Varoma cooking - does blade speed make a difference?

[Peleep]

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie to Thermomix and am loving it.

I've had mixed success with the Varoma, steaming chicken and vegetables like mushrooms and asparagus. 

Does the blade speed make any difference to the cooking time or the speed at which the water evaporates (I'm paranoid about the bowl boiling dry?

What speed is best for steaming?  1? or 3 or 4?

thanks!

[judydawn]

Hi Peleep, welcome to the forum with your first posting.

I use 3 for steaming with the varoma, some people use 4. If you are following a recipe, the bowl shouldn't boil dry.

[Katya]

Good question Peleep - I've always wondered this myself.   And also wondered whether the amount of liquid made any difference to the amount of steam produced although obviously less liquid will take less time to reach temperature.

I usually use speed 3 or 4.  As JD says, there's probably little fear of the bowl boiling dry, unless you are steaming for a very long time.   But it's natural to be worried about this when you first start using the machine.....

[faffa_70]

The general rule for steaming is 500g of water for the first 30 mins and for each additional 15 mins of steaming add 250g water

[em]

while i was consulting my group leader told me she always ups the speed to at least 3 or 4 to really get that steam going... dont know if there is any evidence to support that but it works for me 

[Peleep]

Thank you all for your responses.  Speed 3-4 it is for me from now on!

One final silly question on this topic: 

when a a recipe says steam in the varoma for 20 minutes, varoma temperature, speed 3....

Does it mean 20 minutes, set varoma (from cold), and then turn to speed 3?   Or should i add boiling water...i.e. it is aleady steaming from the start?

[salval]

I think speed 4 is good, to really get the steam moving upwards. The first couple of times, my speed was too low, but much better now that I've increased it.

Edited.. sorry I replied at the same time as you..

I always just add water from the tap 

[Katya]

Not a silly question at all Peleep - we've all asked it at one time or another.

If the recipe says steam in Varoma for 20 minutes, it is assuming you are putting in cold water, set temperature to Varoma, time to 20 mins, speed to 3  and then go and have a nice cup of tea while the machine does all the work for you

[Peleep]

thank you all. I can sleep well tonight knowing how to use the varoma!


I've posted another question relating to the Butterfly whisk if anyone can help!

[judydawn]

I'm impatient waiting for steam to happen so invariably always use boiling water from the kettle then just check the food when I think it might be ready.

[faffa_70]

I meant to add earlier that I use speed 4 (my varoma is always chock a block full as there are 7 of us!!) and speed 4 really helps push the steam through. Otherwise you could probably get away with speed 3 I think. See how you go.

[ThermomixBlogger]

I think these are great questsions -- and they just happen to be some of the same questions I had about Varoma when first starting out with Thermomix cooking.

And the replies here are so helpful (as usual  ) that I have linked to this discussion from the Varoma video on my blog at:
http://www.superkitchenmachine.com/2011/12292/thermomix-tm31-varoma-video.html

This forum is such a SUPER resource... I miss all the wonderful people here AND the time to return here more often 

 

[faffa_70]

We do love the work you do though Helene and also when  you drop by to visit us 

[judydawn]

Yes Helene, ditto to Kathryn's comments.  We all know where to find you and it is such a thrill to see your blog going so well but to know you haven't forgotten us here.

[O4aTimtam]

Thanks for this interesting thread.

DH is also a bit worried about "what would happen if it boiled dry"?  As people have pointed out this shouldn't happen if you are following a recipe.  He has said when cooking basmati rice sometimes there is only a little water left (so, yes  he could always put a little bit more in before he starts  ). 

If it did "boil dry" would it get to a point where it would turn itself off before major damage occured? 

Thanks in anticpation to our resident gurus