Steamer Baskets & Pots

Vegetable Steamer Baskets: What You Need to Know

Our metal steamer baskets are made of lightweight aluminum, which heats up quickly, cooks meals faster, and lasts longer than stainless steel alternatives. Pair a stockpot and basket together from KaTom to form a steamer set that will make your job easier in the kitchen for years to come.

Common Questions About Steamer Baskets

What is a steamer pan?

A steamer pan, or vegetable steamer pot, is a special type of pot designed for cooking food with steam. It typically consists of a solid bottom pan that holds water as it simmers, a perforated middle pan that holds food suspended above the water as it steams, and a lid that can be placed over the pan to seal the steam inside.

Some pots with steamer baskets have dual perforated pans, enabling users to steam two separate batches of food simultaneously. Other models may include an extra pan with a solid bottom so the steamer set can also be used as a double boiler.

What is a steamer basket used for?

Steamer baskets can be used to cook many foods, including potatoes, corn on the cob, broccoli, eggs, crab legs, and more. Their perforated design facilitates steam circulation, cooking food gently and quickly while keeping it moist.

Can I use a stockpot to steam food?

As long as you have a basket that fits the stockpot, you can use it for steaming. Vegetable steamer baskets are available in many sizes to fit almost any pot. It's important to ensure the basket you choose stays above the water when added to the pot; if the food sinks down into the water, it'll boil instead of steam.

How long does it take to cook vegetables in a steamer?

Vegetables cook at different speeds depending on their constitution. Root vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots, will take longer to steam than delicate foods, such as spinach and peas. Here are some commonly steamed vegetables and how long it takes to cook them in a pot with steamer basket:

• Peas: 2-4 minutes
• Spinach: 3-5 minutes
• Kale & collard greens: 4-8 minutes
• Broccoli & cauliflower: 5-8 minutes
• Green beans: 6-10 minutes
• Butternut squash, cut into chunks: 7-10 minutes
• Carrots, potatoes, & turnips, cut into chunks: 7-12 minutes
• Brussels sprouts, whole: 8-15 minutes
• Whole new potatoes: 15-20 minutes

Steaming times can be affected by the vegetable's size as well as how many vegetables are placed in the steamer at one time. When cooking different types of vegetables together, add items that'll take longer to cook to the basket first and then layer more delicate items on top after a few minutes to finish cooking. Cutting all the vegetables into uniformly sized pieces can also help ensure they finish cooking at the same time.

Can you use a metal strainer as a steamer?

Using a metal strainer as a steamer isn't the best approach. Although you could successfully steam food in a strainer, it's likely that the strainer's mesh will get clogged or bent out of shape while doing so. Additionally, strainers aren't designed to be lifted in and out of pots, meaning there's an increased risk of steam burns and spills when attempting to cook in a strainer.

To efficiently steam food, it's safer and more effective to select a steamer basket that's been designed specifically for that purpose.

Is stainless steel safe for steaming?

Stainless steel is a durable, corrosion-resistant metal that's perfectly safe for steaming. However, most steamer baskets and vegetable steamer pots are made of aluminum because it heats up more quickly than steel. Because food cooks so fast when it's steamed, it's important that the basket conduct heat as quickly as possible once it's added to the pot to ensure all the food gets evenly cooked.

Some dumpling steamers are made of bamboo, but this type of basket tends to be small and used primarily for steaming dim sum.