https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 05:26:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1616263 Tue, 06 May 2014 12:24:51 +0000 lawbee11 1616263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: I saw these bags at the grocery store the other day. Never used them but they look cool!</p> <p><a href="http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/ZipSteamMicrowaveCookingBags.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/ZipSteamMicrowaveCookingBags.aspx</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1616233 Tue, 06 May 2014 12:12:35 +0000 banana 1616233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: We do the steam basket in the pot method but I LIVE on steaming. I steam everything so I'm actually interested in that steaming machine! (wow I said "steam" way too many times here). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1616108 Tue, 06 May 2014 11:40:04 +0000 T-Mom 1616108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: that looks so cool! I have a friend who has one similar to that, and she uses it for everything. Including steaming frozen gyozas, stuff like that. But that would be one more appliance to store, ack!</p> <p>I usually steam fresh veggies on the stovetop, but it takes less than 10 minutes using a steamer insert. I set the microwave timer and walk away until it dings. We also make heavy use of the microwave to steam frozen veggies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615726 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:54:45 +0000 sorrycharlie 1615726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: I pretty much exclusively buy frozen veggies! haha. I was tired of dealing with things going bad. I buy the steam-in-the-bag but I've also popped them in the microwave with a bit of water in a glass bowl, covered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615715 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:50:18 +0000 blackbird 1615715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG, noooooooo. I use it for EVERYTHING. Pizza dough....dressing......chop/slice/puree. They're really versatile and inexpensive. I also shred blocks of cheese in it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615696 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:42:30 +0000 MsLipGloss 1615696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I don't have a food processor . . . in my mind, they're only used to make cole slaw, which I don't eat! I completely forgot that you can use them to slice/cut veggies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615656 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:32:33 +0000 looch 1615656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Oh, I have bags of frozen veggies in my freezer, it's less waste for me also that way, I can get 10 bags for $10 when there is a sale, which is a lot better than buying a head of broc and then throwing it out because I didn't cook it in time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615651 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:32:05 +0000 blackbird 1615651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use my food processor a lot! It really speeds things up if i'm slicing or dicing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615644 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:30:41 +0000 MsLipGloss 1615644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: @looch: I am a total noob in the kitchen, so it will take me a while to become anything resembling efficient! I am also totally not opposed to frozen veggies . . . I really think they get a bad rap! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615635 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:27:52 +0000 looch 1615635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: I think that's a great idea...i usually have the main course sorted, but when I was facing a pile of pots and pans last night, I figured there had to be a better way to handle the sides, particularly starchy ones, like potatoes and rice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615633 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:27:11 +0000 blackbird 1615633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prep for most of the week on Sundays. Takes about 2 hours, so if you plan smart, it's not so bad. I also cheat and buy broccoli, etc, in bags, pre-cut that i can just microwave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615616 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:21:04 +0000 MsLipGloss 1615616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am trying to plan ahead for the week without having to cook everything on Sunday . . . I was going to try to limit my Sunday activity to grocery shopping and prep work, i.e., cutting up veggies, maybe making a few portions of chicken, rice, etc. So, I want to be prepared, but I don't want to spend all day cooking, if that makes sense! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615601 Tue, 06 May 2014 09:16:48 +0000 blackbird 1615601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use a rice cooker and an electric steamer and we use it a lot! We have this Oster: <a href="http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/oster-5711-food-steamer-61-qt?ID=138083&#038;cm_mmc=Google_DMA_Home_Bed%26Bath_PLA-_-PLA+-+Generic+-+All+Home_PLA+-+All+Of+Home-_-37822422030_-_-_mkwid_hD2rs0yD" rel="nofollow">http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/oster-5711-food-steamer-61-qt?ID=138083&#038;cm_mmc=Google_DMA_Home_Bed%26Bath_PLA-_-PLA+-+Generic+-+All+Home_PLA+-+All+Of+Home-_-37822422030_-_-_mkwid_hD2rs0yD</a>|dc_37822422030|-|hD2rs0yD</p> <p>I like that you can pick the item and it dings when it goes off </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615508 Tue, 06 May 2014 08:52:05 +0000 MaryM 1615508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it's also a rice cooker, I have to say, I was shocked how much I love that thing.</p> <p>I HATE appliances with one purpose that take up a ton of space, but DH brought a rice cooker with him when he moved it, and it's SO much better than trying to perfectly cook rice on the stove top. I love that we can set it and forget it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615500 Tue, 06 May 2014 08:49:55 +0000 LuLu Mom 1615500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a steamer I stick in the microwave, they are done in 3 minutes...we love it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615492 Tue, 06 May 2014 08:46:25 +0000 QBbride 1615492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one that goes on top of the rice cooker. For some reason it doesn't switch to warm (from steam) when the veggies are done, so it sort of defeats the purpose for you.</p> <p>It's a cuisinart rice cooker. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615323 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:57:45 +0000 looch 1615323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: tell me more about steaming rice....what kind do you begin with? Just soak overnight, drain, and then put in the bamboo steamer, over a low boil? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615318 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:55:51 +0000 regberadaisy 1615318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't use a electric steamer but bamboo and stainless steel ones. I use it to steam fish, make Asian food, when LO was younger I steamed veggies. For steaming rice just soak the rice overnight and it will in no time flat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615309 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:52:03 +0000 petunia354 1615309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a combo electric rice cooker/steamer and it works great! It was super cheap though and only has 1 setting so I'd maybe invest in something a little nicer next time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615308 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:51:59 +0000 looch 1615308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Believe it or not, when I married my husband and moved abroad, one of the kitchen appliances he had was a standalone steamer. I used that thing to death, it was such a wonderful thing to have, as we didn't have a microwave (so no microwave steaming). Our oven was also tiny, so it was nice to be able to make the vegetables and steam potatoes together. I even used to do fish in there!</p> <p>I am actually in the market to get a replacement as we left it behind when we relocated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615227 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:11:39 +0000 Smurfette 1615227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: gotcha. Then I got nothing for ya! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615216 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:06:30 +0000 MsLipGloss 1615216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: I was thinking more along the lines of an electric plug-in type . . . basically, I want to put that sucker on *autopilot*, go about my business for 20 minutes or so, and come back to steamed veggies ready to eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615212 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:04:30 +0000 Smurfette 1615212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: We have one that goes inside the pot, is that what you are talking about? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-use-a-steamer#post-1615205 Tue, 06 May 2014 07:00:58 +0000 MsLipGloss 1615205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am thinking about a steamer as a quick way to prepare veggies at night on a tight timeline . . . both for LO and for DH and myself. I figured I could pop the veggies in as soon as LO and I get home from daycare, and they would be ready in approx. 20 minutes, without any need for me to monitor the stove. I also thought it would be super easy to pop more veggies (and brown rice) in while I am grabbing a quick workout or whatnot (while I bathe LO, etc.). </p> <p>Does anyone use one? If so, would you recommend the one that you use? </p>