Steaming Veggies: Using A Steamer Basket For Healthy Meals

Steamer baskets are a great way to cook food in a healthy way. They can be made of bamboo, stainless steel, or silicone, and they all have similar functionality. The basket sits in a pot or pan with a small amount of water, and the steam rises through the basket and cooks the food. This method of cooking is healthy because no oil or fat is required, and it helps food retain nutrients, moisture, and natural flavor. You can cook a variety of foods in a steamer basket, including vegetables, fish, shellfish, chicken, rice, and dumplings.

How to prepare your steamer basket for its first use

Preparing your steamer basket for its first use is simple. If you have a bamboo steamer, it's important to clean and treat it before use. Here are the steps:

• Wash and clean the steamer with hot, soapy water.
• Soak the steamer in a pot of hot water for at least 8 hours or overnight. Check the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that your steamer can withstand hot water.
• Remove the steamer from the pot and let it air dry.
• Rub the inner and outer surfaces with a cloth or paper towel dipped in cooking oil (vegetable, canola, or olive oil).

If you have a metal or silicone steamer, you can skip the above steps and simply wash it with hot, soapy water before its first use.

Once your steamer basket is clean, you're ready to start cooking! Remember to always use tongs, a fork, or a spoon to handle the hot steamer and protect your hands.

How to cook with a bamboo steamer

Bamboo steamers are a great way to cook food, and they're affordable, lightweight, and beautifully crafted. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to cook with a bamboo steamer:

Step 1: Prepare Your Bamboo Steamer and Wok/Pan

Place your bamboo steamer into a wok or a wide-rimmed, shallow pan. If you're using a new bamboo steamer, it's recommended to soak the bottom rim that will come into contact with the wok/pan in lukewarm water for about 30 minutes to prevent scorching. Fill the wok/pan with water, ensuring it comes about a quarter to half an inch above the bottom rim of the steamer. This prevents the steamer from scorching while ensuring the bubbling water doesn't touch the food.

Step 2: Line the Bamboo Steamer Baskets

Bamboo steamers often have multiple levels, and you can use one or more depending on the amount of food. If you're placing food directly on the steamer bed (e.g., buns or dumplings), use liners to prevent sticking. You can use parchment paper, napa cabbage leaves, lettuce leaves, cheesecloth, or silicone liners. The liner should be porous to allow steam to circulate. If steaming marinated meats or vegetables, use a heatproof plate or bowl to collect juices.

Step 3: Arrange Your Food

When placing dumplings, buns, or similar items, leave about an inch of space between them as they will expand during steaming. If steaming vegetables or proteins, arrange them on a shallow plate and transfer the plate to the steamer basket. You can also place a heat-proof bowl or plate directly in the steamer without a liner, ensuring there's enough space for steam to circulate.

Step 4: Place the Bamboo Steamer in the Wok/Pan

You can preheat the water to a simmer before placing the bamboo steamer into the wok/pan, or you can place the steamer in when the water is cold and then turn on the heat. If using frozen dumplings or buns, there's no need to thaw them first.

Step 5: Steam Your Food and Monitor Water Level

Once the water is simmering, it will start to evaporate. Allow the food to steam according to your recipe, but keep an eye on it and add boiling water as needed. Avoid adding cold water as it will interrupt the cooking process.

Care and Maintenance:

Always ensure your bamboo steamer is fully dried before storing to prevent mould or mildew. To clean, use a sponge with mild dish soap and rinse thoroughly. Do not put your bamboo steamer in the dishwasher or soak it for extended periods. If you live in a dry climate, occasionally coat it with vegetable oil to prevent cracking or splintering.

How to cook with a metal or silicone steamer

Steaming is a healthy way to cook a variety of foods, from vegetables to fish to dumplings. Metal or silicone steamer baskets are great tools to use for this cooking method. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook with a metal or silicone steamer basket:

Step 1: Prepare Your Steamer Basket and Pot

First, select a pot or saucepan that fits your steamer basket. Ensure that the basket fits snugly inside the pot or pan. For metal or silicone steamer baskets, you can use a deeper pot. Then, pour about one to two inches of water into the pot. The water level should not touch the bottom of the steamer basket to avoid having too much moisture come into contact with the food.

Step 2: Prepare Your Food

Place your chosen food and seasoning on top of the steamer basket. For faster cooking times, cut your ingredients into small, even pieces. For example, cubed chicken will steam faster than a whole chicken breast. You can also create a "one-pot meal" by layering foods that take longer to cook at the bottom of the basket and foods that cook faster at the top.

Step 3: Steam Your Food

Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium. Use a lid that fits snugly to prevent steam from escaping and ensure even cooking. Avoid removing the lid while steaming, as this can affect the cooking time. Instead, set a timer and only lift the lid to check on the food when the timer goes off.

Step 4: Check for Doneness

Let the food steam until it is cooked to your desired level of doneness. The steaming time will vary depending on the type of food you are cooking. Most vegetables will steam in 5 to 10 minutes, while fish takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and meat will take closer to 25 to 30 minutes. To check if vegetables are done, poke them with a fork or knife to see if they are tender. For meat, use a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached the safe internal temperature.

Step 5: Remove Your Food

Once your food is cooked to your liking, it's time to remove it from the steamer basket. With a collapsible metal steamer basket, use utensils like a fork or tongs to take the food out. If your steamer basket has handles, you can lift the entire basket out.

Tips for Using a Metal or Silicone Steamer Basket:

• Don't add too much water; you want to steam your food, not boil it.
• Check your food regularly to prevent undercooking or overcooking.
• Ensure the lid is on tightly to maintain steam and cook the food thoroughly.
• Add herbs and spices for enhanced flavor. You can also use chicken broth or other flavored liquids instead of water for added taste.
• Always wash your metal or silicone steamer basket by hand or in the dishwasher after each use to keep it clean and in good condition.

What foods are best for steaming?

Steaming is a great way to cook food, offering several health benefits and helping to retain flavour and texture. So, what foods are best for steaming?

Vegetables are a popular choice for steaming, with broccoli, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, and asparagus all benefiting from this cooking method. Steaming is also a great way to cook leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and Swiss chard, as it helps curb their bitterness while preserving their abundant minerals and nutrients.

Fish is another food that is well-suited to steaming. Salmon, tilapia, cod, trout, and swordfish are just a few examples of fish that can be steamed. Shellfish, such as lobster, scallops, and mussels, also fall into this category.

Dumplings are a perfect choice for steaming, as it helps them retain their original shape and delicate texture. Chicken bao, shumai, har gow, and pork buns are just a few examples of dumplings that can be steamed.

Rice is also commonly steamed, with jasmine and basmati rice being popular choices.

Meats such as chicken and lean, whole chickens can also be steamed, resulting in juicy and tender protein.

Fruits such as apples, pears, and pumpkins can also be steamed, providing a nutritious and tasty dessert option.

How to clean a steamer basket

To clean a bamboo steamer, you must regularly clean and properly dry it to prevent mould and caked-on food. Here are some ways to clean your bamboo steamer:

• Rinse with soapy water: Place a large pot in your sink and fill it with warm water. Add a bit of liquid soap and mix it until bubbles start to form. Rinse the bamboo steamer in this soapy water, then remove it and let it air dry. However, bamboo is an extremely porous wood and might absorb detergent or dishwashing liquid. This could cause the steamer to give off a soapy stench during subsequent uses. Therefore, check the manufacturer's directions before rinsing with soapy water.
• Soak the bamboo in hot water: Fill a pot large enough to accommodate your bamboo steamer with hot water and let it soak overnight or for at least eight hours. Then, remove the pot and let it air dry. Some bamboo steamers may not be able to endure hot water, so check the manufacturer's directions before proceeding.
• Rinse the steamer in clean water: Use warm or hot water and turn the bamboo steamer over in your hands to ensure that all the outer and inner surfaces are rinsed.
• Use a nylon scrubber to remove caked-on bits: If your bamboo steamer is still dirty after a rinse with soapy water, use a nylon scrubber to gently scrub the unclean areas. Do not use steel wool or other abrasive cleaning tools.
• Clean and rejuvenate your steamer with a black tea bag: The tannic acid in black tea will clean and rejuvenate your bamboo steamer. After soaking a black tea bag, gently rub it along the surface of your bamboo steamer.
• Rub the bamboo steamer with a lemon: If you steamed fish in your bamboo steamer, you can remove the fishy odour by rubbing a lemon across its surface. Cut a lemon into four equally sized wedges and rub one wedge across the surface of the bamboo steamer.
• Use the dishwasher with caution: Some bamboo steamers are too fragile to withstand the high pressures of a dishwasher, while others may benefit from a heavy-duty cleaning in it. Consult your bamboo steamer's user guide to see if placing it in the dishwasher is possible and whether you need to use a certain type of detergent.
• Coat the steamer in oil after each washing: To keep your bamboo steamer from drying out after washing, dab a piece of paper towel with cooking oil and run the oiled paper towel along the outer and inner surfaces of the bamboo steamer. You can use any type of cooking oil, such as vegetable oil or olive oil.

Frequently asked questions