How to steam vegetables

Steaming vegetables retains nutrients because they are not in contact with a high volume of water. If you keep the veggies in their whole form, or cut them into big pieces, they are more nutritious because the fewer openings the less opportunity vitamins have to escape. If you’d like to ensure that you consume the most nutrients possible, you can drink the remaining water after you steam the vegetables - enjoy it warm or cool. Because of the health drawbacks of using microwaves, it is recommended that you use a stove-top steamer.

Other benefits of eating steamed vegetables include:

- improve digestion

- boost immune system

- facilitate detoxification

- lower the risk of high cholesterol

- low fat or fat free

Bring the water to a boil.

Add the vegetables.

Either place the steaming basket over the boiling water, making sure that the vegetables aren’t immersed, or place the veggies in the thin layer of water for the pan method.

If you’re cooking several different kinds of vegetables, add the ones that’ll take longer to cook first. For example, carrots take longer to steam than aspargus.

Let the vegetables steam until they’re cooked. The time it’ll take depends on a few things.

Most vegetables take at least 3 to 5 minutes to be done.

Dense vegetables like carrots will take longer.

The bigger the vegetable chunks, the longer they’ll take to cook.

How long you cook them depends on your preference. If you like them a bit crisp, it won’t take as long. But if you prefer them soft, it’ll take a bit longer.

Bigger whole vegetables can take a lot longer. New potatoes can be steamed 15 minutes, and artichokes can take up to 45 minutes!

Be sure to check the water level. If it gets too low, add some more water, hot if possible so that you don’t cool down your water.

Once the vegetables are as cooked as you like them, you can serve them as is, or add a little seasoning.

Pair steamed vegetables with a plant-based protein, like tofu, or a grain, like rice, for a delicious and healthy meal.

Source: health-heaven