Marianne Martinez
Steaming is a traditional Asian cooking technique that is a quick, nutritious, and tasty way to prepare food. It is a healthy cooking method as it preserves nutrients that are destroyed by other cooking methods like boiling, pressure-cooking, and microwaving. You can steam food in a pan, pot, or wok, and you don't need any special equipment to get started. All you need is a deep vessel to cook in, a lid to trap the steam, and something to keep the food from touching the water.
Characteristics and Values Table for Steaming Food in a Pan
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pan | Deep pan, wok, or steamer pan with holes |
| Amount of water | 1/4-1/2 inch, or 1-2 inches (depending on the source) |
| Food placement | Directly in the pan, on a plate, or in a heat-proof bowl |
| Lid | Tight-fitting lid to trap steam |
| Timing | Varies depending on the food, check recipe or preference |
| Utensils | Chopsticks or forks for removing food |
| Alternatives | Microwave, bamboo steamer, or electric steamer |
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What You'll Learn
How to steam food in a pan without a steamer
Steaming is a moist heat cooking method where boiling water evaporates into steam, which, along with the food being cooked, is trapped in a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Typically, an inch or so of water boils in the bottom of the pan, with a steamer basket or bamboo steamer resting above, so that the food never touches the water.
Using a plate
Place three sheets of aluminum foil and roll them up into baseball-sized balls. Put them at the bottom of a large pot, and pour in about an inch of water. Then, rest a heatproof plate on top of the foil balls, and add the food you want to steam to the plate. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. You can also use a splatter screen if you're not steaming a lot of food. Simply throw it on top of your pot, lay down your food, and cover with a large bowl.
Using a pan
Poke several holes into the bottom of the pan, settle it upside down into a pot filled with an inch of water, and place the food on top of the inverted pan. The edges of the pan will create distance between the water and the food, and the food will rest comfortably on the flat surface of the pan.
Using a wire cooling rack
If you have an elevated wire cooling rack, you can use it in place of a steamer basket. Add an inch of water to a pot with a tight-fitting lid, place the wire cooling rack in the pan, and place the food on top of the rack. Then close the lid, and steam to your desired doneness. Make sure to use a cooling rack that doesn't have spaces larger than the food you're steaming.
Using a microwave
This method works best with vegetables. Place your food in a bowl, add a few tablespoons of water, and cover the bowl tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap, taking extra care to ensure the plastic wrap doesn’t touch the food. Then, microwave for 4-6 minutes until the food is tender.
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What to use as a steamer
You can steam food in a pan without any special equipment. Here are some common items you can use as a steamer:
- A pot with a lid: A pot with a lid is the most basic setup for steaming. You can use any deep vessel, such as a wok, pot, or deep pan, depending on the size of the food. The pot should have a lid to trap the steam. When covered, the lid should not touch the food. A dome lid is preferable as it provides more overhead room for steam to collect.
- A steamer insert or basket: Some saucepans come with a steamer insert, which fits snugly over the top and has small holes in the bottom to allow steam to pass through. You can also buy these separately as a collapsible steamer basket, which is cheap and effective, especially for smaller quantities of food.
- A heat-proof bowl or plate: You can use a heat-proof bowl or plate to hold the food. Make sure the bowl or plate fits completely inside the vessel and is elevated above the water level. You can use aluminium foil balls or an empty can with both ends removed to raise the bowl or plate above the water.
- A colander: If you don't have a steamer, a colander can be used instead, as long as it fits inside the pot with the lid closed.
- A microwave: If you're looking for a quick and easy option, you can steam food in the microwave. Place the food in a microwave-safe bowl, add a few tablespoons of water, and cover the bowl tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap. Microwave for 4-6 minutes or until the food is tender.
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How much water to use
When steaming food in a pan, the amount of water you use is crucial to ensuring successful, even cooking. Too much water can lead to a soggy, poorly cooked dish, while too little water can result in your food burning or sticking to the pan. So, how much water should you use? The answer depends on several factors, including the type of food you are cooking, the size and material of your pan, and the intensity of the heat source.
As a general rule, you want to use just enough water to create a gentle steam without creating a boiling bath for your food. A good guideline is to fill the pan with water to just below the level of the steam basket or rack you are using to hold the food. This ensures the steam can surround the food without the water touching it directly. For most pans and average heat sources, this usually equates to around 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water.
However, you should also consider the cooking time and the type of food. For example, when steaming quick-cooking vegetables like spinach or zucchini, you may only need a light, brief steam, so a smaller amount of water is ideal. In contrast, when steaming denser foods like root vegetables or meat, which require longer cooking times, you may need to add more water to account for evaporation and ensure a consistent steam throughout the cooking process.
The material and size of your pan also play a role in determining water quantity. Thicker, heavier pans with lids that create a tight seal may require less water as they are more efficient at retaining moisture and heat. In contrast, a thinner pan made from a less conductive material may require a little extra water to compensate for steam escape and uneven heat distribution. Similarly, a larger pan may require slightly more water to adequately steam food compared to a smaller pan.
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How to avoid steam burns
Steam burns are a common injury, and they can be serious. When water turns to steam, it expands to approximately 1,600 times its previous volume, and this makes it difficult to avoid a sudden burst of steam that might escape from a boiling pot. Burns from steam are often more severe than hot water burns because, in addition to being exposed to the high temperature of the water vapour, the skin is damaged when the steam molecules undergo a phase change (changing from gas to liquid) as they come into contact with your cooler body.
- Use a hot dish clip to handle hot dishes and pots with steam. Oven mitts or towels can get wet easily, making it harder to handle hot items and increasing the risk of burns.
- Always ensure you use a lid on your pan when steaming food. This will help trap the steam inside and prevent it from escaping towards you. Make sure the lid does not touch the food, as this can cause the food to stick to the lid and break. A dome lid is ideal as it provides more overhead room for steam to collect.
- When removing the lid, do so with caution and care. Take the lid off facing away from your body. Steam is hotter than boiling water, so take the lids off cooking liquids slowly to prevent steam burns.
- Ensure any plates or dishes you use to hold the food are heatproof. Oven-safe dishes and glass pie plates work well.
- If you have children, ensure they are not left unattended near the stove or hot pans. Keep pot handles away from the edge of the stove, so children cannot grab them.
- Always let food cool in the pan or microwave before removing it.
- If you are using the microwave, ensure any containers have vents to allow steam to escape.
- If you are using a plate over foil balls in a pot, ensure the plate is resting securely on the foil balls before adding food.
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How to steam food in the microwave
Steaming food in the microwave is a quick and convenient way to cook. It is also a healthy cooking method as it requires minimal water, no added fats, and helps retain nutrients in the food.
To steam food in the microwave, you will need a microwave-safe bowl, a dish with a lid, or a microwave-safe plastic wrap/cling film. You will also need a small amount of water.
First, place your chosen food in the bowl or dish. Add a few tablespoons of water—just enough to generate steam. Do not add too much water, as you risk over-saturating your food.
Next, cover the bowl or dish. If using a plastic wrap, ensure it is microwave-safe and that it is tight-fitting, with no part of the wrap touching the food. If using a dish with a lid, ensure it is microwave-safe and that it is closed securely.
Now, place the bowl or dish in the microwave and cook for 4-6 minutes, or according to your specific microwave instructions. The food is ready when it is fork-tender.
Finally, carefully remove the bowl or dish from the microwave, being mindful that the contents will be very hot. Open the plastic wrap or lid, taking care not to burn yourself from the escaping steam. Stir the contents, and serve.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a deep pan, a steaming rack, and a lid. Fill the pan with about an inch of water, ensuring that the water doesn't touch the rack. Place the rack in the centre of the pan and cover it with a lid. Once the water boils, add the food to the rack, cover the pan, and let it cook.
You can use a few sheets of aluminium foil rolled into balls to elevate the plate or bowl that holds the food. You can also use a heat-proof bowl, an empty steel can with both ends removed, or a colander.
The amount of water depends on the size of the pan and how high the steamer sits. The water level should be low enough so that the water doesn't touch the food. A good rule is to start with 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of water, or enough water to reach about an inch below the steamer.
Steaming is a quick and healthy way to cook food. It requires very few ingredients and lets the natural flavour of the food shine. It also preserves nutrients that are destroyed by other cooking methods like boiling, pressure-cooking, and microwaving.
Yes, you can steam food in the microwave. Place the food in a microwave-safe bowl, add a few tablespoons of water, and cover the bowl tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap. Microwave for 4-6 minutes until the food is tender.
