The best food steamers are a great addition to any kitchen, as they can create healthy meals with many different elements. They preserve the flavor and moisture of ingredients and are a healthier way of cooking, locking in more nutrients than boiling. Also, food steamers free up space on your kitchen's stovetop, giving you more freedom to cook with other elements.
Food steamers are great appliances that allow you to cook an entire meal using multiple tiers. One of the best features of these steamers is their digital controls, which allow you to adjust the heat and intensity of the cooking process to suit your preferences.
Not only are food steamers perfect for cooking vegetables, but they can also be used to prepare meat or fish, thanks to their larger tiers. As the cooking process continues, the tiered design ensures that the flavors mix, resulting in a delicious and flavorful meal.
Many of the food steamers featured in our guide have built-in cooking settings for various types of food. These intelligent appliances can steam meat, vegetables, eggs, and potatoes without requiring you to set specific times. If you prefer hassle-free appliances, our guide includes more user-friendly and cost-effective alternatives.
Food steamers can hold up to 12 quarts, which means every family should be able to find one that suits their needs. For more appliances focused on healthy living, check out the best rice cookers and Instant Pots.
The best food steamers we recommend in 2024
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While we haven't been able to test any of the units in this guide in person, we've instead honed in on top-rated brands and used our knowledge of the best features to help you make the right decision for your home, all for the best price.
The best food steamer overall
The Hamilton Beach 5.5-quart food steamer is an incredibly budget-friendly option. It has a two-tier design with a removable divider, making it easy to steam larger items alongside smaller ones, adding versatility to your cooking. The steamer has a digital display that lets you steam, delay start, and warm your food. The rice bowl is perfect for steaming rice and other small foods.
One of the standout features of this steamer is its versatility compared to other models in the market. The delay start feature is particularly useful, letting you set it to start cooking at a later time. Also, the post-cooking warmer keeps your meals at the right serving temperature until you're ready to eat them.
You must arrange your food wisely in the tiers to get the best steaming results. Chicken and potatoes can go in the bottom tier, while vegetables like green beans or squash can go in the top tier. If you do this, you'll get everything cooked to perfection.
Hamilton Beach's steamer can handle a wide variety of food, including seafood, poultry, hot dogs, and hard or soft-boiled eggs. It can even fit corn on the cob or a whole head of broccoli.
The best food steamer for professionals
This Cuisinart Digital Glass Steamer is the perfect cooking appliance to make meal preparation fun. With multiple preset modes for cooking seafood, poultry, grains, and vegetables and a manual control option, you can cook whatever you want. You can also reheat meals and keep them warm after they're done. Cooking settings are easy to adjust on the LCD display, and an audible alarm lets you know when they're done.
You'll get a long-term use out of the Cuisinart Digital Glass Steamer's five-liter glass pot, despite its price tag. A glass pot is great for cooks who don't like plastic, even if it's BPA-free. It has a single-tier design, but the tray inside can be lifted so you can get to your food, and you can even flip it over to use as a steamer stand.
With single-tier steamers, all food cooks at the same heat level, which can be a drawback. Lifting the glass lid will cause steam to leak out, so you'll have to cook it for longer. Nevertheless, the convenience of cooking different components of a meal all at once is a significant advantage. It allows flavors to meld for a more delightful dining experience. It minimizes the risk of bland side dishes and ensures a harmonious flavor profile.
The best vintage-style food steamer
Food steamers tend to prioritize function over design, but the BUYDEEM G563 stands out as a stylish and practical option. It's elegant and efficient, so it's a great addition to any kitchen. With its quick one-minute heating time, it's perfect for preparing quick dinners or snacks without the long wait typical of other steamers.
The BUYDEEM isn't just a steamer; it's a versatile kitchen companion that goes above and beyond. It's a steamer, stew pot, yogurt maker, sterilizer, and thawing machine, catering to a variety of cooking needs. With this multifunctionality, you can do a lot of things with one appliance, simplifying the cooking process.
You don't have to worry about filling the bottom tray with water, and it has an auto power-off feature, so you don't have to worry about burning or damaging the pot. Additionally, the appliance is designed with safety in mind, featuring an auto power-off mechanism.
With a compact and lightweight design, the steamer is perfect for smaller kitchens or people who like to make use of their space efficiently. With its aesthetic appeal and numerous features, the BUYDEEM is a great choice for chefs of all levels.
The best large capacity food steamer
If you're busy, the Secura electric food steamer allows you to prepare meals in a flash. It generates steam in just 15 seconds, making it a great addition to any kitchen. Thanks to the easy-to-read digital display, you can easily adjust the settings to suit your cooking needs.
One of the most impressive features of this steamer is its two-tier stacking design. You can steam vegetables, fish, chicken, or grains at the same time, maximizing your cooking efficiency. Secura's upper knob isn't slippery and the handle is anti-scalding, so you're safe while you cook. Additionally, the auto-shutoff feature prevents burning by automatically shutting off the unit when the water reservoir is empty.
If you have a big family or love entertaining guests, the Secura steamer is perfect. Compared to most steamers, which typically have a capacity of around 5 quarts, this model allows for cooking larger portions, so it's perfect for batch cooking or family gatherings.
Besides functionality, Secura's electric steamer looks great on your kitchen counter with its sleek stainless steel design. Anyone looking for a reliable and efficient cooking appliance will love its combination of style, safety, and substantial capacity.
The best food steamer for vegetables
If you're in the market for a user-friendly food steamer that simplifies meal preparation, especially for small households or individuals, the NESCO 5-Quart model might just be for you. This steamer has three tiers, making it ideal for cooking different parts of your meal at once. The rice bowl is also included, so you can do whatever you want.
If you're looking to incorporate more plant-based dishes into your diet, the NESCO 5-quart steamer excels. It produces well-cooked, flavorful vegetables efficiently, so it's a great choice. If you're trying to keep a healthy lifestyle, you'll appreciate the fact that you can cook a variety of vegetables all at once.
While the NESCO steamer does come with a rice bowl, we didn't get the same results when we tested it for rice cooking. If you're primarily looking to cook rice, you might find it a bit lacking. It might not deliver the same quality as a dedicated rice cooker or other advanced steamers designed for fluffy rice.
This 5-quart NESCO is great because it's simple to use without all the complexity or price tags associated with some other models. This model provides an excellent option without breaking the bank for anyone looking for a reliable and affordable steamer that covers the basics. If you like quick and easy meals, it's a great way to streamline your cooking routine.
How to choose the best food steamer for you
According to an article published by Healthy Options, steaming is one of the healthiest ways to cook everything from beef to broccoli. Eating steamed food can help you lower your cholesterol – steaming meat removes fat, unlike frying, baking, and grilling. Also, you don't need to use butter, oil, or any other fat to cook meat when you use a steamer.
Steaming is also an excellent way to prepare vegetables since it cooks them thoroughly without sapping them of essential vitamins and minerals. In addition, steamed vegetables retain their taste, color, juices, and freshness better than those cooked in other ways. Other cooking methods, such as boiling, can destroy naturally occurring vitamin B, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, biotin B12, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C, as well as minerals like calcium, phosphorous, potassium, and zinc.
An article published online by Shape Magazine also encourages steaming many foods, especially vegetables, chicken breasts, fish, and shellfish. "It's perfect for fish and shellfish because it doesn't dry out the delicate flesh. Halibut, cod, and snapper steam particularly well," the article states. Shape recommends jazzing up your steamed meals with herbs and other natural flavorings and avoiding using salt, which will wash off. For example, you can steam a fish fillet in foil with some garlic, grated ginger, onion, basil leaves, and a bit of lemon juice.
Size
Food steamer size is measured in quarts; most models are 3 quarts or bigger. They also usually have one to three tiers. When you buy a model with more than one tier, you can stack different items and steam them simultaneously or cook large foods in big batches.
If you buy a combination rice cooker and food steamer, the size is relative to the number of cups of rice the cooker makes. The larger the rice cooker, the larger the steamer basket. Small steamers are great for cooking a single dish, while a three-tier model can cook a whole meal.
Versatility
Dedicated food steamers can accommodate a variety of foods, but if you often cook rice, it makes sense to get a rice cooker and food steamer combo. These machines typically limit the variety of food you can prepare simultaneously because there is only one basket for steaming other foods. Still, if you usually eat rice, meats, or vegetables together, a food steamer and rice cooker combo is a convenient meal preparation.
Ease of Use
Food steamers come in electronic and stovetop varieties. Electronic steamers have timers, so you can set them and do other things while you wait for your food to cook. Stovetop varieties need some monitoring – you must monitor water levels and perfect your timing so your food is cooked the way you want. The best steamers are dishwasher safe, so no pots can be cleaned.
Food steamer FAQs
How do food steamers work?
Cooking food with steam preserves nutrients, flavor, and texture, so food steamers are great. Food steaming works by heating water to produce steam, which then circulates the food, cooking it evenly without directly coming into contact with boiling water.
Food steamers have water reservoirs. When the appliance is on, a heating element heats the water, vaporizing it. Steam rises and fills the cooking chamber, where food is placed in perforated containers or trays. Steam flows freely around the food in these trays, cooking it from all angles.
With most food steamers, you can set the timer and temperature to cook what you want. Vegetables, for instance, take less time to cook than grains or proteins. Steaming is gentle, so vitamins and minerals don't get lost as in other cooking methods like boiling.
With multiple tiers in steamers, you can cook food at the same time without mixing flavors. For instance, you can steam fish on one level while vegetables cook on another. Some models even have features like automatic shut-off, which prevents overcooking.
A stovetop steamer is a pot with a steaming insert that uses the same principle as an electric steamer but requires a stovetop.
Are food steamers worth it?
One of the biggest benefits of food steamers is that they allow you to cook food quickly and efficiently while preserving nutrients. Steaming also retains the colors, textures, and flavors of vegetables, fish, and grains for longer than boiling or baking. This method doesn't contain much fat, so it's great for people trying to lose weight.
Also, food steamers can be used to make a wide range of foods, like vegetables, meats, seafood, and desserts. Many models have multiple tiers, so you can cook different things at the same time. This feature is perfect for families or meal prep enthusiasts.
There are some things to consider before buying a food steamer. If you already have a kitchen with slow cookers, pressure cookers, and microwave ovens, it might seem redundant to have a steamer. Some people might not like the steaming process for some foods since it produces softer textures than grilling or frying.
How much does a food steamer cost?
As ever with kitchen gadgets, prices vary widely. Our current top pick has a typical retail price of around $45, while more high-tech options can cost four or five times that. At the other end of the scale, there are plenty of simple but effective options hovering around the $20 mark.
Although price is, of course, important, we'd recommend concentrating first on what you want to steam and how you want to steam it: there's no point saving a few bucks on a steamer if it doesn't have the capacity or features you need; it'll just end up in the back of a cupboard.
Are food steamers healthy?
Yes! Steaming is considered one of the best ways to preserve food's nutrients and flavor. And with steaming, you're not cooking in unhealthy oils or fats.
In addition to locking in nutrients, steaming has other health benefits. Because it's so easy to do and the results are so much tastier than food baked dry or boiled into blandness, steaming your food is a great way to start and stick to healthier eating. Steaming isn't just for veggies, as good as steamed veggies are: it's used for other tasty foods such as spring rolls, dumplings, and fish.
How much electricity does a food steamer use?
Not much. Food steamers are relatively low-energy appliances. An air fryer might run at 1500 to 2,000 watts, while a steamer will typically require about 400 to 800W unless you've gone for an extremely powerful model. And because steaming is so quick, you're not using that power for extended periods, either.
How long to food steamers last?
According to several factors, such as the quality of the appliance, frequency of use, and maintenance practices, food steamers can last between 5 and 10 years. A higher-end model usually has better materials and construction and lasts longer.
Well-known manufacturers usually use higher-quality components that can withstand regular use better than cheaper ones. It's important to clean your steamer regularly to prevent mineral buildup, which can affect performance over time. If you use it a lot, it'll wear out faster.
The best way to ensure the longevity of your food steamer is to keep it clean, including periodically descaling it. If you live in an area with hard water, you must follow the manufacturer's cleaning and care instructions.
When you're not using your steamer, store it in a dry, cool place and ensure it's clean and dry before storing it.
When is the best time to buy a food steamer?
A food steamer is a great deal during major sales like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or clearance sales at the end of the year. When retailers offer significant discounts during these periods, you can get high-quality steamers for a great price. Also, people look for kitchen gadgets to gift or use for festive cooking during the holiday season, which can lead to promotions.
There's no better time to buy a food steamer than at the beginning of the year. Many people set health-related resolutions, and steamers can be a great way to prepare healthy meals. Retailers often stock up on kitchen appliances during this time, so you'll have a bigger selection.
Identify your cooking habits and when you will most likely use a steamer. Buying a steamer before a busy cooking season—like summer barbecues or holiday gatherings—can help if you plan to incorporate more steamed dishes into your diet. You can experiment with recipes and get to know the appliance.
Manufacturers usually release new models and features in the spring and fall. If you're interested in the latest technology or design, wait for these releases.
