Steaming Without Stress: Easy Alternatives To Pressure Cookers

Steaming food is a great way to cook without losing nutrients and flavour. It's also a more efficient way of cooking, as it takes less time than traditional methods. If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can still steam food by using a pot or pan on your stovetop. Here's how:

First, add water to your pot or pan. You'll want to add enough water to generate steam, but not so much that it touches the food. Place a steamer basket, colander, or trivet inside the pot, and put your food on top. You can use a steamer basket or colander to hold smaller foods like vegetables or dumplings. For larger foods, a trivet or rack should work well. Cover the pot or pan with a lid to trap the steam inside. Turn on the heat and let the water come to a boil. Depending on what you're cooking, you may need to adjust the heat to maintain a steady stream of steam. Check your food periodically to ensure it's cooked to your desired level of doneness. When it's ready, turn off the heat and carefully remove the food from the steamer.

Use a steamer basket or trivet to keep food above the water level

Using a steamer basket or trivet to keep food above the water level is a great way to steam without a pressure cooker. This method ensures that your food cooks in steam rather than boiling water. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Firstly, you'll need to add water to the bottom of your pot or cooker. Pour in about 1 to 2 cups of water, ensuring it doesn't reach the food. The amount of water can vary depending on the size of your cooker, but it should be enough to generate steam.

Next, place a steamer basket or trivet inside your pot. If you're using an Instant Pot, you can use the metal trivet or rack that usually comes with it. Make sure the steamer basket or trivet sits above the water level.

Now, it's time to add your food. Place your chosen ingredients into the steamer basket or on top of the trivet. If you're steaming multiple foods, layer them according to their cooking times, with the longer-cooking items at the bottom and quicker-cooking items on top. Avoid overfilling the basket, leaving some space at the top to ensure the lid fits securely.

Once your food is in the basket or on the trivet, secure the lid on your pot or cooker. Make sure the lid is locked in place and any valves are in the correct position for steaming.

Finally, set the cooking time. Steaming times can vary depending on the type of food and your desired texture. For softer vegetables like spinach or kale, 2-3 minutes is usually sufficient. Harder vegetables like carrots or potatoes may need up to 5 minutes. Always refer to a guide or recipe for specific steaming times.

Using a steamer basket or trivet is a simple and effective way to steam your food without a pressure cooker. Just remember to keep an eye on the water level and adjust cooking times as needed.

Use a colander for steaming

Using a colander for steaming is a great way to cook your vegetables without needing a pressure cooker. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare Your Colander and Pot

Place a metal colander inside a large pot. Ensure that your colander is not touching the water inside the pot. The pot should be wide enough to fit the colander inside without falling in and tall enough so that the colander does not touch the water. If your colander does not fit inside your pot, you can hold it in place over the pot, but be sure to use a pot holder or a colander with a heat-resistant handle to avoid burns.

Step 2: Prepare Your Vegetables

Clean and chop your vegetables into similar-size pieces. This will help ensure even cooking. Broccoli and cauliflower or peas and carrots go well together, but avoid mixing broccoli and peas as they have very different cooking times. Try not to overfill your colander, as this could affect the cooking process.

Step 3: Add Water and Heat

Fill the pot with approximately 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) of water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower it to a simmer. You don't want the water to evaporate before the vegetables are done, so adjust the heat as needed.

Step 4: Cover and Steam

Cover the colander and pot with the pot's lid to prevent steam from escaping. If the lid begins to rattle, slightly crack the lid to allow ventilation. Check on the vegetables after 5 minutes of steaming, and continue cooking for another 2-5 minutes, depending on your desired texture. Most vegetables will be tender in 5-10 minutes, but denser vegetables like broccoli may take a bit longer.

Step 5: Serve

Once your vegetables are tender, remove the colander from the pot and serve. Be sure to use pot holders to protect your hands from the heat. Enjoy your freshly steamed veggies!

Steam with a trivet or egg rack

If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use a trivet or egg rack to steam food in your Instant Pot. This method is ideal for steaming large pieces of broccoli or cauliflower, butternut squash, whole sweet potatoes, eggs, and even Idlis.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to steam with a trivet or egg rack:

• Add 1 to 2 cups of water to your Instant Pot. The amount of water will depend on the quantity of food you're steaming. Ensure that the water level is below the food to create steam rather than boil it.
• Place a trivet or egg rack at the bottom of your Instant Pot. This elevates your food above the water level.
• If using a trivet, you can place your food directly on top. For smaller foods, consider placing them on a plate or in a bowl on the trivet to prevent them from falling through the gaps.
• If using an egg rack, stack your eggs or food items onto the rack.
• Close the lid of your Instant Pot. If you're using the Instant Pot lid, ensure the sealing ring is fitted properly. You can also use a clear glass lid that fits snugly.
• Set the valve to 'Venting' if you're steaming Idlis to prevent pressure cooking. For other foods, set the valve to 'Sealing' to retain steam and cook your food more quickly and evenly.
• Turn on the 'Saute' function on your Instant Pot and set a timer. The duration will depend on what you're cooking. For Idlis, for example, you would set the timer for 9 minutes.
• Once the timer goes off, carefully open the lid and enjoy your steamed food!

Using a trivet or egg rack is a simple and effective way to steam food in your Instant Pot without a steamer basket. Just ensure that your food is elevated above the water level to create steam.

Steam with a clear glass lid

Steaming with a clear glass lid is a great way to cook vegetables, fish, and other delicate foods in your Instant Pot. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare the Instant Pot

Find a clear pot lid that fits your Instant Pot. This method uses the sauté function on your Instant Pot, so you don't need the regular Instant Pot lid. The clear glass lid will allow you to monitor the food while it cooks.

Step 2: Add Water

Add 1 to 2 cups (240 to 470 mL) of water to the Instant Pot. The amount of water will depend on the quantity of food you are steaming. Make sure the water doesn't go up over the food, as you want to steam rather than boil it.

Step 3: Prepare the Food

Place your desired vegetables or other food items on top of the Instant Pot rack or in a steamer basket. If using a steamer basket, place it inside the Instant Pot. Be careful when placing the food, as the water and pot will be extremely hot.

Step 4: Cover and Steam

Place the clear pot lid on top of the Instant Pot. This will trap the steam inside and help cook the food. Remember to use an oven mitt or a kitchen towel when handling the lid to protect your hands from the steam.

Step 5: Monitor and Adjust

Check your food periodically to see if it's done to your liking. After a couple of minutes, remove the lid and use a fork to check the texture of the food. If it's not quite cooked, replace the lid and let it steam for a little longer. Adjust the cooking time as needed.

Step 6: Turn Off and Serve

Once your food is cooked to your desired level of doneness, press the "Cancel" button to turn off the Instant Pot. Carefully lift the steam basket out of the pot and serve your delicious steamed meal!

Use the sauté function

The sauté function on an Instant Pot is a non-pressure cooking setting that can be used in place of a frying pan or flat-top grill. It is a great way to brown onions or garlic to add flavour to a dish, or to brown meat. It can also be used to finish a dish after pressure cooking, such as simmering or reducing a sauce, or adding in ingredients that require no cooking.

• Press the 'Sauté' button. The cooker will begin heating and display 'On'.
• Add cooking oil.
• Wait for the display to show 'Hot'.
• Add vegetables, meat, etc. and sauté or brown as instructed in your recipe.
• Press 'Cancel' to turn off the sauté mode.
• Deglaze the pot by pouring in your cooking liquid and scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pot.

The sauté function also has three temperature settings: Less, Normal and More. These can be used for simmering or thickening sauces, sautéing vegetables, and browning or searing meat, respectively.

The lid should not be used when using the sauté function. If you have a glass lid with a venting hole, this can be used if you are concerned about food splattering.

The sauté function is also a great way to steam food without pressure. To do this, add 1 to 2 cups of water to the inner pot, place a trivet in the pot, and then your steamer basket on top of the trivet. Close the Instant Pot with a clear glass lid that fits. Press the 'Sauté' button and set the timer for however long you prefer.

The sauté function is a convenient way to steam food as you can check on it during cooking, but it will not cook as quickly as the pressure functions.

Frequently asked questions