Dim Sum Equipment Guide
Dim sum — the Cantonese tradition of small steamed, fried, and baked parcels served with tea — is more accessible at home than most people expect. The centrepiece is a set of bamboo steamers stacked over a wok; the rest of the kit is compact and inexpensive. This guide covers what you need to make har gow, siu mai, char siu bao, and other Cantonese classics at home.
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Essential Kit
- Bamboo steamer set (25–30 cm, 2–3 tiers) — the heart
of dim sum cooking. Bamboo absorbs excess moisture so condensation does
not drip back onto the dumplings, keeping wrappers silky rather than
soggy. Stack multiple tiers to cook different items simultaneously.
Find bamboo steamers on Amazon.de → - Carbon steel wok (32–36 cm, round or flat bottom) —
the base your steamer sits on. Fill with 5–7 cm of water; the steamer
basket sits above the waterline. The same wok doubles for pan-frying
potstickers and deep-frying turnip cake.
Find carbon steel woks on Amazon.de → - Dumpling press / mould set — for consistent pleating
speed. While hand-pleating is traditional, a press lets you make uniform
crescents in half the time. Get a set that includes 7 cm and 9 cm sizes
for dumplings and larger bao wrappers.
Find dumpling presses on Amazon.de → - Small rolling pin (Chinese-style, untapered) — for
rolling wrapper dough. A narrow, uniform rolling pin gives you more
control over thin round wrappers than a standard pastry pin. Look for
a pin around 30–35 cm in length.
Find rolling pins on Amazon.de → - Parchment paper or steamer liners — to prevent
sticking. Cut circles slightly smaller than the steamer basket to line
each tier. Reusable silicone liners with holes are a sustainable
alternative and last for years.
Find steamer liners on Amazon.de →
Nice-to-Have Upgrades
- Spider strainer — for lifting boiled dumplings cleanly out of the wok without breaking skins.
- Bench scraper — for dividing and portioning dough precisely and cleaning the work surface between batches.
- Dim sum serving trolley (small cart or tiered stand) — for the full restaurant experience when hosting a yum cha brunch.
Where to Buy
Amazon.de carries bamboo steamer sets from budget options to professional-grade Helen Chen and Joyce Chen brands. For a complete starter, search "dim sum kit" to find bundles with steamers, liners, and a press together.