Black & Decker Handy Steamer & Rice Cooker Review

My cousin's husband works for Black & Decker. I knew I was getting something      B & D for my wedding present. I was right. It was the Black & Decker Flavor Scenter handy steamer and rice cooker. I used that for almost every meal that I cooked for nine long years, until all the water started coming out of the bottom all over the counter. I was devastated when he died. How could I cook vegetables, meat, seafood, and rice in a healthy manner anymore? There is no other way to cook spinach or turnip greens!

I went on a hard target search of any store that sold small appliances in the city of Colorado Springs. Yes, I found the exact same one that I got for my wedding! Bliss!

This is a large-capacity food steamer and rice cooker. It has five pieces: The bottom holds the water and has the heating element in it, there is a plastic reservoir piece on top of that which collects the residual moisture left from the steaming. In the middle of that reservoir piece is a circular opening with a screen on it. Then there is the basket where you put the food items to be steamed, the lid, and a separate basket for cooking rice. There is a dial timer that makes a quiet noise while it's running and a bell chimes when the time is up. The orange indicator light shows you it's steaming.

The bottom has three graduated measurement lines on it. They are clearly marked low, medium and high. The water level depends on the item you are steaming. This appliance comes with a pamphlet telling you what the water level should be and the time for what item you are cooking. If you lose the pamphlet, most common items you would steam are printed on the back of the steamer.

As far as the little Flavor Scenter screen... you can put dried herbs on there and the steam is supposed to infuse the food item with lovely herbiness. I don't think it really works, although the pamphlet gives you lots of suggestions for which herbs go with what vegetable.

You can steam anything in this and you will have a healthy meal. If you put something really thick, like a chicken breast, or thick carrot slices, it's going to take forever to cook. When I cook greens in there, I do fill it up to the top, even though you're not supposed to. Halfway through, I stir it so the ones that have wilted are on top and the fresh ones go to the bottom and now they can get cooked.

This thing heats up fast, and you need to be careful when you remove the lid. It's easy to get burned, like second degree ones, so watch out for the escaping steam. I have steamed fish, scallops, clams, hot dogs, any and all kinds of vegetables, including root vegetables that have been sliced thinly. Sometimes I cook rice in there, sometimes on the stove. I think both ways are equally easy.

I love this Black & Decker Flavor Scenter Handy Steamer. I use it constantly, and it's a great way to make a healthy meal!