Wasted $75 on a bamboo steamer set that fell apart on the second use

Bought a two tier bamboo steamer at an Asian grocery in Sacramento last month for $75. The bottom tier cracked apart after the second time I used it, and the lid warped so bad it wouldn't sit flat. I was steaming dumplings and the whole thing basically gave out mid cook. Anyone know a brand that actually holds up, or should I just go back to a metal insert?

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blair_hill591d ago

My mom had one of those cheap bamboo steamers from the 99 Ranch and it lasted maybe ten years somehow, so I figured the whole bamboo thing was just fine. Then I dropped $60 on a nicer looking set at a market in Oakland and the bottom ring split right along the seam on the third batch of bao. Turns out the ones that hold up are the ones with a thick band of wire or metal wrapped around the base, not the ones held together with just a few staples. If you're steaming often, the metal insert in a regular pot is honestly just less of a headache, and you can still line it with cabbage leaves if you want that same flavor.

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jason_lopez1d ago

Man, @blair_hill59, nobody ever talks about how you gotta rotate the thing after every use so it dries even, cause that trapped damp is what rots the seam from the inside out. Flip it upside down to dry and even a stapled one can hang on way longer than people expect.

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