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jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 04:44 PM

My mom gave me a big box full of kitchen stuff.

There was this weird looking metal thing. At first I thought it was a strainer of some kind. I'm not so sure though.

It's a flat metal piece, with lots of smaller metal 'flaps' on the side, that if you fold them up, they spiral together to close.

It looks like it attaches to something but it doesn't go with anything I got in the box.

It says 'EKCO' on the bottom. And it has 3 pegs on the bottom and one large peg in the middle on the top, and the big peg has a ring through it.

Sorry this is a bad discription. Lol.

Thanks :D

N0help4u · Jul 30, 2009, 04:48 PM

I think that sounds like a part of one of those interchangeable grater/chopper things to me.

passmeby · Jul 30, 2009, 04:50 PM

Sounds like a veggie steamer? Yeah, I'm 99% sure it's a steamer.

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 04:50 PM

K ill go look up pictures of those and see if I see one :P thanks hon

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 04:52 PM

HAH!! Thank you passmeby!! GOT IT :D

Cool. Thanks for your help ladies :D

passmeby · Jul 30, 2009, 04:54 PM

LOL, at first I was like "WHAT??", but then it just came to me so I just had to answer!

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 04:56 PM

Mmm now how do I use it, closed and over a pot or open and over a pot?

passmeby · Jul 30, 2009, 05:00 PM

Well, you need to find which pot it fits in first, it should fit nicely in without any resistance or anything, easily put in and out... it's fine if the "fan" part of it folds up a bit.

Then, once you find the right pan size... put a bit of water in the pot, just enough to boil for enough time to cook the veggies. You don't want the veggies to be boiled, so the trick is finding just the right amount of water. Then once you have the water in and the steamer in, put the veggies in and turn the stove on and steam away!

Oh, did I misread your question or did you edit it? You use it open and IN the pot! The amount of water you put in is probably going to be an inch or less. The point of it is, it's a sort of "basket" to hold your veggies as they steam. Hope I explained it OK, if not then just ask me what you need to know!

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 05:12 PM

Oooh I understand. So I'm suppose to put it inside a bit? Not set it on top of the pan? (thats what I was trying to do lol)

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 05:13 PM

OOOH I bet that's what the pegs are for! To keep it from setting on the bottom of the pot!

Awesome this is cool I can steem veggies now without spending lots of money on the automatic microwave steam bags lol

passmeby · Jul 30, 2009, 05:17 PM

Yeah, exactly! The little pegs raise it up just a bit so that the water can boil underneath the veggies! And the big peg & ring is for picking it up out of the pan (CAREFULLY! HOT! )

Yeah, you can save LOTS!! Esp on broccoli, which is just awesome steamed!

Oh, and BTW-ECKO is a common kitchen-item brand, in case you hadn't heard of it before!

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 05:37 PM

Ahh yeah I haven't heard it before :P thanks.

This is going to be so cool. I can make broccoli and coliflower, and steem some green beens instead of boiling or frying or just microwaving them :P

What's cheaper, frozen, fresh, or canned? I buy cans now. But is one of the other 2 cheaper?

Just Dahlia · Jul 30, 2009, 05:56 PM

You don't want to steam canned or frozen, only fresh. Where I come from those are already cooked and you would be just heating them up, waste of utensils, as far as I'm concerned.

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 06:03 PM

OK thanks dahlia

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 06:43 PM

Just Dahlia agrees: You didn't know what that was? I'm so sad :(

Hehe yeah I'm ashamed now :p

This is cool though. From what I understand, fresh produce is cheaper than the canned/frozen/processed veggies anyway :) yummier too

Just Dahlia · Jul 30, 2009, 06:52 PM

I've had at least 2 in my life time and they keep losing parts (edges) because I used them so much. I haven't seen a good one in a while, (they make them cheap now) I'll have to check the second hand stores for a one.

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 07:16 PM

Yeah this one is missing one of its pegs on the bottom. But I fixed it with a screw :D

letmetellu · Jul 30, 2009, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by jenniepepsi

mmm now how do i use it, closed and over a pot or open and over a pot?

Open up the steamer and use a pot just larger than it is, put the steamer in the pan and add water just up to just below the bottom of the bowl shape of the steamer. Now put what ever you are going to steam into the open bowl shape of the steamer and put a lid on the pot, bring the water to a boil and steam for seven or eight minutes or to a time that you like the consistency of what ever you are steaming.

I like mine sort of crisp, most like their things mushy soft.

Just Dahlia · Jul 30, 2009, 08:50 PM

They are great for Artichokes!:)

jenniepepsi · Jul 30, 2009, 09:02 PM

Oooh yummy dahlia!