Short Order Buyers Guide
Common Questions
- Introduction
- Steamer tips
- Convection vs. convectionless
- Steam generator vs. “boilerless”
- What to look for
- Shop for steamers
Steamers
Introduction
Steamers are quickly becoming a work horse in the kitchen for fast vegetable cooking and reheating. They retain more nutrients and natural colors and flavors while cooking with water instead of oils and butter. Steamers produce faster cook times and increased productivity.
Back to topSteamer Tips
1. Always preheat your steamer
2. Break up frozen vegetables and season after steaming, not before.
3. Always steam vegetables in perforated pans.
4. When steaming meat in perforated pan, use a solid catch pan underneath.
5. Use a drain that is 6 ft away from the steamer.
Back to top
Convection vs. Convectionless
Like convection ovens, convection steamers have a fan to get more even cooking.
Back to topSteam generator vs. “boilerless”
Steam generators, or boiler models, require water and drain connections, are more difficult to delime, but are higher production. Boilerless models have a heating element directly under the bottom of the interior cavity; simply add water directly to the cavity. They are simple to clean and generally last longer, but have smaller productions capacity.
Back to top
What to look for
Groen’s polished mirror stainless steel interior and their top quality make them a top consideration. Always size your needs carefully.
As with any gas appliance, be sure and include a new AGA commercial gas flex hose. They are designed extremely heavy duty, usually with a brass quick connect. Standard, plumber supplied home-type flex hoses are not designed for commercial applications and are not NSF approved.
Back to top
