Jay Mark Blog | Foodservice Equipment News & Trends

The Benefits of Steamed Vegetables

Written by The Jay Mark Group | Mar 6, 2023 4:27:44 PM

Providing guests with a nutritious meal that also tastes good is important in many instances, including in schools and healthcare facilities. Children rely on healthy meals to help them grow and be able to study, while healthcare patients require a variety of vitamins and minerals to help protect their fragile immune systems. One of the best ways to prepare meals while retaining nutrients is by steaming. And with Crown steamers, it’s easier than ever to serve nutritious food that’s also appealing to the eye.

The Health Benefits

There are plenty of reasons why someone should consume steamed vegetables regularly. First, unlike other cooking methods, steaming vegetables preserves their nutritional content. For example, steamed vegetables have plenty of vitamin C and vitamin B, both of which are important for a variety of functions throughout the body.

Many steamed vegetables also contain plenty of compounds that can fight cancer, such as broccoli and cauliflower. They contain a variety of compounds that can inhibit tumor formation and prevent cell damage from toxins that might otherwise cause cancer. 

Of course, steamed vegetables also don't contain as many calories but can still be very filling. This means that a diet high in steamed vegetables could help someone reduce their caloric intake and lose weight. Generally, steamed vegetables are very low in fat.

The Basics Of Steam Cooking

Steaming vegetables is one of the best ways to preserve the nutritional content of vegetables and bring out their top flavors. Steam is just water that has been turned into a hot gas rapidly. Then, this hot gas carries heat into food, cooking it quickly and efficiently.

There are a few reasons why steam works well for cooking vegetables, but the biggest reason is that steam results in a much more even cooking process. For example, simply tossing vegetables into the oven means that the heat needs to take some time to radiate slowly throughout the entirety of the vegetable.

Instead, steam actively looks for the coolest part of the vegetable, ensuring that the vegetables cook evenly. At the same time, it is important for everyone to use the best possible equipment for steaming vegetables, and Crown steamers contain a variety of features that users can customize to meet their needs.

Using Crown For Commercial Steaming

Crown offers a variety of products that can be for commercial steaming. The Electric Counter Steamer SXN-4M is made from high-quality stainless steel and has a durable cooking chamber that steams vegetables. With precise controls and numerous customizable features, users can tailor various recipes, cooking times, and temperatures to meet their needs.

Some commercial kitchens might be looking for larger steamers, and that is where heavy-duty steamers with multiple chambers can be beneficial. They come in plenty of shapes and forms, allowing users to customize them to meet their needs. Large steamers are ideal for cooking large meals that feed crowds of people, allowing restaurants to shorten their turnaround times and meet rising customer expectations.

Another option is the Altair II Electric Boilerless Convection Steamer. This convection steamer features five separate capacities and a powerful convection fan increases the velocity of the steam, ensuring that the vegetables are cooked as efficiently as possible. Instead of having to worry that some vegetables cook more than others, convection steamers ensure that all vegetables cook evenly and consistently throughout.

The Sirius II Gas Boilerless Convection Steamer is another choice. This steam oven has an automatic water fill feature, a clean water reservoir system, and a rear drain. This ENERGY STAR-compliant steamer is energy-efficient and contains a myriad of features that can steam vegetables while also reducing utility bills.

Not sure if steam cooking is right for your foodservice business? Take our quick quiz to find out.