Review on Authentic Handcrafted 10 Inch Bamboo Steamer - Dual Layer, Perfect for Dim Sum, Bao Buns, Rice, Vegetables, Meat & Fish - Includes 2 Sets of Chopsticks, 20 Liners & Sauce Dish by Anthony Morrow

I bought a steamer, mainly for bao and steamed dumplings. I also bought a spacer ring so I can use different pots to hold the water. I've cooked food in it a few times and it works great. The outside is REALLY hot, but the vapor doesn't come through as much as when trying to use something that isn't designed for vaping. The parchment paper inserts are nice and the leaf shaped bowl is cute, although I don't know if I'll need them. Good quality chopsticks, better than in a restaurant. Tips: 1. Do not let food touch the sides of the steamer unless you have parchment on the sides.2. Do not place food directly on the steamer, use a parchment paper insert for easy removal.3. Get one of the metal adapters so you can use any pot to boil water.4. Rinse the steamer immediately after removing the food, especially if food has stuck to the steamer basket. Use a cleaning brush, not a cloth, to remove stuck food. After cleaning, leave the steamer on the counter overnight to allow it to dry completely. Don't put everything together until it's completely dry. My rolls and dumplings turned out great in this steamer and I had no trouble getting the bread out of the steamer because I brushed it straight away with the cleaning brush. Those who complain about splinters understand that this craft is not polished. They use knives to gut pieces of bamboo. So if you find a splinter, that's just part of how the pieces are cut. Just cut and move on. You can use a green scouring pad on the first wash (before you cook with it for the first time) to ensure there aren't any small shards waiting to grab you. And the pieces I have aren't perfectly round, so I sometimes have to rotate one piece relative to the other to get them to fit together nicely for cooking and storage. Again just the nature of the handmade item. If you're bothered by splinters and natural variations, and you want crafted perfection, buy a metal steamer. If you don't want to hand wash it and let it air dry before putting it in the cupboard, buy a stainless steel steamer. You'll just be happier that way. I wasn't sure if this standard size steamer would be enough for the bun portions we cook for my family, but it was fine. We buy frozen rolls from the Asian market nearby, they come in different shapes, sizes and flavors and they all fit perfectly.