FoodNetArchive

The housewife's referee

1898

Page 16

Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
with it. The food cannot burn or boil over ; it requires no watching or stirring, occupies only one space on range or gas stove. The whole dinner may be cooked at once, without in the slightest degree mingling the flavours. Each com- partment is fitted with a steam check-valve, by closing which, any portion of the dinner is prevented from being overcooked, but is kept hot by steam in the pipe and compartment above and below it. There is a whistle which gives warning when water in the boiler is getting low. Another advantage is its most wonderful cheapness. The Eapid Patent Cookery Steamer is a most useful little thing, and is more than worth its price of one shilling. It is a circular piece of metal rising to a cone, and at the top of the cone is a little ball. It can be placed into any saucepan : steam is generated first under the cone, and as the water becomes heated to a temperature of about 150°, it is forced from under the cone, leaving about an inch of water. This steamer boils much more rapidly than that outside the cone, and quickly generates steam, which, confined to the cone, lifts the ball at the top, and a large continuous volume of super-heated steam issues from under the ball, which is hotter and drier than in any other cookery steamers. It saves fuel, and cooks with dry instead of moist heat. Most ironmongers keep them. Day's Air-tight Cover. — A capital little invention under the above name will be a most useful item in the household. It consists of a metal ring, into which is fixed a thin sheet of rubber; by placing this over the top of the jar to be covered, and depressing the centre of the rubber, it adheres to the rim of the vessel and hermetically seals it. If eggs USEFUL ADJUNCTS TO THE KITCHEN 23 are broken into a tumbler and this cover be placed over it, a few sharp shakes up and down will beat them perfectly. These covers are also useful to place over a cup of tea, and keep it warm, and have the merit of allowing it to be carried about without spilling. Marston's Fish-kettle Strainer is a great improvement on the usual one. It consists of a corrugated plate made to fit any ordinary fish-kettle ; its transverse grooves, which run to the edge on either side, permit the water to drain ofi" perfectly, and the fish can thus be made to slide off on to a dish by merely tilting the strainer. The Lucky Kettle is one of the best kettles ever manu- factured, and on its merits should take the place of the usual domestic kettle. The opening for filling it is at the rear of the handle, which causes it to be very easily filled, and prevents all chance of scalding the hand by issuing vapour ; the handle is of a tripod shape, which renders it absolutely steady whilst the water is being poured out. The Plate and Dish- Washing Machine is a great help in very large households, for it washes and rinses plates and dishes quickly, without fear of breakages and chipping. These machines, by removing the brush, can be used as ordinary washing sinks, which is another item in their favour, and they can also be fitted into any sinks or troughs without alteration ; but they are only advisable in large families, to save the labour of servants.