Both steaming and poaching are very gentle cooking techniques. Neither method subjects food to direct, intense heat—instead, vapor and hot liquid, respectively, are used to cook foods. Just about any type of food can be steamed or poached, but foods best suited to these cooking techniques are those that are relatively small in size and uniform in shape. Since the methods don’t impart any flavor, steamed or poached foods are often finished with a sauce or dressing. In this lesson, you’ll learn about classic steaming and how to poach fish to perfection.