Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer Review
Choosing the right food to eat is only one part of healthy eating. You also have to cook it the right way. A food steamer provides one of the most nutritious methods to cook food. You may think that steaming food is a lot of hassle, but it can be easy and fun if you have the Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer. This 2-tier food steamer has a combined 6-quart capacity with its 3.8-quart and 2.3-quart bowls.
Product Features
• Creates instant steam for preparing all kinds of food
• 2-tiered steamer designed with two separate steaming bowls to prepare a complete meal quickly and easily
Double-tiered design allows you to separate and simultaneously cook 2 types of food
Transparent steaming bowls let you see the progress
Steamer bowls nest for compact storage.Watts: 400W
Double-tiered 5-quart capacity steamer with two transparent steaming bowls
Cook foods separately, but simultaneously, for a complete meal that’s ready all together
• Can delay cooking up to 12 hours
• LCD display with 95-minute timer; automatic keep-warm setting
• External water-fill system with see-through reservoir
• Fully collapsible steaming trays
Parts are dishwasher safe for easy clean up. Simply place them in the top rack of your dishwasher when you’re done cooking
Compact Storage – Bowls nest for convenient, easy storage in even the smallest of kitchens
Automatic 60-minute timer – Set cook time up to 60 minutes. Auto shut-off when cycle is completed and/or water is empty.
Power indicator light gives you visual reference to know when unit is On
Item Dimensions Measures approximately 8.4 x 8.4 x 8.8 inches
Item Weight 8 lbs
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• 2-year warranty
Food steaming is often found at the bottom of the list when people talk about cooking methods. People often fry, grill, boil, sauté, broil, or bake their food and rarely consider food steaming. This is unfortunate because food steaming is a heart-healthy way to cook food.
The main reason why people are not too keen on food steaming is that traditional stovetop food steamers can be bulky and inconvenient to use. With the Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer, however, nothing could be more convenient. All you have to do is arrange the food or vegetables in the steamer bowls. A see-through water reservoir lets you monitor the water level easily. Visual and audible alerts let you know if the water level gets too low.
The food steamer’s LCD display comes with a 95-minute timer that allows you to set your cooking time. Cooking can be delayed for up to 12 hours, and when the cooking cycle is done the Keep Warm setting will ensure that your food stays warm if you are not yet ready to eat. The steaming trays are fully collapsible for easy cleaning.
Advantages of Food Steaming
A raw food diet may be the healthiest of all diets but if you have to cook your food nothing could be healthier than using a food steamer. Here are some of the advantages of food steaming:
• The food does not come in direct contact with the water. Thus, vital nutrients are retained.
• Steamed vegetables retain their color, texture, flavor and nutritional value.
• Steamed foods come out tender and tasty.
• Steamed foods do not require additional fats while cooking. Food is healthier and lower in fat.
• Flavorings can be added to foods via the steaming liquid. You can add stock cubes, herbs, spices or wine.
• High-heat methods such as broiling, grilling and frying destroy many important nutrients. Steaming, on the other hand, retains the nutrients and rich flavors of food.
Foods to Cook in a Food Steamer
The Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer is ideal for cooking steamed vegetables. Steamed vegetables retain their flavonoid and vitamin content. Raw vegetables are best but if you have to cook them, the best method is food steaming in the Oster food steamer.
Fish and seafood are excellent when cooked in the Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer. Steaming retains the nutrient content of fish, including essential omega-3 fatty acids.
In addition to fish and vegetables, you can also steam chicken, eggs, pasta, rice, meat, pudding, and fruits.
Cooking with the Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer
In the multiple tiered Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer, you can cook more than one type of vegetables at the same time. Place thick vegetables such as carrots in the lower tray, where the temperature is hottest. Thinner vegetables that cook faster such as cabbage or beans can be placed in the upper tray. This will ensure that all your vegetables are ready to eat at the same time.
There’s no need to add oil. Cleanup is also easy.
Pros
• Convenient to use
• Plastic is BPA-free
• Durable
• Electronic timer works well; versatile
• Inexpensive
• Works fast
• Low-water-level safety features
• See-through window allows easy monitoring of water level
• 60-minute auto shut-off feature
• Automatic keep-warm
• Dishwasher safe
Cons
• Available in white only
• Textured plastic can be hard to clean
What Customers Say
If you want value for your money, you can’t go wrong with the Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer. You can purchase this high-quality electric food steamer for less than $30 at many online stores. Reviewers give it a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Owners are very much impressed by its cooking performance and durability.
Customers say this food steamer is ideal for healthy cooking and is very easy to use. Owners use it cook a variety of foods including veggies, fish, dim sum, dumplings, etc. It’s also better for heating up food because the food does not dry out. Many customers like the keep-warm function too.
The biggest concern brought up by customers is that the plastic parts may contain BPA. The manufacturer, however, has given the assurance that it is BPA-free.
Customers say that the Oster 5 Quart Double Tiered Food Steamer works extremely well. They highly recommend it to anyone who wants to cook their food in a more healthy way.
