Until about 3 weeks ago I have to be perfectly honest, I had never heard of a steam juicer before. I am guessing this is the case for most people who didn’t grow up in Finland and probably a few that did.
My curiosity started while researching a jelly recipe. There were a few precious cups of red currants sitting in my fridge calling to me, and I wanted to know what I could do with them.
Turns out red currants are one of the many fruits that can be tossed whole, stem attached, into a steam juicer.
My curiosity started while researching a jelly recipe. There were a few precious cups of red currants sitting in my fridge calling to me, and I wanted to know what I could do with them.
Turns out red currants are one of the many fruits that can be tossed whole, stem attached, into a steam juicer.
What is a steam juicer ?
It is a crazy looking 5 piece pot that extracts the natural juice of fruits and berries with the power of steam. The steam ruptures the fruit cells, releasing all the juice. At the same time the steam replaces the lost juice in the fruit itself. So what you are left with is this richly flavored, nectar-like juice.
There is rumour that steam juicers are more common in Finland than toaster-ovens in the Canada.
It is a crazy looking 5 piece pot that extracts the natural juice of fruits and berries with the power of steam. The steam ruptures the fruit cells, releasing all the juice. At the same time the steam replaces the lost juice in the fruit itself. So what you are left with is this richly flavored, nectar-like juice.
There is rumour that steam juicers are more common in Finland than toaster-ovens in the Canada.
So, in all honesty I couldn’t wait to process the currants and they were made into a delicious ruby red jelly using my usual water bath system.
BUT, I did put a plea out on my local Freecycle asking for gleaning privileges of unused tree fruits. A few days later there was an email waiting for me, offering up apples for the taking; which led to our first gleaning expedition.
The kids and I spent a few hours roaming around the perimeter of a beautiful old farmhouse picking different apples. There were a plethora of crab apples as well as some sweet red beauties. When all was said and done we drove away with 3 big bags of lovely apples!
BUT, I did put a plea out on my local Freecycle asking for gleaning privileges of unused tree fruits. A few days later there was an email waiting for me, offering up apples for the taking; which led to our first gleaning expedition.
The kids and I spent a few hours roaming around the perimeter of a beautiful old farmhouse picking different apples. There were a plethora of crab apples as well as some sweet red beauties. When all was said and done we drove away with 3 big bags of lovely apples!
By the time we got home, sorted and washed the apples and tossed them in the steam juicer the enthusiasm had unfortunately been drained from the kids- but I was still dancing in my slippers awaiting the first batch.
You should have smelled the house. It was like walking into a sweet, comforting dreamland.
After trying out a few different ways of steaming the fruit I got into the groove and found my own system. Steam Juicing, like most other cooking adventures, has room for personal experimentation. It needs the love and attention of a keen keeper to maintain the flow of tasty juice.
After trying out a few different ways of steaming the fruit I got into the groove and found my own system. Steam Juicing, like most other cooking adventures, has room for personal experimentation. It needs the love and attention of a keen keeper to maintain the flow of tasty juice.
The end result was this beautiful thick, pink apple nectar - which I cooled, strained and turned into a lovely apple pepper jelly.
Now I wait for the frost. Oh the plans I have for those rosehips and cranberries that grow in abundance here in Cape Breton.
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