Steaming vegetables in microwave
I made a short research on steaming vegetables in microwave to compare it to steaming on stove top. An interesting discovery I made is that steaming in microwave is more energy efficient when cooking in small portions. Large portions, on the other hand, are best made in stove top.
Can anybody help me to know what would account as large portions?
Best Answer
I steam vegetables in large batches (up to 3 lbs) in covered Pyrex bowls in our large microwave. The microwave is 1800W, and steams the vegetables well in 4-6 minutes (depending on the vegetable...about 5 minutes for broccoli, which is fibrous). Bringing approximately 2" of water in an 8qt stockpot (the amount you'll likely need to heat in order to have the entire batch remain over steam before evaporating all the water)to a boil, plus steaming 3 lbs of broccoli in a steamer insert will take about 6 minutes on my stove on the 12,000BTU/hr gas burner.
So, that's 1800W x 5 min vs 12,000BTU/hr x 6 min
1W = 3.41BTU/hr
Converting the BTU/hr to watts that becomes
1800W x 5 min vs 3517W x 6 min
Since 1 W = 1Joule/second, the two energy expenditures are:
-Microwave: 1800J/s x 300s = 540,000 joules
-Stove: 3517 x 1,266,120 joules, more than twice the cost.
Stoves send a great deal of energy up the sides of the pans and into the air, where it is lost. Microwaves send nearly all their energy into the food. This means that in nearly every case, steaming in the microwave is more energy efficient.
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Quick Answer about "Steaming vegetables in microwave"
To micro-steam, lay vegetables in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate. Cover them with a triple layer of damp paper towels. Microwave on high heat until the vegetables are tender, two and a half to six minutes, depending on the power of your microwave.Is steaming veggies in the microwave healthy?
Microwave cooking and steaming are both healthy ways to cook vegetables to prevent nutrient losses. Cooking without added water helps maintain water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C and the B vitamins, that are otherwise leeched into cooking water.Do you need water to steam vegetables in the microwave?
Steaming Vegetables in the Microwave Place the vegetables in a microwave-safe bowl, add no more water than what it takes to rinse your vegetables before washing. No additional water is needed! Cover the bowl with microwave-safe plastic wrap, leaving one corner open to vent.Can you steam in the microwave?
If you don't have a traditional steamer, no biggie\u2014you can easily steam veggies, fish, and rice in your microwave! All you need is a microwave-safe dish or bowl and something to cover it with and you're all set. The covering or lid helps to trap the heat and creates the steam that cooks your food.Is microwaving vegetables better than steaming?
As compared to other methods of cooking like stovetop or oven, microwaving retains a lot more nutrients while steaming veggies. Do not overcook as the veggies become soggy and also nutrient breakdown.How To Steam Vegetables in a Bag in the Microwave | My Fussy Eater
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