Steaming Without A Basket: Hacking Your Pressure Cooker

Steaming is a moist-heat cooking method that is simple, quick, and requires very few ingredients. It is a healthy and gentle way to prepare food, where the food is cooked in a closed container with steam. While most steaming recipes call for a steamer basket or bamboo steamer, there are other ways to achieve the perfect steam without these tools. This paragraph aims to introduce the topic of how to steam without a steamer basket in a pressure cooker and provide a brief overview of the techniques and advantages of steam cooking.

Use a plate and some foil

Steaming is a moist heat cooking method that is simple, quick, and requires very few ingredients. It is a great way to cook vegetables and proteins, allowing their true flavors to come through. If you don't have a steamer basket, there are other ways to achieve the perfect steam. Here is a method that uses a plate and some foil:

First, find a plate that is oven-safe and slightly smaller than your pot. Take three sheets of aluminum foil and roll them up into baseball-sized balls. Place them at the bottom of your pot, and pour in about an inch of water. Rest the 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 and start steaming.

This method is fun, effective, and makes cleaning easier as you can keep the food on the plate when serving. It is also super simple, and the resulting vegetables are crisp and tender. So, if you don't have a steamer basket, grab some tinfoil and a plate for similar results!

Another advantage of this method is that it is customizable. Depending on the size of your food, you can adjust the size of the foil balls to ensure the plate is at the right height above the water level. Additionally, the amount of water added can be adjusted to control the steaming time.

This technique is a great way to steam food without a steamer basket, and it showcases how a little creativity in the kitchen can go a long way!

Steam in the microwave

Steaming food in the microwave is a quick and easy way to cook. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Choose your food

You can steam a variety of foods in the microwave, including vegetables, fish, and rice. For vegetables, the best options are broccoli, spinach, leafy greens (such as kale, collards, and Swiss chard), cauliflower, asparagus, corn, peppers, carrots, green beans, small potatoes, Brussels sprouts, peas, zucchini, and artichokes. Large, hard potatoes, celery, and squash don't steam well.

Step 2: Prepare your food

If you are steaming vegetables, rinse them thoroughly with water to remove any dirt and debris. You can also trim off any hard ends, fibrous bits, and any areas that look yellow, damaged, or bruised. Cut the vegetables into bite-sized pieces so they steam evenly and quickly. The exact size will depend on the type of vegetable. For example, broccoli and cauliflower should be cut into 1-inch florets or pieces, while baby carrots and green beans can be left whole after trimming off the ends.

If you are steaming fish, choose any kind of fish fillet that you like, such as cod, haddock, or salmon. Look for fillets that are about 1 inch thick. You can cut the fillets into large chunks or leave them whole. If your fillets are frozen, defrost them by putting them in the fridge for a few hours or immersing them in cold water for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Place the food in a microwave-safe dish

Spread your food out evenly in a microwave-safe dish or bowl. Glass, ceramic, and some plastic dishes and bowls are safe to use in the microwave. Avoid using flimsy plastic containers, take-out containers, plastic grocery bags, or aluminum foil. Make sure the food pieces are not piled on top of each other, as this can affect steaming times.

Step 4: Add water and cover the dish

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to the dish or bowl. The water will create steam when heated. Cover the container loosely with a plate, a heatproof lid, microwave-safe plastic wrap, wax paper, parchment paper, or a paper towel. This helps to trap the heat and create steam. If using plastic wrap, make sure it is labelled "microwave-safe" and does not touch the food. You can also fold up one of the corners to allow steam to escape.

Step 5: Microwave

The time needed to microwave your food will depend on the type of food and the power of your microwave. In general, most vegetables will take 3 to 5 minutes to steam. For example, sliced or baby carrots will take 6 to 8 minutes, while broccoli florets and spinach will take around 5 minutes. Fish fillets will take about 3 minutes to cook. Check your food after microwaving and return it to the microwave in 20-second intervals until it is cooked to your liking.

Step 6: Remove from the microwave and serve

After microwaving, carefully remove the hot container from the microwave, keeping the lid or covering in place. Place the container on a heat-safe surface and wait a few minutes for the steaming process to finish. Be careful when removing the cover, as hot steam will escape. Your food is now ready to eat!

Use a splatter screen and bowl

Steaming is a moist-heat cooking method that is simple, quick, and lets the true flavours of the food shine through. If you don't have a steamer basket, there are other ways to achieve the perfect steam. One method is to use a splatter screen and bowl. Here's how:

First, take a splatter screen and place it on top of your pot. This will act as a barrier between the food and the steam, ensuring even cooking. Then, lay down your ingredients on the splatter screen. This method works great for sticky rice. Finally, cover the splatter screen and the ingredients with a large bowl. Make sure the bowl is large enough to cover the ingredients and the splatter screen completely.

If you don't have a splatter screen, you can use tinfoil instead. Just make sure it fits tightly around the pot so that it doesn't collapse when you put the food and bowl on top. This method is a great, simple workaround if you don't have a steamer basket and are not steaming a large quantity of food.

Another similar method is to use a plate and some foil. Find a plate that is oven-safe and slightly smaller than your pot. Then, make three large, solid balls out of aluminium foil and place them in the bottom of your pot. Add water, and place the plate (with ingredients) on top of the aluminium foil balls. This creates a DIY steamer that is also convenient for serving, as you can keep the food on the plate when you serve it.

You can also try using a disposable aluminium pie pan. Poke several holes into the bottom of the pan, place 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 keep the food from touching the water, and the flat surface will support the food.

If you're looking for a quick and easy solution, steaming in the microwave is a good option. Place your food in a microwave-safe bowl, add a few tablespoons of water, and cover the bowl tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap doesn't touch the food. Then, microwave for 4-6 minutes until fork-tender. This method works best with vegetables and is perfect for when appearance isn't an issue.

Steam in water

Steaming is a moist heat cooking method that involves boiling water evaporating into steam. The steam, along with the food being cooked, is trapped in a pot with a tight-fitting lid, creating a hot environment to cook the food.

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a pot with a lid to steam food in water. Here's how:

• Fill a pot with a small amount of water, about half an inch to one inch deep.
• Place three similarly-sized balls of aluminum foil in the bottom of the pot.
• Rest a heat-proof plate on top of the foil balls.
• Add the food you want to steam to the plate.
• Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and bring the water to a boil.
• Steam until the food is cooked to your desired doneness.

This method works best with firmer vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. It is important to note that potatoes may end up tasting watery if cooked using this method.

You can also 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 fork-tender.

Use a strainer or colander

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a strainer or colander to steam food in a pressure cooker. This method is simple and only requires a large kitchen strainer or colander and a pot of water.

First, fill a pot with approximately half an inch of water. Then, place a metal colander or strainer inside the pot, ensuring there is enough space between the water and the strainer or colander. If your strainer doesn't rest on the rim of the pot, you can hold it in place with a heat-proof handle or use oven mitts to protect yourself from the heat.

Next, place the food in a single layer inside the strainer or colander. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat so it barely bubbles. Cover the pot to prevent steam from escaping and check on your food frequently to prevent overcooking. Keep in mind that steaming times will vary depending on the type of food.

Using a strainer or colander is an effective way to steam food without a steamer basket, and it's a handy alternative if you don't steam food frequently or need a quick steaming solution.

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