Steaming the food for too long

Because steaming is such a quick cooking method, oversteaming is a common mistake. The slightest overcooking can result in a mushy mess that you won't want to serve to your guests or family. If you keep a few things in mind, you can easily avoid oversteaming. The Kitchn suggests always setting a timer and checking to see if you can easily puncture the vegetables with a knife to confirm doneness when it goes off. Steam times vary depending on the food, but it gets even more specific. For example, if you're steaming different vegetables, some will take longer than others and must be added to the basket at different times.

Bamboo steamers are a popular steamer tool because they allow you to stack different vegetables. Those that take longer to cook can be placed on the bottom tier. After a certain amount of time, remove the lid, add another tier of vegetables that require less cooking time, and then replace the lid.