Nostalgia GDHDS206RDSL Food Steamer: Full Review

The Food Steamer Nostalgia GDHDS206RDSL is a handy kitchen appliance designed to quickly and efficiently steam foods. Steamers cook food using hot steam rather than submerging food in boiling water. This steaming process helps retain nutrients and enhances the flavor and texture of many foods.

Nostalgia's Food Steamer is a compact countertop model featuring 2 stackable baskets and a rice bowl that allows you to cook multiple ingredients at the same time. It's perfect for making healthy steamed vegetables, fish, chicken, rice and more. With its simple dial controls and included accessories, this steamer aims to provide an easy way to make quick, delicious steamed meals.

Design

The Nostalgia Electrics Food Steamer has a retro red design with white accents that will look great on any countertop. It has a cylindrical shape with a domed lid and stands about 13 inches tall.

The steaming chamber itself is made of high-quality plastic with a BPA-free water reservoir. The exterior has a durable plastic housing finished in metallic red with white control dials on the front.

At just under 7 inches in diameter, the steaming chamber can hold up to 1.5 quarts of food. It's large enough to cook a meal for 2-3 people, but compact enough to store easily.

The see-through lid allows monitoring of the cooking process without releasing steam. The steaming basket has fold-out metal legs with plastic grip handles for safely lifting out hot food. Overall, the materials seem sturdy and made to last through regular use.

Features

The Food Steamer Nostalgia GDHDS206RDSL has several useful features:

• Capacity: This steamer has 12.7 liters (34 quarts) of total steaming capacity, which is enough space to cook vegetables, seafood, eggs and more for the whole family. It can hold up to 12 eggs at once.

• Power: With 800 watts of power, it heats up quickly and steams efficiently. The heat settings let you fine tune between low, medium and high as needed.

• Settings: There are 3 simple dial settings - off, steam and delay start timer. The delay start allows you to set steaming to begin up to 12 hours later.

• Accessories: A variety of accessories are included like a steaming tray, rice tray, egg holders and recipe booklet. The trays stack nicely to optimize space. There is also a water reservoir that is easy to fill.

Ease of Use

The Nostalgia Food Steamer has a very straightforward and intuitive design that makes it easy to use right out of the box.

Setup

Setting up the food steamer is quick and simple. Just wash the plastic parts first, put water in the reservoir, place the drip tray inside, and add your food to the BPA-free plastic steam tray. The manual has clear directions for assembly that are easy to follow.

Controls

The control panel on the front has an on/off switch, a dial to adjust steam times up to 60 minutes, and a steam button to start the steaming process. The LED display counts down the time remaining. These simple and self-explanatory controls allow you to start steaming with just the press of a button.

Cleaning

Keeping the food steamer clean is hassle-free. The water reservoir lifts out for fast refilling and the plastic tray and drip tray can be washed in the dishwasher. Since there are minimal parts and no complex mechanisms, clean-up after use takes only a minute or two.

Performance

The Nostalgia GDHDS206RDSL food steamer heats up quickly in just 60 seconds and is ready to start steaming. The steam circulation system ensures even heat distribution and consistent steaming results. Foods cook rapidly and come out tender and moist, not soggy. Vegetables like broccoli and carrots retain their crispness while proteins like fish and chicken are perfectly cooked throughout without drying out. The two stackable baskets allow you to steam foods at the same time but at different speeds depending on the ingredients. For example, you can steam fish in the bottom basket for 10 minutes while vegetables steam in the top basket for just 5 minutes. Owners report the steamer cooks food evenly no matter what's being prepared. And there's no need to stir or rotate ingredients while cooking. Overall, the performance is exceptional - foods are cooked quickly and come out with the ideal tender yet firm texture.

Advantages

The Nostalgia Food Steamer has several notable advantages:

• Faster cooking times than oven baking or roasting. The steamer can cook foods in minutes rather than the hours needed for oven cooking. This makes it ideal for quick weeknight meals or sides. The steamer trays stack, so you can cook a complete meal simultaneously.

• Healthier cooking method. Steaming retains more nutrients than other cooking methods since foods are not submerged in water. The steam cooks quickly and evenly while preserving vitamins and minerals. Steaming avoids adding extra fat or oil.

• Simple to use. The steamer has a basic on/off switch and timer up to 60 minutes. The water reservoir is easy to fill and the trays slide in and out smoothly. Cleanup just requires wiping out the reservoir and washing the trays. The included recipes provide guidance for steaming times to take the guesswork out.

Disadvantages

While the Nostalgia Food Steamer offers some nice features for the price, it does have some notable drawbacks to consider:

• Small capacity: The steaming basket only holds about 1.5 quarts. This is sufficient for side dishes or appetizers for a small family. But it may be too small if you want to steam larger quantities of food at once.

• No timing functions: There are no onboard timers or pre-set steaming times. The steamer lacks any automation and shuts off automatically after 45 minutes. You have to manually set a separate timer and track remaining cook times. This requires staying close by to check doneness and turn off the steamer.

Value

The Nostalgia Food Steamer offers great value for the price. At around $30 on Amazon, it is very affordable compared to other food steamers which can cost $60-100. The low price makes it easy to justify this purchase for anyone looking to start steaming more foods at home.

You get good bang for your buck with the Nostalgia Food Steamer. It comes with two stackable baskets so you can cook your main course and sides at the same time. The baskets and drip tray are dishwasher safe, making cleanup easy. It also includes a rice bowl, making this an all-in-one appliance.

For the low price, you get a food steamer that performs very well. The 800 watt heating system provides plenty of power for steaming. The 60-minute timer with auto shut-off gives you flexibility. Overall, the included accessories and performance you get with the Nostalgia Food Steamer make it a great value purchase.

Alternatives

When looking for a food steamer, the Nostalgia GDHDS206RDSL has some worthy competitors to consider as well. Here are a few other top options:

• Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer - This 9-cup cooker has a steam tray and cooks rice, while steaming vegetables, meat or fish simultaneously. It has 15 digital cooking functions and a delayed timer.

• Cuisinart Digital Glass Steamer - This 3-tier steaming system can hold 5 liters total. It has easy touchpad controls with auto shut-off and comes with a drip tray and rice bowl.

• Oster Double Tiered Food Steamer - With a 5 quart capacity, this affordable steamer has two tiers to cook on. It's simple to operate with an auto shut-off and comes with a rice bowl.

• Bella 7.4 Quart 2-Tier Food Steamer - Large capacity to cook for a crowd. Stackable steaming bowls and selector dial with auto shut-off. Comes with recipes.

• Hamilton Beach Digital Steamer - Features 2 tiers, each with 7.4 quart capacity. Includes digital touchpad controls and specialized settings for vegetables, seafood, rice, grains and more. Auto shut-off when done.

Summary

The Nostalgia GDHDS206RDSL Food Steamer is a decent mid-range food steamer that offers good bang for your buck. It provides ample steaming capacity in its two stackable BPA-free plastic baskets, letting you cook healthy meals for the whole family.

The steamer is easy to use, with an intuitive control panel and 60 minute timer. It heats up quickly and steams veggies, meat, fish and more with consistent results. The see-through water reservoir is convenient for monitoring water levels.

Overall, this steamer gets the job done for basic steaming needs. While not the most powerful or versatile model, it provides reliable performance. The plastic construction feels a bit flimsy but holds up with proper care.

For home cooks seeking an affordable steamer for weeknight meals, the Nostalgia GDHDS206RDSL is a solid choice worth considering. It's not fancy but offers good value. If you'll use a steamer frequently or need more durability, it may be worth investing in a higher-end stainless steel model. But for occasional steaming, this budget-friendly pick hits the mark.