Steam is one of the most efficient ways to cook. A steamer creates steam and raises it to a level where the cooked food can reach an appropriate temperature in minimal time.

For preparing healthy and delicious meals, using your kitchen steamer correctly is essential as it determines the taste and texture of your food. Here are some handy best practices tips from commercial steamer repair professionals that will help you achieve the same.

Don’t add too much water.

Don’t fill your steamer with more than two inches of water, as too much will cause the food to lose its flavor and texture. If you need more water, use boiling water from the tap rather than cold water from the refrigerator so your food can warm up slowly as it cooks instead of being shocked by a sudden change in temperature.

Make sure your heat source stays on high enough.

If you’re using an electric stovetop, ensure that the flame stays on high throughout cooking time; otherwise, your food could be overcooked before reaching the desired level of being cooked.

For gas stoves, keep the flame at medium-high for best results, but be sure not to let it flare up.

Boil the water first

When you steam food, you’ll need to boil the water first. This is because steaming involves cooking food in its juices, so if you don’t have any liquid, there’s no way for the juices to escape.

Once the water comes to a boil, pour it into the cooking vessel and add the food. After adding the food, ensure it’s covered with liquid by adding more water if necessary.

You can boil as much as you want at once make sure that your steamer has enough capacity for all of it.

Don’t steam for too long.

Don’t steam for too long or at too high a temperature. If you want your dish to come out tender and flavorful, don’t boil it for much longer than necessary or at too high of a temperature this will also cause nutrients to leach out.

Keep an eye on your food as it cooks, and remove it from the heat when it’s ready. This should take no longer than 20 minutes for most vegetables and seafood and no more than five minutes for fish fillets or shrimp.

Enhance the steam by using stock and herbs

Herbs can be added to water during the last few minutes of cooking or sprinkled on top of cooked vegetables just before serving. You can also use dried herbs, but they will impart more flavor than fresh herbs because they have been dried and concentrated.

Spices can also be added during the last few minutes of cooking or sprinkled on top of cooked vegetables just before serving. Seasoning blends may include salt, pepper, and other seasonings, such as garlic powder and onion powder.

Add these to taste because they are not measured amounts like dry herbs or fresh herbs are measured amounts.

Make sure the seal is air-tight.

If you’re using a silicone steamer, ensure it’s completely sealed around the rim of your pot. This will prevent steam from escaping and reduce cooking time.

Don’t overfill the pot.

If your steamer is full to the top and you add more food, it will take longer for steam to reach every surface of the food to cook it thoroughly. If you’re making rice or vegetables, this can mean that parts of your meal won’t get fully cooked at all.

Try filling your pot no more than two-thirds full with water and cover tightly with a lid or foil while steaming.

Bottom Line

Kitchen steamers are a great way to cook healthy, nutritious meals. They use the power of steam to cook food quickly and evenly. However, there’s more to steaming than just throwing your food in a basket and letting it do its thing.

Use the above tips from commercial appliances repair Alexandria experts to make the most of your kitchen steamer.