Tool Spotlight: Steamer Basket

During your culinary classes, you will learn that steaming is one of the healthiest and easiest ways to cook foods. Simply add the ingredients to a basket above a pot of simmering water and cover. Fresh vegetables that have impeccable flavor don’t need to be altered in any way. Pan frying, sautéing and baking all cause flavor and freshness loss in the ingredients during the process. Even boiling takes away flavor and nutrients. Steaming is a great way to maintain the true color, flavor and nutrition of all the great fresh foods you enjoy.

There are many steaming tools on the market today. For such a simple cooking method there are a lot of options. Some of the most commonly used are stainless steel steamer baskets. Many pot sets come with sturdy, dishwasher-safe baskets, or you can purchase them separately. Collapsible models do not take up a lot of cabinet space and can fit a variety of pot sizes.

Silicone steamers also come in collapsible versions in either a fixed size or options created to fit varying pots. Silicone is a versatile material that won’t scratch non-stick cookware and is safe to use at high temperatures. You can even use silicone steamers in the microwave. Bamboo steamers are another non-scratch microwave-safe alternative. Bamboo baskets typically have interlocking trays so you can steam multiple levels of things over one pot of water.

It isn’t just vegetables that you can steam. You can steam rice, dumplings, tamales, fish and more for perfectly cooked food with no mess and wonderful flavor. No matter which type of steamer basket you choose, it is a wise investment. Steamers are very inexpensive and easy to use. Add one to your set of kitchen tools and steam some fresh vegetables from the local farmers market to go with you dinner tonight!

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