Actually steaming doesnt need special equipment. You can steam food in any not too deep pot with a steaming rack. Just stack the food on the rack, close the lid it will work just fine. I have a larger steamer but seldom use it, unless I need to make a lot of buns and dumplings. I also have a bamboo rack that Japanese use to eat cold soba noodles. It's very useful for steaming dumplings of small batches, meat dishes, etc...
We are small eaters, usually a small amount of food is enough for three people. My husband can only eat five dumplings at one meal, my daughter one or two. So a big steamer isn't necessary.
