Nordic Ware Microwave Pasta Cooker, 6.4 Cup, Red

Works well. I like the ease of preparation, cooking and draining the pasta.

I have a lot of respect for Nordicware products and this one has not let me down. I tried it with spaghetti first. Big success, quickly done and only one pot to wash. It also has it's own strainer and both go into the dishwaser. Then I tried a couple different rices. perfection. Then I tried mini pierogies, which I like boiled rather than fried. Perfection again. So simple and quick minimal cleanup. Have to admit I did have a problem finding a home for it in my small crowded kitchen. I'm 78 and I can't stress enough how happy I am not have to boil water in a pot on the stove and still enjoy some of my favorites.

Game-changer for cooking pasta. No muss, no fuss. And cleaning and storing this item is a breeze. In fact, it’s a lot more compact to store than any pot you’ll use to boil pasta.

It works great, but my pasta takes at least 18 to 19 minutes to cook.That being said, it’s much easier than watching a pot boil.

I love using this pasta cooker! Throw it in the microwave and forget about it while you cook everything else.

Followed the direction and my pasta was cooked perfectly

This is Nordic Ware, so it's characteristically sturdy and very well made. Directions say to leave top off while cooking, but I didn't, and both parts are microwave safe. If you have a small microwave, as we do, you're in luck. This unit fits, but has to be put in diagonally. That means it won't turn, but it didn't matter.The top has slits so it can be used as a strainer, which is a great idea. We like thin spaghetti, and a couple strands went through the slits, but the second time I made it, I watched out for it, and I found that moving the strainer top from side to side instead of shaking up and down takes care of that problem. Also, after you strain the pasta in the clear top, you can set it on top of the red bottom, and let it finish draining there. Nice! There are also spaghetti serving guides on the top, which I appreciate because I tend to overestimate how much I need.After straining the spaghetti, I didn't even want to heat sauce on the stove lol, so I put the strained spaghetti into a small casserole, poured a small jar of pizza sauce over it, added garlic powder, drizzled some olive oil, covered it and nuked it for 3 more minutes. Didn't even stir it.What's very nice about this, too, is how the top and bottom fit together to form secure, recessed handles. You don't need to worry about the top and bottom separating or dropping this. (Be sure to wear mitts; it gets hot.)Our thin spaghetti came out perfect. And it doesn't stick together, either. You'll have to experiment, as I did, because cooking times will vary with the power of your microwave, how much you're making, whether you like it al dente, type of spaghetti, etc. Be aware, too, that pasta will continue cooking if you let it sit in the hot water. And don't forget the salt--nowhere near as much as you'd need for a stovetop pot, but you'll still want to use some.Again, once you figure out what works for you, you'll be pleased with this product, and happy to be able to make spaghetti in 10-12 minutes, without all the steam, stirring, pot-watching, etc. I appreciate that this was made with much thought, and that I was able to find it here on Amazon.

I purchased this in November but due to a family crisis didn’t get around to trying it until yesterday. When I pulled it open and loaded it with pasta and then added the water, the water came gushing out. Turns out there was a hairline crack at the bottom left running most of the length of it but not really visible unless it was turned in a very specific way. Too late to return and it is off to the recycle bin. I’ve learned my lesson. Always inspect carefully when you first get it and try it out. Very disappointing.