The Best Microwave Steamer

Buying Guide

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to steam vegetables and proteins in the microwave, it’s important to have the right tools. A microwave steamer is made for this purpose, and has two separate compartments: one for food and one for water. The water chamber is placed directly below the food chamber since steam rises. The microwave heats up the water, which then turns into steam, and then cooks the food in the above chamber.

When you’re heating up or cooking anything in a microwave, it’s important to make sure you have a vessel made of the right materials. Most microwave steamers are made from plastic. Typically, polycarbonate is the most common type of food-grade plastic that is used for this purpose because it is highly durable. Make sure that you use the newest model of the microwave steamer available, as some older products made from polycarbonates may contain harmful chemicals that you don’t want in your food.

Capacity is also an important factor to consider. Some microwave steamers are large, able to hold multiple cups of food. Others are on the smaller end and have a capacity of one or two cups. Consider what is most useful for your family. For example, if you’re feeding a family of six, a larger steamer will be better than a smaller one. If you’re just feeding one or two people, then you will be good with a smaller steamer. You’ll also need to consider the size of your microwave and ensure the steamer you choose fits in there with enough room to fully rotate.

• Steam is hot enough to cook food – and hot enough to burn your skin. When choosing a microwave steamer, opt for one that comes with vents you can open and close safely to let out steam. Steamers that have stay-cool handles are also handy so that you can easily take out the gadget once the microwave is done cooking.
• If you don’t have a lot of storage space in your kitchen, then you will need a microwave steamer that has a collapsible or nesting design. These types of design features make it much easier to store the gadget in a drawer or small cupboard.
• Microwave steamers have multiple parts, which means you have multiple parts to clean. If you want to avoid having to do lots of dishes, opt for a microwave steamer that is fully dishwasher safe. That way, you can take apart the different compartments and slot them into the dishwasher to do the dirty work.
• It’s important not to overfill the water reservoir of the microwave steamer. If you do, the water could boil over the edges and leak out into the microwave, making a mess for you to clean up. The water could also boil over into the food compartment, creating soggy food.
• When putting food into the ingredient basket, make sure not to overcrowd the items. Steam needs to be able to travel all around the food in order to cook it evenly. Avoid overlapping the ingredients too much, especially proteins which cannot be consumed raw or partially cooked.