The microwave has become a convenient "weapon" for housewives. Because it can be used for most dishes and gives very appealing flavours, can you steam bird's nest in a microwave?
Should you steam bird's nest in a microwave?
Many say that a microwave is used for most dishes, but you should not steam bird's nest with this appliance. Cooking the nest strands too quickly means they do not have enough time for the nutrients in the bird's nest to dissolve. The very large amount of heat makes the bird's nest "force-cooked", and the precious nutrients are destroyed.
However, steaming bird's nest in a microwave is entirely possible on the condition that you can set the temperature to 70-80 degrees C and for long enough for the nest to cook slowly, so that the strands loosen and expand and are crisp and chewy just right (usually about 30-40 minutes).
Besides steaming bird's nest in a microwave, you can also use an ordinary stove to steam the bird's nest over a low flame, keeping the temperature between 70-80 degrees C. With this method, take care not to let the double-boiler water overflow or steam for too long, which would lose the precious nutrients in this dish.
Using a dedicated bird's nest steaming pot is still the ideal method
Using a dedicated bird's nest steaming pot is the ideal method for quality steamed bird's nest. With a working principle made specifically for steaming bird's nest and a construction almost like a small rice cooker, this appliance is very handy, attractive and safe for users.
Wonderful benefits of using a dedicated bird's nest steaming pot, such as:
+ Helps you control the steaming time
Bird's nest steaming pots are manufactured with the manufacturer's technical specifications. This lets you set a steaming time suited to each type of bird's nest, each user or different preferences. The steaming pot uses electricity to cook, so it is very stable and easy to adjust. Usually 30 – 45 minutes is all it takes to have a delicious bowl of steamed bird's nest.
+ Versatile cooking
A bird's nest steaming pot is not only for steaming bird's nest; you can also flexibly prepare many other dishes. After the bird's nest is steamed, you can add other favourite foods (already cooked beforehand) such as lotus seeds, red dates and cordyceps,… to the pot and steam with the nest for about 5-10 more minutes.
+ Preserves all the nutrients in the bird's nest
The bird's nest steaming pot uses low heat, enough to cook the nest without losing its inherent nutrients.
A few small notes for you when using a dedicated bird's nest steaming pot
Steaming bird's nest for too long may shorten the life of the pot.
Remember to dry the outside surface of the porcelain bowl thoroughly before putting it into the steaming pot. Also, do not forget to check and clean the cooking basket before putting in the porcelain bowl.
You can use the bird's nest steaming pot to cook other dishes such as sweet soups, porridge and braised duck,… But never use it to prepare stir-fried or fried dishes.
Do not use the porcelain bowl to soak and clean bird's nest, to prevent cracking.
Cleaning and maintaining the bird's nest steaming pot regularly will help it last longer. Also, do not keep the pot near heat sources, which will quickly damage it.
See also:
Why should vegetarians eat bird's nest?
How to tell raw bird's nest, pre-processed bird's nest and refined bird's nest apart