How to use a steamer

Using a steamer when cooking is an essential aspect of proper nutrition. It will help you not only get healthy food by not using frying, but also retain as much vitamins and other beneficial substances as possible.

It is not difficult to learn how to use a double boiler, but it, like any other household appliance, has its own operating requirements, failure to comply with which can lead to both a tasteless dish and damage to the device itself.

Features of working with a double boiler

A double boiler is a simple device, but extremely unsafe. Food is cooked in it at a temperature of about one hundred degrees, so if used carelessly, the slightest contact with steam will lead to burns.

Carefully!

Cooking food in a double boiler occurs at high temperatures. Please use caution.

To ensure safe operation, it is necessary to install the steamer correctly and comply with a number of requirements when using it:

• 1) The surface on which the device is placed must be flat and not sloped.Otherwise, it is possible that the products will be displaced and, as a result, partially cooked, as well as uneven distribution of water for the formation of steam, which can lead to partial overheating of the heating element and failure of the entire device.
• 2) It is not recommended to install the steamer near the stove and sink. In the first case, it may overheat, which can disrupt the operation of the device and cause other malfunctions. The proximity of a sink should be avoided for the same reason as with all household appliances: water should not come into contact with the steamer during operation from the outside - this can lead to a short circuit.
• 3) The appliance wires should not hang over the working side of the countertop. The presence of children does not affect this point; you yourself can accidentally get caught on them and pull the device along with you. If it falls while it is turned on, you can expect damage to food, furniture and floors, breakage of the device and numerous burns. Removing the wires from the wall will not take much time, but you can significantly secure the operation of the device.
• 4) During operation, the steamer can emit a large amount of wet steam, so when installing it, pay attention to what is located above it: if there are wall cabinets on top, then it is better to move the device to another place, since frequent use will lead to inevitable deformation of the upper part kitchen set. For the same reason, you should not lean the steamer against the walls - this may lead to peeling of the wallpaper.

Important!

Do not neglect reading the instructions - only it contains detailed nuances of operating a specific model.

How to use a steamer correctly

Before using any household appliance, make sure that it and its wires are intact. If there are defects, you should not take risks and turn on the steamer - it is better to immediately contact a specialist. If the device is in excellent condition, you can safely start cooking.

Each steamer comes with instructions for its use. Don’t neglect reading it: it will help you avoid unpleasant incidents, as well as enrich your collection of recipes.

The use of different companies and models has some differences, but they mainly relate to the available modes and settings. Otherwise, they work according to the general principle.

How to pour water into a steamer

Water is poured into the pan when it is turned off. Preference should be given to bottled or filtered water. You can also use distillate from a pharmacy, but a double boiler consumes a lot of water, and this will significantly affect your expenses. Tap water, due to its hardness, leaves scale on the device, which must be removed regularly for proper operation.

Reference!

You can find out the hardness of water by purchasing a special test. When the resulting value is 2–3, tap water is suitable for use in a steamer.

Some models are equipped with a function for adding water during operation of the unit. A sound signal indicates the need for this action. When the water level is critical, most steamers automatically turn off, however, this fuse is not available in older and very cheap models. If you have one of these devices and you are not yet fully comfortable with it, it is better not to leave the device running unattended.

How to load food into a steamer

Temperature distribution and convection in a double boiler have a number of features that you should definitely pay attention to when preparing food.

The device, as a rule, has several levels of tiers. In the upper part the food cooks most quickly due to the high temperature, in the lower part it cooks more slowly. If you plan to overload the contents during work, then on the top tier you need to place what is cooked the fastest. In this case, you will just need to remove one tier.

If it is necessary to cook food at the same time, the products should be placed so that those requiring more cooking time are at the top, which will be shortened due to the high temperature, and at the bottom, on the contrary, the fastest ones are.

Convection of odors works on the opposite principle: they are transferred from below to the top. This is worth paying attention to when arranging the tiers. In some cases, instilling incompatible odors should be avoided, however, this can be played to advantage: for example, placing meat under potatoes, and then the latter will acquire its unique aroma as if simultaneously baked in the oven.

Important!

When placing tiers, do not forget about the drainage of juices. Rare models are equipped with special outflows, so you should avoid, for example, placing meat over a sweet pie.

Some foods should be wrapped in foil for better cooking. These usually include poultry and fish, so that they are cooked in their own juices. Covering with foil is also used when preparing pies - this helps protect them from condensation.

How to start a double boiler: step-by-step instructions

The general activation instructions are simple and do not require much effort other than attentiveness.As a rule, it includes the following list of actions:

1. pouring water into the pan (above the minimum, but below the maximum level - this is enough for 30–40 minutes of operation of the device);
2. installation of a container for collecting condensate (if available);
3. distribution of products by tiers;
4. setting operating hours;
5. inclusion.

Important!

Do not forget that in some cases additional water addition is required during operation.

How to use a gas steamer

A gas steamer is a multi-tiered pan. Despite the name, it can also be used on electric stoves. The cost of such steamers is significantly lower than its relatives.

Water is poured to the very bottom, and food is laid out on the tiers on top. This is very similar to conventional ones, however, in the case of gas ones there are some differences in operation:

• the water level should be below the food;
• water boils away much faster;
• Not suitable for all products.

Significant disadvantages of such pans are low efficiency compared to their electric counterparts, smaller working volume and complexity in combining products that differ in time and taste.

What not to do in a double boiler

Despite its versatility, the steamer cannot cook some foods properly. These include:

• pasta: the end result is an unappetizing lump of dough;
• mushrooms: will be too tough;
• legumes: constant addition of water is required for 3-4 hours.

A steamer has made life much easier for many housewives. Cooking in it is easy and fast, especially when mastering the skill of correctly combining and arranging products.The device is not prohibitively expensive, so anyone who wants to eat properly can afford it.