Steaming Delights: Ekovna Stackable Pots For Healthy Cooking

Ekovana's stackable steamer pots are a versatile kitchen tool that can be used to cook a variety of dishes. The two-tier stackable design allows for simultaneous cooking of different foods, making it perfect for steaming vegetables, meat, or fish. It can also be used as a dessert pan for cheesecakes or lasagna and is useful for pot-in-pot cooking. The premium food-grade stainless steel construction ensures durability, even heat distribution, and easy cleanup. With its stackable design, this pressure cooker steamer maximizes cooking space, making it ideal for families or those who love to entertain.

Steaming vegetables, meat, or fish

The ekovana stackable steamer pots are a versatile and convenient option for steaming vegetables, meat, or fish. The stackable design allows for simultaneous cooking of multiple food items, making it a perfect choice for preparing a variety of dishes together. Here are some tips and guidelines for steaming vegetables, meat, or fish using the ekovana stackable steamer pots:

Steaming Vegetables

Steaming is an excellent way to cook vegetables, retaining their crispness or making them tender as per your preference. When steaming vegetables like broccoli or green beans, you can pile them loosely in the steamer basket. For denser vegetables like potatoes or carrots, cut them into equal-sized pieces to ensure even cooking. Steaming time for vegetables usually ranges from five to ten minutes, depending on the desired texture.

Steaming Meat

When steaming meat using the ekovana stackable steamer pots, it's important to note that steaming is most suitable for tender proteins like fish fillets or boneless chicken breasts. Tougher cuts of meat may not yield the best results. The steaming time for meat can vary from three to ten minutes or more, depending on the thickness of the cut. Always ensure that meat is cooked to the minimum internal temperature recommended by food safety guidelines.

Steaming Fish

Steaming is a simple and healthy way to prepare fish. You can steam fish fillets or whole fish, and the cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the fish. For fillets, a steaming time of around four to eight minutes is usually sufficient. For a whole fish, the cooking time may be longer, up to ten or twelve minutes. Seasoning the fish with olive oil, lemon juice, and coarse salt can enhance the flavor. Additionally, adding herbs, ginger, or scallions can give it an Asian twist.

The ekovana stackable steamer pots offer a convenient and healthy way to prepare vegetables, meat, or fish, allowing you to create delicious and nutritious meals with ease.

Reheating food

Benefits of Reheating with Steamer Pots

• Preservation of Nutrients and Taste: Steamer pots are an excellent alternative to microwaves for reheating food. They help retain the nutrients and vitamins in your meals, ensuring that your food remains nutritious and tasty even after reheating.
• Moisture Retention: Steamer pots keep your food moist, making it easier to digest and giving it a freshly cooked taste and texture.
• Simultaneous Reheating: The stackable design of the Ekovana steamer pots allows you to reheat multiple dishes at the same time, saving you time and effort.

Instructions for Reheating Food:

• Prepare the Steamer: Fill the bottom section of your Ekovana stackable steamer with water. The amount of water will depend on how long you need to steam the food. As a general rule, use at least 2 inches of water for shorter steaming times and more water for longer steaming durations.
• Use Heat-Proof Containers: Transfer the food you want to reheat into heat-proof containers, such as stainless steel or glass. These containers should fit comfortably within the stackable steamer tiers.
• Utilize a Trivet: Place a trivet, which is a metal stand or rack, inside the steamer. This step is optional but recommended to protect your food from burning and your containers from potential damage. The trivet suspends the food containers above the water, ensuring even heating.
• Stack and Steam: Place your food containers on the tiers of the steamer, either directly on the racks or inside shallow dishes. You can also line the tiers with cabbage leaves, cheesecloth, or perforated parchment paper before placing the food. Close the lid of the steamer.
• Control the Steam: Bring the water to a simmer and adjust the heat as needed. Be mindful of the water level, adding boiling water if necessary to maintain a consistent water temperature. Avoid using cold water as it can interrupt the cooking process.
• Reheat Time: For reheating, start with a timer set to 5 minutes on high heat, followed by a 10-minute cooldown before releasing any remaining pressure and opening the lid. If your food requires more heating, you can return it to the steamer for an additional 2-3 minutes.
• Garnish and Serve: Once your food is reheated, remove it from the steamer and add your desired garnishes, such as salt, pepper, fresh herbs, or a squeeze of lemon juice.

Additional Tips:

• Condensation Prevention: To prevent condensation from dripping onto your food, especially when steaming buns, breads, or cakes, tie a thin kitchen towel or tea cloth around the lid. Ensure that the loose ends are securely tied and don't hang too close to the heat source.
• Food Safety: Always follow food safety guidelines when reheating. Ensure that meats, poultry, and seafood are reheated to the minimum internal temperatures recommended by food safety organizations.
• Steaming Time: The steaming time will depend on the type and quantity of food you are reheating. Most vegetables will take around 5-10 minutes, while meats and fish can take 3-10+ minutes, depending on their thickness.

The Ekovana stackable steamer pots offer a convenient and healthy way to reheat your meals while preserving taste, texture, and nutrients. By following these instructions and tips, you can efficiently utilize your steamer pots for delicious and nutritious reheated meals.

Cooking rice

First, pre-soak your rice for at least 10 minutes. You can also rinse the rice in two or three changes of water until the water is no longer cloudy and runs clear. Rinsing the rice will remove excess starch and result in more distinct grains.

Next, drain the rice and transfer it to the Ekovana stackable steamer pot. Add the water to the rice. The rice-to-water ratio should be 1:1.3 for firmer rice, or 1:1.5 for softer rice.

Place the steamer pot in a larger pot filled with cold water. The water should not be boiling when the rice is placed into the steamer. Turn the heat to high, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, turn off the heat and let the rice sit in the steamer with the lid on for at least another 5 minutes. You can also keep the rice in the steamer until you are ready to serve it, as the steamer will keep it warm.

Finally, gently fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

You can also experiment with different types of rice, such as Thai jasmine rice, or try adding different ingredients like salt, butter, or oil to find the flavour that you like best.

Making cheesecakes

The ekovana Stackable Steamer Insert Pans are a versatile kitchen tool that can be used to cook a variety of foods, including cheesecakes. Here are some tips and instructions for making cheesecakes using these stackable steamer pots:

Preparation

Before you begin, ensure that you have all the necessary ingredients for your cheesecake recipe. You will also need some additional equipment, such as a heat-proof bowl, mugs or ramekins, and a food processor or plastic bag for crushing the graham crackers.

Assembly

The ekovana stackable steamer insert pans come with two tiers, allowing you to cook multiple cheesecakes simultaneously. Start by brushing melted butter inside your mugs or ramekins. You can also line the mugs with parchment paper strips to make cake removal easier later. Next, crumble your graham crackers and mix them with melted butter to create the crust. Put an equal amount of crumbs into each mug and use a small flat-bottomed cup to press them into the bottom of the mugs firmly.

Mixing the Ingredients

In a separate bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, egg, and lemon juice until you have a smooth mixture. You can use a whisk or an electric mixer for this step, ensuring that all the ingredients are well combined.

Cooking the Cheesecakes

Pour the cheesecake mixture into the prepared mugs or ramekins, filling them equally. Place the mugs into the stackable steamer insert pans, and add about an inch of water to the bottom pan. Cover each mug with aluminium foil to prevent condensation from dripping onto the cheesecakes. Close the lid of the steamer and heat it over medium heat until the water boils. Continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes, then place the inner pan into the insulated container and close the outer lid. Allow the cheesecakes to sit for about an hour.

Cooling and Serving

After an hour, remove the inner pan from the insulated container and let it cool down. Take out the mugs and refrigerate them for about 2 hours to set the cheesecakes. Finally, remove the cheesecakes from the mugs by running a knife around the sides and pulling out the paper strips slowly, if used. Serve your cheesecakes with fruit compote or any desired toppings. Enjoy!

Making lasagna

Ingredients:

• 12-16 lasagna noodles (depending on the brand, you may need more in case of breakage)
• 2 cups ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
• 2-2.5 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, finely diced
• 3/4 lb ground beef
• 3/4 lb Italian sausage or ground pork
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 40 oz marinara sauce (Rao's marinara sauce is recommended for its high quality)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F.
• In a large pot, boil salted water and cook the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water until completely cool. Lay the cooled noodles flat on a sheet of wax or parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and salt. Mix well and set aside.
• In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 10 minutes until softened.
• Add the ground beef and Italian sausage or ground pork to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high and use a spatula to break up the meat into fine crumbles. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the meat is cooked through. Add the minced garlic during the last minute of cooking. Drain any excess grease.
• Pour the chicken broth into the skillet and use a silicone spatula to "clean" the bottom and sides of the pan.
• Add the marinara sauce, tomato paste, hot sauce (if using), and Worcestershire sauce (if using) to the skillet. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and partially cover the skillet.
• In a 9x13-inch casserole dish, spread a heaping cup of the meat sauce on the bottom.
• Add a layer of 4 lasagna noodles, overlapping them if needed.
• Spread 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles.
• Add about 1.5 cups of the meat sauce on top of the ricotta layer.
• Repeat steps 9-11 two more times to create three layers of noodles, ricotta, and meat sauce.
• For the final layer, top with 4 more lasagna noodles and the remaining meat sauce.
• Sprinkle 2-2.5 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
• Cover the casserole dish with foil that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. This will prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil.
• Bake the lasagna in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
• For a golden-brown topping, you can broil the lasagna for 2-3 minutes at the end, but keep a close eye on it to avoid burning.
• Let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. This will help the layers set and make it easier to cut and serve.

Tips:

• For a more traditional filling, you can substitute ricotta cheese with cottage cheese, as suggested by one of the Ekovana stackable steamer pots users.
• You can also add layers of vegetables, such as spinach and mushrooms, when layering your lasagna.
• If you want to freeze the lasagna, it's best to use a foil pan. Let the lasagna cool completely, then tightly wrap it in storage wrap and aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to three months.

Frequently asked questions