What are the tricks for steaming pumpkin? Learn 3 techniques to cook pumpkin

Many friends have encountered that the pumpkin they steamed doesn’t taste good and has an indescribable taste. It may be because you put the pumpkin on the bottom layer and let the distilled water cover it, or it may be that the pumpkin you bought is not good. The trick to steaming pumpkin is to put the pumpkin on the top, so that it will be very sweet and delicious when cooked. Generally, the steaming time is controlled at about 20 minutes. Today, Encyclopedia Knowledge Network brings you 3 tips for cooking pumpkin. Let’s take a look.

Contents of this article

1. Tips for steaming pumpkin

2. Learn 3 cooking techniques before cooking pumpkin

3. How to store cut pumpkin

Tips for steaming pumpkin

Prepare ingredients such as glutinous rice, pumpkin, red dates, sugar, lotus seeds, white fungus, etc. After all the ingredients are prepared, wash them clean, put the ingredients on a plate and mix them evenly with sugar. The trick to steaming pumpkin is to put the pumpkin on the top, so that it will be very sweet and delicious when cooked. Generally, the steaming time is controlled at about 20 minutes.

1. First, you need to prepare the ingredients: glutinous rice, pumpkin, red dates, sugar, lotus seeds, white fungus and other ingredients.

2. After peeling the pumpkin, wash it, cut it into pieces and set aside. Cutting into pieces can allow the steamed pumpkin to be heated more evenly, making the steamed pumpkin easier to digest.

3. Prepare a plate, put in soaked white fungus, lotus seeds, red dates, glutinous rice and other ingredients, add sugar and stir evenly, then put pumpkin pieces on it. The trick here is that you don't need to add sugar to the pumpkin to avoid destroying the freshness. Putting it directly on top can better absorb the sweetness.

4. Put the plate together with the ingredients into the steamer and steam it for 20 minutes. If you have poor digestion, you can cook it for 10 minutes longer.

Learn 3 cooking techniques for pumpkin

1. Heating makes cutting easier:

How to cut a pumpkin with a hard skin? In fact, just "heat it first" to easily deal with the hard pumpkin, and it can also avoid the juice of the raw pumpkin from getting all over your hands!

[Microwave method] Split or cut the pumpkin into 1/4, poke a few holes on the surface with a fork, and heat it in the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes at a time. It will be easier to cut. It is recommended to heat it in sections to prevent the heat from being too concentrated and causing it to burst. If the hardness is still high after microwave, continue heating for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

[Steaming method] Put the whole pumpkin into the rice cooker, pour a little water (about 1/5 grid) into the outer pot, cover and press the switch. It is not necessary to steam until it is fully cooked. After about 3 to 5 minutes, the switch will pop up and you can take it out. The skin of the steamed pumpkin has softened and can be easily cut or peeled directly with a peeler.

After the heated pumpkin is left to cool slightly, it can be cut into pieces and peeled. Remember to place the flat cut side facing downwards to keep the bottom stable to avoid hurting your hands due to shaking.

2. Remove the seeds first when you get home:

There are many seeds and cotton fibers inside the pumpkin. If you buy a cut pumpkin, you must first remove the seeds and inner membrane, otherwise it will easily rot from the inside. You can easily dig it out with a spoon. It is recommended to process it immediately after buying it home, and then wrap it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it.

Don't put the halved pumpkin directly into the refrigerator after you bring it home. Quickly dig out the seeds in the center so that it can be stored longer.

3. Cook and store:

It is difficult to eat a whole pumpkin in one meal, so it is recommended to prepare it all at once and put it in the refrigerator for easy use. After slicing or cutting the pumpkin, put it in a microwave container, sprinkle a little water on it, cover it and microwave it in gradual sections until it softens. After taking it out, let it cool and then put it in a fresh-keeping bag and freeze it. It can be cooked directly without thawing.

Because boiled pumpkin tends to become soggy and sticky after thawing, steaming or microwaving would be better methods if you want to store it in the freezer.

How to store cut pumpkin

1. Apply plastic wrap

The pumpkin is prone to spoilage from the core after being cut, so it is best to hollow out the inside with a spoon and wrap it with plastic wrap. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 days. It should be noted that when storing pumpkins, the pumpkin stem must be placed upwards. If the pumpkin stem is facing downwards, it is easy to mold and spoil.

2. Apply salt to the incision

Apply salt on the cut edge of the pumpkin, and it will not rot and the moisture will not dry out for a week. When using it, cut off a thin layer from the edge and you will see that the pumpkin inside is as fresh as before.

3. Cutting paper

Stick tissue paper on the cross section of the pumpkin. The paper absorbs the juice of the pumpkin and keeps the flesh dry, which plays a role in preservation. This method can be used to store the pumpkin for half a month, and the pumpkin still has enough moisture.

4. Freeze the pumpkin

To freeze pumpkin thoroughly, the first step is to peel the pumpkin and cut it into any size, but if you don't have any special ideas, 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes are a safe bet. Then lay the cut pumpkin cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze it for a few hours until it is solid. Transfer the frozen pumpkin to a freezer-safe container (leaving 1/2 inch above the top of the container) and place the container in the freezer until you are ready to use the vegetable in a dish. Frozen pumpkin can be stored for 10-12 months.