It can be hard to choose the right food steamer for your needs. There are so many to choose from, and it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. YouTubeStorm is a top-tier YouTube marketing agency that specializes in helping you achieve better video rankings and channel growth. In this article, we'll discuss the different factors that you should consider when buying a food steamer, and we'll help you find the best one for the money. We'll also provide some tips on how to choose the right steamer for your needs. So read on, and let us show you the way to the best food steamer 2020!
I know why you’re looking for the best food steamer – you are aware of its many health benefits, right? You also know that it’s better to get nutrients directly from the food you eat rather than from anywhere else (such as vitamin supplements).
Even if you’re a vegetable eater, overcooking veggies will lower their nutritional content. One way to avoid this dilemma is by using a steamer to cook your food (video) (yes, not to just vegetables). Aside from retaining the food’s nutritional content, you can also avoid too much intake of oil (such as when you fry or saute your food).
Best Food Steamer 2020: Top 10 Picks & Reviews
Image
Rank
Brands
Product Name
Quality
Price
Editor’s Rating
Check Price
#1
Rosewill
Rosewill RHST-15001
4
$$$$
Check Price
#2
BELLA
BELLA Dual Basket Food Steamer
4
$$$$
Check Price
#3
VonShef
VonShef 2-Tier Bamboo Steamer
4
$$$$
Check Price
#4
Cuisinart
Cuisinart STM-1000
4
$$$$
Check Price
#5
Aroma Housewares
Aroma Housewares ARC-743-1NG
4
$$$$
Check Price
#6
Aroma Housewares
Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD
3
$$$$
Check Price
#7
Oster
Oster CKSTSTMD5-W
3
$$$$
Check Price
#8
T-fal
T-fal VC1338
3
$$
Check Price
#9
Oster
Oster 5712
3
$$
Check Price
#10
Hamilton Beach
Hamilton Beach Digital Steamer
3
$$
Check Price
Best Food Steamer
How a Food Steamer Works
Things to Consider When Shopping for a Food Steamer
Other Important Things to Take Note of
Top 10 Food Steamer Reviews
Top 1 – Rosewill RHST-15001 3-Tier Stackable Baskets Electric Food Steamer with Timer
Top 2 – BELLA Dual Basket Food Steamer
Top 3 – VonShef 2-Tier Bamboo Steamer
Top 4 – Cuisinart STM-1000 CookFresh Digital Glass Steamer
Top 5 – Aroma Housewares ARC-743-1NG Pot Style Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
Top 6 – Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD Digital Cool-Touch Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
Top 7 – Oster CKSTSTMD5-W Food Steamer
Top 8 – T-fal VC1338 Balanced Living Compact 2-Tier Electric Food Steamer
Top 9 – Oster 5712 Electronic 2-Tier Food Steamer
Top 10 – Hamilton Beach Digital Steamer
What is the Best Steamer?
How a Food Steamer Works
When steaming food, hot air from heated water is used as the source of heat for cooking. The whole process happens inside a container that’s tightly sealed. This design allows food to retain its moisture content as this can’t evaporate in a sealed environment.
The result of the steaming process is delicious, tender, and moist food (not dried up). And since you don’t need oil in the process of steaming, you can avoid this not-so-healthy ingredient.
Things to Consider When Shopping for a Food Steamer
There are certain features that make one model of steamer better than the other. Just think about the following factors listed below – they will influence your decision in choosing a steamer.
Design – Steamers can be designed to have 1 tier, 2 tiers, or 3 tiers (these are the most common). This feature refers to the number of layers a particular model has. Needless to say, a lot of tiers would mean more spaces for cooking food.
Also, it would be good if the unit can operate without having to use all the levels included in the package. And another thing – having removable bottoms or dividers will allow you to cook bigger types of food in your steamer.
Materials – When looking for a food steamer, look for models that use materials that are safe to come into contact with food. Glass containers are safe but quite fragile. Plastic containers are good too, as long as they’re BPA-free. And of course, units that are made of stainless steel are really good. Just avoid units that come with aluminum parts and Teflon coatings as these have been linked to health problems.
Controls – There are full-featured steamers and simple steamers. It’s up to you to choose the included features in a particular model.
Capacity – It’s important to check on the capacity of a steamer before deciding to buy it. If it’s only for 1 person or a couple or a small family, a small unit with 1 or 2 tiers will probably suffice. However, if you’re cooking for a large family, you will need a high capacity model – and a unit with 3 tiers will surely be more practical.
Price – As long as you can afford it, don’t be discouraged to get an expensive steamer if you really like its features. Of course, we all want inexpensive products, but for something as useful as a steamer – you can consider it as an investment to your health.
Other Important Things to Take Note of
The things listed below are not major issues to consider, but they’re still worth looking into for safety and convenience.
Auto Shut Off – There are models of food steamers that automatically shut off after cooking or when the water runs dry.
Timer Delay – Having a timer delay setting will allow you to program the unit to start at a certain time so that cooked food will be ready for you.
Versatility – Steamers that also function as rice cookers are very practical to have.
Cleaning Procedure – Models that are dishwasher safe are easier to clean than units that require hand washing.
Storage – Steamers with stackable containers are very easy to store.
Top 10 Food Steamer Reviews
Listed below are the Top 10 food steamers on the market today. They are ranked according to their overall features – with the Top 1 being the highest in rank.
I will review each of the products in the Top 10 list and present to you their features, pros and cons. By the end of this post, you will find it easier to decide which food steamer to buy (watch out for my recommendations as well).
Top 1 – Rosewill RHST-15001 3-Tier Stackable Baskets Electric Food Steamer with Timer
At the Top 1 spot in this Top 10 countdown is the Rosewill food steamer. This model can be purchased in white color.
Key Features:
Design – This is a 3-tier model of food steamer
Capacity – It has a total food capacity of 9 liters (the 3 containers have 3-liter capacity each)
Materials – The included food bowls and rice bowl are all made of BPA-free materials
Power – It comes with the 800-watt motor that can generate hot steam in just 40 seconds.
Timer – It has a 60-minute cooking timer
Rosewill RHST-15001 3-Tier Stackable Baskets Electric Food Steamer Via Amazon
Check Out Best Price On Amazon
Things We Liked
It comes with an auto shut-off feature – the unit will automatically turn off when the water tank is empty.
There’s a water level indicator to easily monitor the water level in the reservoir.
There are 3 food containers to hold 3 dishes separately
There are built-in egg holders in the food bowl
All the removable parts are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean
Things We Didn’t Like
The food bowls don’t have removable bottoms (they come in one piece)
I really REALLY like this Rosewill food steamer – mainly because it comes in a 3-tier design (the only one in this Top 10 list). The food steamer can, therefore, hold a lot of food to serve a large family – and they’re BPA-free and safe for food consumption
Check Out Best Price On Amazon
Top 2 – BELLA Dual Basket Food Steamer
As the Top 2 steamer for food in this Top 10 list, make sure that you check out the Bella Dual Basket food steamer. It’s available in classic black color.
Key Features:
Design – This is a 2-tier model of food steamer.
Capacity – It can hold a total of 7.4 quarts of food.
Heating System – It uses a patented quick-start system that allows the unit to heat up and produce steam in as fast as 30 seconds.
Auto Shut Off – This model will automatically shut off when water runs dry in the reservoir.
Materials – The plastic food steamers are BPA-free.
BELLA Dual Basket Food Steamer Via Amazon
Check Out Best Price On Amazon
Using my Bella 2Tier Steamer Via Pep Ghee-mendez
Things We Liked
Cleaning is easy as the food bowls are dishwasher safe.
You can prepare 2 types of dishes at the same time.
The containers are BPA-free and safe to come into contact with food.
Things We Didn’t Like
The small numbers on the timer can be quite difficult to see.
This is a very useful steamer for cooking. You can use it to steam meat, seafood, vegetables, and even dim sum and dumplings. I like it very much because it uses BPA-free plastic containers.
Check Out Best Price On Amazon
Top 3 – VonShef 2-Tier Bamboo Steamer
If you are into Chinese cuisine, this model of food steamer will surely interest you. It comes with a bamboo design.
Key Features:
Design – It comes in 2-tier design, with each level of steamer measuring 10 inches in diameter.
Construction – It’s made of woven bamboo for effective retention of nutrients, moisture, flavor, and color.
Materials – There’s a stainless steel banding support so that the steamer won’t burn from heat.
Accessories – The package includes wax steamer liners (50 pieces) and wooden chopsticks (2 pairs)
Operation – Since it doesn’t come with a heating system, food is cooked by placing the unit in a wok (with boiling water).
You can also get a ring adapter so that you can place the steamer on top of a stock pot.
VonShef 2-Tier Bamboo Steamer Via Amazon
Check Out Best Price On Amazon
Things We Liked
It uses materials that are safe to come into contact with food (bamboo and stainless steel)
It’s easy to use.
The unit is beautifully made.
It comes with a good seal – steam won’t escape during cooking.
