Steamers

Bamboo steamers are among the most ancient of Chinese cooking utensils. These attractive, basket-like steamers come in several sizes of which the 10-inch is the most suitable for home use. Bamboo steamers can be filled with food and placed on top of a pan or over a wok of boiling water. Clean, damp cheesecloth is sometimes placed over the open slats of the steamer to prevent the food from falling through. One of the advantages of the design is that several steamers can be stacked on top of one another for multiple cooking. Bamboo steamers can be bought at Asian speciality shops and at some cookware stores. Before using a bamboo steamer for the first time, wash it and steam it empty for about 5 minutes. Any wide, metal steamer can also be used.