Mastering the Steam
Steaming is the process of cooking food via vapor, keeping ingredients moist and retaining their color and structure. You trap boiling water's heat within a vessel, allowing the rising steam to surround the food, cooking it quickly and evenly without the leaching that occurs in boiling water.
Water level is everything.
Keep the water low enough that it never touches the food, but high enough that it won't evaporate before the cooking is done.
- Large pot with a tight-fitting lid
- Metal steamer basket or bamboo steamer
- Tongs
What goes in.
- 1 lbFresh vegetables, cut into uniform sizes
- 2 cupsWater for the pot base
Locking in the vapor
Your lid must fit tightly. If it leaks, your internal temperature drops and your cooking time becomes erratic.
The method.
Boil the water
Pour two inches of water into your pot and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat.
Load the basket
Place your prepared vegetables into the steamer basket. Ensure they are in a single layer if possible so the steam circulates between every piece.
Trap the steam
Lower the basket into the pot and cover immediately. Reduce heat to medium to maintain a steady, gentle flow of steam.
Check for resistance
Vegetables are finished when a paring knife slides through the thickest piece with only a slight resistance. Pull them out immediately to stop the carry-over cooking.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Use a bamboo steamer when you have delicate items like dumplings, as the wood absorbs excess moisture that would otherwise turn the dough gummy.
Toss the steamed food with a small amount of fat or acid immediately after removing it from the heat to brighten the final plate.
If you lack a steamer basket, a heat-safe colander placed inside a pot with a lid that fits over it works just as well.
The ones that keep coming up.
How do I know if I've used too much water?
If the water level rises to touch the bottom of your steamer basket, the food will boil rather than steam. You will notice the color of the vegetables dulling rapidly.
Can I add flavor to the steam?
Yes. Add aromatics like smashed ginger, garlic cloves, or lemon slices to the boiling water base to infuse the rising steam with fragrance.
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