Just ordered an electric steamer - please tell me it wont end up at the back of the cupboard?!

[Twisique]

I am trying to eat more vegetables and a generally healthier diet, with less washing up and faff.

Any suggestions for what I can cook in it? Can I add salt or herbs or stock cubes to the water?

I have salmon, asparagus and new potatoes ready to cook. It would be handy to have portions of frozen veg ready to put in, can you cook from frozen?

We use our (stovetop) steamer almost every day.

What to cook in it? Veg and fish primarily. Yours may do rice too. Frozen veg is fine. Other steamable things like dim sum, great.

No point in salt in the water, it won't transfer - steaming off the water is how you make solid salt! Stock, herbs etc will impart a minor flavour, but might leave a hard to scrub residue - I wouldn't recommend it. If you want to herb things (like fish) bang that directly on the thing itself. Otherwise make gravy or dressing for use on the plate. A steamer is not like a slow cooker where you assemble a complete meal in it - it's for prepping parts of your meal.

If you're trying to avoid washing up and faff, just steam stuff plain and put the lid back on after you've served - it'll barely need a wipe around afterwards.

I really like mine. I have a cheapy steamer but I find it makes my veg taste much nicer.

I use my electric steamer most days. Family of 6 and most meals are "meat and 3 veg" types, so the veg goes in the steamer.

I mostly use it for fresh vegetables. But also chicken breasts wrapped in tin foil or fish fillets work in there if it's just one or two.

No need for self or herbs. Just water in the bottom and off you go. Not sure about saving the faff from washing up though. The faff of daily washing my steamer trays (which don't fit the diahwasher) is annoying. But I wouldn't be without it.

We just use it for simple fish and fresh veg and then add flavour with a dressing.

Thank you, very encouraging! I am hoping it comes with some timing guidance.

Six minutes for almost all green or frozen veg, maybe 7 for carrots. 15 for corn on the cob. 8-10 minutes for fish but depends on thickness, worth getting a poky temperature gauge if you do that a lot. Veg can just be tested by sticking a fork in it :)

God no, best thing we ever bought, I guarantee it won't end up in the back of the cupboard

Well, its arrived and I have made two meals, so far so good! Smoked haddock and broccoli went well although I think I over cooked the fish a bit, just needs some tweaking on the timings. Also did new potatoes and eggs which were really nice.

When you do fish do you put it straight in or on grease proof paper?

I wrap the fish in foil, then in the steamer.

You have inspired me to get mine out from under the sink and actually use it x

I put the fish straight in, on the lowest stacked tray so it doesn't drip over other things (I know you eat them together but I don't like the idea)

Salmon and asparagus works really well! I'm glad I have inspired you flamey!

In other good news I lost two pounds this week, maybe the steamer is helping!

What else can I cook?

I used mine once then went back to my metal one that you stick in a saucepan, it was too much of a faff to wash and store and get out again.

We mainly do veg in ours. Rice comes out really well - you need to measure it and some boiling water into a bowl and put that in the steamer.

It's particularly good for veg with a roast dinner. It's hard to overcook veg in a steamer so there's a big window for getting the timings right.

Chicken breasts- cut up and use as cold meat in salads

Not so healthy but if you have removable bottoms in your baskets, steamed pudding is nice