Steamers for the gas stove: how to choose and use?

Cuisine of the peoples of the world is represented by various dishes, while often there are recipes that require the use of steamers. These devices allow you to prepare healthy food, keeping all the vitamins, essential oils and nutrients in products. On the market you can find models of different designs, ranging from the classic simple and ending with the universal high-rise. In this case, hosters are very popular steamers designed for use on a gas stove.

Steamer for gas stove is a modern and multifunctional kitchen appliance that provides fast cooking of products at high temperature.

Although the steam cooker is designed for boiling food on a gas stove, there is a list of foods that the appliance cannot cook properly. These include:

• mushrooms, they are tough;
• macaroni, after cooking of them it turns out at the exit a ball of dough;
• beans, they require a constant pouring of water for 4 hours.

In order to properly and quickly cook this or that dish, the hostess should have certain skills in the operation of the device and know how to combine, have products in it. Since this kitchen accessory is characterized by an average price level, everyone who wants to lead a healthy lifestyle can afford to purchase it.

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

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

As for the shortcomings, they are few. In such pans it is impossible to cook large pieces of meat, as they do not boil. In addition, the pair is not recommended to cook foods which require a large amount of water.

Steamers are produced in different 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 conventional saucepan, which is placed on a gas stove. Electric steamers look like an ordinary electric kettle, which is plugged in.
• Design. Gas appliances are distinguished by a simple design; electric ones provide for the presence of special heating elements that heat water and are powered from the electrical network.
• Autonomy. Cooking with electric steamers requires only a source of electricity and water, gas appliances need a stove.
• Functionality. The operation of electrical models is completely controlled by electronics: they have different cooking modes and a timer. It is much easier to set the desired temperature on electrical devices than to constantly regulate the gas supply on the stove.

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

Independently of the model range, steam cookers are produced according to the “steam bath” type and consist of a lid, a container and a perforated bowl designed for unfolding products. At the same time, steam boilers for gas can differ among themselves by the volume of the water tank (from 0.8 to 4.5 l) and diameter (from 13 to 24 cm). The most common types can be combined into one list.

• Saucepan-double boiler, consisting of several containers. This model is convenient to use, as it allows you to simultaneously cook several dishes. Externally, the steam structure has the appearance of a turret, assembled from small pots with handles. The bottom of the bottom pan is solid, and the rest is perforated. In such a double boiler you can put four tiers.

• Tie steamer. The main feature of this type of saucepans is that they provide free access to each set of lined products. For example, to take out food from the second tier, it is enough to hold on to the handles of the third tier and remove the top two saucepans. Disassemble the entire structure is not necessary.

• Steamer-mantovarka with special inserts. This model first appeared in Japan, where it was used to cook rice cakes. A little later, this device was used for cooking manta in Buryatia. This kitchen accessory is a high pan, inside which is installed the design of pallets. This model is folding, which allows you to quickly lay tier by tier, the cover 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, utyatnits and hiking bowlers. As for the material of manufacture, the pan can be steel, iron and aluminum.

Today the market is represented by a chic assortment of steam boilers for gas. They are produced by both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Here is a list of the most popular models of cooking utensils designed for cooking a couple.

• Steamer frying pan (wok) "The Power of Granite". The product has inclined edges and a removable grille. This device is perfect for cooking on any type of stove, as it is equipped with a magnetic inductor. In addition, on such a double boiler you can cook dishes with minimal use of fat, its surface is coated with Granitex non-stick coating.

• A set of steamer saucepans "Dobrynya". Consists of three containers with perforated bottom, while the volume of the lowest saucepan is 3.5 liters. She is the most running.

• Enamelled double boiler "Provence". Differs in high quality and original design. The pot has a delicate floral ornament, complete with a perforated easily removable liner and a glass lid.

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

Steamers for the gas stove are represented in a huge variety of models, so making the right choice in favor of a product is difficult. In order for a kitchen accessory to last for a long period of time, it is necessary to take certain parameters into account before choosing it.

• Dimensions. The diameter of the double boiler directly depends on the diameter of the burners on the gas stove. In the case when a large burner is provided in the construction of the stove, it is advisable to buy pots with a maximum diameter and lay out products in it in one layer. Each model indicates the upper and lower diameter of the product.
• Volume Most often, manufacturers indicate in liters only the total volume of all pans, there are models that have known capacity of all containers.
• The material of manufacture. Since the double boilers are bulky, high, and have several tiers, they are usually made of light metals (aluminum sheet or stainless steel) for convenient use. Such products heat up quickly, and the water poured into the lower tank instantly boils. In addition, aluminum is not afraid of sudden temperature changes and is resistant to corrosion. Well-proven and models with a protective anodized layer, they serve a long time. Stainless steel products are considered to be an excellent choice, since this material is inert when interacting with products, it does not absorb fat and odors.
• Bottom thickness. For gas stoves, it is best to purchase steamers with a not very thin and even bottom. Thus, the heat will be evenly distributed over the entire surface of the lower container and ensure fast cooking of the products to steam.

To make steaming safe, Install the instrument correctly and follow important operating guidelines.

• The surface of the gas stove on which it is planned to put the device should not be tilted. In the presence of irregularities may shift products, which will adversely affect their preparation.
• It is undesirable to install a double boiler next to other devices. In this case, the kitchen appliances can heat up and quickly fail. It is also impossible to allow the device to hang from the working side of the plate on the tabletop. This is especially dangerous if there are children in the house. Small fidgets can catch a double boiler and pull it along. It is fraught with burns.
• Since in the process of cooking in the double boiler a lot of wet steam is emitted, it is not recommended to place it under the wall cabinets. If this is neglected, then the deformation will appear on the kitchen set. This also applies to the installation of the device on the stove next to the walls pasted with wallpaper. Decorative trim will peel off.

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

• water poured into the bottom pan should not boil;
• products placed on the rack must not touch water.

Gradually steaming is as follows.

• First of all, in the lower tank to the specified mark, pour water. However, many housewives poured hot water at once, bringing it to a boil on gas. It is worth noting that in some recipes dishes preheating of water is not provided.
• Then it is necessary to install a perforated tier in the pan and place the products on it loosely in one layer. Thus, steam will circulate freely and move upwards. If there is a need, then from above you can additionally install the second tier and fill it with similar products.
• After that, the uppermost container is covered with a lid, which is sold in a set to the double boiler. For a short time you need to add heat, thanks to this steam will process the contents faster. Next, the gas burner twist, reducing the intensity of the heating plate. Boiling should be weak, but at the same time sufficient for the formation of hot steam. The speed of cooking depends on the ingredients. For example, vegetables are cooked for no more than 20 minutes, and meat takes 40 to 50 minutes.

In the case when steaming is done by the mistress for the first time, readiness of dishes can be determined by focusing on recipes or use the probe (it shows the temperature inside the product). When preparing several dishes, it is necessary to stack products that require long cooking on the lowest tier.

Review the steam cooker, see the following video.