Steamer Basket

How to Choose a Steamer Basket You Will Adore

Pros and Cons of Steamer Basket Materials

Let’s start from the best material for your instant pot steamer. Most of the accessories come in stainless steel, silicone or plastics. Both modern silicone and plastic steamers seem to be Ok, since they don’t stick to instant pots’ inner coating, they can withstand high temperatures and they are not rust-prone, which is also great. However, your silicone or plastic steamer basket needs to be made of really quality material, since when it is too thin, it is more sensitive to tear and wear in use, as well as to melting at excessive heating. And what is more important, you need to be sure that exactly food grade material was used to manufacture your pot steamer basket. Otherwise, it is not really safe and can do a lot of harm to your health, as it is scientifically proven that plastics can release toxic substances, especially at heating. 

Stainless steel is another pair of shoes. It is corrosion- and temperature-resistant, easy-to-care and usually machine washable, while completely eco-friendly and safe. Your stainless steel steamer basket won’t bend, as if trying to outthrow your foods like its more flexible silicone analogues do. And it won’t crack, when falling down on the hard floor, as is often the case with plastic appliances. Stainless steel steamers are sturdy, resistant to mechanical damage and durable, yet lightweight enough to surpass the counterparts, when all the factors are totaled.

However, we would highly recommend choosing a pressure cooker steamer with silicone legs and handle for improved safety and comfort in use. It is a great idea to integrate silicon non-slip qualities into stainless steel design to provide a better grip for the handle. Besides, some instant pot coatings are sensitive to scratches, which can be made by metals. Even if your instant pot is scratch resistant, why take chances, when you can protect the coating by choosing a stainless steel strainer basket with silicone legs? The more so that you can avail of the non-slip legs, when using the basket as a kitchen utensil apart from the instant pot. But this is another point we are coming to – designs.

Why Baskets?

Pressure cooker steamers come in various designs, including mesh strainers, foldable steamers, racks and colanders with holes. We believe that a meshy instant pot basket is the most universal and convenient design, and we have several reasons to support the viewpoint.

• Racks are great for cooking fish, larger meat chops or eggs, but it is not very convenient to cook hamburger meat using them, right? Instant pot baskets with holes are not suitable for steaming products like rice, since the holes can be too large to hold fine-grained products. An instant pot steamer basket with mesh design allows cooking multiple products of any texture and size, as well as to combine them together for steaming dainty dishes. 

• Due to the design, you can use your vegetable steamer basket as a strainer, when you need to rinse fruits, vegetables and greens for your salads or prior to steaming them. It is also helpful to have this utensil for letting the water drain in order to avoid excessive moisture in your meals. 

• While foldable veggie steamer basket may seem to be more flexible, it is also less durable due to its design. Besides, its metal plates can scratch the inner coating of your pressure cooker. Meanwhile, our basket come in a variety of sizes and allows for inserting it in various instant pots with no damage to the sensitive surfaces.   

So, now you know which pressure cooker steamer basket is the best and why, and you need only to make your choice!