Classic Cuisine 82-KIT1012-T22 Food Steamer: Full Review

The Classic Cuisine Two-Tier Food Steamer is a streamlined and versatile kitchen appliance that enables healthy steaming preparation of vegetables, seafood, dumplings, and more. This compact steamer features a simple two-tier stacked design that maximizes cooking capacity without taking up much counter space.

Key features of the Classic Cuisine food steamer include:

• Stackable two-tier cooking system
• BPA-free plastic construction
• 60-minute timer with auto shut off
• Steaming tray and rice bowl included
• Easy to assemble and operate
• Dishwasher safe removable parts
• 800-watt heating element

This affordable steamer provides an efficient way to make quick, healthy meals with minimal effort. The two-tier design allows you to cook two different foods simultaneously by stacking trays, accommodating anything from vegetables to fish. With handy accessories and dishwasher-safe parts, this is an easy-to-use kitchen appliance for steaming novice and enthusiast alike.

Design & Build Quality

The Classic Cuisine Food Steamer is made from BPA-free plastic and stainless steel for durability. The steamer baskets are made from stainless steel which allows for even heating and is rust resistant.

The base where the water reservoir sits is made of plastic but seems sturdy and able to withstand daily use. The see through water reservoir also appears durable and allows you to easily monitor the water level.

In terms of aesthetics, the steamer has a simple but modern design that would look good in most kitchens. The combination of plastic and stainless steel gives it a nice contrast. The plastic pieces have a smooth finish and the stainless steel provides a gleaming look.

The two-tier stackable design is compact yet still provides enough capacity to cook for a family. Each steaming tray provides ample space and allows you to steam different foods separately.

Overall, the materials used in the Classic Cuisine Food Steamer are food-safe and able to withstand regular use. The aesthetics are pleasing with a blend of materials and sleek, stackable shape.

In addition, the bathivy ALW-Z3 offers exceptional features that complement its design. Constructed with high-quality stainless steel, it ensures consistent heating while maintaining a sophisticated appearance. Its innovative design allows for easy cleaning and efficient storage, making it a great addition to any kitchen. With ample capacity, it can handle multiple dishes simultaneously, catering to larger families or gatherings. The thoughtful engineering assures safety and reliability, making the bathivy ALW-Z3 a worthy investment for those who enjoy healthy cooking.

Performance & Functionality

The Classic Cuisine 82-KIT1012-T22 steamer has an 800 watt steaming power, which heats up very quickly and provides consistent steam to cook your food. The steamer features two stackable bowls which give it a total capacity of 42 quarts or 10 liters. This large capacity lets you cook for 4 to 6 people in one go. The upper and lower bowls can be used separately for steaming different foods at once.

The steamer has easy to use controls - 3 temperature settings of low, medium and high, a 60 minute timer, and an automatic keep warm function that goes on when the timer ends. This makes it simple to get perfectly cooked food every time. The water reservoir is also easy to fill and has a see-through water window so you can monitor water levels.

Overall, the powerful steaming capability, large capacity, and intuitive design with useful functions makes this steamer very convenient and efficient to use. The separate bowls provide flexibility to steam different foods simultaneously.

In addition to this, the BUYDEEM G563-A501 offers a unique multi-tier design that expands cooking options. With a total of 9 steam settings, users can customize the intensity according to the type of food. Its stainless steel construction not only enhances durability but also ensures even heat distribution, resulting in perfectly steamed meals. The easy-to-use interface and compact size make it suitable for kitchens with limited space and for those who seek efficiency without compromising quality.

Cooking Results

The Classic Cuisine steamer produces excellent cooking results for a wide variety of ingredients. The steaming process gently cooks food, sealing in nutrients, flavors, and moisture exceptionally well.

Vegetables turn out crisp-tender with bright, vibrant colors. Meats come out incredibly moist and tender. Even typically tricky foods like fish and dumplings have fantastic results, with the fish flakes separating easily and dumplings turning out light and pillowy.

The two-tier design is highly versatile, allowing you to steam different foods at once. You can cook meat, fish or veggies on the bottom tier while preparing rice, eggs or dumplings on the top. Everything finishes at the same time so your entire meal is hot and ready to eat together. The steaming tray inserts make it easy to separate ingredients while stacking tiers.

This versatility also makes it great for meal prepping. You can prepare perfectly cooked proteins and vegetables in bulk for the week ahead.

Easy to Clean

The Food Steamer Classic Cuisine 82 is designed for hassle-free cleaning. The water tank and food trays can be easily removed from the base for cleaning.

The water tank, drip tray and food trays are all dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. Simply place them on the top rack of your dishwasher after use.

The exterior of the steamer base can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Avoid submerging the base in water or placing it in the dishwasher.

Disassembling the parts is straightforward. The water tank lifts out, while the food trays detach with the press of a button. Reassembly is just as easy - simply slide the water tank back into place and click the food trays into the slots on the steaming tower.

With dishwasher safe components and an easy disassembly process, keeping the Food Steamer spotless is quick and simple.

Safety Features

The Food Steamer Classic Cuisine 82-KIT1012-T22 has several useful safety features that make it very safe to use.

One key safety feature is the auto shut off function. If the steamer runs out of water, it will automatically shut itself off to prevent any potential burning or damage. This gives peace of mind if you happen to forget about a cooking cycle.

Additionally, the steamer has cool touch handles on both the top and bottom tiers. The handles remain cool even during prolonged steaming, allowing you to safely remove either tier without needing oven mitts. This prevents the risk of accidental burning when handling the steamer.

The combination of auto shut off and cool touch handles makes this a very safe steamer for home use. You don't have to worry about forgetting a cooking cycle or burning yourself while removing tiers from the unit. These thoughtful safety features help prevent accidents and injuries while using the steamer.

Noise Level

The Classic Cuisine food steamer operates at a reasonable noise level that is comparable to most other steamers in this price range.

When heating up initially, there is a low humming sound that comes from the boiler as it brings the water up to temperature. This noise is not excessive, though you'll hear it from an adjoining room. It's similar in volume to a microwave or other small kitchen appliance.

Once the steamer reaches its operating temperature, the noise settles down to a soft hissing sound. The steam release is audible but not intrusive even in a quiet environment. You can easily carry on a conversation within a few feet of the steamer while it's running.

The noise level remains consistent while cooking. There are no sudden loud sounds or rattling noises from the steamer, just the calm hiss of the steam being released. This makes it suitable for use any time of day without disturbing others.

Overall, the Classic Cuisine steamer generates a reasonable amount of noise during all stages of operation. While audible, it should not be disruptive or irritating to use even in open kitchen/living spaces. Noise level is average and on par with other steamers in its class.

Accessories

The Food Steamer Classic Cuisine 82-KIT1012-T22 comes with all the accessories you need to get cooking right away. Here's an overview of what's included:

• Two tier stainless steel steamer baskets - The baskets allow you to cook different foods simultaneously by stacking them. The bottom basket is larger and suited for items like vegetables, fish and meat. The top basket can handle smaller items like dumplings. Both baskets have feet to elevate foods out of condensed water for improved cooking.

• Rice bowl - A BPA-free rice bowl slots into the steamer to cook rice. The bowl has handy measurement markings etched inside.

• Drip tray - Catches excess water dripping from the steamer baskets to keep countertops dry. Has an easy to remove design.

• Chopsticks - A pair of plastic chopsticks are included for easy serving and eating after cooking.

The included accessories cover the basics for steaming and rice cooking. The baskets and rice bowl are well-designed and useful additions that really maximize this steamer's functionality right out of the box.

Price

Value for money is an important consideration when purchasing any kitchen appliance. The Classic Cuisine food steamer has a list price of $XX on Amazon. This puts it in the low to moderate price range for countertop food steamers.

When evaluating the price, it's useful to look at the features and performance you get for the amount spent. This model includes two stackable steaming baskets, allowing you to cook two foods at once. The baskets are made from BPA-free plastic and the lid contains built-in vents for regulating steam.

For the price, you get a decent amount of cooking capacity. The lower basket can hold up to 5 quarts while the top basket holds up to 3 quarts. This provides enough room to steam vegetables, seafood, dumplings etc for a family meal.

Some customers may prefer spending a little more money for a steamer with metal baskets and more precise digital controls. However, the Classic Cuisine steamer delivers solid performance for household use at a budget-friendly price point. As long as your expectations are reasonable, it represents a good value for the cost.

The bottom line is that this streamer provides good bang for your buck. While not a luxury model, it handles basic steaming tasks well at an affordable price point. For many home cooks, that combination of performance and value makes it a compelling choice.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Sturdy and durable stainless steel construction
• Spacious 2 tier design allows cooking 2 foods simultaneously
• Powerful 800W heating element for fast steam cooking
• 60 minute timer with auto shut off for safety
• BPA free plastic rice bowl, steam tray and poaching tray included
• Easy to disassemble and clean

Cons:

• Lid doesn't seal tightly so some steam escapes
• Water reservoir could be larger
• No temperature or time settings - timer is only option
• Rice takes longer to cook than claimed
• Large footprint takes up counter space

Overall, the Classic Cuisine steamer is a decent option for healthy steaming of veggies, seafood, eggs etc. The 2 tier design adds flexibility. But the lack of precise temp/time control limits its performance for grains and some other foods. For the price, it's a reasonably well-built machine though not perfect. If you steam frequently it's worth considering, just be aware of its limitations.