Steaming vs. Boiling Vegetables and Fruits

Steaming vegetable and fruits is a better way to cook them since less nutrients are lost with this method.  When vegetables and fruits are submerged in hot water, like they are when they are boiled much more nutrients are lost.  Therefore when making fresh baby food or when preparing vegetables as a side, steaming is preferred. Steaming times vary from vegetable to vegetable and fruit to fruit.  Baby food should be steamed until vegetable or fruit is tender.

The 10 Must Have Kitchen Tools

The following are the 10 things we feel you will want to have to get the most out of the blog.

Use what you have to make do.  Invest as you move forward.

1. Vitamix or Blentec Blender

• Available at Costco from time to time
• You can buy a used one if you want to save some money
• Cost: ~ $400 worth every penny!

2. High quality wok

• We use a hard anodized 12 inch wok from Le Creuset
• It distributes heat more evenly allowing to cook at lower heat
• Excellent non-stick surface that molecular bonded to the metal
• 10X stronger than teflon
• Avoid teflon coated pans due to potential cancer causing effects
• Much lighter and more convenient than cast iron

3. Steamer Pot

• Steaming is better than boiling
• Allows food to be cooked at a lower temperature
• prevents nutrient loss, compared to boiling
• 3 quart steamer with a lid from any company is fine

4. High quality skillet

• We use a 12 inch skillet from Le Creuset
• It distributes heat more evenly allowing to cook at lower heat
• Excellent non-stick surface that molecular bonded to the metal
• 10X stronger than teflon
• Avoid teflon coated pans due to potential cancer causing effects
• Much lighter and more convenient than cast iron

5. Garlic Press

• This will save a lot of time when prepping garlic
• Will prevent your fingers from smelling like garlic all day!

6. Juicer

• A good juicer is worth the money you spend
• I don’t recommend blowing the bank, start off with one that is simple to use and clean
• I like the Breville juicers since they are not too expensive and easy to clean

7. Salad Spinner

• A salad spinner will help you remove the excess water from your leafy greens
• We use one from Oxo

8. Lemon Press

• This will help you juice a lemon or lime very easily

9. Measuring cups and spoons

10. Good set of knives

• nothing super fancy, but you want knives that work well
• we use knives from JA Henkels and Chicago cutlery (available at Corningware outlet stores)