Dumplings are a delicious and easy-to-make dish. This stape Chinese food is best cooked with a steamer. Whether using a traditional bamboo steamer or the electric food steamer.
But what if you don’t have a food steamer? What are the methods to cook them?
If you’re looking for a solution, you are in the right place.
There are several ways to steam your favorite dumplings without a food steamer or basket.
This blog post will show you how to steam dumplings without a steamer with four different methods.
Now, let’s get into it!
4 Ways To Steam Dumplings Without A Steamer
First Method: Use Elevated Wire Rack
You can use an elevated wire rack to steam your dumplings. The wire rack will allow the hot air and steam to circulate the dumplings, cooking them evenly.
Next, you will need a large pot or a large enough wok to fit the wire rack. You can use a pan with high sides if you still need both. Something like this.
If you use a wok to steam, I recommend using this round cooking rack to elevate your dish.
Now, here are the steps to steam your dumplings using a wok (also work with a pot and a pan):
- Fill a wok with enough water, probably around 1 -2 inches.
- Place the wire rack at the bottom of the wok. Make sure that the wire rack is partially submerged. This ensures the water won’t touch the dish plate when you place it.
- Cover the wok with a lid to bring the water to a boil quicker.
- While waiting for the water to boil, you can start putting all the dumplings into the dish plate.
- But before you do that, brush that plate with a bit of cooking oil to prevent the dumplings from sticking during steaming.
- Also, make sure the dumplings are not overcrowded inside the plate and not touching each other.
- If you have a lot of dumplings to cook, you can cook them in batches.
- Once the water in the wok has boiled, carefully place the dish plate on the wire rack.
- Close the wok with the lid and let it cook for about 9 to 10 minutes. Check to see if the dumplings are cooked through. If they’re not, put the lid back on and let them cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Once the dumplings are cooked, carefully remove them from the plate. You can now serve them or continue cooking other batches.
You’re done!
This first method using a wire rack is suitable for steaming with a wok because the wire rack size may not fit your pan or pot.
This brings me to introduce you to the following method.
Let’s continue!
Second Method: Using The Aluminum Foil
This second method is probably best if you:
- don’t have an elevated wire rack at home
- have a small size of pot or pan
The idea of using aluminum foil is to crumple them up to 3 pieces about the size of a golf ball or bigger.
These aluminum balls will work similarly to an elevated wire rack that raises the dish plate above the water level.
The steaming is similar to the first method above:
- Fill a pot (or a pan) with enough water but only partially submerge the aluminum balls.
- Place the aluminum balls at the bottom of the pot.
- Cover the wok with a lid to bring the water to a boil quicker.
- While waiting for the water to boil, you can start putting all the dumplings into the dish plate.
- But before you do that, brush that plate with a bit of cooking oil to prevent the dumplings from sticking during steaming.
- Also, make sure the dumplings are not overcrowded inside the plate and not touching each other.
- Once the water in the wok has boiled, carefully place the dish plate on the aluminum balls.
- Close the wok with the lid and let it cook for about 9 to 10 minutes. Check to see if the dumplings are cooked through. If they’re not, put the lid back on and let them cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Once the dumplings are cooked, carefully remove them from the plate. You can now serve them or continue cooking other batches of dumplings.
You’re done!
If you have a lot of dumplings to cook, you can cook them in batches.
Third Method: Microwave
If you find yourself short on time or without a steamer, don’t fret! You can steam dumplings in a microwave.
Just follow the following steps:
- Start by adding a small amount of water to a microwave-safe bowl.
- Next, place your dumplings in the bowl and arrange them nicely, so they don’t touch each other.
- Then cover the bowl with microwave-safe plastic wrap, or you can cover it with another plate.
- Microwave on high temperature for about 3 -4 minutes and then check to see if they’re cooked through.
- If you cook the frozen dumplings, you need to add a few more seconds to allow them to cook through.
- Once they’re cooked, drain any remaining water from the bowl and set them on the plate. Enjoy!
Fourth Method (Hack): Cook Dumplings And Ramen At The Same Time
This is probably not the orthodox way of cooking dumplings, but it works!
The idea behind this method is to cook ramen noodles and dumplings.
- First, add water to the pot and bring it to a boil.
- Place two chopsticks across the top of the pot. If your pot is large, you can set another pair next to each other.
- Once the water is boiled, you can add and cook your noodles.
- Then, carefully place the dumplings on the chopsticks.
- Close the pot with a cover and let them cook at the same time for about 8-10 minutes.
- Once they’re cooked, it’s now ready to serve!
Can I boil dumplings instead of steam?
Boiling dumplings is a very common way to cook dumplings. It can be either with or without soup. It’s a popular method in Chinese cooking.
The advantage of boiling dumplings is that it’s very quick and easy. All you need is a pot of water and your dumplings.
However, because the skin of boiled dumplings is relatively thin and small, they should be kept for a short time after they are cooked.
Otherwise, the skin will break easily, and the taste will be spoiled.
Conclusion
There you have it! These are some of the methods how to steam dumplings without a steamer.
Having a food steamer to steam dumplings will help make your cooking much easier.
But if you don’t have one, don’t worry! You can choose any method we’ve listed above and cook your dumplings without a problem.
I hope you find this post helpful.
Bon appetite!