How to Cook With a Vegetable Steamer

Steaming is one of the quickest, easiest and most nutritious ways to cook vegetables. It preserves the vitamins and the fresh, natural flavor of the foods much better than other methods of cooking such as boiling or frying. Vegetable steamers are widely available, inexpensive and can be used for a variety of foods. Steamed foods require very little preparation, are cooked without fat and can be served in a number of ways. Does this Spark an idea?

Print this article

Instructions

- 1
  
  Prepare the vegetables. You can steam any type of vegetable except dried beans. Some popular choices are broccoli, snap peas, squash, corn on the cob and spinach. Wash the vegetables thoroughly in warm water or a vegetable wash. Take special care to remove any sand or grit from greens like spinach or kale. Cut the vegetables into the desired size or shape, keeping the size of individual pieces consistent. The smaller the pieces, the quicker the vegetables will cook.
- 2
  
  Insert the steamer into or over the pan, depending on the style of your steamer. Fill the pan with approximately 3 inches of water---the water should not reach the level of the steamer basket. Turn the heat on high, and bring the water to a rolling boil.
- 3
  
  Spread the vegetables in a single layer in the steamer, and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Turn the heat down to medium, but be sure the water continues to boil. You may need to add more boiling water to the pan if you are steaming vegetables for more than 10 minutes, so check the water level occasionally.
- 4
  
  Allow the vegetables to cook until they reach desired tenderness. This can take anywhere from 5 minutes for slices of zucchini or carrots, green beans, asparagus, broccoli florets and kale, to 40 minutes for a whole medium artichoke. Generally, the vegetable will turn a vivid shade of green (or whatever its natural color is), and be easily pierced with a fork when it is done.
- 5
  
  Serve the vegetables. You can jazz up the taste by sprinkling fresh chopped herbs, grated cheese or olive oil over the steamed vegetables. Dip broccoli or cauliflower florets, mushrooms, zucchini or carrots in melted lemon butter for a delicious treat. Chill leftover vegetables and toss them with a vinaigrette dressing, or add to some chopped lettuce for an instant salad.

Tips & Warnings

Use caution when removing the lid from the pot--steam can cause serious burns.

Suggest item

Reference chart for steaming vegetables

Comments

How to Use a Vegetable Steamer
Vegetable steamers have been used for hundreds of years. Originally, steamers were made out of bamboo, but now steamers are available in...
How to Cook Rice in a Vegetable Steamer
There are several ways to cook rice. The most popular way is the one most prone to complications: boiling water and rice,...
About Vegetable Steamers
Vegetable steamers come in different materials and sizes. Steamers can be used for foods other than vegetables, with fish and shellfish being...
How to cook STEAMED CLAMS... or STEAMERS as we call them in Maine
I was lucky enough to have a father who was a lobsterman for over 40 years. Oh, how I loved going out...
How Long Does it Take to Cook a Roast?
Cooking a roast takes time and preparation, regardless of what meat you are using or cooking method. The most common roast is...
How Long Does it Take to Cook Corn on the Cob on a Grill?
With summertime comes the fun of grilling food outside. In addition to hamburgers, hotdogs and steaks, a number of other foods can...
How to Steam Vegetables With a Steamer
Fresh steamed vegetables are a healthy alternative to canned or frozen varieties. Not only do they retain their natural color and shape,...
How to Steam Vegetables
Steaming is one of the best ways to cook vegetables. It leaves more of the vegetable's natural taste, texture and color intact...
How to Cook & Steam Clams
Clams are a delicious shellfish, but they require care when cooking. If prepared improperly, they can make you very sick. Luckily, they...
Food Steamer Cooking Times
The use of a steamer when cooking is a healthy way to prepare fish, chicken and vegetables. A steamer works by cooking...
How to Use a Gaunaurd Vegetable/Rice Steamer
The Gaunaurd Vegetable and Rice Steamer is produced by IMUSA USA, under the business name of Gaunaurd Group--named for the President of...
How to Cook Broccoli With an Oster Steamer
When vegetables are prepared using too much heat and water, they lose some vitamins and minerals. The key is to cook them...
How to Steam Vegetables Without a Steamer
Steamed vegetables are healthy and delicious, but what if you don't have a steamer? No problem! With this method, you can have...
How to Cook Vegetables in a Silicone Steamer
eHow Food, Rachael Ray and her Buddies want to show you how to get more out of every day, every meal and...
How to Make Vodka Slushy Drinks Easily
Entertaining impromptu guests with a vodka slushy drink can be a fun treat on a hot summer night. All you need is...
How to Cook With an Electric Steamer
Cooking with an electric steamer is a simple task that requires a minimum of cooking skill. The main advantage of the electric...
How to Steam Food
Steam cooking is an easy and fast way to cook a wide variety of foods, such as vegetables, grains and proteins, while...
Steam Cooking Vegetables Tips & Techniques
Learn how to steam cook vegetables with some expert tips and techniques on steam cooking vegetables in this free how-to video on...
How to Steam an Artichoke Without a Steamer
Steaming artichokes can lead to a tender final product with leaves that easily flake away from the artichoke when you pull on...
Vegetable Steamer Instructions
Using a vegetable steamer is a great way to cook your vegetable without using oils and fats. When done right, steamed vegetables...