Smeg Cortina SF4750VC User Manual page 20

• Fish: due to the delicate nature of fish,
steaming gives excellent results. For oily
fish such as salmon or trout, cook at
100°C for around 5 minutes. For white
fish such as cod or haddock, cook at
80°C for around 5 minutes. When
cooking different foods at the same time,
all fish should be cooked in the
perforated tray placed on the lower shelf
of the oven in order to prevent the fish
juices from dripping onto other foods.
• Meat: this can also be steamed, but the
use of a combined cooking function is
preferable in order to obtain a nicely
browned result. Casseroles and curries
are ideal for steam cooking, however.
Prepare the casserole as for normal oven
cooking. Place it in a metal tray, cover
with a lid or aluminium foil, and cook for
between 45 minutes and 3 hours
depending on the cut of meat used.
• Thin soups: steam cooking allows
flavours to develop perfectly with
minimum effort, as the liquids will not boil
over. For vegetable soup with the correct
consistency, first steam the vegetables,
then add broth and steam cook at
100°C. The steam function is also ideal
for preparing large quantities for later
use.
• Soups: Thicker soups are also easy and
quick to prepare. Place the soup in a
metal tray, cover with a lid or aluminium
foil and steam cook at 100° C for the
same time you would cook it in a
microwave oven. Mix midway through
cooking for a creamier consistency.
74
Use
• Reheating: using the steam cooking
function will not dry foods out and gives
a moister result. A previously prepared
home-cooked meal, covered with
aluminium foil, will take around 10-12
minutes to reheat. Ready meals will
require approximately double the time
indicated on the package.
• Defrosting: it is possible to use the steam
function to defrost foods. Times vary, but
defrosting with the steam cooking
function takes around half the time
necessary for covered foods left to
defrost at room temperature.
• Peeling peppers and tomatoes: this
otherwise time-consuming operation is
very simple when you use the steam
cooking function. Use a knife to cut a
small cross in the skin of the tomato, and
steam cook for 1 minute. Peppers have
tougher skin, and may require up to 4
minutes to soften them sufficiently for
peeling.
• Chocolate: this can be melted using the
steam cooking function. Place the
chocolate in a metal tray, cover with
aluminium foil and steam cook for 1
minute. Unlike other methods, chocolate
is unlikely to burn in the steam oven.
• Hot towels: ideal for facial treatments, a
close shave or for use after a meal, these
are easy to prepare using the steam
cooking function. Moisten a towel with
water, roll it up and steam it for 1 minute.