Food cookers - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

teeny5 · 01-01-2010, 02:05 AM

I was thinking of getting a food steamer and/or a griddler. Wondering if anyone has used either and if they know of any good brands. I want something that cooks food healthy and is easy. My husband doesn't like casseroles and stuff so I won't get a crock pot. He said the food looks like Moody that comes out of them.

Let me know if either is a good buy or not.

GoJohnnyGo · 01-01-2010, 02:17 AM

I'm thinking of getting myself a stainless steel Chinese-style steamer.

Steamed vegetables are awesome.

teeny5 · 01-01-2010, 02:26 AM

Nice! That one just works on the stove?

GoJohnnyGo · 01-01-2010, 03:03 AM

Yep, that's a stovetop model.

I think the stainless steel would be a lot more hygenic and easier to clean than the stand-alone plug-in type steamers, which are usually made from plastic.

You can get the parchment paper inserts for them (or simply cut out the circles with regular parchment) for all sorts of food.

Very healthy way to cook and Crohn's friendly too! Steaming breaks down the fiber and retains the nutrients better than boiling.

Peaches · 01-01-2010, 01:58 PM

Well, I am admittedly a bit of a kitchen gadget freak - so here goes.

I have used the bamboo steamer stacks over a pot of boiling water before - and everything always turned out excellent with them - but I never liked the clean up part - never felt like I got them all the way clean. So - if you want to go the cheap route on those - I'd only use them for veggies.

I have that stacker that GJG shows up top there and it works great for veggies as well - haven't tried meat in it though, but can't see why it wouldn't work great. Easy to clean and you KNOW it is clean.

I also have a Black and Decker food steamer and it works great as well - but is a pain in the butt to clean - lots o parts. I bought it a long time ago before I had the stainless stackers. You can do rice in it at the same time you are doing other stuff, but I think I'd rather have the stainless stackers the most and just cook the rice like normal.

As for grinding - I have the grinder attachment that goes with my Kitchenaid mixer. If you don't have a nice Kitchenaid mixer - save your money and get one - you'll only have to buy it once and you'll have it forever. It is a good investment if you like to bake, which I do. The grinder works great - but I use it to grind meat up, and not very often at that.

Ahhh, just re-read your post Teeny- was trying to figure out what food you liked to "grind" and it wasn't a grinding question - you said GRIDDLER. Bahaa!

If you want just a flat griddle - I've had so many of those and I just get the one with the biggest space on it - they all work the same to me. NOW, if you want to make Panini's and stuff like that - I'd get something like this:http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-1-Griddler-Panini-Sandwich/dp/B000CPZXGO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1262357828&sr=1-1 just make sure the top "floats" over the bottom and doesn't close like a V - those models aren't good.

OK - can you tell I like to cook AND eat???

teeny5 · 01-01-2010, 05:10 PM

Thanks for the info!

Jettalady · 01-01-2010, 07:44 PM

Wasnt sure Black and Decker was in the states... I will never buy that name brand again, have NO luck and cheap and falls apart. I just use a stainless steel strainer over a pot and a lid, easy clean up and has a double boiler with the set. I steam everything, more flavour and can be soften more to your liking. I am thinking of a rice cooker tho, love it.

Jeff D. · 01-01-2010, 07:54 PM

I'm not sure what a griddler is but if it's for making flat hot sandwiches I use a 12 inch pan and a brick(covered in foil) that I preheated in a 400 degree oven.

01-01-2010, 02:05 AM	#1
teeny5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,192	Food cookers I was thinking of getting a food steamer and/or a griddler. Wondering if anyone has used either and if they know of any good brands. I want something that cooks food healthy and is easy. My husband doesn't like casseroles and stuff so I won't get a crock pot. He said the food looks like Moody that comes out of them. Let me know if either is a good buy or not. __________________ Currently on: Colazol, Prilosec, Prozac, multi-vitamin, vitamin C "Makes me aerodynamic when I fight." -courtesy of Pineapple Express Cardozacreations.blogspot.com

01-01-2010, 02:26 AM	#3
teeny5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,192	Nice! That one just works on the stove? __________________ Currently on: Colazol, Prilosec, Prozac, multi-vitamin, vitamin C "Makes me aerodynamic when I fight." -courtesy of Pineapple Express Cardozacreations.blogspot.com

01-01-2010, 05:10 PM	#6
teeny5 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,192	Thanks for the info! __________________ Currently on: Colazol, Prilosec, Prozac, multi-vitamin, vitamin C "Makes me aerodynamic when I fight." -courtesy of Pineapple Express Cardozacreations.blogspot.com

01-01-2010, 07:44 PM	#7
Jettalady Your Story Forum Monitor Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Western, ONT Posts: 3,604	Wasnt sure Black and Decker was in the states... I will never buy that name brand again, have NO luck and cheap and falls apart. I just use a stainless steel strainer over a pot and a lid, easy clean up and has a double boiler with the set. I steam everything, more flavour and can be soften more to your liking. I am thinking of a rice cooker tho, love it. __________________ Formerly: Pen Symptoms of Crohn's 35 years DX in 1993 2 resections, 1993 & 2003 Been on too many drugs to list. Methotrexate- didn't work. Quit June 2010 Nexium.& odd Flagyl, VSL#3 900 Billion probiotic bacteria & Pentasa, 3000mg daily ...winging it now.

01-01-2010, 07:54 PM	#8
Jeff D. Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bama Posts: 4,622	I'm not sure what a griddler is but if it's for making flat hot sandwiches I use a 12 inch pan and a brick(covered in foil) that I preheated in a 400 degree oven. __________________ Jeff remember to discern everything. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...00000686899395

01-01-2010, 02:17 AM	#2
GoJohnnyGo One Badass Dude Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,591	I'm thinking of getting myself a stainless steel Chinese-style steamer. Steamed vegetables are awesome.

01-01-2010, 03:03 AM	#4
GoJohnnyGo One Badass Dude Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,591	Yep, that's a stovetop model. I think the stainless steel would be a lot more hygenic and easier to clean than the stand-alone plug-in type steamers, which are usually made from plastic. You can get the parchment paper inserts for them (or simply cut out the circles with regular parchment) for all sorts of food. Very healthy way to cook and Crohn's friendly too! Steaming breaks down the fiber and retains the nutrients better than boiling.

01-01-2010, 01:58 PM	#5
Peaches Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,994	Well, I am admittedly a bit of a kitchen gadget freak - so here goes. I have used the bamboo steamer stacks over a pot of boiling water before - and everything always turned out excellent with them - but I never liked the clean up part - never felt like I got them all the way clean. So - if you want to go the cheap route on those - I'd only use them for veggies. I have that stacker that GJG shows up top there and it works great for veggies as well - haven't tried meat in it though, but can't see why it wouldn't work great. Easy to clean and you KNOW it is clean. I also have a Black and Decker food steamer and it works great as well - but is a pain in the butt to clean - lots o parts. I bought it a long time ago before I had the stainless stackers. You can do rice in it at the same time you are doing other stuff, but I think I'd rather have the stainless stackers the most and just cook the rice like normal. As for grinding - I have the grinder attachment that goes with my Kitchenaid mixer. If you don't have a nice Kitchenaid mixer - save your money and get one - you'll only have to buy it once and you'll have it forever. It is a good investment if you like to bake, which I do. The grinder works great - but I use it to grind meat up, and not very often at that. Ahhh, just re-read your post Teeny- was trying to figure out what food you liked to "grind" and it wasn't a grinding question - you said GRIDDLER. Bahaa! If you want just a flat griddle - I've had so many of those and I just get the one with the biggest space on it - they all work the same to me. NOW, if you want to make Panini's and stuff like that - I'd get something like this:http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-1-Griddler-Panini-Sandwich/dp/B000CPZXGO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1262357828&sr=1-1 just make sure the top "floats" over the bottom and doesn't close like a V - those models aren't good. OK - can you tell I like to cook AND eat???