Gas stove steamers: how to choose and use?

The cuisine of the peoples of the world is represented by various dishes, and there are often recipes that require the use of steamers. These devices allow you to cook healthy food, preserving all vitamins, essential oils and nutrients in the products. On the market, you can find models of different designs, ranging from classic simple ones to universal multi-storey ones. At the same time, steamers designed for use on a gas stove are very popular among hostesses.

The gas stove steamer is a modern and versatile kitchen appliance that cooks food quickly at high temperatures.

Although the steamer is designed to cook food on a gas stove, there is a list of foods that the appliance cannot cook properly. These include:

• mushrooms, they are tough;
• pasta, after boiling, a lump from the dough is obtained at the exit;
• legumes, they require constant water addition for 4 hours.

In order to properly and quickly prepare a particular dish, the hostess must have certain skills in operating the device and know how to combine, arrange products in it... Since this kitchen accessory is characterized by an average price level, everyone who wants to lead a healthy lifestyle can afford it.

Today there are many types of thermal food preparation: smoking, baking, frying, stewing and boiling. At the same time, steam cooking is especially popular with housewives, during which the products do not lose their natural color and taste. The advantages of steamers also include the ability to cook various dishes with minimal use of oil.

This is especially important for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract. They need a special diet, and with gas steamers, you can quickly cook meatballs, fish cakes, vegetable stews, scrambled eggs and pudding.

As for the shortcomings, there are not many of them. Large cuts of meat cannot be cooked in such pots, as they are not boiled. In addition, it is not recommended to steam food, which require a large volume of water.

Steam cookers are available in various types, on sale you can find electric models and kitchen appliances designed for use on gas. They differ not only in price, but also in other parameters.

• Appearance. Appliances for use on gas are similar to a regular saucepan placed on a gas stove. Electric steamers, on the other hand, resemble an ordinary electric kettle, which is plugged into a power outlet.
• Design. Gas appliances have a simple design; electric ones provide for the presence of special heating elements that heat water and are powered from the electrical network.
• Autonomy. Electric steamers only need a source of electricity and water to cook food; gas appliances need a stove.
• Functionality. The operation of electric models is completely controlled by electronics: they have different cooking modes and a timer. Setting the required temperature on electrical devices is much easier than constantly adjusting the gas supply on the stove.

Electric steamers are most often purchased for cooking if there is no gas stove in the house. In addition, they can be used in summer cottages during summer harvesting.

Steamers, regardless of the model range, are produced as a "steam bath" and consist of a lid, a container and a perforated bowl designed for laying out food. At the same time, gas steamers may differ in the volume of the water tank (from 0.8 to 4.5 liters) and in diameter (from 13 to 24 cm). The most common types can be combined into one list.

• A steamer pot consisting of several containers. This model is easy to use, as it allows you to cook several dishes at the same time. Externally, the steam structure looks like a turret assembled from small pots with handles. The bottom of the lower pan is solid, and the rest are perforated. In such a double boiler, you can lay out four tiers.

• Multi-deck steamer. The main feature of this type of pots is that they provide free access to each laid out row of products. For example, to remove food from the second tier, it is enough to hold onto the handles of the third tier and take out the two upper saucepans. It is not necessary to disassemble the entire structure.

• Steamer-cooker with special inserts. A similar model first appeared in Japan, where it was used to prepare rice cakes. A little later, this device found application in cooking manti in Buryatia.This kitchen accessory is a tall pan with a pallet structure inside. Such a model is foldable, which allows you to quickly lay tier after tier, a lid is covered from above, it is dense and prevents steam from escaping.

In addition to the above types of steamers, on sale you can find models in the form of cauldrons, ducklings and hiking pots. As for the material of manufacture, the pan can be steel, iron and aluminum.

Today the market is represented by a chic assortment of gas steamers. They are produced by both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Here is a list of the most popular steamed kitchen utensils.

• Steamer-frying pan (wok) "Power of Granite"... The product has slanted edges and a removable grill. This appliance is perfect for cooking food on any type of stove, as it is equipped with a magnetic inductor. In addition, this steamer can be used to cook food with a minimum use of fat, its surface is covered with Granitex non-stick coating.

• A set of Dobrynya steaming pots. Consists of three containers with perforated bottom, while the volume of the lowest saucepan is 3.5 liters. She is the most popular.

• Enamelled steamer "Provence". Differs in high quality and original design. The pan has a delicate floral ornament, is completed with an easily removable perforated insert and a glass lid.

• Total Kitchen Goods. This model was presented by Japanese manufacturers, so it is made of anodized aluminum in an oriental style. The steamer is multifunctional and is equipped with two inserts.

Steam cookers for a gas stove are presented in a huge variety of models, so making the right choice in favor of one or another product is difficult. In order for a kitchen accessory to reliably serve for a long time, certain parameters must be taken into account before choosing it.

• Dimensions. The diameter of the steamer directly depends on the diameter of the burners on the gas stove. In the event that a large burner is provided in the design of the stove, it is advisable to buy pots with a maximum diameter and lay out the products in it in one layer. The upper and lower diameters of the product are indicated on each model.
• Volume. Most often, manufacturers indicate in liters only the total volume of all pots, there are models for which the capacity of all containers is known.
• Manufacturing material. Because steamers are bulky, tall and have multiple tiers, they are typically made of light metals (aluminum or stainless steel) for easy handling. Such products quickly heat up, and the water poured into the lower container instantly boils. In addition, aluminum is not afraid of sudden temperature changes and is resistant to corrosion. Models with a protective anodized layer have also proven themselves well; they serve for a long time. Stainless steel products are also considered an excellent choice, since this material is inert when interacting with food, does not absorb grease and odors.
• Bottom thickness... For gas stoves, it is best to purchase steamers with a not very thin and flat bottom. In this way, the heat will be evenly distributed over the entire surface of the lower container and ensure fast steam cooking.

To make steaming food safe, install the appliance correctly and follow important operating instructions.

• The surface of the gas stove on which the device is planned to be placed must not have a slope. If there are irregularities, food may be displaced and will adversely affect cooking.
• It is undesirable to install the steamer next to other appliances. In this case, kitchen appliances can become hot and quickly fail. Also, the device must not be allowed to hang from the working side of the stove on the tabletop. This is especially dangerous if there are children in the house. Little fidgets can snag on the steamer and pull it along. This is fraught with burns.
• Since a lot of humid steam is generated during cooking in the steamer, it is not recommended to place it under wall cabinets. If this is neglected, then deformation will appear on the kitchen set. This also applies to installing the device on the stove next to the walls covered with wallpaper. The decorative finish will flake off.

As for the very process of cooking in a double boiler, it requires the following rules:

• the water poured into the lower pan should not boil over;
• food placed on the wire shelf must not touch the water.

Step by step steaming is as follows.

• First of all, you need to pour water into the lower container up to the indicated mark. At the same time, many housewives immediately pour hot water, bringing it to a boil on gas. It is worth noting that in some recipes, water preheating is not provided.
• Then you should install a perforated tier in the pan and place the food loosely on it in one layer. Thus, the steam will circulate freely and move upward. If necessary, you can additionally install a second tier on top and fill it with similar products.
• After that, the topmost container is covered with a lid, which is sold in a set for a double boiler. Heat must be added for a short time so the steam will process the contents faster. Further, the gas burner is tightened, reducing the heating intensity of the stove. Boiling should be low, but still sufficient to generate hot steam. Cooking speed depends on the ingredients. For example, vegetables take no more than 20 minutes to cook, while meat takes 40 to 50 minutes.

In the event that steam cooking is carried out by the hostess for the first time, the readiness of dishes can be determined based on recipes or using a temperature probe (it shows the temperature inside the product). When preparing several dishes, it is necessary to put those products that require long-term cooking on the lowest tier.

For an overview of the steamer pan, see the next video.