How To Use A Basket Steamer: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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How to Use a Metal, Silicone, or Bamboo Basket Steamer Download Article Cook fast, healthy meals with any type of steamer basket Co-authored by Aly Rusciano Reviewed by Ashley Crawford

Last Updated: April 11, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Metal or Silicone Basket Steamer
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• Bamboo Basket Steamer
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• Cooking Times
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• Should a steamer basket sit in water?
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• Cleaning a Basket Steamer
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• Tips

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This article was reviewed by Ashley Crawford and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Chef Ashley Crawford is a Private Chef and the Founder of A Taste of Chef Ash. Chef Ashley started in the culinary industry when she was 14. She specializes in Creole and Cajun cuisine but has experience in all culinary topics. She has been featured in ESPN and Sports Illustrated for her culinary work with athletes. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 94,625 times.

Steaming is a healthy way to cook anything from vegetables to fish to dumplings. To steam food at home, all you need is a basket steamer. The most traditional basket steamer is made of bamboo, but you can also find variations made of stainless steel or silicone. In this article, we’ll teach you how to use all three types of steamer baskets to make delicious and nutritious meals quickly and easily and note how long to steam a variety of veggies, meats, and other foods.

How do you use a steamer basket?

1. Bring 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of water to a boil in a pan or pot.
2. Place the steamer basket on top of the saucepan or pot.
3. Fill the basket with your ingredients.
4. Cover the basket with a lid and reduce heat to medium.
5. Steam your food until it's cooked thoroughly.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

How to Use a Metal or Silicone Basket Steamer

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1. 1 Bring 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Pour water into the bottom of a saucepan that your steamer will fit inside. Place the pan on the stove and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.[1]
   • Wait until the water is vigorously bubbling, which means it’s boiling.
   • On a 9-setting stove, for instance, medium-high heat is 5 to 7.
2. 2 Set the steamer basket into the saucepan and place the food inside. Once the water is boiling, rest the metal steamer basket in the saucepan, making sure that the water stays below the basket. Add the food that you want to steam to the bottom of the basket.[2]
   • If the water comes up into the basket, pour some of it out before adding your food.
   • For faster cooking times, cut your ingredients into small, even pieces. For example, cubed chicken will steam faster than a whole chicken breast.
   • This method of cooking and preparation can also be used when working with a silicone steamer basket.

   Tip: For a “one pot meal,” add foods that take longer to cook to the bottom of the basket and foods that cook faster to the top. For instance, you could layer the bottom of the steamer with potatoes, then eggs, and then broccoli.[3]

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3. 3 Cover the saucepan with a lid and reduce the heat to medium. Place a lid on top that completely covers the pan with the steamer inside. Then, turn the heat down on the stove to medium, which is 4 to 6 on a stove with 9 settings.[4]
   • Use a lid that fits snugly over the pan so that no steam or moisture escapes; otherwise, the food may not cook properly.

   Tip: Avoid removing the lid while steaming, as this can upset the cooking time. Instead, set a timer for how long you intend to steam, and only lift the lid to check the food when the timer goes off.

4. 4 Let the food steam until cooked thoroughly. Steam the food until it’s cooked to your liking. For example, most vegetables will steam in 5 to 7 minutes, whereas fish takes 10 to 15 minutes, and meat will take 25 to 30 minutes on average.[5]
   • To check if vegetables are done cooking, poke them with a fork or knife to see if they’re tender and soft.
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Use a Bamboo Basket Steamer

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1. 1 Choose a basket steamer based on how much food you want to cook at once. Bamboo basket steamers come in all different sizes and number of tiers. Pick one according to the quantity of food you usually cook and whether you want to steam multiple types of food at once. For example, the more tiers your steamer has, the more variety of food you can cook at one time.[6]
   • If you’re a home cook, opt for the standard 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm) basket steamer. If you’re buying a steamer for a restaurant or commercial use, go with a larger one, like one that’s 30 in (76 cm).
2. 2 Line the bottom of each tray with a lettuce or cabbage leaf. Take a large, clean lettuce leaf and lay it over the bottom of each tier that you’re going to use. This prevents the food from sticking to the basket steamer.[7]

   Tip: Instead of lettuce, you can also use cabbage leaves or parchment steamer liners.

3. 3 Place the food you want to steam on top of the lettuce. Spread out the food in a single layer over the lettuce leaf. To avoid overcrowding the steamer and to help the food cook evenly, leave a little space between the food instead of packing it tightly together.[8]
   • If you’re steaming meat and veggies, put the meat on a separate tier since it takes longer to cook.

   Tip: You can steam all different types of food, like vegetables, fish, shrimp, beef, chicken, and dumplings.

4. 4 Add 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) water to a shallow pan big enough to hold the basket. Choose a pan that your steamer basket fits snugly inside and is around 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) deep. Check that the basket won't tip over or move around too much. Then, pour about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of water into the bottom.[9]
   • To prevent the bottom of your basket from burning, pick a pan that has sloped sides. This keeps the basket slightly raised off the bottom of the pan.
   • You can also use a wok, which is the traditional pan of choice in Asian cooking.
5. 5 Bring the water to a simmer. Place the pan on the stove and turn it to medium heat. Wait until the water is gently bubbling or just before it starts to boil.[10]
   • On a 9-setting stove, for instance, medium heat is any setting between 4 and 6.
6. 6 Place the steamer in the pan and put the lid on top of the basket. Once the water reaches a simmer, set the steamer basket into the pan, ensuring the basket's bottom layer isn’t completely submerged. Cover the top of the steamer basket with the lid.
   • If the bottom layer of food is underwater, pour out some of the water before placing the basket into the pan.
7. 7 Let your food steam until it's cooked to your liking. How long you steam the food depends on the type that you’re cooking.[11] Let vegetables cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, fish or dumplings cook for 10 to 15 minutes, and meat, like chicken, cook for closer to 25 to 30 minutes.
   • Choose your steaming time based on the texture and temperature you prefer your food as well. For example, if you like softer veggies, steam them longer than if you like crunchier ones.
   • Use a meat thermometer to measure when meat is done cooking. For instance, cook chicken until it's at least 165 °F (74 °C).
   • Check the water level every so often as the food cooks. If you notice it’s getting low, add a little more. The water is what creates the steam.

   Tip: If you’re steaming different types of food on different tiers, put the food that takes the longest to cook on the bottom. Then, add the other levels after a few minutes, based on their cooking times.

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Section 3 of 5:

Basket Steamer Cooking Times

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1. Steam your food until it's tender and cooked through. The most common items to cook in a steamer are vegetables (broccoli, potatoes, green beans, etc.) and dumplings, but seafood (shrimp, clams, salmon, etc.) and meat (chicken, pork, etc.) can also be steamed to perfection.[12] But how long do you steam each item? Take a look at the list below to learn how long each ingredient typically takes to cook:
   • Asparagus: 3 to 5 minutes[13]
   • Beets: 10 to 15 minutes
   • Broccoli: 8 to 10 minutes
   • Carrots: 10 to 15 minutes
   • Cauliflower: 8 to 10 minutes
   • Chicken: 10 to 20 minutes
   • Collard greens: 5 to 7 minutes
   • Dumplings: 10 minutes
   • Eggs: 15 to 16 minutes[14]
   • Green beans: 3 to 5 minutes
   • Kale: 5 to 7 minutes
   • Pork belly: 2 hours[15]
   • Potatoes: 10 to 15 minutes
   • Seafood: 10 minutes per 1 in (2.5 cm) of thickness[16]
   • Spinach: 3 minutes
   • Tofu: 6 minutes
   • When in doubt, follow a recipe! Steamer basket or steaming recipes typically include how long to steam each ingredient for.

Section 4 of 5:

Should a steamer basket sit in water?

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1. 1 A bamboo steamer should sit in water. If you’re cooking with a bamboo steamer, the bottom rim of the basket should always be submerged in water, but the bottom floor of the basket should stay dry. This allows the basket to heat up and produce steam without getting the food soggy.[17]
   • Replenish water as you cook if needed. If the water looks too low, add some more boiling water to not upset the cooking process.
2. 2 Metal or silicone steamer baskets should sit just above the water. Whether you’re using a metal, silicone, or bamboo basket steamer, as a general rule, the water in the pot should always touch the bottom of the basket. There should be enough water to graze the bottom but not seep through the basket’s holes.
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Clean a Basket Steamer

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1. 1 Place the steamer basket in the dishwasher if it’s made of metal or silicone. Most stainless steel and silicone steamer baskets are dishwasher safe. Check the packaging of your basket steamer. If it’s dishwasher safe, give it a good rinse after cooking and pop it in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.[18]
2. 2 Clean bamboo steamer baskets by hand. Unlike metal and silicone baskets, bamboo steamer baskets must be cleaned by hand, as the dishwasher can damage them. Use warm water, soap, and a sponge to scrub the basket clean. Then, let it air dry completely before putting it away.[19]
   • Always check the cleaning instructions on your steamer basket’s packaging or instruction packet, as some products give special steps for the best cleaning method.
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Tips

• If you’re using a steamer with different levels, put the food that takes the longest, like meat, on the bottom level. Add the top layers as the bottom layer cooks so everything finishes at the same time. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Most vegetables cook in 5 to 7 minutes, while meat takes closer to 25 to 30 minutes. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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References

1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-steam-vegetables-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-108512
2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-steam-vegetables-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-108512
3. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes-menus/how-to-make-dinner-in-a-steamer-basket-article
4. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-steam-vegetables-step-by-step-article
5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-steam-vegetables-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-108512
6. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/tools-test-kitchen/article/how-to-use-bamboo-steamer
7. ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3649-how-to-use-and-care-for-your-bamboo-steamer
8. ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3649-how-to-use-and-care-for-your-bamboo-steamer
9. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/tools-test-kitchen/article/how-to-use-bamboo-steamer

More References (10)

10. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/tools-test-kitchen/article/how-to-use-bamboo-steamer
11. ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3649-how-to-use-and-care-for-your-bamboo-steamer
12. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/tools-test-kitchen/article/how-to-use-bamboo-steamer
13. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-steam-vegetables-step-by-step-article
14. ↑ https://wholemadeliving.com/easy-to-peel-hard-boiled-steamed-fresh-eggs/#recipe
15. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/bowl-steamed-pork-belly-recipe
16. ↑ https://truenorthseafood.com/seafood-school/cooking/steaming
17. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-use-a-bamboo-steamer#
18. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/best-steamer-baskets-6825227
19. ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3649-how-to-use-and-care-for-your-bamboo-steamer

About This Article

Reviewed by: Ashley Crawford Private Chef This article was reviewed by Ashley Crawford and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Chef Ashley Crawford is a Private Chef and the Founder of A Taste of Chef Ash. Chef Ashley started in the culinary industry when she was 14. She specializes in Creole and Cajun cuisine but has experience in all culinary topics. She has been featured in ESPN and Sports Illustrated for her culinary work with athletes. This article has been viewed 94,625 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 4 Updated: April 11, 2025 Views: 94,625 Categories: Care and Use of Cooking Equipment Article SummaryX

To use a bamboo basket steamer, first, line the bottom with lettuce leaves to prevent the food from sticking to the steamer. Then, place the food you want to steam on top of the lettuce, spreading it out in a single layer so it cooks evenly. When you're ready to start cooking, add water to a shallow pan that's big enough to hold your steamer basket and bring the water to a simmer. Once it's simmering, place the steamer in the pan with the lid on top. If you are cooking meat, leave it to steam for 25 to 30 minutes, unless it's fish or dumplings, which only need to steam for 10 to 15 minutes. You can also steam vegetables in as little as 5 minutes, depending on how tender you want them to be. For more tips, like how to use a metal basket steamer, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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