Social Question

kneesox's avatar

Does anybody still use a double boiler for cooking any more?

Asked by kneesox (4593points) August 9th, 2021

I want to weed out some kitchenware that I don’t use any more, and I have no idea how long it’s been since I used my old double boiler. But in a way I hate to let it go.

Do you still have one? Do you still use it? If so, what for?

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17 Answers

Dutchess_III's avatar

Mine is a homemade make do. I use it to make cheese sauce. I don’t have to be right on top of it so stuff doesn’t burn.

filmfann's avatar

I sure do! It’s most often used when I am making frosting.

JLeslie's avatar

Absolutely. I haven’t in a very long time, but when using chocolate in a recipe a double boiler is often advised. Also, custards. Items that can burn easily on the bottom. I just use two pans when I have to, I don’t have an actual double boiler. Sometimes I get away with a bowl in a bowl if it is something that melts quickly.

Kropotkin's avatar

You mean a bain marie?

Just stick a bowl on top of a pan. I do it for melting chocolate, tempering eggs when making hollondaise sauce, tempering eggs for custard. Not much else I can think of.

JLeslie's avatar

@Kropotkin Yes, that is the same thing. Bain Marie is used for both double boiler on top of the stove and in the oven in the US. I use a bain marie to make flan in the oven. While double boiler is usually specifically talking about on top of the stove.

Dutchess_III's avatar

I promise you, the instant.you get rid of it you’re going to need it!

janbb's avatar

Not often. The microwave usually replaces it for things like melting chocolate. And as @Kropotkin says, you can use a bowl on a pan.

Put it in the discard box and see if you pull it out in the next two months.

canidmajor's avatar

What @janbb said. And it’s not worth worrying about at all. If you find you need one desperately after the move, Goodwill (or equivalent) could probably help you out.

And I haven’t used mine since Seattle, which I left in 1994.

YARNLADY's avatar

@Dutchess_III That is so true.

Patty_Melt's avatar

It has been a while because my daughter wrecked mine. I miss it, but I never got it inserted in my budget.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Just put a smaller pot into a slightly bigger pot that has water in it.

Mimishu1995's avatar

My family had it for a long time. But now we are getting new kitchenwares and I don’t see it anywhere. Maybe it’s stacked somewhere in the warehouse.

But we now have a slow cooker. And my mom is happier with it.

Call_Me_Jay's avatar

I have no idea how long it’s been since I used my old double boiler

Get rid of it.

The best cooks I know have the fewest kitchen gizmos. If it fit your cooking style, you would be using it often and it would be an obvious keeper.

Mimishu1995's avatar

@Call_Me_Jay the last time we used the thing, it was to make this. Now you made my mouth watered and I don’t know if our modern cooker can make it again :(

Call_Me_Jay's avatar

Thanks, Mimi. I added Chawanmushi to my list of recipes I would like to cook. That looks delicous. Using things in my kitchen, I could make that with a stock pot, a steamer, and custard cups.

I also have an Instant Pot, which can sauté, steam, bake, and slow cook. But I have not learned to use it well.

Kardamom's avatar

I use it every Christmas to melt chocolate for haystack cookies.

Here is a recipe for haystack cookies that suggests melting the chocolate in the microwave. I prefer using my mom’s double boiler that she got as a wedding gift.

Haystack Cookie Recipe:
https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/haystack-cookies/

KNOWITALL's avatar

No, I rarely used it.

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