is it worth buying a steamer / rice cooker?

newmee

I have been looking at buying an electric steamer or rice cookers / steamer, with the view to have healthy steamed grub waiting for me when I get home, by use of a timer! BUT, I can't tell, from info online, if a 3 tier steamer that doesn't mention rice, can cook rice, or whether you actually have to buy a rice cooker or a steamer which states it has a rice basket.

Anyone know???

EricaB

i have a 3 tier steamer and you can cook veg, fish, meat, rice, pasta but it doesn't have a timer on it

suetty

I have a 3 tiered steamer but I wouldn't advise anyone to leave them unattended. They can run dry, yet the timer doesn't click off. Why not use a crockpot for cooking food all day and having a meal ready for when you come home - lovely for winter warmers! Also, I find veg tastes nicer cooked in the microwave - and much quicker - less moisture in the kitchen too.

munchki

I have a 3 tier steamer am thinking about listing on ebay as it literally just collects dust in the cupboard. *sigh* guess I prefer the crockpot or the microwave instead.

violetblue

I have to disagree with the above - I love my electric steamer and I use it all the time! Mine doesn't run dry if you leave it - once the timer has reached zero it switches itself off. And it doesn't steam up the kitchen at all.

It does take longer than other methods (microwave etc) but I think veg tastes much nicer done in the steamer, and it's great to just leave it steaming away until it's done, without having to check pans aren't boiling over or anything. Just to give you an idea, mine takes an hour to cook brown rice, and about 25-30 mins for veg. But it doesn't use a lot of energy because it only heats up a very small amount of water at a time.

If you want to do rice, you do need a rice basket though - you have to put water in with the rice and the other baskets all have holes in to let the steam through!

Kalamaker

Steamers are great! I agree with violetblue in the fact that the veggies do retain much of their flavor when you use the steamer. Personally, I'd suggest getting a separate rice cooker, they're usually inexpensive and they last a while.

jaquivander

I have both however I use the rice cooker much more as it has a steamer basket on the top which can be used for veggies/fish /chicken.....used it so much the bowl looks like a WW2 relic by now!

Mine doesn't have a pre-timer though, I just prepare the food in the mornig switch it on when I get in

newmee

Hi all and thanks so much for all the great advice...I knew you lot would help me :T :beer:

Suetty & Munchki I really can't get good results from the crockpot...have tried and followed advice on this site but meat doesn't turn out well and I don't really have the money to experiment...meat is a treat for us really.....and vegetables tasted vile in the things I made....so was really dissapointed...will have another go maybe one day! I always do my veg in a micro steamer for speed, economy and taste though!!
Violetblue, thanks for that, it looks like I need to look for a decent model (on offer of course!) that has good features.
Kalamaker I may look out for a deal on a seperate rice cooker cos I really love the idea of coming home to cooked rice to go with a nice curry I've cooked the night before mmmmmmm :drool: and thanks Jaquivander I may just look for one that has a steamer basket which may just be the perfect solution!

Take Care all...I shall be keeping 'em peeled now for a bargain......ooooooh, I just lurve a new gadget! :blushing:

gabyjane

Hi i have a stea,er and a slow cooker and love the slow cooker so much haven't got round to using my steamer until last night after having it in the cupboard for about 4 months lol..i am converted and it was so easy..i cooked
Salmon
mange tout
baby sweetcorn
new pots
all in 15 minutes!! it was so tasty and far better for us than other meals..
mine is a 3 tier with timer and rice cooker which beeps when done but i would never leave it unattended!
good luck x

johng_uk

We have a steamer and slow cooker and both are fabulous. Steaming is about the healthiest way to eat vegetables. Frying them is obviously fattening and boiling them loses some/all of the resident nutrients.

Steaming is the way ahead!

Tigsteroonie

The rice basket in my steamer is simply a plastic bowl that fits within one of the steamer baskets, so I would have thought that you could use any similar plastic dish within a normal steamer - you just need to get the proportions of water to rice correct.

I use the steamer for most stuff, but have to admit that tho' the rice is lovely done this way, I just cannot be bothered using it for rice unless I'm also doing something else in the other baskets.