Review
Posted in: Kitchen > Kitchen Appliances
12 / 10 / 2008
Australian company Birko, well known for making hot water urns has recently set the standard with their new Steamer Oven. The Birko Steamer Oven is about the same size as a large microwave and can sit straight on the bench or be professionally installed into the kitchen wall. It’s stainless steel design will make it the centre piece in any modern kitchen.
Unlike many steamers on the market, the Birko Steamer Oven doesn’t need to be professionally installed by a plumber as the unit has its own water reservoir which can easily be refilled. When completely filled the water reservoir gives you about an hour of steaming which is more than enough time for cooking most foods. Fully electronic, the Birko Steamer Oven allows you to choose not only the cooking time, but the actual temperature setting whereas most other steamers only let you cook at 100°C. So if you wanted to steam something delicate you could set it to cook at 75°C.
Now to the cooking. With healthy cooking becoming more and more prominent, steaming is a clever cooking method, especially for people trying to lose weight. When steaming foods, there is no need to use cooking oils or butter which makes it a healthy alternative to grilling, roasting or frying. Apart from being a healthy cooking method, steaming foods not only preserves the flavour but retains more than twice the vitamins and minerals than other cooking methods. So it makes sense to include steamed foods in your diet, and given the versatility of steaming the Birko Steamer has quick become an essential appliance in my kitchen. So far i have cooked seafood, poultry, vegetables and even desserts in the steamer and the results have far surpassed my expectations.
I’ve tried a range of foods in the steamer oven, but my favourite would have to be my Wildfire Spiced Whole Chicken. I simply put a whole chicken into the steamer tray, dust the chicken with Wildfire Spice and a little salt, and then put in the steamer for 45 minutes. Everyone that’s tasted the chicken say it’s the juiciest and most tender chicken they have ever tasted. Adding to this, the steamer tray collects all the chicken juices which make a great tasting stock as well.
One of the greatest things about having the Birko Steamer is inviting the family around for the Sunday Yum Cha at home. Using a combination of homemade yum cha items such as Prawn Gow Gees and Pork Dim Sums together with bought items such as BBQ Pork Buns, we can now do our own yum char at home. 8 minutes in the steamer oven is all most items take except for steamed rice which only takes 13 minutes.
I must admit that the Birko Steamer Oven has become one of my most used kitchen appliances which I utilize nearly every day. It hasn’t been an issue for me, but friends who’ve seen me cook in it say they would’ve preferred a glass door instead of the full stainless steel.
For more information about the Birko Steamer Oven visit www.birko.com.au
Buy Online Now
