I have painful wrists and find lifting saucepans filled with hot water really hard. Someone said use a basket. This seems a good idea. Do I buy a deep chip pan which comes with a basket (I don't cook chips) and can I use it for pasta and veg? I am probably being really stupid but bear with me please!
Heavy saucepan problem: I have painful wrists and find... - NRAS
Heavy saucepan problem
Written by
Cathy777
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71 Replies
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But how do you lift the pan too drain it? That is my problem. Filling the pan I can do.
Oh! I have started to put a drainer/ strainer in the pot of water then put the dry Pasta in the strainer itself then lift out just Pasta. I also have a large ladle and just dip sauces and things out in stages rather than picking up the whole saucepan. Takes longer but it works for me.
that's a great idea!
Hi Cathy.
A couple of things I do as I have the same problem as you with my wrists.
My hubby is normally on hand to give me any help I need with heavy stuff in kitchen.He will fill and drain saucepans put pans in/ out oven etc but if I am ever on my own for any reason I use baskets.I have two chip pan baskets.
I didn't have to buy the whole chip pan just the baskets.pick one with thin wire so the water moves freely through it as there are some which have small holes and are not as good. They were reasonably cheap just a few pounds each and I bought them on a market stall selling household and kitchen items.
The other item I have which is handy is a microwave steamer.A lightweight item consisting of 2 trays and a pladtic steamer tray.Put a little water in the bottom and the veggies and off to go.
I also think it's a bit quicker than a standard steamer (these are also handy too but a lot more expensive to buy) as long as you don't put too much veg in it.
Hope you can find something that can help you.I can sympathise with you with regards the wrists it's very painful.
There are things out there to help you but you just have to try them and find what's best for you.
Good luck.
Crusee
XX
Thanks Crusee. Yes I looked on eBay for saucepan baskets and have ordered one. Will look into the microwave thing too! Living alone i need as much help as i can get! Thank you very much.
Cathy xx
You're very welcome Cathy.
Kai-- bless her has replied below and on the bottom link she has put on there the third item down is the microwave steamer that I have got £ 6.49 .Does the job perfectly.Thank you Kai for that it was very helpful.
Take care both.
Crusee
XX
Oh I always get so much help on here. Kai is a great help. Thank you both! I will get that micro steamer!
Whilst looking on eBay I found a glass Lazy Susan thing that I have ordered as it will sit in a corner on my worktop that I find hard to reach. Having a productive day!
Go girl your on a roll now.!
I have to say I am rather a kitchen gadget person or at least used to be when I Was able to use them.Right now they are cluttering up my cupboards and find them annoying. But one of my best gadgets if you have cause to use one is my garlic peeler.Got it on eBay 89p like a little tube of rubber.
Put garlic clove in there and roll it- job done.
Hope your microwaves steamer does the trick.
Take care,stay well.
Crusee
XX
Hi Cathy I live alone too & I swear by my steamer...cook a whole meal in 30 minutes & only have to lift light plastic baskets & not much washing up either.
I wrap chicken breasts with some garlic,olive oil & lemon...(or any flavour you like) in foil & put them in a little container, put the pots around the edge, steam for 20 mins, then pop on the next shelf with your veggies + 10 mins!
Voila a meal in half an hour & nothing heavy to lift.
But do wear oven gloves to add each layer or you could get hurt with the Steam!
Works really well with fish too & it's a great way to stew apples in a microwave container without spraying them all over the m/wave!
Bon appetit!
You have convinced me! I shall search out steamers now! Thank you! X
That sounds lovely.
Do you have a dishwasher?
If so Google cooking salmon in dishwasher.Did it a few months back - perfect!
Crusee
XX
I don't eat meat or fish! Haven't for over 30 years. But I have a dishwasher and use it constantly. X
Well I read this somewhere can't remember where now so I tried it.
Wrap up your salmon well so as not to,let water in.I think I did it in a freezer bag and then did about 3 layers of cling film around it.
.Stuck it in dishwasher on normal wash approx 1 hour or maybe a little bit longer.
It was done perfectly- yummy!
Crusee
XXX
That is funny! Wonder if it works with spuds!
Thanks Kai! That has widened my horizon. Now I know it works. Life will be easier!
I use bamboo baskets to steam fish & veg. Like this
ebay.co.uk/itm/8-Bamboo-Ste...
And pop it on top of a saucepan with a tiny amount of water in it, or frying pan or wok - whatever suits. I leave them on the counter as I find them attractive to look at too. Pasta I can do in a colander if I'm not feeling able to move lots of water around.
Does bamboo wash ok? When you say pasta is done in a colander do you have one that sits in saucepan? Mine is too big.
Learning a lot today! Thanks!
I just rinse the steamer, as the steam does sterilise it anyway! And it's a sieve not a colander - I was being stupid!
Why not buy an electric steamer, they work great especially if cooking for the family. And just get a basket for a saucepan I'm sure John Lewis and Lakeland do them.
Well I Cook a lot of pasta so the basket is best for that. A steamer is also worth considering although I only Cook for myself. Thank you!
Well I have done one tonight Cathy but have putchicken portions in but you can leave them out if you wish.
I have put in Baby potatoes quartered.a sweet potato cut in small pieces.a small red onion cut into 6 wedges,also out in 4 mushrooms I had left so cut into quarters..Had half a pack of dwarf beans so they went in too.
Half a red pepper and yellow pepper cut into 1 inch cubes and a pot of small cherry tomatoes on top.Also half a sweet potato,.
Coat well with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper and a good sprinkling of Italian seasoning.Cover with foil,stick in oven 200 degrees leave in oven for approx 30 mins turn veg over and put back in oven without foil for approx 10 mins.until veggies cooked.
Serve with French baguette- easy peasy.
Crusee
XX
Yum! Forget coming here .. I am coming round to you!
X
Ok knife and fork coming out of drawer now.
The one thing I really miss about all this condition is going into the kitchen and messing about for hours,
Also miss my golf and cycling but this is the one thing I really miss.
Crusee
XX
Me too I love cooking but its all too much now. Can't say I ever played golf or cycled but loved dancing. I keep thinking this is temporary and I will suddenly be back as I was. Its called optimism I suppose but sometimes I get fed up waiting to be normal again. Night night Crusee. X
Nite nite Cathy.
I very often hope that I wake up,and it was just a bad dream but no it doesn't happen .I know exactly what you mean.
My mind thinks it will but my body tells me otherwise.
Still keep my bike and clubs in shed but can't see them going anywhere soon.
Take care,stay safe.
Crusee
XXX
Le Creuset do stainless steel pans with enclosed handles on opposite site to main saucepan handle. Means much more balance across both hands rather than strain one wrist.
Thanks I will look at them too! Sound good. X
I can still lift the saucepans with water, with some difficulty, but these suggestions are all so great to keep in mind.
I do use bamboo steamers at times, and they work perfectly. You can get quite big ones too, and they don't need a lot of water underneath them.
I've heard about the dishwasher steaming too - I think there's a you tube video from memory!
I use my steamer all the time. Very light and easy to use - and fast. I also have a Remoska - bought it when my kitchen people ended up taking three months for what felt like the workd's slowest kitchen conversion - that is very lightweight too. The heating mechanism is in the lid which had a nice handle and a grip at the other end and the pan doesn't weigh much at all. It's kind of like a slow cooker except the recipes all cook in a fairly short time and you don't leave it to cook in its own for hours.
I've also got a slow cooker that can go from the hob to its cooking base then into the table to serve and it isn't heavy - it's not all that huge though - cooks enough for two / three people - it's by Morphy Richards.
My big problem was being able to pull out plugs I was really struggling then I found some plastic things on Amazon that I could slip over the prongs to make a handle - they are probably the best aid I have bought.
Hi Cathy and everyone else, really interesting to read all of the replies on this 
I found the Joseph and Joseph colander scoop really useful for this sort of thing – more information on my website: solutionbutterfly.com/eat/d... you can also find other gadgets/tips that I found useful during my 29 years of having rheumatoid arthritis! Any comments/suggestions really welcome – some items can make such a massive difference to daily life x
What I do is put an empty pan on the hob next to the pan with food and hot water in and I spoon out the veg etc with a slotted spoon leaving the heavy and dangerous pan on the stove until it cools down
Such a load of info and hints - thankyou all !! I was just browsing and came across this thread. Need to get my micro moved down tho - was 5ft 9+ but now can't lift stuff up to it or to high shelves. A littlenote of caution from nerd-geek son - shd we be saying that we live alone these days? Take care all xx
I don't think any of us give our full name or address on this site do we? Tell nerd-geek son we may be seniors, but that means we are canny not daft! Ha!Ha!
My favourite answer on cold calls telling me my computer needs fixing is to say that it belongs to my son & he's a policeman. ....so I'll tell him you called. The callers hangs up real quick!
I have these calls as well.
I just tell them I don't have a computer and the line goes dead pdq.
Take care.
Crusee
XX
Yes that us the one I saw in Aldi...must have misread the price!
I don't know about anyone else but I am really FED UP with every time I try to log in a Facebook screen pops up, then when I get rid of that a Google one pitches up.
Does anyone know how to avoid this?
don't need to give that info on site - can be got from you posting on any site, via ?IP address etc etc. take care and have a good day x
I don't think our addresses are available from IP address.
I see what you mean. But I don't worry about it!
If you go on to Google bio search you can find,names, addresses,phone numbers & even who else lives at your address...ALL OVER THE WORLD!
Quite scary really.....!
So no point worrying what we disclose on here!
Exactly.....except if any naughty people read this site we could lead them a merry dance with tales of the mad aunt's inheritance!!
It just occurred to me that any one of us could be a crook and is posing here in order to check us out!! I reckon we need to keep an eye on Kai 
If anyone is pretending to have RA symptoms they need a psychiatrist!
But Auntie Maud's Rolls is so much more comfortable than my Lambretta!
Yeah and I do worry about that Picasso hanging on my wall. Don't tell anyone.
True story....I am having my bedrooms decorated.....painter moved heavy piece of furniture & found a gold & diamond earring I lost at least two years ago ...now I need to find the matching one ....shows what a rubbish housekeeper I am not moving furniture for two years!
Well you now know where your 'missing' earring is! As to your housekeeping you should be ashamed! You can eat your food off my floor its so clean. Haha!
So sorry .......forgetting my manners! I will keep photocopies of all my documents handy so that I can tell those poor cold callers exactly what they want to know so that they can empty my bank a/c with ease!
At the risk of sounding a little bit 'commercial' , could I ask you take a look at some of the cooking products available on our 'Spring Chicken' website. It's an online shop that sells special products for people with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
They also have 'easy to grip' sauce pans which are easier and safer to lift. Here's the link, if you would like to take a look: springchicken.co.uk/nras/at...
Have a good day!
AgedCrone• in reply to
I agree with Cathy....pricey!
I have bought two of the battery jar openers...both were hit & miss & much more trouble than the simpler versions where you just click under the lid with a plastic gadget to release the seal!
AC
• in reply toAgedCrone
I see! Thanks for sharing @AgedCrone - I'd definitely suggest to post a product review on their website so that they are aware of your poor experience with the battery jar opener, and the price point too.
Oh its a fake! My Picasso is a fake! Damn and blast. That was my little nest egg. If I give my bank account details could you all make a donation to my Lady in distress fund? Many thanks.
Now Cathy....you know you put it in the bank vault when you deposited those old gold bars you found under the bed & took that painting by numbers course!
All I've got to,do now Kai is locate the twin.
With 3 bedrooms being decorated I can't find anything! Everything that will move is in boxes plastic bags or in the shed!
I think Cathy's Picasso is definitely an original she's a canny lady...the real one is in a bank vault...the one we see she painted herself!
Thank you Kai. Well I was hoping that a regular sum could be deposited weekly if you can manage it. As for the Guernica well we cut it into quarters silly! It went up the stairs easy. Just used my brain.
Oh you are Poirot in disguise! I am dun for! My cover blown! It weren't me guv honest! I was helping a friend remove the Guernica from the museum.
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