Black & Decker Divided Food Steamer
by Black & Decker
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Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Black & Decker Divided Food Steamer
Customer Review: Good but could easily be perfect
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had two of them. Used exclusively for rice--my mother used a stovetop rice steamer, which works a treat but try to find one in Yankeeland, so when I saw the B&D on the shelf at the department store I grabbed it. Worked fine for a couple of years but then one day I made a bonehead move and ran it with no water. It still worked after but leaked like a sieve. So got a replacement. That one worked for several years then the timer stuck one day, boiled all the water out, and same story.
If they would just put a sensor in it to tell when the water was boiled out and shut it down it would be perfect--that would not be hard to do (B&D--if you're listening, put a thermocouple on the heating element and a little bit of logic to sense a temperature rise consistent with the water being gone).
My first one had the small bowl, the second one the large, and one side effect is that with the two bowls I could stack them and have a two-tier steamer.
Did not replace the second one--I would have but at the time there wasn't one to be found, so instead decided that two things the Japanese know are electronics and rice and got a Panasonic "National" Asian-market fuzzy logic induction rice cooker which is pretty much bulletproof. But the 30 buck B&D did as good a job, maybe better.
Now I'm developing an interest in steamed foods and am thinking about getting another one.
Customer Review: B & D Food Steamer
Summary: 4 Stars
Overall, I am very pleased with the performance of this product. I use this product up to 10 times in the average week. This is the 2nd B & D Food Steamer I have had. I had the previous one since 1992 and LOVED it. The element gave out so I replaced with the updated version hoping I could use the basket, bowl and lid from the old version and I can. A bonus is that the basket is larger on the new unit, so I can stack them and steam two different things at once if I want to. The only things I would change are that I wouldn't use white for the bowls because when I use paprika and saffron in my rice it stains (the old versions were clear and much easier to clean). I thought the old version clear lid was much more sturdy and there was more space between the bowl and basket so that when I tipped the lid up the water on top fell outside the bowl. I also miss the curly cord as it was much easier to manuever in a small kitchen and I didn't have to worry about it falling into the sink.Customer Review: great product... though the flavor scentor is (IMHO) useless
Summary: 4 Stars
Honestly, I love this steamer. I use it at work in my cube. It's very easy to use; just fill with water, drop in your veggies and go. I have found, however that most of the time I want to do rice and veggies at the same time. I take a separate disposable plastic bowl (like the Ziplock ones) and put the water and rice in that. I let it work for 30+ minutes and then throw in my veggies around it. Works every time. I've tried to use the flavor scenter several times and have found that the herbs tend to get sticky and clump up as the steam is passing through, oftentimes causing the steam to not make it to the veggie container. So I typically will season afterwards.
On other thing of note... be careful taking the lid off, I ended up with burns three days in a row because of escaping steam. =(
Customer Review: Was a great workhorse appliance for 15 years.....
Summary: 4 Stars
My B&D veggie steamer just packed it in after 15 years of loyal, trouble-free service. I used it to steam veggies all the time, never tried to use it for cooking rice. The veggies were cooked perfectly every time, never had a single problem with this machine until today. I realize 15 years is a long time in "appliance life," but it doesn't seem like that long to me. I'm really disappointed that it's died. I will replace it, because I love having a free-standing veggie steamer, but maybe not with another B&D steamer. I think I might go higher-end with a larger steamer with more gadgets next time. And then again I may buy another one of these, since I've had such a good, long experience with it.Customer Review: B&D Steamer review
Summary: 4 Stars
My wife and I have found this steamer to be exactly what we are looking for in our food preparation. It is easy to operate, with no extra features that complicate matters. It is consistent in its steaming of vegetables, rice, artichokes, and whatever else we decide to steam. We have tried more expensive models of steamers and feel that this model gives the best value of any we have tried.