Food steamer: A helpful addition to your kitchen for quick, nutritious recipes

Priyanka was thrilled. And, she is not the only one. Food steamers have come like a blessing in disguise for many working mothers and busy households. It not only saves precious time but can cook several food items within a single sitting.

The best part about food steamers is that they allow you to indulge in tasty and delicious foods without worrying about your health. More importantly, the taste of the prepared dish is not compromised for lack of oil. From steamed veggies to delicious idlis and soft dhoklas, food steamers are the ultimate solution for your kitchen and tummy needs.

What is a food steamer?

A food steamer is one of the most useful and practical kitchen appliances. It is a sealed pot with a set of tiers stacked one on top of each other. It is designed to cook food in the heat of the steam. In a stovetop steamer, for example, the steamer contains an insert that fits either into or on the top of a saucepan that is filled with hot water. The food that one wishes to cook is placed in the insert. After this, the perforated base of the insert allows the steam to surround and heat the food.

While using a food steamer sounds simple, it does require patience and a few cooking hours under your belt before your master this healthy technique.

Ananya Subramanian, a communications expert at a leading MNC says, "Food steamers are my go-to for my everyday needs when it comes to cooking. I can cook many food items without having to worry about the nutrient requirement of my family. What's more, I have enough time to spare and am utilizing this free time to do other stuff, just the way I have always wanted to."

The benefits of food steamers

A convenient way to cook food, food steamers provide the following benefits:

• Saves time. Cooks food in a quick period and is easy to use.
• Requires minimal supervision. Comes with a timer.
• A healthy way of cooking. Locks in most of the nutrients and retains the natural vitamins and minerals successfully
• Preserves the structure of the food. Veggies retain their structure and color.
• Requires no oil to cook as it uses steam to cook the food.
• Considered by many to be the healthiest cooking method.
• Saves time, money, and effort.
• Does not require much clean-up and is less messy compared to other cooking methods.

Keen to learn some easy tips and tricks as you use your brand new steamer? Watch this video!

Different types of food steamers

1. Electric steamer

An electric steamer is a standalone cooking appliance that does the cooking for you without any hassles. All you got to do is simply add the water and the food you wish to cook, close and lock the lid. After this, you select the appropriate setting on the appliance and start the cooking process.

2. Steamer basket

A steamer basket is one of the simplest ways to steam vegetables. It is directly inserted into a pot or a pan and then used on the stove. It is a simple process - you just need to add a little water into the pot, place the food item that you want to cook in the basket, and close the lid. As the water boils, the steam will stay contained and cook the food.

3. Combination oven/steamers

Combination steamers, also known as hot-air steamers, can produce both dry and moist heat. They can shift between these two modes automatically during the cooking process. For example, it can steam vegetables and roast meat at the same time. These types of steamers generate steam to cook food.

4. Pressure steamer

One of the most useful food steamers available is a pressure steamer. It uses a combination of steam and pressure that allows for optimized heat transfer. This way, the cooking time is shortened by almost half, as compared to traditional cooking methods. Pressure steamers are useful for low-temperature cooking, fast steam readiness, and high nutrition retention of the food item.

5. Convection steamer: In a convection steamer, the steam circulates at a normal atmospheric pressure through convection. In many cases, this is done with the aid of a small fan. The high level of moisture and lower cooking temperature ensure that nutrients are retained as much as possible. Convection steamers may take a longer time to cook certain foods because they often operate at a lower temperature.

Guide to buying the right food steamer for you

There are many food steamers available in the market. Keeping certain points in mind like the one mentioned below can help you choose one that is apt for you.

• Brand: Go for a tried and tested brand. There are many brands floating in the market. Steamers produced by lesser-known manufacturers may lead you to face issues with quality and after-sales service.
• Storage and mobility: Food steamers are available in capacities of mostly 3, 7, 9, and 10 liters. Choose one that fits the size of your family and that can cook a variety of food items. Although most steamers are used to cook a variety of food, some steamers are capable of cooking more food items than others.
• Eco-friendly material: In most cases, the material of steamers is either plastic or stainless steel. Between these two, go for stainless steel for better stability and service life. Plus, stainless steel is eco-friendly as well.
• Timers: Most electric steamers come with a timer that you can use to set the cooking time. Choose one that you find easy to use.
• Steaming bowl: Check the quality of the steaming bowl. A food steamer generally comes with two to three tiers of a steaming bowl. Check whether it has a drip tray and if it is easy to handle.
• Water level: Try to look for an electric steamer that has a visible water gauge on the outside.
• Easy to clean and maintain: Choose a steamer that is easy to clean and maintain. Most steamers come with parts that can be taken out and cleaned. Once done, it can be fitted back again.

Decide beforehand which features you are looking for and zero in on one such steamer.

Vegetable momo recipe

Stuffed veggie dumplings are easy to make with a food steamer!

Ingredients

• 1 cup (250 ml) whole wheat flour (atta)
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup finely chopped carrot
• 1/3 cup finely chopped cabbage
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onions
• 1 tsp finely chopped ginger
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp oil
• 6 cups water for steaming purpose

Method

• Add the water in parts. The dough should start taking shape.
• Mix and knead to a soft dough.
• Cover the finished dough and keep it aside for 30 minutes.
• Take all the ingredients and mix them into a bowl. Season with salt and keep aside.
• Grease the steamer pan with oil and keep it inside.

Shaping the momos:

• Divide the dough into small balls.
• Sprinkle flour into each ball.
• Now, roll each ball into a thin circle of about 4 to 5 inches in diameter.
• Place the stuffing into the center of the bowl,
• Next, lift one side of the edge and start to pleat.
• Start folding simultaneously and form the pleats one by one.
• Once done, finish by joining the pleats in the center.

Steaming the momos

• Fill the steamer with water and steam the momos for a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes or whenever the momos are cooked.
• Check the momos at regular intervals.
• The dough of the momos should not feel sticky when cooked.
• Serve it with spicy sauce or chutney.

Food steamers are a versatile and useful tool for every household. This kitchen appliance saves you a lot of time and is a healthy way to cook food. With a variety of food steamers in the market, you are spoilt for choice. Make the right choice today towards a healthy you. Go through the above list of food steamers and select one that best suits your budget and wants.

Also read: Clipbook On Food Steamers