Instructions for using a double boiler: safety and cooking rules

Adherents of a healthy diet are constantly looking for dietary recipes and devices with which they can prepare low-calorie food. Most manufacturers of household appliances have long taken note of such consumer preferences and began to produce corresponding products. Some buyers still don't know how to use a steamer. However, do not rush to get upset...

Before using the steamer, you need to read the instructions.

Let's consider the principle of operation of steamers, nuances and limitations of use. We will also get acquainted with the methods of cleaning such structures.

Operating principle

For those who want to understand how to cook in a double boiler, the principle of its operation will be surprisingly simple. The main task of the device is to process products with steam.

The cooking process occurs as follows: vegetables or meat are placed in a special grill, which is placed inside the product. And then, under the influence of steam flows emanating from the lower part of the structure, the product begins to cook. At the same time, the dish retains all its beneficial properties.

The main task of the device is to process products with steam.

Preparing for work

Before you start using the steamer, you need to carry out several manipulations. A certain amount should be poured into the tank of the device - the first and most important rule.

The amount of water should be determined in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Only then can you place food on the grid.

Disassemble the steamer and pour water into the water tank.

What is a steamer pan

Today it has become much easier for modern housewives to prepare healthy food. The steamer pan is designed to save time; it allows you to cook several dishes at the same time. However, if you want to cook some healthy dish for your family at the dacha, then you will not be able to cook dinner in a double boiler. In this case, a steamer pan will come in handy. The essence of cooking will be the same, but you can cook dinner on gas.

Steamers-pans for stoves that run on gas

Cooking on a gas stove in a double boiler is quite easy. Such dishes are made of several tiers. At the bottom, you can put food on the mesh. Some of them can be cooked faster, so they are placed on top. Other products can be placed on the lower tiers. When the water begins to boil, steam rises and is used to cook food. Using such utensils you can save money; the cooking time does not differ from the cooking time in electric steamers.

Gas costs much less than electricity. Therefore, the savings here are significant. You can also purchase a steamer insert for the pan. This is necessary in cases where you rarely cook. With this device you can cook steamed dishes. This device is plates on legs. You need to add water to the pan and place these plates there. Such stands have only one tier, but if you cook rarely, then this type of device will suit you.

Steamer pans. How to use them

In order to use such utensils, it is enough to know a few basic rules. They will help you significantly extend the life of such cookware. The most important thing is to keep the water level under control. It should not touch the products. First, pour water into the bowl and wait for it to boil. After this, you can leave the food on the grill. If you see that there is not enough water, add a little, while turning on the gas. A very important point in steaming food is that you should not allow the water to completely evaporate. When food is cooked, it will inevitably release liquid. And after the water boils away, this liquid can burn. Therefore, make sure that the water does not evaporate. Whether you want to cook sausages, you need to remember that steam does not destroy all the harmful microflora of the product. It is better to boil such products in water.

Steamer pan. How to choose it correctly?

If you want to choose a steamer pan and don’t know what criteria to use, consult with the store salesperson. Experienced specialists in this field will tell you what the differences are between the models and what companies there are that produce this cookware. You will be able to weigh the pros and cons.

However, it is better to pay attention only to trusted manufacturing companies. The steamer insert or steamer pan should be made of very high quality material. It must be food grade steel. If you rarely use the steamer, two tiers will be enough for you. There is also no need to take multi-tiered dishes if you are cooking only for a child. If you have a large family, then you need to choose a three-tier or 5-tier model. If you cook very rarely, you can buy aluminum cookware. However, in any case, stainless steel cookware is always better.

How does a steamer pan work for a gas stove?

This type of cookware works quite simply. First you need to pour water into it, about 1 liter. Filtered water is usually used to avoid signs of scale and harmful impurities. After this, insert the insert so that the water does not touch it. You need to place food on the grill. It can be manti, fish, meat, vegetables. Food must be washed and cooked before being placed on the grill. Use different films. It is also acceptable to use foil and parchment. This is necessary in order to preserve the juice of the products.

A few basic cooking points

After you have placed the food together, you need to make sure that access to hot steam is not blocked. You can cover the food being prepared with foil or paper to prevent condensation from dripping onto it. Regulate the flame under the pan and the temperature during cooking. After all, cooking food requires different times and different temperatures. It matters a lot what type of food you cook. Meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, soups, compotes, and poultry require different water temperatures. The cooking time of the dishes depends on their weight.

How long does it take to cook in this pan?

Typically, any dish takes from 20 to 40 minutes to prepare. You just need to put the steamer on the flame and wait until the water boils. At the same time, you can start preparing food on the grids. Then the tiers need to be placed in a bowl of boiling water. This way the food will begin to cook faster. After this, the fire must be reduced. You can adjust the temperature and cooking duration. This way, you don’t need to buy an expensive steamer or appliances that cook food using electricity. A steamer pan that cooks on gas will save you money, you will be able to not depend on electricity. This way you can cook in country houses and cottages. It is enough that there is gas in the house.

Related materials:

Steamers and their advantages Most likely, you know a lot of people who have a large number of different household appliances in their kitchen. At first glance, it may seem that... What is a blender-steamer? In the modern world, previously unknown technological devices regularly appear that greatly simplify the life of a housewife. Quite... Built-in steamer: types and features The modern market of household appliances is overflowing with all kinds of technological devices, which in their own way have become revolutionary and innovative. ... Steamer or multicooker: which is better? Modern technology gives us the opportunity to spend much less time preparing food. That is why many housewives are trying to purchase... Which steamers are good? In modern life, food occupies a special position. The pace of life forces the use of special devices that speed up food preparation...

Correctly fill the steamer tank

To properly assemble and prepare the structure for use, you don’t have to read a bunch of tips and watch video tutorials. The preparation process is simple. Moreover, it takes no more than an hour. The main thing is to take into account a few recommendations from experienced users:

1. Take purified water and pour it into a special tank. Using clean water will protect the vessels from salt deposits and other contaminants.
2. To add liquid, first read the instructions on the tray. Emphasize that the amount of water should reach the lower mark, but not exceed the level of the highest point. New models are equipped with a top-up function, which older models cannot boast of.
3. The next step is to install a tray to collect excess moisture.
4. After you have assembled the main part of the product, you can add food, set the timer and begin the cooking process.
5. At the end of the cooking process, the device will notify you with a sound signal.

Some modern models have a high level of thermal conductivity. However, it is not recommended to abuse this feature.

At the end of the cooking process, the device will notify you with a bell.

Recommendations for using a steamer

To properly prepare the steamer for use, you must follow the following tips, which will make the cooking process simple and easy:

1. For cooking, you must use only purified water, which must be poured into a special compartment. Tap water can damage the device over time.
2. In order for the liquid level to be optimal, you need to be guided by the mark on the pan: the water should not be higher or lower than it. Some new models have a function that notifies you when water needs to be added, but older models do not have this feature, so you need to add water yourself after 40-45 minutes.
3. It is necessary to install a condensate tray.
4. After assembling the lower part of the steamer, you can put food in the bowl and start cooking.
5. After cooking the dish, the unit will emit a characteristic sound signal.
6. To avoid injury, do not touch the steamer until it is finished working. The lid must be removed very carefully - hot steam can burn the skin.
7. When cooking meat and vegetables at the same time, place the meat in the lower compartment and the vegetables in the upper.
8. Food on the lower level always cooks faster, so you always need to keep an eye on the time.
9. The time required to cook foods may vary, so you need to keep an eye on these parameters.
10. After each use, steamer trays and liquid containers must be washed and wiped dry.
11. Do not use detergents containing abrasives for cleaning.
12. Grease must be removed with a brush.

Purifying water for refilling a steamer

As mentioned earlier, only clean water should be used as a refill. Otherwise, the performance of the structure will subsequently deteriorate.

To use a steamer effectively in the long term, we remove impurities from the water. It is recommended to filter the water. You can do this with improvised means. However, if the liquid is heavily contaminated, you cannot do without special equipment. The second stage of cleaning is the removal of salts. Their level can be reduced by freezing water in plastic containers. After a few hours, take the containers out of the freezer and make holes in them. Drain the water and leave the ice to melt. In this case, the pieces of ice are water with a minimal salt content.

It is recommended to filter the water.

After such simple treatment of water, it can be safely poured into a special compartment. In addition, by purifying the liquid, the quality of food is improved.

Principles of bookmarking products

Products are arranged according to the width and size of the grid. When laying them, a small distance is maintained. This is necessary so that steam can pass through the holes in the mesh.

Modern models of steamers are equipped with both one and several sections for storing vegetables and meat. Numerous grates allow you to simultaneously cook several types of food products.

Products are arranged according to the width and size of the grid.

Types of steam pans by type of design

The regular old equivalent of a double boiler operates on the principle of a bathhouse. It consists of several tiers of dishes. All products are prepared due to steam processing. There is no need to use water or fats here. All dishes are healthy. Steamers are classified according to a number of parameters.

Steamer made from several saucepans

This device resembles a pyramid in appearance. Each tier uses a special saucepan that allows steam to circulate freely. Depending on how many tiers your appliance contains, the maximum possible number of products that can be cooked at the same time is determined.

Steam cooking is especially popular among housewives, during which food does not lose its natural color and taste.

Perforation can be carried out either on the bottom or on the entire surface. It all depends on the design of your steamer. Some appliances are designed in such a way that the tiers are inside the steamer pan, giving the impression that they are hanging. And others just sit on pallets.

Large pieces of meat cannot be cooked in such pans, as they are not cooked through.

The pan type is considered more convenient due to the fact that you have access to the container that you need. You don't have to disassemble the entire structure to get only to the middle link. You can safely add finely chopped greens without worrying about everything falling off.

This model is easy to use because it allows you to cook several dishes at the same time.

It is very practical if you can use as many tiers as you need. When choosing a model, be sure to think about this aspect. Almost all models have links of the same shape, so their installation order is absolutely not important. The lid included in the kit is suitable for any tier.

You can use the bottom tier as a soup pot, which seems very convenient.

Steamers with inserts

Gas steamers have separate compartments called pressure cookers. The cooking principle is no different from other types, but the device itself is slightly different. Only one pan is used for cooking. Inside there are special inserts that are installed above each other at a distance.

This kitchen accessory is a tall pan, inside of which a structure made of pallets is installed.

Some models have fixed tiers equipped with handles. Such links are removed and installed with just a movement of the hand. You don't have to put in any extra effort, everything is very simple.

Before cooking, you need to carefully place the food on trays.

There are universal models equipped with special low tiered pans. With such devices you can cook not only manti. You can cook amazing cutlets, meat, vegetables. All this is not only very tasty, but also healthy.

The lid is placed on top; it is tight and prevents steam from escaping outside.

Special types of steamer pans

Stores sell not only classic types of pans, but also expensive cookware, which also makes it possible to steam dishes. This type includes cauldrons, cauldrons, stewpans, and ducklings. This type of cookware is best suited for combined cooking. This is more practical and convenient.

The main disadvantage is the volume of food storage, since it turns out much less.

The steamer, which is designed for cooking corn, is distinguished by its height. They are very similar to those pans that are designed for cooking pasta. The set includes a tall saucepan and an additional insert in the form of a basket.

A mesh basket has some advantages in terms of convenience. It is very easy to remove without harming your hands.

Also special varieties include vegetable cookers, which are double pans. One of them is much smaller. Water is poured into the pan so that the insert does not touch the surface of the water.

For gas stoves, it is best to purchase steamers with a not very thin and even bottom.

Steaming technique

Food in a double boiler is prepared according to a very simple principle. The liquid from the tank gradually evaporates, falling onto the upper tier where the products are located. In this way they are cooked and gradually cooked.

As a result, the dish retains maximum nutrients and vitamins. By the way, cooking with steam can also be done in a regular pan. However, this will require a lot of effort.

In a double boiler, the dish retains maximum nutrients and vitamins.

TOP 5 best gas steamers

To make it easier for you to choose, we have highlighted several models recommended for purchase. Two of them represent the budget segment and are quite inexpensive, two more are intended for a large family, and the last, on the contrary, has a small volume and is designed for one or two people.

The best budget gas steamers

Rainstahl 5101-02RS\ST

A very simple and inexpensive, but reliable model costing about 1,500 rubles. Made of stainless steel, the total volume is 5.5 liters, of which 2.5 are for the boiler pan, and 1.5 for each of the tiers. The diameter of the device is 18 centimeters. Weight 1.4 kilograms.

It has a simple, utilitarian design, suitable for both gas, glass-ceramic and electric stoves - it is compatible with induction heaters. The pan can be used separately for cooking and has a multi-layer bottom. The device can be used in the oven.

Cooking with a model from Rainstahl is simple and convenient; it provides all the functions required from a steamer. Suitable for one person or a small family - yet the volume is small.

Price: ₽ 1,450

Webber BE-81

Another inexpensive model, but it costs about 2,000 rubles and has a significantly larger volume - it is 13 liters. Includes: a saucepan and two steam containers (diameter - 30 centimeters each), a steam grate, a lid. Material – stainless steel half a millimeter thick.

The pan heats up quickly, can retain heat for a long time - it has a heat-saving bottom. Can be used with induction cookers. To prevent liquid from overflowing, it is equipped with a rim. The handles and lids of each compartment are made of bakelite and do not heat up. When using Webber BE-81, the maximum nutrients are retained in the products, and the volume allows you to cook for a large family or for a long time at once.

Price: RUB 1,949

The best gas steamers for a large family

Gipfel 1813 Donella

A stylish looking three-tier model with a price of 15,000 rubles, a volume of 11 liters and a weight of 8.6 kilograms is the embodiment of reliability. It is made of durable stainless steel, is of high quality in every detail and will last for many years. Although outwardly it differs little from budget models, its safety margin is much higher.

In addition, Gipfel 1813 Donella is very convenient to use: it allows you to cook on any type of stove and has non-heating handles. The main disadvantage is the high cost, because instead you can take an advanced electric steamer, which provides much more functions. But for large families choosing reliability, this model will be a good choice.

Price: RUB 14,247

Rondell RDS-751

Much cheaper than the previous steamer, although more expensive than representatives of the budget segment - it costs about 5,000 rubles. It also looks good due to the combined polishing of the body. It has three levels, the total volume is 13 liters, which is enough for a family of 4-5 people. Made of stainless steel with a wall thickness of 0.5 mm.

It has a triple stamped bottom with an induction disk with a diameter of 24.5 cm. The design of the steam tiers is made so that the heat is evenly distributed throughout their entire internal space. It will be convenient to remove them thanks to the silicone pads on the handles. The lid is made of heat-resistant glass, with a rim that protects against chips. RDS-751 can be used with any type of oven. All this makes the model convenient, functional and reliable.

Price: RUB 4,884

Best small gas steamer

Stahlberg 1811-S Donella

The model, priced at about 8,000 rubles, has modest dimensions: 28 centimeters in diameter and 12 centimeters in height. In addition to the pan, the kit includes one tier for steaming, the total volume is 6 liters, of which 1.5 is a steam tier. This is enough to feed one or two people. The small volume is convenient because the dish cooks faster.

Stahlberg 1811-S Donella is made of stainless steel, suitable for any stove, can be used in ovens. The miniature model is very convenient to use if you do not have a large family and always cook for one meal.

Price: ₽ 8,250

How to use a gas steamer

The instructions for using a gas steamer are very simple. You should take into account all the above manipulations and place the vessel on the gas burner.

However, it is not recommended to cook over high heat. Because high-quality steam treatment is carried out slowly. Especially if you decide to cook meat or fish, you won’t be able to get a tasty and healthy dish in a matter of minutes. It will take a certain amount of time prescribed in the recipe.

How to use a gas steamer.

How to use a steamer: four steps

Why do you need to know how to use a double boiler? You cook for yourself and cook as soon as it comes to mind - why so complicated?

The fact is that incorrect operation of a steamer dramatically increases the possibility of getting a steam burn .

A steam burn is a very unpleasant, painful and dangerous injury. But a steamer can burn you in other ways.

You don’t want you and your family to feel sick and ill, right? Then the entire next part of the article is for you!

How to safely use a double boiler? For your convenience, we have divided the entire process of using a steamer into four stages (installation, assembly, adding food, cooking process) - so that it becomes extremely clear at what point what you need and what you don’t need to do.

Stage one: installing the steamer

Where should the steamer be placed so as not to cause harm to anyone or anything?

First of all, this is a hard, flat surface (a table is fine, but you don’t need to put it on the stove). Just please don’t put it on the very edge - it could fall and scald you, the cat, or the laminate floor.

Make sure that the electric cord of the steamer does not dangle, especially if there are children or pets in the house.

If you value the interior of your kitchen, do not place the steamer under wall cabinets or near walls - hot steam is destructive to wood and many other materials.

Stage two: assembling the steamer

What could be wrong here? – some ladies ask in bewilderment. Indeed, it is difficult to assemble a steamer incorrectly, there is simply no place to get into trouble.

So what is the stumbling block? This stone, strange as it may sound, is water . For some reason, some housewives believe that this smart machine extracts steam from the air, and a container somewhere at the bottom of the steamer was added just for beauty.

However, I am sure that among the readers of the site sympaty.net there are no such people, and you, of course, know that before starting work you need to pour water into the steamer tank.

Now look at the reservoir of your steamer. It should have two stripes with inscriptions - minimum and maximum .

I strongly recommend that you pour water into the tank so that it is neither less than the minimum nor more than the maximum. Manufacturers are not fools, they put marks for a reason - this is necessary for the correct and long-term operation of the steamer.

Try to pour exactly as much water into the steamer as required by the cooking process . On average, a full tank lasts for 40-50 minutes of operation - remember this before using the double boiler.

Stage three: bookmark products

If you have a single-level steamer, then you can skip this part of the text and move on to the next step. For everyone else, this part of the article on how to use a double boiler is mandatory.

What can be done wrong with products? It's simple: they can be placed on the wrong level! How to determine the required level for a particular product?

• First, look at how compatible the products are . This is important, since the lower products are soaked in the juice of the upper ones (and we rarely find steamers with trays under each steam bowl). I don't think you'll like fishy-smelling meat or similar delicacies, right? Usually meat, poultry, fish are placed in the lower bowl, and vegetables are cooked above them . If the steamer is three-level, then you can cook rice or eggs over the vegetables.
• Secondly, this is the cooking time . Foods cook faster in the lower bowls than in the upper ones, so it makes sense to place those foods that require more time to cook in the lower bowl. It is also worth remembering that food cooks slower in the center of the steamer than at its edges (so it would be a good idea to place especially large pieces closer to the edge of the steamer).

Step four: setting the cooking time

Setting the time is a fairly important stage in cooking food in a double boiler. Do you want to know how to use a double boiler to make it tasty and healthy? The answer is simple: set the time correctly! A simple sign will help you with this:

Remember that food takes longer to cook in the upper trays than in the lower ones - and this is an additional 5-10 minutes to the base cooking time.

And how to use a double boiler if you want to cook both meat and eggs at the same time, if they have different cooking times?

It's simple: first set the shortest cooking time (in our case it's 20 minutes for eggs, since they are cooked in the top tray). After this time, you simply remove the eggs and set them again for 20 minutes - that’s exactly how long it takes for the meat to be cooked. It's simple.

What not to do in a double boiler

Oddly enough, not all foods can be prepared using this kitchen utensil. What dishes are we talking about? We will consider this issue in detail below.

It is not recommended to cook pasta in such a device. They quickly boil and lose their shape. You'll end up eating lumps of dough for lunch or dinner. If you still decide to cook spaghetti in such a container, use a special additional container.

It is not advisable to cook legume products in steam cookers. They are too hard and require pre-cooking before cooking. Besides, is there any point in regularly adding water and cooking beans or chickpeas for three hours if in the end the dish is no different from what was cooked in a saucepan? There is no point in spending a lot of time on such simple dishes.

Dried mushrooms and fruits should also not be steamed. It is better to boil them in a saucepan with salted water.

It is not recommended to cook pasta in such a device.

Recipes for the Scarlet pressure cooker

In the Scarlet pressure cooker you can use the following automatic modes: “baking”, “stewing”, “soup”, “steaming”, “rice”. In the steamer mode, three programs are implemented: meat (15 minutes), fish (10 minutes), vegetables (8 minutes).

There is also an additional program “Children's Menu”, with which you can prepare milk porridge, baked milk and other dishes for your child.

Automatic programs have a preset time: • “RISE” 12 minutes • “STEW” 40 minutes • “SOUP/PORRIDGE” 18 minutes • “CHILDREN’S MENU” 20 minutes • “BAKING” 30 minutes • “MEAT” 21 minutes

This time can be changed using the blue “+” and “-” buttons. For some reason the instructions are silent about this possibility.

In the “Your Recipe” program, you can select an arbitrary cooking time from 2 to 99 minutes using the same “+” and “-” buttons, which allows you to show maximum imagination in creating culinary masterpieces. Scarlet pressure cooker recipes are no different from the pressure cooker recipes presented on this site.

For the scarlett SL-1529 pressure cooker, you can use recipes from any section of the website skorovarochka.ru.

You can fry with the lid open on the “Baking” program. Follow the link to find tips on how to fry in a pressure cooker.

In the Scarlet multicooker, you can easily heat up food: in the “Reheating food” mode, the temperature rises very quickly, the program lasts 10 minutes. This model also has convenient functions for delaying the start of cooking and maintaining the temperature of the finished dish.

Pressure cooker Scarlett SL-1529

The design of the pressure cooker is made in the style of minimalism: a strict steel body with black plastic inserts. The body of the pressure cooker looks solid, but this design cannot be called massive - the weight of the device is only 4.5 kg.

Another design feature is that the open lid of the pressure cooker is not fixed to the body, thus it does not interfere with placing food in the bowl and it is easy to wash under the tap.

Mode parameters are displayed on a backlit LCD display. Around it there are control panel buttons with inscriptions in Russian. Traditionally, a pressure cooker comes with a measuring cup, a plastic spoon and a metal steaming plate.

Steamer care

The top and inside surfaces of kitchen utensils should be washed regularly. Maintenance manipulations will extend the life of the device and maintain a presentable appearance.

After use, unplug the device from the mains if it is an electric type. All parts except the main ones can be washed under running water. The basic elements are wiped with a slightly dampened cloth. When cleaning, avoid using powdery substances and give preference to gel formulations.

The top and inside surfaces of kitchen utensils should be washed regularly.

After several cycles of operation, the heating element of the structure is often covered with a layer of plaque. The frequency with which scale appears depends on many factors, mainly the hardness of the water used.

We carry out cleaning as follows. Pour 100 ml of acetic acid into the liquid compartment and dilute it with 400 ml of water. The amount of solution should be such that it completely covers the heating element. Then we fix the tray and one grid. Then we start the steamer. After 20 minutes, traces of plaque should disappear.

If the stains still persist, repeat the procedure several times. We rinse the clean vessel with water to remove any remaining vinegar and eliminate the pungent odor.