blackhead > wrote:

> Using a steamer will be more flexible, but at the very least I want it
> to:

> 1. Have a knob that controls the amount of power used to heat the
> water since there is a minimum amount required that will boil the
> water and there is no need to go over this.

> 2. Must be able to take a small amount of water, say 1/16 cup full.

> other hand, a steamer for a gas/electric hob satisfies 1. and 2. above
> but will an electric steamer? Looking through the Argos catalogue the
> electric steamers don't seem to satisfy any of the requirements 1, 2
> above and so a hob steamer is my only option.

I would assume that an electric steamer will have a thermostat, thus
only using enough energy to bring the water to a boil and then cycling
to maintain it. In other words, no need for a manual control.

As for requirement 2, I have no idea.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.