The Microwise Universal steamer, part of the ecoChef range of Microwise Cookware, can be used to cook vegetables, rice, fish, fruit, eggs and meat. Cooking food in the microwave uses substantially less energy than cooking with an electric oven [1], is often faster and foods such as vegetables retain more vitamins, texture and flavour when they are steamed rather than cooked immersed in water [2].
The Steamer
The Universal Steamer has three parts: the base, the basket and the lid. All three are used together to steam food, while the base can be used alone for baking potatoes or reheating food. The components are made in the UK from polycarbonate, which is very strong and does not stain, and are guaranteed for five years. The steamer is big enough to cook two portions of fish or meat and is designed for exactly two portions (170 g/6 oz) of rice. It is dishwasher safe, but should only be used for cooking in microwaves and not exposed to direct heat.
How to use
Food to be cooked is placed in the basket and covered with the lid. The base is filled with water to a level dictated by the type of food that is being cooked – the steamer comes with two guides giving information about how much water to use, how to arrange food and average cooking times. Different foods can be cooked together, with faster cooking food placed in the middle of the basket and slower cooking items around the edges. As microwave cooking times will vary, Microwise advise cooking in small time increments the first time the steamer is used for each food type until cooking is complete, then noting the overall cooking time required for the next time it is used.
Pros
- Easy to use and comes with clear instructions
- Very easy to clean because it does not stain or retain odours
- Strong and shatterproof
- Makes cooking with a microwave easier
- Food retains more vitamins and flavours
- Energy is saved by cooking in the microwave
- Time is saved because food often cooks more quickly than on a stovetop and you don’t have to wait for water to boil or cooker rings to heat up
Cons
- There are three parts to wash up
- It can be difficult to guess how long food will take to cook the first time the steamer is used for that food type, although the guides do give some indication
- The steamer can get very hot in the microwave – care is needed when taking it out
All of the cons listed above can also be true of stovetop steamers (or pans) and the steamer is versatile and inexpensive, so the ease, convenience and lower energy use of cooking in a microwave make it worth the effort of initially learning how long to cook each food type for.
If you would like to learn more about how you can reduce your environmental impact have a look around the website.
[1] efficient-products.defra.gov.uk/spm/download/document/id/786
