How to use a steamer basket
Put 1 to 2 inches of water in the pot, below the basket. Boil it, add the food in one layer and cover. Asparagus takes under 5 minutes, broccoli 10 or more.
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Steam vegetables in a basket
- Pour 1 to 2 inches of water into a pot the basket fits, and check that the water stays below the basket. All-Clad uses 2 inches in its steamer pot; Our Place says about an inch is enough.
- Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. In a ceramic nonstick pot, keep it to a gentle simmer, as Our Place advises.
- Cut the food into even pieces and lay it in the basket in a single layer. All-Clad puts dense vegetables such as carrots near the edge, where the steam is strongest.
- Cover the pot and leave the lid on, since lifting it lets the steam out. Asparagus takes under 5 minutes; carrots and broccoli take 10 minutes or more, OXO says.
- Test the thickest piece with a fork or the tip of a knife: it should slide in easily. Tilt the lid away from you as you lift it, and use oven mitts to take out the basket.
What to avoid
- Water touching the food: it boils instead of steaming.
- Letting the pot boil dry. On a long steam, check the water and top it up with hot water, as All-Clad says.
- Piling the food in layers, which cooks it unevenly.
- A hard boil under a ceramic nonstick pot.
Which pot it fits
A basket needs a pot it sits in snugly and a lid that closes over it. All-Clad's 3-quart steamer insert fits its own saucepans and casseroles that are 8 inches across with straight rims, the 3- and 4-quart sizes. Folding stainless baskets open out to fit a range of pots. Whichever you use, the pot needs room for an inch or two of water under the basket.
Flavor and finishing
A squeeze of lemon, a strip of citrus peel or a splash of broth in the water adds a little flavor; OXO and All-Clad both suggest it. If the vegetables are not going straight to the table, OXO plunges them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and keep their color.
All-Clad's stainless steamer insert can go in the dishwasher. For a basket or pot from another maker, follow its own care instructions.