I just ordered my 2nd zojirushi fish roaster today. The first one I had quit working after about 11 months of constant use - I used it to roast Pike Mackerel, Steaks, vegetables, salmon, etc. For the amount that I used it, Im not too angered or surprised that it broke, but I wish it would last a little longer.
The roaster is awesome at cooking steaks and fish - and it gets done VERY quickly. Somewhere around 10-15 minutes from a raw fish, all the way to it being nicely cooked, same with steaks.
When I first bought the unit, there was very little smoke, just a faint smell of fish or steak, and I was very pleased. I probably used this everyday, or every other day for 11 months, and towards the end of the 11 months, it started getting really smokey in the house ( I dont know if the filter was failing, or if it was just all the oil on the heating elements), and I had to start taking the roaster outside - I live in a small apartment so its not a big deal, as I have a patio that is very close to the kitchen. And at the end of the 11 months, when I was cooking a steak, I realized that the top heating element just quit working... for 120 bucks, and the amount I used it, Im not happy that I have to buy another one, but I cant say I didnt get my money's worth.
Here are some annoyances that I found using this thing:
1) The bottome reflector tray needs to be covered by tinfoil or something because the oil that drips on the reflector tray is near impossible to get off, and you will ruin a sponge trying to clean it
2) The water you need to put in the bottom of the unit after a while will discolor the bottom. I left water in there overnight once ( I forgot to clean it) and I had some rust at the bottom - not too big of a deal, but it makes the unit unsightly on the inside.
3) the Unit gets SUPER hot, so dont place anything on top of it or touch it during the cooking process - Its common sense I know, but one of my buddies burned himself by touching it. Hes not the fastest fish in the pack, so maybe that was to be expected, but its something you should be aware of.
4) The grill inside is not very adjustable, and it gets a lot of burnt charcoal stuck to it. Had to buy a special sponge ethat gets the charcoal off. not a big deal, but still a very slight annoyance. i can deal with it. Here are the good things:
1) You can plop a steak in there, or some tomatoes, fish, whatever, and it becomes nicely grilled. does what its meant to do, quite quickly.
2) makes me not have to use the stove or the oven - BIG PLUS.
3) relatively small footprint for what it does.
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Zojirushi EF-VSC40 1300-Watt Electric Gourmet RoasterProduct Description: A healthy and efficient alternative to stovetop or oven cooking, this gourmet roaster delivers 1300 watts of power for quickly cooking anything from chicken, chops, or steaks to fish and veggies. Its stainless-steel roasting rack measures 13-13/16 by 8-5/16 inches, which means it can nicely accommodate large fish and meats up to 13 inches wide. The rack can also be set at two different heights and its design helps direct excess oil and fat away from food for lower-fat cooking. For added convenience, the countertop appliance comes equipped with top and bottom heating elements to ensure even cooking without having to turn food over, plus its floating reflector reflects heat from the bottom heater and reduces evaporation of water for a crispier finish. Other thoughtful details include an adjustable timer up to 30 minutes, a catalytic filter on the lid for reduced smoke, a flip-open lid, and parts that disassemble for easy cleaning. Accessories include a food-server utensil for removing cooked foods, including delicate fish fillets, and an instruction manual with suggested roasting times listed for pacific saury (sanma), dried jack mackerels, salmon steaks, tilapia, tilapia wrapped in foil, steaks, chops, hot dogs, sausages, and chicken. The gourmet roaster measures 11-5/8 by 19-1/8 by 7-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty on parts and labor.
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Good for the price, the way it's assembled leads to some instability when in use.
