Food steamer recommendations

poodlehorse

The biggest tier of my Tefal is 21cm across by about 24.5. It is about 8.5 cm high but the lid takes it to another 3cm in the middle maybe a tad more but it is a domed lid so not much more than the 8.5cm at the sides. But I guess you could just use a bit of foil wrapped over a couple of times and with a couple of holes in it if the it wasn't high enough. So long as you don't whack it in too roughly I am sure the bottom will cope okay. Hope this makes sense.

purplepatch

poodlehorse wrote: »

The biggest tier of my Tefal is 21cm across by about 24.5. It is about 8.5 cm high but the lid takes it to another 3cm in the middle maybe a tad more but it is a domed lid so not much more than the 8.5cm at the sides. But I guess you could just use a bit of foil wrapped over a couple of times and with a couple of holes in it if the it wasn't high enough. So long as you don't whack it in too roughly I am sure the bottom will cope okay. Hope this makes sense.

Thanks.

I'm thinking that if I get one with the removable shelves, then I could remove them and just lower it in as far as it will go, until it wedges against the sides if that makes any sense.

Also is that 21 by 24.5 by 8.5 for the top basket? So they are oval, the pictures make them look round. I think if I'm understanding correctly, then my plan would probably work. Could I trouble you for dimensions of the bottom basket... sorry to be a pain. Which model have you got? And would you recommend?

poodlehorse

19.5 by 23.5 is the bottom tier dimensions, middle tier is currently missing in action so can't measure that. YEs they are oval, mine is a silver easy store steam cuisine 1000 with turbo diffusion. It would make sense to take out the "bottom" between the tiers to fit your bowl in height wise, DOH didn't think of that. I didn't use mine much to start with as I convinced myself it was a faff to fit in the dishwasher and I am too lazy to handwash if I can really help it. But I am currently (and have been since May) without a kitchen so it has been put to almost daily use for veggies, chicken, fish and I think it is great. and it isn't that hard to clean or fit in the dishwasher(managed to get that plumbed in at the back door hee hee), I just needed a kick up the butt I think. I do my potatoes in there and it still takes the best part of half an hour to cook them so I think you have to experiment with timings a bit. I have also boiled (soft and hard) eggs in there and it works great for that too. I always miss the start of the boil when doing them normally and end up guessing how long they have to go so to have it timed is handy as I don't have to stand over it. I have never used the rice basket but really should give it a go as I am not great with rice but I have been using the auto cook program on my microwave for that and pasta. I would say it is good and worth the money. Veggies DO taste better done in the steamer and I don't salt them at all. DH still thinks they need a bit though but then again he likes his salt compared to me. It cooks my fave indulgence halibut to perfection and for that alone I think it is worth it but I think I am still probably not using it to its full potential.

dora37

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0382926024.1198003177@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccgdaddmkihiimicflgceggdhhmdgml.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=108363&category_oid=

I have this electric steamer - I have had it for about 18 months now and use it all the time.

It fits loads of veg in and frees up pans.

Goes in the diswasher too.

purplepatch

Thanks to you both, I'm sold on the idea! Off to buy one now

csarina

I have had a 3 tier steamer for at least 17 yearsmits a large saucepan in which sit the two baskets, one on top if the other with a lid, its stainless steel and has served me very well. I would not give an electric one house room. My daughter had one and hated it, she sent it to the boot sale and bought one like mine from Argos. Its all according I guess. When I cook rice I use 1 cup of rice to 2 of water bring it to the boil, stir it put the lid on and turn off the heat, leave for 12 minutes, result perfectly cooked rice. If you use brown rice it needs longer cooking so boil for 5 minutes and then turn off the heat.

purplepatch

I've got a stainless steel one already, I just need more cooking options sometimes when I'm entertaining (all the gas rings being used), so an electric one seems a sensible buy. It certainly seems that some electric ones are not worth having, so I'm paying a lot of attention to reviews.

oldrimes

If you are short of space in the kitchen then the Tefal 3 in 1 combined rice cooker, slow cooker and steamer would be worth looking at. (the current product may be the 4 in 1 cooker - not sure)

I bought a 3 basket electrical steamer from Asda for £10, and now consider it to be an essential kitchen item. Starts to generate steam quickly, has a built in timer, and wouldn't be without it.

I tried rice in it, but it takes too long and the rice bowl that came with it is really too small for us, so subsequently bought the Tefal combined cooker. It makes a great rice & slow cooker, but have never tried steam cooking in it.

FrenchMaid_2

I use the old metal colander over pot method most, but also have a microwave steamer (something my Nan bought from Tupperware in the 80ies) and use it on occassions!

purplepatch

dora37 wrote: »

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0382926024.1198003177@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccgdaddmkihiimicflgceggdhhmdgml.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=108363&category_oid=

I have this electric steamer - I have had it for about 18 months now and use it all the time.

It fits loads of veg in and frees up pans.

Goes in the diswasher too.

That's a very good price. Are the tier shelves removable?