WARNING:
Do not let the pan run dry. The water level in the base pot must be checked regularly.
Refill water as needed.
The bottom pan is filled with water as usual and vegetables placed in the steamer insert.
Steam over high heat and the vegetable will cook quickly. For instance, a head of
cauliflower, whole carrots, whole potatoes or parsnips will be tender in twenty minutes.
To check for tenderness pierce with a toothpick.
Most vegetables can be cooked in the steamer, and a combination may be cooked together
at one time. Try combining 3-4 kinds of root vegetables and a meat at the same time.
STEAMING VEGETABLES
STEAM BLANCHING VEGETABLES FOR FREEZING
Prior to freezing, blanching is neccessary to stop the enzyme action in produce. Enzyme
action brings about off flavors and nutritional losses. There are two methods of blanching;
boiling and steaming. Steam blanching takes about 1 minute longer. Most vegetables may
be steam blanched except for leafy ones such as spinach and kale, which must be boiled.
Vegetables that are watery like squash and sweet corn lose flavor if boiled, and it is best to
steam blanch them.
Select vegetables and cut into uniform pieces. Place them, not more than one pound, in
steamer insert. Put insert on pot when water is at a rolling boil, then cover and time. Shake
the insert once or twice to move vegetables around. When finished, immerse steamer
insert immediately into ice water to stop the cooking, drain well, seal, and freeze.
Asparagus, small to large stalks 2 inch lengths 3-5 minutes
Beans, Lima Shelled 3-5 minutes
Beans, shell, green Shelled 2 minutes
Beans, snap green or wax 1 inch length 4 minutes
Broccoli Wash, 1-1/2" diam. 5 minutes
Brussel sprouts Small - large 4-6 minutes
Cauliflower 1 inch pieces 4 minutes
Corn whole kernel Cut off kernels 5 minutes
after blanching
Corn-on-the-cob Husk, wash 8-11 minutes
Mushrooms Dip in 1 tsp lemon 3-5 minutes
juice and 1 pint water
Peas, green Remove from pod 2-1/2 to 3 minutes
Peppers, green or red Wash, deseed, dice 2 minutes
Squash, summer, winter Deseed & cut up 10 minutes
14 15
WARNING:
Do not let the pan run dry. The water level in the base pot must be checked regularly.
Refill water as needed.
Pumpkin Seeds
Remove fresh pumpkin seeds from pumpkin, clean, and wash. Place in steamer insert and
steam for 30 minutes. Spread seeds on cookie sheet and pour over enough vegetable oil
or melted butter to coat completely. Sprinkle with salt. Bake at 300ºF for 30 minutes.
Steamed Pumpkin - Recycling your Jack-O-Lantern
Wash and clean the pumpkin well, removing any wax or black spots. Cut into chunks and
place into steamer insert. Steam for 30 minutes or until tender. Put through food mill
which screens out the tough skin and presses just the flesh through. You may, if you
wish, peel the pumpkin first, then steam, and process the flesh in the blender.
Steamed Unground Wheat - (Making Bulgar)
Place 6 to 8 cups unground wheat in the steamer insert. Steam over gentle heat for 4
hours. Cool, then place wheat on cookie sheet and toast in 300ºF oven stirring
occasionally until browned, about 2 hours. Use as you would regular bulgur wheat.
STEAMING PUDDINGS
A favorite for holiday puddings, fruitcakes, and brown bread. Choose your favorite recipe
and prepare as usual, but place it in the steamer insert, steaming it the same length of time
as directed in your recipe.
Steamed English Pudding
1 cup sifted all purpose flour 2 cups ground suet
1 teaspoon each; baking soda, salt, and cinnamon 1 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 3 eggs beaten
3/4 teaspoon mace 6 tablespoons currant jelly
1-1/2 cups each cut raisins and currants 1/4 cup fruit juice or brandy
3/4 cups each finely cut citron,
1-1/2 cups coarse soft bread crumbs
candied orange and lemon peel
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Sift flour, baking soda, salt and spices together. Mix in raisins, currants, citron, orange and
lemon peel, walnuts and bread crumbs. Mix together suet, sugar, eggs, jelly and fruit juice
and blend into fruit mixture, stirring well. Pour into greased 2 quart mold. Steam over
continuously boiling water for 6 hours. Remove from mold, soak in brandy, wrap well and
age at least 4 weeks. Serve with Hard Sauce.
Hard Sauce
Cream 1/2 cup butter until soft and gradually beat in 1-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar and
2 teaspoons vanilla until light and fluffy.