Are you looking for an easy and healthy way to prepare meals? Steaming is a great option to help you quickly get dinner on the table while providing nutritious food.
But did you know that steaming spinach is also possible? Can you steam spinach in a steamer?
The answer is yes!
In this article, we’ll explore how to steam spinach in a steamer so you can enjoy it as part of your meal.
Let’s get into it!
The Benefits Of Steaming Spinach
Steaming vegetables has long been seen as one of the healthiest ways to prepare them because it helps retain their vital nutrients without adding fats or oils.
Spinach especially benefits from being steamed because its high water content means that too much liquid is lost when boiled or fried.
With steaming, however, far fewer moisture escapes, leaving you with a nutrient-rich vegetable side dish that can be enjoyed guilt-free.
Another benefit of steaming spinach is convenience. Not only does this approach require fewer ingredients than other methods, but it also takes little time.
Meaning meals can be prepared quickly without compromising on quality nutrition.
See also: Can You Steam Quiche In A Steamer?
What’s The Difference Between Boiling And Steaming Spinach?
Boiling and steaming are two very common cooking methods for spinach. Boiling is a wet-heat method that involves submerging the vegetable into boiling water, while steaming uses steam to cook the food.
The main difference between these two techniques lies in the amount of liquid used; boiling requires more liquid than steaming.
Boiling spinach is a quick and easy way to prepare it as long as you don’t overcook it, which can cause it to become soggy or mushy.
Steaming is another popular option when cooking vegetables, such as spinach. It helps keep its texture intact while providing plenty of flavor without adding extra fat or calories from oils or butter like other methods.
To steam your greens, place them in an appropriate-sized steamer basket over boiling water (or use an electric food steamer if you have one).
See also: Can You Steam Sausages In A Steamer?
Type Of Steamers For Steaming Spinach
The best type of steamer for steaming spinach is a bamboo steamer. Bamboo steamers are perfect for cooking vegetables as they allow the heat to circulate evenly, ensuring that your food cooks slowly and gently.
They also absorb moisture from the food, keeping it from becoming soggy or overcooked. Additionally, bamboo steamers are inexpensive and easy to find at most kitchen stores.
Bamboo steamers have a two-tiered design with holes in each tier that allow hot air and steam to escape.
This means you can cook your vegetables without burning them or having them become mushy due to over-steaming. You can even place multiple tiers on each other to cook more than one vegetable.
See also: Can You Steam Yams In A Steamer?
How To Clean Spinach Before Steaming?
The best way to clean spinach before steaming is to submerge it in a bowl of cold water and swish the leaves around.
This will help loosen any dirt or debris stuck on the leaves. Then, using your hands, gently rub each leaf between your fingers one at a time to ensure they are all clean.
Afterward, drain the spinach into a colander and rinse with cold running water until no dirt remains. Finally, pat dry with paper towels before steaming as desired.
See also: Can You Steam Zucchini In A Steamer?
How To Steam Spinach In An Electric Steamer?
The following is the step-by-step for steaming spinach in an electric steamer.
- Begin by gathering the equipment you need: an electric steamer, a pot or bowl to hold the spinach and water, and any seasonings you would like to add.
- Place the electric steamer basket into the base of your electric steamer and fill it with cold water until just below the bottom of the basket. Turn on your steamer and let it come up to temperature before continuing with step 3.
- Rinse your spinach under running water using a strainer or colander if necessary, then place it into a large bowl or directly into the top of your electric steamer’s basket.
- Season as desired. Some popular choices are salt, pepper, garlic powder, or olive oil.
- Then pour enough hot tap water over top until all leaves are covered but not floating in liquid (about 1/4 cup).
- Place the lid onto the electric steamer’s upper portion containing spinach so it can begin cooking; this should take about 5 minutes.
- Once done, remove the lid carefully using oven mitts if needed. Ensure each leaf is cooked before removing it from the heat source.
- Once finished, turn off the power source & allow the contents within the container to cool down naturally before attempting removal via tongs or a slotted spoon.
- Transfer spinach onto a plate and enjoy!
FAQs
Is Steaming Spinach Good?
Yes, steaming spinach is a healthy and nutritious way to prepare vegetables. Steaming helps retain more vitamins and minerals in spinach than other cooking methods, such as boiling or frying.
Does Steaming Spinach Remove Nutrients?
Yes, steaming spinach can reduce the amount of some nutrients like vitamin C and folate. However, it also helps to preserve other important nutrients such as beta-carotene and lutein.
Do You Have To Wash Spinach Before You Steam It?
Yes, it would be best to wash spinach before steaming it. This will help remove any dirt or bacteria that may be present on the leaves.
Is It Good To Blanch Spinach Before Cooking?
Yes, blanching spinach before cooking is recommended as it helps to reduce the bitterness of the leaves and makes them easier to digest. Blanching also helps to preserve the color and texture of the spinach.
Is Steaming As Good As Blanching?
It depends on the food and what you are trying to achieve. Steaming is generally considered a healthier cooking method than blanching because it does not require adding oil or fat, and fewer nutrients are lost.
Conclusion: Can You Steam Spinach In A Steamer?
Yes, you can steam spinach in a steamer. All it takes is some preparation and patience to enjoy this nutritious dish. You will have a healthy side packed with flavor in no time.
Plus, the entire process is simple and mess-free. What could be better than that?
So the next time you’re looking for an easy way to get your greens to fix, why not give steaming spinach in a steamer a shot?
Happy cooking!