Steam Basket Cooking: A Beginner's Guide To Deliciousness

Steaming is a healthy and simple way to cook. It's a moist heat cooking method that uses steam to cook food. You can steam a variety of foods, from vegetables to proteins, and all you need is a steamer basket. Steamer baskets are lightweight, portable, and adaptable, turning any pot or pan into a steamer. The most traditional steamer basket is made of bamboo, but you can also find variations made of stainless steel or silicone. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to cook with a steam basket:

First, find a pot or saucepan that fits your steamer basket. Make sure the basket fits snugly in the pot, and for metal or silicone steamer baskets, use a deeper pot. Pour approximately one inch of water into the pot, ensuring it doesn't touch the bottom of the steamer basket to prevent over-steaming.

For metal or silicone steamer baskets, place your food and seasoning on top of the basket, cover the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to medium, and let your food steam until it's cooked to your desired level of doneness.

If you're using a bamboo steamer basket, you can put multiple layers of food in it. Place the food that takes the longest to cook, such as meat, in the bottom basket, and foods that cook faster, like vegetables, in the upper baskets. With a bamboo steamer, it's essential to line the bottom with lettuce or cabbage leaves to prevent the food from sticking.

Using a steamer basket is a great way to cook without adding oil or fat, preserving the natural flavour and nutrients of the food. It's a simple and effective method to prepare healthy and delicious meals.

How to steam without a steamer basket

Steaming is a moist heat cooking method that involves boiling water evaporating into steam. The steam, along with whatever you are cooking, is trapped in a pot with a tight-fitting lid, creating a hot environment to cook the food.

Using a Plate and Tin Foil

This method requires a large pot, a heatproof plate, and some tin foil. Roll three sheets of tin foil into baseball-sized balls and place them at the bottom of the pot. Pour in about an inch of water, place the plate on top of the foil balls, add the food, cover the pot, and steam.

Using a Wire Cooling Rack

If you have an elevated wire cooling rack, you can use it instead of a steamer basket. Add an inch of water to a pot with a tight-fitting lid, place the rack in the pan, add your food, close the lid, and steam to your desired doneness.

Using an Aluminium Pie Pan

Poke several holes into the bottom of a disposable aluminium pie pan and place it upside down into a pot filled with an inch of water. The edges of the pan will prevent the water from touching the food, and the food will rest on the flat surface.

Using a Microwave

Place your food in a bowl with a few tablespoons of water and cover the bowl tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap doesn’t touch the food. Microwave for 4-6 minutes until fork-tender.

Using a Wok Setup

If you have a wok, you can create a simple DIY steamer by placing a deep bowl or plate inside that completely fits. Add about an inch of water, making sure it doesn't touch the highest part of the bowl or plate. Cover the wok and turn the heat to medium. Once the water is boiling, add your food, cover the wok, and let it cook.

How to steam with a metal steamer basket

Steaming is a great way to cook healthy, tasty food and it's easy to do with a metal steamer basket. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to steam with a metal steamer basket:

Step 1: Prepare Your Steamer

First, find a pot or saucepan that fits your steamer basket. The basket should fit snugly inside the pot or pan. Make sure you choose a pot or pan that is deep enough—a deeper pot is fine for metal or silicone steamer baskets, but if you're using a bamboo steamer basket, opt for a shallower pot so you can easily access the basket.

Step 2: Add Water

Pour approximately one inch of water into the pot or pan. Ensure that the water does not touch the bottom of the steamer basket; you don't want too much moisture reaching your food, as this can affect the cooking process and make your food too mushy.

Step 3: Prepare Your Food

Place your chosen food and any seasoning on top of the steamer basket. If you're using a bamboo steamer basket, you can put multiple layers of food inside, placing the food that takes the longest to cook (such as meat) in the bottom basket and quicker-cooking foods (like vegetables) in the upper baskets.

Step 4: Steam Your Food

Cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil. Check on your food regularly to avoid overcooking, especially if you're new to steaming. Most vegetables will steam in 5-7 minutes, while fish takes 10-15 minutes, and meat will take 25-30 minutes on average.

Step 5: Remove Your Food

Once your food is cooked to your liking, it's time to remove it from the steamer. If you're using a collapsible metal steamer basket or a steamer rack, use utensils like a fork or tongs to remove the food from the pot. If your steamer basket has handles, you can simply lift the entire basket and its contents out. With a bamboo steamer basket, you can lift the entire basket out as well.

Tips for Steaming:

• Don't add too much water—you're steaming, not boiling.
• Check your food regularly to avoid under or overcooking.
• Ensure the lid of your pot is on tightly to keep the steam in and ensure even cooking.
• Add herbs and spices for extra flavor, or steam with chicken broth or other broths instead of water.

How to steam with a bamboo steamer basket

Steaming is a great way to cook food, and a bamboo steamer is a lightweight, beautifully crafted tool to help you do it. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam with a bamboo steamer basket.

Step 1: Choose the Right Bamboo Steamer

First, select a bamboo steamer with interlocking baskets that stack on top of each other. The number of tiers depends on how much food you want to cook at once. For home cooks, a standard 10-12 inch basket steamer with two or three tiers is a good option. If you're buying for commercial use, go for a larger size, like a 30-inch steamer.

Step 2: Prepare the Steamer

Line the bottom of each tray with a lettuce or cabbage leaf to prevent food from sticking. You can also use perforated parchment paper or reusable cloth or silicone liners. If you're steaming marinated meats or vegetables, you can skip this step and steam them in a heatproof bowl or plate to collect the juices.

Step 3: Place Food in the Steamer

When steaming dumplings, buns, or other similar items, leave some space between them, as they will expand during cooking. For steaming vegetables or proteins, place them in a shallow plate and transfer the plate to the steamer basket.

Step 4: Prepare the Wok or Pan

Place the bamboo steamer in a wok or a wide-rimmed, shallow pan. Fill it with enough water to come up above the bottom rim of the steamer by about a quarter to half an inch. The water should submerge the bottom rim to prevent scorching but not touch the bottom of the inside bed of the steamer.

Step 5: Steam the Food

Bring the water to a simmer and then place the steamer in the wok/pan. Cover the steamer with a lid and let the food steam according to your recipe. Keep an eye on the water level and add boiling water as needed to maintain the simmer.

Step 6: Care for Your Bamboo Steamer

After use, wash the bamboo steamer with a sponge and mild dish soap, then immediately rinse and air dry. Do not put it in the dishwasher or soak it for extended periods. Occasionally coat it with vegetable oil if you live in a dry climate to prevent cracking or splintering.

How to steam with a silicone steamer basket

Silicone steamer baskets are flexible, durable, and often have handles, making them easy to remove from a deep pot. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam with a silicone steamer basket:

Step 1: Find a Fitting Pot

First, select a pot or saucepan that fits your steamer basket. The basket should fit snugly inside the pot or pan. Since silicone steamer baskets are flexible, a deeper pot will work just fine.

Step 2: Pour in the Water

Pour approximately one inch of water into the pot or pan. The water level should not touch the bottom of the steamer basket to avoid having too much moisture come into contact with the food. This could cause it to become overcooked or mushy.

Step 3: Add Your Food

Place your food and seasoning on top of the steamer basket. Cover the pot with a lid, and bring the water to a boil. Check regularly until your food is fully steamed. The cooking time will depend on the type of food you are preparing.

Step 4: Remove Your Food

When your food is ready, remove it from the pot using utensils such as a fork or tongs. If your steamer basket has handles, you can lift the entire basket out at once.

Tips for Using a Steamer Basket:

• Don't add too much water. The goal is to steam, not boil, your food.
• Check your food regularly to prevent over or undercooking. Many vegetables only take a few minutes to steam fully.
• Use a lid that fits tightly to keep the steam contained and ensure even cooking.
• Add herbs and spices for extra flavor. You can also use chicken broth or other flavored liquids instead of water.

How to clean a steamer basket

To clean a steamer basket, you'll need to determine whether it is made of metal, silicone, or bamboo.

Metal or Silicone Steamer Baskets

Most metal or silicone steamer baskets are dishwasher-safe. After cooking, give the basket a good rinse and place it in the dishwasher.

Bamboo Steamer Baskets

Bamboo steamer baskets are more delicate and must be cleaned by hand. Here are some steps to clean your bamboo steamer:

• Rinse with warm water: Place a large pot in your sink and fill it with warm water. Drizzle some liquid soap into the pot and mix until bubbles form. Rinse the bamboo steamer in this soapy water, then remove it and let it air-dry.
• Soak in hot water: Fill a pot large enough to accommodate your bamboo steamer with hot water and let it soak overnight or for at least eight hours. Afterward, remove the steamer and let it air-dry.
• Remove tough grime and odours: Use a nylon scrubber to gently scrub away any caked-on bits. You can also use a black tea bag or a lemon wedge to rub and disinfect the surface of the bamboo steamer.
• Oil the steamer: After washing, dab a paper towel with cooking oil and run it along the inner and outer surfaces of the bamboo steamer to keep it from drying out.
• Soak before use: Before using your bamboo steamer, soak it for about 20 minutes to prevent the bamboo from burning.
• Avoid placing food directly on the bamboo: Use parchment paper or a heatproof plate to place your food on before steaming. This will reduce the amount of cleaning required afterward.

Always check the cleaning instructions on your steamer basket's packaging or instruction manual for special care instructions.

Frequently asked questions