Steaming and stacking

Monday mornings is generally the time for steaming and stacking for the week or fortnight ahead. Steaming is considered one of the best methods because it retains water-soluble vitamins (B and C) and minerals that can be lost when cooking in water.  And steaming in batches is convenient and labour-saving too: all of this ready in around half an hour! Allow to cool, label and freeze.

With just a simple steamer that stacks three baskets, I can prepare a good stock of grains, legumes or rice for freezing. It’s easy to ring the changes: today, for example, I steamed green spelt, Basmati brown rice and quinoa. All of which are easy to add to dog food or be used to feed humans – ideal for quick stir fries, salads and grain bowls. Freekeh with roast cauliflower and tahini – definitely a winner!

Just add some water to the grain or rice …

   

Steam until cooked – around 35 minutes …

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Plenty to feed you and your dogs.

Rice and grains can be added to toppings, broths or vegetables to create a broader nutritional profile.

Of these three:

Quinoa provides the highest protein and fat content, as well as a complete amino acid profile, making it the most concentrated nutrient source.
Complete amino acid profile (rare in plant sources).
Minerals: good magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and iron.
Phytonutrients: small amounts of flavonoids (quercetin/kaempferol residues).
Why it’s useful: nutrient-dense, higher protein, binds well in mixes thanks to its natural saponins and starches.

Spelt leads on fibre, offering significantly more dietary fibre than quinoa and rice, to support gut motility and fermentation.
B vitamins: especially B3 and B6.
Minerals: magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron.
Fibre: higher than rice or quinoa, including insoluble fibre.
Why it’s useful: excellent texture, slightly nutty flavour, supports gut health with more fibre than most grains by providing diverse fermentable fibre and bulk.

Basmati brown rice is the base; lowest in protein and fat but a well-tolerated, simple carbohydrate base that is especially useful for its resistant starch.
B vitamins: small amounts of B1, B3 and B6.
Minerals: modest magnesium, phosphorus and manganese.
GI: generally lower than regular white rice, especially when cooled.
Why it’s useful: gentle on digestion, good base carb, freezes well and reheats without clumping when steamed.

*****

Average nutrition:

Brown basmati rice (cooked)
• ~130 kcal
• 3 g protein
• 28 g carbohydrate
• 1 g fat
• ~1.5–2 g fibre

Quinoa (cooked)
• ~120 kcal
• 4 g protein
• 21 g carbohydrate
• 2 g fat
• ~2.5–3 g fibre

Green spelt / spelt (cooked)
• ~125–130 kcal
• 5–6 g protein
• 26–27 g carbohydrate
• 0.8 g fat
• ~4 g fibre

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
  • I am not a professional canine nutritionist but supporting research is cited.
  • The recipes shared were created by me and tested in my kitchen – and tasted and approved by our doggy friends!