STEAM COOKING EQUIPMENTS

You only need two simple pieces of equipment to steam food on the stove top: a pot and a steamer basket. The pot is filled with a small amount of liquid that is brought to a simmer; the item to be cooked is placed in a basket suspended above the liquid, and the pot is then covered. Steamers are used primarily to cook vegetables, seafood, and other foods where moisture retention is essential to visual appearance and taste. Food cooked in a steamer also maintains more of its nutritional value.
The two main types of food steamers are electric and stovetop. Electric steamers are separate appliances, while stovetop steamers are usually paired with a pot, saucepan, or wok. Both electric and stovetop steamers yield thoroughly cooked food with less added fat.