1. Steaming involves cooking food using moist heat, usually water vapor (i. e. steam).
A lot of foods may be cooked this way – vegetables, eggs, chicken, fish, meats, and
other seafood. Because there’s no extra fat added in cooking food here, most
healthy cooking dishes use this cooking method. The device used in steamed
cooking is called a steamer, and may be made of bamboo or metal, depending on
the recipe. This is different from baking, which uses dry heat. Unlike other
techniques, overcooking may be prevented from steamed cooking and the nutrients
are more preserved in the food being cooked.
Since food cooked using steamed cooking does not involve the addition of fat,
steamed dishes are made more flavorful by the addition of a bit of salt, pepper, and
some herbs. Rosemary and lemongrass are sometimes used to flavor chicken or fish.
Aside from fish and vegetables, dumplings may also be cooked using steamed
cooking. Dumplings are dough balls filled with minced meat, vegetables, or sweets.
For vegetarians, dumplings with a tofu or mushroom base are also available. Some
dumplings may be cooked by frying, like pot stickers but some dumplings are made
the traditional way cooking them on bamboo steamers. As there are some recipes
that take some time if these dumplings are to be made from scratch, there are pre-
packed frozen dumplings available at the local supermarket that may be cooked by
steam.

2. As steamed cooking takes longer than other cooking techniques like frying, for the
busy person, the ingredients may be pre-prepared ahead of time, then arranged in
a steamer, then as the food cooks, they may go about their chores and then go
back to the food when it’s done cooking. The key is to maximize time as the food
cooks and then enjoy the healthy and delicious food after.
Some also prefer steamed
cooking to reheat leftovers
as opposed to microwave
reheating as the food is
less dry this way. The
flavors are retained and
the sauce does not dry up
as opposed to microwave
reheating.
For healthier meal without the presence of fat, steaming may be an option for those
who are watching their weight. The flavors remain within the food instead of being
leached out into the sauce than evaporated. Although it takes a longer time than
most cooking techniques, time can just be managed and maximized, especially for
busy people who are on a diet and use this cooking technique.