You probably remember seeing it in the back of your parents' pantry. That white, plastic cylindrical tower with the clear lid and the red power light that stayed on forever. It’s the Black and Decker Handy Steamer. Honestly, it’s one of those rare appliances that somehow survived the transition from the "As Seen on TV" era of the late 80s and 90s into the modern kitchen, despite looking like a piece of vintage lab equipment.
Most people bought them because they wanted to be healthy. Steaming is, after all, the gold standard for keeping vitamins in your broccoli instead of boiling them into a murky green soup. But what's fascinating is how these units are still being traded on eBay and sought after at garage sales today. People aren't just nostalgic. They actually think it works better than the high-tech digital steamers sitting on store shelves right now.
The Basic Tech That Refuses to Die
The Black and Decker Handy Steamer is essentially a heating element, a water reservoir, and a bowl. That’s it. No Bluetooth. No LCD screen. No "smart" sensors that break the moment a drop of water hits the motherboard. It uses a mechanical timer—that ticking sound is iconic—and when the time runs out, it dings.
Simplicity wins.
When you look at modern alternatives, they often have complicated nesting trays that are a nightmare to clean. This old Black and Decker unit? It had a drip tray that actually caught the "veggie juice," which meant you didn't have old cabbage water tainting the fresh water in the base. It’s a design choice that many modern manufacturers ignored in favor of making things look "sleek."
Why Your Rice Is Better in a Steamer
People forget this thing was a secret weapon for rice. While it was marketed as a vegetable steamer, the HS80 or HS90 models usually came with a small black or white "rice bowl." You’d put your rice and water in that bowl, set it inside the steaming basket, and let the ambient steam cook it.
It’s foolproof.
Because the heat is indirect, you never burn the bottom of the rice. It’s a gentler process than a dedicated rice cooker which sits directly on a heating plate. If you’ve ever struggled with mushy brown rice, the Black and Decker Handy Steamer sort of solves that by accident. The steam permeates the grain evenly. It takes longer—maybe 45 minutes for brown rice—but the texture is remarkably consistent.
The Problem with Plastic
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: Bisphenol A (BPA). These steamers were manufactured long before "BPA-free" was a marketing buzzword. Most of these older models use polycarbonate plastic.
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If you’re using a vintage unit, you’re heating that plastic.
Some users don't care. They’ve been using the same steamer for 30 years and they feel fine. Others have switched to using glass inserts inside the plastic baskets to keep the food from touching the sides. It’s a valid concern and probably the biggest reason why Black and Decker eventually moved away from this specific design. If you find one at a thrift store, check the condition of the plastic. If it’s cloudy, pitted, or cracked, it’s probably leaching more than just steam.
Maintaining a Vintage Black and Decker Handy Steamer
If you still have one of these, or you just scored one, the biggest enemy is calcium.
Scale happens.
If you live in a city with hard water, that heating element at the bottom is going to get a white, crusty buildup. Don't scrub it with steel wool. You'll ruin the coating. Basically, you just need to run a cycle with white vinegar. Fill the reservoir with a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar, let it "cook" for 10 minutes, then let it sit. The gunk peels right off. It’ll smell like a pickle factory for an hour, but your steamer will run like it's 1994 again.
What Most People Get Wrong About Steaming Times
The little chart printed on the side of the unit? It’s a lie.
Well, not a lie, but an estimate. The manual for the Black and Decker Handy Steamer suggests times that often lead to mushy asparagus.
- Broccoli: 8-10 minutes is usually plenty.
- Fish Fillets: 10-12 minutes (depending on thickness).
- Hard-Boiled Eggs: 15-18 minutes (this is actually the best way to cook eggs, they peel perfectly).
- Chicken Breast: 20+ minutes, but honestly, steaming chicken is a crime against flavor unless you’re shredding it for salad.
The trick is the "overhang." Since the lid isn't heavy, steam escapes. If your lid is warped, your cook times will double. You can fix this by putting a small weight on top of the lid, but be careful not to block the vent holes or you'll turn the thing into a very low-pressure bomb.
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The Versatility Nobody Talks About
Did you know you can refresh stale bread in these? If you have a baguette that’s turned into a baseball bat, throw it in the Black and Decker Handy Steamer for exactly 45 seconds. It’ll come out soft and pillowy. Any longer and it turns into a wet sponge, so you have to be fast.
It’s also great for hot dogs.
Purists will say you should grill them. Sure. But if you’re feeding six kids and want that "stadium style" snap, steaming them for 5 minutes is the way to go. It plumps them up without splitting the casing. It's the little things that make this clunky white machine so useful even in a kitchen full of air fryers and Instant Pots.
Is It Better Than a Modern Instant Pot?
Honestly? For vegetables, yes.
Pressure cookers are too aggressive. By the time an Instant Pot comes to pressure and then releases, your broccoli has reached a state of molecular collapse. The Black and Decker Handy Steamer is atmospheric. It’s gentle. You can lift the lid, poke a fork in a carrot, and decide if it needs two more minutes. You can't do that with a pressure cooker.
There's a tactile nature to using the old dial. You hear the click-click-click of the timer. You see the steam start to fog up the clear plastic within seconds. It’s fast. There is no "pre-heating" phase that takes ten minutes. It just starts working.
Finding Replacement Parts
This is the hard part. Black and Decker doesn't really make the replacement bowls for the HS series anymore. If you crack your base, you’re basically buying a "new" used one from a secondary market.
Check for these specific things if you're buying used:
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- The Timer Dial: Make sure it actually moves on its own. Sometimes the spring wears out and it stays stuck at 20 minutes forever.
- The Heating Element: It should be dark grey or black. If it’s rusted or the coating is flaking off, pass on it.
- The Power Cord: These used thick, non-polarized cords. Check for cracks near the base where the cord enters the unit.
Steaming Beyond the Kitchen
It’s weird, but I’ve known people who use the Black and Decker Handy Steamer for non-cooking tasks. Milliners (hat makers) sometimes use the concentrated steam to shape felt. People use them to strip wallpaper in tiny corners where a big steamer won't fit.
It’s just a steam generator.
As long as you realize that its only job is to turn water into $100^{\circ}C$ vapor, the possibilities are pretty broad. Just don't use the same one for your wallpaper that you use for your dumplings. That’s common sense.
Making the Most of Your Steamer
If you’re looking to actually use one of these daily, stop using tap water. Distilled water is the secret. It costs a dollar a gallon, but it means you will never, ever have to descale the unit. It keeps the plastic looking clearer for longer too.
Also, season after steaming.
If you put salt or spices directly on the food in the basket, the steam just washes it off into the drip tray. It’s a waste. Steam the food plain, then toss it in a bowl with your butter, salt, or lemon juice while it's still piping hot. The residual heat will melt the butter and the seasoning will stick better.
What to Do Next
If you’ve got an old Black and Decker Handy Steamer gathering dust in the garage, bring it inside and give it a vinegar bath. It’s probably the most efficient way to meal prep a week’s worth of vegetables without making a mess of your stovetop.
For those who don't own one, keep an eye out at estate sales. They usually go for five bucks because people think they’re obsolete. They aren't. They are a masterclass in "good enough" engineering.
Check the model number on the bottom. The HS900 and HS1000 models are generally considered the "gold standard" for capacity, while the smaller "Handy Steamer Plus" is perfect for single-person households or dorm rooms. Just remember to check the integrity of the plastic before you start cooking—safety first, even with vintage gear.
Once you have it running, start with something simple like corn on the cob. 15 minutes in the steamer produces corn that is infinitely juicier than anything you'll get from a pot of boiling water. It’s a small win, but in a kitchen full of complicated gadgets, a small, reliable win is exactly what you need.