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Veggies... storing and steaming
dmuk
14-03-2013
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?
SeasideLady
14-03-2013
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
annette kurten
15-03-2013
i don`t store anything in the fridge that i bought from a shelf apart from chutneys/jams etc. i steam in microwave bags.
Evilclive
15-03-2013
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.
molliepops
15-03-2013
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.
annette kurten
15-03-2013
tomatoes are better kept out of the fridge. and mushrooms keep better out also.
Takae
15-03-2013
Originally Posted by dmuk:
“ 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?”

It's fine, but halve the recommended cooking time. If it asks for 4 minutes, set it for 2 minutes. If it's loose vegs, just chunk them into a microwaveable bowl and put water in a microwave cup to set it next to the bowl. I know some people would put the water in the bowl itself and it's fine. I avoid it because it makes vegs somewhat soggy. Down to preferences, really.

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.
barbeler
15-03-2013
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.
dmuk
15-03-2013
Thanks for the replies, does anyone know how long brocolli will last in a cupboard (not in a fridge?)
Evilclive
15-03-2013
Originally Posted by Evilclive:
“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.”

Replace microwave with pressure cooking, sorry. Best thing is not to overcook.

I always think that broccoli goes a bit yellow after a few days in the cupboard.
barbeler
18-03-2013
Originally Posted by dmuk:
“Thanks for the replies, does anyone know how long brocolli will last in a cupboard (not in a fridge?)”

If that's likely to happen, you would be far better off buying it frozen (assuming you have a freezer). It's likely to be fresher and will have retained more of its nutrients. The whole point of buying fresh veg is to eat it on the same day. The longer you keep it, the less nutritious it becomes.
dmuk
18-03-2013
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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