Knowing how to cook healthy dishes plays an important role in keeping a healthy diet. Among the many different cooking methods available, steaming is one method which can be very useful. This is one of the simplest and easiest ways of preparing food and helps keep nutrients sealed and trapped in the dishes. This also involves the use of food steamers which comes with various models and types which makes choosing the best one quite tricky.
Food steamers or steam cookers as they are also called refers to the air sealed vessels and containers used in the kitchen to cook food. These containers limit the escape of steam and liquid essential in cooking the food evenly. Most of these appliances also have separate compartments used to hold the boiling water and the food. The compartment holding the boiling water is the source of steam which is essential in steaming. On the other hand, another compartment which can have two or more stacks holds the food that will be cooked.
The secret behind steamers is the steam produces by the boiling water. This process removes the need to fry or boil the food which removes 35% to 85% of nutrients found in food. Steaming compared to other cooking methods removes only 15% of nutrients and minerals and is preferred by many health conscious individuals.
There are different types of food steamers available in the market which can be chosen from. One of the most popular types of food steamers is the stainless steel steamer or stove top steamer. This type has a steamer tray which can be taken and inserted into a pot that has water filled at the bottom. This is best for cooking vegetables and can steam small and large quantities. The second type is the bamboo steamer which can cook any type of food but the most popular cooked in it is Asian food like dumplings. This comes with a slotted bottom and a dome-like lid to effectively steam and cook food evenly. This is also effective in cooking vegetables and rice and is simple and easy to use. The last type is the electric food steamer which prepares food fast with the convenience of modern living. Most models have a "scenter screen" allow you to jazz up food with herbs and spices and dividers, so you can steam 2 or more different kinds of food at one time.
Many advantages are also being offered by food steamers to users. The most common and well known is the health benefits dishes cooked form this method offers. Nutrients and minerals are sealed in when steaming ensuring that no essential food qualities will be lost. Healthier dishes produces when steaming are also being incorporated in different diets including CRON-diet, macrobiotic-diet, and Okinawa diet. Finally, the kitchen will never be as hot as it is in the summers when steaming as this type of appliance circulates less heat in the kitchen's environment.
Food steamers are definite must haves in any homes kitchen. There are plenty of steamer types sold in the market, ranging from common bamboo to ultra-modern electronic steamers, designed with sensors. Choosing the best one is a matter of personal choice but it would be wise to pick a well known brand name you can trust.
Food steamers or steam cookers as they are also called refers to the air sealed vessels and containers used in the kitchen to cook food. These containers limit the escape of steam and liquid essential in cooking the food evenly. Most of these appliances also have separate compartments used to hold the boiling water and the food. The compartment holding the boiling water is the source of steam which is essential in steaming. On the other hand, another compartment which can have two or more stacks holds the food that will be cooked.
The secret behind steamers is the steam produces by the boiling water. This process removes the need to fry or boil the food which removes 35% to 85% of nutrients found in food. Steaming compared to other cooking methods removes only 15% of nutrients and minerals and is preferred by many health conscious individuals.
There are different types of food steamers available in the market which can be chosen from. One of the most popular types of food steamers is the stainless steel steamer or stove top steamer. This type has a steamer tray which can be taken and inserted into a pot that has water filled at the bottom. This is best for cooking vegetables and can steam small and large quantities. The second type is the bamboo steamer which can cook any type of food but the most popular cooked in it is Asian food like dumplings. This comes with a slotted bottom and a dome-like lid to effectively steam and cook food evenly. This is also effective in cooking vegetables and rice and is simple and easy to use. The last type is the electric food steamer which prepares food fast with the convenience of modern living. Most models have a "scenter screen" allow you to jazz up food with herbs and spices and dividers, so you can steam 2 or more different kinds of food at one time.
Many advantages are also being offered by food steamers to users. The most common and well known is the health benefits dishes cooked form this method offers. Nutrients and minerals are sealed in when steaming ensuring that no essential food qualities will be lost. Healthier dishes produces when steaming are also being incorporated in different diets including CRON-diet, macrobiotic-diet, and Okinawa diet. Finally, the kitchen will never be as hot as it is in the summers when steaming as this type of appliance circulates less heat in the kitchen's environment.
Food steamers are definite must haves in any homes kitchen. There are plenty of steamer types sold in the market, ranging from common bamboo to ultra-modern electronic steamers, designed with sensors. Choosing the best one is a matter of personal choice but it would be wise to pick a well known brand name you can trust.
About the Author:
Stewart Logan is a hotel chef from Germany. One of Logan's specialties is creating tasty and healthy steamed food with the used of his food steamer or "Miele Dampfgarer", as he calls it German.