Steam Power: Real Steam Cooking Techniques For Delicious Meals

Steaming is a versatile cooking technique that can be used to cook almost any type of food, from vegetables and proteins to buns, dumplings, and desserts. It is a healthy and gentle way to cook food, helping it retain its nutrition, colour, and texture. While steaming is especially prevalent in East Asian cuisines, it is a universal method that can be applied to almost any cuisine. There are several different ways to steam food, and it doesn't always require a steamer basket or boiling water. As long as steam is being trapped and used to cook the food, it is considered steaming. This article will provide an overview of the different steaming methods and the benefits of this cooking technique.

How to steam without a steamer basket

Steaming is a moist heat cooking method that uses hot steam generated from boiling water to cook food. It is a healthy cooking method that helps food retain its nutrition, colour and texture.

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can still steam vegetables and proteins easily. Here are some ways to steam without a steamer basket:

Using a Microwave

Place your food in a microwave-safe bowl and add a few tablespoons of water. Cover the bowl tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap, ensuring the plastic doesn't touch the food. Then, microwave for 4-6 minutes until the food is fork-tender. This method is best for vegetables and is a quick option when appearance isn't a concern.

Using a Heatproof Plate and Aluminium Foil

This method involves using a large pot, a heatproof plate, and some aluminium foil. First, roll three sheets of aluminium foil into balls the size of baseballs or golf balls. Place the foil balls at the bottom of the pot and pour in about an inch of water. Then, rest the plate on top of the foil balls and add the food to the plate. Finally, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and steam. This technique is simple and effective, resulting in crisp vegetables and creamy potatoes.

Using a Wok or Pot with a Lid and Heat-proof Dish

This method requires a wok or pot with a lid, a heat-proof dish that fits inside, and something to prop up the dish above the water, such as a metal steam rack or a clean metal can. Place the rack or can in the centre of the wok or pot, ensuring it is at least 2 inches (5 centimetres) above the water. Add your food to the heat-proof dish and place it on the rack or can. Cover the wok or pot and turn on the heat to bring the water to a simmer. Your food will now steam!

Using an Elevated Wire Cooling Rack

If you have an elevated wire cooling rack, you can use it in place of a steamer basket. Simply add an inch of water to a pot with a tight-fitting lid, place the rack in the pan, and put your food on top of the rack. Close the lid and steam until your food is cooked to your desired level of doneness.

Using a Disposable Aluminium Pie Pan

This method involves using a disposable aluminium pie pan with several holes poked into the bottom. Place the pan upside down into a pot filled with about an inch of water, ensuring the edges of the pan create enough distance between the water and the food. Place your food on top of the inverted pan and cover the pot. The steam will cook your food without the need for a steamer basket.

How to steam with a wok

Steaming is a versatile cooking technique that can be applied to almost any cuisine. It is a healthy way to cook vegetables, meats, and fish, as it helps food retain its nutrition, colour, and texture.

• Fill a wok with a small amount of water. The water level should be low enough that it does not touch the food when the steamer is placed inside. A good rule of thumb is to start with 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of water, or enough water to reach 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the steamer.
• Place the steamer into the wok, ensuring that the water level meets the above requirement.
• Place the food in the steamer, making sure the individual pieces do not touch.
• Turn the stove's heat to medium and bring the water to a simmer.
• Put the lid on the wok and steam for the amount of time indicated in your recipe.
• When the time is up, carefully remove the lid (watch out for the steam) and take the food out of the steamer.

Some additional tips for steaming with a wok:

• If you don't have a steamer, you can use a colander instead, as long as it fits inside the wok with the lid closed.
• Grease the steamer with non-stick spray or butter spray to prevent sticking, or line the bottom of the steamer with cabbage leaves.
• Refrain from taking the lid off the wok while the food is steaming, as this will let heat and steam escape, increasing the cooking time.
• If you have a bamboo steamer, a wok or pan may be a better fit than a pot.
• If you are steaming vegetables, bring a small amount of water to a boil in the wok, place the vegetables in the steamer, lower the steamer into the wok, cover, and steam until the vegetables are the desired texture.

Happy steaming!

How to steam with a pot

Steaming is a moist heat cooking method that uses hot steam generated from water to cook food. It is a healthy cooking method that helps food retain its nutrition, colour, and texture.

Step 1: Prepare your pot and lid

Get a pot with a lid. The size of the pot depends on the size of the food and/or the cooking container. If you are steaming food in a bowl or on a plate, ensure that it fits completely inside the pot. It is also helpful to have a dome-shaped lid, which provides more room for steam to collect and prevents the food from being squashed.

Step 2: Prepare your steaming rack

Place a steaming rack or stand in the centre of the pot. You can buy metal steam racks or stands, or use a heat-proof bowl or empty steel can with both ends removed. Ensure that the steaming rack is at least 2 inches above the water level.

Step 3: Add water

Fill the pot with about 1-2 inches of water. The water level should not touch the highest part of the rack. If you are steaming for a longer time, use more water, but ensure that the water level is at least 1 inch below the rack.

Step 4: Prepare your food

Place your food on a heat-proof plate or dish that fits inside the pot. If you are steaming proteins and want to save the liquid, use a dish with a rim to keep the liquid in. Pyrex pie dishes or oven-safe dishes work well.

Step 5: Start steaming

Cover the pot and turn the heat to medium. Once you hear the water boiling or see steam coming out, place your dish of food on the rack, cover the pot, and let it cook according to your recipe or preference.

Step 6: Handle with care

When handling hot dishes, use a hot dish clip to avoid steam burns. Dry towels or mitts can get wet from steam or boiling water, so a clip is a safer option for retrieving the dish.

With these steps, you can steam almost anything at home with just a pot and what you already have available in the kitchen!

How to steam with a bamboo steamer

Steaming is a versatile cooking technique that can be applied to almost any cuisine. It is an old and very common technique all over the world, and a method that—when done right— helps food retain its nutrition, colour, and texture.

Step 1: Prepare the bamboo steamer

If your bamboo steamer is brand new, start by soaking it in cool water for 5 minutes to wash away any oils and odours from the bamboo.

Step 2: Line the basket tiers

Bamboo steamer baskets have multiple stackable tiers that allow steam to travel up through each layer of food. Line the bottom of each basket tier with a layer of large lettuce leaves, cabbage leaves, or cut sheets of parchment paper.

Step 3: Prepare the food

Chop your food into uniform pieces and space them evenly in a single layer. Do not crowd the basket tiers so much that steam can’t rise up through them.

Separate meat and seafood from veggies and tofu, and use the bottom tier for meat and seafood. Distribute veggies and tofu in the mid-to-top tiers based on size, with denser and thicker veggies in the middle and lighter and thinner veggies near the top.

Step 4: Prepare the pan

Choose a pan that’s around 7–10 cm (2.8–3.9 in) deep and can hold the steamer basket snugly in place. A wok is a traditional and ideal option, but any shallow pan with sloped sides is a great choice. Add at least 3 cm (1.2 in) but not more than 6 cm (2.4 in) of water into the pan.

Step 5: Steam the food

Place the pan over medium heat until the water comes to a simmer. Back the heat down to medium-low once you reach a good simmer. Put the steamer in the pan and add either its own cover or the pan’s lid.

Allow the food to steam until it’s done to your liking. Meats take around 20-30 minutes to cook, seafood and dumplings take around 10-15 minutes, and veggies take about 5-10 minutes.

Step 6: Check the water level

If you’re cooking for more than 10 minutes, carefully lift the entire basket out of the pan and make sure there is at least 2.5 cm (0.98 in) of water in the bottom. If there isn’t, add more water and turn the heat up slightly to bring the water back up to a simmer.

Step 7: Remove the steamer and food from the heat

When the food is cooked, turn off the stove and use heat-resistant gloves to lift the entire steamer out of the pan. Separate the different tiers and use tongs or chopsticks to transfer the food to a serving dish. Alternatively, you can serve the food straight from the steamer basket tiers.

How to steam with an Instant Pot

Steaming is a versatile cooking technique that can be applied to almost any cuisine. It is an old and very common technique all over the world, and a method that—when done right— helps food retain its nutrition, colour and texture.

The Instant Pot is a great way to steam. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam with an Instant Pot:

Step 1: Add Water to the Instant Pot

Pour about 1 to 2 cups (240 to 470 mL) of water into the Instant Pot. Use less water for a smaller quantity of food, but add the full 2 cups (470 mL) if you’re steaming a whole basket of veggies or seafood. Make sure the water doesn't go over the food, otherwise, it will boil your meal instead of steaming it.

Step 2: Place the Trivet and/or Steam Basket in the Pot

Place the trivet at the bottom of your pot to hold the food up over the water. The trivet is the short rack that comes with your Instant Pot. If the water comes up over the trivet, scoop some out to lower the level.

You can also use a steam basket, placing it on top of the trivet. Layer the food in the basket according to cooking time, with the foods that take longer to cook at the bottom, and the quickest-cooking food on top. Root vegetables take longer to steam than green veggies, and seafood cooks pretty quickly.

Step 3: Secure the Lid and Vent

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and turn it clockwise until the lock clicks. Double-check the arrows on the lid and the pot line up. Then, shift the vent switch on the top of the lid to the sealing position to trap the pressure and steam inside.

Step 4: Press the "Steam" Button and Set the Time

Push the "Steam" button to turn on the steam function. Set the cooking time using the plus or minus keys. Generally, most veggies steam in 1 to 5 minutes, but root veggies take longer. Seafood also cooks quickly, in about 1 to 5 minutes.

Step 5: Release the Pressure and Remove the Lid

When the timer goes off, manually release the pressure by switching the vent to the venting position. Cover your hand with an oven mitt or towel to protect your skin from the steam. Then, open the lid and remove your steam basket.

Tips:

• You can also steam without a basket by using the sauté function and a clear pot lid.
• The Instant Pot can be used to steam artichokes, sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, cauliflower, broccoli, and more!

Frequently asked questions