recovering. The pot is relatively deep so splatter is minimal when food is slowly placed into the hot oil. The instructions say to not use the glass lid when frying. I use a splatter screen instead. Cleanup is simple. After cooling, I use a strainer-funnel to pour the oil back into the original container for storage in the refrigerator. After removing the thermostat, the entire non-stick unit and basket can be sponge cleaned in the sink and put away. I deep fry outdoors so odor is not a problem. For indoor frying a sealed unit might be better unless this fryer can be used under a well vented hood.

I bought this for my wife and I to use a few months ago. We were looking for something to cook in that was between the 4qt. and 8qt. size. At first I just wanted a new pot, then when I saw this I took a chance - and I'm glad I did! We use this almost every day. I have slow-cooked meats in it, cooked pasta, casseroles and soups along with dozens of other items. I don't often deep fry, but the few times that I have I have enjoyed this cooker. I especially like the extra room it offers over most "dedicated fryers".

I can cook enough for all five kids and still only have one easy pot to clean! What more do you want?

I use this bad boy for Chinese Style Hotpot and it's the best. It's perfect for up to 6 people. Heats up very fast, well made and well priced.

The safety power cord is great too, it uses magnets so that it disconnects if anyone trips on the cord, rather than knock over the cooker causing maming injuries to it's victims.

It also works awesome as a steamer for frozen dumplings.

Highly recommended, great-cheap appliance.

I found this when originally shopping for a stock pot of similar size. I'd also been looking for a deep fryer, so with its price below even a good stock pot, this appliance quickly caught my eye. (I guess whatever legal issues have been cleared up in the past couple of years, because mine that I bought a few months ago had explicit frying instructions, and even the manual I downloaded on here--which uses the Kitchen Kettle name--included these sections.)

I've been very impressed with the cooker's performance, and it's become my favorite appliance in the kitchen. It works great as a small deep fryer and steamer, and it clears up burners on my rangetop while I'm simmering things for a long time. The components seem very high in quality. Heating is even and consistent, and the pot is heavier and more solid than a simple stovetop pot at a similar price. It's a great value, and I would have been satisfied with it at twice the price.

I gave this for a Christmas present to my wife The Cooking Fiend in 2007 and she "purely loved" it. The temperature control was the best feature. She could perfectly sear a small pot roast and braise it in the same pan. It made soup outstandingly every single week. She used it many times every week. It worked great for deep-frying bluegill too. She cleaned it occasionally in the dishwasher but usually by hand, no abrasives. Imagine our dismay when she saw the non-stick finish flaking off. She just about cried, because while some may call us flaky folks, we do not use flaky cookware. So I'm on the hunt for something more durable. What a shame!