Today I’m diving into a product that was actually requested by a subscriber to the Freakin’ Reviews newsletter. It’s called the Pacuzzi, and it claims to turn virtually any skillet into a steamer, allowing you to reheat or rehydrate food quickly, even at “microwave speeds,” according to the company. It sounded a little out there, so I picked one up for about $30 and decided to give it a fair shake.
Where to Purchase
I purchased my Pacuzzi direct from the official website. As of this writing, there does not appear to be an Amazon listing for this product.
Unboxing the Pacuzzi
The packaging calls it both a skillet steamer and a humidi-fryer, which is a bit odd, but let’s roll with it. Inside the box, I found:
- The Pacuzzi unit itself
- A rubbery mat (which felt more pliable than I expected)
- A small measuring cup
- Some basic instructions, including a prominent warning not to use high heat
Right out of the gate, that warning made me raise an eyebrow. Usually when something is plastered with a “DO NOT DO THIS” sticker, it’s because someone already did… and it didn’t end well.
What It Claims to Do
According to the company’s site (there’s no Amazon listing), the Pacuzzi is mainly designed for reheating and rehydrating food, and cooking from scratch isn’t really highlighted. They emphasize things like reviving leftover pizza or steaming pre-cooked foods. Two ounces of water is supposed to give you 8 to 16 minutes of steam, which sounds impressive…if it works.
They also show it being used to “rehydrate” a slice of pizza in nearly every promo video. Ironically, I’ve been reheating pizza in a skillet for years without any kind of steaming contraption, so I was curious if this would actually make a noticeable difference.
Pizza Test – Pacuzzi vs. Plain Skillet
For my first test, I grabbed two 12-inch skillets: my Ninja Foodi NeverStick and my trusty (but aging) HexClad. I used one with the Pacuzzi and one without. Starting with cold pans, I pressed the Pacuzzi onto the bottom of one and added two ounces of water, as the instructions recommended. Then I waited for steam.
And waited. And waited.
It took nearly six minutes before I saw any real steam action. That’s a long time to wait just to reheat a slice of pizza. Once it started steaming, I added the slice and covered the pan. Five minutes later, I compared both slices.
Results:
- The Pacuzzi slice was noticeably hotter
- Both slices were similarly crispy on the bottom
- Taste-wise, not a huge difference, but the Pacuzzi slice had a slight edge in heat and texture
Still, the time it took to get to steaming might cancel out any time saved in reheating.
Grilled Cheese Test
Next up: grilled cheese. I followed their YouTube video for this one, making an open-faced grilled cheese using hot water instead of cold to speed up the steaming process. I also dropped the amount of water to 1.5 ounces (which is suggested on their website).
This time, both pans (Pacuzzi and non-Pacuzzi) steamed up nicely. After two minutes, I took them off the heat and dug in.
Results:
I couldn’t tell a difference. Not in appearance, texture, or taste. Both sandwiches were equally melty and satisfying.
Steaming Fresh Broccoli
Here’s where things got a bit more interesting. I wanted to see if the Pacuzzi could handle steaming fresh broccoli, not the microwavable bagged kind they showcase on their Instagram.
After about 10 minutes, the broccoli was cooked through and tasted great. However, it had some brown spots on one side, probably because I didn’t stir it during the steaming. Lesson learned: give it a quick stir halfway through.
Results:
Tasted fine, just not quite as visually appealing as traditional steamed broccoli. Still, a success.
Leftover McDonald’s Nuggets & Fries
For the last test I grabbed some leftover McDonald’s chicken nuggets and fries from the fridge. This is a classic challenge for any reheating method, and I had high hopes for this one.
Unfortunately, I tried a different pan, and all the water leaked out. Total fail. I switched back to the Ninja pan, and this time it worked.
Results:
- Slightly better texture on the Pacuzzi side, especially with the nuggets
- Fries were about the same on both sides
- The Pacuzzi nuggets were a bit closer to their original texture, but not dramatically so
If I weren’t doing a side-by-side comparison, I probably wouldn’t have noticed a difference.
Cleaning & Durability
I tossed everything into the dishwasher. The Pacuzzi unit held up fine, but the rubber mat needed extra scrubbing, and even then, it still wasn’t perfectly clean after one use. That could be a dealbreaker for anyone who values easy cleanup.
Final Thoughts
So, does the Pacuzzi work? Technically, yes. It does produce steam and can reheat or rehydrate food with slightly better results than using a dry skillet.
But is it worth it?
That’s where I’m not so sure.
For $30, you’re essentially getting a suction-cup steamer that’s extremely niche in its use. If you regularly reheat food like pizza or nuggets and want every bit of texture restored, you might find some value in it. But for most people, I think the difference is too small to justify the cost or the extra wait time.
Pros:
✔ Slightly better texture and heat in some cases
✔ Can steam fresh vegetables
✔ Works in most skillets (if the seal holds)
Cons:
✘ Long wait for steam to begin
✘ Inconsistent instructions (conflicting water amounts between website, card, and video)
✘ Rubber mat may be tough to clean
✘ Marginal improvement for most foods
✘ Pricey for what it is
In the end, I probably won’t keep using the Pacuzzi, but I’m glad I gave it a shot. If you’ve tried this or something like it, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Video Review
Check out the full review in the video below.