Do you have to use the little red lid that fits over the area with holes? To prevent boil over of pasta pot: cover holes with smaller lid or not?
1853868
The small lid can be used for steaming veggies or fish. Its not needed to prevent boil over. The bowl shaped design of the larger piece that goes on the top of the pot is designed to catch any liquid that boils up, and hold it until the heat is shut off. Then it returns back into the pot. Don't use on smaller pots. The bottom of the main piece must fit inside the lip at the top of the pot (where the lid would go, but your not using it since you're using the boil over device). The first time the device saves you from a boil over mess, you'll be glad you bought this.
1853869
In my experiences, you can cover but it is not a must. I felt like when the smaller lid was on though, my boil over was much less likely. I did have it boil over once when I did not have the lid on... granted my pot was probably too full..
1853870
I used it without the little red lid and it boiled over, so I'm saying yes, you need to use it.
1853871
I'm not sure... I've always used it so I can't say for sure whether or not it is necessary or not, sorry!
1853872
No. I use the little red lid to cover the holes just until the water starts to boil. Then I remove it.
988818
No. Boil pasta like spaghetti in a 6 to 8 quart pot of boiling water until al dente (10 to 11 minutes). Drain in colander. Serve your favorite pasta sauce over cooked spaghetti. If you want to just boil water, get a tea kettle. This 1 1/2 quart saucepan is good for cooking small amounts of frozen vegetables and sauces. Add desired amount of frozen vegetable to the 1 1/2 quart saucepan. Add 1/4 cup of cold water. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes. Hope this helps you. Cuisinart cookware can take high heat, but the heat should be lowered. This cookware should not be used on very high heat for a long period of time. No. Boil pasta like spaghetti in a 6 to 8 quart pot of boiling water until al dente (10 to 11 minutes). Drain in colander. Serve your favorite pasta sauce over cooked spaghetti. If you want to just boil water, get a tea kettle. This 1 1/2 quart saucepan is good for cooking small amounts of frozen vegetables and sauces. Add desired amount of frozen vegetable to the 1 1/2 quart saucepan. Add 1/4 cup of cold water. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes. Hope this helps you. Cuisinart cookware can take high heat, but the heat should be lowered. This... » Read More No. Boil pasta like spaghetti in a 6 to 8 quart pot of boiling water until al dente (10 to 11 minutes). Drain in colander. Serve your favorite pasta sauce over cooked spaghetti. If you want to just boil water, get a tea kettle. This 1 1/2 quart saucepan is good for cooking small amounts of frozen vegetables and sauces. Add desired amount of frozen vegetable to the 1 1/2 quart saucepan. Add 1/4 cup of cold water. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes. Hope this helps you. Cuisinart cookware can take high heat, but the heat should be lowered. This cookware should not be used on very high heat for a long period of time. « Show Less
1729617
You do not need your regular pot lid. Just use the boil over. It will control any boil over while your pot is cooking and help maintain your heat level. Works like a charm and is easy to clean afterwards.
1302682
Yes I get the water boiling and throw the pasta in, after it is finished, I put the steamer part on, and drain it, it acts like a strainer ! I love this pot. I make the suddenly salad box side dishes and it more then accommodates the box of pasta. I only cook for one or two now days and this pot is great. I hope this helps.
1302157
I use it on the outside between the pot and stove burner. I use a bit lower setting to bring water to a boil, but personally I prefer it on the burner. You really have to bend it up some to get it inside and it would be hard to remover it later.
2092470
I use the boil over lid for rice. Yes, it works very well. The lid needs scrubbing afterward, but considerably easier than cleaning range-top.
980249
When I put the cover/lid on the pot I make sure it clicks. I put the lid starting at the back and the press down on the front, facing the spout. The little hole is also facing the spout.
2188016
No. The lid has a kind of long lip that hangs down inside the pot. There is a pour spout in the pot and the lid has two places where there are holes. If you line those up with the spout, you can pour water off of veggies with the lid on, or pour water off of pasta. The lid will not easily come off, you have to lift it off, but it doesn't lock like a pressure cooker.
1036418
It doesn't fit tightly inside at all but has a hinge so it will not fall off. I would rather it did not have the hinge but instead fit tightly inside the lip, but haven't had any problem with boil overs
1781357
We are pretty sure that the vent hole in the top of the lid is there for specific reasons. We have had ( no ) problems with the vent hole. In fact my wife following the recipy book made meatballs and spaghetty with water , noodles, spaghetty sauce and meatballs. She set the pot on oven @ 300 degrees F for 25 min, stirring occationally. It came out absolutely perfect to my surprise, because I was wondering what was going to happen with any extra water. There was no need to drain the noodles. We were amazed at the results.
1392880
The steamer basket does fit into the stock pot, however to use it as a strainer is questionable, as it only has holes in the bottom, so you would have to keep moving your pasta in order to get it fully drained ... (I think). You can't fit a lid over the two together as the handles interfere with the seating of the lid. This set is superb, and I really love mine. Hope this helps.
1640678
I do not, I am very careful not to put any thing hot on it, if I do I have a pot holder on the bottom. I do use the extra space while getting everything ready for cooking.
1096549
That's right -- a small hole so you can the tight-fitting lid on and take it off without problems from air pressure. One caution from experience: when you press the lid onto the hot cup, don't have your hand over the small hole, or hot air coming out under pressure will give you a mini-scald.
1231577
It is a good idea to get a more evenly cooked egg, the cover traps the heat and steam to cook the top half while the bottom is also being cooked. It could be done without a lid but you will not get as good of results and will not be as evenly cooked and as quickly as if done with the lid in place.
1720014
I don't see a problem, but you will need a 4-inch Lodge lid. Place rice and water in pot, cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
697693
It's the best pasta pot I have owned, but the lid isn't meant to stay on when you drain the water. You still have to use a colander to pour the pasta in.
79209
Most cookers do tend to boil over the edges, probably you need to adjust the quantity of rice and water. For me, I place the cooker on a large heavy porcelain plate, so any heavy spill over / froth that sprays will be 'caught' in the plate. I cannot compare with the rest, but this has been as good as any other cooker for me as far as this aspect is concerned, I think it isn't too troublesome for me. The good part is, it is steel. I wanted to avoid Teflon/ non-stick or aluminium in my cookware.