280531 Thu Oct 27 19:39:47 -0700 2005 2 31 Home Cooking 0 1490633 I am wanting to buy a bamboo steamer to make some steamed pork buns but don't really know where to start. Does anybody have a brand that they recommend or like? Thu Oct 27 19:39:47 -0700 2005 0 loveskittles 1 1490695 I was given a bamboo steamer by someone who was discarding it. I've yet to use it, but here's some info about the use of one that I found on the 'net. These cooking devices are available at Asian food stores. Bamboo Steam Cooking Guide Compliments of Joyce Chen Inc. Bamboo steam cooking offers many advantages over boiling and other wet heat methods of cooking. It better controls the texture and color of foods, especially vegetables, and makes them more nutritious since fewer vitamins and minerals are lost in the cooking process. How to Use a Bamboo Steamer Before using for the first time, scrub the bamboo thoroughly with mild soap and water. While it is still wet, steam it for 30 minutes. To cook, place one section of the bamboo steamer in your wok (or snugly over a large pan) so that it fits nicely with some room around for the edges. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the first bamboo layer. Then stack as many sections of your bamboo steamer, one on top of the other, with as many food courses as you wish to prepare. Don't allow the food to come in contact with the steamer and you won't have sticking, or rancidity. Use a bed of lettuce or other fresh leaves, or parchment paper. If using a dish, make sure there's enough room between the dish and the sides to allow the steam to rise. Herbs can be added to the water to allow an aromatic flavor to permeate the food when cooking. Cover snugly with your bamboo steamer lid, and start the water boiling. Steam food to perfection by taste-testing with a fork, to determine when the food is cooked. You can steam individual servings of a complete meal, like fish or chicken with vegetables, by placing the food on the plate on which it will be served. Then place each plate on its own steaming tier, but be sure not to cover up all of the steam holes around the edges of the plate. Aluminum foil may also be placed directly on the bamboo slats. Be careful when taking the plate out of the steamer, since it will be very hot. When steaming vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, or celery, the tough stem ends should be placed toward the center of the steamer so that they come out tender. At the end of the steaming process, you will end up with a delicious soup stock in the bottom of the pot. Your steamer is great for refreshing day-old bread or rolls. To make them tender again, just loosely cover them with foil and steam for approximately 5 minutes. Care & Storage of Bamboo Steamer Rinse your steamer with water and, if necessary, use some mild soap. Do not put your bamboo steamer set in the dishwasher. Store the steamer in a well-ventilated place. Fri Oct 28 07:42:18 -0700 2005 1490633 0 ChiliDude 1 1490815 When you go shopping for a steamer take a look at the metal multi-level steamers. Both have a good and bad points. Metal steamers are easier to clean and store. But they do not allow steam to escape and the steam can gather on the top lid and follow back into what you are cooking and make the buns have a wet surface. The bamboo steamer allows steam to escape but is hard to clean after use and you also should clean it before use again. Also storage in a dry place is very important as improper storage will allow strange flavor to settle in the bamboo steamer. Also the usage life of a bamboo steamer is of course shorter than a metal one. Check the bamboo steamer to see if the parts fit well and there are not breaks in the woven bamboo. Fri Oct 28 16:38:13 -0700 2005 1490633 0 yimster