- Steaming vegetables for cooking, instead of boiling, helps the vegetables retain their vitamin and mineral content. When vegetables are boiled, the vitamins and minerals leach into the water and are then thrown away. Steamed vegetables also hold their shape better than if boiled or prepared by another method.
- Many cookware sets include a steamer as part of the package deal. Often rice cookers come with a steamer basket to cook vegetables as the rice cooks. Steamers can also be purchased separately and can be made of stainless steel, aluminum or bamboo. There are a number of electric steamers on the market that can steam several different foods at one time.
- Steamers can be recognized by the holes in the steaming basket. These holes may cover the entire basket or may just be on the bottom. Bamboo steamers have woven slats on the bottom of the basket, which, depending on the cut size of the vegetables, may need to be lined with cheesecloth to keep the vegetables from falling through.
- Vegetable steamers can range in size. Small collapsible steamers hold 1 to 2 cups of vegetables, while electric models may have four or more trays that hold several cups each. Bamboo steamers, also known as Mushiki or Seiro, have the benefit of stacking trays that allow for many different foods to be cooked at the same time.
- Most steamers, with the exception of the bamboo version and some parts of the electric models, are dishwasher safe, and produce crisp and wholesome steamed vegetables.
- Food producers have recognized the benefits of steamed vegetables and have begun packaging their frozen vegetable products in steaming bags that can be used in the microwave. Some storage bag manufacturers have introduced a line of microwavable steaming bags for fresh vegetables.
- Overcooking vegetables, even in a vegetable steamer, can cause nutrient loss and a lessened aesthetic appeal. If different cooking times are required for vegetables cooked in a stacking steamer, a kitchen timer should be used so that all vegetables are steamed to their peak of crispness.
