01.Introduction
15 food steamers on test, ranging from $60 to $330.
Traditionally, steaming has been more a process that requires a stovetop rather than its own unique product. However, a market seems to be growing for this kind of single purpose device. Muscling in on the microwave territory, sales of electric food steamers have grown by 11% from 2007 to 2008.
Judging by the product packaging and branding, health concerns and a desire for low-fat cooking in particular are driving their popularity. But are food steamers any healthier than other ways to steam that you may already have in your kitchen?
For more information on Benchtop appliances, see Kitchen.
Please note: this information was current as of September 2009 but is still a useful guide to today's market.
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How we tested
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Our home economist, Fiona Mair, assesses how easy the controls are to use and how easily the food steamer can be stored, as well as its ease of cleaning and general ease of use.
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She also cooks a complete meal of fish, rice and broccoli to assess the steamer’s ability and speed, as well as a test of the ability to cook a hard vegetable evenly in all baskets.
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Standby energy of the products is also measured.
Brands and models tested
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Breville BFS600
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Cuisinart FP2207A
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George Foreman GF3TS
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George Foreman GF3TSM
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Kambrook KFS300
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Kenwood FS470
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Morphy Richards 48780 Intellisteam (A)
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Sunbeam ST6810 VitaSteam (A)
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Sunbeam ST6820 VitaSteam
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Tefal Simply Invents VC1016
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Tefal Steam Cuisine Easy Store 6161 (A)
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Tefal Steam Cuisine Ultra Compact VC1006
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Tefal Steam Cuisine Vitamin + VC4007 (A)
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Tefal Vita Cuisine 3 in 1 Steamer VS4001 (A)
(A) Discontinued.
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