Cloth for steaming buns

Steamed buns are one of the staple foods consumed in most parts of my country, among which the large steamed buns in the north are the most famous. If you want to make steamed buns delicious, the first key is the quality of the flour, and the second is the skill of the maker. You will often find that a piece of cloth is placed on the steamed buns. The main function of this cloth is to prevent the steam from wetting the buns and affecting the taste of the finished product.

When steaming buns or other foods, the layer of cloth placed in the steamer is called a steamer cloth, also known as a cage cloth.

The steamer cloth can not only prevent the steamed food from sticking to the steaming plate, but also keep the food beautiful. Of course, the drawer cloth must be clean. It should be cleaned before and after use to avoid causing harm to the body.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Don’t rush to remove the steamed buns from the steamer after they are cooked. First remove the lid of the steamer and continue steaming for 3-5 minutes. When the steamed buns on the top of the basket have quickly dried up, remove the basket, turn it over on the chopping board, and take off the basket cloth. In this way, the steamed buns will not stick to the cage cloth or the chopping board. Wait for 1 minute before unloading the second cage, once all the cages have been unloaded.

2. Wash the cage cloth after use, leaving no crumbs, and soak it with water before use.

3. If you use an aluminum steaming rack, you don’t need a cage cloth. You can first wash and dry the cage, apply a little cooking oil on it, put the steamed buns on it, and it will be easy to take out after it is cooked.

Materials that can replace the cloth for steaming buns are:

1. Use a straw steamer mat, which can be purchased from souvenir shops or tableware stores.

2. Use corn husks instead of steamer cloth. In Shandong Province of my country, corn husks are traditionally used as the bottom of steamed buns. When we go to the market to buy corn, we collect the peeled corn husks, dry them and use them as steaming cloths for steaming buns. We soften them before use and they can be used all year round.

3. Silicone steamer mat, made of food grade silicone, can be used repeatedly. Be careful to buy products from regular manufacturers.

4. Use oil film instead of the steamer cloth. Apply a layer of oil film on the steamer to replace the steamer cloth. This is how the steamed dumplings are cooked in many restaurants.