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Original poster

can i cook pasta in a steamer?

42 replies

AnAngelWithin · 29/01/2008 13:13

title says it all really!! does it take lots longer than boiling it? just thought if i could put it in the steamer then i wouldn't have to worry about it boiling over/dry etc which is what i usually do!!

OP posts:
Original poster
AnAngelWithin · 29/01/2008 13:30

anyone?

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Kewcumber · 29/01/2008 13:31

depends how long you're prepared to wiat - I imagine it would take an age.

How on earth do you manage to boil pasta dry? Should only take 10-15 minutes (for dry pasta) in plenty of water!

Original poster
AnAngelWithin · 29/01/2008 13:33

dont ask me! my usual habit is just forgetting about it!!

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theyoungvisiter · 29/01/2008 13:34

I have never tried this but my instinct is NO! Steaming works principally by heating the food up - it doesn't actually absorb that much water from the steam. Dry pasta absorbs a LOT of water in the cooking process and needs room to circulate. You will be left with a sticky mass of glued together pasta at the bottom of your steam, IMO.

Is it really that tricky to boil in pan? It sounds like what you need is to use a bigger pan, more water and a timer. I use a 5 litre pan for pasta for 4 people. Also you shouldn't put the lid on when the pasta is in the pan - that way it won't boil over.

ThePettyandIllinformedGoat · 29/01/2008 13:35

no, buy yourself a kitchen timer.

theyoungvisiter · 29/01/2008 13:37

Illinformedgoat, methinks you are neither ill-informed, nor a goat.

Fireflyfairy2 · 29/01/2008 13:39

Of course you can't steam pasta....it has to absorb the water, steam won't do the same job! (Of course if you want to try it out & report back to us, feel free)

A little water, a splash of oil & 10/12 mins later some delicious pasta

Kewcumber · 29/01/2008 13:40

implying of course that she is petty

Kewcumber · 29/01/2008 13:42

if you can't boil pasta - switch to cous-cous - its foolproof.

Pour cous-cous into bowl.
Boil kettle
pour boiling water over couscous until just covered.
Stir.
Leave for 10-15 minutes
Break up with fork.
Mix in seasonings to taste

pirategirl · 29/01/2008 13:42

it says here you u can!!!!!!!!!!! by someone using a tefal electrci one!!

...........I got it home and wanted to try it out immediately. Naturally, I couldn't think of anything to cook. Fortunately, the steamer comes with a handy little recipe book dedicated to steamed food. I fancied pasta, so I followed the instructions to make myself a pasta and cheese meal.
The steamer itself consists of the base, a drip tray, three tiers, a handle for removing the base of the tiers without burning your fingers, and an a rice tray. To cook the pasta, I had to fill the base with cold water to the marker point, put the pasta into the rice tray and cover with cold water, place the tray into the lowest tier and put the lid on. Then I set the timer to 15 minutes and left it to work.

The steam begins to rise almost immediately. 15 minutes later I was alerted to my cooked meal by an alarm. I then had to tip the pasta into the tier to allow it to drain, then serve it up with cheese.........

altho i might try it sometimes, i can cook pasta no prob in a saucepan!!!

ThePettyandIllinformedGoat · 29/01/2008 13:43

[remembers to snum kewcumber and youngvisiter at first opportunity]

pirategirl · 29/01/2008 13:46

ah so re reading it you have to 'cover' the pasta itself with water too??

same as boiling tho isnt it???

Original poster
AnAngelWithin · 29/01/2008 13:48

thanks. might give it a go one day when tea doesn't depend on it!!

you lot must think i'm a right dunky

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Original poster
AnAngelWithin · 29/01/2008 13:48

i just thought that seeing as you can cook rice in the steamer, then pasta may be the same??

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theyoungvisiter · 29/01/2008 13:54

Kewcumber, I can't comment on her pettiness, however I deduced that she was well-informed on the subject of pasta and that a goat was unlikely to own a steamer.

I am willing to reassess the pettiness levels on receipt of chat-based evidence.

Sorry, but you may be able to cook pasta in a tefal steamer. You may be able to bake a fruitcake for all I care! The point is YOU DON'T NEED TO. Pasta is perfectly designed for cooking in a pan, and will taste far nicer, cook far quicker, and generally be much easier! Why bother with the steamer at all?

It's like all these recipes for making camembert soufflee in a microwave by butchering the original recipe to the point of extinction and then pretending that the resultant mush somehow ressembles whatever you originally butchered. It may be edible but it sure ain't a soufflee.

Apologies, end of rant.

ahundredtimes · 29/01/2008 13:59

What on earth are you on about?

Boil it in the water. Ten minutes.

You are going to ask if you can steam toast next right?

Kewcumber · 29/01/2008 14:01

microwaved souffle?

Are you feeling quite alright theyoungvisiter?

Original poster
AnAngelWithin · 29/01/2008 14:02

no it was an honest question, why would i ask something like that? even I know the answer to that question

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ahundredtimes · 29/01/2008 14:02

Can I boil a cake or do I have to bake it?

ahundredtimes · 29/01/2008 14:03

And even if you do steam the pasta, because you always let the water boil dry when you boil it - won't you do the same again when the pasta is in the steamer?

You need a timer my friend, with a huge great big loud BEEP on it.

Kewcumber · 29/01/2008 14:04

no you can boil a cake

ahundredtimes · 29/01/2008 14:04

lol. Can you? How - in a bag?

Kewcumber · 29/01/2008 14:04

boiled cake recipe

Kewcumber · 29/01/2008 14:05

(though you do actually need to cook it in an over [grin)

Original poster
AnAngelWithin · 29/01/2008 14:07

ok well if this is just going to turn into a piss take then forget it. i asked a question, you have answered it.

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