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List Price: $79.95
Sale Price: $45.23
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The idea is a good one: a stainless steel pot for cooking, plus a bamboo sheath to use as a cover when serving from a hot/cold pan, plus independent use of the sheath as a bamboo serving bowl. The bamboo bowl itself is fine, and the stainless steel 3.8 qt. pot with perky glass lid seems fine too.
But... the sheath doesn't quite fit properly. The handles of the steel pot are necessarily attached under the pot's rim, meaning that they stick down lower than the rim itself. Yet the rim of the bamboo bowl is perfectly even, without indentations into which the pot's handles could slide. So the pot touches the bowl only by its handles when it's nestled inside the bowl, leaving the rest of the rim between the handles free-floating over the rim of the bamboo bowl. This means the steel pot can tip a little bit either forward or backward -a bit disconcerting when trying to move the filled combo or scooping out food.
Second, the handles on the pot stick out a very long way beyond the bamboo sheath. So, if the pot was really, really hot when you put it into the sheath, it would be awfully easy to knock your hands against those still hot handles by mistake when trying to serve yourself, pass the item to someone else, or carry it from stove to table. Especially given the potential for the pot to tip inside the sheath (see previous paragraph)!
Third, because there are no handles on the sheath, it's not easy to pick up the filled pot/sheath combo. You have to compress your hands tightly against opposite sides of the bamboo (CAREFUL not to burn them on the pot's handles!), raise the combo a little, and then slide your hand under the bottom of the bamboo bowl for a better grip if you want to pass the dish around the table or take it to a potluck. Of course you then need to reverse the procedure to put it back down. So to me the sheath seems best as a sort of fancy trivet, already placed on a buffet, to which you bring the hot (or cold) pot for insertion, but which you never move when full of food. It does have some additional insulating properties that way, of course, but the combination doesn't really work for me if you ever need to move it full of food.
This combo was available a couple of weeks ago at an exceptionally attractive price, so I was happy to try it out. I originally thought I might want to get a second one, but I don't think I would now, even at that original price (which is no longer available).
But I'm a huge fan of Cat Cora's food line available from Amazon, especially the tapenades. Try Cat Cora Gaea Green Olive Tapenade, 3.5-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6) or Cat Cora's Kitchen by Gaea Sundried Tomatoes Tapenade, 3.5-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6), for example -both are stunning. She has several other flavors which are probably just as good, too. I keep at least the green olive and the sundried tomatoes versions stocked in the pantry at all times, both for use by themselves as dips or sandwich spreads, and as ingredients (there are recipes printed inside the cardboard sleeves, and the stuffed mushrooms made from the Sundried Tomatoes are world class!!). They're perfect as last-minute appetizers with crackers or a good bread and have made many, many guests of mine incredibly happy! :)
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Bought them all: 1.5 (from another site-not sure why this pot is more expensive than the 2.5 qt), 2.5 (still waiting for this one as this is part of my order is fulfilled by another source), 3.8, 4.9 & 5.9; I love all things bamboo-and while trivets are a lot cheaper, the bowls are a nice touch.
I almost did not buy these as the one reviewer left some pretty negative feedback. The only reason I would have taken .5 star away-this should be offered as a set and not just have to be bought pot-by-pot, but that is not an option. Saw these on another website, did some searching and found them here at fairly the best price-except on three of the four pots, I had to pay sales taxes.
1. Shipping: arrived quickly
2. Packing-very well packaged no damage to the outer box
3. Unpacked, stacked-to check how well they could be stored. The bamboo bowls fit into each other is very tight and might take some work to get back apart. No issues with the pots. With the pot in its serving bowl, there is a little wiggle, but nothing of the sort the other reviewer conjured in my mind. The pots fit into the bowls fairly well. I would not like the bowls to have handles, unless they were made for the pots' handles to fit into also. That would help with carrying. However, you can get around that by placing the bowls on the table, then carrying the pots out of the kitchen afterward.
4. Everything is very well made; I did not find any sharp edges or blemishes. Bottoms are flat. No warps.
5. Washed and dried-so far no issues
6. -AND cooked. I had picked up lots of fresh veggies from our local farmers market-okra, yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, onions-then some broth, last some polenta to thicken it. Yum.
7. The pot's handles only warmed slightly
8. Handle on the lid did get fairly hot-not hot enough to burn, but hot enough to not hold comfortably.
9. I like these sizes. and they work very well on my glass top range.
I have not bought a set of pots in about 15 years. My other pots are still good (an enamel set I have had for over 20 years, several cast iron pieces and a calphalon set) All in all, I am very happy with my purchase and now with the weather cooling off, I look forward to lots of good stews and soups. I can definitely recommend these pots. Happy cooking!
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I needed something that wasn't huge but could use on top of the stove as well as in the oven. This has been great! Good quality and I would recommend it easily to anyone looking for such a pot.
Honest reviews on CAT CORA by Starfrit Stainless Steel Cook N Serve Casserole
I got this on a one day Amazon sale and it is wonderful. Sturdy stainless, well made bamboo shell. Looks very nice on the table. I make chunky, home made applesauce and serve it hot from the stove. This is perfect for that little special treat for my family.
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I bought several of these lovely stainless steel cook and serve casseroles as wedding gifts and included recipes that the brides could use with their new pots. Got rave reviews from the recipients! It solved a big problem for me as the shopping where I live is limited to a few stores-or a 45 mile drive. I always end up at Amazon.com and have been so pleased.
