Steamers & steaming

On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:31:27 -0700, LurfysMa <[email hidden]>
magnanimously proffered:

Quoted message said:

I want to buy a food steamer. On Amazon and elsewhere I see products
by Oster, Black & Decker, Richard Simmons, Salton, Toastmaster, Deni
(stainless steel), Rival, and others.

Are they all more or less the same or are there certain features that
I should include or avoid?

The Oster 5712 (http://tinyurl.com/yo38pf) seems like a good choice
and gets good reviews on Amazon.

I've had my stainless steel steamer for almost 40 years and it's still
going strong. No brand that I can tell. Just a simple, round,
stainless-steel contraption with small holes (to let the steam
through). The unit sits on four S/S legs and the leaf-like sides fold
up or down so you can use it with a small saucepan right up to a large
one. It used to have a S/S handle in the middle, but it was always too
hot to handle and got turfed years ago. If I have to remove it from
the saucepan to get to the contents, I use a dish towel.

It's incredibly versatile and since my wife and I sometimes like to
steam different things for a meal, we bought a newer version that
seems to be made of a much thinner gauge of steel. Works though.

Quoted message said:

My purpose (at least to start with) is to cook veggies for two, so I
was inclined to get a smaller unit. But I guess the larger ones can
easily cook smaller amounts with about the same energy.

I keep reading that steaming is better than some other methods. I
thought about buying a steam cooking cookbook and maybe I would get
into more than veggies. Is steaming a good way to cook fish (salmon)?

I don't know. But, frankly, I don't like steaming fish - salmon
included.

Quoted message said:

Any suggestions for cookbooks?

Try a health food or natural foods store. Best to test and err on the
side of under-steaming at first. There are few things worse than limp,
wet, over-steamed veges.

Quoted message said:

Can these steamers cook rice as well as the rice cookers that are
designed just for that purpose?

Never attempted to steam rice in a steamer, but they are great for
re-warming leftover rice, baked beans and just about anything that
won't fall through the holes and into the water.

On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:30:34 +1200, bob <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:31:27 -0700, LurfysMa <[email hidden]>
magnanimously proffered:

Quoted message said:

I want to buy a food steamer. On Amazon and elsewhere I see products
by Oster, Black & Decker, Richard Simmons, Salton, Toastmaster, Deni
(stainless steel), Rival, and others.

Are they all more or less the same or are there certain features that
I should include or avoid?

The Oster 5712 (http://tinyurl.com/yo38pf) seems like a good choice
and gets good reviews on Amazon.

I've had my stainless steel steamer for almost 40 years and it's still
going strong. No brand that I can tell. Just a simple, round,
stainless-steel contraption with small holes (to let the steam
through). The unit sits on four S/S legs and the leaf-like sides fold
up or down so you can use it with a small saucepan right up to a large
one. It used to have a S/S handle in the middle, but it was always too
hot to handle and got turfed years ago. If I have to remove it from
the saucepan to get to the contents, I use a dish towel.

Like this: http://tinyurl.com/3b7n5r

I have one of these, but I want something with a timer that I can set
and come back in 30.

Quoted message said:

It's incredibly versatile and since my wife and I sometimes like to
steam different things for a meal, we bought a newer version that
seems to be made of a much thinner gauge of steel. Works though.

--

On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:00:24 -0700, LurfysMa <[email hidden]>
magnanimously proffered:

Quoted message said:

Like this: http://tinyurl.com/3b7n5r

I have one of these, but I want something with a timer that I can set
and come back in 30.

Very much like that one, but without the ring. The one I have had a
screw-in handle in the middle and the steamer tended to tip out the
contents if you used it. That ring on the side looks like an excellent
idea.

I can't imagine what kind of veges you'd steam that would take 30
minutes (even artichokes only take around 15 to 20 minutes), but why
not just invest in a good timer?

After going through several mechanical kitchen timers over the past
few years, I finally bought a Salter digital timer. Not only is it
wonderfully accurate (unlike the previous timers) and has a loud
alarm, but it may even last longer than the mechanical ones because it
doesn't have all those parts that wear out. Fingers crossed ...

LurfysMa <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I want to buy a food steamer. On Amazon and elsewhere I see
products by Oster, Black & Decker, Richard Simmons, Salton,
Toastmaster, Deni (stainless steel), Rival, and others.

Are they all more or less the same or are there certain
features that I should include or avoid?

The Oster 5712 (http://tinyurl.com/yo38pf) seems like a good
choice and gets good reviews on Amazon.

My purpose (at least to start with) is to cook veggies for
two, so I was inclined to get a smaller unit. But I guess the
larger ones can easily cook smaller amounts with about the
same energy.

I keep reading that steaming is better than some other
methods. I thought about buying a steam cooking cookbook and
maybe I would get into more than veggies. Is steaming a good
way to cook fish (salmon)?

Any suggestions for cookbooks?

Can these steamers cook rice as well as the rice cookers that
are designed just for that purpose?

I have a steamer (plastic type) made for the microwave.
Works great! (Timer is on the microwave.) :-)

sandi said:

LurfysMa <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I want to buy a food steamer. On Amazon and elsewhere I see
products by Oster, Black & Decker, Richard Simmons, Salton,
Toastmaster, Deni (stainless steel), Rival, and others.

Are they all more or less the same or are there certain
features that I should include or avoid?

The Oster 5712 (http://tinyurl.com/yo38pf) seems like a good
choice and gets good reviews on Amazon.

My purpose (at least to start with) is to cook veggies for
two, so I was inclined to get a smaller unit. But I guess the
larger ones can easily cook smaller amounts with about the
same energy.

I keep reading that steaming is better than some other
methods. I thought about buying a steam cooking cookbook and
maybe I would get into more than veggies. Is steaming a good
way to cook fish (salmon)?

Any suggestions for cookbooks?

Can these steamers cook rice as well as the rice cookers that
are designed just for that purpose?

I have a steamer (plastic type) made for the microwave.
Works great! (Timer is on the microwave.) :-)

You mean something like http://tinyurl.com/2djj6h or
http://tinyurl.com/yt4aam?

I have one of those, too. I don't like it at all. The broccoli gets
fried by the microwaves in addition to getting steamed. I find it very
difficult to get it done al dente.

I used to have a steamer, B&D, I think. It was great. Broccoli came
out bright green and perfectly cooked every time. No burning or
wilting.

--

"sandi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a steamer (plastic type) made for the microwave.
Works great! (Timer is on the microwave.) :-)

So what keeps the microwave from cooking the veggies?

Ms P

sandi said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Are they all more or less the same or are there certain

features that I should include or avoid?

All more or less the same. Get a big one though or you will wish you had🙂

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My purpose (at least to start with) is to cook veggies for
two, so I was inclined to get a smaller unit. But I guess the
larger ones can easily cook smaller amounts with about the
same energy.

Indeed!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I keep reading that steaming is better than some other
methods. I thought about buying a steam cooking cookbook and
maybe I would get into more than veggies. Is steaming a good
way to cook fish (salmon)?

Absolutely!!!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any suggestions for cookbooks?

I don't use one. I steam just about all my veggies. The flavour is so much
better

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can these steamers cook rice as well as the rice cookers that
are designed just for that purpose?

Yes

Ms P said:

"sandi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a steamer (plastic type) made for the microwave.
Works great! (Timer is on the microwave.) :-)

So what keeps the microwave from cooking the veggies?

Or simply a steamer insert or a rack for a pan? Those steamer appliance
thingies have always struck me as patently absurd...

--
Best
Greg

Gregory Morrow said:

Ms P said:

"sandi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a steamer (plastic type) made for the microwave.
Works great!  (Timer is on the microwave.)  :-)

Quoted message said:

So what keeps the microwave from cooking the veggies?

Or simply a steamer insert or a rack for a pan?  Those steamer appliance
thingies have always struck me as patently absurd...

Yeah, but sometimes ya gotta do some serious steaming... guess who's
thingie this cleans:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200324565_200324565

Sheldon

LurfysMa <[email hidden]> wrote in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have a steamer (plastic type) made for the microwave.
Works great! (Timer is on the microwave.) :-)

You mean something like http://tinyurl.com/2djj6h or
http://tinyurl.com/yt4aam?

Yes, mine is like the http://tinyurl.com/yt4aam

Quoted message said:

I have one of those, too. I don't like it at all. The broccoli
gets fried by the microwaves in addition to getting steamed. I
find it very difficult to get it done al dente.

I don't have a problem with mine. I can't find a brand name on it
and beats me where I got it. It has a steam escape hole on top,
round, basket etc.

Quoted message said:

I used to have a steamer, B&D, I think. It was great. Broccoli
came out bright green and perfectly cooked every time. No
burning or wilting.

If you want an electric one... buy and give one or two a try.
If they don't cook to perfection.. return them.

Let us know what you find. I am curious about an electric one but
never had the urge to buy one until now. :-)

Sheldon wrote:

Gregory Morrow said:

Ms P said:

"sandi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

> I have a steamer (plastic type) made for the microwave.
> Works great! (Timer is on the microwave.) :-)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So what keeps the microwave from cooking the veggies?

Quoted message said:

Or simply a steamer insert or a rack for a pan? Those steamer appliance
thingies have always struck me as patently absurd...

Quoted message said:

Yeah, but sometimes ya gotta do some serious steaming... guess who's
thingie this cleans:

Quoted message said:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_20032456

5_200324565

WHOA there...

cyberSQUAT should be their advertisement girl, her motto could be: "You'll
go WOO - WOO when this cleans out your HOO - HOO...!!!"

She wouldn't even have to wear underpants anymore if she used THAT for her
bidet...

;--D

--
Best
Greg

sandi said:

LurfysMa <[email hidden]> wrote in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have a steamer (plastic type) made for the microwave.
Works great! (Timer is on the microwave.) :-)

You mean something like http://tinyurl.com/2djj6h or
http://tinyurl.com/yt4aam?

Yes, mine is like the http://tinyurl.com/yt4aam

Quoted message said:

I have one of those, too. I don't like it at all. The broccoli
gets fried by the microwaves in addition to getting steamed. I
find it very difficult to get it done al dente.

I don't have a problem with mine. I can't find a brand name on it
and beats me where I got it. It has a steam escape hole on top,
round, basket etc.

Quoted message said:

I used to have a steamer, B&D, I think. It was great. Broccoli
came out bright green and perfectly cooked every time. No
burning or wilting.

If you want an electric one... buy and give one or two a try.
If they don't cook to perfection.. return them.

Let us know what you find. I am curious about an electric one but
never had the urge to buy one until now. :-)

I had one many years ago. I think it was a Black & Decker. At least,
it looked a lot like the B&D units for sale on Amazon. It got lost in
a move or was given to a kid or something.

It was excellent for veggies. Broccoli would come out bright green and
"perky" -- al dente. The mwave unit leaves the broccoli limp and
washed out or hard as a rock. The steamer was forgiving. I could be
off by a minute or so without damage. With the mwave, it needs to be
exact or it's ruined.

I think I'll get the Oster and a book or two and go crazy.

--

"LurfysMa" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I want to buy a food steamer. On Amazon and elsewhere I see products
by Oster, Black & Decker, Richard Simmons, Salton, Toastmaster, Deni
(stainless steel), Rival, and others.

Are they all more or less the same or are there certain features that
I should include or avoid?

The Oster 5712 (http://tinyurl.com/yo38pf) seems like a good choice
and gets good reviews on Amazon.

My purpose (at least to start with) is to cook veggies for two, so I
was inclined to get a smaller unit. But I guess the larger ones can
easily cook smaller amounts with about the same energy.

I keep reading that steaming is better than some other methods. I
thought about buying a steam cooking cookbook and maybe I would get
into more than veggies. Is steaming a good way to cook fish (salmon)?

Any suggestions for cookbooks?

Can these steamers cook rice as well as the rice cookers that are
designed just for that purpose?

--

Get a cheap aluminum insert first and then see if you want to go to
something fancy. The inserts are available at stores like Linen's N Things
and cost less than $15

LurfysMa said:

I want to buy a food steamer. On Amazon and elsewhere I see products
by Oster, Black & Decker, Richard Simmons, Salton, Toastmaster, Deni
(stainless steel), Rival, and others.

Are they all more or less the same or are there certain features that
I should include or avoid?

The Oster 5712 (http://tinyurl.com/yo38pf) seems like a good choice
and gets good reviews on Amazon.

My purpose (at least to start with) is to cook veggies for two, so I
was inclined to get a smaller unit. But I guess the larger ones can
easily cook smaller amounts with about the same energy.

I keep reading that steaming is better than some other methods. I
thought about buying a steam cooking cookbook and maybe I would get
into more than veggies. Is steaming a good way to cook fish (salmon)?

Any suggestions for cookbooks?

Can these steamers cook rice as well as the rice cookers that are
designed just for that purpose?

How about bamboo? They work well and here is an example:

http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-1963-2-Tier-Bamboo-Steamer/dp/B00005EBH8

George <[email hidden]> wrote in

Quoted message said:

How about bamboo? They work well and here is an example:

http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-1963-2-Tier-Bamboo-Steamer/dp/B000
05EBH8

I have one like that and I'm going to have to try it. Seems that
type is pretty popular. ;-)

In article <[email hidden]>,

LurfysMa said:

Are they all more or less the same or are there certain features that
I should include or avoid?

I've been using bamboo steamers for many years. I have two different
sizes--- 10" and 12". Bamboo is great because you can stack the units
and steam quite a bit of food at once. You can use them on top of pots
or in a wok. They are also easier to store than great big electric
steamers. But not all bamboo steamers are alike. I've purchased very
high quality ones from Mrs. Lin's Kitchen:

<http://www.mrslinskitchen.com/>