Steaming chicken is a healthy alternative to cooking it without the skin, which can result in dry and tasteless meat. The best chicken steamer depends on budget and kitchen size, with options ranging from stackable bamboo baskets to electric steamers with glass or stainless steel trays and digital timers. Avoid steamers with plastic burners and choose ones with automatic shutdowns and easy water refilling.
Good cooks know that nothing beats juicy, moist chicken. The problem is that cooking chicken without the skin to reduce fat too often produces dry, chewy, and tasteless results. Steamed chicken is a healthy alternative. The best chicken steamer fits the needs and budget of the cook as well as the size of the kitchen. For some, that will mean an inexpensive stainless steel or bamboo steamer, while others will prefer a small electric chicken steamer that frees up the stove without taking up too much space.
White meat that has had its skin removed is particularly low in fat, and skinless dark meat is also a healthy alternative to beef and fatter. Cooking or grilling chicken with the skin left on to retain moisture produces better tasting birds, but a lot of fat seeps into the meat during the cooking process. Steam cooking, however, eliminates both the problem of dry, tasteless chicken and that of moist but greasy meat. The first step in choosing the best chicken steamer is to determine whether the less expensive stovetop models will fit the bill or if an electric chicken steamer is a better deal.
The least expensive option is probably stackable bamboo baskets designed to sit inside a wok or saucepan containing a small amount of simmering water. For a little more money, a stainless steel version with the same design is available. Cooks should shy away from any steamers with plastic burners, as toxic chemicals can leach out. Also, if the plastic scratches, the hot and humid environment can promote the growth of bacteria. Top steamers don’t allow the cook to monitor the cooking without removing lids or entire trays, and this can be a safety hazard as the steam can burn you.
For a little more money, an electric steamer is an option. If the unit doesn’t have stackable trays, it needs to be deep and wide enough to hold enough pieces of boneless chicken. This type of unit will also take up more counter space. Alternatively, there are a number of stackable electric steamers on the market that allow a cook to prepare an entire meal, including rice or potatoes, vegetables, and chicken.
The best electric steamers will have a glass lid so cooking can be monitored without removing the lid, and glass or stainless steel trays. While models with digital timers will cost a little more, they allow a cook to do other things until the timer beeps. Any electric unit should have an automatic shutdown to turn off the device when the water is gone. Also, it should be easy to add more water without taking the entire machine apart.
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