How to clean a bamboo steamer basket

Cleaning bamboo steamer baskets is a delicate task. Here is the best way to clean the steamer baskets and washing liquids you can use.

How to clean a bamboo steamer basket

Do’s

• Wash with a sponge and dishwashing soap.
• Immediately rinse.
• Dry thoroughly.
• Air dry before storing.

Don’ts

• Soak it in water.
• Store when wet.
• Wash in the dishwasher.

Find out the best way to use bamboo steamer baskets.

Cleaning bamboo baskets is a delicate task, time is of the essence. Let the steamer cool down but do not leave it to dry out. 

While the steamer is still moist, give it a good rinse and dry it immediately. Warm soapy water is best for washing the baskets. 

You can also use lemon juice, vinegar or a combination of vinegar and soda. 

Make sure the steamer is completely dry before storing it in the cupboard to prevent mould from growing on the bamboo. 

Check out our wide collection of bamboo products on GBP.

Buying a bamboo steamer basket

We've identified 5-star collections of bamboo steamer baskets sets on Amazon

When shopping for a bamboo steamer, the two main things to look for are the sizes of the wok and the raw materials used. 

A wider steamer will cook a lot of food, alternatively, you can buy several small steamers to cook the same amount of food, either way, steamer sizes do not really matter. 

What matters the most is the size of the wok because it will determine the size of the baskets to use. So, choose the wok carefully. 

Tradition demands that for food to taste great, the steamer has to be predominantly made of bamboo. 

However, some modern steamers have stainless steel added to them. In this case, it depends on your preference and how you are going to use, wash and clean, and store the cookware. 

Pros and cons of Bamboo Steamer baskets

Food tastes fresh when cooked in bamboo steamer baskets. In fact, there are some unique features of Chinese cookware that set it apart. The 5 main advantages are given below. Bamboo steamer baskets are/have:

• stackable.
• lightweight.
• sustainable.
• visually appealing.
• different cooking times.

There are two main disadvantages of bamboo steamer baskets. They absorb food odours and are often hard to clean after use. The former happens especially after steaming seafood or vegetables like broccoli or brussels sprouts. 

It can also be a concern if you are using flavoured stocks to steam foods. Also, the bamboo steamer baskets are often hard to clean. 

As you can imagine, the woven strips and sides can be difficult to get to and give it a really good clean. 

There are several suggestions about using lemon juice, vinegar and or warm soapy water to wash the smell off. 

But food odour is not an issue if you are selective about what food to cook in the steamer. If you want to avoid it, steam the food that is less likely to leave an odour behind.