Can you steam dishes in this cooker? Like Chinese steamed fish or zongzi (sticky rice dumplings in bamboo leaves)?
759041
Hi LadyChrys. The answer is yes. The steamer basket is small as the rice cooker is only 5 cup. A whole fish for table-presentation will be difficult unless your curve the fish. If you don't mind cutting it into steak-like pieces, you'll be fine. I cut my fish, add onions. mushrooms, a few leeks and various fresh herbs. It always comes out wonderful. One caution however. After steaming fish, ALWAYS use the dishwasher to clean the cook-bowl, the basket and the vacuum seal nested into the lid. If not, the next time you cook rice, you'll might have a slightly fishy taste. The dishwasher, at least for me, does of much better job of deodorizing the unit. When I cook rice, I can just hand wash and it's ready to go. One other thing, even though you did not ask; learn to use the timer function for rice. It's amazing. Set it at night and your rice is all ready for you in the morning. I like to pack a little rice and a veggie for lunch at work. Love this little Sanyo. Purchased it years ago and it's still going strong. Hope this helps.
2204756
Separately no but they show recipes with veggies in rice during cooking. Steaming is so simple you could do that in pot with basket. This rice cooker excels at rice but will steam many ways too just not separately.
2194180
I don't use this particular rice cooker, but a similar one. I cook oat groats (whole-grain oats) using the "porridge" setting. Works fine (1/3 c. groats, 1 c. water for one person). Steel cut would also work on that setting, I believe. Give it a go.
380612
I wouldn't, I would use a slow cooker. You can steam veggies in it with the basket that comes with it.
674730
Never tried - would not imagine how you could. It is a steamer for dim sum, buns, etc. I would not use it for rice.Get a rice cooker - I like the 14 cup stainless steel one from Aroma - available at Amazon, but we got ours from Walmart.com
2216197
I have a same problem. If, still under warranty, exchange an other one. Made in China won't last. I have to modify a different steam cooker.
1722432
No, This allows you to cook the maximum amount of rice or the other grains without spilling liquid over the side. You will have the liquid that would normally spill over the side, on your items in the steamer. I have never had a problem with steaming chicken while cooking rice or barley.
894814
This is NOT a dry steamer? You will need to put the rice in a inner pot & put water in the cooker in order to cook/steam. You could do anything with this rice cooker really.
8271
Hi,Yes, you can do both. Since vegetables only take a few minutes to steam, it is recommended to place the steamer with vegetables into the pot near the end of the rice cooking cycle. If you place the vegetables to steam in the pot for the whole rice cooking cycle, the vegetables will be overcooked. You have to be always careful of the escaping steam when you open the lid.
262188
You can cook almost anything in the steamer. You may have to experiment with the timing...
1652367
It doesn't hold a lot of veggies. You could cut a potato in half and steam some green beans or broccoli. That's it. Enough for one person for a meal. Not enough for two. (Although I use it constantly as it works brilliantly at steaming dumplings.) And yes, you can cook rice and steam together.
388743
You can steam vegetables while you make rice, by using the vegetable steamer. As for meat...if you mean, "Can I cook meat in the rice", then yes, but consider the size of the meat and the cooking time. I love to do stews and what not in this, using the "slow cook" selection. I also do one pot rice dishes.
921767
Yes and no depending on what you want to cook. Yes : For anything that won't retain too much water e.g. Potato or when you evaporate all water e.g. rice dishesNo : Veggies, fish etc. These could get soggy (disintegrate) and you will have to strain things out at the end. Buying a separator (<$10 in any Indian store) or steamer basket is a good investment. Remember to remove the 'whistle' and steam for desired amount of time if you plan on using this as a 'steamer' and not a pressure 'cooker'.The quality of the steel (as others have already mentioned) is stellar. Cleaning it is extremely easy, unless you burnt something in it of course :) Yes and no depending on what you want to cook. Yes : For anything that won't retain too much water e.g. Potato or when you evaporate all water e.g. rice dishesNo : Veggies, fish etc. These could get soggy (disintegrate) and you will have to strain things out at the end. Buying a separator (<$10 in any Indian store) or steamer basket is a good investment. Remember to remove the 'whistle' and steam for desired amount of time if you plan on using this as a 'steamer' and not a pressure 'cooker'.The quality of the steel (as others have already mentioned) is stellar.... » Read More Yes and no depending on what you want to cook. Yes : For anything that won't retain too much water e.g. Potato or when you evaporate all water e.g. rice dishesNo : Veggies, fish etc. These could get soggy (disintegrate) and you will have to strain things out at the end. Buying a separator (<$10 in any Indian store) or steamer basket is a good investment. Remember to remove the 'whistle' and steam for desired amount of time if you plan on using this as a 'steamer' and not a pressure 'cooker'.The quality of the steel (as others have already mentioned) is stellar. Cleaning it is extremely easy, unless you burnt something in it of course :) « Show Less
1118967
you can steam chicken (on a plate) and fish (on a plate) but I have not yet tried steaming rice. Sorry.
688826
I use mine for cooking vegetables, not just warming. As for adding Spices, it works fine. I haven't tried steaming meat and fish yet. I will have to try that. I see no reason it would not work.
1262951
Veggies mainly, so they don't get waterlogged with steaming. I steam fish sometimes and set the plate right inside the steamer. Gyoza and Shumai dumplings do well for a super quick side or lunch. Steaming seems easier to control. Also steaming takes less time to get to cooking temperature than boiling a pot of water. Another method I use is to par cook something like chicken with uneven pieces that might burn on the grill, to give it a head start before grilling.
1053484
Yes; I've been very happy with this steamer and used it extensively. You can use it to steam just one or two layers at the same time. The fits with both. I've had bamboo steamers before this, but I definitely prefer this one.