---
slug: how_to_use_a_bamboo_steamer
category_path: home_kitchen/kitchen_dining/cookware/steamers
title: "How to Use a Bamboo Steamer"
lead: "Line each tier with perforated parchment, cabbage leaves, or a cloth so food doesn't stick, set the stacked baskets over an inch or two of simmering water in a wok or wide pot, cover, and steam. Soak a brand-new steamer first, and never let the pot boil dry."
recommendation:
  name: "Line the baskets, set them over simmering (not touching) water, cover and steam — soak a new one first, don't boil dry"
  reason: "A bamboo steamer cooks with the gentle, even heat of rising steam, and its woven lid absorbs drips so buns and dumplings stay dry on top. Line each tier — perforated parchment, a round of cabbage or lettuce, or a damp cloth — so sticky dough and fish don't glue to the bamboo. Set the stacked baskets inside a wok, or over a pot whose diameter matches the steamer, with an inch or two of water simmering below that never touches the food; keep it at a steady simmer rather than a hard boil, and top up with hot water on long steams so it never runs dry. Put denser or longer-cooking items on the bottom tier, closest to the steam, and lighter ones on top. Soak a brand-new steamer in water for about 30 minutes before its first use so it doesn't scorch, and afterward empty it, wipe it, and air-dry it completely to prevent mold — never soak it or put it in the dishwasher."
published: 2026-07-08
updated: 2026-07-08
---


<ComparisonTable
  columns={["Step", "Do", "Why"]}
  rows={[
    ["Line it", "Parchment, cabbage, or cloth", "Keeps food from sticking to bamboo"],
    ["Set up", "Over 1-2 in simmering water, not touching", "Steam cooks it; water shouldn't"],
    ["Stack", "Dense on the bottom, light on top", "Bottom is closest to the steam"],
    ["Care", "Soak when new; air-dry fully after", "Prevents scorching and mold"],
  ]}
/>