With fall well under way and winter knocking at the door, slow cooker season is officially here, and we couldnt be happier. Slow cookers are one of our favorite kitchen gadgets; theyre like magical machines that churn out meals we never thought we could make on our own. From moist and tender meat dishes to impossibly flavorful vegetable stews, meals from the slow cooker are pretty much guaranteed to rock. Not only are they hard to screw up, but you can leave them for literally hours on end. We could sing the slow cookers praises for as many hours as it takes to cook these amazing short ribs, and we just found out one more reason to keep singing.
It turns out you can use your slow cooker as a steamer. Thats right, friends. Your trusty slow cooking magic machine has a whole new use, and can actually cook food quite quickly. Chef Grant Achatz, champion of molecular gastronomy, also happens to be an unlikely champion of the slow cooker, and he told Food & Wine magazine that he uses it to steam food. Achatz said he steams dumplings, buns and even fish in his slow cooker, using it as he would a bamboo steamer. Advertisement
He explained two steaming methods. In the first approach, he fills the slow cookers insert with a shallow layer of liquid — either water or tea — and then he uses lemongrass or ginger to build a rack that sticks out above the water. Whatever he places on top will absorb the flavor of the aromatics below. Achatzs other method omits the liquid altogether and just uses a bed of herbs and aromatics. Hell “simply put down a bed of chopped herbs and lay a piece of fish on it. The herbs release their moisture to slowly steam the fish.That’s a very useful technique for easy, healthy cooking,” he explained to Food & Wine.
We tried this genius trick at home with dumplings and broccoli over a homemade lemongrass rack, and a piece of cod over a bed of herbs, ginger and chopped lemongrass. The slow cooker we used was four quarts in volume and we placed the heat on high. For the broccoli and dumplings, we let the water get really hot first, and then only had to steam for 12-15 minutes. For the fish, the interior of the insert was also hot before we set down the fish, and it took only around 12 minutes to cook as well. The flavor was subtle but undeniable, and the finished product about as healthy as it gets. We want to experiment with different and more aromatics, as well as different liquid bases. (We used water, but are intrigued by Achatzs idea to use tea.) Advertisement
For those with limited counter and/or stove space, the slow cooker-as-steamer method is a great trick. It also makes it really easy to impart all kinds of interesting flavors in perhaps the most healthy cooking method of all. Only Achatz, one of the most progressive chefs in the country, could introduce to us — unapologetic fans of the slow cooker — an utterly new way to use one of our favorite kitchen devices. Winter is about to get a lot more exciting — and healthy.
The high setting can steam vegetables, cook bread and melt fondue. Your slow cooker is more than just a handy appliance that cooks foods while you’re away. It can also be used as a double boiler, steamer and a bread maker.
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With fall well under way and winter knocking at the door, slow cooker season is officially here, and we couldnt be happier. Slow cookers are one of our favorite kitchen gadgets; theyre like magical machines that churn out meals we never thought we could make on our own. From moist and tender meat dishes to impossibly flavorful vegetable stews, meals from the slow cooker are pretty much guaranteed to rock. Not only are they hard to screw up, but you can leave them for literally hours on end. We could sing the slow cookers praises for as many hours as it takes to cook these amazing short ribs, and we just found out one more reason to keep singing.
It turns out you can use your slow cooker as a steamer. Thats right, friends. Your trusty slow cooking magic machine has a whole new use, and can actually cook food quite quickly. Chef Grant Achatz, champion of molecular gastronomy, also happens to be an unlikely champion of the slow cooker, and he told Food & Wine magazine that he uses it to steam food. Achatz said he steams dumplings, buns and even fish in his slow cooker, using it as he would a bamboo steamer. Advertisement
He explained two steaming methods. In the first approach, he fills the slow cookers insert with a shallow layer of liquid — either water or tea — and then he uses lemongrass or ginger to build a rack that sticks out above the water. Whatever he places on top will absorb the flavor of the aromatics below. Achatzs other method omits the liquid altogether and just uses a bed of herbs and aromatics. Hell “simply put down a bed of chopped herbs and lay a piece of fish on it. The herbs release their moisture to slowly steam the fish.That’s a very useful technique for easy, healthy cooking,” he explained to Food & Wine.
We tried this genius trick at home with dumplings and broccoli over a homemade lemongrass rack, and a piece of cod over a bed of herbs, ginger and chopped lemongrass. The slow cooker we used was four quarts in volume and we placed the heat on high. For the broccoli and dumplings, we let the water get really hot first, and then only had to steam for 12-15 minutes. For the fish, the interior of the insert was also hot before we set down the fish, and it took only around 12 minutes to cook as well. The flavor was subtle but undeniable, and the finished product about as healthy as it gets. We want to experiment with different and more aromatics, as well as different liquid bases. (We used water, but are intrigued by Achatzs idea to use tea.) Advertisement
For those with limited counter and/or stove space, the slow cooker-as-steamer method is a great trick. It also makes it really easy to impart all kinds of interesting flavors in perhaps the most healthy cooking method of all. Only Achatz, one of the most progressive chefs in the country, could introduce to us — unapologetic fans of the slow cooker — an utterly new way to use one of our favorite kitchen devices. Winter is about to get a lot more exciting — and healthy.
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Is it Possible to Steam Tamales in a Crock-Pot? : Managing Your Kitchen
FAQ
Do crock pots let out steam?
What do you use if you don’t have a steamer?
How do you steam meat in a slow cooker?
Can you steam dumplings in a crock pot?
Can you use a slow cooker as a steamer?
We could sing the slow cooker’s praises for as many hours as it takes to cook these amazing short ribs, and we just found out one more reason to keep singing. It turns out you can use your slow cooker as a steamer. That’s right, friends. Your trusty slow cooking magic machine has a whole new use, and can actually cook food quite quickly.
How do you steam food in a crock pot?
Once the dish of food is positioned on your rack over the water, cover the lid. Note that there must be enough space between the outer edges of the dish and the sides of the pot so the steam can circulate and cook the food. Simply turn on the heat (medium to high) to bring the water to a simmer, and your food will steam!
How to choose a steamer basket for a crock-pot?
A simple stainless steel steamer basket is an ideal partner for your crock-pot. The baskets’ legs keep foods from resting in the cooking liquid, while its perforated sides allow for better steam circulation. Look for a basket with a removable center post so that you can add a covered bowl, as when you steam rice.
Can a crock pot steam rice?
When you don’t have an extra pot to spare for steaming rice, vegetables and other foods, your crock-pot comes to the rescue. The small appliance’s compact shape and tight lid allow for steam to build up and re-circulate inside the pot, gently cooking your food. A simple stainless steel steamer basket is an ideal partner for your crock-pot.