***Story first aired December 17, 2012

The Fasta Pasta Microwave Pasta Cooker promises to make al dente pasta to perfection, but do you really need a microwavable container to simplify an otherwise straightforward task?

The Fasta Pasta, which retails for $14.95, is advertised as a cook’s best friend, to help you whip up the perfect pasta every time without it boiling over or sticking.

Steele on Your Side put the device to the test in its latest “As Seen on TV” product testing segment.

Pasta is first measured through holes in the box’s lid, and water is filled up to the level specified on the side of the device.  

With the lid off, the pasta is cooked in the microwave for about 12 minutes, and then drained through the lid.  

Lynda Steele was impressed with the results.  “It's not too hard, not too soft -- al dente. It’s pretty good.”

The Fasta Pasta also claims to make a delicious chocolate cake.

After mixing chocolate cake mix, oil, water and an egg, we popped the cake into the microwave for five minutes.  

The dessert gets two thumbs-up from Lynda Steele.  “It’s actually very good,” she said after sampling the cake.  “This is going to change my life.”

The Fasta Pasta cookbook, which comes with the product, includes dozens of recipes that can be prepared in 15 minutes or less while your pasta is cooking.  

We give the Fasta Pasta 4.5 stars out of 5.

Have you seen a product on TV you'd like us to test?  Send your ideas to steeleonyourside@bellmedia.ca