What is steaming in cooking?

How do you steam food on a cooktop

Steam cooking on a cooktop typically begins by bringing a small amount of water to a boil in a pot or wok. Use about 1-2 inches of water, or more, depending on the size of your pot and how long you want to steam. You can arrange your food in the steamer before covering and lowering it into the pot; however, don’t let the bottom of the steamer touch the water while cooking.

Keep reading for more details on how to steam food on a cooktop.

1. Prep ingredients

You can steam a wide variety of foods, but it's important to prep your ingredients before adding them to the steamer. Cut any large ingredients, like meats or vegetables, into smaller, uniform pieces to help them cook through. If you are steaming vegetables, wash them prior to cutting them. Depending on the recipe you intend to follow, you may end up seasoning your ingredients or preparing them differently.

2. Ready your water

Steaming typically requires boiling water. The exact amount depends on the vessel you are using. You want enough liquid to build up to a boil without evaporating, but not so much that it submerges the contents of your steamer. Then, turn up the heat on your stove to bring your water to the right temperature.

3. Ready your steamer

While your water is heating, check to make sure your food is properly arranged in the steamer. Ingredients can go directly into a basket steamer, but if you’re using a tiered or bamboo basket, place ingredients on an appropriate shallow plate or parchment paper before putting it into your wok or pot.

Note: If you’re using a bamboo steamer, you may want to soak the bottom rim for about 30 minutes before cooktime to help prevent charring.

4. Cover and steam

Cover your steamer and place it over the water without submerging it. Cook until your ingredients have reached your desired texture or temperature.

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What foods can you steam?

Steam cooking is a versatile technique for preparing anything from fresh vegetables to meats, fish, rice, dumplings and more. While timing may change depending on the dish, steaming can help maintain the freshness and nutritional value of your ingredients without compromising on taste or texture.

If you’re looking for some ideas of foods to test out steaming, consider the following: 

• Green beans

• Carrots

• Broccoli

• Rice

• Fish

If you don’t have a steamer on hand, you may also be able to steam these foods in a microwave.

Tips for steaming vegetables

Steam cooking can be a low-effort, low-stakes way to meal prep, whether you have a proper steamer on hand or not. To help get you started, here are some tips for steaming fresh veggies in a way that can help you maintain their crunch while cooking.

• Chop before steaming. Cutting your veggies into same-size pieces can help them cook evenly.

• Watch your water. Too much water in the pot can saturate your dish and ruin your recipe. Too little water can cause a dry pot due to evaporation.

• Explore steaming alternatives. If you don’t have a proper steamer on hand, you can try steaming in your microwave. Some microwaves, such as this model from Whirlpool brand, have special Steam Cook settings to make this process even more convenient.

Steaming vs. boiling: What are the differences?

Steaming is a method that uses hot vapors from boiling water to cook food above the water, while boiling cooks food that has been completely submerged. Steaming is typically considered more nutritionally beneficial, as boiling may lead to more vitamin loss during the cooking process.

Steaming food has additional benefits, typically resulting in brighter colors and crunchier textures for ingredients like vegetables.

Explore Whirlpool^® Cooktops

Cooktops by Whirlpool brand are designed with the versatility you need when preparing your family’s meals. Choose between gas, electric or induction models, each with features to help you move through mealtime with convenience, speed and confidence. While some cooktop models feature Fifth Burners to give you more room to choose the right one for the dish, other models come with burners that allow you to quickly bring water to a boil. For example, select Whirlpool^® Induction Cooktops, like this one, feature Fast Boil, which can help the chef in your house boil 2 times faster than electric cooktops.¹