How To Steam Buns Without a Bamboo Steamer (2024)

FAQs

How To Steam Buns Without a Bamboo Steamer? ›

- Put a small amount of water in a wok, and put a small bowl onto the wok - Place a plate with some greaseproof paper on top of the bowl (you can also use a large saucepan if you wish) - Bring the water to boil - Put the baos onto the greaseproof paper - Place a tall lid on the wok, or a flat lid if you are using a ...

You can replicate a steamer with very little effort by placing your buns in a common kitchen sieve or colander, then suspending it over boiling water. Creating a tower from plates and tea towels will stop the steam from escaping, causing your buns to steam cook!

You can also line metal steamers with lettuce or cabbage leaves to keep your dumplings from sticking. Alternatively you can craft a makeshift steaming rig with aluminum foil and dinner plate.

Foil Method

You can make a snake or balls of foil to arrange on the bottom of a lidded pot to be able to elevate a heatproof plate or bowl above the surface of your simmering liquid to create a steamer.

You can do so with perforated baking paper such as parchment paper, napa cabbage leaves or even reusable silicone liners. Arrange your vegetables or proteins on plates. If you're steaming vegetables or proteins, place them in a shallow plate and transfer the plate to the steamer basket.

Metal Strainer or Colander

The closest replacement to a steamer basket is a metal strainer or colander. Place the strainer over a pot of water with the water level lower than the bottom of the strainer. Cover with a lid, and bring the water to a boil.

First, take three sheets of aluminum foil and roll them up into baseball-sized balls. Place them on the bottom of the pot, and pour in about an inch of water. Then rest the plate on top of the foil balls, and add whatever food you're trying to steam to the plate. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and steam away.

So long as it's a full-steam oven (not a combi-steam), then yes. Place the mini buns on trays lined with baking parchment and steam for 8-10 minutes on 100C/210F full steam until puffed up. If your steam oven has a bread proving function, you can also use this function to prove the buns too.

Besides being used to drain and strain, a colander can also be used as an improvised steamer. Over a pot of boiling water, place a metal (not plastic) colander. If the water from the pot begins to spill out or covers the bottom of the colander, pour some out.

What steamer to use for bao buns? ›

For buns, dumplings, or any steamed pastry, a bamboo steamer is the way to go.

Place frozen bao into a stove top steamer basket or basket of rice cooker. Steam over boiling water for about 10-12 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°f. Note: Steam bao from frozen, do not thaw. Flash Frozen Dumplings- 3 easy methods to prepare: boiled, steamed or pan fried.

Once the buns are looking puffy, it's time to steam them. I'm using a bamboo steamer which I pop on top of a pot of boiling water, but you can use a normal steamer too. Whatever you do, remember to line your steamer!

So long as it's a full-steam oven (not a combi-steam), then yes. Place the mini buns on trays lined with baking parchment and steam for 8-10 minutes on 100C/210F full steam until puffed up. If your steam oven has a bread proving function, you can also use this function to prove the buns too.

Air Fryer. As always, we do suggest pan frying or steaming your buns but sometimes it just makes sense to use the air fryer. It'll give your baos a calzone consistency which makes drops like the Mamma Mia extra tasty.