Help - cooking with steamer

Sallys_Savings

ohh no don't recycle......have you never tried it?

The vegetables taste so much better when cooked in this way.

Penny-Pincher!!

Steamers are excellent!

Here are a couple of reviews on your one or one simlar:

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Cookworks_Food_Steamer__Review_5488986

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Reviews/Cookworks_Steamer__5684683

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/customer-reviews/B0002YSN0I/202-1915315-6855067

HTH

PP
xx

Zziggi

I have this steamer myself. I use it regularly but have never managed to get all my veg cooekd at the same time. All pots, carrots, chopped to a similar size but i still can't get them all ready at the same time. Can anyone give me any pointers please?

flufff

any suggestions as to what I could put in it and how to use it would be gratefully appreciated

lister

Zziggi wrote:

I have this steamer myself. I use it regularly but have never managed to get all my veg cooekd at the same time. All pots, carrots, chopped to a similar size but i still can't get them all ready at the same time. Can anyone give me any pointers please?

You need multiple tiers or to add the veg at different times. The manuals usually claim that tier height makes a difference, but to be honest it is negligible compared with how you cut the veg etc.

Some times I find work:

Mushrooms (closed cup or chestnut, quartered)- 20 minutes
Carrots (thin batons) - 12 minutes
Broad beans - 10 minutes
Onion rings (not battered) - 8 minutes
Peppers - 8 minutes
Spring greens/kale - 5-10 minutes (depends how thick the leaves are)
Frozen peas - 8-10 minutes
French beans - 10 minutes
Runner beans (thinly sliced and not too old) - 10 minutes

I don't recommend some of the rubbish the manuals will try and peddle. It really isn't worth doing rice, eggs etc. in a steamer for example. I also don't bother doing spuds that way either. Takes too long and doesn't produce a taste benefit.

Will vary a bit with the machine, but not very much. Basically it is trial and error. Make a note of the times you try and adjust each time until you get it right. If you are after 'fire-and-forget' food, then steamers are hard work, because to do a range of veg you do have to keep coming back to put the next stuff in.

mandy_moo_1

Ooh glad i found this post!! i was sorting my cupboards out the other day and i found my steamer....still unused in its box !!! Bought it when i was on one of my health kicks but never used it cos i thought there'd be too much messing about!! Might give it a go now you've reminded me about it!!

SuperCooper

I bought an electric steamer a few months ago - big mistake for me as it sits in the cupboard most of the time .

I wish I'd bought a stainless steel stove top one - at least I could mash potatoes in the bottom one - you can't in the plastic basket type things on an electric type. It would save on the washing up.

Should have found this site first and asked you lovely people for advice.

ForOurFuture

I have worn out 3 electric steamers and just about to invest in a 4th. We use it every day to cook our vegetables. Normally we have carrots, brocolli, cauliflower, leeks, cabbage and courgettes. We cook them all together for 25 minutes and they come out perfectly (for us). 5 minutes longer for granddad as he has problems with his teeth!! If I am doing asparagus I pop them in for about 8 minutes before the 25 minutes are up, likewise spinach and mangetoute for about 4 minutes before end cooking time. I occasionally do potatoes especially if I am cooking for just me and I slice them and they come out fine. I don't bother doing peas in the steamer as I find it quicker to do in microwave. I have used the same timings for each steamer that I have had. I can't live without it now!!

flufff

Thankyou I'll think i'll try doing my sunday veggies in it this weekend :-)

tootles_2

I have had a steamer for years would not cook veg any other way......I put spuds and carrots in whilst it comes to the boil, then turn it down after about 15 minutes add cauli, brocc, kidney beans, french beans whatever, everything will be cooked in 30 minutes, turn off the heat and use the water in the bottom to make gravy.......Mine is a double so I cook a steamed sponge pudding in the top......... you can steam fish and chicken wrapped in foil over your veg

My duaghter has an electric one which she bought after having steamed veg when they stayed with us.

Don't get rid of it learn to use it, you will never go back to boiling veg again...boiling destroys the vitamins and minerals in the veg, steaming also helps to keep the colour in cabbage (which does not smell when steamed) and brussels.