Steam cooking tips and tricks

With conventional cooking, meat often dries out, browns or even burns. When using a steam oven, this is not a concern. Prefect steam action leaves the meat soft and very juicy while keeping all the vital ingredients and bringing out its pronounced flavour. Very little seasoning is required when cooking meat in a steam oven, and you can whip up a delicious and healthy meal without adding any fat. If you wish, you can quickly sear the meat in a pan prior to steam cooking, or grill it afterwards.

Cooking fish often requires complex procedures and yet the fish often dries out or falls apart before we even manage to serve it. Therefore, the steam oven is highly recommended for cooking fish as well. Fish in steam is cooked at temperatures between 75 and 85 °C, which allows it to retain all proteins and compact consistency. Fish will be wonderfully soft and juicy, and the special flavour will be fully preserved.

Principles of healthy and balanced diet place great emphasis on fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, the key ingredients are almost entirely lost in conventional cooking in water. In a steam oven, the food is not in direct contact with water, which leaves the great majority of vitamins and minerals intact, while fruit and vegetables keep their intensive colour and genuine flavour. Steam ovens can also be used for preserving or juicing.

These staples can be cooked in steam ovens by use of steam and addition of water. Cereals (rice, millet, polenta) and pulse (lentils, beans, peas) are cooked in the ratio of 1:1 with water; for more juicy results, the amount of water can be increased to a ratio of 1:1.25 and up to 1:1.50.  Cooking time is the same as in cooking on a hob; however, in a steam oven there is no danger of water boiling over. Pasta can also be easily cooked in steam ovens. It is, however, recommended to cover it with salted water. The cooking time indicated on the packaging should be observed. Stir the pasta halfway through the cooking process to prevent it from sticking or lumping together.

Steam oven will also please those with a sweet tooth as it is perfect for cooking dumplings, soufflés, stuffed apples, rice pudding, and many other sweet dishes. These types of food cook excellently in steam and since they are not in direct contact with water, they will not get sticky and will not fall apart. The dough will remain puffy and soft, and the fruit filling will maintain the wonderfully intense colour and authentic fruit flavour. Baking enthusiasts will also love the simple chocolate melting process which will never again be a problem.

Living on the fast lane, we often find ourselves in a hurry and sometimes there is simply no time to cook a balanced meat. This, however, does not mean we have to eat fast and unhealthy. Steam ovens prove very convenient in such situations as they allow even reheating or defrosting of food. The steam will gently reheat your ready-made meals without overcooking the food or drying it out. In addition, the oven allows even and gentle defrosting that will not change the consistency of the food and will preserve all of its nutrients.