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Kitchen tips · speed

Cook two things at once — the steam-on-rice trick.

While your rice cooks, steam vegetables or fish directly above the pot — no extra pan needed.

K

King of Quick · The Lazy Cook

May 25, 2026 · 2 min read

One pot. Two dishes. Zero extra washing.

The setup

  1. Start rice as normal. Any water ratio works.
  2. When water boils, reduce heat to low.
  3. Set a metal sieve, bamboo steamer, or colander over the pot.
  4. Add your food. Lid on.

The rice steam does the rest.

What steams well

FoodTime above the rice
Broccoli florets8–10 min
Frozen edamame10–12 min
Thin fish fillet10–14 min
Fresh dumplings12–15 min

What to skip

  • Leafy greens — too fast; they'll overcook and drip.
  • Dense root veg — 30+ min; rice finishes first.
  • Anything needing colour — steam won't brown it.

Three rules

  • Keep the lid on. Steam leaks fast.
  • Add the steamed item when you drop the heat.
  • Season before it goes in, not after.

One pot, dinner done.

About the author

K

King of Quick The Lazy Cook

Writes about speed shortcuts, 30-second tips, time-savers, and one-tool tricks. Tone: ultra-short, practical.

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