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How to Choose and Buy a Steamer

Here are some hints and tips on some of the things to consider when choosing and buying a vegetable steamer:

Size and Style of Steamers

There are many kinds of steamer available, ranging from cheap baskets through to expensive appliances with digital displays. Some are extensions of pans and consist simply of stainless steel or plastic steamer baskets, which sit on top of the pan. You can also buy stand-alone electrically-powered steamers which consist of stacked transparent baskets that sit on a base which contains the water.

Steamers vary in size and style, from the amount of tiers they have to their shape. Whilst some are round, others are oval, and with an oval steamer it’s especially easy to lay out fish, long vegetables and other similarly shaped food on the plates.

Steamers are often white, silver or black in colour, but some models come in other colours too, such as green.

Timers and Displays

Most electrical steamers have timers, and if you decide to buy such a model, you can choose between a dial and a digital timer with button or touch pad controls and bell alerts. Digital displays add a nice modern touch to your steamer, although the maximum time for which a timer may be set varies between steamer models.

Plates and Baskets

Non-stick, dishwasher-safe plates are very easy to clean and can also be taken out of the steamer, allowing you to cook larger foods such as chicken.

Stock Collecting

If you like to make your own stock, look for a steamer model that has the facility to collect the nutrient-rich juices. You can then add them to stocks and gravies for fuller flavouring.

Automatic “Cut-out” and “Keep Warm” Functions

The automatic cut-out function is a nice feature which stops the steamer boiling dry. Some steamers also have a keep warm facility, which ensures that the food stays at a steady temperature.

Other Features to look for when choosing a Steamer

Other features that you can find on some models of steamer include:

• Viewing windows or transparent parts to see the water level.
• Instant start fast steaming.
• Some models of steamer are dual-purpose, such as frying pans that have the baskets stacked on top, or steamers that double as fondue cookers.
• Easy and safe water top-up.
• Baskets that stack into each other when not in use for space-saving storage.
• Removable leads.
• Cord storage facility.
• Infusers for spices and herbs, which are used to flavour the food.
• Delay start function.

Extras

Check to see if the model of steamer you are interested in comes with any extras, such as:

· Egg holders

· Recipe booklets

· Rice bowls.

Further Information

You can find out more about some of the top models of vegetable steamer available on the market on our Top Steamer Models page.

If you want to buy a vegetable steamer, you can find out more about some of the top online steamer suppliers including details of their delivery times and postage and packaging costs in our Where to Buy section.

You can learn more about other types of cooking appliance in our Types of Cooking Appliance section.

You can find out about specific cooking appliance manufacturers and brands in our Brands of Cooking Appliance section.