What did I do wrong?

[eve11]

I was trying to make steamed dumplings (recipe here). The filling came out really good. And I wrapped them up in wonton wrappers (well, egg roll wrappers, but, same stuff, right?), and I set them on one of those springy UFO-like expanding steamer things, over boiling water as noted in the directions. But the wrappers were a complete disaster. The tops got cooked pretty well (where I had smushed up the wrapper and sealed it), but the bottoms were soggy and stuck to both the bottom of the steamer and to the dumpling next to it. I couldn't get them off the steamer without ruining them. So I saved the filling and maybe will try again with a wrapper, but can anyone who has done this kind of thing successfully tell me how to do the steaming?

Comments

[asd109.livejournal.com]

Those sound yummy.

Is this one of those metal streamers? I wonder if they use a plastic or bamboo steamer and that makes the difference? (I've never tried making them so I can't offer a more informed guess.)
Maybe try some non-stick spray on the steamer before putting the dumplings in?

[eve11]

they are really yummy. But would be yummier if they didn't fall apart!

I think I'll try putting some oil on the steamer next time, and putting the dumplings in with the thin side up so even if they do stick, it won't be at a spot that will break.

Also, I will ask my office-mate who is Chinese and knows how to make dumplings. I know she knows because for the new year festival she actually did a demonstration. Now I'm ticked I missed it.

[saintrandall.livejournal.com]

When you find out, let me know. I'm gonna give that recipe a go, and I only have a metal steamer, too. Maybe cheesecloth, to prevent stickage to the metal? Even if it doesn't work, might be easier to peel them off a cloth. :)

[lem0nb0mbs.livejournal.com]

I don't think the wrappers are the same. I guess you can hunt arund te net for the answer.

Dumplings are one of my fav fods!

[eve11]

Well, they have the exact same ingredients. Wonton wrappers are curved and egg roll wrappers are square. Maybe one is thicker than the other. This looks like a question for J, my office mate.

[lem0nb0mbs.livejournal.com]

Thicker is what I was thinking...maybe it just seems like that because of how they are cooked.

(Note to self: check simple spelling before hitting the "post" button.)

[eve11]

Ah, we all read tyop, it's okay :)

J says that dumpling wrappers are thicker. Also she suggests using vegetable oil on the steamer so they don't stick. If I can't find dumpling wrappers around, she is going to pick me up some when she goes grocery shopping :)