Healthy Opportunities Fruits and Vegetables

Start with a cold pan that is at least 2/3 full!! Rinse frozen and dryer fruits and vegetables in the inset and drain off excess water before cooking. This makes up for the moisture lost between the time the vegetables were harvested and the time you cook them. For frozen, it rinses off ice crystals. Make sure there is no food in the rim. The cover must fit snugly to form a seal.

Start on MEDIUM using the burner that most closely matches the size of your unit. In about 8 minutes, the vapo-valve should start clicking. If not, spin the cover. You might try putting a tablespoon of water in the rim with the cover on and then spin it. This ensures the proper seal and speeds up the cooking. The vapo-valve should then begin clicking steadily and the lid should be hot to the touch. Reduce heat to lowest possible heat setting to finish cooking.

Trust your Saladmaster cooking system without lifting the cover until your food is scheduled to be done. It is not uncommon for new Saladmaster cooks, in their eagerness to want to "see what's happening", to lift the cover too many times. This will allow heat to escape from the unit and adds cooking time. Most fruits and vegetables are tender within 10 to 25 minutes, depending on your preference, the vegetable and the amount of food.