Ever since the dawn of time, people have been cooking with steam. Steaming food is one of the most efficient ways to cook because it locks in moisture and nutrients. Cooking food this way also creates a soft and tender texture often lacking in other methods such as grilling or pan-frying. If you’re looking for an efficient way to steam your food at home, we have some good news! Thanks to new products like the Bamboo Momo Steamer, you no longer need to spend a fortune on a high-quality steamer to get delicious results.
In this article, we will look at everything you need to know about using a bamboo steamer. From choosing the suitable model for your needs to storing it properly when not in use, we will discuss everything you should know about using a bamboo steamer before buying one.
What is a bamboo momo steamer?
A bamboo momo steamer is a type of steamer that consists of a basket lined with porous bamboo leaves. This basket is placed over boiling water; when the water cools down inside, it traps the steam inside. Steaming your food this way creates a gentle environment where the food inside stays fresh and retains more nutrients compared to other cooking methods.
Bamboo is a versatile ingredient used as an environmentally-friendly building material and a food ingredient. It is a grass native to Asia and can grow up to 9ft in height. The bamboo plant has a vast array of uses, including making paper, building materials, and even food ingredients. Bamboo is widely used in Asian cooking, especially in countries like China, Japan, and Vietnam, where it is considered a symbol of prosperity, good luck, and longevity.
Types of bamboo momo steamer baskets
There are two different types of bamboo steamer baskets that are available: bamboo mesh and bamboo leaves.
- Bamboo mesh baskets are made of a fine mesh that lets water pass through but does not let food pass through. The mesh basket is ideal for vegetables, fruit, and other soft foods that don’t require depth or a lot of pressure to be cooked. It is also an efficient way to steam food quickly, as anything placed inside the basket is cooked in less than 5 minutes.
- Bamboo leaves are the most popular type of steamer basket. Packed tightly together, these leaves trap a lot of steam inside and provide a nice environment for cooking food such as fish and vegetables. Since the leaves are porous, they are not great for steaming starchy foods such as rice, but they are excellent for steaming leafy vegetables such as greens, bok choy, or Chinese lettuce.
How Does a bamboo momo steamer Work?
To use a bamboo momo steamer, place the basket inside the pot filled with water. Then, place the food you wish to steam inside the basket. You can use a plate or a bowl to keep your food inside the basket. Place the basket inside the pot filled with water and let it simmer on the stove. When the water inside the pot is simmering, it is ready to steam your food.
Ensure the pot is cooking at a low temperature, so the steam inside the basket doesn’t burn the food. The amount of water inside a bamboo steamer pot should be enough to float a small plate inside. It should also be tall enough so the basket does not touch the bottom of the pot.
Benefits of Using a bamboo momo steamer
- Steaming is an extremely low-calorie cooking method and can help you lose weight by eating more vegetables and fruits. If you are trying to eat healthy and lose weight, a steamer is an ideal cooking appliance for you.
- Steaming can be done at home, and it does not require any special ingredients or tools. All you need is a pot and a steamer. This makes it an extremely portable cooking method and is ideal for outdoor cooking.
- Steaming is one of the most efficient cooking methods. The food is cooked by trapping the steam inside the basket, and the food inside is not cooked by direct heat. The food inside retains more nutrients and tastes great than other cooking methods.
- Bacteria and other microbes inside the food are killed while steaming, so it is a safe method to cook your food. Steaming is ideal for cooking vegetables, fish, and other foods with high nutrient content.
- You can use a steamer when you are short on time and want to put something healthy inside your stomach, like vegetables or fruits. Steaming is a very low-calorie, low-fat, and low-budget method to cook your food.
- Steaming food is more healthy than other cooking methods such as roasting or grilling. The food inside is cooked by steaming rather than by direct heat, which makes it healthier than other methods. - Steaming is an excellent way to prepare food ahead of time, like making vegetable pulao or vegetable biryani. After making the dish, all you need to do is place the basket inside the pot, add water, and let it simmer for a few minutes. All of these foods are great for summer, and they are extremely easy to make.
How to Use a bamboo momo steamer?
To use your bamboo momo steamer, first place the basket inside the pot filled with water. Then, place the momo you wish to steam inside the basket. You can use a plate or a bowl to keep your momo inside the basket. Turn off the stove and let the pot sit for about 10 minutes. After the pot cools down, open it and remove the basket inside the pot. You can serve your food directly from the pot and enjoy it hot or store it inside the fridge until it gets cold.
The most important thing to remember while using a steamer is to ALWAYS use the filtered water inside your water filter. Water that has been sitting inside the pot for a while has high levels of impurities, and you don’t want to consume these impurities when using a steamer.
Safety Tips Before Using a Bamboo Steamer
- Make sure the stove is on a low heat setting.
- Use a pot that is tall enough so that the basket doesn’t touch the bottom of the pot.
- When steaming food, make sure to keep the food inside the basket.
- Store the bamboo steamer inside a cool, dry place when it is not in use.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Bamboo momo Steamer
- Make sure to buy a steamer that has a bamboo basket as opposed to a steamer that is made from bamboo mesh. It is important to use a steamer made from bamboo as it is a sustainable crop and can be used over and over again, while a mesh basket can only be used a few times before it gets damaged.
- Make sure the pot inside the steamer is made of stainless steel as bamboo is a porous material, and it can damage the pot if it is made from a different material.
Final Words
As you can see, the bamboo momo steamer is a very efficient cooking tool that makes a great addition to your home kitchen. The steamer provides gentle heat that cooks the food inside without cooking the outside, and it also retains more nutrients than other cooking methods. With the help of a steamer, you can cook most vegetables and even fish in a short amount of time. Once you start using a steamer, you won't want to go back to traditional cooking methods.
