Using Your Slow Cooker As A Steamer: A Multipurpose Hack

Slow cookers are a popular kitchen appliance used to simmer food at a lower temperature. They are a convenient way to cook a hearty meal for a family, and they can also be used to steam food. By using a steaming basket or a simple hack with foil and water, you can steam vegetables, rice, dumplings, buns, and even fish in your slow cooker. This guide will teach you how to use your slow cooker as a steamer to create easy, healthy meals.

Using a steaming basket

A simple stainless steel steaming basket is an ideal partner for your slow cooker. The basket's legs keep food from resting in the cooking liquid, while its perforated sides allow for better steam circulation. Look for a basket with a removable centre post so that you can add a covered bowl, as when steaming rice.

Here's how to use a steaming basket with your slow cooker:

• Set a kettle filled with about 2 cups of water on the stovetop and turn the burner to high. In addition, preheat your slow cooker to high.
• Prepare your food. For example, if you are steaming rice, soak and drain it two or three times, or until the soaking water is mostly clear. If you are steaming vegetables, wash, dry and chop them. To ensure even cooking, cut denser pieces such as root vegetables into smaller pieces, and lighter veggies like cauliflower and zucchini into larger pieces.
• Unscrew the centre post on your steamer basket and put it into the slow cooker.
• Place your food in the steamer basket. For rice, put the drained rice into a glass bowl that will fit inside the steamer basket. Cover the filled bowl with foil. For vegetables, place denser veggies at the bottom of the basket, and softer veggies on top of them.
• Pour the boiling water around the perimeter of the basket, so that the water reaches a depth of 1 to 2 inches at the bottom of the slow cooker.
• Put the lid on the slow cooker and leave it to cook. Steamed rice will take about 2 hours, and vegetables will take at least 1 hour. Check the texture of the vegetables and cook them longer if they are crisper than you prefer.

You can also use a steaming basket to steam tamales, steamed breads, and Christmas pudding in your slow cooker.

Steaming rice

Firstly, ensure your slow cooker has a steaming function. Some slow cookers have a steam setting, while others have a steaming basket or tray that can be placed inside. Check your instruction manual for details. The size of your slow cooker will dictate how much rice you can cook.

If your slow cooker has a steam setting, simply follow the instructions in your manual for steaming rice. This usually involves adding water to the inner bowl, placing the steaming basket on top, and adding your rice. Close the lid and turn on the cooker. The process can take between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the type of rice you are cooking.

If your slow cooker does not have a steam setting, you can still steam rice by using the rice cooking function and a steaming basket. First, rinse your rice and add it to the steaming basket. Then, fill the inner bowl of your slow cooker with water, ensuring you have enough water for both the rice and the steaming process. Place the steaming basket with the rice inside the slow cooker, close the lid, and turn on the cooker. Again, the cooking time will vary depending on the type of rice.

It is important to note that when steaming rice in a slow cooker, you may need to experiment with the cooking time and temperature to find the perfect setting for your rice. Additionally, remember to avoid opening the lid unnecessarily during the cooking process, as this can release steam and affect the cooking time.

Once your rice is cooked, carefully remove the steaming basket and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve and enjoy!

Steaming dumplings

Step 1: Set up your slow cooker

First, find a colander that fits inside your slow cooker. This can be a pliable silicon vegetable steamer, a small conventional colander, or a mesh strainer. Fill your slow cooker with about 2 cups of water and turn it on high. You want the water to be simmering when you are ready to steam the dumplings.

Step 2: Prepare the filling

For pork dumplings, combine 1/4 pound ground pork, 1/4 onion, 1 clove garlic, 2 large basil leaves, 2 sprigs parsley, a couple of fresh mushrooms, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1/2 tsp hot sauce, a dash of soy sauce, 1 pinch of salt, and one medium egg in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse just until combined.

Step 3: Fill and form the dumplings

Set 8 to 10 store-bought dumpling wrappers onto a clean surface. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of filling onto the center of each wrapper. Using your finger, moisten the entire outer edge of the dumpling wrapper with egg. Pick up the dumpling and fold it in half, then use your thumb and forefinger to pinch the edges closed.

Step 4: Steam the dumplings

Set the dumplings onto the colander, over the simmering water. Make sure the water level is low enough so that it doesn't touch the dumplings, otherwise the wrappers will break down. Place a lid on the slow cooker. You can use a bamboo placemat or some paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Steam for about 8 minutes.

Step 5: Serve

Remove the dumplings from the slow cooker using tongs and slice one in half to check that the filling is cooked through. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Using a crock-pot to steam

Steaming is a simple and nutritious way to cook your food, and it turns out that you can use your crock-pot (or slow cooker) to steam a variety of dishes. Here's how you can use your crock-pot to steam food:

First, you need to decide if you want to use a steaming basket or not. If you have a steaming basket, you can simply fill your crock-pot with about 2 cups of water and turn it on high. If you don't have a steaming basket, you can follow the method below, which involves creating a rack for your food to sit on above the water.

Next, you'll want to fill your crock-pot with a shallow layer of liquid. This can be water or tea. If you're steaming dumplings or buns, you can add aromatics like lemongrass, sliced ginger, or banana leaves on top of the liquid to create a rack. You can then place your dumplings or buns on top to steam, allowing them to absorb the flavours of the aromatics.

Alternatively, you can skip the liquid altogether and create a bed of herbs and aromatics to place your food on. This method works well for steaming fish. Simply place a piece of fish on top of the bed of herbs, and the herbs will release their moisture to slowly steam the fish.

If you're steaming rice, you'll first want to rinse the rice in a large bowl filled with water to remove any unwanted particles. Repeat this process until the water is clear. Then, combine the rinsed rice with water, butter, and salt in your crock-pot. For every 1 cup of rice, use 1 3/4 cups water, 1 tablespoon of butter, and a dash of salt. Close the lid and let the rice cook on high for about 1 1/2 hours, or until all the water is fully absorbed. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

For steaming vegetables, it's recommended to cut denser pieces, such as root vegetables, into smaller pieces, and lighter veggies like cauliflower and zucchini into larger pieces to ensure even cooking. Place the steaming basket in the crock-pot, with root vegetables at the bottom and softer veggies on top. Pour boiling water around the inside perimeter of the crock-pot to a depth of 1 to 2 inches, cover, and cook for at least 1 hour. Check the texture of the vegetables and cook them longer if they are crisper than you prefer.

Using a crock-pot for steaming is a great way to impart interesting flavours to your food and is also a very healthy cooking method.

Building an edible base

To use your slow cooker as a steamer, you can build an edible base using a variety of ingredients. Here are some ideas and instructions for creating an edible base:

Using Lemongrass, Ginger, or Banana Leaves:

• Fill the bottom of the slow cooker insert with a small amount of water or tea.
• Create a rack by layering lemongrass stalks, sliced ginger, or banana leaves on top of the liquid. These ingredients will act as an edible base and will infuse your food with flavour.
• Place the food you want to steam, such as dumplings, buns, or fish, on top of the rack.
• Turn on the slow cooker and let the food steam until cooked.

Using Chopped Herbs:

• Instead of using liquid, create a bed of chopped herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, or parsley.
• Place a piece of fish or other food on top of the herb bed.
• The herbs will release moisture and slowly steam the food.

Using Vegetables:

• Cut denser vegetables, such as root vegetables, into small pieces.
• Place the vegetable pieces at the bottom of the slow cooker to create an edible base.
• You can also use softer vegetables, like zucchini or cauliflower, but cut them into larger pieces to avoid overcooking.
• Add a small amount of water to the slow cooker and place the steamer basket containing the vegetables inside.
• Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender.

These methods of building an edible base will not only steam your food but also add flavour and moisture, resulting in a delicious and healthy meal.

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