Microwave with steaming option worth it?

[Jannes]

There are expensive microwaves with real steaming options not just imitations. They have an extra water tank and cost at least 500 dollars.

Does anyone have it?

How is the steaming option compared to normal steamers? How practical is it?

[Hojo]

You can use a rice cooker to steam things for like 20 dollars.

[Leo Gura]

I got one of these:

https://amzn.to/3F2zQK7 (aff link)

Don't microwave plastic stuff.

Edited March 7 by Leo Gura

[Jannes]

11 hours ago, Michael569 said:

Way too expensive. You can steam using a strainer over pot with boiling water. Use the lid to cover, the results are usually pretty good.

For that price you can have an actual Instapot with the air fry lid that can steam too , plus the budget would also fit  a food processor and a blender combo and a casserole pot and a weekly shopping in Aldi

A strainer over pot is way less convenient though compared to a steaming microwave where you just put it in and it will finish on time. I will probably steam veggies my whole life.

Instapot steaming doesnt work well for me, the veggies end up slushy.

[Jannes]

A have a huge fetish for minimalism and a huge aversion for extra devices that clutter my kitchen. If I get one device that does it all that would be perfect.

If I dont buy a steaming microwave I would buy a decently expensive microwave for 200 dollars anyway so its the question if the 300 dollar jump is worthed.

Insta pot steaming doesnt work for me because veggies get slushy and its not as convenient because it takes more time and you have to clean the whole pot for a few veggies all the time.

Steaming with strainer over pot is unconvenient because it takes time to get the water boiling and you have to set a timer and all of that. But super inexpensive so I could try it to see if I would actually steam often.

 

So long term it would likely either be a 200 dollar microwave and a steamer or a 500 dollar microwave with steamer.

How is steaming with a steamer like compared to steaming with a microwave (actual steaming microwave though) ? Where is more cleaning required ?

[Jannes]

5 minutes ago, Michael569 said:

The rest of this post seems to somehow contradict this belief tho.

An argument in support of minimalist would be to actualy get something like an Instapot with the airfry lid because you can literally cook 90% of recipes in there and it can replace microwave too. It can steam, boil, pressure cook, airfry, bake, warm up, keep warm, store, defreeze, dehydrate and all it needs is one small corner in proximity to a socket. Not to mention stainless steel lid is one less thing to worry about.

Where getting a 500 dollar overpriced microwave that only warms food and steams it defeats the purpose of minimalistic setup. But you do you, looks you've already made up your mind anyway  Maybe for the type of steaming you want, that microwave is deal. Dunno...

I already have an instapot and I rarely use it because its relatively inconveneint for me and the steaming option which is the most important feature for me makes veggies mushy. 

The minimalist argument is that I dont see a way around a microwave. The ability to heat things up quickly is irreplaceable so I have to built around the microwave. And of course besides steaming the overpriced microwave can also bake, grill, defrost and cook. It only cant airfry. The 200 dollar microwave could do that though.

[Jannes]

@Michael569 Microwaves can do so much. Appearently you can even do scrambled eggs in the microwave very easily even. What couldnt you cook with two microwaves?

I will do some digging comparing actual steamer with combi microwave steamer. Having a way to cook veggies fast, comfortable, tasty and healthy is such an worthwhile long term investment. I am not lazy when it comes to eating veg but I am lazy when it comes to cooking them.

 

[MarkKol]

On 07/03/2025 at 1:25 AM, Leo Gura said:

I got one of these:

https://amzn.to/3F2zQK7 (aff link)

Don't microwave plastic stuff.

Genuine question, how do you eat steamed vegetables?

[Leo Gura]

26 minutes ago, MarkKol said:

Genuine question, how do you eat steamed vegetables?

I don't now. But what's the problem?

Steamed carrots are good!

But frankly, baked is better. Just bake all your food.

Edited March 10 by Leo Gura

[AION]

As a minimalist I wouldn't buy that. I have an oven with a hot air circulation mode. It gives the same effect. And besides not everything is steam-able while everything can be put in the oven.

Edited March 10 by AION

[Jannes]

13 hours ago, Leo Gura said:

I don't now. But what's the problem?

Steamed carrots are good!

But frankly, baked is better. Just bake all your food.

Baking is neither very efficient as it takes more time and energy then other cooking options nor super healthy as the veggies are exposed to lots of heat for a relatively long time which reduces some vitamins.

It can be tasty though.

[Jannes]

4 hours ago, AION said:

As a minimalist I wouldn't buy that. I have an oven with a hot air circulation mode. It gives the same effect. And besides not everything is steam-able while everything can be put in the oven.

Thats not comparable. With hot air circulation you get basically rosted veggies, with steaming veggies maintain most of their moisture and more vitamins.

A microwave with real steam mode can do most other things as well.

[AION]

@Jannes you can get the same effect if you use tinfoil to cover the food or just put the temperature on low so you don’t overcook it in the oven 

Edited March 10 by AION

[Jannes]

33 minutes ago, AION said:

@Jannes you can get the same effect if you use tinfoil to cover the food or just put the temperature on low so you don’t overcook it in the oven 

Hell no the tinfoil (aluminium) can get into the food.

Yes baking with small temperature works but it takes at least 5 times longer then steaming.

[AION]

@Jannes nah about the tinfoil thing. That is definitely a tinfoil head story. 
https://www.buzzfeed.com/bethkrietsch/is-it-safe-to-cook-with-aluminum-foil

If you are not 12 years old and don’t get the tinfoil in your food you’re fine. 
 

But if you don’t want to use it you can always buy a steel oven tray with a steel cover. It will give you the steam effect. I have one of those and it works great for steamed veggies. 

[PsychedelicEagle]

I got this KLOCKREN from IKEA and it works great.

I use it together with a 5L stainless steel pot. You can do a week long of steamed vegetables with it.

If you want a single machine doing many things you can also look at Magimix and Thermomix. Both got steamers AFAIA.

[Jannes]

On 10.3.2025 at 4:26 PM, AION said:

@Jannes nah about the tinfoil thing. That is definitely a tinfoil head story. 
https://www.buzzfeed.com/bethkrietsch/is-it-safe-to-cook-with-aluminum-foil

If you are not 12 years old and don’t get the tinfoil in your food you’re fine. 
 

But if you don’t want to use it you can always buy a steel oven tray with a steel cover. It will give you the steam effect. I have one of those and it works great for steamed veggies. 

Okay but still I have a bad feeling about it.

 

That method of cooking veggies in an oven with a steel oven tray with cover might be worth trying out. chatgpt says its also a very healthy option compared to normal baking which isnt that healthy but steaming is still king. The method just takes a bit longer

[Jannes]

On 10.3.2025 at 9:37 PM, PsychedelicEagle said:

I got this KLOCKREN from IKEA and it works great.

I use it together with a 5L stainless steel pot. You can do a week long of steamed vegetables with it.

If you want a single machine doing many things you can also look at Magimix and Thermomix. Both got steamers AFAIA.

I bought the Klockern thing to experiment.

These machines are a game changer in my thinking, I havent considered that there are other multi functional machines with built in steamer. They are pretty expensive though.

[PsychedelicEagle]

Nice, happy steaming!

Yes. I have a Magimix (food processor only, w/o heating) and it makes it so much easier to prepare dressings using natural ingredients. Also, natural, homemade ice-cream.

[Jannes]

LMAO I didnt realize modern induction hobs can set a timer. 

Thank god for my decision making freeze that I havent bought one of these expensive microwaves. You can just put a timer on your cooking pot with the 10 dollar klocker within and you can steam your veggies just as comfortably.