Steaming Dumplings: Can You Use A Steamer?

Dumplings are a versatile dish that can be cooked in a variety of ways, including steaming, pan-frying, and boiling. While each cooking method produces distinct results, this article will focus on steaming dumplings and the various techniques and equipment available for this procedure.

How to steam dumplings without a bamboo steamer

There are several ways to steam dumplings without a bamboo steamer. Here are some alternative methods:

Metal Steamer Basket

If you want to steam the dumplings only, a metal steamer basket can be used. However, be mindful that the dumplings will stick to the basket, so it is recommended to spray the basket thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray. Alternatively, you can line the basket with lettuce or cabbage leaves to prevent sticking.

Aluminium Foil and Dinner Plate

You can create a makeshift steaming setup with aluminium foil and a dinner plate. Form several large balls of foil that are big enough to elevate a plate inside your chosen pot. Fill the pot with about an inch of water, add the foil balls, and then place the plate on top, ensuring it fits just inside the pot to allow steam circulation. Coat your plate with oil or non-stick cooking spray before adding the dumplings and covering with a lid.

Pan-Frying

Many dumplings are pan-fried and then steamed by simply putting a lid on the pan and adding a small amount of water. Heat a cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan over medium-high heat until smoking. If using a non-stick pan, heat it over medium heat. Add a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil, followed by the dumplings. Fry until the bottoms are lightly golden brown. Hold a tight-fitting lid in front of you as a shield before adding about 1/2 cup of water to the pan and covering immediately. Allow the dumplings to steam until all the water has cooked off, which should take about 7 minutes. Finally, uncover and continue cooking until the pan is completely dry, and the dumpling bottoms are crispy.

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot

If you have a rice cooker or Instant Pot, you can use it to steam dumplings. Place a colander or wire rack that fits inside your appliance, and fill the appliance with water up to the level of the rack or colander. Place the steamer liner from your dumpling bag on top of the rack or colander. Put your dumplings on the steamer rack and cover with a lid. The timing varies depending on the appliance, but generally, steam on low pressure for at least 3 minutes in an Instant Pot or for a full 10 minutes at a rolling boil in a rice cooker.

Wire Rack Method

This method involves using a saucepan, pot, or wok, along with a wire steaming or cooling rack. Place the wire rack at the bottom of the pot and pour in enough water to last throughout the steaming process without overflowing onto the plate. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Place a steamer liner from your dumpling bag onto a plate, and set your frozen dumplings on top, spaced about 1 inch apart. Once the plate is in place on the rack, cover the setup with a lid and steam for about 11 minutes.

Chopsticks and Instant Noodles (TikTok Method)

Although this method gained fame on TikTok, it is not recommended for soup dumplings as they may not heat through correctly. However, it might work for other types of pre-cooked dumplings. Simply bring water to a boil and add instant noodles. Place a pair of flat-headed chopsticks over the boiling water, put the dumplings on top, and cover with a lid.

How to prepare dumplings for steaming

Preparing dumplings for steaming is a fun and easy process. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Ingredients

Firstly, gather your ingredients. For the dumpling dough, you will need flour and water. The type of water used depends on the type of dumpling you want. For steamed dumplings, use hot water to create a dough that is easier to work with and roll out. If you are making boiled dumplings, use room-temperature water, which will result in chewier dumplings.

For the filling, you can get creative! A popular option is to use ground pork with a good amount of fat, ensuring the meat is juicy and tender. You can also use other types of ground meat, such as chicken, beef, or lamb. Vegetarians can opt for a mixture of tofu and garlic/Chinese chives. To make the filling even juicier, add vegetables with a high water content, like zucchini, cabbage, or radishes.

Mixing the Dough

You can mix the dough by hand or use a mixer. If mixing by hand, pour hot water into a bowl of flour and mix in a swirling motion, combining the flour in the centre and leaving some flour untouched around the edges. Keep mixing until all the water is absorbed. Dust your hands with flour and start kneading to form the dough.

If using a mixer, attach the dough blade and add flour to the mixing bowl. Pour in hot water and mix on low speed until the water is incorporated. Add room-temperature water along the edge and stir with a spatula. Start the mixer on low speed until a dough is formed.

Preparing the Filling

If using ground meat, add seasonings and let the mixture marinate in the fridge for an hour or up to a day. If using vegetables, add them just before wrapping the dumplings to prevent the filling from becoming watery. Combine the meat, vegetables, and your desired seasonings.

Wrapping and Shaping

Divide the dough into four parts and roll them into balls. Take one part and shape it into a long stick, about 20 cm in length. Cut the stick into 2-cm thick pieces; you should get about 10-12 pieces. Lightly dust both sides of each piece with flour and shape them into cylinders.

Now, it's time to roll out the dough! Dust your work surface and take one of the dough balls. Press it into a round disc and use a rolling pin to rotate and thin out the dough. Keep rotating the dough with one hand while rolling with the other until it forms a round sheet. The edge should be thinner than the centre, with a diameter of about 10-11 cm.

Filling and Sealing

Place about two tablespoons of filling in the centre of the wrapper. Hold the dumpling with one hand and use the other hand to seal the edges. You can seal the dumpling in any way that you are comfortable with.

Steaming

Arrange the dumplings in a steamer, leaving some space between them to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. You can use a traditional bamboo steamer, a metal steamer, or even create a makeshift setup with aluminium foil and a dinner plate. Line the steamer with parchment paper, lettuce or cabbage leaves, or a wet cheesecloth to prevent sticking.

Bring water to a boil in the steamer or a separate pot, depending on your setup. Once the water is boiling, place the dumplings in the steamer, cover, and steam for about 8-10 minutes. Do not uncover the steamer during the cooking process, as this will release steam and increase cooking time.

Your dumplings are now ready to be enjoyed! Serve them hot with your favourite dipping sauce.

How long to steam dumplings

Steaming dumplings is a simple and stress-free process. It is one of the healthier ways to cook dumplings, and it is also a great way to cook a big batch in a very short time. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam dumplings:

Step 1: Prepare the steamer

You can use a bamboo steamer or a metal steamer. If using a bamboo steamer, ensure you have a pot or wok that fits the steamer. Add water to the pot or wok, making sure it doesn't touch the bottom of the steamer. If using a metal steamer, fill it with water and ensure there is enough water to simmer for 10 minutes without drying out.

Step 2: Line the steamer

Line the steaming vessel with parchment paper, Napa cabbage leaves, or steamer parchment paper. If using parchment paper, poke a few holes in it to let the steam through. This step is important to prevent the dumplings from sticking to the steamer.

Step 3: Prepare the dumplings

Place the dumplings about 1 inch apart in the steamer, giving them some room to expand. Make sure the dumplings do not touch each other to prevent them from sticking together.

Step 4: Start steaming

Bring the water in the steamer/wok to a boil. Once the water is boiling, place the dumplings in the steamer, cover, and steam on medium to medium-high heat.

Step 5: Determine cooking time

The cooking time will depend on the type of dumplings you are making. For regular dumplings, steam for about 8 to 10 minutes. For crystal dumplings, which are made with starch-based wrappers, steam for about 6 minutes. If you are using store-bought wrappers, the skin will become slightly transparent, and you will be able to see the colors of the filling inside. Homemade wrappers will look plump and puffed when cooked.

Step 6: Serve immediately

Dumpling wrappers tend to firm up as they cool, so it is best to serve steamed dumplings immediately while they are still hot and tender. Enjoy your delicious and healthy steamed dumplings!

How to steam dumplings in a steam oven

You can cook dumplings in a steam oven, and it's a healthier way to prepare them than frying. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam dumplings in a steam oven:

Firstly, you need to prepare your dumpling filling. You can use a variety of ingredients, such as chicken or pork mince, garlic, ginger, coriander, and spring onions. Combine all your filling ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Next, you will need to assemble the dumplings. Place six dumpling wrappers on a clean workbench and put a teaspoon of the filling mixture in the middle of each wrapper. Dampen the edges of the wrapper with water, and then seal the dumpling by joining the two sides together and crimping the edges.

Place the assembled dumplings on a perforated tray lined with baking paper. Make sure your dumplings are not overcrowded and have some space to expand during cooking.

Preheat your steam oven to 100°C. When the oven is preheated, place the dumplings inside and cook them for 6 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of your dumplings.

Once the dumplings are cooked, remove them from the oven and serve them with your favourite dipping sauce. You can also brown the steamed dumplings in a pan with a little oil until they reach your desired colour.

You can also use a metal steamer basket or a makeshift setup with aluminium foil and a dinner plate to steam dumplings on the stovetop if you don't have access to a steam oven.

How to cook frozen dumplings

There are several ways to cook frozen dumplings. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Boiling

Boiling frozen dumplings is the easiest method, but it requires waiting for a pot of water to boil. To boil dumplings, fill a large pot two-thirds of the way with water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the frozen dumplings in a single layer in the pot and cook them until they float. Let them cook for an additional two to three minutes. Remove them with a strainer, drain them, and serve.

Steaming

Steaming is a faster method than boiling, as you only need to boil a few cups of water. It will also leave the dumpling skins stretchier and firmer. It does, however, require a bamboo steamer insert for your wok or pot. To steam dumplings, line the steamer with Napa cabbage leaves or parchment paper to prevent sticking. Then, add your dumplings, set the steamer on top of a wok or saucepan with about one inch of water, cover, and bring the water to a boil. Steam the dumplings for about 10 minutes if cooking from frozen.

Pan-Frying

To pan-fry dumplings, heat a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat until smoking. If using a non-stick pan, heat the pan over medium heat. Add a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil, then add the dumplings and fry until the bottoms are lightly golden brown. Hold a lid in front of you as a shield, then add about half a cup of water to the pan and cover immediately. Allow the dumplings to steam until all the water has cooked off, about seven minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until the pan is dry and the dumpling bottoms are crispy.

Deep-Frying

Deep-frying is a quick and easy way to get perfectly crispy dumplings. Add oil to a deep fryer or a large pot, and heat the oil to between 325 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the frozen dumplings to the oil and cook them for about two to three minutes. The oil temperature will naturally drop when you add the dumplings, but this is fine. When cooked, the dumplings will have a brown and crispy exterior with a hot and steaming interior.

Microwave and Fry

Place your frozen dumplings in a microwave-safe bowl and add water until they are about half-covered. Cover the bowl and microwave on high power until the dumplings are cooked through, about three minutes. Meanwhile, heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Drain the dumplings, then dump them into the skillet and cook, shaking and swirling the pan constantly, until the dumplings are golden brown underneath.

General Tips

When cooking frozen dumplings, there is no need to thaw them first. In fact, dumplings survive the trip from freezer to the belly remarkably well and are nearly indistinguishable from fresh-made dumplings, as long as they are kept free of freezer burn. If you are cooking a large batch of dumplings, you may want to cook them for a little longer than you would when cooking fresh dumplings (about eight minutes for boiling and 10 minutes for steaming).

Frequently asked questions