by Jai Li

Created on: January 12, 2009   Last Updated: December 20, 2011

There exists nothing tastier and healthier for you than a plate of fresh streamed vegetables, either prepared as a side or prepped up with your favorite dish, steamed vegetables are a great choice for food.

Cooking steamed vegetables has many great benefits. When they are steamed, vegetables retain more of their flavor, the ample nutrients are saved, the fiber is kept intact and the texture of the vegetables is smoother.

The great thing about steaming is that it can take up to about half the normal time than if you were just simply boiling the vegetables. Steaming usually occurs in a steel steamer basket but other kinds of baskets can be used.

Routinely, a bamboo basket was used for steaming and these same baskets can be bought today at many discount and food stores.

What makes bamboo baskets excellent for steaming is that you can cook the vegetables in layers, at the same time. If you choose to, you can steam certain kinds of vegetables whole.

Baby green beans, small broccoli, small potatoes, and spinach are good examples of these vegetables.

Other kinds of veggies should be sliced and diced before steaming. They are sure to cook faster, have more flavor and retain more nutrients.

It is important that you slice all veggies to a proportional dimension and cook the denser ones first. The best cooking method for steaming vegetables are, first, choose the vegetables that you want to steam. You should then wash them, slice and dice and set them aside for later use.

Secondly, get your steamer basket then you should fill a saucepan with water. Place your stove heat high so that the water will reach a boiling temperature. Place the steamer basket over saucepan to begin steaming.

Third, you should gather your denser vegetables such as your carrots and potatoes and place them inside the basket. Be sure to let it sit and do not open it because the more steam that is released the longer it will take to cook.

You will be able to tell when the vegetables are done due to their color or texture. Leafy greens will turn a bright green in color, others will become soft and you can use a simple fork for the texture and taste testing. When the vegetables are done, remove the steamer basket and enjoy.

You can eat them just as they are or you can add them to other foods to improve taste and increase flavor. Blending steamed vegetables with rotini, rice, and fish will absolutely be a flavorful and impressive entree for the dinner table.

You can have them as a side and mask them with different kinds of dressings and make the perfect salad or nutritional snack for the kids.. Whatever you do though, steamed vegetables are sure to be a tasty pleasure on anyone's menu and a premier at the banquet table.

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