# I want that pasta pot. Does that make me a bad person? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 9, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578 "2003-01-09T19:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/41 "2003-01-09T23:46:02Z")
Mrs. Nott came home from Tar-zhay with something almost identical to the one with the twist lock lid a few weeks ago. We’ve used it several times, and it’s now the default pasta pot (except for spaghetti, which would sneak through the holes. With our old enameled steel pot and a colander, we seldom, I say seldom, lost any pasta down the disposal. However, I almost always had a piece or two that got stuck inside the old pot. With the big, wide-spaced handles, I don’t need pot holders. It’s really a pretty solid item for a cheapish pot. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/42 "2003-01-09T23:48:25Z")
I got my comeuppance for making fun of that commercial. I said it’s for people too stupid to use a colander. Really set myself up for the karmic smackdown. A few days later I make a big batch of pasta. My pots and pans are Calphalon commercial anodized. I’ve got an 8 quart stock pot with the pasta strainer insert. As I lift the insert out of the hot water one of the potholders slips. Splash. Scalding water on my stomach just below my chest. Ow! I pulled my shirt away from the skin as quickly as I could but the knit shirt I was wearing held the water to my skin long enough to get a mild second degree burn. \*&@$%!!! that hurts. It wasn’t too bad and only about 12 square inched of skin effected. Only a small portion of teh blister peeled so I treated that with antibiotic. The scab just recently fell off that little bit and the dead layer of skin has peeled from the rest of it. I guess this means I have to ride the special short bus to culinary school. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Binarydrone \* > \*\*OK, with the one exception of the hand held blender. Those actually serve a purpose. \*\* Yes, but the cheap, Chinese made ones are junk. Even the Braun doesn’t work that well IMHO. LadyLion and I got a [Bamix](http://www.bamix.com/english/index.htm) and it absolutely rocks. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/43 "2003-01-09T23:49:01Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t know how many you cook for, but when cooking pasta, you need LOTS of water, and those pots just aren’t big enough for more than two-three people. I have actually never understood the whole thing about using lots of water for pasta. I started cooking pasta for 4 in college in a two quart sauce pan cause that was all I had. And I honestly can’t figure out what the benefit of all that extra water is. I guess you have more heat around so the water doesn’t cool off so much when you add the pasta, but the specific heat of water is so much higher anyway It’ll come back to a full boil in 30 seconds. Anyway it’s probably less of a difference in water temperature than I get from living at high altitude anyway. as long as you have enough water to still cover the pasta at the end of cooking I really don’t see the problem. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/44 "2003-01-09T23:51:41Z")
Woo! I’m going to check out Target now that I know this, **AskNott** , thanks! ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/45 "2003-01-09T23:54:02Z")
I’ll admit, I want one of the goofy things too. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/46 "2003-01-10T00:03:29Z")
wolfman: I agree with you. In fact, for some types of pasta, I just “cook it til the water is gone” and then it’s done. As for them being cheap pots… they’re still probably better than what I have. The stuff I have is from those “800 peice pot and pan set for only $14.37” sets that you get at WalMart. Plus they’re old. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/47 "2003-01-10T00:04:27Z")
Those quick-chopper things are a waste of money (I’m sure there’s one brand out there that’s okay, but it’s the exception to the rule). On Thanksgiving I had to help my Aunt chop pecans for her cheesecake. She gave me her quick-chopper to use. The nuts kept getting stuck on the “blade” and when I looked, there was half nut DUST and the rest were untouched. Seriously, I could just _break apart_ the nuts by hand, individually, faster than I could get the right amount of “quick chopped” nuts. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/48 "2003-01-10T00:18:45Z")
I rarely cook anything, but sometimes I make pasta. That thing looks great. To me it’s in the catagory of what the hell took them so long to “invent” it. I’m not sure why someone wouldn’t want it. ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/49 "2003-01-10T00:54:32Z")
Go for the grater and pasta fork. The chopper’s not all that great. I got one at Target (As Seen On TV!!!) and some things don’t chop very thoroughly with it and other things get stuck and jams it. While we’re on the subject, my folks bought the handy dandy kitchen knife set that’s hawked by the Chef Tony looking guy. There actually pretty cool but don’t buy any of the other stuff they throw at you when you call 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/50 "2003-01-10T02:19:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bouv \* > **Actually, one thing I really want I’ve only seen once. It’s this sweet old lady peddling it. It’s hard to describe…but take a whisk, and flatten it. Now, make it so it can open up so it’s like a pair of tongs, but with whisk things to grab food.** **bouv** , is this what you want?[http://shop.store.yahoo.com/candochefs/easloccomton.html](http://shop.store.yahoo.com/candochefs/easloccomton.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/51 "2003-01-10T03:28:59Z")
The chopper thing sucks. My mom got one, used it once, and gave it to Goodwill. ---
**Author:** ![friggae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/45deac/32.png) [@friggae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friggae)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/52 "2003-01-10T04:09:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peri \* > \*\ ***bouv** , is this what you want?[http://shop.store.yahoo.com/candochefs/easloccomton.html](http://shop.store.yahoo.com/candochefs/easloccomton.html) \*\* Or perhaps this: [ChefWizard](http://chefwizard.com/) ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/53 "2003-01-10T04:12:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bouv \* > \*\* A word on those hand choppers, not as good as you think. There are a couple good ones, they come apart and you can clean the inside. These cheap ones, though, are crappy, have dull blades, and food gets stuck on the inside…nasty. \*\* I’ve got one. Useful for chopping onions(which is good becuase I’m an onionholic),and it breaks into 3 peices to stick in the diswasher. The Pasta Pro is nice, but nothing particulary special. It works, but if mine somehow broke, I wouldn’t cry over it. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/54 "2003-01-10T04:19:50Z")
They’re selling those choppers at a kiosk in the mall now. They have two demonstrations going at the same time, and they rarely chop anything but onions. ---
**Author:** ![heresiarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/55 "2003-01-10T05:20:34Z")
Funny. I’ve been laughing at that commercial too. I even jokingly pondered whether there were actors who specialize in making simple household chores (like draining pasta) look incredibly difficult. But this thread just reminded me of a nice burn I got one time while draining pasta. I have the same kind of pots as **Padeye** , heavy anodized aluminum Calphalon. I dropped twelve quarts of boiling water on my foot which soaked into my canvas shoe and gave me a huge blister. I’m not gonna buy one of those pots, but I guess I can’t scoff at anyone who does. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/56 "2003-01-10T05:23:44Z")
Heck, I’d like a pasta pot too. I’m having a blast with my quesadilla maker, so why not? But then, I’d also like one of those hair brushes that rolls your hair straight or wavy, and one of those Roombas (robotic vacuums). And some more blue gel pain reliever emu oil stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/57 "2003-01-10T06:02:13Z")
Thank you all for making me feel like less of a freak for being tempted by those. Now I know there are plenty of other freaks like me out there. 😉 I’ve also been tempted by the fancy Wearever pot and pan set with a similar type of lid, including a lip to catch boil-over water. One question about the Pasta Pot and its ilk, though: wouldn’t the lids be useless for keeping things inside hot because of all those holes? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/58 "2003-01-10T06:32:27Z")
Before you order the combination pasta pot & strainer, I recommend looking through all your local department and specialty stores that sell cookware. You’re likely to find something similar (or even the same product) at a better price. And you won’t have to wait 6-8 weeks for delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/59 "2003-01-10T07:05:56Z")
Hooray! Suddenly I feel like _so_ much less of a lame-bot spending a whole thirty minutes of my precious free time in a Target debating back-and-forth whether or not to get this clever little time saver. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578/60 "2003-01-10T07:06:44Z")
I don’t eat enough pasta to even have the small one. Heck, the strainer works for me, just fine. Don’t get me wrong because I love all kinds of kitchen gadgets, this aint one I am willing to pick up anytime soon. Besides, my strainer get’s out more water for when I am cooking pasta so the sauce actually sticks. I don’t think this would allow enough water to escape, only to end up with watery pasta sauce. Blech. Right there, I would prefer to not eat pasta. I make yummy pasta sauces and to have it watered down just makes the effort seem worthless. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-that-pasta-pot-does-that-make-me-a-bad-person/147578.md?page=4)