Posted by Middleby Jul 28, 2023 9:30 AM

Why Steam Is Ideal in Hospital and Healthcare Foodservice

Foodservice in hospitals and healthcare communities is about much more than flavor. Patients rely on food and beverage as part of the recovery process, making mealtimes essential to their overall health plan. At the same time, taste and quality are critical to how patients experience meals and contribute to in-patient healthcare satisfaction ratings.

The challenge for healthcare foodservice operators, then, is to figure out a way to promote wellness and nutrition while enhancing quality and flavor. Ultimately, there’s one cooking method that makes sense over all others.

Steam Cooking Promotes Healthy Eating

Steaming has been a popular food preparation method for thousands of years. During the cooking process, steam looks for the coolest part of an ingredient and heats it, meaning foods will cook evenly because the steam will correct temperature inconsistencies on the food’s surface. This preserves the textures and cellular composition of ingredients leading to foods that are higher in quality, and most importantly, in healthcare settings, results in dishes that retain their nutritional value and promote wellness.

Steam Cooking for Menu Diversity

Cooking with steam doesn’t mean menus have to be sterile and uniform. Offering steamed options such as couscous, quinoa, spring rolls, mussels, tofu, and other diverse menu items can turn mealtimes from moments of nutritional necessity to points of joy in a patient’s day. And steaming food isn’t a lengthy process so meals can be developed quickly and prepared in mass quantities. With no need for oils and only using heat and water as part of the cooking process, steaming is a healthy cooking option perfect for preparing vegetables, seafood, pre-cooked meats like sausages, poultry, and even desserts.

Saving Time and Resources with Crown Steamers

For healthcare foodservice directors looking to develop a steamed food program, Crown Steamers provide a variety of steam solutions ideal for healthcare facilities. Crown is known for its steam cooking equipment that supports delicious and nutritious menu options, as well as being quick and efficient for small or high-volume kitchens.

Crown steamers are available in heavy-duty freestanding steamers or as countertop steamer options that offer unrivaled versatility no matter what size the kitchen. For additional benefits, healthcare foodservice professionals can enjoy easy operation and cleaning, reduced water and energy consumption, and have rebates available in certain markets.