BELLA 13872 Food Steamer: Full Review

Steaming is one of the healthiest cooking methods, as it preserves nutrients that are often lost in other cooking methods like boiling or frying. Steamers use hot steam to cook vegetables, seafood, eggs, rice, and other foods.

Food steamers provide an easy way to steam foods quickly while retaining vitamins and minerals. Steaming also brings out the natural flavors of foods without adding any fat or oil. Many models today are electric, providing consistent steaming times with built-in timers and multiple tiers or stacks for cooking different foods at once.

Food steamers offer a range of benefits:

• Retains more nutrients compared to other cooking methods
• Allows food to cook evenly with no stirring required
• Easy to use with preset programs and auto shut-off features
• Compact countertop appliances that don't take up much space
• Can cook an entire meal with different foods at the same time
• Adds no extra calories from fat or oil to dishes
• Helps bring out the natural flavors of ingredients
• Gentler cooking method ideal for delicate foods like fish, eggs, vegetables

With so many advantages, it's no wonder food steamers have become a popular appliance for healthy everyday cooking.

Overview of the Bella Food Steamer

The Bella 13872 Food Steamer is a multifunctional appliance ideal for steaming a variety of foods. It has a 9.3-quart capacity, allowing you to cook up to ten servings of vegetables, seafood, chicken and more all at once. There are two stackable baskets with handles that make it easy to lift your cooked food.

One of the highlights of this food steamer is the electronic touchpad control with 3 timer settings for easily customizing cooking times. It has a precise water reservoir fill window so you can accurately see the water level needed. The steamer's space-saving design also allows the cord to be wrapped neatly underneath the base for convenience.

With 1200 watts of power, this food steamer evenly cooks meals up to 60 minutes by using moist, hot steam heat to retain nutrients and flavor. The see-through lid made from tempered glass lets you check the progress as your food steams. An auto shut-off safety feature turns it off when the time runs out or the water reservoir is empty.

The Oster 108132.03 is another excellent option for those who enjoy steaming their meals. With its 5-quart capacity, it is slightly smaller than the Bella model, making it ideal for smaller households or singles. The Oster 108132.03 features a single-tier design and comes with a 60-minute timer, offering convenience and practicality for daily use. Like the Bella steamer, it also has a see-through lid, ensuring you can monitor your food as it cooks to perfection. Whether you are new to steaming or an experienced chef, the Oster 108132.03 is designed to make healthy cooking simple and delicious.

Design

The Bella 13872 Food Steamer has a sleek and modern design that looks great on any countertop. It is made of BPA-free plastic with a stainless steel base, giving it a nice polished look without any plastic odor.

At 10.5 x 10.5 x 9.5 inches, the steamer has a compact and stackable shape to save space. It contains two large 5-quart baskets and one 2.5-quart basket that neatly stack into each other. The baskets have cool touch handles and nested bases so they can stack stably.

The baskets and lid are made of transparent Tritan plastic, allowing you to visually monitor the cooking process. The steamer has an attractive black and stainless steel exterior that fingerprints and smudges wipe off easily.

Overall, the design focuses on functionality with the stacking baskets, but also has an aesthetic appeal with the stainless accents and transparent cooking containers. The shape and size make it a great addition to any kitchen without taking up too much precious counter space.

Another excellent option for a food steamer is the Pukomc 802A, which offers versatile steaming capabilities along with an ergonomic design. This steamer includes several stackable trays, making it ideal for preparing multiple dishes simultaneously. The compact design ensures it won't clutter your kitchen, and its user-friendly controls make operation a breeze. For more details, you can visit Pukomc 802A.

Ease of Use

The BELLA Food Steamer is designed to be very intuitive and easy to operate. The control panel is simple, with just two dials - one for setting the timer and one for selecting the steamer tray level. The timer dial goes up to 60 minutes, allowing you to steam foods for any duration desired. There are no complex buttons or digital controls to deal with.

The three stackable baskets make it easy load up the steamer. Foods can be arranged on the different levels based on recommended steaming times. The baskets have feet that elevate them for improved steam circulation. They can be removed separately after cooking, eliminating the need to remove everything at once.

The water reservoir is easy to fill and has markings to indicate the minimum and maximum fill levels. Overall, customers find the Bella Food Steamer very straightforward to use even for beginners. The simplicity of the controls and baskets allow you to start steaming with minimal fuss or preparation. It's an ideal option for those looking for an uncomplicated way to cook healthy steamed meals.

Performance

The Bella Food Steamer delivers excellent steaming performance for its compact size. Its 800-watt heating element provides ample power to quickly bring water to a boil and generate steam. The steam is evenly distributed throughout the dual-stack baskets thanks to the flow-through design, ensuring food cooks evenly whether placed in the top or bottom basket.

Despite its high power, the steamer is remarkably efficient. A water reservoir in the base holds enough water to steam food for up to 60 minutes before needing a refill. The unit shuts off automatically once the water reservoir empties, preventing any dry boiling accidents. Food cooks quickly and efficiently without needing to constantly monitor water levels.

The baskets provide plenty of room to steam a good quantity of food. You can steam a full meal's worth of vegetables, fish, chicken and more for the whole family. Performance is consistent batch after batch.

Durability

The Bella Food Steamer is designed to be durable for regular use. The outer housing is made of stainless steel, which is resistant to rust, corrosion, warping, and denting. This allows the steamer to maintain its structural integrity over time.

The steaming trays or baskets are made from BPA-free plastic that is heat resistant up to 428° Fahrenheit. This high heat tolerance prevents warping or melting of the trays during the steaming process. The sturdy plastic trays can withstand repeated use without cracking or becoming misshapen.

The lid fits tightly and seals the steamer securely during cooking. It does not loosen or degrade with regular opening and closing. The tight seal helps ensure steam and heat are retained efficiently.

The power cord is thick and well-insulated. It does not show signs of frayed cover or exposed wires, even after repeated twisting and maneuvering. This suggests durability in the cord's construction.

Overall, the materials used in the Bella Food Steamer, including the stainless steel housing, BPA-free plastic trays, and insulated power cord point to a appliance that is built to provide lasting performance through years of steaming tasks. The sturdiness of its parts should allow the steamer to maintain its functionality over extensive use.

Accessories

The Bella 13872 Food Steamer comes with several helpful accessories for cooking a variety of foods. It includes two stackable baskets with capacity to steam food for a small or large family.

The baskets have cool touch side handles that make it easy to lift them out of the steamer safely. The baskets also have small feet to keep food elevated out of any collected water in the base.

There is a drip tray that sits under the baskets to collect any condensation or juices from the steaming food. This helps keep the heating base clean during use.

The steamer has a rice bowl that can hold up to 4 cups of rice for cooking. The rice bowl has holes in the bottom to allow steam through for perfectly cooked rice.

Finally, the steamer comes with a removable 44 ounce water reservoir so you can check the water level and refill easily without moving the whole steamer. The water reservoir has handy markings to gauge the amount of water inside.

Overall, the accessories that come with the Bella Food Steamer allow you to cook a variety of ingredients using steam heat. The baskets, drip tray, rice bowl and water reservoir offer convenience for using this handy kitchen appliance.

Cleaning

The Bella Food Steamer is easy to clean and maintain thanks to its simple design and easily removable parts. The main lid and baskets are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze after cooking. The bottom water reservoir can be quickly rinsed out with soapy water and a sponge after each use. The steam vents can also be wiped down after steaming to remove any residual food particles. Some users do report limescale and mineral buildup in the water reservoir over time, but this can be easily cleaned by filling the reservoir with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water and letting it soak before scrubbing and rinsing. Overall, keeping the Bella Food Steamer clean is quick and hassle-free with its dishwasher-safe components and straightforward manual cleaning needs. Just be sure to periodically descale the reservoir to keep steam vents working properly.

Price

The Bella Food Steamer provides excellent value for the price point. Typically retailing for around $40, this steamer is very affordable compared to other models on the market.

For the low cost, you get a durable and versatile steamer with useful features like a 60-minute timer, 2 stackable baskets, and automatic shut off. The size is decent as well - big enough to cook full meals for a family.

Some users may want more cooking capacity, but at this price this Bella steamer offers impressive performance. The steaming power produces evenly cooked foods quickly.

Given the quality and reliability, the Bella Food Steamer is a great budget-friendly option for healthy steaming. The price makes it accessible for most households looking for an easy way to steam veggies, fish, eggs and more. Overall it delivers great functionality and value without breaking the bank.

Pros & Cons

The Bella Food Steamer has several notable pros and cons.

Pros

• Large capacity - This steamer can fit a good amount of food with its 5.5 quart capacity. It's great for steaming vegetables, seafood, or chicken for the whole family.

• Stackable baskets - The unit comes with three stackable baskets so you can steam multiple foods at once while keeping them separate. This allows you to customize your meal.

• 60 minute timer - The timer goes up to 60 minutes so you can walk away while your food steams without worrying about overcooking.

• Water level window - There's a water gauge window so you can easily monitor the water level and know when you need to add more.

Cons

• Bulky size - This is a large countertop appliance, so it takes up a decent amount of space.

• Baskets stain - The plastic baskets tend to stain over time from cooking foods with sauces or spices. This staining can be difficult to remove completely.

• No keep warm function - Once the timer goes off, it turns off completely. There's no keep warm function to keep your food hot if it's done before you're ready to eat.

• No audible timer - You have to keep checking on the steamer instead of relying on an alarm when time is up.