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Produce => Recipes => Topic started by: Hyacinth on March 12, 2006, 15:08:29

Title: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 12, 2006, 15:08:29
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 ::)
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: tim on March 12, 2006, 16:21:52
Wish I could help - always use this one!
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Mrs Ava on March 12, 2006, 16:41:37
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... :-\
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: supersprout on March 12, 2006, 16:51:13
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 :-[ ;)
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 12, 2006, 16:55:46
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 ...
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: supersprout on March 12, 2006, 16:57:09
Looking forward to new thread '1001 uses for a bamboo steamer' ;D
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 12, 2006, 17:00:11
YEP!! Riddling soil
         Sieving stones
         Wormery for gourmet worms?
for starters..
         
but cook with it? doubt it  ::)
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: katynewbie on March 12, 2006, 17:36:52
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!!

:-\
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 12, 2006, 17:41:16
Thanks Katy....lid now ON 8) ;D
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: grawrc on March 12, 2006, 18:04:12
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
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: katynewbie on March 12, 2006, 18:06:17
;D

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

;D
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 12, 2006, 18:29:16
They also only cost about £2.99...... ;D
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: katynewbie on March 12, 2006, 18:37:28
;D

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

;D
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 12, 2006, 19:42:21
Not a Kitchen Goddess tho  ::)

(steamer filled up again for about the 6th time = still smelling horrible)
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: grawrc on March 13, 2006, 17:26:10
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. :-[
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 14, 2006, 09:41:36
but bamboo steamers have been used for hundreds and hundreds of years.
Probably.
And I'm old-fashioned.  ;D
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Doris_Pinks on March 14, 2006, 10:13:46
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
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 14, 2006, 10:36:08
BRILL, D-P. Time to load the steamer up again, methinks.....

Many thanks, you're a *
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: grawrc on March 14, 2006, 18:52:59
Bet you don't paint your face with woad! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D It's old too.
Title: Re: My new bamboo steamer SOS!
Post by: Hyacinth on March 14, 2006, 23:51:31
 ;D ;D ;D