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Veggies... storing and steaming |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,954
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Veggies... storing and steaming
I'm loving vegetables at the moment, but I've got two problems.
Firstly, my fridge has broken rank and decided to freeze various items in there, instead of just keeping cold. Veggies and fresh meat seem to be it's number one target. Meat is no problem, they can go straight into the freezer. How essential is refrigerating vegetables? I do a weekly shop, I usually eat them within a few days, it would be good if I could just keep them in a cupboard or something (I also have a good stock of frozen and tinned veg for later in the week). Brocolli, babycorn and sugarsnap peas are my favourites. Secondly, I steam them in the microwave currently, but I've heard that can destroy nutrients and taste, is it worth investing in a steamer, or at least a pan with a steam accessory? |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 15,468
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I store all my vegetables in my fridge, apart from old potatoes, which I store in a dark cupboard. I think it keeps things fresher for longer. As for steaming, I use a 20cm steamer with a lid that sits on top of another pan, and I prefer it for steaming veg. rather than microwaving them, as I've occasionally overdone them that way. It looks a bit like this one http://www.tesco.com/direct/pendefd-...skuId=187-0381
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#3 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: dole office.
Posts: 35,061
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i don`t store anything in the fridge that i bought from a shelf apart from chutneys/jams etc. i steam in microwave bags.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 256
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Keeping veg in the fridge slows down the nutrient degradation that starts as soon as it is picked.
Microwaving destroys the nutrients, boiling both destroys and also dissolves the water soluble vitamins like vit c, you could drink the water or use it for gravy, heh. Steaming is best but is best to eat the veg, al dente, not overcooked. Wish I could remember the program this was on, although the info is available on any decent non woo site. |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: woking
Posts: 21,660
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We are just changing as our big old fridge has died
cannot afford another olarge one so will be having a smaller undercounter one. Most veggies wil now have to be kept out of the fridge, clearing a cupboard for just that purpose. As we never had a fridge until I was about 15 I guess veggies kept pretty well in a cupboard up to then. |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: dole office.
Posts: 35,061
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tomatoes are better kept out of the fridge. and mushrooms keep better out also.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 11,932
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Quote:
Secondly, I steam them in the microwave currently, but I've heard that can destroy nutrients and taste, is it worth investing in a steamer, or at least a pan with a steam accessory?
You don't need to buy a steamer either. Put a small colander over a pan of water and put a pan lid on top of the colander. Use a damp clean tea towel if the colander is bigger than the pan. Not recommended if you have gas rings, though! One time, there wasn't a colander at a friend's, I turned a mug upside down and set it in a stock pan, put a plate on top of the mug and put vegs on the plate, filled the pan with a cup of water, and covered the stock pan with its lid. It turned out fine. ![]() Otherwise, do buy a steam accessory. Doesn't need to be expensive. A steamer is best for people who have steamed food regularly. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,685
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I've always thought that microwaving retained more of the nutrients than conventional methods and a bit of quick Googling confirms this. I use a pastic microwave steamer that I bought from Asda, so that the vegetables are suspended above the water level. I don't like chewy veg, so perhaps give it longer than some people at up to seven minutes; mind you I am greedy, and to tend to put quite a lot in.
Incidentally, if you're a veggie, instead of frying or grilling Quorn fillets, simply sling them in the steamer with the vegetables. I promise you you'll never cook them any other way ever again. One thing that the resarch did reveal was that the microwave bag method is the healthiest of all, as you need hardly any water. Conventional boiling is by far the worst. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,954
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Thanks for the replies, does anyone know how long brocolli will last in a cupboard (not in a fridge?)
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 256
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Quote:
Keeping veg in the fridge slows down the nutrient degradation that starts as soon as it is picked.
Microwaving destroys the nutrients, boiling both destroys and also dissolves the water soluble vitamins like vit c, you could drink the water or use it for gravy, heh. Steaming is best but is best to eat the veg, al dente, not overcooked. Wish I could remember the program this was on, although the info is available on any decent non woo site. I always think that broccoli goes a bit yellow after a few days in the cupboard. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,685
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Quote:
Thanks for the replies, does anyone know how long brocolli will last in a cupboard (not in a fridge?)
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,954
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That is pretty much the plan, to eat it within 2-3 days, but will it keep for that long?
I'm going to give frozen broccoli a try, a bag of florets. |
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cannot afford another olarge one so will be having a smaller undercounter one. 