Bar DZG-A80A2 Food Steamer: Full Review

The DZG-A80A2 Food Steamer by Bar is an electric countertop food steamer designed for healthy cooking. This review provides an overview of the features, performance, and pros and cons of this product to help consumers make an informed buying decision.

The DZG-A80A2 steamer enables you to quickly and easily cook healthy meals by steaming vegetables, fish, chicken and more. It features a simple two-tier stackable basket design with 800 watts of power. Key benefits include its 60 minute timer, automatic shutoff, and water level window which allows monitoring during steaming.

Overall, the A80A2 offers a solid set of features and good performance for its compact size and affordable price point. As we'll explore in this review, it provides very good steaming results, decent capacity and a user-friendly design. Potential drawbacks include noise levels and accessory availability compared to some higher-end models. This review will provide details on the full functionality and performance to highlight who this product will work best for.

Design and Appearance

The DZG-A80A2 has a sleek and modern stainless steel exterior that looks great on any countertop. The metal construction feels sturdy and durable.

At 11.8 x 11 x 9.4 inches, this steamer is a good size for most households. The footprint doesn't take up too much counterspace but still offers a generous 6.3 quart capacity.

The control panel is simple with mechanical buttons to choose steaming times from 0-60 minutes. There is no digital display or screen. The all-metal design gives it a minimalist look.

The stainless steel extends to the inside as well. The two included BPA-free plastic steamer baskets also feel solid and well-made.

Overall, the streamlined metal design and solid build quality make this an attractive and reliable appliance. The simple interface and lack of extra features help keep the focus on quick, healthy steaming.

In addition to the DZG-A80A2, the NutriBullet BSR-0801M is another excellent choice for those seeking a versatile food steamer. This model features a compact yet powerful design, making it perfect for smaller kitchens or limited counter space. Its user-friendly controls and efficient steaming capabilities ensure that meals are both healthy and delicious. The NutriBullet BSR-0801M is constructed with high-quality materials, ensuring longevity and performance with each use. This steamer is a highly recommended addition to any kitchen for those prioritizing convenience and healthy cooking.

Features and Capabilities

The DZG-A80A2 food steamer offers a variety of features and capabilities to fit different steaming needs.

• Steaming Methods: This steamer has 3 steaming modes - Rice, Vegetables, and Meat. The Rice program steams rice perfectly without overcooking. The Vegetable mode provides optimal steaming time and temperature for vegetables. The Meat mode is designed for gently cooking meat while retaining moisture and tenderness.

• Capacity: With a 5.5 quart capacity, the DZG-A80A2 can steam food for 3-4 people at once. The two-tier stackable basket allows you to cook two different foods simultaneously.

• Temperature and Time Settings: The steamer has adjustable temperature settings ranging from 194°F to 212°F. The digital control panel makes it easy to set the time with variable steaming durations from 1 minute to 2 hours.

• Safety Features: This steamer has overheat protection that automatically turns it off if the heating element gets too hot. The cool-touch exterior stays safe to touch during steaming. The basket is BPA-free and FDA approved. There is a removable condensation collector cup to avoid messes.

• For another great option, consider the Oster 108132.03. This versatile steamer also offers various features, including multiple levels for different types of food and easy-to-use controls. Its large capacity makes it ideal for families, and the sleek design fits well on any kitchen countertop. With its user-friendly interface, you can steam your meals to perfection every time.

Performance and Quality

The Bar DZG-A80A2 food steamer delivers excellent performance and steaming quality.

Effectiveness of steaming - This steamer is highly effective at evenly steaming foods. It produces a constant stream of hot steam that thoroughly penetrates foods for perfectly cooked results every time. Vegetables, fish, chicken and more come out tender on the inside while retaining texture and nutrients.

Steam distribution - The design allows for excellent circulation and distribution of steam. The stainless steel steaming trays have holes that let steam flow evenly upward through all levels. Foods get steamed uniformly whether placed on the top, middle or lower trays.

Durability and reliability - Built with stainless steel and plastic housing, the Bar DZG-A80A2 steamer has outstanding durability. It can handle regular use without any issues. The heating element provides consistent steam production batch after batch. Owners report this steamer lasting reliably for years of service. You can count on it for steady performance and delicious results meal after meal.

Ease of Use

The Food Steamer Bar DZG-A80A2 is designed for straightforward setup and hassle-free use.

Setting Up

Setting up the steamer is simple - just take it out of the box, remove any packaging, wash the accessories, add water to the reservoir, and plug it in. The water reservoir is easy to fill and has clear markings to indicate the max fill level.

Loading and Removing Food

Thanks to the ample 8.5 quart capacity, you can steam a good amount of food at once. The steaming trays stack and have handles for safe loading and unloading. The inside of the unit is well-lit so you can easily see if your food is cooked. Removing the steaming trays is effortless.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Keeping the steamer clean is easy. The water reservoir detaches for cleaning. The trays and other accessories are dishwasher safe. The heating element has a self-cleaning function. For manual cleaning, there are no nooks and crannies that are hard to access. Just wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth. Overall, the steamer requires minimal effort to clean and maintain.

Noise

The DZG-A80A2 food steamer operates at noise levels that are impressively quiet for a countertop appliance. Users report that the steamer produces a soft, gentle humming sound while in use that is quiet enough to allow for conversation or phone calls in the same room.

The stainless steel heating element does not produce loud bubbling or boiling noises like some other steamer models. Even at maximum steam output, the noise remains unobtrusive. This makes the DZG-A80A2 a great option for peacefully steaming vegetables, seafood, or other foods without disruptive appliance noise.

Some user reviews mention that the steamer makes no audible noise at all once the cooking process is underway. While a very faint hum may be detectable within a couple feet of the appliance, the noise is negligible enough for most users to consider this appliance virtually silent. This quiet performance can be attributed to the precise temperature controls and well-insulated external housing.

Overall, the quiet operation of the DZG-A80A2 steamer is a major advantage, allowing you to steam foods without the annoying noise disturbance of other appliances. The gentle hum is unlikely to interfere with conversations, listening to music, or relaxation.

Accessories

The DZG-A80A2 food steamer comes with a few useful accessories included. In the box you get a stainless steel steaming tray, allowing you to steam different foods separately. It also includes a rice bowl for steaming rice and other grains. These basic accessories provide what you need to get started with steaming right away.

Some optional accessories can further enhance the capabilities of this device. An extra steaming tray would allow you to cook larger batches or multiple foods at once. Silicone steaming baskets specifically sized for vegetables, seafood, or eggs can help optimize steaming and prevent smaller foods from falling through the tray. A silicone mat can provide a nonstick steaming surface. And a stacking steaming rack adds additional vertical space if you need to steam large quantities of food. While not required, these accessories can streamline meal preparation and expand what you can make with the DZG-A80A2 steamer.

Cost and Value

The Bar DZG-A80A2 food steamer provides excellent value for money given its build quality and features. At around $60 on Amazon, it sits at the lower end of the price spectrum for electric food steamers, making it very affordable.

Considering its durable stainless steel exterior, 800W power rating, and array of features like delay start and keep warm functions, the Bar DZG-A80A2 punches well above its weight class when it comes to value. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some pricier models, it delivers where it counts for most home cooks.

The generous 5.5 quart capacity provides enough space to steam food for the whole family in one go. With the ability to steam vegetables, seafood, eggs, and more, this versatile appliance can handle many different ingredients. Given its solid performance and quality, the Bar DZG-A80A2 steamer is an excellent value purchase for under $60.

Pros and Cons

Summary of pros:

• Generous 3.5 liter capacity provides plenty of space to steam food for families and gatherings
• Powerful 800W heating element delivers fast, efficient steam production
• 60 minute timer with auto shut off for safety and convenience
• Sturdy stainless steel construction is fingerprint proof and easy to clean
• Stackable baskets allow multi-level steaming
• Comes with rice bowl, steam rack, and drip tray for versatile cooking

Summary of cons:

• Timer does not have an audible alert, so you need to keep an eye on it
• Water reservoir fills from the bottom, which can be tricky
• Exterior gets very hot during use, requiring caution
• Steam vents do not have covers, allowing some steam and heat to escape
• No cool touch handles like some competing models
• Rice takes longer to cook than stovetop methods

Conclusion

Overall, the Food Steamer Bar DZG-A80A2 is a solid mid-range food steamer that performs well for the price. It has a nice stainless steel design and offers useful features like a timer, water level window, and drip tray. The 800W heating element delivers decent steam power to cook foods evenly.

For under $50, this steamer provides good value as an affordable way to cook healthy steamed meals at home. The size is large enough for families, though very large batches may require multiple rounds. Ease of use is excellent thanks to the intuitive manual controls.

In the end, I would recommend the DZG-A80A2 steamer for anyone seeking an inexpensive countertop appliance for steaming veggies, fish, eggs and more on a budget. It's well-made, reliable, and easy to operate.

Those wanting a higher-end steamer may consider the Cuisinart Digital Glass model for its larger capacity, digital interface and keep warm function. However it costs over 2X more. Breville also makes excellent steamers but again at a much higher price point over $200. For a mid-priced alternative, the Oster Double Tiered Food Steamer offers similar performance to the DZG in a dual-basket design.