apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

haven't tried it, but you could use the basket from an asparagus steamer pot, if you have one.

That's a good idea. I use my rice cooker often, and try to use the steamer that fits inside it, but the truth is I don't like steamed vegies all that much.

I think it's a good idea in theory but my stomach is turning just thinking of that gluteny water mixing in with fresh beans!

I've had good luck cooking onions right along with rice in a pot (apparently I'm the only one who doesn't use a rice cooker), and you can steam a small serving of other quick-cooking, small-cut veggies simply by throwing them in with the rice as it's finishing up (replacing the lid, of course).

It's quick, dirty, and good for single/lazy people like me.

I'm with jesse...adding starchy water to my veggies doesn't sound appetizing. And seriously, what's the big deal about using a couple burners and pots of water? It's called cooking, and people don't do enough of it.

I've used the double broiler (steamer?) I am not sure exactly what it is called, but it has holes and fits on top of my medium sized pot. I can put some broccoli or other steam friendly veggies up top of my pasta for a few minutes while it all cooks together (no gluten water, just steam).

I do this all the time when I cook for my kids. Usually it's as simple as filling a jumbo tea ball with frozen peas and throwing it in the pasta pot.

my williams sonoma pasta pot came with a steamer basket. the pasta cooks, the broccoli steams on top. no mixing of water - and dinner done at once. you only need one more pan for the sauce :)
(on really lazy days, i throw in the broccoli rght in with the pasta water when there's only 2 mins. left - easy peasy)

I prefer to set my veggies into the bottom of the strainer and pour the boiling hot water right over them. Good enough for me. I think this device looks cramped.

they should make a pot (in that size) which has two compartments. i don't want stuff...MINGLING. ickyness.

totally! we steam peas in a metal colander over our boiling mac and cheese water. and...not to be too annoying, but doing this with gadgets you already have is more eco-friendly than buying more stuff. just sayin'

mmmm. mac n cheese.

I just sling my veggies in together or with the rice at the end. It works, is frugal and eco-friendly.

I tend to rinse my rice well at the start which means the water's OK. I think it's more the idea of it that makes some people recall. You cook your rice with the veggies, etc. if you're making certain dishes and this doesn't raise any eyebrows.

mmadden: it's cooking no matter how many pots you use. We're all going to have to tighten our belts as far as energy's concerned soon and for people like you, it's going to be a lot harder to change. You also might want to think about the people who do think about others and the earth's means. Their lives are going to be irreparably damaged as well as the people (like you) who have caused the damage.

Oh honestly emsworthc, food preparation accounts for literally 0.00039% of global CO2 emissions:

"Food Preparation: Baking, grilling, broiling, deep frying, braising, and other forms of hot food preparation account for .00039% of CO2 emissions. The cleanest method of cooking is sautéing using sesame oil, releasing an average of 110 micrograms of CO2 per dish sauteed. Grilling with charcoal and lighter fluid is considered to be the most emitting method, with the average hamburger requiring the release of 1350 micrograms to be 'well done.'"

I think there are bigger fish to fry here (pardon the pun). Why not focus on the 4 areas that account for 99.5% of CO2 emitted (power generation, and therefore power usage, heavy industry, commercial activity, and transportation), where the biggest changes could be made? In any case, it's a little ridiculous to call out someone for "irreparably damag[ing]" peoples' lives because they want to cook with 2 pots instead of one.

Well, it's something that you don't need to do and something you can actually take action on yourself. I agree it's a tiny, tiny fraction of CO2 emissions, but most of the CO2 emissions we cannot do anything about. If everyone was to take positive actions on anything they can on a daily basis, it does add up.

I also wasn't talking specifically about CO2 emissions, I'm thinking of things like the consumption of non-renewable fuel resources, etc.

You might have noticed if you'd read both posts, that I was not attacking anyone, I was responding to an attack. "And seriously, what's the big deal about using a couple burners and pots of water? It's called cooking, and people don't do enough of it." Sounds like an attack on people who don't use an excessive amount of pots and unilaterally deciding that anything they do in the kitchen is not cooking. A fairly argumentative remark, wouldn't you agree?

emsworthc: how does cooking (more) at home compare with eating out or buying microwave food in terms of greenness? also, i'm with mmadden and jesse: i don't know that i'd start cooking things in (what i think is) the wrong way just to save from using an extra burner...no veggies with the pasta water!