How to steam veggies without a steamer?

[MummaSue]

Ok lovely people, I don't have a steamer at the moment and want to steam some veggies for tea, how can I do this?

THANKS!

[feeb]

in a bowl in microwave with a small amount of water over vegies.

[angelaartsstudent]

Ditto. Easiest way to do it!

[Mother Goose]

or if you have a rice cooker - you can do them in that

[Joeve]

I was taught by a chef to put them in a freezer bag and seal the end and put in micro for 1 and half minutes - I don't like the plastic bag idea but I do use it when I am in a hurry! So would be ok short term given most bowls used in the micro are plastic anyway

[~me~]

I just gently boil all my vegies...that way they don't lose their goodness and easy to control how soft you want them.

[Junglemum]

you don't need a steamer, you can just pop the, in a saucepan with a little water in the bottom and pop a lid on. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn't boil dry.

[MummaSue]

Thanks guys xxxxx

[Jaycee]

how long do you put them in the microwave in a bowl for? thanks

[feeb]

Depends how much you cooking and if frozen or fresh.

I often do frozen for 3 people for 6 mins.

[helle]

i have a steamer thingy that goes ontop of a pot? i usually chuck my veg on top of potatoes or something toward the end of cooking everything else so they're not soggy

[Jaycee]

i used to have one of those too teagz, until the handle fell off last week and i'm waiting til we move in to our new house before buying new stuff.

feeb - how long do u think for fresh for 3 people, say brocolli, carrots and peas?

[Kazbah]

Carrots take the longest, about 5 mins
Then brocolli & peas for about 3 mins.

If you cube the carrots to pea-sized then they'll take the same amount as the peas.

[feeb]

As Kazbah said chop carrots up smallish as the they then will cook longer.

5 - 7 mins will be fine.

[Jaycee]

one more question - do the veggies need to be covered?

[Kazbah]

Yeps, else the water will escape and you'll just be nuking them, not steaming them. Next time you're at woolies, grab a microwave steamer - they are just a couple of $$ and they work really well, I do most of my veg in them.

[Kazbah]

I was taught by a chef to put them in a freezer bag and seal the end and put in micro for 1 and half minutes - I don't like the plastic bag idea but I do use it when I am in a hurry! So would be ok short term given most bowls used in the micro are plastic anyway

You can also buy the microwave bags at the supermarket that are made for microwave steaming - if you are inspired, when you buy your veg cut them all up etc and put them in the bags and then freeze them, ready for cooking