This Movie Reviewer is Steaming - With Pleasure
Written: Oct 22 '02 (Updated Oct 23 '02)
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Pros: Inexpensive, easy to use, good quality.
Cons: Small steaming base, add-on's hard to find.
The Bottom Line: If you are not steaming yet - you will be, and should. Better taste, better for you, and with this product - better value.
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| lynus's Full Review: Sunbeam SUN-4710 5-Cup Rice Cooker |
Due to Epinions’ member mind-full’s invitation to write more Home & Garden reviews to expand my repertoire, I’ve decided to review every single kitchen appliance I own – well, maybe just the ones I like. And so, following up my Crock Pot review – I’ve decided to turn to my next favorite, but more often used friend…er, appliance, my Sunbeam Steamer.
I can remember a time before my Sunbeam Steamer. *Flashback* I was a wee lad, I guess, and my parent’s idea of “steaming” was to use this rather fun invention I just loved to play with that was made out of metal and had what looked liked wings with three metal pegs as legs. I remember flying that little sucker around in the dish soap, like it was something out of Star Wars, much perhaps to my parents dismay. Evolution eventually took place – aka, I grew up, and sought out a new aged appliance that would do very much the same thing, but with less hassle. And so, I found myself purchasing the Sunbeam Steamer.
What’s nice about the Sunbeam Steamer?
Besides a rather inexpensive price, I like the Sunbeam Steamer for two main reasons. One, the steamer kicks in real quick. I have yet to time it, but I see steam emitting from the Sunbeam Steamer in approximately 60 seconds – although it takes about a good 2 to 3 minutes for the steam to kick in full blast. This is much faster than your typical stove top steamer, since the water can take in upwards of 5 to 10 minutes to come to boil and began to steam the contents.
The second thing I really like about the Sunbeam Steamer is that it is stackable – in theory. I say in theory, because although Sunbeam’s website claims that add-on’s can be purchased from Target (where they say is the closest dealer to my location) I have yet to find a single Sunbeam add-on at Target – and their website doesn’t allow direct purchases from the company. Outside of theory – with a couple of add-on’s you can stack the steamer so that in one tray you can have meats, in another vegetables, and perhaps in another rice. However, if you do end up stacking, cooking time becomes an issue since for proper vitamins, vegetables take less time than say meat or rice. So setting a few timers may be required in order to cook food to its proper taste and nutritional value.
At home we primarily use the steamer on one single level to mainly cook: chicken (frozen takes about 45 minutes, fresh about 30), salmon (use a fork to check to see if it is flaking – no exact time known), artichokes (we put them in for a solid one hour – although that may be overcooking them), stuffed bell peppers (for about 45 minutes – although it is necessary to drill a hole in the bottom so the grease can escape), broccoli (about 10 minutes, they are still crispy), asparagus (about 10 minutes as well if you like they crispy), and other assorted veggies. I especially like to put whole zucchini and yellow squash into the steamer for about 20 minutes, instead of slices, since I think it looks so much better to dive into a whole squash, than bits and pieces of one (cosmetic choice, I guess).
I’ve also used the steamer for trial and error. I was successful in cooking an egg dish, by placing uncooked spinach in the included bowl that comes with the steamer and then pouring an egg mixture on top. It took about an hour to cook, and was good – yet the end product was a little moist, since this is a steamer. I also tried to cook rice in it once, which is the reason why that aforementioned bowl comes with the product – but I have yet to master the perfect bowl of rice. My rice either turns out uncooked, too dry, or too soupy.
So what’s wrong with the Sunbeam Steamer?
Really, just small things. For one, the built in timer is not controlled by electricity. In other words, it is very easy to turn on the steamer for 40 minutes, hear the timer start to click away, and walk away – completely missing the fact that you forgot to plug the thing in, in the first place. Now, I’ve only done this once – but it would be nice if the timer wouldn’t start if the steamer was in fact not plugged in.
Also, for one level, the steamer is a wee bit too small for certain items. As I speak (well, write), the lid to my steamer is balancing perfectly up in the air on two large artichokes purchased at Costco. It would be nice if the steamer was a little taller, or maybe at least had an add-on that was taller – but from what I have seen from the website (although again, I have yet to see them in stores) such an add-on is not available.
Also, I have no idea why this decision was made – I’m not an electrical engineer - but the Sunbeam Steamer has a plug that can easily become unplugged – and is not designed like many appliances where one side of the plug is larger than the other (there is an official name for this, but I forget).
One last note: the steamer comes with cooking-time suggestions printed on the side of the machine for such items as fish and veggies. Personally, the times printed are far too short – for I think they forget to allow the normal 2 to 3 minutes for the steamer to achieve maximum steaming effect. If you follow the suggestions, I’d suggest you add on about 2 to 3 minutes.
What’s included with the steamer?
You get the following:
* A plastic lid that has four holes to allow steam to escape. The lid has a white small handle – so be careful when removing the lid once the steamer is going – it is very easy to burn oneself.
* A plastic container with holes on the bottom. This is the main area the food will sit. The holes allow the water to fall down back into the steamer. Be warned, that some meats will get caught in the holes and cleaning is a real pain in the….you know.
* A plastic base that goes between the container and the main unit. I’m not sure what this is really used for. I can only guess it is meant to stop large objects from falling/dripping down into the main unit, but I never use it.
* The main base. Can store about an hours worth of water for a good steam. There are a few removable items in the base that make cleaning easier, but they are easy to lose, so keep track of them if you remove them. The base is somewhat easy to clean, the trick being not to submerge it in water since that will ruin the unit.
* A small plastic bowl that they say is included so you can steam rice. However I have not been successful in using this item almost to the point that someday I may just invest in an actual rice steamer, if I have the money and the counter space.
* An instruction booklet – but who reads those right?
What else can you say about the Sunbeam Steamer?
As I mentioned there are additional add-ons that one can purchase for the Sunbeam Steamer. Also as mentioned, I’ve never been able to find them – but know of them, because one of my previous roommates had them.
Personally, I find the food that comes out of the steamer to be of better quality than regular stove top cooking. Plus, besides meat (since it makes cleaning harder) you can just throw everything into the steamer, set the timer, and then walk away.
What about the price?
It has been many years, but I’d be surprised if the steamer was more than $24.99, and that would be on the high end. Again, it has been at least two years, but the Sunbeam Steamer was available at Target and/or Costco. Sunbeam.com offers a feature that you can enter in your zip code and it will give you directions to the nearest dealer that sells their products.
Overall?
I love my Sunbeam Steamer. I don’t have any other steamers to compare it to – which I guess says something about my constant approval about the one I purchased. I’m however on a mission to find additional add-on’s and once I find them, my life will be complete.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 24.99
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Epinions.com ID:
lynus
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 - Top 200 |
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Location: Las Vegas, NV
Reviews written: 584
Trusted by: 169 members
About Me:
Slowly trying to get back to the thick of things.
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