Steamers

A bamboo steamer is the simplest upgrade a kitchen can get: set one over a wok of simmering water and you have the cooking method behind dim sum, steamed fish, fluffy bao and half of Chinese home cooking. This collection stocks bases and lids separately, from a six-inch single portion up to a ten-inch family size, plus steamer paper and multi-layer stainless pots.

Buying bases and lids separately is deliberate — and useful. Bases stack, so two or three tiers can cook over one pot of water: dumplings in one, buns in another, vegetables on top. Buy one lid and two bases in the same size and you already have a two-tier setup. The sizes refer to the diameter, so a ten-inch bamboo steamer needs a wok or pot at least a couple of inches wider to sit over.

Steamer paper — the perforated liners — is the other essential: it stops dumplings sticking without the faff of cutting baking paper or washing up cabbage leaves.

Care is minimal: rinse rather than soak, no detergent, and let the basket dry fully before stacking it away so the bamboo stays fresh. Everything is delivered UK-wide from our Manchester store, with free delivery on orders over £75. A steamer plus a bag of frozen dim sum is one of the best small investments in this shop.