Fruit steamers are a brilliant addition to any busy kitchen
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Kitchen equipment | 47 comments
Photo: Lakeland fruit steamer
For years I longed for a Vigo fruit press to process our apples, pears and fruit for wine, juices and cordials. They are beautiful objects but too expensive to justify occasional use.
Then one lucky day last year, Ronald Hayles left a comment about the wonders of the Mahu Liisa.
I had never heard of this type of extraction steamer before but they clearly would be very useful for processing juices. Basically these special steamers extract fruit juice using steam, this also pasteurises the juice which can be drawn off into sterilised bottles and heat processed. Cordials can be made by layering fruit and sugar and drawn off in the same way. The juice produced is pure and clear and doesn’t have to be dripped through muslin for hours before making jellies. In fact Ronald also steams chickens, hams and produces great stock. I was in love with this versatile steamer until I spotted the price £125.00. Argggh.
Then Pamela noticed that Lakeland were selling their own steamer at half price for £36.20. I ordered it and it has made an enormous difference to the production of wine and preserves at the cottage. They seem to taste better too – something in the steaming process seems to enhance the flavours. Last year I made very few as I just didn’t have the time. This year our larder shelves are groaning with produce that took a fraction of the normal time to produce.
The bad news is that Lakeland has sold out of their steamers. I did see this BEKA steamer on Amazon discounted by a third to just under £90 with free shipping. If you are travelling to France I believe that they are much cheaper out there.
Update: I’ve found this link to the instruction manual/cookbook of the Mahu Liisa. Also I’ve discovered that Westfalia are selling a 15 l Multi-purpose Pan. The Westfalia save 10% might still be valid (SAVE10).
Update: January 2011 Westfalia are selling a Stainless Steel Juicer, 9 Litre for just £49.99!
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Thankyou FN & Mauramac for the feedback, really helpful. Does the westfalia one come with the pipe or is that a seperate attachment?
I have just found a new company who are going to send me out a sample as my last supplier has got to expensive this company also does jars.
I sell my produce so am always looking for the best price in jars and bottles to keep the retail cost down for customers.
Not a big company, only me! which gets a bit hectic at times, something like a one man conveyer belt!!!
Hoping to set up my own website next year.
I really like this site so helpful to meet other like minded people.
Happy preserving.x
Hi Gloria, I love my Westfalia Steamer but have no idea how it compares to others. It fitted my budget as I was concerned it might be a white elephant and that I wouldn’t use it as so often happens with kitchen equipment. Couldn’t have been more wrong – I use it a lot. They are all about the same size – which is big so be prepared for it to take up some room on the cooker and in for storage. I find Lakeland a bit pricey for jars and bottles. I have posted on forums about 2 companies you could try. One is called freemanharding.co.uk and the other is the jamjarshop.com Both charge for postage obviously but still work out cheaper than Lakeland although if you only want one or two then maybe not. Hope this helps. Look at some of my posts in forums about the steamer.
Whoops sorry me again, meant to ask does anyone know where I can buy some reasonable priced nice Glass bottles for my Liquers?
Just been researching the fruit steamer! apart from the Mahu have found the westfalia site with there’s for £54.00.
Does anyone know if there is a difference in this one to the Mahu, apart from the price that is.
Would be grateful for any feedback before I make this purchase.
Amazon have no stock of the BEKA, and BEKA haven’t even bothered to reply to my email to let me know whoelse stocks it!
Thank you all.
Hi Gloria
Lakeland stock glass bottles! I’ve heard no bad feedback about the Westfalia one.
Josie – only just noticed your post on 31st July. I would say you get more juice using a steamer than jelly bag but I have to admit to limited knowledge of both as only started making jam a year ago and jelly this year. It seems to extract almost the last drop of juice from the fruit whereas the pulp I had left over from the jelly bag seemed very wet and still full of juice even after 24 hours of straining. I didn’t feel I wanted to squeeze any more juice from the steamed fruit but the jelly bag was very tempting! Hope this helps. It is a large investment but if you search around you should be able to get one for between £45 & £55 and I also use it for cooking meals. I’m hoping I’m not kidding myself but I think it will pay for itself eventually as only uses one ring on cooker and I’m making so much more jam/jelly than I would have done with jelly bag.
Hi MerryB – you wont regret it. I have the Recipe instruction booklet saved on favourites. It’s a lot to take in at first but I refer back to it all the time. Just one point I would mention in case space is an issue for you – it is big (well the Westfalia version is) and it really only works for large batches of fruit – but no more than you would normally use in a conventional pan. I steamed a kilo of soft fruits last night and extracted 2 pints of concentrated juice. This juice has no added water like you would get with fruit cooked in a pan so has a very intense flavour. If you want to drink the juice then you may want to dilute it down and also add some sugar during the steaming process (book explains it all in detail). I only use it for jam and jelly making (so far). Good luck and please let me know if you buy one…..us ‘steamers’ need to unite 😉
Just found the instruction / recipe book for Mehu Liisa here.
http://www.juiceland.co.uk/Steam_Juicer_Recipes.pdf
I think I am going to get one!
Sorry – the above should have read quick update on my last ‘post’!
The letter s on my keyboard sticks…..makes interesting reading sometimes 😉
Jut a quick update on my last pot.
I have been busy trying out the steam juicer and can only say “Get One”. It is a real revelation from the jelly bag method and so far I have produced 8 jars hedgerow jelly, 4 jars rosehip jelly, 6 jars ginger and plum jam, 6 jars victoria plum jam, 8 jars purple plum jam, 5 jars Bramble jelly,and just in process of making more mint jelly and rowan jelly today. Got fresh raspberries from garden and wild blackberries and damsons in the fridge. This is all in the last 3 weeks – I just couldn’t have done all of this without the steamer. Our larder shelves are groaning under the weight of it all but I am giving it away to friends and family and it’s being very well received. Only diaster was a beetroot recipe I tried which basically went to toffee – my fault entirely, the steamer had produced lots of lovely juice from the beets but I messed it up. So easy to use and keep clean I wouldn’t bother with jelly bags any more (although I do keep a very small one for tiny amounts like redcurrant jelly.
Just read your comments on the fruit steamer,whilst looking for inspiration to use up my crab apples. wow what a revelation i’m def’ going to try and get one. thank you. this site is brilliant.