Steaming has several benefits, and it's not just that it's healthier.
In a steamer, food does not burn, it always tastes better, since there is less risk of overlooking and, for example, overdrying meat. And it is also an opportunity to cook several dishes or products separately at one time.
This is a lifesaver when family members prefer different dishes and products.
What and how to cook with steam
You can steam everything: cereals, vegetables, seafood, meat, cutlets, cabbage rolls and even semi-finished dough products, such as manti and pelmeni.
It's easy to do: spread the products in one layer on the grill and leave them under the lid until done. You can cook any product this way, so that the whole family will like the dishes, even if it consists of a vegan, a meat lover and a fish lover.
There are some peculiarities that should be taken into account.
1. In a multi-tier steamer, arrange the products so that those that take longer to cook are at the bottom, and those that take less time are at the top. Example: meat on the first tier, fish on the second, shrimp on the third.
2. Also distribute vegetables by tiers according to cooking time. Example: potatoes on the first tier, peppers, asparagus, tomatoes on the second, cauliflower on the third.
Note: it is also recommended to steam the vegetables for the salad (beets, carrots, potatoes). The salad turns out much tastier.
3. Use spices, sauces, marinades. To make dishes tasty, you need to use seasoning. Many people forget about it. It is believed that steamed food is only for those who adhere to healthy eating, which means they do not use salt, pepper, sauces. Sometimes this is true, but this is not a rule, but a person's personal preference. Therefore, do not be afraid to experiment with spices, add vegetable oil and other ingredients to dishes.
4. The cereal is cooked on the lower tier in a special container. If you are cooking rice or pearl barley with meat, place the meat on top. Then the meat juices will flow into the container with the cereal, which will make the side dish more delicious.
Also, don’t forget that the salt and spices that you seasoned the meat with will drain, so there is no need to salt the cereal.
5. Steam cutlets or meatballs. But make sure that the mince is dense and holds its shape well. If the mince is dry, the products will fall apart, and if it is liquid, they will spread across the grill.
There is an opinion that food cooked with steam is tasteless. But this is a misconception. Many products are much tastier than with traditional cooking.
Of course, steamed food does not have the crispy crust that you get when frying in a frying pan, but this has a big advantage. Such food can be consumed by people with gastrointestinal tract diseases, liver diseases and other health problems.
