What You Need to Know
Steam cooking uses water vapor to cook food, preserving nutrients and flavors. The Maillard reaction enhances flavors and textures during steaming. Steaming helps retain the natural colors and nutrients of food due to the low heat and moisture.
Key Parameters
Equipment
bamboo steamersceramic steamersmulti-tiered steamers
Steps
- 1.
Zheng Jiao (Steamed Dumplings) (Cantonese cuisine): Creates translucent wrappers while maintaining filling juiciness
- 2.
Chawanmushi (Japanese cuisine): Gentle cooking yields silken egg custard texture
- 3.
Idli (South Indian cuisine): Allows fermented batter to rise into airy cakes
The Science
Primary Reaction
Starch Gelatinization