5 Best Instant Pot Steamer Baskets for Your Kitchen

Steaming is perhaps the healthiest method for cooking food. It doesn’t use any kind of grease or fat. The ingredients used in a steamed dish retains its nutritional value because they’re not manipulated in any way. Steaming also softens the fibers of vegetables and fruits, making them more easily digestible, so your body can absorb all that nutritional goodness more easily.

Steamer baskets make great additions to your collection of kitchen tools. If you don’t want to invest in a full steamer, these make a good alternative. Just plop on top of your pressure cooker and you can have a delicious and healthy meal. This kitchen tool comes in different sizes and is really easy to clean.

Now, picking out the right steamer basket for your cooking needs usually requires a bit of research. Consider this article as a head start. Below is a list of our top 5 steamer basket recommendations that you can get on Amazon.

Best Instant Pot Steamer Baskets Comparison & Rating

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Any of the steamer baskets on our list will make a good purchase. However, we know that you have specific requirements so we’ve done you one better by adding detailed information for each product below. Also, be sure to click the yellow buttons below to see their best deals on Amazon!

Hatrigo Steamer Basket for Pressure Cooker

Top Rated Hatrigo Steamer Basket for Pressure Cooker Accessories 6qt [3qt 8qt avail] Compatible with Instant Pot Accessories 6 qt only, Ninja Foodi, Other Pressure Cookers, Silicone Handle, IP 6 Quart
Specifications

Dimensions

7.75 x 7.75 x 5 inches

Weight

8.4 ounces

Material

Stainless Steel and Silicone

Style

Mesh Basket

Rating: 96% Overall
95%
easy to remove
97%
easy to store
99%
durability
94%
easy to clean
Pros
  • The Hatrigo vegetable steamer is the only basket on the market to have silicone wrapped legs on the base of the basket. The silicone legs help prevent slipping when removing your steamer insert basket and placing it on the counter.
  • This steamer pot will help prevent scratching your inner pot liner so your pressure cooker will last for many more years.
  • It also comes with a sturdy and rust-free handle to easily remove the steamer basket from inside the pot.
  • Unlike other brands, its handle is fully wrapped in silicone, from one end to the other end, to prevent any burns from lifting out the egg basket from hot pots.
  • Hartigo’s custom-designed steamer basket to fit different Instant Pot models — from the Duo60 to the Lux60 V3.
Cons
  • The silicone cover on the handle is not thick enough to withstand years of use.
  • Due to the fine structure, the mesh basket takes some effort to clean.
Verdict

Hartigo’s Steamer Basket is a great accessory to have, especially if you often cook with an Instant Pot. The silicone handle stays cool and the silicone feet keep it from sliding on the counter or scratching the pot. You can easily lift it out of the pot and not lose your food or have to pick pieces out individually. This is the perfect gadget for steaming eggs and potatoes. And no more trying to awkwardly pour stock ingredients through a strainer - you just lift the basket and are left with nothing but broth.


Consevisen Stainless Steel Steamer Basket

Steamer Basket Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamer Basket Folding Steamer Insert for Veggie Fish Seafood Cooking, Expandable to Fit Various Size Pot (5.1" to 9")
Specifications

Dimensions

5.9 x 5.9 x 2.7 inches

Weight

9.9 ounces

Material

Stainless Steel and Silicone

Style

Collapsible

Rating: 95% Overall
94%
easy to remove
98%
easy to store
92%
durability
96%
easy to clean
Pros
  • Consevisen’s Stainless Steamer Basket has high-quality stainless steel petals, a food-grade plastic handle, and silicone feet.
  • Can be used to steam veggies, seafood, eggs, meats, desserts, baby food, and much more
  • This steamer basket has "wings" that fold in and out allowing the steamer to fit various pot/pan sizes or in a pressure cooker.
  • Opens like a water lily and it folds compactly to save storage space, unlike bulky bamboo steamers.
  • The three foldable legs with silicone will not scratch your pot. They are 1.2 inches in length to keep food above boiling water so that it doesn't burn.
  • Not only can it be used as a food steamer basket, but it can also be used as a strainer or fruit container.
Cons
  • The handle can get too hot while cooking and can get in the way so it becomes difficult to get the steamer basket out without spilling.
  • Not ideal for dishwasher cleaning
  • Not ideal for high temperatures due to its silicone material
Verdict

The overall design of this Stainless Steel Steamer Basket is right up there with the best brands. The construction and quality of the stainless steel and the excellent workmanship is top-notch. An instruction manual for use and assembly that comes with the box is great, allowing you to make full and proper use of this gadget. The size is just right to fit in most pots and the handle in the middle is easy to grab and pops out extending the handle length if needed. We think you will love how beautifully this steamer is put together.


Aozita Steamer Basket for Instant Pot

Aozita Steamer Basket for Instant Pot Accessories 6 qt or 8 quart - 2 Tier Stackable 18/8 Stainless Steel Mesh Strainer Basket - Silicone Handle - Vegetable Steamer Insert, Egg Basket, Pasta Strainer
Specifications

Dimensions

9.02 x 5.51 x 5.51 inches

Weight

9.9 ounces

Material

Stainless Steel and Silicone

Style

Mesh Basket

Rating: 95% Overall
96%
easy to remove
90%
easy to store
99%
durability
93%
easy to clean
Pros
  • The Aozita Steamer Basket allows you to get more use out of your Instant Pot.
  • A big basket and a smaller one that fits in together perfectly so you can easily cook a variety of food simultaneously while keeping them well-separated.
  • Made with high quality 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, this nice and sturdy steamer basket is built to last and is dishwasher safe. 
  • Apart from its use as a meat or vegetable steamer and stew cooker, these are perfect for broth preparation as the mesh makes straining the solids out quick and easy.
  • The stable trivet design keeps the basket stable without toppling and spilling hot contents.
Cons
  • The handles won't stay on so it is difficult to pull anything out of the Instant Pot.
  • Can be a bit tedious to clean if something sticks
Verdict

The Aozita Steamer Basket for Instant Pot is a great kitchen accessory and a wonderful addition to your pressure cooker process. These nesting baskets allow you to make use of the space in your Instant Pot efficiently. And you really get a sturdy steam basket. Even without the trivet, it can still be stable and functional. It’s also a versatile product and can be used in an air fryer with a 6-quart capacity.


Joseph Joseph Lotus Steamer Basket

Joseph Joseph Lotus Steamer Basket for Steaming Food and Vegetable Folding Non-Scratch BPA-Free, Green
Specifications

Dimensions

Closed: 6 inches in diameter x 5 inches tall; Open: 10.5 inches in diameter x 5 inches tall. Petals are 3 inches long.

Weight

5.96 ounces

Material

Silicone

Style

Collapsible

Rating: 92% Overall
91%
easy to remove
95%
easy to store
88%
durability
93%
easy to clean
Pros
  • The Joseph Joseph Lotus Steamer Basket is made of BPA-free polypropylene (heat-resistant up to 230°F) and silicone (heat-resistant up to 520°F).
  • Steamer basket with self-adjusting sides to fit a variety of pots and pans.
  • Features heat-resistant silicone side fins, silicone feet, and an innovative silicone finger guard to safely remove the steamer from the pot
  • Large capacity when fully open, but folds neatly away for storage
  • Non-scratch material is suitable for use on both non-stick and stainless-steel cookware.
  • Dishwasher-safe
Cons
  • Not ideal for high temperatures and direct contact to hot pans
  • This basket is not suitable to be used inside a pressure cooker.
Verdict

The Joseph Joseph Lotus Steamer Basket is great for steaming an assortment of foods, including fruits and veggies for baby food. It expands and works really well in a few different size pots/saucepans. You can easily transition from removing the basket from the pan and putting in the sink to rinse food like eggs so they cool faster. Really easy to clean, lightly scrub with a soft sponge with dishwashing detergent and then rinse.  In some shallower pots, the handle in the center is a little tall and the lid touches it while steaming, but it still gets the job done.


OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer

OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer, Green
Specifications

Dimensions

7.25 x 3.75 x 10.5 inches

Weight

8.2 ounces

Material

Silicone

Style

Basket with Handles

Rating: 90% Overall
93%
easy to remove
89%
easy to store
86%
durability
91%
easy to clean
Pros
  • The OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer has high walls to keep contents contained and away from boiling water, while stay-cool handles allow for stable transfer.
  • The built-in pleats allow this steamer basket to flex accommodating pots that have a 7-inch diameter or greater.
  • Flexible handles fold inward and lock in place so lids can be placed securely on top of pots.
  • Also works really well in pressure cookers
  • This steamer rolls up and handles hook onto feet for compact storage.
Cons
  • Not ideal for high temperatures and direct contact to hot pans
  • Emits a chemical odor during the first few uses
Verdict

You can use OXO’s Good Grips Silicone Steamer for anything from potatoes to steam buns to chawanmushi. The handles don’t get hot enough to burn so you’ll be able to lift the steamer right out of the pot immediately after turning off the heat and opening the lid. This silicone steamer is also really easy to clean. And it takes up less space than a metal or bamboo steamer when you just want to steam a small number of items. Finally, the fact it is in the pot rather than sitting on top of the pot allows you to steam food faster as a result.

Instant Pot Steamer Baskets Buyer's Guide

cookware

Consider the cookware you’ll be using your steamer basket with. If you’ll be placing it on top of pots with boiling water, go for one that’s metal and collapsible.

material

Silicone or metal, each of these has its merits. Silicone steamer baskets won’t scratch the sides of your pot while metal steamer baskets heat up quickly.

features

Steamer baskets can be collapsible. They can have handles so they’re easy to take out. They can even have legs so your veggies and root crops don’t touch the water. You’ll have to decide which features matter to you most.

durability

Regardless of the material or type you choose, ensure that it has solid construction. A steamer basket needs to be stable and balanced so the food you’re steaming doesn’t topple over. It should also be sturdy enough to withstand the heat and the weight of the veggies, fruit, meat, or fish that you’ll be steaming in it.

storage

Ideally, you’ll want something compact so it can be easily stored in a kitchen cabinet.

FAQs

What are steamer baskets made of?

Steamer baskets are typically made from either metal or silicone. Other steaming implements are manufactured using ceramic or bamboo.

What foods can be steamed?

Here’s a handy list of food products that can go on top of your steamer.

  • Meat - tender cuts, fillet, sirloin.

  • Poultry - cut into serving sizes

  • Fruit 

  • Vegetables - with the exception of some green vegetables, such as beans

  • Seafood - any type, whole or portioned.

  • Sponge or custard puddings in ramekins

How do I clean a steamer basket?

Wash the basket after using it in a mixture of water and washing-up liquid, plus a drop or two of white vinegar to remove any odors. To remove limescale and other marks, rub with a piece of kitchen paper and a few drops of cooking oil. Heat the water with a lemon cut in half in order to remove any limescale deposits in the center.

Are there other uses for steamer baskets?

Depending on the size of the holes on your steamer basket, it can double as a strainer. You can also use it to wash vegetables and fruit on.