Best Overall
Concord Steamer Pot
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Do you use a steaming water bath to prepare pudding, custard, meats, and vegetables? Do you need to use the pressure cooker every time you cook rice and other grains? Not anymore! With a steamer pot in your kitchen, you can easily cook a vast range of recipes through boiling, simmering, and steaming. This tool comes with a sauce pot and a steamer insert with a perforated base to help you prepare multiple food items simultaneously. To help you sort through a market crowded with this product, we have rounded up our best steamer pots of 2024. The Concord Steamer Pot is our top pick, but the other options are just as impressive!
Steamer Pots: A Buying Guide
A steamer pot can be a great addition to your kitchen, but only when you choose the ideal product. With so many products on the market, finding the right one is no walk in the park. So, we have curated a complete buying guide for you, ensuring you can make a well-informed decision for the steamer pot.
Steamer Pot vs Stock Pot
For one, a steamer pot consists of a sauce pot and a steamer insert, while a stock pot is a deep vessel with a glass lid. In terms of functions, you can boil, simmer, and steam different food items in a steamer pot. On the other hand, a stock pot is used for boiling, simmering, and frying. In terms of dishes, steamer pots are best for momos, idlis, buns, and bread, none of which can be cooked in a stock pot. And finally, you can stack multiple inserts to form a tiered steamer pot arrangement. But a stock pot needs to be used as a standalone.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Steamer Pot
Volume
Most steamer pots are available in two volumes — two quarts and three quarts. Usually, the products have a larger sauce pot and a smaller steamer insert while a few have both these pieces in equal size. The volume choice you use will depend on your cooking needs. For instance, if you often prepare steamed dishes, it’s better to go for a steamer pot with the same size sauce pot and insert.
Base
If a cooking pot's base is not strong enough or has poor construction, it can scorch the food items or increase the overall cooking time. This is why we recommend that you choose a steamer pot with a thick and strong stainless steel base. This will ensure that the pot distributes heat evenly and prevents burning or scorching. Plus, it also establishes a proper balance and extends the product’s lifetime.
Material
Most steamer pots are made from high-quality stainless steel because this material is rust and corrosion-resistant, and can withstand high amounts of heat. Such products are highly durable and long-lasting, ensuring you can use the product to its full potential. In some sets, the steamer insert is made from aluminum. It is cheaper and prevents corrosion or rusting. But aluminum is much weaker than alloy steel.
Handles
While browsing through the steamer pots, you must ensure the handles are riveted with the external utensil body since it adds more stability and durability. You should also ensure the handles stay cool all the time. Most products come with stainless steel handles while others feature plastic covers. It is better to choose a steamer pot with stainless steel handles as the material is extremely strong and durable.
Baskets
A few steamer pots come with different baskets based on hole size. The steamer basket with small holes is used to cook rice, quinoa, and other similar food items. On the other hand, when you need to cook larger food items, go for a tray with large holes.
Lid cover
Most steamer pots come with a glass lid, enabling you to check the food easily without removing it. You must ensure it is a vented lid that controls heat and maintains the food at optimal temperature. In some products, the lids come with additional rims to improve steam retention.
Price of a Steamer Pot
The price of steamer pots can vary because many come with various features such as different volumes, the number of trays, lid rims, handles, and more. This is why the price varies from $24.04 to $75.98 based on multiple factors. Here are some features that can change the cost of your steamer pot:
- A three-tiered steamer pot is costlier than two-tiered ones
- If your chosen steamer pot set has an additional rimmed glass lid, its cost is higher than others having regular lids
- Similarly, nonstick steamer pots are more expensive than the rest of the products with regular nickel or chrome lining
- Larger steamer pots are also costlier than smaller products
Top Picks
- Best Overall: Concord Steamer Pot
- Budget-Friendly: Oster Steamer Pot
- Most Versatile: Nevlers Steamer Pot
- Sleek Design: Ltwqling Steamer Pot
- Optimal Performance: Rachael Ray Steamer Pot
Reviews
Budget-friendly
Oster Steamer Pot
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Most Versatile
Nevlers Steamer Pot
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Sleek Design
Ltwqling Steamer Pot
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Optimal Performance
Rachael Ray Steamer Pot
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FAQs
How should I clean my steamer pot?
Most steamer pots are made from stainless steel, so you should use a gentle dishwashing liquid and regular tap water to clean them. Always use a soft scrubber to ensure the inner walls remain scratch free. But if you have a nonstick product, you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning.
Can I put the steamer pot inside the oven?
If you want to use the steamer pot inside an oven, ensure you get a product safe for oven use that won’t get deformed when exposed to high temperatures.
Is a steamer pot compatible with an air fryer?
No, the steamer pots are not compatible with air fryers. You should not use the product inside the fryer as it can cause serious accidents in your kitchen and bodily harm.