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Do you like crisp, brightly colored vegetables that still have most of their nutrients ? Would you like them prepared quickly and easily, with a minimum of fuss? This guide to how to steam vegetables will help you accomplish both tasks deliciously.
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Steaming Vegetables Tips
- Keep the pot covered while steaming
- Don't overcook
- Keep the water level low, but don't let it boil off completely
- Steam multiple vegetables in the same pot
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How to Steam Vegetables
This video demonstrates how to steam vegetables, using broccoli as an example. It suggests that, if you don't have a steamer rack, you can make aluminum foil boils to serve as a base to elevate your vegetables above the water. It also suggests cutting and trimming the vegetables as close as possible to the time you'll be cooking them.
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Equipment Required
- Don't worry if you don't have a specialty pot with a steaming insert. While these are nice, there are perfectly acceptable alternatives:
- Steamer basket
- You can use a steamer basket placed inside any pot with a tight fitting lid. These are convenient because they fold up when not in use, and the basket itself is adaptable to different pot sizes.Center Point Healing: Cooking Methods
- Metal colander
- A metal colander can be used as a substitute for a steamer basket.Saphris' Salad: MG's Steaming Method (March 10, 2008)
- A footed colander works best, so it will rest securely on the base of the pot, and still keep the vegetables out of the water.University of Mississippi: Cooking With Fresh Vegetables
- If you don't have a footed colander, you'll need to balance the handles of the colander over the edges of the pot. This means you won't get a tight seal when you put the lid on the pot so steam will escape, which will lengthen the cooking time.
Introduction
- Steaming uses boiling water to cook vegetables, without actually boiling them in the water.Fantes: Steamers Once steamed, you can enjoy the vegetables au natural, add a bit of butter or elegantly enhance them with Hollandaise sauce. This page on how to steam vegetables will give you the basics you need to know!Center Point Healing: Cooking Methods
General Overview
- The procedures for steaming vegetables are the same, no matter which vegetable you're cooking. When preparing a melange of several vegetables, add them in stages.Big Oven: Crossroad Farms Steamed Vegetables Start the longest cooking vegetables first, and add the others during the cooking process, so that each will cook for the appropriate amount of time.
- Select a pot large enough for the vegetables you're preparing.
- Place steamer insert, basket or colander in the pot.
- Add about two inches of water to the pot, making sure you don't go above the bottom of basket.Family Fun: Get Steamed
- Add the vegetables to the basket.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Cover the pot.
- Reduce the heat to medium low, keeping the water at a gentle boil.University of Maine: Carrots
- Continue to cook for 5-25 minutes, depending on the vegetables you're cooking.Center Point Healing: Cooking Methods
- Be careful when you remove the basket. It will be hot, so make sure you use potholders.
- If you're not serving the vegetables right away, run cool water over them to stop the cooking. You can reheat them before serving by heating them briefly in boiling water.BBC: Cooks Guide: Steaming and Boiling
Vegetable Specific Instructions
- Cut the vegetables into even sized pieces -- the smaller the pieces the quicker they'll cook.BBC: Cooks Guide: Steaming and Boiling Cooking time also varies based upon the density of the vegetable. Leafy greens will cook quickly, while root vegetables may take up to 25 minutes.Center Point Healing: Cooking Methods Here are some general guidelines for how long to cook vegetables after you've covered the pot:
- Asparagus: Snap off woody ends, and steam for 2-5 minutes.The Veggie Table: How to Steam Asparagus
- Broccoli and cauliflower: Cut into serving size pieces, steam for 5 - 7 minutes.Family Fun: Get Steamed
- Brussels sprouts: Remove the outer leaves, steam for 5 - 7 minutes.Family Fun: Get Steamed
- Carrots: Peel and slice into pieces about 1/4" thick, then steam for 8-10 minutes.University of Maine: Carrots
- Green beans: Snap off ends, and steam for about 5 minutes.Food Network: Steam-Sauteed Green Beans with Almonds and Parsley
- Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach or swiss chard: Rinse thoroughly, and steam for 3 - 5 minutes.Family Fun: Get Steamed
- Peas: Peas take about 4 minutes.I Found Happy: Angel Hair with Peas and Pancetta (June 3, 2008)
- Zucchini: Steam sliced zucchini for 5 - 10 minutes. Epicurious.com: Zucchini with Lemon-Basil Dressing Recipe at Epicurious.com Recipezaar: Steamed Summer Squash in Butter
Bamboo Steamers
- A bamboo steamer is designed to fit inside a wok, rather than a pot.
- When using a bamboo steamer, clean up is easier if you place cabbage leaves or parchment paper under the food you're steaming.
- Most bamboo steamers are designed to be stackable, allowing several foods to be cooked at the same time.Chowhound: in a Bamboo Steamer (November 20, 2006)
- Place the food with the longest cooking time in the bottom steamer, but don't cover it with a lid.
- The next longest food should go in the middle layer, and food that requires more gentle cooking can be placed in a third steamer on top.
- Cover the top steamer with its lid, and proceed with the general steaming instructions given above.
- NOTE: Bamboo can pick up flavors, so its a good idea to keep separate steamers for vegetables, meat and seafood.Fantes: Steamers
Use Your Marbles
- A potential problem with steaming comes from the fact that you use so little liquid with this method of cooking.Fantes: Steamers If the phone rings, or you're easily distracted, the water may may boil away and you'll be left with burned vegetables and a ruined pot. There's a simple trick you can use to let you know the water's getting low:
- Place a few marbles in the water, under the steamer basket, when you fill the pot.Google Books: Prevention's The Healthy Cook
- If the water level gets too low, the marbles will start bouncing against the bottom of the pan, and the noise will alert you to the problem.
Flavor the Steaming Liquid
- You can steam in liquids other than water--beer, wine, and broth will all add a savory flavor to you vegetables.BBC: Cooks Guide: Steaming and Boiling
- Seasonings and herbs added to the water will flavor them as well.The New York Times: Full Steam Aside (April 2, 1995)
Variations
- Season steamed vegetables with olive, sesame oil, soy sauce or lemon juiceCenter Point Healing: Cooking Methods
- Aioli, or garlic mayonnaise is a nice accompaniment to steamed vegetables.Epicurious.com: Steamed Vegetables and Aioli
- A low-fat dressing can be a healthy way to accent steamed vegetables without adding extra fat or calories.Recipezaar: Steamed Vegetable Platter With Lemon Garlic Dressing
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