The water level in the pan should be lower than the base of the steamer, otherwise, the food will boil instead of steam. Without a sturdy structure, the silicone folds into a sling when lifted—which could lead to food shifting or falling out from the open sides. For households that mostly steam vegetables, a silicone bowl-shaped steamer is an easy-to-clean solution. When steaming there’s no need to add oil to the cooking process, helping reduce your daily calorie intake. We also looked at how easy each one was to maneuver while hot with either tongs or a fork (if the handle had an opening for one).

Once expanded, the foldable petals of the stainless steel models offered additional surface area to set items without overcrowding. For example, some multi-cookers come with folding metal trivets that you can place at the bottom of the pot, then place a heat-safe plate on top before adding water to the bottom. Martha Stewart Stainless Steel Folding Steamer Insert: This model was the most durable of all the ones we tested: the thick stainless steel barely dented when repeatedly dropped. The water level in the pan should be lower than the base of the steamer, otherwise the food will boil instead of steam. The most effortless to manage straight from the pot were the double silicone handles of the OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer, which stayed manageably cool to the touch even after long steaming sessions.

Our outstanding quality cookware, kitchenware and tableware is up to 50% off other similar products from leading brands in a similar retail environment market. In most cases, we found that handles that did not telescope were preferable to ones that may do so unpredictably, potentially causing splashes of boiling water or falling food. A great steamer should be a workhorse in the kitchen and convenient to use, with a handle that’s easy to lift and maneuver (either with an opening for a fork or a knob that can be grasped with tongs).

Even after the durability tests, the movement of the petals remained controlled and smooth instead of becoming loose and floppy (one of only a few models to achieve this).Because the walls are slanted, capacity is limited for items that have to be spaced apart from one another, like dumplings.

Finance is provided by PayPal Credit (a trading name of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH). If the item comes direct from a manufacturer, it may be delivered in non-retail packaging, such as a plain or unprinted box or plastic bag. It was narrower than other metal steamers, making it a good pick for smaller saucepans and Dutch ovens. We also liked how large and flexible it was, making it great for steaming larger vegetables or even whole fish.During testing, we found stainless steel models to be more adaptable than the silicone and plastic models—not because of the metal itself, but because of the structure it provided. Adjustable to fit most pans up to 23cm, this steamer helps retain natural flavours, colours and nutrition.