Making pasta can be a chore, and the makers of Pasta Boat hope to change all that. But can you really get tasty noodles and macaroni from the microwave? If so, there will be a lot of chefs in Italy that are soon to be disgruntled.
Overview
Even though pasta seems like a relatively easy thing to make, it is really not. Right from the start, it can be hard to tell if you have the right amount of pasta for the number of people that will be eating. Waiting for water to boil is one of the most boring things about cooking. Next, you have to stir the pasta occasionally to make sure that it does not stick and it cooks evenly.
After that, you have to somehow transfer a big pot of recently boiling water over to the sink to try and strain the noodles. You must also avoid burning yourself from both the water and the rising steam, as you drain the noodles. Get any of the steps wrong, and you can consider dinner ruined.
The Claim
The claim made by the makers of Pasta Boat is that it will take away all of these concerns and make pasta making as easy as 1 2 3. First, use the handle to measure out the correct amount of pasta. Next, put the pasta into the Pasta Boat. Last, take it out of the microwave and strain it right from the same container. Just like magic you have got fully cooked pasta in far less time, and far less hassle than ever before.
They also claim that their product is not only microwave-safe but also dishwasher safe so that you do not have to worry about clean-up and trying to get pasta bits from out of the colander holes.
They also say that their product is a timesaver compared to conventional methods of boiling pasta. Much of this is just waiting for the water to boil, which can seem like forever, especially with big pasta pots.
The Hype
The hype comes from the fact that this is just something that makes pasta. It is not going to win a Nobel Peace Prize, nor is it a game changer in the kitchen gadget industry because other products are just like it with the same function, such as Fasta Pasta.
The Cost
If you are going to grab a Pasta Boat, get it from Amazon because you will not have to worry about what you are ordering or what the total charges are going to be once you are finished. It is selling for less than nine dollars right now and that includes the supersaver shipping, or you can pay a few dollars and have it FedExed to your door.
The Commitment
If your family eats a lot of pasta, this may be something that dovetails nicely with your pre-existing habits. However, if you are thinking of purchasing this in the hopes that your family would eat more dishes like spaghetti, penne, macaroni and cheese, tuna noodle casserole, or any other pasta-based dish you might want to reconsider.
Evaluation
Pasta Boat gets overwhelmingly positive reviews from most people that have tried it. We were skeptical at first, because we thought the pasta would end up tasting like plastic after being boiled in a plastic container. We also did not think that the noodles would cook evenly or be “al dente” at the end of the recommended times.
Much to our surprise, the noodles come out tasting great and we could not discern which noodles came from Pasta Boat and which noodles came from our regular old pasta pot.
Many of the negative complaints come from the time that it takes to cook the pasta. People say that they can cook pasta the conventional way more quickly than you can with Pasta Boat. While the cooking time may be 10 to 12 minutes for the traditional way of making pasta in a boiling pot, people are forgetting the time it takes to get the water to boil in the first place.
The times listed for Pasta Boat include this warm-up time and are from start to finish. Depending on what kind of stove top you have the time can vary greatly to get a pot of water to boil. If you have a gas range this time is lessened, but if you have an electric range it can take several minutes for the water to come to a boil. This can bump cooking times to 20 minutes or more.
Microwaves Vary
Not all microwaves are created equally and if you have an older model you might not get the same results as some of the newer units. Also, the wattage of microwaves varies as well, so some people might have better results because their microwave is simply better suited to using the Pasta Boat.
Final Pasta Boat Review
Pasta Boat works! If you have a small family, or usually eat alone or as a couple, Pasta Boat will help you enjoy your favorite pasta dishes without worrying about cooking the noodles and cleaning up the mess.
If you have a big family, such as four or more people, you should continue cooking pasta the same way you do now because Pasta Boat just cannot cater to so many mouths.
Our Recommendation
If you have a pasta-loving family or you yourself would like to eat more pasta but cannot justify the time to cook it for one person, we recommend getting a Pasta Boat today. It is one of those products that gets our approval and two big thumbs up.
Works great! Use it at least twice a week.
I have seen the Pasta Boat on commercials and now have seen the product at my local Walgreens for $9.99. I cook pasta at least once a week for my family, but I don’t know about cooking it in the Pasta Boat. I am leary that the pasta would come out cooked right and not sticking to each other. I probably will pass on this product as I can’t see changing from the easy throw the pasta in a boiling pan of water and in just a few minutes your pasta is done perfectly.