Typically and more traditionally, mantou is prepared in a real steamer. Unfortunately, that takes a while. For people who are short on time, a microwave will usually do just as well.

Mantou can be prepared straight from your freezer to your plate- all you need is a microwave.

The only difference between the two methods is that traditionally steamed mantou stays soft longer than microwaved mantou does. I value the saved time more, so I don't mind.

Also, the thing gets gobbled up pretty quickly.

Go to the nearest Asian supermarket and buy a bag of Asian buns also known as 'mantou' pronounced like 'man' with a Jamaican accent and 'toe' like your big toe.

This company sells many types of mantou- plain, plain red bean filling, whole wheat, taro, brown sugar, and whole grains and nuts.

Take one bun out of the bag, and remove the wax paper lining (if there is one) attached to its bottom

Get a paper towel, soak it in water, and then squeeze most of the water out. What you want is a damp towel -not a mop!

Wrap the bun completely, and set it in the microwave.

Let 'er roll for one minute.

Once it's done, unwrap, and enjoy!

To let the bun cool down faster (so you can dig into it faster of course) split it in half.

See the steam?

Now you can enjoy your mantou either as a standalone snack

Or pair it with your favorite dish. Mantou goes great with leftover pork ribs - more specifically, the sauce! (To learn more about how to make Taiwanese pork ribs, check out my previous guide.)

How to steam mantou (a plain asian bun) in a microwave

Mantou is a plain Asian bun that is sold frozen in most Asian supermarkets. It's easy and can be a tasty snack or accompany a meal. Steaming frozen mantou is a snap as long as you've got microwave.