FOHERE 4401 Food Steamer: Full Review

The FOHERE 4401 is an electric food steamer designed for healthy cooking and meal preparation. It uses steam heat to gently cook foods like vegetables, seafood, eggs, and more. This preserves nutrients that are often lost in other cooking methods.

The FOHERE steamer features a 3-tier stackable basket system that allows you to cook multiple ingredients at once. The baskets are made from BPA-free plastic for safety. It has an 800W heating element that produces steam within 60 seconds, so you don't have to wait long to start cooking. There is also a built-in 60 minute timer with auto shut-off for safety and convenience.

Overall, the FOHERE 4401 aims to provide a fast, healthy, and easy way to cook tasty steamed meals at home. This review will look at the key features and performance to help you determine if this model is a good choice for your needs.

Design & Features

The FOHERE 4401 electric steamer features a durable stainless steel housing and tempered glass lid with see-through 3-level stackable food trays. The large 9L capacity can hold enough food to serve between 6-12 people. It has a compact rectangular shape measuring 38cm x 28cm x 26cm, taking up minimal counter space for the sizable capacity. The 800-watt motor powers steam production for consistent cooking temperatures. The stackable BPA-free plastic trays are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

The trays are removable and stackable for flexible storage and capacity needs. The stackable design allows simultaneous cooking of different foods without intermingling flavours. The base contains a large water reservoir to supply the steamer with enough water for up to 90 minutes of continuous cooking time before refilling. The water reservoir has convenient water level markings for easy measurement. A view-through water window on the surface shows current water levels at a glance.

Performance

The FOHERE 4401 food steamer heats up quickly and is ready to steam in just 3 minutes. The 800W power provides fast, effective steaming.

The steamer has an easy-to-use control panel with buttons for different cooking modes and an LED display showing the cooking time. You can choose from rice, meat, fish, vegetables, and egg cooking modes, with preset times for common foods. This makes it simple to get perfect results without guessing cooking times.

The 4401 has a 5.5L capacity, suitable for steaming food for the whole family. The two stackable baskets allow cooking different foods at once. The baskets lift out for easy loading and unloading.

Steaming is extremely user-friendly with this model. Just add the ingredients, water, and press start. The steamer automatically shuts off when done and keeps food warm until serving. There are no complicated steps or hard-to-clean parts.

Overall, the FOHERE 4401 delivers excellent steaming performance. It heats up fast, cooks food evenly, and is very easy to operate with its pre-programmed modes and intuitive controls. The spacious 5.5L capacity can handle large batches efficiently.

Food Quality

The FOHERE Food Steamer does an excellent job of preserving nutrients and flavors when cooking foods. The steam heating method avoids nutrient loss that can occur from boiling or microwaving. Foods retain more of their vitamins, minerals and antioxidants when steamed.

Steaming also preserves and enhances the natural flavors of ingredients. Without being submerged in water, foods keep their distinct tastes. The flavors aren't washed out or diluted. Meats and vegetables have a fresher, richer flavor when steamed.

The texture of steamed foods is tender but still firm. Vegetables come out perfectly crisp-tender, not mushy or overcooked. Meats are moist and tender, not rubbery. Rice and grains come out light and fluffy.

One advantage of the FOHERE Food Steamer is that you can cook different foods together without their flavors mixing. The stackable baskets keep ingredients separate. For example, you can steam fish in one basket and vegetables in another basket, and neither will absorb the other's flavors or odors. This allows more flexibility when meal prepping.

Overall, the steam heating delivers excellent food quality in terms of nutrients, flavors and textures. Foods retain their integrity and don't degrade in quality. The end results are healthy and delicious dishes.

Safety

The FOHERE 4401 electric steamer has several important safety features. First, it has an auto shutoff function that turns the steamer off after 12 minutes of steaming. This prevents overheating and potential fires if you forget the steamer is on.

The steamer basket and rice bowl are made from BPA-free plastic. BPA is a chemical that can leach from some plastics into food when heated, so BPA-free materials are safer. This steamer uses food-grade PP plastic instead of BPA plastic.

The steamer base has anti-slip rubber feet that help keep it stable on your countertop during use. The feet prevent sliding and potential tipping accidents. There is also a handle on the lid for safe lifting after steaming.

Overall, the auto shutoff, BPA-free construction, and anti-slip base show this steamer was designed with safety in mind. These features minimize risks and make this a safer choice compared to steamers without these safety additions.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Keeping the FOHERE Food Steamer clean is easy thanks to its thoughtful design. The main components come apart easily for cleaning by hand or can be placed in the dishwasher.

The steaming tray and rice bowl separate from the base. The water tank is removable and has a wide opening that allows you to scrub inside. The condensation collector detaches as well. All of the parts are BPA-free and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

To clean by hand, wash the components with warm soapy water using a soft sponge or cloth. Avoid abrasive scouring pads. Dry thoroughly before reassembling.

For dishes with baked on residue, fill the water tank with warm soapy water and let the parts soak for 10-30 minutes before scrubbing clean. Repeat if needed.

Be sure to empty and wipe down the condensation collector after each use. Don't allow water to accumulate in this reservoir long-term.

Overall the steamer requires minimal effort to keep clean. Just be diligent about cleaning it after each use and storing it with parts separated so it has a chance to fully dry. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and you'll enjoy this handy kitchen appliance for years to come.

Pros of the FOHERE Food Steamer

Large Capacity with 3 Tiers

The FOHERE food steamer has a very generous capacity with 3 tiers that can hold multiple servings. The tiers stack to save space but can also be used separately for simultaneously steaming different foods at once. With its 12.5 quart total capacity, you can steam vegetables, seafood, eggs, rice, and much more all at the same time.

Auto Shutoff for Safety

A great safety feature of this steamer is the 60 minute auto shutoff which prevents overcooking or boiling dry. You don't have to worry about checking on your food or turning it off once the timer goes off. The steamer will automatically shut down once the set time elapses.

Quick Heating Elements

The FOHERE steamer heats up rapidly in just minutes thanks to its 800W power. You don't have to wait long for it start steaming. The heating elements quickly bring the water to a boil so you can start cooking faster.

Cons

The FOHERE 4401 electric steamer does have a few drawbacks to be aware of.

• The unit is fairly large and bulky, so it takes up a decent amount of counter space. This may be an issue for kitchens with limited space.

• Some users report the water reservoir being prone to boiling over if filled too high. Keeping the max fill line in mind is important to prevent hot water from spilling out.

• While the steaming trays are metal, the water reservoir/tank is made of plastic. Some consumers prefer to avoid plastic components when possible, especially in direct contact with hot liquids and foods. The plastic does not seem to be BPA-free either.

• There are no advanced features like timers or auto shut-off. You need to manually monitor the cooking time yourself and turn it off when done. This requires staying in the kitchen.

• Noise levels seem high based on reviews. The steaming/boiling can get loud. This makes it less ideal if you need a quiet cooker.

Overall the cons are relatively minor but worth being aware of, particularly the bulky size and potential for the reservoir to boil over if not carefully monitored. The plastic components and noise may also be drawbacks for some users.

Conclusion & Recommendation

The FOHERE 4401 electric steamer is a decent option for healthy steaming of vegetables, seafood, eggs and more. It offers a large 12.6 quart capacity, 60 minute timer with auto shut-off, and simple dial controls in a compact countertop unit.

The steamer basket and rice bowl are BPA-free plastic, ensuring no chemicals leech into food. Steam ventilation holes distribute heat evenly for consistent cooking. The see-through water tank allows monitoring water levels easily.

For the price, it provides good functionality for steaming small to medium batches of food. The main limitations are lack of extras like dual compartments or delay start. There are no major red flags from customer reviews.

Overall this FOHERE steamer is best suited for individuals or families wanting an affordable countertop appliance for steaming basics like vegetables, dumplings, fish etc. It may require batch steaming larger quantities. Those wanting more features, larger capacity or multi-tasking can consider upgraded models from Cuisinart, Aicok or others.