A food container is covered by a foil to enclose food to be steam cooked. A holding chamber has a lid configured to be opened so that the food container can be placed within the chamber. When the lid is closed, the food container is enclosed within the holding chamber. A plurality of first nozzles extending from the lid into the holding chamber wherein when the lid is closed, the plurality of nozzles penetrate through the foil of the food container. A shower of superheated steam is introduced into the food container through the nozzles to cook the food. Steam is pulled from the food container through a centrally located exhaust port in the lid, and is reheated and recirculated back into the food container through the nozzles.