February is a month for hearts, whether it’s a romantic Valentines dinner or participation in the American Heart Association’s American Heart Month. According to the AHA, there are over 80 million people in the United States living with heart disease. And whether you’re living with it or working hard to avoid it, diet plays a huge role in your heart health. While the options for healthy eating may be overwhelming, there is a simple and healthy solution in using a Bamboo steamer. Bamboo steamers cook foods without the use of heavy oils and frying, allowing the foods to retain more flavor and essential vitamins and minerals without added fats.
They say “Go Red” for your heart; Green Earth News says to go green!
Traditionally the bamboo steamers were made by hand using bamboo tools. The bamboo steamer is created by molding the wood around a circular frame and bamboo strips are woven into a base for the steamer. Using a bamboo rod rolled by a bamboo “bow” (similar to a violin), holes are drilled into the steamer and then bamboo nails are hammered into the steamer. While some modern variations of the bamboo steamer use bronze threads to hold the steamer together, most people prefer this traditional style of steamer since the bamboo is so adept at absorbing moisture and won’t risk condensation. This is especially important if you’re cooking delicate buns or dumplings that could get ruined by drips of water.
To use a bamboo steamer, fill a wok with water to just below the bamboo steamer. Some woks even come with steamer stands on them. Line the steamer with lettuce, banana leaves or parchment paper to avoid sticking and place your ingredients in the steamer making sure to put the food that requires the longest cooking time at the bottom. Bring the water in the wok to boiling and sit the lid tightly on the steamer. The lid and slotted bottom of the steamer work effectively to keep the steam flowing and the bamboo helps to absorb excess moisture while retaining heat.
An added bonus of using the bamboo steamer is that you can cook multiple courses in them without using a lot of 
equipment or space. The bamboo steamers are designed to fit snugly on top of one another so you can stack them one on top of the other to cook a full meal. It’s common in Asia for restaurants to use stacks upon stacks of bamboo steamers to cook foods ranging from beef to dumplings. And because the use of a steamer lining keeps the bamboo relatively clean, there is little clean-up involved when you use one.
And just as bamboo itself has many functions, so does the bamboo steamer. It’s most common use is cooking, yes, but it is also a unique serving dish for your meal, a lovely centerpiece or can even serve as savvy bamboo storage containers.
Consider going green with a bamboo steamer, not only for your health, but for the health of the environment. Bamboo plants will regenerate in two to three years for harvesting and require no pesticides or heavy machinery for harvesting, and unlike most of your pots and pans, the bamboo steamer is biodegradable.
Consider a heart-healthy and delicious meal to celebrate this month. And for more delicious recipes be sure to check out our bamboo flavors section!
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