How to use bamboo steamer? Bamboo steamer is a device used to steam food. It uses steam to cook the food and heat at the same time. Wondering the answer for your question? This article will tell you about how to use bamboo steamer. In this blog, we also have an article about bamboo steamer that you might want to read about it.
Bamboo steamers, called zhēnglóng in Chinese, it originated in Han Dynasty. The most famous kind of bamboo steamers are used in Chinese cuisine and date back to 5,000 years in Southern China.”
Wikipedia.org
What is Bamboo Steamer
Bamboo steamer is a traditional Chinese kitchen appliance used to steam food. Bamboo steamer is an ideal choice for a healthy and delicious meal, as it retains the natural taste of food while cooking. It is usually made of bamboo and has two compartments, one for cooking and the other for serving. Next, let’s take a look at the materials used to make bamboo steamer. We also have an article about what to make in bamboo steamer that might help you to find out what to cook for you!
A type of cookware made of bamboo that consists of individual cooking trays or layers with openings in the bottom, that are assembled together and used to cook food with the use of steam.”
recipetips.com
Bamboo Steamer Material
Bamboo is the main material used to make bamboo steamer. There are different types of bamboo, including yellow and green. Yellow bamboo is a good choice for cooking because it has strong odor and taste that won’t affect the food. Green bamboo, on the other hand, doesn’t have strong odor or taste and can be used for serving purposes only. It also needs more water to steam food than yellow bamboo does. The most common type of steamer made from bamboo is called 京菜篪 (Hong Kong style bamboo steamer). It has a long metal rod connect to the lid which acts as a handle.
How Does It Work?
Bamboo steamer works by using water inside of it that’s heated and vaporized through heaters in order for food to be up-heated, giving it its crunchy textures, especially with seafood recipes. The vapour from heat is then released into the air space between two compartments where people can eat their meal while they wait. Below I will show you about how to use bamboo steamer?
How To Use Bamboo Steamer?
Add Water To Your Wok
Fill your wok (or similar wide-rimmed, shallow pan, such as a broad skillet) halfway with water, just enough to come up beyond the bottom rim of the bamboo steamer by approximately a quarter inch to half an inch.
The water must rise high enough to completely immerse the steamer’s bottom rim and prevent it from burning. However, it must be low enough that the bubbling water does not come into contact with the bottom of the steamer’s interior bed or the food sitting on it.
If your bamboo steamer is brand new, you may wish to soak the bottom rim (which will come into direct contact with the pan) for about 30 minutes to prevent scorching. After using it, just ensure that it is completely dry before storage, otherwise it may develop mold.
Line The Bamboo Steamer In
Once you’ve achieved the desired water level, you may line your bamboo steamer baskets. A bamboo steamer may be constructed in a variety of ways. Ours has three, and we may use one, two, or three at a time, depending on the amount of food to steam.
If you’re steaming food directly on the steamer bed (as is the case with buns or dumplings, for example), you’ll need to line it with something to keep the food from adhering to the bamboo. You may use big, tender napa cabbage leaves, lettuce leaves, layers of cheesecloth, or even squares of parchment paper for the napa cabbage leaves. Additionally, you may purchase spherical parchment paper liners with perforations designed exclusively for bamboo steamers, or even better, reusable cloth or silicone liners.
Whatever material you choose to line the steamer should be porous, allowing steam to rise through the bottom and circulate around the food, cooking it.
Pack Your Bamboo Steamer With Food
Do not overcrowd the steamer with dumplings, shumai, or buns! Bear in mind that as they steam, their size will rise. They, like cookies on a cookie sheet, need more space to grow. Always allow around one inch between dumplings and approximately one and a half inches between bigger buns.
There is no need to line the steamer if you are steaming food in a bowl or plate. You may immediately insert the heat-resistant shallow dish or plate in the steamer basket. Simply check that the lid fits snugly on top. Additionally, give sufficient free space around the dish to enable steam to rise and circulate around the meal. Additionally, a plate with a rim is a wonderful idea to gather any tasty sauce that may build in the dish.
Not sure when a bowl or plate would be appropriate for steaming something? We used it to steam vegetables such as butternut squash or pumpkin in order to create a puree for pies, cakes, and other delicacies. This approach is also used for meals such as Steamed Chicken with Mushrooms.
Insert The Bamboo Steamer Into The Wok Or Pot
Now, you may either pre-heat the water to a simmer before adding the bamboo steamer to the wok or pan, or you can add the steamer to the wok/pan while the water is still cold and gradually increase the temperature by turning on the heat.
Unless otherwise noted, we recommend the latter––placing the steamer onto the wok or pan while the water is still cold and then turning on the heat.
Permit Food To Steam And Control Water Level
Once the water in the wok/pan has reached a simmering temperature, it will begin to evaporate. Allow the food to steam for the duration specified in the recipe, but monitor it closely and add boiling water as required. Assure that you are not adding cold water, since this can cause the water to stop simmering and therefore halt the cooking process.
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