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Saucepan Accessory

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By: Avrohom Yitzchok All content is licensed under CC BY-SA
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Q: Saucepan Accessory

When we cook our cholent (overnight stew), it sometimes dries out on top.

For those who do not relish this part, I am looking for a stainless steel insert to my saucepan that will keep the solid ingredients below a liquid layer. Can anyone recommend a product please?

Answer

It sounds like you're looking for something like a steamer basket:

These are normally put in the bottom of a pot to hold food out of the water so it can steam. The flaps flip out to fit pots of varying sizes. You could possibly instead use it on top of your food to hold it down into the liquid.

Similarly, the are many strainer baskets that come in varying sizes that can fit inside a pot. These come in a variety of styles, from a traditional colander to a "pasta insert" to hold pasta while it cooks for easy removal. If you can find one to fit your pot, it may be another excellent option to put on top of your food to hold it down.

You might also find a round cooling rack that fits inside your pot to use similarly, and use it to push the food down under the liquid while it cooks.