Amazon.com Review

After three days with Black & Decker's Flavor Scenter, I had used it to perfectly steam asparagus, artichokes (flavored with garlic in the steamer's flavor screens), and leeks. Though I doubted its usefulness when I first got it, I was a convert! This is an extremely useful appliance, a real boon especially to those trying to eat more healthily. The steam bowl's oblong shape perfectly holds vegetables, such as asparagus and corn, as well as three (or six, when layered) mid-size artichokes, which fit in upright. The rice cooker bowl is slightly smaller but can still hold 7 cups of cooked rice. Put water in the base and vegetables, seafood, or rice in the steamer; set the timer according to the instruction manual; and have your hands free until it rings. As an added feature, two small screens below the bowl can be filled with herbs to scent and flavor whatever's cooking. This cooker would also be ideal in a starter kitchen or dorm room, where its multiple uses would really come in handy. It's dishwasher-safe, but because it doesn't ever come near grease, it's easily wiped clean. --Maria Dolan ... Read more

Features

• Two-year warranty
• Electric steaming unit cooks food without added fat
• Includes oblong steam bowl with screen for herbs and a 7-cup rice bowl
• Automatic timer (up to 75 minutes)
• Bowl, cover, and drip tray are dishwasher-safe

Reviews (45)

A Must-Have for a complete kitchen
I love this steamer! I have used it for vegetables, rice, hard-boiled eggs, and making my own babyfood! I started out keeping it in a cabinet, but I found I use it so often, I moved it out onto my countertop. I have already recommended this product to several friends, and now I am buying one for someone as a gift. It makes perfect rice everytime. I love the timer. It comes with a wonderful guide for ideas and recommended cook-times. The herb/spice flavor scenter is an added bonus. This is the best purchase I have made for my kitchen in a long time, and my family is eating healthier now because of it.

Good as a steamer - lousy for rice
I used this while staying at a friend's house and found the following things:

1) It steams vegetable okay; 2) Does not do traditional rice well at all;

The rice that this steamer could do was stuff like Uncle Ben's or Minute Rice (parboiled rice).

If you eat rice a great deal then I would recommend buying a rice cooker like Tiger or Zojiruishi (sp?). Which are designed to handle the boiling and steaming of rice as its main function. Most of these lines also handle steaming vegetables as well. Further there is a warming function in a specialized rice cooker that this black and decker does not have.

The machine itself has the usual black and decker aesthetic of clean design and easy dial but it is not satisfactory in cooking rice. The results were inconsistant with regular rice (both long grain and Japanese short grain - did not have a chance to try Basmati).

If you are getting this just to steam vegetables it is fine. But if you are buying this as a rice cooker then spend the extra and get a specialized rice cooker.

If you are getting a rice cooker please note the following:

1) Never buy a cooker that uses an unlined Aluminium pan - it will make your rice taste off and the pan has a shorter life span because every time you scrub aluminium shears off (that's not dirt that's metal in the dish water. Teflon coated is fine and so is stainless steel.

2) The cooker should have a warming function - this is pretty standard;

3) Compact and tucks away easily - nicer models can be brought straight to the table since the power cord is retractable.

4) Evaluate the amount of usage you are going to get out of it before buying a model. There is no reason to get a Neuro-fuzzy logic $250+ rice cooker if it is only an occasional thing for you.

Skip this cooker for rice.

This product has passed the test of time
I have owned my Black and Decker steamer for almost three years and I can say that I have been happy with it for that entire time. I have been most pleased with the quality of the machine itself (mine has never had a problem or malfunction), but there are several other features I appreciate too.

1. The manual that came with mine has a very extensive chart of various foods and how long each needs to cook in the steamer (this is most helpful!). I primarily use my steamer for vegetables such as asparagus, brussels sprouts, green beans, carrots, red potatoes, and corn on the cob. Although B&D boasts it as a possibility, I have never used my steamer for rice because I do not see how piles of rice would/could cook evenly! I have also never felt the need to try the fish recipe included in the manual because I didn't want my kitchen, or the plastic parts of this appliance to retain a "fishy" smell.

2. I also agree with the previous reviewer who states that this appliance is a snap to clean. In most cases all it needs is a thorough rinsing under very hot water and then a wipe down. When I first purchased this steamer I lived in the country and had fairly hard water (high mineral content) which caused a bit of a lime build up on the heating element of the steamer. My worries about this have proven to be needless as I have now owned it many years and these occasional mineral buildups on the heating element do eventually fall away as you wash it after use.

3. The model I have is the same in every way as the one being sold with the exception that mine comes with a stacking ring and another steamer basket so that you can actually steam two different foods at the same time. I paid nearly twice the price that Amazon is currently offering for a single basket steamer though, and if I were doing it all over again, I would opt for just the single basket model.

I highly recommend this purchase as a quality product at a great price with the added benefit of enabling you to eat more healthy foods.

Cheap and easy way to steam
If something can be steamed, this thing can steam it. I use it for rice, veggies, tamales, etc. It cooks perfect rice, and while not quite as convenient as a rice cooker, it's a whole lot cheaper (and combines functionality). Definitely one of my favorite kitchen toys!

I love this machine
I recieved this product for Christmas in 1997, and it still works like a charm today. This is an absolute must-have kitchen appliance for a first apartment. ... Read more

Features

• White wine, lemon juice, or broth added to the water expands food flavor
• Add herbs and spices to the built-in flavor scenter screen to spice up food
• Enhance the flavor of vegetables, seafood, chicken, or fish
• 2-1/2-quart bowl is big enough for meals or side dishes
• Includes 4-cup rice bowl

Reviews (33)

lovemysteamer
this is the best food preparer item ever! everything you read here about the BandD steamer is true (all good!) i just bought mine today. and im using it for the 2nd time today. (had one years ago, but it was a bit discolored from all the steaming.) im vegetarian and love to steam vegetables and rice so it's perfect for me! i don't even need a conventional stove (unless i need to bake) for lovers of fresh collards and kale - this cooks in less than 30 minutes! i even baked a potato! thank you black and decker!

not for rice
After a series of really bad experiences with rice cookers that died after less than 5 uses, I searched Amazon for something well rated. I bought this item because it was cheap, was a steamer supposedly doubling as a rice cooker, and it was highly rated. I just made my first batch of brown rice the other night and it took TWO HOURS. The recommended time for 1.5 cups was 65 minutes, but when I checked at that time, the rice still looked like soup. I set it for 20 minutes three more times, and the liquid was finally absorbed, but the rice still had a few crunchy spots. I would say not to buy this if you're thinking about using it for rice. I haven't tried the other features yet, but I'm sure it works fine as a steamer.

Great Present for healthy eaters
I received this as a wedding gift in June 2004, and I must say that is little machine is very good. You don't have to wait for a long time when cooking fresh or even frozen veggies. Also, I used it to steam some shrimp, so it can be used for various foods. Great for people watching diets, you can add as much salt or seasoning as you like in the little area they have to steam and season the food at the same time. Since I am on a Sodium control diet, it is very important to watch my salt instake and with this steamer I can add it myself with fresh foods (instead of the packaged foods).

The Best!!!!!
My parents have one and I requested one from the for xmas. It's great I'm not the best chef but I can't mess this up. On the back there is a guide with the vedgy and spices and the amount of time to set it for. Fool proof. A must have!!!!

A must have
This item is great! I have had one since they first came out. They do a great job with fresh vegetables. You can cook frozen ones in it too but fresh is better. I bought my Mom one when they first came out and she loved it too. I have a couple of Aunts who saw it when they came to the house for dinner and really thought the vegetables tasted great. They are really hard to find in the stores now. I just ordered 3 more. 2 as gifts and one as a spare in case mine stops working. I have had it for several years now. I would not know what to do with out it. This is a great price at Target too. I paid $26 for mine. If you like fresh vegetable then you have to get one of these. You will love it!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Rice cookers, which are kitchen staples in Japan, are slowly gaining popularity in America; however, the sturdy, pro-style RC850 rice maker from Black & Decker may jump-start this new trend. The main draw of an electric rice maker is the ease in cooking and cleaning. Combine rice and water, press one button, and it produces consistently fluffy rice with no bottom-of-the-pot scorching. And with the steamer tray handling a second course, dinner's well on its way to being ready.

The RC850 is a handsome kitchen tool, with a large, squared-off body encased in bright, easy-to-clean chrome. The click-locking lid has a strong, pocket-like carrying handle; the stay-cool lid is made of lacquer-polished black plastic. On the underside of the lid, a removable steam shield helps keep the scalding steam away from the lid and directs moisture back into the rice. The deep nonstick cooking bowl is removable for easy cleaning; a sturdy white plastic steaming rack rests inside the upper lip of the bowl to suspend food above the water. A small plastic measuring cup and white plastic rice paddle are included; there's even a holder for the paddle on the back of the rice cooker.

To preserve the nonstick coating of the cooking bowl, use wooden, rubber, or plastic utensils such as the accompanying rice paddle. Vinegar (used to prepare short-grain rice for sushi) may slowly corrode the nonstick surface. Do not use abrasive scrubbers or cleansers on any part of the rice cooker. The nonstick rice bowl, steam tray, paddle, scoop, and detachable steam shield are all dishwasher safe. Re-season the bowl after every dishwasher cleanings by wiping the bowl with a little cooking oil. Unplug rice cooker and allow it to cool completely before cleaning. The body of the rice cooker is not immersible. Wipe clean with a mild detergent and a damp, nonabrasive sponge or cloth; rinse and dry completely. The RC850 rice cooker measures 12 by 11 by 11-3/4 inches. Black & Decker includes a detailed instruction sheet and a one-year limited warranty against materials or workmanship. --Garland Withers ... Read more

Features

• Measures 12 by 11 by 11-3/4 inches; rice scoop and serving paddle included; one-year warranty
• 6-quart chrome-bodied electric rice cooker and vegetable steamer
• High-polished chrome with black accents; nonskid feet; click-lock, stay-cool lid
• 120 volts; automatic timer and cook-to-warm function; carry handle and paddle holder
• Dishwasher-safe nonstick rice pot, steam tray, and accessories; fully detachable power cord

Features

• dishwasher safe
• makes 24 cups of cooked rice
• removable non-stick pot
• auto switch "cook" to "warm"
• keep warm

Reviews (21)

Black and Decker Rice cooker
This cooker was very disapointing. Left unattended for cooking time (45 min.) it spit pasty rice steam all over the counter, toaster and above cupboards which is hard to get off when dry. Did not matter how much water you put in.

Lemon of a cooker
Bought cooker and used it three times -- it smelled like something was burning and quit working!!! I have been trying to get Target or Black and Decker to replace or honor warranty--I haven't heard from either. Buy the Sanyo rice cooker from their website! I gave my 10 year old Sanyo rice cooker to my daughter and she is still using it!!! Good luck if you buy the Black and Decker product!!!

glass in food is not quite tasty
I am *very* disappointed in this purchase. I have used this cooker less than 10 times, and each time the rice has been dry and gross. My mother has a rice cooker that's going on ten years of steady use, and the rice always turns out flawless - i know that good rice cookers exist. The sojirushi (sp?) are excellent and well worth the extra cost. Consequently, where I thought i would save a few bucks and go Black & Decker, I have now decided to spend more for the better product and will purchase a sojirushi. This cooker is also DANGEROUS. The steam from the top does not escape properly, and caused a fracture in the glass lid. Chunks of the lid literally fell off in the process of cooking! I wrote to black and decker for a replacement and they routed me to another company that apparently sells these products with the Black and Decker name. This new company, well they didn't even dignify me with more of a response than to call customer service. Apparently it is not a major concern that their faulty product is shooting shards of glass into people's basmati. Thinking of buying this cooker? My humble advice is to just say no.

Not a good product
I have purchased this rice cooker twice. The first year it burned out, literally. I purchased another one and the same thing happened this morning, almost a year later.
Pros: It is extremely easy to use, easy to clean, and is inexpensive.
Cons: Do not use this product under cabinetry. It will cause moisture stains/damage, even if the cabinetry is mounted high. Foam will bubble out of the cooker and onto the counter. The life expectancy of this cooker is only 1 year with moderate to heavy use.

DEFINITELY A "DON'T BUY"
This machine will boil over with a starchy bubbling mess to clean up - even when cooking the smallest quantity of rice. The vent hole on the top will also get clogged - making it dangerous to lift the lid. DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED. It seems a good value, because it has a large capacity & a removable pan to make clean-up easier - and believe me that's because cleaning up after this machine is a mess. The rice is always soggy on top - with a crust on the bottom. You would be better off using instant rice or cooking it on the stove the old fashioned way - it's less trouble then cleaning up after this machine. I gave it ONE STAR - BECAUSE THAT IS LOWEST YOU CAN GIVE - and that is overrating this machine. ... Read more

Features

• Cool-touch handles and detachable cord, also includes measuring cup and spatula
• Heavy duty tempered glass lid
• Automatic control switches to warming after cooking
• Indicator lights show cooking/warming cycles
• Removable 7-cup cooking bowl

Reviews (2)

Cooks rice, but you'll need a scrubber.
The rice cooker seems to overheat everytime and sends froth boiling over. This can be avoided by opening the top from time to time. The rice tends to stick to the metal after you are done. With a close eye the rice will turn out fine. However, this product fails the test for convenience. I'd rather use the stovetop with some good cookware and a timer than use this. I suggest looking for a product with better non-stick material and one that doesn't overheat.

Sticky rice, but stuck to the bottom of the pot!
I grew up in Japan, so I am pretty picky when it comes to how I like my rice. This was given me as a gift, and although I wouldn't have chosen an American brand of rice cooker, I was surprised at how well the rice turned out. I was using Japanese rice. The cooker gets the rice pretty perfect in less than 35 minutes for 6 cups, which is fairly fast. Unfortunately, the first time I used it, I left it on the "warm" setting for over an hour. This was never a problem with my older Japanese rice cookers, which do not have a glass lid, but whose tops are normally hinged, preventing you from seeing the contents until they have finished cooking.
After everyone had come and gone and finished eating, I could see the bottom of the pot, and noticed the yellow color of the rice that was hardened there. I soaked the pot, (which is not dishwasher-safe, by the way, as neither the lid nor utensils that accompany this set are) and decided to unplug the rice cooker immediately the next time.
I did unplug it the following night after it had finished cooking and the light automatically switched over to the "warm" setting. However, upon stirring up the rice to loosen it so that the texture would be uniform, I noticed again the same problem on the bottom of the pot. I am disappointed in this particular feature of the rice cooker, but I noticed the price was at least $100 lower than a traditional Asian rice steamer/pressure cooker, and since I didn't purchase this myself, I can't complain - but I do give it only 4 stars because of this problem, as well as the low quality of the rice scooper and paddle. ... Read more

Features

• Measures approximately 9 by 9 by 15 inches; 1-year limited warranty
• Electronic double-decker 7-quart-capacity food steamer
• Built-in flavor-scenter screen spices up fish, chicken, and vegetables
• 75-minute timer with signal bell and automatic shut-off provides added safety
• 2 3-1/2-quart cooking bowls, plus 7-cup rice-cooker bowl included