This steamer from Lakeland is perfect for making quick and easy microwave rice or vegetables. It is very straight forward and simply consists of an inner container with narrow slots in the base and a slightly larger outer container into which the first one fits. The lid fits over them both and also has slots in it for steam to escape during cooking.

I always use mine to make rice as it is so much simpler than cooking it on the hob. There is no need to constantly watch or stir the rice when using this steamer unlike when using a hob, so you are free to occupy your time elsewhere while it is cooking. Before having one of these I would also sometimes cook rice in a glass bowl in the microwave but found that it would often boil over and make a mess. I have never had that problem when using this steamer.

It is very simple to use. Rice or vegetables are placed into the inner container. The slots in the bottom are narrow enough to stop grains of rice falling through. Then you simply pour the appropriate amount of water on the top, put the lid on and place it in the microwave. The great thing is that to drain it, all you have to do is lift out the inner container. There is no need to transfer the whole lot into a sieve which then gets gummed up with sticky rice water. And there is no need to hold the lid of a saucepan over the top of the pan trying to leave a tiny gap so you can tip the water away down the sink whilst running the risk of sending half your rice down the plug hole with it!

A couple of other points worth mentioning are that it is stain-proof so if you like to put exotic spices in your rice then the plastic should stay clear an not pick up that unpleasant orange colour food containers sometimes get. It is also freezer safe apparently though I have no idea why anyone would ever need to put it in the freezer. This feature seems a bit pointless unless I am missing something? It has a 2.5L capacity and measures 22cm in diameter and 17cm in height - a bit extra when the lid is on. The only slight disadvantage is that it takes up a bit of cupboard space and like anything, needs storing somewhere when not in use which may or may not be an issue depending on your kitchen size.

It is generally easy to clean. Sometimes cooked rice gets stuck in the slots in the base of the inner container so it is more effective to poke at it with a washing up brush which can get into the gaps rather than washing it with a cloth or a sponge. If you are lucky enough to have a dishwasher, you will miss out on all that excitement as the whole thing is dishwasher safe.

My steamer is clear in colour but I have just discovered that this is also available in a funky red colour as well. Another advantage is that at £10.99 it is considerably cheaper than buying an electronic rice steamer. You can get hold of one of these from the Lakeland catalogue or their website of if you live somewhere fancy enough to have one of their shops then you can also visit a store!