- Bamboo steamers are available in a variety of sizes. They are circular and have a slotted bottom which allows the steam to penetrate the food. Bamboo steamers have a domed lid that stops the steam from escaping.
- Bamboo steamers are designed to fit in a wok or large pot. Begin by adding water and herbs to the wok. Place the bamboo steamer on top of the water. There should be enough water to cover the bottom section of the steamer. Parchment paper or lettuce may be placed over the steam slots in the steamer before adding the food to prevent it from sticking to the bamboo. After the water is boiling, place the lid onto the steamer and allow the food to cook for an appropriate amount of time.
- Many types of foods can be cooked in a bamboo steamer. Fish, chicken, vegetables, rice and dim sum are a few examples. Most bamboo steamers come with instructions that give recipe examples and suggested cooking times.
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Bamboo steamers are designed to produce an evenly-cooked meal by sealing in the natural flavor of the food without the need to add fat. The bamboo seals in the heat to cook the food as it absorbs moisture.
When food is prepared in a bamboo steamer, none of the vital nutrients or natural flavor is lost, as often happens in frying, boiling or sauteing. So, if you are following a fat-free diet, you may find a bamboo steamer to be especially useful. -
Bamboo steamer sections fit snugly on top of another so you can cook several foods at the same time. When more than one steamer is used, only one wok is needed. This also saves the time involved with washing pots and pans.
Place food that require a longer cooking time on the bottom layer. They are closest to the heat source so will cook faster. Each subsequent layer can hold a separate element of the meal. When using more than one steamer at a time, simply leave the lid off of the bottom steamer and don't add the lid until all of the layers have been stacked on.
