The Sistema Microwave Steamer is the best microwave steamer for vegetables because its lift-out basket keeps food above the water line and its vented lid releases steam in a controlled stream instead of rattling and spitting. The Prep Solutions Microwavable Steamer is the value pick for smaller portions, and Nordic Ware covers the budget end with a simple two-piece design that has been around for years.
The Sistema Microwave Steamer is the best choice, pairing a true elevated basket with a locking vented lid so vegetables steam instead of boiling in their own runoff. For one or two servings at a time, the Prep Solutions Microwavable Steamer is the better size.
- Best overall: Sistema Microwave Steamer
- Best value: Prep Solutions Microwavable Steamer
- Best budget: Nordic Ware Microwave Steamer
- Avoid: Sealed containers without a steam vent, which spit boiling water when you crack the lid
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect our product rankings or recommendations.
Quick Picks
- Best overall: Sistema Microwave Steamer, An elevated basket and locking vented lid that steam vegetables evenly without spitting.. Check price on Amazon
- Best value: Prep Solutions Microwavable Steamer, A compact steamer sized right for one or two servings, with a strainer insert..
- Best budget: Nordic Ware Microwave Steamer, A simple, proven two-piece steamer that gets the basics right for very little..
Comparison Table
| Steamer | Capacity | Best for | Material | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sistema Microwave Steamer | Family-size portions | Even steaming with a mess-free vent | BPA-free polypropylene | Check Price |
| Prep Solutions Microwavable Steamer | One to two servings | Quick single sides | BPA-free plastic | Check Price |
| Nordic Ware Microwave Steamer | Medium portions | Basic steaming on a budget | BPA-free plastic | Check Price |
| Lekue Steam Case | One to two servings | Steaming fish and vegetables together | Platinum silicone | Check Price |
How We Chose These Microwaves Picks
We compared basket design, venting, capacity, and materials across the major microwave steamers, then reviewed aggregated owner feedback on evenness, spitting lids, and long-term warping. Models whose lids deformed in the dishwasher or trapped condensation over food were ruled out.
Key Takeaway: A steamer basket that holds vegetables above the water is what separates real steaming from boiling in a covered bowl. The vent matters almost as much, it prevents both sogginess and a scalding face-first steam release.
Best Overall: Sistema Microwave Steamer
Best for: Households that steam broccoli, green beans, or carrots several nights a week and want one container that goes from microwave to table. Why it made the list: The removable elevated basket drains properly, the lid locks on with clips, and the adjustable vent lets steam escape steadily so vegetables cook through without going waterlogged.
- Key specs: BPA-free polypropylene, lift-out steaming basket, clip-locking lid with adjustable steam vent, dishwasher safe on the top rack.
- What we like: Vegetables come out evenly cooked edge to center, the clips keep the lid from rattling loose, and the basket doubles as a colander for rinsing.
- What we do not like: The plastic body stains orange with carrots and tomato-heavy dishes, and the lid clips can weaken if you routinely torque them while the container is hot.
- Who should buy it: Anyone who wants weeknight vegetables in under five minutes without dirtying a pot, plus enough capacity for a family side.
- Who should avoid it: Cooks who refuse plastic in the microwave. If that is you, the silicone Lekue Steam Case is the better fit.
- Common complaints: Owners note condensation pooling on the lid if you skip the vent setting, and occasional warping when it ends up on the bottom rack of the dishwasher.
- Size note: It is sized for family portions, so it hogs turntable space in compact microwaves. Measure your microwave interior before buying.
- Cleaning note: Top-rack dishwasher only. Stains from carotene-rich vegetables lift with a baking soda paste left for an hour.
- Alternative: The Lekue Steam Case is the upgrade if you want silicone instead of plastic and like steaming a fish fillet on top of the vegetables.
Microwave Steamer Buying Guide
Look for an elevated basket
Steamers without a raised basket just simmer vegetables in their own runoff, which turns broccoli gray and soggy. A lift-out basket keeps food above a shallow layer of water so hot vapor does the cooking. It also makes draining and serving one motion instead of a juggling act.
Venting and lid design
A dedicated steam vent releases pressure steadily during cooking. Without one, the lid either rattles and spits or, worse, holds pressure until you open it into a burst of steam. Locking clips are a bonus that keeps the lid seated when you carry it to the table.
Materials, size, and your microwave
BPA-free polypropylene is light and cheap, silicone tolerates higher heat and resists staining, and both should be labeled microwave safe. Match the footprint to your turntable, family-size steamers do not rotate in compact microwaves, and uneven rotation is the top cause of half-raw vegetables.
Safety Notes
- Open the lid away from your face, steam at the seal line can scald even after the microwave stops.
- Use the vent setting every time, pressure buildup in a clipped-shut container can pop the lid and splatter boiling water.
- Let the steamer rest for a minute before carrying it, the base water stays at a boil longer than the food.
- Only use containers marked microwave safe, repurposed storage containers can warp and leach at steaming temperatures.
What to Avoid
- Steamers without an elevated basket, they boil rather than steam.
- Sealed lids with no vent, which spit when opened.
- Thin bargain plastic that warps on the first dishwasher run.
- Oversized steamers that cannot rotate on your turntable, uneven rotation means uneven cooking.
FAQ
How long do vegetables take in a microwave steamer?
Most cut vegetables steam in three to five minutes on high with a few tablespoons of water. Dense vegetables like carrots and potatoes need six to eight minutes, and it is better to check early, carryover steam keeps cooking food after the timer ends.
Is steaming in plastic in the microwave safe?
Containers labeled microwave safe and BPA free, like the Sistema and Prep Solutions models, are tested for exactly this use. Avoid steaming in takeout tubs or containers without a microwave-safe mark, and swap to silicone if you want extra peace of mind.
Do I need to add water to a microwave steamer?
Yes, two to four tablespoons in the base is enough. The water generates the steam, and the basket keeps food above it. Skipping the water leads to dried-out edges, while flooding the base just boils the bottom layer.
Final Verdict
The Sistema Microwave Steamer is the best microwave steamer for vegetables, with the Prep Solutions Microwavable Steamer winning for small portions and the Nordic Ware Microwave Steamer covering basic steaming on a budget.
