The Kuhn-Rikon 4th Burner Multi-Pot isn’t going to replace a skillet or saucepan on your boat. But if you have room for just one more pan — maybe instead of a tea kettle (although it doesn’t whistle) — this would be a great choice.
A reader sent me a note highly recommending it and a couple months later I bought one for myself and I love it — I use it several times a day!
Claudia said:
I leave it on my stove top all the time, and use it to boil water, cook pasta (it’s tall enough for spaghetti!), boil eggs, heat soup, make oatmeal, do small-scale canning, steam vegetables, and, and, and. It’s about 3 litres/quarts, so it holds a fair bit. The pouring spout and the lid with straining holes are pure genius. Whoever designed this pot clearly loves to cook, because it’s an absolute joy to use.
I agree wholeheartedly. And yes, mine sits on the stove all the time (well, when underway I put it in the sink). My stove is tiny and the multi-pot fits perfectly.
A little more about it:
- It’s actually 3-1/2 quarts, or just under a gallon
- Made of 18/10 stainless — the most resistent to rusting and pitting (read more about stainless grades)
- Steamer basket
- Silicone coverings on the pan and lid handle, keeping them cool (but still use a pot holder . . .)
- Glass top, so you can see what’s happening in the pan. I like glass tops for conserving propane — I don’t have to remove the lid and let heat out, and I’ve never had one break
- There are fill marks on the inside to ease measuring — I use these all the time to avoid wasting water or heating more than I need
- Pour spout on the pan
- Strainer holes on the lid eliminates the need for a colander or strainer — fewer items to wash! The lid turns when cooking so that steam is not escaping . . . unless you want it to!
- As I’m writing this, there are 26 customer reviews on Amazon — 23 give it 5 stars and 3 gave it 4 stars. I almost NEVER find a product where at least one person (usually more) hasn’t given a one-star rating.
It’s shaped more like a pitcher than a typical saucepan, being about 5-1/2 inches diameter and 7-1/2 inches tall. If your galley stove is tiny, it will probably fit alongside another pot on the neighboring burner. As our new boat has a tiny stove, this is becoming more and more important to me!
However, the fact that it’s taller than wide means that it’s tippier than many other pans. You’ll need to be rigorous about using pot restraints with it so that it doesn’t fall over and send scalding ingredients flying (I always use them on any pan as a basic safety measure!).
Also, the steamer basket has fairly large holes in it — good for steaming veggies or boiling eggs and just lifting the basket out. But the holes are too large for being able to cook pasta in the basket and lift it out. Instead, just cook the pasta in the pan and use the stainer lid to drain it.
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Debbie Carroll on Facebook says
We have this pot also, love it. We use a timer to take the place of the whistle on a tea pot. Also leave it out all the time.
Andrea Dollins on Facebook says
Oh my…ordering one right now!!
Jan Irons on Facebook says
Very cool — will it steam 4 ears of corn on the cob?
The Boat Galley on Facebook says
Jan Irons — The answer is a resounding YES — and just standing them up without the insert, I could have easily gotten 5 and maybe 6 (didn’t have any more in the house to actually try). Photo coming in a sec!
Kathy quinn says
How long do you cook the corn?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Here’s how I do it: Bring enough salted water to cover the corn to a boil (without the corn in the pan), then add the corn upright and cover. Bring back to a boil over high heat and start timing when water starts boiling again. Two to three minutes depending on how young and tender corn is. Drain water and remove corn using tongs. Serve.
Joanne Smith on Facebook says
I bought one about a month ago on your recomendation for my Husband who is the cook in our galley. He Loves it and he is pickey about which pans we have on board! Steams corn to perfection.
Charlotte says
How does water boiled for tea taste after everything else that has been cooked in it, such as soup, pasta, etc?
Carolyn Shearlock says
It’s stainless, which doesn’t pick up taste . . . unless you don’t wash it thoroughly. I haven’t noticed any sort of taste.
Judie Ashford says
I have had this pot for about six months, but haven’t used it yet. Inspiration to try it out!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Andrea Dollins says
I have two of them now, they are so awesome! 🙂
Janice Fleischmann says
Bought one and love it !
Kathy quinn says
I haven’t used it yet but I wish it would of come with better instructions . I heard you can cook corn in the cob on it but it doesn’t tell you how long to cook it. Does anyone know how to cork corn
Carolyn Shearlock says
Kathy — You can do it with or without the steamer insert; same method either way. Here’s a photo of how the corn fits in the insert:
Wilma Helm says
Have had this pot for years and love it.
Rebecca Hammond Vaughan says
We love ours!
Robert Snelling says
Just ordered one; we’ll see what happens! It looks like it’ll steam a lobster or enough mussels for one person
The Boat Galley says
Definitely one, probably two unless huge! It’ll hold 5 ears of corn.
Robert Snelling says
Might be a bit tight for more than one good Nova Scotia lobster! But now you’ve given me a challenge…so I guess I’ll just have to have lobster for the sake of science
The Boat Galley says
Darn! I hate it when that happens. Thanks for making such a sacrifice in the name of science.
Lynn Cryer Duggan says
Just ordered one….loved the comments!
Lynn Cryer Duggan says
Just ordered one and can’t wait to give it a try!
Susan Thaxton Wyatt says
I just bought a similar pot for my boat and I love it! Great for cooking pasta or vegetables and allows me to use my other 2 burners on my 3-burner stove!
Andrea Dollins says
I have two of these now, love them!
Kimberly Niehause says
We don’t boat, but nearly all of these articles can apply for the camper as well. So nice to read all of the FB articles.
The Boat Galley says
Absolutely — and some of the tips I learned while camping in a tent, too. So glad you think they’re helpful!
Marilyn Van Os says
I use them for Tiny House and small apartment tips as well. LOVE your suggestions!
Mike Poor says
Totally agreed. Got one of them soon after one of your readers recommended one. We steam mussels, pull the strainer out with them, then melt butter and garlic for them. Easy to cook, easy to clean.
Georgia Green says
I have one its great but can be top heavy needs support underway on its own so more risk accident
Lynn Cryer Duggan says
Just ordered one and can’t wait….think it would be perfect for so many things!
Linda H says
Just received and can’t wait to use. Can anyone share with me how they hard boil eggs? Don’t want to under or overcook.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I do them the same as any other pan. As long as you only have one layer of eggs, no difference.
Christine Dumaine Springfield says
Love, love, love mine! Thanks for the recommendation!!!
Carolyn Schneider says
I bought this pot for our Gemini 5 years ago when I needed a way to sterilize baby bottles on board! Now I use it for everything….steaming veggies, as a kettle just to name a few. It is truly multiuse and perfect size for the boat.
Janice Fleischmann says
My favorite pot on board. My kettle, pasta pot, veggie steamer to name a few.
Allan Cobb says
Great multi use pot.
Lisa M. Rush says
Love ours! Works great with the two burner stove when I’m also using a frying pan.
Bart Trish Masker says
Just got ours today
Teri says
how long to boil potatoes, amount of water and size of potatoes?
Carolyn Shearlock says
I don’t know about that, but it takes about 9 minutes to boil 6 cups of water for coffee in the morning using this pot and high heat on a propane stove.