There are many great materials in the kitchen. However, bamboo is starting to show up more. Why? Well, bamboo is clean, it is typically damp-proof and anti-bacterial naturally. 
So, why wouldn’t you want it in the kitchen? It is ideal! And now, we are starting to cook with bamboo. How is that possible? Well, with things such as bamboo steamers.
Although grilling, sautéing, braising, and roaster are all-time favorites, steaming is just as good and plenty of people love this way of cooking. Learn how to clean a bamboo steamer, and you will find it is actually pretty easy too.
We all like hygienic, clean, and easy aftermath cooking methods. So, why not try this out?
Bamboo Steamer: What Is It?
Bamboo steamers are traditionally used in Chinese catering. Often used to steam vegetables, dumplings, and fish, they are very versatile in what they can cook.
They are made up of two steamer stacked baskets, as well as a snug lid.
The base of the basket is made up of bamboo strips which are woven into a lattice, allowing the steam to adequately cook the food inside the baskets.
What Are They Good For?
One of the main reasons this cooking method is so loved is because of how lightweight it is in comparison to your typical steel steamers, and because it is stackable, so you can steam multiple foods at once.
If you need to cook two different types of food, you can cook both with a bamboo steamer with no trouble at all. Just put the food with the longest cooking time in first at the bottom and start cooking. After this add-in the next tier in a shorter time.
Of course, a steamer that has many baskets you can stack will also be available in other materials, so you don’t have to use bamboo. But it is much more aesthetically pleasing, you also feel at ease with the properties of the bamboo.
Also, they can look nice to serve from as well, so you could save on serving bowls and dishes and just serve in the steaming baskets instead, which could save you a lot of washing up time.
Using A Bamboo Steamer
You may have seen the way a Chinese cook will use a steamer basket, and if so you will note that this steamer actually fits completely, and nicely inside a wok. The sloped sides of a wok will form a ring for the basket to be stable inside it, with the flat base of the basket not needing to rest on the wok itself.
Understanding this principle with a flat-bottomed wok, you could also apply it to a sauté pan that has sloping or flat sides. You would also want to make sure that whatever pan you intend on using it at least two inches or so wider than your basket is.
Even with this being the ideal way to cook while using one, you could also place your bamboo steamer on top of a small saucepan. In this instance, instead of fitting it inside of your pan, it will just rest on the rim, which may be easier for some people.
The only downside to doing it this way is that you would need to lift the whole streamer off if you wanted to add even more water. It can also be a bit dodgy or dangerous if you have a steamer that is over two tiers high.
Do not forget that using a steamer of any kind does involve the use of boiling water. With a bamboo steamer, you are dealing with boiling water that is in a pan of some kind. You set the steamer on top of the boiling water and cover it with its lid and then steam the food until it is ready for consumption.
With most pans, only a couple of inches of water at the very bottom is more than enough for it to produce enough steam. It will not immediately boil away.
However, you should never fill it so much that the bottom level of the basket is totally submerged. So, always be aware of this.
Always be careful when you are using a steamer, as it can be dangerous. You are dealing with boiling water, after all, so always use these with caution in mind. These steamers can produce amazing food and great meals, but that will all be forgotten if you manage to burn yourself in the cooking process.
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