Bamboo steamer
Bamboo steamers, called zhēnglóng (蒸笼; 蒸籠) in Chinese, daenamoo jjimgi in Korean (대나무 찜기) mushiki (蒸し器) or seiro (蒸籠) in Japanese, are vessels used for steaming in East Asian cuisine.
The most famous kind of bamboo steamers are used in Chinese cuisine and date back to 5,000 years in Southern China.[1] They are produced by removing the skin from the bamboo, soaking it in water, shaping it into a circle, and hammering it in with nails. The base is made up of woven bamboo strips, and production can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on its size.[2]
Bamboo steamers have become prominent to the Western world for its role in cooking and serving dim sum, particularly during the practice of yum cha.[3] They are designed to be stacked on top of each other so that the steam can cook many different servings simultaneously, as well as fit on the table (often on a Lazy Susan) while being served.[4]
In recent years, alternatives to the traditional bamboo material have been developed, including silicone.[5]
Gallery
The top cover of a bamboo steamer
Bamboo grid of a level
Stacked mushiki on top of a pot
Dim sum in Shanghai served in bamboo steamers
References
- Petit, Nicolas (3 February 2016). "Forgotten Hong Kong Icon: The Reinvention of the Bamboo Steamer". Zolima City Magazine. Zolima Ltd. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- Springer, Kate (9 June 2016). "The Delicious Tradition of Bamboo Steamers". The Loop HK. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- "What Is Dim Sum? The Beginner's Guide to South China's Traditional Brunch Meal". Asia Society. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- Leung, Sarah (16 May 2019). "How to Use a Bamboo Steamer". The Woks of Life. Elite Cafe Media. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- Chan, Candy (26 October 2013). "Humble bamboo basket takes a cha siu bow". South China Morning Post. Alibaba Group. Retrieved 21 January 2020.