[Satisfaction Increase] I tried steaming everything with MUJI’s steamer (Seiro)! What did I learn after trying 5 dishes?

I steamed 5 dishes: meat & vegetables, shumai, meat buns, sweet potatoes, and bread with MUJI’s steamer (Seiro)! Just cutting, arranging, and waiting has allowed me to add one more dish to my weekday evening drinks, which is surprisingly easy and good.

Waiting and letting the steam do the work isn’t such a tough cooking method, is it?

I had been thinking it would be nice to have one of these tools in my kitchen. Instead of complicated dishes, I can just line up familiar ingredients and then let the steam do the rest. If that’s all it takes to stand in the kitchen, trying it myself wouldn’t be too bad.

What caught my eye was Muji's "Bamboo Steamer" (seiro).

So I decided to buy it, and for a few days, I started steaming whatever I could think of.

When I used it, it was easier than I expected.

Taking a good look at the steamer, it has a simple design with a finely woven lid and a slatted bottom. Contrary to its sturdy appearance, it was surprisingly light when I held it, making it easy to handle with one hand.

Just wash it quickly with water before use, boil water in a pot, and place it on top, and you're all set. I thought it wouldn't require any special care or preparation, so I was able to start right away from the day I bought it.

If you line the steamer with cooking paper, the ingredients won't stick, and cleanup is smooth. Just minimizing the dishes makes the cooking hurdle on busy weekday evenings feel significantly lower.

For the memorable first time, I cut the meat and vegetables, laid them out, and left them alone.

Now for the first steamed dish. This momentous first time is "meat and vegetables" with pork, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, and potatoes steamed together. Will it be delicious just by steaming?

Arrange the cut ingredients on the cooking paper, and then just leave it to the steam, making sure not to leave it too long to avoid a fire from water overflow.

When I peeked at the steaming, the cabbage was wilted and translucent, while the potatoes and carrots were perfectly cooked.

When I opened the lid, I was bracing myself for water droplets to fall, but it was surprisingly not as drippy as I expected. Perhaps the bamboo material is absorbing the steam (?), giving a sense that the ingredients are finished without becoming soggy. The sight of the woven lid beyond the steam enriches my heart.

I served the steamer directly on the dining table and enjoyed it with rice. Just cutting and arranging made me feel like I had cooked something. I was genuinely pleased to see how well it turned out.

For the second time, I challenged myself with supermarket "shumai."

For the second time, I tried the shumai sold at the supermarket. The conclusion was that it also turned out well; by simply lining them up in the steamer lined with cooking paper, the skins became plump and translucent, and the flavors of the meat filling were nicely sealed in.

That day, I also added teriyaki chicken, shredded vegetable salad, and simmered thick fried tofu. When I presented the shumai in the steamer, just placing the steaming basket directly on the table enhanced the usual evening drinking time, making it feel a bit more festive. I appreciate that there’s no need to redo the plating, and I can bring it to the table while the steam is still rising.

The third time I properly steamed frozen "nikuman"

For the third time, it's frozen nikuman. Until now, I've been warming it in the microwave, but when I put it in a steamer, the surface of the dough became fluffy and moist, resulting in a softness that is different from microwave cooking.

Even though I just bought frozen nikuman and reheated it, when I serve it on the dining table in the steaming bamboo basket, it somehow looks like a more refined dish than usual.

The fourth time, I just steamed the "sweet potatoes" I had kept in the freezer

For the fourth time, I simply put the sweet potatoes from the freezer into the steamer without cutting them. The preparation took no time at all, just laying down some cooking paper.

When steamed, the sweet potato becomes fluffy inside and has a natural sweetness. It turned into a healthy dish that is perfect as a quick bite during evening drinks.

The fifth item was "reheating bread" that had been lying in the freezer.

For the fifth time, it was bread that had been dormant in the freezer. If you use a toaster, the exterior tends to become hard, but when steamed in a steamer, the fluffy texture returns, and it can be enjoyed with a chewy sensation.

I appreciate that I can quickly steam it like this even during busy morning hours.

Through five dishes, I realized the satisfaction of making another dish with a steamer.

What I realized after steaming 5 dishes is that dim sum, frozen foods, whole vegetables, and bread all become delicious using the same procedure of "cut, arrange, and wait." Until now, I had to think about the cooking method for each ingredient, whether it was a microwave, fish grill, or frying pan, but with a steamer, I realized that I have more options to simply lay out what I have in the fridge or freezer for that day.

Previously, during weekday evening drinks, I would think, "I want one more dish, but it's a hassle to think about what to make," and I would give up there. Now, when I look at meat buns, sweet potatoes, or bread in the freezer, I immediately get the urge to say, "I want to try steaming this."

The convenience of being able to serve it directly on the table without rearranging the plating is also great, and the washing up is minimal. While I haven't become skilled at making elaborate dishes, I've started to gain the satisfaction of adding "one more dish" to my weekday dining table. That's the biggest change that has come from steaming 5 dishes.

Product Name / Bamboo Steamer (Seiro) / Main Body Deep Type Small
Price / 1090 yen
Size / Approximately Diameter 18× Height 8cm
Material / Main Body: Bamboo Rattan Core Material: Poplar Wood

Product Name / Bamboo Steamer (Seiro) / Lid Small
Price / 690 yen
Size / Approximately Diameter 18× Height 3.5cm
Material / Main Body: Bamboo Rattan Core Material: Poplar Wood
● Good Product Planning

Interview & Text / SYURI

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