Hot and Steamy!

When my husband and I were registering for wedding gifts, we saw this Black & Decker steamer and thought we would add it to our list. We had read that steaming vegetables was healthier than boiling them because they lose fewer nutrients when they are steamed. It was one of those things that we thought would be fun to have, but we would not be disappointed if we didn't receive one. It was not a necessity like some items such as plates and silverware are.

Now, I don't know what I would do without this steamer. We use it almost every night. I honestly have never used it to steam rice. I guess I am just so used to making Minute Rice according to the directions on the box. However, we do use it for most of our vegetables. Some of our favorites are broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower.

Using the Steamer:

The base of the steamer has a reservoir that you fill with water. There are three lines marked Lo, Med, and Hi on the inside. The base of the steamer has a 75-minute timer on the front that dings when the time is up. On the back is a "Steaming Guide." It lists instructions for steaming 13 foods, including chicken breasts and shrimp. Next to each food is listed an amount, the fill line for the water, and the time it should be steamed. For example, one line reads "Broccoli 1 1/2 lbs. Med 19-20." This means if you have 1 1/2 lbs of broccoli, you fill the water to the Med line in the reservoir, set the drip tray on the base, fill the steaming bowl and cover it and set it on the base, and then set the timer for 19-20 minutes. There is more detail in the Use & Care Book, but this is a handy guide to have. It is so much easier to just look at the back of the steamer than to have to get out the book and find the correct page.


The steamer includes a rice bowl, a steaming bowl, a drip tray, a cover, and a bowl divider. The bowl divider allows you to steam two foods at the same time. It is adjustable, and it can cover from one quarter to one half the steaming bowl so that you can adjust it to the portion of food you are using. The Use and Care Book gives suggested food combinations and explains how to cook two foods together that need different water levels and steaming times. It also includes several tasty recipes. A word of caution: Always tilt the cover away from you because there is a lot of hot steam that is released when the cover is removed.

Washing the Steamer:

Everything, except the base, is dishwasher safe. I always put the bowls and cover in the dishwasher, and I have never had a problem. I use warm, soapy water to clean the base. I just make sure that I do not get any water in the under side of the base because that is where the electrical components are housed.

How the food tastes:

We are very pleased with the results. Our vegetables are crisper and tastier than when I boil them. You can add even seasonings to the food if you prefer. I have steamed both fresh and frozen vegetables. The frozen vegetables just require a little extra time. My family prefers the
taste of the fresh, though, because they are crisper, but the frozen are good, too.

Conclusion:

I love everything about this product. I have been using it for four years and have yet to find anything I don't like. This steamer is so easy to use and it cooks foods pretty quickly. I try to cook healthy meals for my family, but I don't always have the time. I feel much better knowing that I can quickly and easily prepare vegetables for dinner.