How to steam vegetables in Instant Pot

Learning to steam vegetables in Instant Pot is easy. This method preserves color, nutrients and flavor while also being incredibly convenient.

Steam Cooking

Steaming is one of the oldest cooking techniques. Archaeologists have found steam pits in the western United States that date back 10,000 years. There have also been findings of steaming vessels in China and Italy that are at least 7,000 years old.

The principle behind steaming is straightforward: Water is heated to the point that it begins to release steam. Food is placed above the water so that the hot steam can cook the food thoroughly.

This method of cooking has several advantages over other methods:

• Steaming preserves essential nutrients
• Steaming does not require the use of fats or oils
• Steaming preserves both the color and flavor of foods

Beginning to Steam Vegetables in Instant Pot

"Instant Pot" is a countertop multi cooker appliance. They allow users to choose from multiple settings, such as pressure cooking, roasting, sautéing, baking and steaming, to prepare a meal quickly and efficiently.

All that is needed to steam vegetables in Instant Pot is a vegetable steamer basket, and a cup of water. Cooks should then follow the steps below:

Vegetable preparation: Use a chef knife to cut vegetables to a uniform size so that they cook evenly.

Prepare to steam: Pour a cup of water into the Instant Pot and set the steamer basket inside. The basket should be slightly elevated so that the vegetables come into contact with the steam, not the water. Use the Instant Pot trivet to help hold the steamer basket over the water if necessary.

Begin the process: Place the lid on the pot and push the "Steam" button. Next, enter the cooking time. Cooking times vary depending on the vegetables being cooked, but here are some general guidelines:

Two minutes: Carrots, broccoli, cabbage, mushrooms, leeks, green beans, cauliflower, corn on the cob (no husk)

Three minutes: Corn on the cob in the husk (may take as long as 4 minutes), parsnips, asparagus

Fifteen minutes: New potatoes, butternut squash

Thirty minutes: Standard sized potatoes

Once the cooking cycle is completed, quick-release any pressure, remove the lid and carefully take out the vegetable steamer basket. If the steamer basket has a center loop, use tongs to remove it. Another option is to use the handles on your trivet to bring up the basket.

Instant Pot cooking tips

1.It's perfectly fine to steam different veggies together. Just make sure they all have similar cooking times.

2.Test the vegetables as soon as the cooking process is over. If a fork easily pierces a vegetable, it's done. If not, quickly put the lid back on the pot and let it sit for a minute or two. Don't turn the pot back on: That will overcook the vegetables. Use the remaining heat inside the sealed pot to make the veggies tender.

3.The remaining liquid in the pot can be put into a jar and frozen to be used as vegetable stock later. Just add the cooking liquid from each batch of steamed veggies to the jar until there is enough to cook with.

For people who feel that they are too busy to cook, learning to steam vegetables in Instant Pot is a great way of saving time and eating healthier meals.