Find the Best Countertop Steamer for Your Kitchen
Countertop steamers offer all the power and speed of steam cooking in a compact footprint that fits almost any kitchen. While full-size units often require costly installation and take up considerable space, countertop steamers are generally simple to install and can fit atop nearly any available work table, utility station, or equipment stand. Operators wanting to add a few steamed items to their menu or incorporate steam cooking to improve the flavor and texture of existing recipes can acquire a compact, countertop steamer to reap significant rewards from a controlled budgetary investment.
To help you decide which option is best for your establishment, we'll cover the best uses and benefits of various countertop steamer types below.
Portion vs High-volume Steamers
Countertop steamers come in two separate styles: portion steamers and high-volume steamers. These two style fulfill similar functions, yet have a few key differences to consider before buying.
Portion steamers are designed for heating and retherming individual sandwiches, tortillas, fractional food pans, and other small portions of food. Portion steamers can't cook large batches of food, but they can cook a high volume of small portions back-to-back. This is perfect for establishments that are cooking food to order, rather than making bulk amounts of food and keeping it in hot holding. These steamers cook and reheat food in a chamber and are most useful in sandwich shops and quick-service restaurants because of their speed.
The terms "portion steamer" and "sandwich steamer" often overlap because both types heat small portions very quickly; if you cook or heat food to order and serve small items fast, a portion steamer is the best choice.
High-volume steamers function as their name suggests, cooking significant quantities of food at one time using steam. Larger models can handle as many as six full-size steam pans - enough to cook food for hundreds of guests throughout the day. Because of their compact size, high-volume countertop steamers are great for locations with limited space for cooking equipment.
Such units are often used in institutional settings, such as schools, correctional facilities, cruise ships, and hospitals, but any establishment needing to cook large quantities of food quickly can make use of a high-volume countertop steamer. Many restaurants operating a buffet, for example, utilize a steamer to quickly prepare several pans of food for the steam table or food bar.
Consider how you heat and serve food in your venue. Small portions such as sandwiches or fractional pans of food heat quickly in portion steamers, while high-volume steamers power through multiple pans of food with ease.
Decide on a Cooking Method
Most countertop steamers use convection heating, meaning internal fans circulate the hot steam on all sides of food at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. For a few specific applications, a countertop model that cooks with pressurized steam might work better. Steam pressure cookers are best for dense, sturdy foods such as root vegetables, cuts of meat, and grain- or legume-based dishes. Because these units operate under pressure, they can heat steam as high as 250 degrees Fahrenheit for a quicker cooking time. More information on pressure steaming can be found in this article about steam cooking.
Determine the Capacity You Need
Steamers come in a range of sizes to fit different needs, so the best way to ensure you're choosing a steamer with sufficient capacity is to calculate how much food you steam during peak service periods and select a model that can keep up with that estimate. Many portion steamers are excellent for quickly heating food to order or for cooking one or two pans of food at a time, but they lack the capacity required to cook food in bulk. Inversely, a high-volume steamer can handle multiple full-size food pans and produce a larger volume of product but would waste a lot of energy heating small portions. Think about the type and volume of product you sell to determine the best capacity for your menu.
Utility Connections: Gas vs Electric
Countertop steamers can run on electricity or gas. Depending on your establishment, available connections, and utility costs in your area, one or the other will best serve your needs. Below, we'll explain the differences between these two options to help you decide which one works for you.
Electric countertop steamers operate by quickly and gently circulating steam on all sides of food as it cooks. This cooking method ensures a uniform texture, shortens cooking time for dense foods, and maintains a maximum temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Convection cooking is gentler on food, so if you're serving eggs, seafood, green vegetables, or custard, convection is the best choice.
Convection models also can be opened to check on food's progress, take pans in and out of the unit, or add seasonings, while pressure steamers cannot. Many steamer types use convection heat, including portion, countertop, and floor models. Always verify which cooking method a steamer operates with before completing your purchase.
Gas-powered steamers heat food more quickly, but they must be safely connected to a gas line to operate. If your building uses gas and you already have gas-powered equipment set up in your kitchen, a gas-powered steamer is the most efficient option. However, if your building doesn't already have gas, the cost of adding a new line can be prohibitive.
Gas-powered models offer robust heating power and fast cooking times without needing any expensive electrical work done, but they may still require professional installation. Some models can be powered by a portable LP or natural gas tank, meaning setup is quick and easy and they're a great choice for mobile applications such as catering, food trucks, and demo carts.
Power Measurements and What They Mean
Kilowatts: The kilowatt rating (kW) on an electric steamer measures how much power it can put out. Higher numbers mean the machine uses more energy, which typically translates to quick heating times and faster recovery. If you're concerned with conserving energy and lowering utility bills, consider ENERGY STAR-certified units, which are tested for proven energy efficiency.
BTU: A BTU - or British thermal unit - is defined as the amount of energy required to heat 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. BTUs are used to measure the energy output of gas-powered steaming equipment and enable comparison between different energy sources. If speed and heat retention is important to you, look for a unit with higher BTU output.
Water Source: Connectionless vs Plumbed
The water source for your counter steamer can either be plumbed or connectionless. Plumbed steamers are easier to operate than connectionless but require more setup work and can't be moved easily. Connectionless options need more attention from the operator to function but can be set up anywhere they are needed.
Plumbed Steamers are attached directly to the building's water line, so the steamer can automatically draw all the water it needs. This means no labor is spent refilling the water reservoir between batches. Unlike a connectionless unit, a plumbed machine has no reservoir, so the water won't run low and the machine won't shut itself off because it needs a refill to keep operating. In past-paced environments where every moment counts, a plumbed unit may be the best at keeping up with demand. However, plumbed units can't be easily relocated and you'll probably have to hire a professional to attach your new machine to the plumbing - an extra cost that should be factored into the total purchase price.
Connectionless Steamers can be set up anywhere and do not require professional assistance to install, saving money on the front end. Operators need to add water to the reservoir periodically to ensure the machine has enough water to continue making steam, and any water remaining at the end of the day must be manually drained. Connectionless models typically don't require any boiler maintenance to operate, and some models can operate with tap water for simplified use. They can be moved to different locations without rewiring and require only an appropriate power outlet to function, meaning no special setup is needed to begin using them.
If you need to produce a high volume of product and won't move your steamer once it's installed, a plumbed model might be worth your while, so you don't have to worry about refilling the water reservoir. If you need to move your steamer around, install it away from plumbing lines, or want to avoid installation costs, get a connectionless model.
Steam Source: Boiler-based vs Boilerless
Steamers produce steam in a couple different ways. A countertop unit can either connect to a steam generator or create its own steam from a reservoir of food-grade water. When considering which steamer type to buy, think about how much volume you need to produce. Establishments cooking high quantities of food with steamers could make good use of a steam generator that supplies multiple pieces of steam equipment, but such an apparatus would not be cost-effective for an establishment using one or two steam cookers.
Boiler-based steamers connect to a boiler, or generator, that provides steam. Boiler-based steamers must be connected to a steam source, meaning they can only be placed where connections are available, and installation might involve a visit from a professional. These steamers often feature automatic refilling and draining, requiring less employee attention to operate. If your establishment uses steam heating for multiple applications, installing a high-volume steam generator can be the most efficient way to do so. On the other hand, if you only need one or two units, installing a separate boiler is probably too costly and complicated to be worthwhile.
SHOP
Boilerless steamers generate steam from water reservoirs inside the steamer itself. Boilerless models typically require a simple, affordable installation process, as most units won't need connections to water lines or drains. These units offer flexible placement, because they can be installed almost anywhere, regardless of plumbing and drainpipe accessibility. These steamers must be manually refilled by staff and may be damaged if they're allowed to run dry. They're less susceptible to limescale buildup than boiler-based options, and some models feature an automatic flushing cycle.
SHOPIf your building already has a boiler, getting a boiler-based steamer can ensure a steady supply of steam and save money on utilities. However, the savings aren't enough to justify installing a boiler for a single steamer. For low-volume steaming, a boilerless option is a better financial choice.
Consider Special Features
Some steamer models shut off automatically when the water reservoir runs dry or the unit gets too hot, avoiding possible overheating and equipment damage.
Countertop steamers may have built-in alerts in the form of lights, audible alarms, or both. These indicators can alert staff when water needs to be refilled or a cook cycle is complete, among other things.
Some models have automatic de-liming, flushing, or cleaning cycles, making routine maintenance a breeze. At busy locations, these features help ensure necessary maintenance is completed daily.
Steamers with cook-and-hold functions keep food at proper temperatures as it waits to be served. Some models may also cook with microwave or vacuum technology, each of which imbues unique textures to food as it cooks.
Countertop steamers with built-in timers and programmable controls can be set to automatically shut off when a cook cycle is complete. Some models allow users to program recipes into the machine, often with multiple cooking phases, and when a specific product is being cooked, users can start the preprogrammed cycle at the push of a button.
Some steamers have a USB port or can connect to wifi or both, which is great for cooking the same recipe across multiple machines or locations. Operators can download pre-programmed recipes to multiple steamers quickly and simply, ensuring each unit cooks menu items the exact same way.
- Choose a steamer type. Portion steamers are excellent for quickly heating bread, wraps, individual orders, and fractional pans of food, while high-volume steamers can cook as many as six full-size steam table pans of food at once.
- Determine what capacity your steamer needs. Calculate how much steamed food you serve during your busiest hours and choose a model that matches that demand level.
- Check the utility connections in your kitchen. Make sure to buy a steamer that's compatible with your water, power, or drain lines. If you want to buy a model that doesn't fit existing connections, make sure you can afford the extra installation costs required.
- Compare boilerless and boiler-based options. If you already have a kitchen boiler, a boiler-based model may be the best option for you. If you don't have a kitchen boiler, a boilerless model is a better choice.
- Consider if any special features will help streamline your workflow. Special features can shorten cooking times, automatically refill the unit, alert users when food is done cooking, switch from cooking to holding, and more.
