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Food Steamer - worth it?
thejoyof_pat
Posts: 30,753 Forum Member
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I'm planning on having a major turn around in my diet, small changes have already begun over the past couple of months and I have been a member of a gym for several months as well and lost a bit of weight and toning up, I want to keep going with this.
However my diet is the biggest challenge and let down and definitely something that needs to be sorted feel steam (hehehe) ahead. My friend was chatting to me about maybe getting a food steamer to help when it comes to my cooking (I have also began to cook a lot more over the past couple of weeks in particular) and she says it's healthier to use one (IDK anything about it at all but I'm taking her word for that)
Would anyone recommend me getting one or are they a bit of a con kitchen product? Also what exactly are the health benefits of this between using a hob, for example?
Any information would be great appreciated.
However my diet is the biggest challenge and let down and definitely something that needs to be sorted feel steam (hehehe) ahead. My friend was chatting to me about maybe getting a food steamer to help when it comes to my cooking (I have also began to cook a lot more over the past couple of weeks in particular) and she says it's healthier to use one (IDK anything about it at all but I'm taking her word for that)
Would anyone recommend me getting one or are they a bit of a con kitchen product? Also what exactly are the health benefits of this between using a hob, for example?
Any information would be great appreciated.
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I have to admit it cooks vegtables very well and meat wise its especially nice cooking chicken in it as it ends up very juicy (the downside is you lose that nice crisp skin which is so bad for you!).
I guess they are a good way of cooking but ive never really bothered learning how to use it to its full potential (it was something my ex bought and left behind).
Same here. I treated myself to a new set because they were on a very special offer. prior to that I used a large saucepan with metal steaming baskets on top, they're everso cheap.
I steam all my veg and they're beautifully cooked. A separate electric steamer is just more clutter in my kitchen.
For me, steamer every time. (So much so, that we hot rid of most of our saucepans - we only have a ceramic pan, the steamer, a soup making pan, a small milk pan and a slow cooker.
I only use the electric one at Christmas as it saves on cooker space.
Bottom pan is straight saucepan the other two are colander types.
So, for example, longer steaming food goes on first, shorter steaming food added later.
Good for fish too.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Premier-Housewares-Steamer-Glass-Lid/dp/B005BX4JIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407311760&sr=8-1&keywords=Steamer+pans
I love the hob one too! So great, I was reluctant to start using a steamer I was always a veg boiler but my OH wanted to get one, but since I do 90% of the cooking I was reluctant to change my ways! so glad I did though!
I often boil a few potatoes I'm the water in the bottom pot, then use 1 or 2 of the sections that go on top to do different veg.... Is soooo much faster, tastier and healthier than my old ways, and I often reduce down the water in the bottom pot for making veggie stock.... They're a winner all round for me!
I probably would be less inclined to use an electric, just cause I find the hob ones, quick to clean!
Same as me! Sometimes I use the water to pour over my plants as well.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sistema-Litre-Large-Microwave-Steamer/dp/B005D6XZ4O/ref=pd_sim_kh_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1ASE2XDTY4RPGG1NRYTC
Yeah, that's just overcooking though. I cook broccoli in a saucepan and mine still stays green and crisp..... Leave the broccoli in a steamer long enough and it'll do the same thing.
Takes less room on the hob as well
I try to steam all the veg in one go if possible, but potatoes and broccoli have to be cut up into small pieces to match the cooking time of sprouts, carrots and cauliflower. I then use the left over water to make the gravy. I'm sure some people wouldn't do them all at the same time, but it's much more convenient to have the entire meal ready in ten minutes.
I use this too. I now have every size in the Systema range, today I completed the set with a rice steamer. Don't know how I coped without these. Hardly ever use saucepans now, nearly everything is cooked in my microwave. Easy to wash up too.
I wonder what OP thinks.
I have similar to this. It cost less than a tenner from asda a good few years ago (not on the website but in most stores) - wouldn't be without it. Just be careful when you salt any veg you are steaming. I use the bottom part as a pan and salt whatever veg I have in that but I don;t salt the veg I have in the tiers
Yesterday the copper bottom came off the one I am using at the moment and took it back to Argos and they have stopped making them. I was absolutely lost last night as I had 4 veg to cook and had a hob full of pans, 4 rings on using lots of gas and the veg was nowhere near as tasty as it usually is.
Got my money back as they only had 18cm in stock which is not big enough for us. Went to my local store who wanted £59 for one that was no better than the one I paid £29 so now have to wait for one to be delivered.
Another vote for these. I'm in a similar situation to the OP - needed to lose a bit of weight - and discovered cooking after not having done ANY before. (I found I enjoy it)
I eat a lot of veg now, as I've been experimenting with different kinds. Previously I would only eat peas or sweetcorn. But spinach, cabbage and carrots are all really nice (who knew?) I've even taking a grudging like for the dreaded broccoli.
I suppose it depends on the type of oven you have but fill the bottom bit half way with cold water. Put whatever veg in the baskets above (I go for four portions which means with fruit I easily get my five / six / seven a day.
Turn the hob up to full, 18 minutes later - perfect veg. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Oddly, by filling up on veg (rather than picking) the weight has eased off without any other drastic change to lifestyle.