Steaming Green Beans: Using Your Rice Cooker

Rice cookers are a great kitchen appliance with a variety of uses beyond cooking rice. You can steam vegetables, fish, and even meat in a rice cooker. In fact, you can steam vegetables and rice at the same time for a complete meal with minimal mess.

To steam green beans in a rice cooker, add an inch or two of water to the rice cooker, then insert a steamer basket. Place the green beans in a single layer in the steamer basket, close the lid, and start the rice cooker. If your rice cooker has a steaming function, you can set it for a certain amount of time. Otherwise, simply press the button and check the green beans periodically for doneness. This should take about 5 to 15 minutes.

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a metal or heat-proof colander or strainer. Just make sure that you have a lid that covers the rice cooker to encourage steam.

How to steam green beans in a rice cooker

Yes, you can steam green beans in a rice cooker! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare the Rice Cooker

Add an inch or two of water to the rice cooker. Then, insert a steamer basket into the rice cooker. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a metal or other heat-proof colander or strainer. Just make sure that it fits inside the rice cooker with the lid on.

Step 2: Prepare the Green Beans

Wash the green beans thoroughly in cold water. Then, trim the stem ends of the beans by pinching or cutting them. You can also snap the beans in half if you prefer smaller pieces.

Step 3: Steam the Green Beans

Place the prepared green beans in a single layer in the steamer basket. Close the lid of the rice cooker and turn it on. If your rice cooker has a steaming function, set it for the desired time. If not, simply press the start button and check the green beans periodically to ensure they don't overcook. Depending on the size and quantity of the green beans, this process should take around 5 to 15 minutes.

Step 4: Season and Serve

Once the green beans are tender, remove the steamer basket from the rice cooker and discard the water. Place the green beans back into the rice cooker or a separate bowl. Add some butter, salt, and pepper to taste, and stir until the butter has melted and the green beans are well-coated. Serve and enjoy!

Tips:

• Don't overcook the green beans. They should be bright green, tender, and still have a good bite to them.
• You can also steam frozen green beans, but they may need a longer cooking time. Check the package for recommended cooking instructions.
• Get creative with your seasonings! Try lemon zest and juice, sesame oil and sesame seeds, or a variety of flavored butter such as garlic butter, basil butter, or cilantro lime butter.

How to prepare green beans for steaming

Preparing green beans for steaming is simple and can be done in a few easy steps.

Firstly, wash your green beans thoroughly in cold water. Next, trim the stem ends of the beans. You can either snap off each individual stem or cut off a few ends at a time by lining them up on a cutting board. You can also snap the beans in half, or leave them whole for a more dramatic presentation.

Now your green beans are ready to be steamed. If you are using a steamer basket, fill a medium pot with 1-2 inches of water and bring it to a boil. Place the steamer basket inside the pot, making sure the water does not come up through the holes in the basket. Fill the basket with the washed green beans, place a lid on the pot, and allow the beans to steam for 5-7 minutes or until tender.

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a colander or a metal pie pan with holes poked in it. Simply add an inch of water to a large pan, place the colander or pie pan inside, and treat it as a steamer.

Once your green beans are steamed to your desired level of tenderness, remove them from the heat and season with butter, salt, and pepper, or any other desired seasonings. Enjoy!

How to flavour steamed green beans

Yes, you can steam green beans in a rice cooker. To do this, add an inch or two of water to the rice cooker, insert a steamer basket, and place the green beans inside in a single layer. Close the lid and start the rice cooker.

Now, onto the fun part: flavouring your steamed green beans. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Butter, Salt, and Pepper

A classic combination that lets the flavour of the beans shine through.

Lemon Zest and Juice

A bright and tangy addition to your beans.

Sesame Oil and Sesame Seeds

For an earthy, nutty flavour.

Toasted Almonds

Slivered almonds toasted under the broiler make a crunchy and delicious addition to steamed green beans.

Lemon-y Butter

Combine melted butter with fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. This will add a zesty kick to your beans.

Garlic

Slice or mince some garlic cloves and cook them in olive oil until fragrant. Then, swirl your steamed green beans in the garlicky oil. You can also add some lemon juice to this mixture for an extra punch of flavour.

How to steam green beans without a rice cooker

Yes, you can steam green beans in a rice cooker. But if you don't have a rice cooker, there are several other ways to steam green beans. Here's how to do it without one:

Using a Microwave

An easy and equipment-light way to steam green beans is with a microwave. The timing will depend on the size of the beans and the strength of your microwave, so be sure to keep an eye on them.

• Lay the green beans out in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate.
• Cover the beans with a couple of damp paper towels.
• Microwave on high heat until the beans are tender.

Using a Stove

If you have a stove, you can easily steam green beans with a pot or saucepan.

• Add an inch or two of water to a saucepan and place a steamer basket inside. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a heat-proof colander.
• Bring the water to a boil.
• Place the green beans in the steamer basket in a single layer.
• Cover the saucepan with a lid, lower the temperature, and steam until the beans are tender.

Using a Bamboo Steamer

If you want to get a little more creative, you can use a bamboo steamer to steam your green beans.

• Fill a wok or large pan with about 1 to 2 inches of water and bring it to a gentle simmer. Make sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the steamer.
• Line the bamboo steamer tiers with parchment paper or cabbage leaves to prevent the beans from sticking.
• Place the green beans in a single layer, leaving space for steam to circulate. Stack the tiers.
• Cover the beans with the bamboo lid and place the steamer in the wok or pan.
• Steam the beans until they are tender, checking occasionally to ensure the water doesn't boil dry.

How to serve steamed green beans

Steamed green beans are a versatile dish that can be served hot or cold, as a side or as part of a salad. They can be seasoned with a variety of ingredients, including salt, pepper, butter, olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

If you want to serve your steamed green beans hot, you can add butter, allowing the residual heat of the beans to melt it. You can also add other seasonings, such as salt and pepper, to taste.

For a more complex flavor, you can top your steamed green beans with parmesan butter. To make this, simply combine butter with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and season with salt and pepper.

If you want to serve your steamed green beans cold, you can add them to a salad. They also go well with white or brown rice, making them the ideal starch/vegetable combination for any entrée.

No matter how you season them, the key to serving tasty steamed green beans is to avoid overcooking them. They should be bright green, tender, and still have a good bite to them.

Frequently asked questions