---
slug: what_to_use_instead_of_a_steamer
category_path: home_kitchen/kitchen_dining/cookware/steamers
type: informational
title: "What to Use Instead of a Steamer"
lead: "Set a metal colander or a heatproof plate on a small trivet inside a lidded pot with an inch or two (3-5 cm) of simmering water, and you have a steamer — the food just needs to sit above the water, covered. A few balls of foil or a couple of crossed chopsticks can hold a plate up in a pinch."
recommendation:
  name: "A colander, or a plate raised on a trivet or foil balls, inside a covered pot over simmering water — anything above the water works"
  reason: "Steaming only needs food held above simmering water in a covered pot, so almost anything heatproof that lifts it up can stand in for a steamer. The easiest swap is a metal colander or sieve set into a pot whose rim it rests on, with the lid on top; put an inch or two (3-5 cm) of water below it, keep it at a simmer, and it steams vegetables or dumplings like a basket. For a heatproof plate of food, raise the plate above the water on a small trivet, an upturned heatproof bowl or ramekin, three balls of crumpled foil, or a couple of crossed chopsticks, then cover — this is how you steam fish or buns with no special gear. A microwave with a covered bowl and a splash of water steams vegetables fast too. The rules are the same as a real steamer: the water must not touch the food, keep the lid on to trap the steam, and top up hot water so it never boils dry."
published: 2026-07-08
updated: 2026-07-08
---


<ComparisonTable
  columns={["Instead of a steamer", "How", "Best for"]}
  rows={[
    ["Metal colander or sieve", "Rest in a pot, lid on", "Veg, dumplings, like a basket"],
    ["Plate on a trivet / foil balls", "Raise it above the water, cover", "Fish, buns on a plate"],
    ["Upturned bowl + plate", "Bowl holds the plate up", "Anything on a dish"],
    ["Microwave + covered bowl", "Splash of water, cover", "Fast vegetables"],
  ]}
/>