Steaming is a gentle and healthy way to prepare food.
There are now many combination appliances available with this feature, which can also replace a conventional microwave and, in some cases, even an oven. But how does steam cooking work, and what are its benefits? We'll share some interesting facts about this cooking method.
In steam cooking, food is placed in a perforated cooking container and surrounded by hot steam, which cooks it evenly at temperatures of up to about 100 °C. Depending on the device, the temperature can sometimes be adjusted to the exact degree. In principle, many of the dishes you can cook in a pot can also be prepared using steam. These include vegetables ranging from asparagus to spinach, side dishes such as rice and potatoes, desserts such as yeast dumplings, and many types of fish and meat. Food is cooked gently without added fat—ideal for a health-conscious diet.
Steam cooking uses hot steam at approximately 100 °C to heat food. So the food isn't submerged in water; instead, it is steamed evenly in a moist environment. As a result, it loses few valuable nutrients, remains tender and juicy, and retains its flavor and color.
The simplest way to steam food is to use a steaming insert for a pot, which you place over simmering water. Metal versions are available for this purpose, and steam cooking is also possible using a bamboo basket. Similar accessories are also available for steaming in the oven, such as the traditional clay Römertopf or a roasting pan with a perforated insert and glass lid. With these two methods, you can only estimate the cooking temperature roughly, which makes it difficult to cook foods—especially delicate ones—to perfection.
You'll get much better results with a kitchen appliance designed specifically for this purpose. The classic steam cooker has multiple cooking levels and resembles an oven in appearance. It is available as a freestanding unit or as a built-in model, with a water tank or a direct water connection.
A steam oven is a combination appliance that offers all the standard baking functions as well as the option to steam cook. When comparing stand-alone steamers to steam ovens, factors such as space and cooking habits come into play.
A professional steam oven like the BORA X BO offers numerous advantages:
Innovative steam and convection technology, along with three-level cooking, combine with easy operation via a touchscreen display—for perfect results.
Steam cooking offers a number of advantages over traditional boiling:
Steam cooking is generally straightforward, but it does have a few unique features. Follow these tips to achieve the best results.
To ensure that the food is steamed to perfection, the correct cooking time is crucial. With the BORA X BO, you can skip the hassle of consulting cooking time charts for fish, meat, vegetables, and more—the automatic programs ensure the perfect settings. Of course, you can adjust and save the cooking time, temperature, and steam settings to suit your preferences.
When steam cooking, the food is placed in a perforated insert and is primarily surrounded by hot steam. Condensation may leave behind a little moisture. Steaming involves cooking food in a small amount of liquid or a little fat in a covered pot, so that it comes into contact with both steam and liquid at the same time. This often results in a more intense flavor due to the reduction.
The following mistakes are most likely to occur when steam cooking:
Pat the food dry before steaming, cut it into evenly sized pieces, and do not stack the pieces on top of each other. Make sure that the lid is closed properly so that condensation doesn't drip into the food unnecessarily. Let the food steam off briefly after cooking.
