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Steamer Basket Buying Guide

How We Chose Our Selection Of Steamer Baskets

Brands – Steamer baskets are on of those products where brand may not seem important. However, you should keep in mind, that just like other products, there are cheap imitations. While this may not seem like a big deal, cheap imitations are often made with poor quality materials. In the case of silicone or plastic, you want to be careful, especially as heat is involved. The last thing you need is for toxins from poor quality plastics and silicone to leach into your food. Stick to brands that you know only use BPA-free materials, or a non-corrosive metal like stainless steel.

Price – Steamer baskets are not items you want to spend an enormous amount of money on, so the ones in our selection are generally in an affordable price range. Some of the more expensive ones are made from stainless steel and come in a complete set such as a pan, steamer insert and a lid. These are definitely worth investing in because you can use these steamer baskets to do more than just steam your food. Others are simply steamer baskets that you can use with almost any existing pots or cookers you have, making them an economical choice.

Reviews – When it comes to moderately priced items like steamer baskets, it’s not likely that consumers want to search through pages of customer reviews. However, reviews give us useful information about a product so we still like to look at reviews to ensure the steamer baskets in our selection will live up to expectation. We looked for reviews that stated ease of use and durability, as well as other factors that make steaming food better.

Features To Look For In Steamer Baskets

Size/Capacity–The capacity of your steamer basket should depend on how much food you need to prepare for your family. You also need to make sure the steamer basket will fit in your various pots. However, this may not be of any real importance if you choose a steamer basket that forms part of a pot set. While most steamer baskets can be around the 5-quart size, there are bigger ones for bigger families.

Materials – Steamer baskets can be made from a variety of materials with the most popular choice being stainless steel. This wonder metal is non-corrosive, so you can use it with any vegetables and it’s also durable. The other popular choice for steamer baskets is silicone. This material has become very popular in cooking because of its flexibility and versatility. Most plastics should be avoided though as they may release toxins when heated. Considering you need a lot of heat to steam food, you don’t want that same heat to flavor your food with toxins.

Quality – Even though most steamer baskets are moderately priced, that doesn’t mean you should settle for a poor-quality product. You still want a steamer that will last you for quite a few years, or longer. In particular, if you prefer collapsible steamer baskets, you don’t want them to fall apart while your food is steaming. Don’t just look at the quality of the steamer basket itself. Also ensure that the materials used to make the steamer are of a good quality as well. This is especially important if you steam food on a regular basis.

Storage – If you have limited kitchen space, you don’t want a lot of large items taking up precious space. If your space is limited or you like to take your good eating habits on the road, a collapsible steamer is a great choice. You can fold it up and neatly pack it in a draw or even tuck it in with the rest of your camping gear.

Ease Of Use – There is nothing complicated about steaming food. You put your food in the steamer basket and you place it in the cooking vessel with enough water to steam your food, without water actually touching your food. Steamer baskets that come in a set with a custom pot and lid are excellent, but so are steamer baskets that can fit into pots and pans you already have. Simplicity is the key.

Easy To Clean – Let’s face it, no one likes washing dishes so you want a steamer basket that is easy to clean. Most steamer baskets are relatively easy to wash by hand, but even better are the ones that are dishwasher safe.

Different Types Of Steamer Baskets

We’ve included a good variety of steamer baskets in our selection, however, there are many different ones that we haven’t included. If you can’t decide which type is best for you, there are several types of steamer baskets you can consider.

Stainless Steel – Most stainless-steel seamer baskets have been designed to be used with your existing pots and pan. This material is durable and easy to take care of. You won’t need to worry about staining or smells from a previous dish infiltrating your next steamed dish. You can get a stainless-steel steamer basket on its own, or a specially dedicated pot and steamer basket set.

Silicone – What you will love the most about a silicone steamer basket is the versatility. Most are soft and pliable enough to fit in a range of different pot sizes. The materials used are heat resistant and non-toxic. Most also come with handles so that it’s easy to take the food out of the pot when you’re done.

Collapsible – Collapsible steamer baskets are compact and handy to keep in the kitchen for the simple reason that they can be folded, or collapsed for storage. The general description for collapsible steamer baskets is lotus design. They unfold much like a flower ready for use. Collapsible steamer baskets can be made from stainless steel, silicone or other food-grade materials; however, stainless steel and silicone are the safest and most durable.

Non-Collapsible – These steamer baskets look much the same as most pots, except that they are either full of tiny holes, or they’ve been made of a mesh. In most cases, these are made to fit a specific pot and are known as dedicated pots with a steamer insert. These are a great choice as you can also use the pot without the steamer basket.

Bamboo Steamers – If you’ve ever gone to dinner at a Chinese restaurant, you’ll have noticed bamboo steamers, often stacked on top of each other. These have been designed to fit in a wok or a large pot with some water in the bottom.

Microwave Steamers – Microwave ovens are great for cooking fast meals or reheating. Microwave steamers are available as single or multi-tiers that are held over water. When it is all in the microwave, the water heats quickly and steams the food. With multi-tiered microwave steamers, you can cook several different vegetables in each tier.

Electric Steamers – This is a free-standing steamer, much the same as a non-collapsible steamer with a dedicated pot and the steamer insert. Depending on the model you prefer, you can choose an electric steamer with multiple tiers and some even come with timers so there is no chance of overcooking or over steaming your food.

Multi-Cooker Steamers – Much like an electric steamer, a multi-cooker steamer can work the same way. However, with a multi-cooker steamer, you can cook a casserole in the bottom dish and steam vegetables in a specially designed steamer basket that fits snugly over the bottom dish. This too, is a stand-alone appliance that makes is easy to use and great for homes with limited kitchen space.

Counter-Top Steamers – If you really want to go all the way with steaming your food, you can invest in a counter-top steamer that is built in to your kitchen. This is something you will usually find in high-end or professional kitchens but it’s not very practical unless you plan on steaming food every day. Otherwise, it’s just a permanent pot that is taking up space on your counter-top.

The steamer baskets in our selection are all quite easy to use and will give you some great tasting, healthy meals. Try steaming different vegetables and protein such as fish. Enjoy delicious food and get your health to a level that will impress your doctor during your next medical examination.