Have you seen an Idly Steamer? (Used before Cooker)

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Guys, have you seen an Idly steamer that was used before cookers to make idlys? Looks like it is still being used at some places. I found one at a relative’s house recently. Guess what, this Idly steamer makes puffed idlys that are thicker, instead of the flat idlys we are get from a cooker. And the idly tastes nice – not sure if this is because of the homemade flour (vs. readymade flour we find commonly nowadays), or the steamer.

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Notice that the idly plates have holes underneath. They put a cloth over the plates and then pour the flour. I was told that such plates with holes were used with cookers too earlier, but even the oldest ones I remember were without holes. Probably, the idly puffs and expands on the top because of the steam that provides additional heat by percolating through these holes (just a guess). Of course the steam comes from the water put underneath, just like a cooker.

This steamer can hold a maximum of two plates with five idlys unlike the cooker that can hold more plates. The reason for this post is: Why were the steamers replaced by cookers when the idlys are clearly better in the idly steamer? Have you guys seen a steamer before – this is the first time I am seeing one.

BTW, idly has never been my favorite dish. But sambar idly (idly soaked in sambar) has always been! And I also like idly upma, kaima idly, etc. Do you people like idly?

Destination Infinity

Photo Credit: Destination8infinity (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

25 thoughts on “Have you seen an Idly Steamer? (Used before Cooker)

  1. Devilish Angel

    My mom still uses idly steamer… Idly is a simple and tasty dish… Ghee idly, Sambar idly tastes good…

    1. Rajesh K

      Good to know your mother still uses it. I vote for sambar idly with ghee and onions πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  2. SG

    My mom used to make idly in this type of steamer all the time. I, personally, am a chutney man.

    1. Rajesh K

      Chutney/Sambhar, I guess, creates the magic. Not idly in itself!

      Destination Infinity

  3. Jeevan

    We still use the idly streamer, which we call idly gundaan. Two idly and a vadai is my favorite always… the idly made using a cloth taste really good.

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, vadai is my favorite too πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  4. Shilpa

    Yes my mom used it and I still use it . I bought one made of aluminum with 3 plates . So in one full you can make 15 idly . I love idly steamers , I bought and took it to Dubai . People in Dubai , few friends of mine still wonder looking at it , like wise the neyyapa karal:)

    1. Rajesh K

      Looks like more people than I thought are using this! I should find out what this nei-appa karal is πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  5. Ankita

    I have this steamer and I love soft idlis made on this device! the microwave idlis become hard but this old school type rocks!

    1. Rajesh K

      I didn’t even know idlys can be made using microwave!

      Destination Infinity

  6. Sandhya Kumar

    I still use idly steamer but the plates don’t have holes and I don’t use clothes. I love idlies with chutney or saambaar!

    1. Rajesh K

      So even in Chennai people are using it. Only I am unaware!

      Destination Infinity

  7. Alok Singhal

    We always use Steamer. In fact, I never thought people use Cooker to make it.

    1. Rajesh K

      Oh, interesting πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  8. Avada Kedavra

    My mom uses Idly cooker to make idly. I have not seen this steamer either.

    1. Rajesh K

      Same pinch πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  9. sm

    today also in many homes such idly steamers are used including mine

    1. Rajesh K

      good to know πŸ™‚

      Destination Infinity

  10. Manogna

    I have a steel idli steamer,which I use regularly. I love idli sambar combo or idli with groundnut chutney. I used to avoid eating idli earlier, now that I am cooking, I am making them, because they are easy!
    πŸ˜›

    1. Rajesh K

      I have not eaten groundnut chutney. Should taste it sometime!

      Destination Infinity

  11. Ranjini

    We still use these πŸ™‚ I think the fluffiness depends more on the proportion of ingredients used.

    1. Rajesh K

      Probably, but I suspect if the holes under the plates also has to do something with the fluffiness.

      Destination Infinity

  12. BIKRAMJIT MANN

    Oooh I would love to buy one of these but as you say I don’t like idly in its own but idly sambar yummmy. .

    This holes thing is similar to the steam rice cooker..

    1. Rajesh K

      Oh, I am yet to see a steam rice cooker too!

      Destination Infinity

    2. Rajesh K

      Oh, i am not aware of a stem rice cooker either!

      Destination Infinity

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