Steam cooking is a technique that has been widely used for centuries in the East and in Africa. Only in recent years have Western countries also been discovering the many benefits of this healthy and tasty alternative to cooking food in boiling water. In particular, it is recommended for all those who want to bring to the table dishes that are not only delicious but also made with ingredients that preserve their original taste and, above all, all their organoleptic properties. This is because steam cooking keeps the amount of vitamins and minerals naturally present in foods almost unchanged while using a smaller amount of fats and condiments. So let's see together how steam cooking works and what its "appetizing" benefits are.

Steam Cooking: Benefits and Advantages

Before we discover how to steam perfectly and very simply, we must first clarify how steam cooking works, and especially how many and what its advantages and benefits are for our well-being—and for our palate! As for the first point, steam cooking means avoiding direct contact between the water and the food to be cooked, thanks to a technique that is especially appreciated by Eastern cultures. Having also arrived here, where we have been able to treasure the Chinese and Japanese gastronomic tradition, it uses the principle of convection, which is the transmission of heat that occurs through the movement of a gas—namely, steam—to the heating of a colder body.

You will then understand that, unlike classic boiling, it is the steam itself that acts on the heating process, thanks to the fact that it contains more energy than boiling water. The food is then cooked slowly and uniformly, with a moist and ventilated process that is not too aggressive, so as to preserve the characteristics of the food. Steam cooking is healthy because it allows you to preserve all the nutritional properties of foods, it's fast because it requires very little time, and it's eco-friendly because it is respectful of the environment. Let's analyze its advantages in detail.

Healthier Foods

As already mentioned, with steam cooking, foods best preserve their properties, considering that they do not come into direct contact with water. In this way, we can naturally assimilate all the water-soluble vitamins, antioxidant substances, and minerals present and get the maximum psycho-physical benefit from them. Since there is no immersion, all foods maintain a richer and more genuine flavor, free of fats and oils, and are well suited to the particular needs of low-calorie diets.

Also recommended by the WHO, steam cooking decreases inflammation and the subsequent feeling of heaviness, which is related to foods rich in fat. Since steamed foods have fewer calories and do not contain fatty acids that are harmful to the body, the digestion process will be more regular. In addition, it is also able to prevent the risks determined by the formation of those substances that could be difficult or harmful to digest, which are typical of high-temperature cooking.

Less Cooking Time

Steam cooking times are definitely short, especially if you use an electric steamer, which allows us to save time and energy. In addition, thanks to the presence of multiple cooking baskets, we can prepare several dishes at the same time using the same steam released during the cooking process. For example, it will take just 15 minutes to bring most vegetables to the table, to be seasoned as desired when raw, and only 20 for the white rice to accompany them.

Less Waste

Another advantage of using steam to cook food is the economic one. By opting for this type of cooking as a substitute for traditional ones, we will certainly save on electricity, which benefits our bill and the environment. Not to mention that we will avoid waste by eating a delicious dish that requires very few ingredients: just water and salt. 

How to Steam Many Different Foods with Ariete

Steam cooking is suitable for almost all foods of vegetable origin, such as vegetables, legumes, and rice. Meat is also suitable for this widespread technique from the East, as are fish with delicate white meat, and various types of crustaceans. To cook all these ingredients every day and in a short time, Ariete experts offer the Healthy System electric steamer, with which you can experiment with new and tasty dishes with few calories, and always stay in shape.

In just 40 seconds, the steam will be ready for cooking, which takes place in the 3 included baskets—with which you can cook many dishes simultaneously. We will also have a handy container for cooking rice with steam, perfect for preparing sushi or traditional Asian dishes. If that's not enough, the steamer's tank is easy to fill even during operation, with the water level always visible.