This time it was the glory of steam cooking, courtesy of an electric steam cooker!
Yes, I have steamed food in the past, the old fashion way - pot on the stove with a steamer basket to separate the food from the water. I have even used a bamboo steamer basket. Neither method all that exciting or efficient.
But when a friend of mine (Hi Jessica!) told me that she cooks almost all her meals in an electric steam cooker, I was intrigued. I hate buying equipment that only gets used a few times a year, but the possibility of daily use?!? My investigation began...
What I discovered...
Steam cooking has come a long way from my lonely pot on the stove. Electric steam cookers have hit the market in droves! These suckers have tiers, multiple tiers; which separate your food, thus keeping flavors from mixing and allowing for your ENTIRE meal to be cooked by one gadget!
Why I love it...
*I get my time back. Steam cooking requires no stirring, no doting. I can set up my tiers and do non-kitchen activities. It's so freeing!!!
*Steam cooking is quick!
*Steaming maximizes the flavor and color of food.
*Can't screw up. It's really hard to overcook or burn your food with steam, which adds to easy clean-up as well!
*It's healthy. No oil needed to prevent sticking and the debate is still out on whether or not microwaves are destroying the nutrients in our food. I for one, keep my microwaving to a minimum. Plus, steam cooking is a more gentler way to cook. Unlike boiling, nutrients are not leached out of the food, leaving the food more nutrient dense.
*It's not just for cooking, but for warming food as well. I can steam fresh produce in one pan and heat up frozen or canned food in another.
*Food seems to taste better - crisper, more vibrant! My steamed rice came out better than the rice cooker or traditional stove method. This is now the only method I use for corn on the cob!
What to look for...
One major thing I discovered was the importance of the material that your steamer is made from - avoid plastic, go for stainless steel.Just as I avoid cooking or storing food in plastic due to leaching chemicals, I don't want to steam my food in plastic either. Sure there are a few BPA-free plastic steamers on the market, but I opted for the Secura 3-Tier 6-Quart Stainless Steamer, one of the few stainless steel steamers on the market. The best price I found was on Amazon for $69.99. My only regret, not opting for the 9-Quart steamer. Yes, even for two people, I find the 6 quart a bit small for some things such as corn on the cob. Also, 3 tiers is not enough for me (I may have an overcooking issue). Thankfully, the Secura is expandable, just buy extra tiers!!! I am currently rocking a 4-tier steamer, which for now, seems to be enough and yes I do use them all!
With these expandable tiers, comes the freedom to steam larger items. Each tier comes with a removable inner pan, allowing you to stack the tiers in essences creating a large pot and steam a bunch of ears of corn or a whole spaghetti squash! The possibilities are endless!
This unit also heats up in 15 seconds! No more waiting for water to boil. The built-in timer helps you from forgetting that you are actually cooking.
What am I steaming...
Unlike my friend, I only steam cook 1-2 times a week and that works for me.
So far I have steamed:
- Corn on the cob
- Cauliflower
- Greens & Onions
- Whole Squash
- Carrots
- Brussels Sprouts
- Sweet & White Potatoes
- Rice
- Veggie Burgers
- Frozen Veggies
- Canned Beans
- Re-heated cooked Veggies
The possibilities of steam cooking are endless - what will you steam?
Cook Happy!
The Hoff
No comments:
Post a Comment