I'm sure you guys have heard of these, but just in case...I bought them the other day and they are awesome! It tells you on the bag exactly how long to cook each vegetable and they come out perfect and taste great!
There are a couple of threads around here about them. I did a product test for them. ITA that they work great! They warn you to stay away from the vent holes. They mean it!
The only problem I have with them is that they are not recycleable. They are such a new plastic that there hasn't been a way to recycle them invented yet.
I told DW about these this evening at dinner. She asked me how they were an improvement on her standard technique of putting stuff in a glass bowl with a plate as a lid. The plate is heavy enough to hold in the steam, but can lift (just like the valve in these bags) to let some steam out to prevent overpressure. And the plate is reusable. (The Ziplock website recommends NOT reusing these bags to prevent the spread of bacteria.)
I told DW about these this evening at dinner. She asked me how they were an improvement on her standard technique of putting stuff in a glass bowl with a plate as a lid. The plate is heavy enough to hold in the steam, but can lift (just like the valve in these bags) to let some steam out to prevent overpressure. And the plate is reusable. (The Ziplock website recommends NOT reusing these bags to prevent the spread of bacteria.)
How do I answer her? How are these better?
They aren't better. The glass bowl/plate will work just as well to steam veggies in the microwave and since it is reusable, it is better for the environment. You can also buy reusable vented plastic discs to put over the glass bowl (or even just use a sheet of wax paper, which is at least recycable and, in some places, compostable). I hate to see manufacturers coming up with more and more disposable products like this. It exponentially increases the waste filling our landfills. Even if the bags were recycable (or better yet, compostable), it would still be better to use the glass bowl. It's better to reuse than recycle.
I use Pampered Chef's small MicroCooker (http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_prod...ategoryCode=CW) and will be using the large one (http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_prod...ategoryCode=CW) I've been very happy with the small one. It's cheap, cooks well, drains well and keeps cool in the microwave. I do have one complaint. I like to add butter to most veggies I steam. With the microcooker, I drain the water, add the butter, then replace the lid to melt the butter. It works great, but the plastic of the steamer doesn't seem to want to let the butter part. It wants to stay greasy! So, I either add the butter to the veggies after they depart or know I'm going to have to use extra soap to clean it up. One nice thing is that the lids snap on, much like a pressure cooker lid does (put on crooked, then spin to snap in place). This is great for when you drain the water. Your veggies don't force the lid open. You can just turn it over in your sink, then attend to the rest of dinner while it drains for a moment.
Thanks Barbara (BlueToBlue), That's exactly how DW sees the whole picture.
Although she's very open to trying new things, she wrinkled her nose at even trying these. Made up her mind just from my description.
I even blanched at the website's suggestion that one brings in a piece of raw chicken to microwave at the office. YIKES! For me, raw chicken comes under stronger special handling than does my lunch bag carried to the office.
I love the steamer bags, since I can now take things to work for lunch that I couldn't before. Now I can enjoy steamed veggies or corn-on-the-cob for lunch.
Since I work long hours, I have to pack both lunch and dinner to eat at work so this is a great way for me to have something other than salads or the usual brown-bag stuff.
I just pop the bag in the microwave, and about 2-3 minutes later I have some tasty stuff to look forward to.
LessEveryDay, thanks for posting those pics. Do you have the option of either the long handle or the shorter dual handles? We have a small microwave and I don't think the long handle would fit. Plus, I'd actually prefer the other design. Which do you have?
My method of steaming (also not recycleable) is to use a wet paper towel on top of whatever I'm steaming. It works perfectly.
nelie, that's the way I do my corn on the cob. Wrapped in a paper towel (damp or not) for 3 minutes. It's yummy. I do a bunch and eat them cold - no salt, no butter - just the corn taste. I can eat 2 ears a day with lunch for the whole season.
Since I've discovered this I've never gone back to steaming or boiling.
Ziploc zipnsteam bags
How are these better?
Thanks Barbara
