Home » Top 6 Instant Pot Steamer Baskets

Top 6 Instant Pot Steamer Baskets

 

 

Steaming food can help preserve its color, texture, flavor, and fiber. Thus, it’s no wonder that a vast majority of people love their vegetables, potatoes, chicken, and other meals steamed due to their nutritional value and exceptional texture. But to properly and safely steam food in an instant pot, you need a good-quality instant pot steamer basket.

A steamer basket is a simple basket that is inserted in an instant pot above boiling water to steam food. It ensures that the food doesn’t come into contact with water and retains its desired texture and taste. This is an affordable accessory that can completely transform your cooking and steaming experience.

 

Factors to consider before buying an instant pot steamer basket

Before you purchase a steamer basket, you should have a sound idea of what features matter the most so that you can make an informed decision.

Size

No matter how sturdy and high-quality a steamer basket is, if it’s not the right size for your instant pot, it would be of no use to you. Make sure that the basket neatly fits inside the pot and there is sufficient space to add or remove it from the pot. The most common sizes are designed for 6 and 8-quart pressure cookers.

Material

Some of the best instant pot steamer baskets have metal or silicone construction. These materials are heat-resistant, rust-resistant, and food-safe. This isn’t to say that no other material can work for a steamer basket, but the material must be able to withstand high pressure, regular use, and be BPA free.

Materials such as plastic are highly unsafe as they would not only deteriorate in quality by being placed inside a pressure cooker but by reacting with the food nearby they can make it unsafe for consumption.

Ease of Use

You should look for a basket that is extremely easy and safe to use. One of the features which adds immense ease is a food-safe, silicone-wrapped handle to add or remove the basket from the pot. This way, you wouldn’t need to risk getting burn injuries just to insert or remove the basket. Moreover, there would be no accidental spillage of food.

Additional Features

Many instant pot steamer baskets come with small, metallic legs to support the entire structure as well as to elevate the basket to ensure the boiling water doesn’t spoil its contents. Some steamer baskets even has the aforementioned legs wrapped with silicone to prevent them from slipping.

Many steamer baskets are multi-purpose and can be used for steaming, straining, or simply storing food. Other baskets come with complex but useful 2-tier designs to maximize the use of your inner pot space.

 

Best Instant Pot Steamer Baskets

Here are a few of our top choices for steamer baskets, in no particular order, that we are confident will help you with your steaming experience.

 

1. Genuine Instant Pot Silicone Steamer Set

Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker...
  • COMPLETE SET: Enhance your Instant pot experience with this 3 piece steamer...
  • DESIGNED FOR INSTANT POT: Designed for the Instant Pot Multi Use...
  • HIGH QUALITY: Resists stains and resists absorbing food odors or flavors

Including a steam rack, a steamer basket, and a broiler pan, this silicone steamer set for instant pots is designed for 5, 6, and 8-quart cookers. Its highlight, apart from its high-quality, is its BPA-free, and FDA and LFGB-tested food-safe silicone construction. It measures 8.00 x 8.00 x 5.00 inches.

Handling this silicone basket is very easy and safe, unlike baskets for which you need to reach deep in your pot to retrieve them, risking getting yourself burnt. This basket comes with very long, permanently attached, cool-to-touch, silicone-wrapped handles. When the meal is prepared, you can simply grab the handles to lift the basket out of the pot.

This product stands out for its stability and easy handling. It can handle up to 450 Fahrenheit of heat. You do not need a rack with it since its long legs keep the food above water. Additionally, it can be washed in a dishwasher or placed inside a freezer.

Lastly, this versatile silicone steamer basket can be used for vegetables, baby-back ribs, eggs, seafood, and more. This set also easily separates different items which means you can steam multiple foods simultaneously. It really offers the best of both worlds: time and utility.


2. Hatrigo Steamer Basket for Pressure Cooker

Measuring 7.75 x 7.75 x 5.00 inches, weighing 88.1 pounds, and built from stainless steel, this is one of the most trusted items on our list. Since it is also available in other sizes, you can get this steamer basket to fit your 3, 5, 6, or 8-quart instant pot or pressure cooker.

To make it safer and easier for you to insert and remove this steamer basket from the instant pot, it has a fully wrapped, food-safe silicone handle that stays cool to the touch. The silicone-wrapped feet are there to avoid it from slipping or causing any scratches on the inner surface of your instant pot. No more awkwardly balancing the steamer basket or accidentally spilling food!

Since this cooker steamer basket is quite spacious, you can use it for boiling eggs or potatoes in large quantities, like a dozen or more. It also works particularly well for vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, and asparagus, etc. You can even throw in an entire chicken for a quick, healthy meal for the kids. At the same time, the mesh size is small enough to pour tiny vegetables or other kinds of food for steaming in this basket.

And if you’re not satisfied with this product for any reason, you can immediately get a refund or replacement.


3. Zocy Premium Expandable Steam Basket

On Sale!
Steamer Basket Stainless Steel Instant...
  • [PREMIUM QUALITY MATERIAL] - The foldable steamer basket is made of food...
  • [ADJUSTABLE SIZE] - Opens like a water lily and it folds compactly to save...
  • [REMOVABLE & RETRACTABLE] - Three removable legs design, it can be...

Promising 100% quality food grade stainless steel construction, this foldable pressure cooker steamer basket has a unique, porous design and stands out from the usual, mesh-styled instant pot steamer baskets. It can expand and collapse to fit inside the instant pot. When collapsed, the diameter is 6.5 inches, which can expand to 11.2 inches when you add items to it. These expandable ‘wings’ mean that this can be fit in different sizes of instant pots. Zocy also offers a small, medium, and large version that can be selected in the same listing above.

This product has a long hook at the top meant to handle it, ensuring that the hand doesn’t accidentally come close to the boiling water. Its polished surface ensures that nothing sticks to it while the steaming is going on. This also makes cleaning it easy. Moreover, using it is very simple. Just put it, feet side down, in your instant pot and steam a quick, healthy, and easy meal in no time.

This one item has multiple purposes. Not only is it an excellent steamer but it can be turned into a strainer. Similarly, it can be utilized as an egg or fruit container. Additionally, it works well as a cooling rack and can be helpful when filtering water from salads. Different reviews also highlight this great multi-functionality of this item.


4. Instant Pot Official Small Mesh Steamer Basket

Instant Pot Small Official Mesh Steamer...
  • ENJOY DELICIOUS, NUTRITIOUS FOODS: Use for steaming all kinds of...
  • PROTECTS FOOD: Raised feet protect food from boiling water
  • SMART LIFT: Easy-lift handle allows you to safely & easily lift food from...

This multi-use mesh steamer basket can be used for two purposes – steaming and straining. It is 6.1 inches high and 7.87 inches in diameter, therefore, it is compatible with a 6 or 8-quart instant pot. Made from durable stainless steel, it is rust-resistant so it poses no harm to your food. Likewise, you can keep using it for years with your instant pot.

As this basket has raised stainless steel feet, you do not need a rack to protect its contents from boiling water. Similarly, to easily remove the basket from the instant pot, use the smart handle. However, make sure you use oven mittens or some piece of thick cloth to protect your hands from the hot handle.

With a weight of 6.4 ounces and diameter of four inches, this steamer basket can easily hold pounds of food placed inside it. Put fish, vegetables, chicken, ribs, potatoes, or eggs in it to get a delicious, healthy meal in no time. Plus, as it is dishwater safe, cleaning it afterward won’t be a hassle for you.

Reviews also praise this item for not being covered by silicone as food may get stuck inside or with the covering and continue to rot there, making it difficult to clean and raising health concerns.


5. Aozita Steamer Basket for Instant Pot

AOZITA Steamer Basket for Instant Pot...
  • 2-TIER STACKABLE BASKET – Make the best out of your instant pot with our...
  • ENHANCE THE UTILITY OF INSTANT POT – Step out of the usual recipes and...
  • ULTRA SAFE & INCREDIBLY CONVENIENT – Made with high quality 18/8...

This is one of those instant pot accessories you just cannot resist having in your kitchen. If you need to steam multiple items at once or cook large quantities of food regularly, this 2-tier, stackable, 18/8 food-grade stainless steel steamer basket for instant pot is an excellent choice. There is a large basket (8.4 x 5.6 inch) with a small one (8.2 x 3 inch) stacked on it in a way where the food can be separated properly. What better way to save time and quickly whip up a healthy assortment of food?

Not only that but this item can be used as a strainer for cooked pasta or washing vegetables. And if you get even more creative, you can use it as a stylish egg basket too.

This item comes with a silicone, anti-hot, no-burn handles and has a very stable rack design. This ensures that the boiling water inside the instant pot does not reach your eatables and that the basket can easily be put inside or taken out of the pressure cooker.

Get this instant pot accessory if you want to fully utilize your pot space. This 9.9-pounds steamer basket can be fit inside a 5/6 quart or an 8 quart pressure cooker. It is also dishwasher safe and rust-resistant.


6. Vegetable Steamer Basket Set – Steamer Inserts for Instant Pot

Vegetable Steamer Basket Set - Steamer...
  • HEALTHIER COOKING CHOICES – The steamer basket with high quality...
  • LONG LEGS – Three long legs ensure your pot has enough water to steam....
  • EXPANDABLE and COLLAPSIBLE – Vegetable steamer basket collapsed diameter...

If you’re looking for a steamer basket that can fit instant pots of different sizes, this option can fit pot sizes from 5.3 inches to 9.5 inches. You can use it for 3, 5, 6, and 8-quart electric-powered instant pot. This makes it ideal for use when preparing large meals such as crab legs, whole fish, and an abundance of vegetable side dishes. So if you often hold weekly dinner parties or other occasional festivities at your home, this will make your job easier.

Made from premium quality stainless steel, it measures 5.59 x 5.59 x 3.39 inches and weighs 8 ounces. Its construction ensures that it will not rust or stain with time. A common concern when it comes to steamer baskets is regarding safely washing them. This one, however, can be washed in any kind of dishwasher and is extremely simple to clean.

Despite being able to fit many sizes of pots, this steamer basket is very compact. While you are steaming or cooking, it will open up and fan outward to accommodate maximum items. After you’re done, the basket can be folded in half the previous size. This way you can even store it directly inside the pot to save space.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any steamer basket inside an instant pot?

Yes, as long as the basket fits properly inside the pot and is made from a safe, heat-resistant material.

 

What kind of steamer basket should I use inside an instant pot?

A metal or silicone steamer basket works best for use in an instant pot.

 

Can I steam vegetables without a steamer basket?

Yes, you can. However, using a steamer basket ensures that the food doesn’t get wet or soggy which can completely take away from the texture and taste steaming is supposed to give it.

 

What size instant pot steamer basket should I get?

The size depends upon your instant pot. Most instant pots usually come in the sizes 3, 6, or 8 quarts, hence these are the most popular basket sizes.

 

Is a steamer basket included with an instant pot?

No, a steamer basket is not a part of the instant pot accessories. You need to separately buy it.

 

Is a trivet included with an instant pot?

Yes, almost all instant pots include a trivet or a rack to raise food above boiling water.

 

Can I use my steamer basket as a strainer?

If your steamer basket is multi-purpose and has the right kind of mesh to properly strain the food you wish to, you can use it as a strainer.

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