We’ll look at some of the different types of food that can be cooked in a steamer to see if there’s anything that will help you use your steamer more effectively than ever before.
If you have a steamer or are thinking about getting one, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. After all, it’s a fairly large piece of kitchen equipment, and you might be wondering if it’s worth the counter space alongside your coffee maker, blender, and toaster. So, what exactly can you make with a steamer?
Types of Food List
The following is a list of the various types of food that work well in the best electric food steamer. We’ve divided the list into sections to make it easier to read and skip over foods you’re already familiar with.
Types of Food: Vegetables
The first is the most obvious, which is vegetables. The most common reason for purchasing a steamer is to steam vegetables. The popularity of this method steams from the fact that steaming vegetables is a healthier alternative to boiling. More nutrients are retained in the vegetables themselves, rather than being lost to the water in which boiled vegetables are immersed.
- Leafy greens: These can be steamed to perfection in just a couple of minutes.
- Root vegetables: In a steamer, you can cook root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, fennel, and turnips. Due to their density, they take longer to cook than other vegetables, just as they do when boiled, but they retain a lot more flavor and vitamins. A whole carrot takes about ten minutes to cook, while a potato can take up to 30 minutes.
- Cruciferous: Steaming vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale works extremely well, and some people even think it makes them taste sweeter. Larger vegetables should be cut into smaller pieces and steamed for six minutes or until crisp.
- Pumpkin and squash: Summer squash and pumpkins can be cut into cubes and cooked in the same way as root vegetables, or they can be steamed whole. Because they are difficult to chop, leaving them whole saves you a lot of time in the kitchen. The insides can simply be scooped out after they’ve been cooked. Steaming the pumpkin whole could take up to an hour, depending on its size, but chopping it would be a better option.
- Frozen: Steaming frozen vegetables is an excellent way to prepare them without making them mushy. If you cut them into smaller bite sizes, they’ll only take a few minutes to prepare.
Types of Food: Meat and Fish
Few people think of steaming meat and fish in a steamer, but it works really well because it keeps the moisture levels in the meat and fish better than baking or roasting. To add flavor, you can even sprinkle herbs and seasonings directly on the food or into the steaming water.
Types of Food: Fish and Shellfish
Steaming fish is an excellent way to keep the flesh moist. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the item you’re steaming. Fish is done when the flesh turns flaky, prawns are done when they turn pink, and clams and mussels are done when they are fully open.
Types of Food: Beef and Lamb
Tender cuts of beef and lamb can be steamed to achieve excellent volume and moisture retention. Tougher cuts of meat, on the other hand, do not fare as well. Cooking times will be similar to those for roasting the product, but the steam will cook the meat faster than dry air because the steam isn’t as hot as oven temperatures.
Types of Food: Poultry
You can steam chicken breasts, legs, thighs, wings, or even the whole bird. When cooking poultry, it’s helpful to have a meat thermometer on hand to ensure that the internal temperature reaches at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Types of Food: Eggs
For soft boiled eggs with runny centers, steam them for six minutes in their shells for perfectly cooked eggs in their shells. Leave hard-boiled eggs to steam for 12 minutes before using in salads or sandwiches.
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