Metal and bamboo steamers
Helpful Tools
Many foods respond well to steaming: fish, meat and poultry, as well as vegetables and grains. Steaming brings out clean, natural flavours and helps retain valuable vitamins.
Steamers can also be used to refresh day-old bread, and are the best way of reheating pasta, rice or boiled potatoes. You can also use a steamer to reheat precooked meals or leftovers without them drying out.
Remember that boiling water evaporates, so be careful to top up as necessary. It's a good idea to keep a kettle of hot water at the ready.
Make the most of the liquid left at the bottom of the pan. It makes a tasty addition to soups, sauces and gravy.
Metal steamers
If you've never used a steamer before, start off with a 'universal' insert. The perforated container fits snugly into the top of a saucepan, converting it into an instant steamer. It will fit any size of pan, thanks to the stepped base. It is wide and deep enough to hold a fair amount of food, including a Christmas pudding.
Equally useful is the fold-out steamer. The perforated metal leaves open out from the base, which sits on small feet in the bottom of the pan. There is room for only a small amount of liquid, so it's best for quickly cooked food such as frozen peas.
A tiered steamer is a life-saver if you are short of hob space. You can cook a complete meal in separate containers stacked one above the other. Three-piece steamer sets have a thick-based pan with two baskets above. You can cook a stew in the bottom, potatoes and carrots in the middle, and quickly cooked green vegetables at the top. The lid fits all three parts so you can use it with the saucepan or one basket only.
Bamboo steamers
Tiered bamboo steamers are cheap, and particularly good for dumplings. You can cook different foods at the same time by stacking the baskets. Sit them over boiling water in a wok or wide saucepan, taking care the water doesn't touch the bottom basket. Bamboo absorbs moisture so there is no chance of condensation dripping onto the food and making it soggy.
Care
Wash your bamboo steamer thoroughly with warm water and liquid detergent, using a soft brush. Don't leave it to soak or put it in the dishwasher. Rinse well and allow to dry naturally (not on a radiator) before you put it away.
Steamers can also be used to refresh day-old bread, and are the best way of reheating pasta, rice or boiled potatoes. You can also use a steamer to reheat precooked meals or leftovers without them drying out.
Remember that boiling water evaporates, so be careful to top up as necessary. It's a good idea to keep a kettle of hot water at the ready.
Make the most of the liquid left at the bottom of the pan. It makes a tasty addition to soups, sauces and gravy.
Metal steamers
If you've never used a steamer before, start off with a 'universal' insert. The perforated container fits snugly into the top of a saucepan, converting it into an instant steamer. It will fit any size of pan, thanks to the stepped base. It is wide and deep enough to hold a fair amount of food, including a Christmas pudding.
Equally useful is the fold-out steamer. The perforated metal leaves open out from the base, which sits on small feet in the bottom of the pan. There is room for only a small amount of liquid, so it's best for quickly cooked food such as frozen peas.
A tiered steamer is a life-saver if you are short of hob space. You can cook a complete meal in separate containers stacked one above the other. Three-piece steamer sets have a thick-based pan with two baskets above. You can cook a stew in the bottom, potatoes and carrots in the middle, and quickly cooked green vegetables at the top. The lid fits all three parts so you can use it with the saucepan or one basket only.
Bamboo steamers
Tiered bamboo steamers are cheap, and particularly good for dumplings. You can cook different foods at the same time by stacking the baskets. Sit them over boiling water in a wok or wide saucepan, taking care the water doesn't touch the bottom basket. Bamboo absorbs moisture so there is no chance of condensation dripping onto the food and making it soggy.
Care
Wash your bamboo steamer thoroughly with warm water and liquid detergent, using a soft brush. Don't leave it to soak or put it in the dishwasher. Rinse well and allow to dry naturally (not on a radiator) before you put it away.
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