heard steam cookers give better curcumin retention than open water boiling, want to know what to use
Should I boil turmeric in plain water or is steam boiling better for colour?
AAnjaiah7mo ago · 326 views
5 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓6mo ago
Both work but mechanical steam or perforated drum boilers usually keep colour and curcumin better than open kettle boiling, because the rhizomes are not sitting directly in the leaching water. In open water boiling some curcumin and colour go out into the water, especially if you over boil or reuse very dirty water. Steam boilers also cook more evenly and handle larger batches, which is why many Nizamabad and Sangli units have shifted to them. If you only have an open kettle, use just enough water to cover the rhizomes and do not over boil. Whether the extra cost of a steam unit pays back depends on your acreage, so check rates and capacity at your KVK or a custom hiring centre before buying.
RRamulu6mo ago
Our village has a shared steam boiler we hire by the hour, much cleaner finish than the old open chulha method. Worth asking if a group near you has one before you spend on your own.
NNarsimha6mo ago
If you stay with open water, do not keep reusing the same dirty water for many batches, the colour suffers. I change the water and keep it just covering the rhizomes. That alone improved my lot grade.
BBhaskar Reddy6mo ago
Before buying your own steam unit, count your acreage honestly. For a couple of acres the rental drum at the custom hiring centre near us was far cheaper, and we still got the even cook. Owning makes sense only if you also process for others.
YYadagiri6mo ago
The steam drum was also faster for me, I got through more baskets in a day than the old kettle. But keep the perforated tray clean, when bits of mud blocked the holes the cook went uneven on the bottom layer. A quick wash between batches sorted that out.