Krups 652-70 OptiSteam Plus 2-Tier Steamer

I agree with another user's comment that the timer can't be turned backward and this is annoying. We only use it for rice however, and so we always turn the dial all the way around. We chose this steamer over conventional rice steamers because we *didn't* want it to keep the rice warm - it just shuts off. (We make rice every night before going to bed for our dogs' food - don't ask!) We haven't used it for veggies, so can't comment on the performance there, but it does a fine job on rice. Though it does take an hour, much longer than stove-top or dedicated rice-steamers. But for us it's a set-it and forget-it type of thing.


Good product, but with a few problems   February 13, 2002
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I mostly like this steamer; its shape allow steaming of larger items than round steamers of similar capacity, and it heats up and starts steaming quickly. The two tiers work nicely. It's great being able to fill it with water while it's still steaming.

However, I have two complaints:

First, the water-input lid is hard to use, with a tiny plastic nubbin intended as a handle but it can't be gripped at all. When refilling this steamer expect to include the step of dropping the lid, because it's not attached to the steamer.

Second, the timer can't be turned backwards. If you put in your broccoli and set it for 40 minutes, and then realize you only wanted to cook it for 10 minutes, you're out of luck. You'll have to either set a separate timer to know when to unplug the steamer, or wait 30 minutes before putting the broccoli in. This is just bad design. I've had other, cheaper steamers that didn't have this annoying lack-of-feature.


Best appliance in my kitchen!   October 15, 2001
Heidi (San Francisco, CA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Some of us have fixations with small appliances. We buy them, bring them home, and stuff them in closets with the dozens of other useless kitchen toys we've accumulated. That's where the Krups steamer ended up after its purchase four years ago.

When moving two years later, I came across the steamer and decided to use it to cook some cauliflower, which turned out wonderfully. Since then, I've used it on an average of four times a week, to cook vegetables, fruits and a few hundred pounds of rice. (I've had consistently good luck with rice in this steamer, though I'd agree that it shouldn't be purchased in lieu of a rice steamer).

Cleanup is very easy; timed cooking settings add to the convenience, though it's a bit too easy to overcook vegetables (you'll want to experiment rather than trust the settings in the manual). I've definitely gotten my money's worth and many delicious meals from this product.


Did not last through the warranty period.   September 13, 2001
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I am here looking for a new rice steamer because the Krups no longer gets hot enough to cook rice effectively. Last night we cooked rice for two hours and it still was not done. You could tell by watching that the steam was not as heavy as it used to be. Unfortunately I have no receipt and the place where I bought it has closed so I have no recourse. I have had it about a year and when it worked it worked great, but with the Krups name and associated price tag, I expected it to last longer.