Cooking with a steamer is an effortless way to bring healthy, flavorful meals to your table. But have you ever wondered if the same method that works for broccoli and salmon can also be used to prepare yams?
Can you steam yams in a steamer? If so, you’re in luck, and the answer is yes! You can steam yams in a steamer!
Read on to learn why this is a great option and how best to do it.
Let’s get into it!
The Benefits Of Steaming Yams
Steaming yams are a great way to make them an even healthier part of your diet. Steamed yams contain vitamins and minerals, including potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, and iron.
They are also low in calories and fat-free. Additionally, steaming helps retain more nutrients than boiling or roasting.
Steaming yams help keep their natural flavor and preserve essential nutrients without adding unhealthy ingredients like butter or oil.
Those would add extra fat and calories to your meal. This makes it easier for you to enjoy their delicious taste while still eating healthy at the same time.
In addition, steam cooks them quickly compared to other methods, such as baking or frying, which take much longer to cook. This means you can save time when preparing meals with yams!
Steam cooking also keeps all of the beneficial compounds within its flesh intact.
It can help support heart health by lowering cholesterol levels due to its antioxidant content, such as beta carotene found in yams that have been steamed instead of boiled or roasted.
Furthermore, because no added fats are used during this method, it reduces saturated fat from entering one’s diet, making it a wiser choice over other cooking techniques.
See also: Can You Steam Sausages In A Steamer?
What’s The Difference Between Boiling And Steaming Yams?
Boiling and steaming are two popular methods of cooking yams. The main difference between boiling and steaming is how they cook the yam.
Boiling involves submerging the yam in a pot of hot water, while steaming requires placing them on a rack or tray above simmering water.
Boiling results in softer, more flavorful yams that dissolve easily into soups and stews but can become mushy if cooked too long.
It also takes longer to boil than steam because you must wait for the entire pot of water to come up to temperature before adding your ingredients.
To ensure even cooking when boiling, it’s important to cut your yams into even-sized pieces, so they all cook at the same rate.
Steaming provides an alternative method as it cooks quickly with no risk of over-cooking or having unevenly cooked pieces due to size differences. Only one layer is used at a time, and new layers are added as needed until all are done cooking.
Steamed yams have a firmer texture than boiled ones. They will hold their shape better after being cooked, making them ideal for salads or side dishes.
Overall, both methods provide delicious options depending on what flavor profile you’re looking for; however, keep in mind that boiling will take longer than steaming.
See also: Can You Steam Zucchini In A Steamer?
Type Of Steamers For Steaming Yams
The best type of steamer for yams is a bamboo steamer. Bamboo steamers are made from natural materials and provide even heat distribution.
It helps to retain the flavor and texture of yams while they cook. Additionally, they can be used with any stovetop or heating element.
Bamboo steamers consist of two parts: the bottom pan where the water goes in and the top part that contains the food being steamed.
The bottom pan has holes so the hot steam generated by boiling water can pass through it into the upper tier containing food items like yams.
This ensures that all sides get cooked evenly without burning them. It also prevents sticking since there is no direct contact between your food item and whatever you’re cooking on (such as a burner).
Using a bamboo steamer for yams provides many advantages over other steamers. One key advantage is its ability to preserve moisture.
This is because of their tightly woven construction, which traps heat within itself rather than allowing it to escape outside during cooking time.
Another benefit is that these steamers come with removable racks, which easily prepare multiple dishes.
Lastly, because bamboo doesn’t conduct heat well, it won’t burn hands when handled while hot, making it much safer to use around children or pets who might touch it accidentally while cooking is still underway.
How To Clean Yams Before Steaming?
The best way to clean yams before steaming them is to rinse them with cold water. This will help remove any dirt or debris from the skin of the yam.
After rinsing, you can use a vegetable brush or cloth to scrub away any remaining dirt and impurities. Once this is done, pat dries the yam with paper towels; it should be ready for steaming.
How To Steam Yams In An Electric Steamer?
Here is a simple guide for steaming yams in the electric steamer.
- Start by gathering your ingredients: one or more yams and some water.
- Fill up the electric steamer with the correct amount of water according to the product’s instructions, usually just below the fill line.
- Place your yams into the steam basket, making sure none overlap each other so that they can cook evenly.
- Cover and lock the lid securely over the top of your electric steamer to ensure a tight fit for creating optimal steam pressure inside while the cooking process takes place.
- Set timer (usually found on front panel) to the desired amount of time needed for yams to cook; depending on size/amount, this could range from 15-25 minutes or longer if necessary.
- Turn the “on” switch near the appliance’s base area. This will start the heating element, which begins the steaming process a few moments after being activated.
- Once the timer goes off, indicating the completion of the cooking cycle, turn the “off” switch at the bottom area. Carefully open the lid using caution, as hot steam will be released when opening the lid initially.
- Finally, remove cooked yams from the basket and serve warm.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take To Steam Yam?
It typically takes about 20 minutes to steam the yam.
Do You Peel Yams Before Steaming?
Yes, it is recommended to peel yams before steaming them.
Can You Leave The Skin On Yams?
Yes, you can leave the skin on yams when cooking them. However, it is recommended to peel and cube them before boiling or baking for better flavor and texture.
Can You Overcook Yam?
Yes, you can overcook yam. The yam will become mushy and lose its flavor if cooked too long.
Do You Need To Soak Yams In Water?
Yes, yams should be soaked in water for at least 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking.
Conclusion: Can You Steam Yams In A Steamer?
The answer is yes! Steaming yams in a steamer can be an incredibly easy and delicious way to prepare them.
Not only does it retain all the nutrients and flavor, but it also makes for a fuss-free dish that’s perfect for any meal.
So next time you’re looking to cook up some tasty tubers, skip the oven or stovetop and reach for your trusty steamer instead!
Happy cooking!