Black and Decker Handy Steamer Plus FoodRice HS90 User Manual

							SAVE THIS USE AND CARE BOOK
Handy Steamer Plus™
Food Steamer/Rice Cooker
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800-231-9786
QUESTIONS? Please call us TOLL FREE
Monday  -  Friday 8:15 a.m.  -  5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
MODEL HS90 
						

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When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should
always be followed, including the following:
Read all instructions.
Do not touch hot surfaces. Use potholders when removing cover
or handling hot containers.
To protect against electrical shock, do not immerse cord, plug or
base unit in water or other liquid.
Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or
near children.
Unplug from outlet when not in use. Unplug before putting on or
taking off parts, and allow to cool before cleaning.
Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or
after the appliance malfunctions or has been damaged in any
manner.  Return appliance to an authorized service facility for
examination, repair or adjustment.
The use of accessory attachments not recommended by this
appliance manufacturer may cause hazards.
Do not use outdoors.
Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter, or touch
hot surfaces.
Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a
heated oven.
Extreme caution must be used when moving an appliance
containing hot food, water, or other hot liquids.
Do not use appliance for other than intended use.
Lift and open cover carefully to avoid scalding, and allow water to
drip into steamer.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS 
						

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Do not place the unit directly under cabinets when operating
as this product produces large amounts of steam. Avoid
reaching over the Steamer when operating.
Always use hot pads during steaming to remove the Cover or
any part of the unit to avoid steam burns.
Steaming times will vary depending on desired doneness and
food quantity, size and arrangement. The cooking times in the
Steaming Guide are suggested times. You may want to
lengthen/shorten cooking times to suit your taste.
NOTE:  If the desired cooking time is less than 15 minutes,
first turn the Timer past 15 minutes and then
turn to desired
cooking time
Altitude affects the temperature at which water boils. Thus in
higher altitudes longer cooking times may become necessary.
1.  Cover with tabs
2.  Rice Bowl
3.  Steaming Bowl
with handle openings
4.  Drip Tray 
5.Base
6. Cooking Light
7.Timer
8.Steaming Guide (on back of unit)
9.  Bowl Divider
10.  Heater Element
11.Water Reservoir in Base with Lo, 
Med and Hi Fill Marks
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1011
POINTS TO
REMEMBER
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Some water will remain in the Water Reservoir after the
Steamer has turned off; this is normal.
Do not use any Steamer parts in microwave or on any
cooking/heated surface.
How To Use
COOKING IN THE 
STEAMING BOWL
(See Steaming Guide for suggested
cooking times, techniques and water
fill levels.)
CAUTION:To avoid steam burns and
when checking foods while cooking,
use long handled utensils/tongs.
Always use potholders to remove
Cover. When removing the Cover, be
careful to lift Cover slowly.
Fill Water Reservoir with cold tap water
to appropriate fill line. For added flavor,
you may add lemon juice, chicken
broth, white wine and herbs/spices to
the water in the Reservoir. Do NOT use
beer, red wine, oil, spice extracts (i.e.,
vanilla) or fruit juices in the Reservoir.
Hold the Drip Tray by the handle and
place it into the Base. (Figure A )
NOTE:The Drip Tray is always used
whenever the Rice Bowl is not used. It
prevents fats/juices of some foods
from dripping into the water and
bubbling up into the Steaming Bowl. If
you choose, save these juices for
gravies, sauces, soup stock, etc.
Figure A 
						

							Place the foods to be steamed into
the Steaming Bowl. You may add
seasonings, such as lemon slices, fresh
dry herbs, seafood seasoning mix, etc.
to the food. 
Place the Cover on the Steaming Bowl.
Make sure the handles line up over
each other and the tabs fit properly into
the openings.
Put the Steaming Bowl onto the Base.
Plug the cord into an electrical outlet.
Set the Timer for the desired cooking
time. When the time is up, a bell will
ring, the Cooking Light will stop glowing
and the unit will automatically shut off.
NOTE:If the desired cooking time is
less than 15 minutes,first turn the
Timer past 15 minutes and then
turn to
desired cooking time.
The Cover can be turned over with the
top facing downward and used as a
trivet/base for resting the Steaming
Bowl. (Figure B) When cooking has
been completed, unplug cord.
Promptly remove Steaming Bowl from
Base and place on inverted Cover. 
Carefully remove the Drip Tray by the
handles. Contents will be hot.
COOKING RICE 
(See Steaming Guide for suggested
cooking times, techniques and water
fill levels.)
NOTE:Drip Tray is notused with Rice
Bowl.
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Figure B
Steaming Bowl
Cover 
						

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Fill Water Reservoir with cold tap water
to appropriate fill line. Do not use wine,
broth or other liquids.
Put Steaming Bowl onto the Base.
Add rice and water to Rice Bowl.
Place Rice Bowl with rice and water
into the Steaming Bowl. (Figure C)
Place the Cover on the Steaming Bowl.
Make sure the handles line up over
each other and the tabs fit properly into
the openings. Plug the unit into a
standard electrical outlet.
Set the Timer for the desired cooking
time. When the time is up, a bell will
ring, the Cooking Light will stop glowing
and the unit will automatically shut off.
When cooking has been completed,
carefully remove Steaming Bowl from
Base. Unplug cord. Remove the Cover
carefully to prevent water on it from
dripping into the rice.
Using potholders, carefully lift the Rice
Bowl by its handles.
NOTE:The Rice Bowl can also be used
for cooking vegetables with sauces,
poaching chicken or fish in liquids,
reheating foods like casseroles or
foods with sauces.
BOWL DIVIDER FEATURE
The Bowl Divider allows you the option
of steaming 2 foods at once and
keeping them totally separate. The
Bowl Divider can be opened to cover
half the Steaming Bowl (for cooking 2 to
3 servings) (Figure D) or reduced to
cover only a fourth of the Bowl (for 1 or
2 servings).
Figure C
Figure D
Rice
Base 
						

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Always place the Bowl Divider in the Steaming Bowl prior 
to the start of steaming (even if empty and food is to be 
added later.)
If steaming foods with different water levels, always use the
higher water level of the 2 foods. Refer to Steaming Guide for
water levels to use for each food.
Prepare foods as recommended in the Steaming Guide, but
generally quantities should be reduced to:
3 cups or less in Steaming Bowl
2 cups or less in Bowl Divider - largest position
1 1/4 cups or less in Bowl Divider - smallest position
Position larger amount of food in the Steaming Bowl. Reserve
smaller food amount for Bowl Divider.
Foods can be started at the same time, or 1 food started in the
Steaming Bowl, or Bowl Divider, and the second one added 5
or 10 minutes later.
Stir vegetables every 10-15 minutes; after 7-8 minutes for
vegetables that cook in 15 minutes or less. This promotes
more even cooking.
Check doneness of vegetables often. Generally they will take 
a little longer than when the Bowl Divider is not used, but 
not always. Time will depend upon the amount and size of the
food pieces.GUIDELINES:
Few foods steam in the same amount of   
time so it will be necessary to plan the
steaming time for each food. You can
add a second food after the first one
has steamed for a while; you can also
remove the Bowl Divider before food in
the Steaming Bowl is done. Here are
some basic guidelines for using the
Bowl Divider feature. 
						

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If food in the Bowl Divider is done first, remove Bowl Divider -
using potholder to grip hot handle - and continue cooking
other  food.
SUGGESTED FOOD COMBINATIONS
Carrots and Red Potatoes
Medium water level
1 1/2 cups carrots (1/8” thick slices)
4 potatoes, quartered
Place carrots in Bowl Divider, fully opened. Potatoes in Bowl.
Start together.  Set Timer for 30 minutes.  Stir both after 15
minutes.  Check doneness at 25 minutes.
Yield: 2-3 servings of both in 28-31 minutes.
Snow Peas and Yellow Squash
Low water level
1/4 lb. snow peas (about 1 1/4 cups)
2 cups squash (1/4” thick slices)
Place snow peas in Bowl Divider, fully opened.  Squash in
Bowl.  Start together.  Set Timer for 19 minutes.  Stir after 7
minutes.  Check snow peas after 14 minutes; remove Divider
when done.  Cook squash until crisp and tender.
Yield: 2-3 servings of both in 14-19 minutes.
Cauliflower and Zucchini
Medium water level
1 1/4 cups cauliflowerets
3 cups zucchini (1/4” slices)
Reduce Bowl Divider to one-fourth size and set Timer for 20
minutes.  Add cauliflowerets and steam 10 minutes.  Add
zucchini; stir after 5 minutes; cook 3 minutes more.  Check
doneness of both after 18 minutes.
Yield: 2-3 servings of both in 18-20 minutes. 
						

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Boneless Chicken Fillets and Cut Green Beans
Medium water level
1/2 lb. cut green beans (1 1/2 cups)
2 chicken fillets (each 1/4 lb., 3/4” thick)
Open Bowl Divider fully and fill with green beans.   Place
chicken fillets in Bowl.  Start together.  Set Timer for 30
minutes.  Stir beans after 15 minutes.  Check doneness at 
27 minutes.
Yield: 2 servings of both in 27-30 minutes
CAUTION:Allow steamer to cool before washing. Turn timer
to off. Unplug cord from outlet.
Bowls, Cover and Drip Tray:Immerse in HOT, SUDSY WATER.
Rinse thoroughly. Dry all parts.
May be washed in a dishwasher.
Water Reservoir: (Interior of Base)Pour HOT, SUDSY WATER
into Water Reservoir. Use a non-abrasive plastic brush or
mesh scouring pad to clean the interior. Do not use abrasive
scouring pads or abrasive cleaners to clean any part of the
Steamer.
Thoroughly rinse with clean, hot water to remove all traces of
detergent.
Special Care For Heater Element:After a period of use, the
Heater surface may become coated from mineral deposits left
by water.  Severe build-up should be treated by heating
vinegar in the Water Reservoir. Do not use household bleach.
When cleaning, follow this procedure:
Do not cover Base with any Steamer parts while cleaning.
Pour vinegar (1 quart) into the Base to the “Hi” fill line.
Plug unit into electrical outlet and turn Timer ON for
approximately 20 minutes.
Do not allow solution to boil over or spill onto exterior
surfaces.
Care Guide
CLEANING 
						

							When bell sounds and Cooking Light stops glowing, unplug
cord from outlet. Pour out vinegar solution and using a non-
abrasive plastic brush, scrub the Heater Element.
Rinse only
interior surfaces with fresh water.
Exterior of Base:Wipe Base and cord with a damp cloth,
then dry thoroughly. Never immerse Base in liquid or place
in dishwasher.
To maintain appearance of the exterior, avoid the use of
abrasive pads, brushes or cleansers.
NOTE:Steaming times will vary depending on desired
doneness and quantity used. The cooking times in the
Steaming Guide are suggested times. You may want to
lengthen/shorten cooking times to suit your taste. The times
suggested in the Steaming Guide are total cooking times,
starting when the Timer is turned ON.
While the majority of foods cook in much less than 75 minutes,
longer cooking times may require adding additional water to
the Water Reservoir. Remember to reset the Timer. Also, when
using the ”Lo” fill line and if the unit shuts off just short of your
desired doneness, just add 1/2 cup water and reset the Timer.
Watch food to avoid overcooking.
CAUTION:To avoid steam burns and when checking foods
while cooking, use long handled utensils/tongs. Always use
potholders to remove Cover. When removing the Cover, be
careful to lift Cover slowly.
10
When a Foil Cover is Used Over 
the Rice Bowl
Some foods that are steamed in the
Rice Bowl need an aluminum foil cover
to prevent excess moisture from getting
into the food.
Foods that need a foil cover are
specified in the Steaming Guide.
STEAMING
GUIDE