Adherents of a healthy diet are constantly looking for dietary recipes and devices with which they can prepare low-calorie food. Most manufacturers of household appliances have long taken note of such consumer preferences and began to produce corresponding products. Some buyers still don't know how to use a steamer. However, do not rush to get upset...
Before using the steamer, you need to read the instructions.
Let's consider the principle of operation of steamers, nuances and limitations of use. We will also get acquainted with the methods of cleaning such structures.
Operating principle
For those who want to understand how to cook in a double boiler, the principle of its operation will be surprisingly simple. The main task of the device is to process products with steam.
The cooking process occurs as follows: vegetables or meat are placed in a special grill, which is placed inside the product. And then, under the influence of steam flows emanating from the lower part of the structure, the product begins to cook. At the same time, the dish retains all its beneficial properties.
The main task of the device is to process products with steam.
Preparing for work
Before you start using the steamer, you need to carry out several manipulations. A certain amount should be poured into the tank of the device - the first and most important rule.
The amount of water should be determined in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Only then can you place food on the grid.
Disassemble the steamer and pour water into the water tank.
Proper care of the device
After cooking, allow the steamer to cool thoroughly. After this, pour out the remaining water and try to immediately thoroughly rinse all containers of the device. Do not leave the device dirty for a long time. In this case, food residues will dry to the walls of the tanks and then it will be much more difficult to remove them. Otherwise, there are no special instructions for caring for the steamer.
Some people mistakenly compare a double boiler with a multicooker. But these are completely different devices, both in terms of their operating principle and the dishes that can be prepared in them. More functional in this regard, of course, is a multicooker. But the price will be much more expensive. For those who love tasty and healthy food, food cooked in a steamer will appeal to their taste.
Correctly fill the steamer tank
To properly assemble and prepare the structure for use, you don’t have to read a bunch of tips and watch video tutorials. The preparation process is simple. Moreover, it takes no more than an hour. The main thing is to take into account a few recommendations from experienced users:
- Take purified water and pour it into a special tank. Using clean water will protect the vessels from salt deposits and other contaminants.
- To add liquid, first read the instructions on the tray. Emphasize that the amount of water should reach the lower mark, but not exceed the level of the highest point. New models are equipped with a top-up function, which older models cannot boast of.
- The next step is to install a tray to collect excess moisture.
- After you have assembled the main part of the product, you can add food, set the timer and begin the cooking process.
- At the end of the cooking process, the device will notify you with a sound signal.
Some modern models have a high level of thermal conductivity. However, it is not recommended to abuse this feature.
At the end of the cooking process, the device will notify you with a bell.
General recommendations for working with a double boiler
To properly assemble and prepare a steamer for use, you don’t need to watch video instructions or read long Talmuds of rules. This process is not complicated and takes minimal time. It is enough to follow a few recommendations:
- Take clean water and pour it into the special compartment. It is recommended to use only purified water, as it does not contain impurities and therefore will not damage your equipment.
- In order to fill the water correctly, you should be guided by the mark on the pan. Make sure that the water hides the lower mark, but does not overflow the upper one. Some models are equipped with a function for adding water, but older steamers from the Elenberg BV series do not have this option. You will have to remember that the maximum fill is enough for about 40-45 minutes of work.
- Now we install a tray to collect excess moisture. A unique life hack would be to add aromatic herbs or aromatic spices to it, which will give the dish a pleasant aroma.
- After the lower part of the device is assembled, you can add food, set the cooking time and turn on the steamer.
- After the dish is ready, the equipment will notify you about this using a sound signal.
Many modern appliances can retain heat in containers for up to 20 minutes. But you shouldn’t overuse it, because a fresh dish always tastes better.
Purifying water for refilling a steamer
As mentioned earlier, only clean water should be used as a refill. Otherwise, the performance of the structure will subsequently deteriorate.
To use a steamer effectively in the long term, we remove impurities from the water. It is recommended to filter the water. You can do this with improvised means. However, if the liquid is heavily contaminated, you cannot do without special equipment. The second stage of cleaning is the removal of salts. Their level can be reduced by freezing water in plastic containers. After a few hours, take the containers out of the freezer and make holes in them. Drain the water and leave the ice to melt. In this case, the pieces of ice are water with a minimal salt content.
It is recommended to filter the water.
After such simple treatment of water, it can be safely poured into a special compartment. In addition, by purifying the liquid, the quality of food is improved.
Correct loading of the steamer
To properly load your steamer, you should always start from the bottom. Then you are guaranteed not to make a mistake and your dishes will be prepared properly.
- First, fill the tray with bottled or filtered water. Tap water contains many impurities that can form scale on the heating element. It can, of course, be purified by boiling and freezing, but it is better to immediately take purified water.
- Filling must be above the minimum and below the maximum levels. As a rule, the maximum water load is enough for 45 minutes of operation of the device. This time is enough to prepare most dishes. In some Tefal models, additional water can be added at any time, which somewhat simplifies the cooking process. And in a number of Philips steamers, a signal is given when it is necessary to add water.
- The next step is to install a tray to collect condensation from food and excess moisture. In Philips household appliances, a mesh is attached to the tray exactly in the middle. You can put aromatic herbs or spices here for smudging and adding a piquant aroma to the dishes you are preparing.
- At the last stage, add the food, set the timer and turn on the steamer. At the end of cooking, a signal will sound and the steamer will turn itself off. Models from such well-known brands as Tefal, Scarlett, Braun and Philips have the additional option of keeping warm for 20 minutes.
Now you know how to use a double boiler in theory. To check this in practice, let's familiarize ourselves with the rules for laying out raw vegetables, meat and other products that you will cook.
Principles of bookmarking products
Products are arranged according to the width and size of the grid. When laying them, a small distance is maintained. This is necessary so that steam can pass through the holes in the mesh.
Modern models of steamers are equipped with both one and several sections for storing vegetables and meat. Numerous grates allow you to simultaneously cook several types of food products.
Products are arranged according to the width and size of the grid.
Tefal steamer, instructions for use: simplicity and compactness
The Tefal steamer will amaze you with its simplicity and high quality. Simplicity in design is always better than a design with many bells and whistles. They are superfluous and, moreover, very often fail, and repairing them is more difficult and expensive.
The Tefal steamer has another advantage in that all its elements can be washed in the dishwasher, except, of course, the heating block.
Articles on the topic (click to view)
- Rating of the best steamers of 2022
- Photos of curtains for kitchen design 2022
- Choosing curtains for the kitchen
- Metal kitchen rack for appliances
- Instructions for the electric stove "classic plus"
- How to choose an electric stove with 4 burners and an oven for the kitchen
- Sofa in the bay window for the kitchen
Thanks to its well-thought-out design, absolutely everyone can use the steamer
The design of the steamer is very simple. How to use a double boiler? It’s not difficult to figure out what to do what; instructions for use are always at hand. You need to assemble all the elements correctly in the specified sequence. This is suitable for everyone, since there are only a few of them in the device.
Steamer device:
- Housing with heating block and on/off buttons;
- Water collection tanks;
- Two or three bowls (depending on the steamer model) for food;
- Lid.
First you need to fill in the water, then put the food in the bowls, and of course set the time according to the instructions for use. And you can calmly go relax or do other things.
The steamer will notify you when the cooking of your dishes is complete and will turn itself off. The Tefal steamer is very compact, you can always assemble it and put it in any desk drawer.
Steaming technique
Food in a double boiler is prepared according to a very simple principle. The liquid from the tank gradually evaporates, falling onto the upper tier where the products are located. In this way they are cooked and gradually cooked.
As a result, the dish retains maximum nutrients and vitamins. By the way, cooking with steam can also be done in a regular pan. However, this will require a lot of effort.
In a double boiler, the dish retains maximum nutrients and vitamins.
How to use a gas steamer
The instructions for using a gas steamer are very simple. You should take into account all the above manipulations and place the vessel on the gas burner.
However, it is not recommended to cook over high heat. Because high-quality steam treatment is carried out slowly. Especially if you decide to cook meat or fish, you won’t be able to get a tasty and healthy dish in a matter of minutes. It will take a certain amount of time prescribed in the recipe.
How to use a gas steamer.
Modern steamer: instructions for use
The simplest double boiler, one might say, was invented a long time ago. The easiest thing is to use a regular saucepan.
Expert opinion
Romanova Ksenia Petrovna
Interior design expert and fabric store manager
Pour water into the pan, bring it to a boil, place a colander on top and close the lid tightly. The water boils and the resulting steam cooks the food in a colander.
Instead of a colander, you can use a cotton cloth, stretching it tightly over the pan. This is what a Soviet steamer looked like.
A double boiler in its modern form is an improved model of the oldest and simplest invention. This once again confirms that everything ingenious is simple.
With the help of modern steamers you can easily prepare healthy food
Modern models of steamers work on the same principle. The type of steamer itself is of course different.
Manufacturers of steamers are constantly working to improve the design, quality, reliability and durability of steamers. When using a double boiler, you will appreciate its advantages.
Everyone will immediately notice the difference between products cooked on gas and steamed. A steamer is not the only kitchen appliance that helps in cooking.
There is also a multicooker. Some housewives choose a double boiler; others prefer a multicooker.
Advantages of a steamer:
- Easy to operate;
- Affordability;
- Multifunctionality;
- No electromagnetic radiation;
- The ability to cook without having cooking quotes.
Steamers offered by manufacturers come in different capacities, and the speed of cooking products depends on this. Steamer models differ from each other in the number of bowls. The volume and shape of the bowls are also different in different models. Depending on your goals and needs, choose a steamer of appropriate volume and power.
What not to do in a double boiler
Oddly enough, not all foods can be prepared using this kitchen utensil. What dishes are we talking about? We will consider this issue in detail below.
It is not recommended to cook pasta in such a device. They quickly boil and lose their shape. You'll end up eating lumps of dough for lunch or dinner. If you still decide to cook spaghetti in such a container, use a special additional container.
It is not advisable to cook legume products in steam cookers. They are too hard and require pre-cooking before cooking. Besides, is there any point in regularly adding water and cooking beans or chickpeas for three hours if in the end the dish is no different from what was cooked in a saucepan? There is no point in spending a lot of time on such simple dishes.
Dried mushrooms and fruits should also not be steamed. It is better to boil them in a saucepan with salted water.
It is not recommended to cook pasta in such a device.
What you should not cook in a double boiler
Heat treatment with steam is considered by nutritionists to be an excellent way of cooking - since the latter retains its beneficial properties. But there are some categories of products that are not recommended to be cooked in a double boiler:
- Pasta. They require boiling water, and the cooking temperature in the device reaches only +75...+85°C. The pasta will simply boil and turn into a sticky lump.
- Beans and peas. They take a long time to prepare and require pre-soaking and adding water. If you still risk putting the beans in a double boiler, it will take 3-4 hours to cook. You will have to constantly add liquid - the effort is clearly not worth it.
- Foods that require detoxification by cooking in large amounts of water. These include certain types of mushrooms and offal. They are boiled several times, changing the water periodically.
When cooking food in a steamer, do not add salt to it. It is better to do this already when serving the dish. If you still do not want to cook bland food, then you will have to use more salt than usual. This is because during convection of steam, together with condensate, part of it will go into the pan to collect excess liquid.
Steamer care
The top and inside surfaces of kitchen utensils should be washed regularly. Maintenance manipulations will extend the life of the device and maintain a presentable appearance.
After use, unplug the device from the mains if it is an electric type. All parts except the main ones can be washed under running water. The basic elements are wiped with a slightly dampened cloth. When cleaning, avoid using powdery substances and give preference to gel formulations.
The top and inside surfaces of kitchen utensils should be washed regularly.
After several cycles of operation, the heating element of the structure is often covered with a layer of plaque. The frequency with which scale appears depends on many factors, mainly the hardness of the water used.
We carry out cleaning as follows. Pour 100 ml of acetic acid into the liquid compartment and dilute it with 400 ml of water. The amount of solution should be such that it completely covers the heating element. Then we fix the tray and one grid. Then we start the steamer. After 20 minutes, traces of plaque should disappear.
If the stains still persist, repeat the procedure several times. We rinse the clean vessel with water to remove any remaining vinegar and eliminate the pungent odor.
How to care for the device
To ensure that the device lasts a long time, take proper care of it and clean it after each cooking. To do this, disconnect the device from the power supply, and wash all parts except the base by hand or in the dishwasher. It is advisable to use non-abrasive products to avoid scratching the plastic of the baskets.
The grated bottom of the steam baskets is easy to clean with a brush. Some models have removable bottoms - this simplifies the washing process. Simply wipe the base of the steamer with a damp cloth.
After several cycles of operation of the steamer, a layer of scale forms on the heating element. How often depends on the hardness of the water. Remove scale at the first sign of its appearance. After ten uses, pour 2 tbsp into the water tank. 5% vinegar and add water to the maximum level so that the solution completely covers the heating element.
Then replace the tray and one steam basket, close the appliance and turn it on for 10 minutes. If after this time a layer of scale is visible, extend the time to 15 minutes. Once the appliance and vinegar solution have cooled sufficiently, drain the vinegar and rinse the water tank several times.
This is interesting:
How to clean the inside of a microwave oven from grease stains at home.
Which wok is better to choose - types.
Which electric meat grinder is best for home use?
