7th march - plant power day
We all know that eating vegetables is good for us and that it is also great for the environment too. So, isn't it about time that we make a change and start eating more plants and less meat?
Plant Power Day is a day dedicated to reminding us to celebrate natural plant-based foods and to inspire us to make small changes going forward that will make a big difference to our health and the planet too.
Fruit and vegetables are very good for you; they are packed with natural vitamins and minerals that are essential for maintaining a body, so it's important to make sure we get enough in our diet every day.
If you don’t already do so, why not try adding some extra vegetables to your plate today in place of some meat/dairy? It's easier than you think to make some small swaps to improve your diet.
Steaming Vegetables with the Duronic FS87 Food Steamer
It's never been easier to make sure you get your 5-a-day than with our electric FS87 food steamer. Made to make life that little bit simpler, this counter-top helper ensures that it cooks any vegetable, grain, pulse, or indeed meat and fish in the healthiest way possible.
Not only does steaming your food lock in the nutrients and flavour, but it also cooks it quickly and, in a fuss-free way.
The best part (in our opinion!) is that mess is kept to a minimum as it’s contained within the steamer, and you can leave your food to cook away while you get on with other tasks at home.
There is really no part to not like! It’s easy to clean, with dishwasher-safe parts and is BPA free which is an added bonus!
We really are excited about our new food steamer, so we gave it a whirl by cooking some salmon and vegetables. Of course, if you wish to keep it vegetarian you can omit the salmon and replace it with an alternative. Scroll down to see how we got on!
Vegetable Cooking Guide
Vegetable | Cooking Time |
---|---|
Artichoke (whole) | 25-30 minutes |
Asparagas | 4-6 minutes (depending on thickness) |
Broccoli | 5 minutes |
Brussels Sprouts | 10 minutes |
Carrots (sliced) | 6-8 minutes |
Cauliflower (whole) | 6 minutes |
Courgette | 6-7 minutes |
Green beans | 5 minutes |
Kale | 10 minutes |
Leeks (cut into chunks) | 8 minutes |
New Potatoes | 15-20 minutes |
Peas | 3 minutes |
Peppers (sliced) | 3-5 minutes |
Spinach | 3 minutes |
Sweet Potatoes | 7 minutes |
Almost every veg can be steamed in under 10 minutes; this means that including the preparation, you can create a healthy wholesome meal for the whole family in around 20 minutes! It’s the perfect solution for someone with a busy life, who wants to eat healthier but doesn’t feel they always have the time to cook nutritious meals.
How to Cook Vegetables in a Food Steamer
Rinse your vegetables in cold water – never leave them to soak as this removes essential nutrients from them.
Evenly slice the vegetables so that they can cook evenly.
The more water the vegetables contain, the quicker they will cook in the steam. Harder root vegetables such as suede, carrots and potatoes take longer. Softer vegetables like peppers, broccoli, courgette and aubergine take less time as they naturally contain more water.
💡 Tip: If you want to cook meat or fish, this needs to be cooked in the bottom tray so that the natural fats and oils can drain away.