Healthiest ways to prepare a variety of meals

Steaming is one of the healthiest ways to prepare a variety of meals: it retains more vitamins and minerals in vegetables, and is good for ocean proteins (like shellfish and salmon) and delicate foods (like eggs). Very well. But what if you don’t have a steamer? Don’t worry, there are many ways to enjoy the benefits of steaming without the need for additional specialized equipment. Whether you have a garden full of green beans and need a recipe for healthy steamed green beans, or want to include more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet and need to learn how to steam fish without a steamer, we have it all. . for everybody.
Steam cooking simply uses the heat of steam from a small amount of boiling water or other cooking liquid suspended above the surface of the liquid. Boiling or simmering allows the nutrients from the food to seep into the liquid. Steam cooking retains more nutrients because the food does not come into contact with water. When steaming, you need a way to hang the ingredients above the water and a lid that fits snugly so the steam doesn’t escape.
Most steamers have some sort of basket to lift food above the surface of the liquid. This could be a removable basket for various pots or pans, a dedicated pot insert, or a set of stackable baskets such as a bamboo steamer. There are also electric steamers, which are either small portable gadgets or built-in appliances designed to work with steam.
There are some easy ways to steam food without a steamer! Basically, you just need to create a moist food environment that you can maintain for as long as you need to cook the ingredients.
If you have a heat resistant colander, you can make a steamer by placing it in a large covered pot. If you are steaming small items, use perforated bowls for ingredients. If you are steaming large foods such as corn on the cob or lobsters, turn them over and place the food on top.
You can make a snake or foil ball and line it on the bottom of a covered pot so you can lift a heat-resistant plate or bowl above the surface of the boiling liquid to create a steamer.
If you have a round wire cooling rack, place it in a saucepan with a lid, or a rack in the Instant Pot that can be used to lift a heat-resistant plate or steaming bowl.
Disposable foil pie pans can be easily made with a sharp knife (be careful!) or a fork to form a steamer inside the pan.
There are many foods that can be steamed. For fish like tilapia that can dry out, steaming will make them tender. Clams don’t become springy like boiled ones, while chicken breasts, notorious for being overcooked, stay juicy in a mild, moist environment. Any green vegetable like broccoli or spinach retains its deep green color and many of its nutrients after cooking, and there’s no better way to get sweet corn on the cob than by steaming your ears. Many comfort foods such as dumplings or idli (boiled rice and lentil cakes in South India) are steamed. New potatoes have a strong potato flavor, similar to baking, but with a soft texture that is usually associated with simmering. Perfect boiled eggs can also be achieved by steaming them.
Steaming is an easy way to make ingredients shine. Because steaming doesn’t require immersion in a liquid that can leach out nutrients, it’s one of the most nutritious ways to cook vegetables. Gentle cooking methods are very gentle on any delicate food, so for tough foods like seafood, this is a great way to feel confident in the kitchen.
Start steaming today with these healthy steamed asparagus recipes, or steam a bright and juicy pumpkin with nuts. Happy vaping!