Which cooking method uses a separated steamer basket inside a pan to cook food with steam?

• A. Steaming
• B. Stewing
• C. Stir Fry
• D. Stock

Answer: (A)

Steaming cooks food with steam that rises from boiling water in the pot, using a separated steamer basket placed above the water. The basket keeps the food out of the liquid while steam surrounds and heats it, giving gentle, even cooking and helping preserve texture and nutrients. This setup—water in the bottom, a rack or basket above it, and the food in the basket—is what defines steaming.

Stewing, by contrast, cooks food submerged in a liquid, so textures and flavors come from the liquid rather than steam. Stir-frying uses direct contact with a hot surface and a little oil to quickly cook food, not steam. Stock is a flavorful liquid made by simmering bones, vegetables, and aromatics, used as a base rather than a cooking method that steam cooks food.