Seiro Steamer
The seiro enhances one’s experience of a dish
Many around the world associate the seiro steamer with the preparation of Chinese dim sum, but this simple basket of bamboo, cedar or cypress has been used in Japan for hundreds of years to steam rice, beans, root vegetables and other foods. Because of its very simplicity, the easy-to-use seiro is attracting fresh attention and becoming newly popular in today’s Japanese kitchens.
Seiro cooking is as straightforward as adding meat, vegetables, fish or rice to the basket and placing it over a pot of boiling water the steam does all the cooking. Various ingredients can be steamed all together or separately: a large seiro can handle a mix of foods, while smaller baskets of individual ingredients can be stacked to cook all at once. Precise heat control is never a worry, as seiro-style cooking is not just convenient, it is less prone to cooking failures. The natural materials of the seiro conduct heat gently and so allow ingredients to cook evenly; naturally absorbent, the seiro regulates the amount of steam and condensation and best of all, it can be cleaned with a quick water rinse and left to dry naturally.
Steaming brings out the natural flavor and umami of ingredients without the use of oil, which not only supports lower-calorie dishes, but offers healthy benefits. Nutrients such as water-soluble vitamins and minerals often diminished through boiling, simmering or frying—are more effectively retained in steamed foods. And although this method may be easy, the gentle aroma of the ingredients, together with the subtle scent of wood or bamboo, rise with the steam, enhancing both the appetite and overall experience.
The visual appeal of seiro is not lost on social media, which is driving its current popularity. It can be placed right on the table for serving, where it adds a warm, casual sensibility to the setting. A single-serving meal arranged in seiro involving entrée, vegetables, rice or bread, is often presented as a one-plate dish and has become especially popular. A burgeoning assortment of seiro recipe books offer ideas on complementary ingredients, optimal cooking times, dipping sauces and photogenic arrangements, further fueling its trendy appeal.
Modest yet versatile, the seiro steamer is a traditional culinary tool with a long history, whose rediscovery is inspiring new ways of supporting healthy and busy modern lifestyles.
