The Joy of Bamboo: Steaming and Skewering the Asian Way

The most transformative tools in a kitchen are often the simplest. A woven bamboo basket and a handful of wooden sticks might not look like much, but they are the quiet engines behind some of the world’s most beloved street food and dim sum classics. Here is how to bring that gentle, aromatic cooking style into your own home.

What it is

Bamboo kitchenware covers the natural, lightweight tools used across East and Southeast Asian cooking—most iconically the tiered steamer and the humble skewer. A bamboo steamer is a cylindrical basket with a slatted base, designed to sit above simmering water so food cooks in a gentle, fragrant cloud of steam. Bamboo skewers are simply thin, pointed sticks used to thread bite-sized ingredients for grilling, frying, or dipping. Together, they represent a style of cooking that prizes freshness, texture, and the subtle perfume of the wood itself.

Where it comes from

The bamboo steamer has been a cornerstone of Cantonese cuisine for centuries, inseparable from the *dim sum* tradition where trolleys ferry stacked baskets of dumplings and buns to eager tables. Its design is brilliantly functional: bamboo absorbs excess condensation, preventing soggy wrappers, while the stackable tiers let a single pot of water steam several dishes at once. Skewers, meanwhile, are a staple of street food culture across Asia—from Indonesian *satay* to Japanese *yakitori*—where they turn small morsels into a portable, smoky feast. Both tools are a testament to using natural, renewable materials to coax the best out of simple ingredients.

How to use it

• Steam dumplings and buns: Line the basket with parchment or a cabbage leaf, arrange your *siu mai* or bao with space between them, and steam over a wok of boiling water for a tender, never-soggy result.
• Reheat leftovers gently: Revive yesterday’s rice, vegetables, or even pizza with a few minutes of steam instead of a harsh microwave blast.
• Skewer for the grill: Thread chicken or beef for satay, or vegetable chunks for kebabs, and grill over coals or a griddle pan for that charred, smoky edge.
• Fondue and chocolate fountains: The shorter sticks are perfect for dipping fruit, marshmallows, or bread into melted chocolate or cheese without the mess of forks.
• Build a DIY dim sum spread: Steam a batch of dumplings in the basket while you grill skewers on the hob, and you have a feast that feels like a trip to your favourite restaurant.

Good to know

• The One Tier 10" Bamboo Steamer with Lid from Tradewinds Oriental Shop measures 10 inches (25cm) across, weighs 500g, and is priced at £13.49. It is ideal for a standard wok or large saucepan.
• The 100 Bamboo Skewers - 15cm pack weighs 80g and costs £1.49, while the 100 Bamboo Skewers - 18cm pack weighs 100g at the same price. Both are described by the supplier as perfect for BBQs, parties, chocolate fountains, fondue, and chicken or beef satay.
• Allergens are not published by the supplier for any of these items, so if you have specific sensitivities, it is worth contacting them directly before purchase.
• Care: Hand-wash the steamer and dry it thoroughly; bamboo can warp or crack if left soaking or in a hot dishwasher. Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before grilling to prevent them from burning.