I admit, I am a fan of pretty appliances. No, they cannot be all form and no function – after all, I used to bake professionally, so quality is still the most important thing. But colorful cookware makes cooking a tiny a little more comfortable. That’s why I picked up some pieces from Our Place, a celebrity-favorite brand (that Selena Gomez has collaborated with) that trumps all others in terms of aesthetics.
I cook almost every night with their Perfect Pot and Always Pan (or “the kitchen wizard,” according to Oprah), so I was intrigued when I heard they were releasing a new product—the Perfect Power Pot. It’s essentially a combo electric cooker and steamer that lets you cook hot meals without the need for a stove or oven. I was able to snag one of these right when it launched, so keep scrolling to see if it can hold up to the other pieces in my collection.
Our place
Fry, steam, cook and more – without a stove.
- Thanks to the compact plug-in design, ideal for dormitories, hotels and mobile homes
- The non-stick coating is produced without “eternal chemicals”
- Can be used for searing, steaming, cooking and more
- Steam basket is made of plastic
- When preparing meals for several people, it may be necessary to prepare large quantities
- The beechwood spatula feels a bit splintery
$120 at Our Place
First impressions
I always get excited when I unpack a package from Our Place because I know I’m going to find something beautiful. The Perfect Power Pot did not disappoint – I chose the Spice colour, which is like a muted coral red, but it also comes in a black and grey combination if that’s more your style.
In addition to the electric pot base, steamer attachment and glass lid, I got the brand’s signature beechwood spatula (which rests directly on the pot handle via a little button – so clever) and a detachable power cord, as well as a cute little recipe booklet. It turns out you can make everything from chicken tikka masala to ramen in this thing.
Also included were not one but two user manuals, both of which included easy-to-follow instructions and diagrams. A few things to note: Due to the electrical nature of this unit, hand washing is a must and it is intended for indoor use only.
Put to the test
Most weeknights I make some sort of stir-fry of plant-based proteins and vegetables in the evenings, so I thought I’d start there to test out both the pot and the steamer. Following the instructions, I washed everything down with warm, soapy water. Next, I chopped up my ingredients—in this case, a block of tofu and broccoli—plugged the pot in, added some olive oil, and waited for it to heat up.
The settings are very user-friendly; there’s a high heat function, a low heat function, and an off function. After just a minute or two, the oil in the pot seemed warm enough to start cooking, so I dropped in a few pieces of tofu and heard a satisfying sizzle as they hit the surface. The Perfect Power Pot has the same nonstick coating as my other Our Place cookware, and I appreciate that it’s made without PFAS or “forever chemicals.”
Since the pot is quite compact, only about half a block of tofu could fit in it. One advantage of this appliance, however, is that it takes up very little space, making it ideal for cooking on the go. After browning the tofu a bit on all sides, I added some sauce and seasoning and turned the heat down to low. The beauty of this appliance is that you can cook several things at once with it thanks to its layered design, so I threw some broccoli florets into the steamer basket and put the lid on.
I let the broccoli steam while the tofu simmered in the sauce for about five minutes, then checked to see if everything looked sufficiently cooked. It was! I added the broccoli to the pot to mix with the sauce, then dumped everything into a bowl and cooked the rest of the tofu and broccoli for my husband. In terms of taste and texture, I didn’t notice any difference between this cooking method and my usual stovetop cooking method (in a good way).
After the machine cooled down, I washed everything again with warm water and soap, which was a breeze since the components are so smooth. All in all, a successful test run! Since then, I’ve tried making rice, boiling noodles, and steaming dumplings. The only issue I had was that I cooked my rice a little too long following the directions in the recipe booklet – but that was probably user error, as I didn’t know to put the steamer basket on top of the pot while it was cooking on low heat and was a few minutes late with that step. The steamer has five little indentations for eggs, so I’ll try that next!
A versatile ship
Although the Perfect Power Pot is a little too small for everyday cooking in my 2-person household, it’s the kind of appliance I would have loved to have had in my kitchen-less dorm when I was in college. I could have made a lot more than instant noodles and microwave mac and cheese! It would also be perfect to take with you on RV trips or even to a hotel when you want a hot meal without shelling out for room service.
What I’ll definitely use it for? Making side dishes for Thanksgiving. My stove’s burners fill up quickly while I’m preparing holiday meals, so having an extra stove that I can plug in and use to heat up mashed sweet potatoes or gravy is a real blessing.
Conclusion: Is the Perfect Power Pot worth it?
If you are the road trip type, a regular traveler, or know someone who is going to college, I would say the Perfect Power Pot is a worthwhile investment. It is Really Portable – light enough that I can lift it with one hand at my 5’10” and not so strong frame, and it would definitely fit in a carry-on. Just think how much you or a student you know would save on eating out with this thing. I could also see it being a handy option for single-person households, as it holds enough food for individual portions and heats up quickly. Plus, being able to sear and steam at the same time is pretty handy.
My only gripes are that the steamer basket is plastic (I would have preferred wood or metal, especially since it’s a part that gets heated) and that the wooden spatula feels a bit rough and unpolished. As for the steamer basket, Our Place assures that they “only develop products that are made without PFAS (including PTFEs and PFOAs)” and my issue with the spatula is only minor. Overall, this is a solid little appliance!
Our place
Psst: I would be remiss if I didn’t give a little preview of the best-selling Always Pan, which I normally use to cook dinner!
Our place
This multi-purpose, nonstick beauty is the product that put Our Place on the map—and thanks to its thoughtful design, it could become your most-used cookware. The ceramic coating is smooth and PFAS-free, while the handle doubles as a spoon rest. Speaking of utensils, it comes with a wooden spatula and a metal steamer basket that can be used as a strainer. For added versatility, it’s oven safe up to 230°C.
For more information, check out my full review of Our Place Always Pan.
$150 at Our Place
