My new bamboo steamer SOS!

[Hyacinth]

Can you advise please? On the Masterchef thread, we talked about bamboo steamers & I remarked that my new one has an appalling smell, even tho I've washed it, etc. and steamed it for a bit. Katy advised me to steam it for a loooooong time - which I'm doing now. Thing is.......lid on or off?  Seems to me that if I keep the lid on, then the smell has nowhere to go...if I keep the lid off.......how do I get rid of the smell from the lid ??? :-[ ;D

HELP!! Logic's never been my strongest point ::)

[Hyacinth]

[tim]

Wish I could help - always use this one!

[Mrs Ava]

Lish, I have had mine for years, and it still smells!  I use it regularly and don't notice a taste in the food I cook. Sorry I can't be more help....

Oh, and I guess I would keep the lid off - let the smell blow away... :-\

[supersprout]

Hi Lish, mine still smells of bamboo, which IMHO adds to the subtle ambience of the kitchen, he he. And like EJ, I've not noticed the bamboo smell affects the food. When you have dim sum in real Chinese restaurants their bamboo steamers still smell of bamboo, though they must have been used '000 times ??? So maybe they never lose it?
I would plump for lid on :-[ ;)

[Hyacinth]

I've got one of those steamers, Tim - use it mostly in my wok....but the 2-tier bamboo one's been a staple in my kitchen for more than 20 yrs - replaced it recently (don't make things to last, these Chinese, do they? ;) :D)  Can't remember having this prob. with the old one tho....there again...would I remember?

I've changed the water 3 times now...even that smells putrid. :'(

Thanks EJ - Lish

And thanks Sprout, too - the smell really tainted the food when I used it yesterday, so not best pleased with it at the mo.

Gonna give it another few hours  ;D

with lid on, lid off, lid on, lid off ...

[supersprout]

Looking forward to new thread '1001 uses for a bamboo steamer' ;D

[Hyacinth]

YEP!! Riddling soil
         Sieving stones
         Wormery for gourmet worms?
for starters..
         
but cook with it? doubt it  ::)

[katynewbie]

I did mine with lid on...theory being that the steam leaking thru the lid would help dispel the niff...

It does still have a bit of "eau de bamboo" about it, but not as bad as before. Have been using it for 3 years and my guests must be too polite...no complaints yet!!

:-\

[Hyacinth]

Thanks Katy....lid now ON 8) ;D

[grawrc]

What's so special about bamboo except it looks pretty? I've got a steamer but it's metal and pyrexy stuff. Is that bad? Seems to work proetty well and no unpleasant smells or tastes?  :P

[katynewbie]

;D

Lol...I like woody things, it's probably a piece of pretentious nonsense!!!

;D

[Hyacinth]

They also only cost about £2.99...... ;D

[katynewbie]

;D

Would have thought that kinda thing would not worry a Yabb God with 1000 posts?!!! Lol

;D

[Hyacinth]

Not a Kitchen Goddess tho  ::)

(steamer filled up again for about the 6th time = still smelling horrible)

[grawrc]

Go for the M&S one in the sale: 3 steaming areas for £5.99. And you can just use one if it's all you need. 8)

Mind you that was about 4 years ago. :-[

[Hyacinth]

but bamboo steamers have been used for hundreds and hundreds of years.
Probably.
And I'm old-fashioned.  ;D

[Doris_Pinks]

Lish, just a thought, how about soaking it in warm water with some bicarb chucked in? Takes the smell outta me fridge it does! ;)   DP

[Hyacinth]

BRILL, D-P. Time to load the steamer up again, methinks.....

Many thanks, you're a *

[grawrc]

Bet you don't paint your face with woad! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D It's old too.

[Hyacinth]

 ;D ;D ;D