Selecting The Best Bamboo Steamers And Accessories: Tips From An Asian Household
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My wife is Asian -- and you know what that means -- around our place, Asian food is "home cooking." And one set of cooking implements we could not do without are bamboo steamers. So I thought I would put together a few thoughts for you -- some tips and recommendations from some folks who use a bamboo steamer everyday --
When buying a set of bamboo steamers, you should keep in mind the size -- in this case the diameter -- of your steamers. You should try to match the size of your steamers to the pots and pans that you are already using in your kitchen. Typically, bamboo steamer sets will be sold in 12-inch,10-inch, 8-inch, and 6-inch sizes.
A very good larger set of bamboo steamers are the Joyce Chen 12-inch bamboo steamers (product J26-0012). This set includes two steaming trays and one lid which fits on top. Priced at just under $30, we have had our set for years -- and unlike the cheaper sets, our set of bamboo steamers from Joyce Chen has never become warped or split.
If you are looking for a 10-inch set of bamboo steamers, I would recommend a set that my mother-in-law uses -- made by Typhoon. Their Typhoon Signature 10-inch bamboo steamer set is very reasonably priced at around $20 and includes two trays and a lid. One of the great things about using a bamboo steamer is that they are easy to clean -- just wash them by hand (never put them in the dishwasher) and then set them on a clean terry cloth towel to dry overnight.
A couple years ago we invested in a very small 6-inch bamboo steamer set. We have found the smaller size handy when we only need to re-heat small amounts of leftovers, or when we want to make specialty foods such as steamed dumplings or desserts which we want to keep separate from the main meal. Let me tell you that Joyce Chen also makes a great little set of 6-inch bamboo steamers (product J26-0016) for around $11. It has two trays and a lid and the whole unit only sits about 10 inches high.
A great accessory for your bamboo steamers are a set of bamboo steamer "extenders." We bought one -- actually, we have several -- from the Herald Import Company. They are less than three dollars a piece, and here's how you use them: if you have a wok that would normally be too large for a smaller-sized bamboo steamer, you simply place one of these bamboo steamer extenders into your wok and place your bamboo steamer on top -- this is really handy to have when you don't have a smaller pan available for use with those smaller bamboo steamers.
An additional practical accessory to use with your bamboo steamers are metal steaming rings. The Herald Import Company makes one that is 11 inches in diameter, priced at just under nine dollars. These are used in a similar way to a bamboo steamer extender -- except a metal steaming ring is used for larger saucepans or stock pots, rather than with a wok.
A bamboo steamer metal steaming ring fits on top of your large-sized pots and pans, but the center section is missing, allowing the steam vapors to come up from the boiling water in the pan. You simply put your bamboo steamer on top of the metal steaming ring. These are great to use when the proper sized water pot is not available, and you need your wok for cooking other items rather than for steaming.
So if you are looking to explore the intricacies of Asian cuisine -- or just want to eat more healthy -- don't fail to do some careful comparison shopping for several sets of good-quality bamboo steamers. Have fun in the kitchen -- the Asian way!
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