Steam cooking, tips for healthy cooking.
Steaming is a very ancient cooking method, especially popular in oriental cuisine, which allows you to cook food without the use of fats and without immersing them in water. The cooking process is less intense and slower compared to other methods, making it especially suitable for the preparation of foods that cook fairly quickly. Today, steam cooking is increasingly appreciated by those who prefer a healthy and light diet.
Why choose steam cooking
Steam cooking allows you to cook in a healthy way without sacrificing flavor, because it preserves the organoleptic characteristics of food without dispersing nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, in addition to not producing toxic molecules. Steaming significantly reduces the dispersion of water-soluble substances, after the heat has softened the cellular walls of foods. With boiling in water, along with nutrients, flavors and aromas also go away: that's why steaming enhances the taste of many foods, such as vegetables. Try to believe! Furthermore, steam cooking is particularly light and healthy because it does not require the use of fats.
Who is steam cooking suitable for?
For the reasons mentioned, steam cooking is particularly suitable for those with a controlled diet, for those who prefer a healthy and low-calorie diet, and also for young children, who can slowly discover and learn to appreciate the true taste of many new foods, without the addition of salt, spices or seasonings. In short, steam cooking is preferable whenever we want to prepare healthy and genuine food without altering their flavor or wasting precious nutrients.
Which foods can be cooked with steam?
The foods that can be cooked with steam are numerousVegetables, fish, shellfish, mollusks, eggs, white meats, potatoes, cereals, and rice are particularly suitable. These foods are suitable for cooking a little slower, without the use of any type of fat or additional seasoning. At most, you can add a sprig of thyme or rosemary, or a slice of lemon or orange in the basket to give the food a particular aroma. Almost all vegetables gain in terms of taste and health with steam cooking with the exception of some types of cabbage, which lose some of their bitter flavor when boiled in water. All the others, on the other hand, remain more flavorful and maintaina more compact and pleasant consistency to the palate. Steamed potatoes, retaining starch, are perfect for preparing gnocchi, mashed potatoes, or other dishes in which the consistency of the crushed tuber must be sticky at just the right point. The same applies to rice, which, when steamed, retains the properties that make it perfect for preparing dishes derived from Asian tradition, such as sushi or poke. This is why steam cooking is becoming increasingly appreciated and widespread even among young people, who are often the most inclined to experiment with dishes from other culinary traditions, but also the most attentive to a healthy and balanced diet.
How to cook with steam
There are several ways to steam cook.Banalmente, a simple pasta strainer placed on a pot full of water would allow it, although in long times and with a considerable dispersion of energy. The pressure cooker, with the classic resealable basket to be placed inside, is another tool that has always been used for steaming.The most efficient way, however, is to equip yourself with a steamer . There are various types available on the market, including those made of bamboo, gas steamers to be placed on the stove, and electric steamers. Bamboo steamers come from the Asian tradition and are particularly suitable for preparing dumplings, rice, or other typically oriental dishes. Beautiful and characteristic, but not always practical for everyday use. Steam pots are good for sporadic use and for preparing one food at a time. They are not very easy to clean and, if you are not careful, you risk that during cooking the water in the lower compartment evaporates completely, burning the bottom. Not only will it be a challenging task to clean the steamer from stains, but also the food will be compromised due to the burnt taste. If instead you are looking for a "foolproof steamer in the kitchen", to use every day to cook many foods simultaneously and that does everything by itself, you can choose a convenient electric steamer.
How is an electric steamer made and what are its advantages
The Girmi VP2600 electric steamer is a classic multi-tiered steamer, one of the most equipped available on the market. The stainless steel base contains the water tank and the heating element, the heart of the product. The amount of water to be added depending on the food to be cooked is clearly indicated in the instructions, so you can't go wrong. You just need to set the 60-minute timer and you can focus on other tasks without thinking about it anymore. In any case, there is a function of auto shut-off when the water in the tank runs out, which prevents any problem. In any case, there is an automatic shut-off function for water depletion in the tank, which prevents any issues. Vuoi comunque controllare? Do you still want to check? There is a window to see the water level. And if you want to add more during the operation of the appliance, there is the possibility of continuous refill.
The top of the steamer is made up of plastic baskets for cooking food. Girmi VP2600 Girmi VP2600 is a three-tier steamer with a total capacity of 12 liters, making it suitable for the whole family, allowing you to prepare more than 8 servings. The three levels are very useful for cooking multiple dishes and there is also a practical 1-liter rice cooker basket. This way you can cook a healthy, complete and balanced meal with just one cooking: 25% protein, 25% carbohydrates and 50% vegetables. Some examples? Salmon cubes with rice and broccoli, shredded chicken with spelt and carrots, shrimp with quinoa and avocado, peas with black rice and fennel. The combinations are endless: get creative, season with a drizzle of oil, some spices or a little soy sauce and you're good to go!
How long does it take to steam cook?
The electric steamer reaches temperature in just a few minutes, making it easy and quick to use. Meats are the foods that require longer cooking times: 10 minutes for 300g of chicken or turkey cut into small pieces, about 5 minutes more for pork. Ten minutes also for fish fillets or whole shrimp, but times halve if the shrimp are peeled. Red meats that prefer other cooking methods are not recommended, while whole fish can be cooked in a steamer: obviously it will take a little more time, approximately 20/30 minutes for a half-kilo sea bream or sea bass. About ten minutes on average for vegetables, ranging from 3 minutes for spinach to 15 minutes for more fibrous vegetables like asparagus. A separate discussion for artichokes, which also require half an hour of cooking. For hard-boiled eggs the classic 7 minutes rule applieswhile rice can be steamed in about 15 minutes. For spelt and other grains, the cooking times are longer and vary depending on the type and previous soaking, so we recommend checking them each time.
To optimize cooking times, it is to distribute the food well in the baskets, cut it into small piecesand always remember to close the practical drip-proof lid so as not to unnecessarily disperse heat and also save on energy consumption.