A folding steamer basket is one of the simplest ways to turn a pot you already own into a steamer. Add a little water, drop in the basket, and you can cook chayote, green beans, fish or a few reheated tamales without buying another pan. Then it folds up and goes back in the drawer.
The trouble is that these baskets look alike and differ in what matters: how much flat space they give you, how small a pot they fit, and how you get them out of the steam. This guide compares eight of them, and says plainly where independent reviewers liked a basket and where they did not.
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Quick verdict: which steamer basket to buy
For most kitchens, the best collapsible steamer basket is the Cuisinart 10.5-Inch Stainless Steel Steamer: America’s Test Kitchen rates it Recommended, it has an expandable handle, and it goes in the dishwasher. For nonstick pots and a small drawer, buy the Joseph Joseph Bloom. For a pressure cooker, the OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer is built for the job, though America’s Test Kitchen marks it Not Recommended for its limited flat space.
Check your pot before you buy. Measure across the inside, then compare that with the basket’s folded and open sizes.
Five steamer baskets side by side
Five standouts, one for each kind of cook. Sizes come from each listing. All eight picks are reviewed in full below.
| Steamer | Material | Size | Handle | Best for | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuisinart 10.5-Inch Stainless Steel SteamerBest overall
|
Stainless steel | 10.5 in | Expandable handle | Most stovetop steaming | View on Amazon |
Joseph Joseph Bloom Folding Steamer BasketBest for nonstick pots
|
Polypropylene and silicone | 6 to 10.5 in | Fork hook | Nonstick pots, small drawers | View on Amazon |
OXO Good Grips Silicone SteamerBest for pressure cookers
|
Silicone | Pots 7 in and wider | Two folding handles | Pressure cookers | View on Amazon |
Norpro Large Vegetable SteamerBest for big pots
|
Stainless steel | 7 to 11 in | Detachable post | Wide pots, big batches | View on Amazon |
Amazon Basics Extendable Steamer BasketBest for small pots
|
Stainless steel | 5.6 to 9.25 in | Not stated | Small saucepans | View on Amazon |
Our picks for the best collapsible steamer basket
These are all stovetop baskets that fold, expand or roll up for storage. Rigid inserts and bamboo tiers are a different product, and our best bamboo steamer guide covers the classic bamboo stack.
1. Cuisinart 10.5-Inch Stainless Steel Steamer – Roomy, With an Expanding Handle
This is the pick to start with, because it is the only basket on this list that America’s Test Kitchen rates Recommended in its comparison of collapsible steamers. Its notes say the basket held 26 dumplings. That is a useful sign, because a basket that takes a flat layer of dumplings also takes a flat layer of fish, sliced chayote or calabacitas.
Cuisinart’s listing is short. It calls the steamer collapsible, gives it an expandable handle for lifting it out, says it is dishwasher safe and names a lifetime warranty. The title gives the size as 10.5 inches. The handle matters more than it sounds. A basket full of hot vegetables sitting in a steaming pot is awkward to lift, and a handle you can pull up keeps your fingers further from the steam.
The one complaint from America’s Test Kitchen is storage: it says this basket did not fold up as compactly as its winner, an OXO stainless model we could not find as an in-stock Amazon listing. If drawer space is your first concern, look at the smaller baskets further down.
Why we like it
- Rated Recommended by America’s Test Kitchen
- Held 26 dumplings in that review
- Expandable handle for lifting
- Lifetime warranty named on the listing
Key specifications
| Model | CTG-00-SS |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Size | 10.5 in, per the title |
| Folded size | Not stated |
| Center post or handle | Expandable handle |
| Feet | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Lifetime, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who steams for a family in a saucepan or a medium pot and wants one basket with a named independent recommendation behind it. The extra capacity is the reason to choose it over the smaller petal baskets.
Skip it if you mainly cook in a small saucepan, or if a tight drawer decides what you buy. It does not fold as small as the winner in that review.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Independent Recommended rating
- Good capacity
- Handle extends for lifting
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Does not fold as compactly as the winner in that review
- The listing gives little detail on feet or folded size
2. Joseph Joseph Bloom Folding Steamer Basket – Light, With Soft Feet for Nonstick
Most folding baskets are metal. This one has a BPA-free polypropylene basket with silicone feet and fins, and Joseph Joseph says it suits nonstick pots and pans. Food Network named it Best Budget in its vegetable steamer roundup, praising it as lightweight and easy to store.
The numbers are clear on the listing: closed it is 6 inches across and 5 inches tall, open it reaches 10.5 inches, and the pot needs to be at least 7 inches wide. You lift it with a fork through a built-in hook, so have a fork ready before the water boils.
Three limits apply. Joseph Joseph rates the basket to 230°F and the silicone to 520°F, and it says the steamer is not for a microwave or a pressure cooker. Food Network also says the petals sometimes needed a little help to open or close, and it puts the capacity at about a pint, which is less than the listing’s phrase “large capacity” suggests.
One more note. America’s Test Kitchen rated the separate stainless Bloom model Not Recommended, after a leg came off. That is a different build from this plastic version, which it did not review, but it is why we left the stainless model off this list.
Why we like it
- Food Network’s Best Budget steamer
- Silicone feet and fins, suited to nonstick pans per the maker
- Closes to 6 inches across
- One-year guarantee against manufacturing defects
Key specifications
| Model | 45030 |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free polypropylene basket; silicone feet and fins |
| Size | Opens to 10.5 in; pot at least 7 in |
| Folded size | 6 in wide, 5 in tall |
| Center post or handle | Fork hook |
| Feet | Silicone |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 year, manufacturing defects |
Why we recommend it
It suits a small household with nonstick pots and a crowded drawer, steaming a side of vegetables for two. It is a light tool for light jobs.
Skip it if you own a pressure cooker and want one basket for both jobs, because Joseph Joseph rules that out. The OXO below is the better fit there.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Suits nonstick pans, per the maker
- Folds small
- Dishwasher safe
- Independent Best Budget pick
Cons
- Small capacity, per Food Network
- Not for pressure cookers or microwaves
- Petals may need help opening or closing
3. OXO Good Grips Silicone Steamer – Made for the Pressure Cooker
This is a different kind of collapsible basket. There are no petals, just a flexible silicone body with pleats that flex to fit pots 7 inches or wider, and two handles that fold inward and lock so a lid can close. It then rolls up, and the handles hook onto the feet to hold it closed. OXO says it is ideal for pressure cookers, which sets it apart from the plastic Joseph Joseph.
You should know the critical view before you buy. America’s Test Kitchen rates this basket Not Recommended. It found the basket hard to damage and easy to clean, but says the steeply sloping sides limited the usable flat space, and that the handles often popped up inside the pot. So this is not the basket for a single layer of dumplings.
We keep it for one job. High walls hold loose food together, which suits cut vegetables, potatoes or eggs in a pressure cooker, where a metal petal basket can be fussy to lift out. If you never use a pressure cooker, the Cuisinart is the better choice.
Why we like it
- OXO lists it as ideal for pressure cookers
- Handles fold in and lock so a lid can close
- Rolls up and hooks closed for storage
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 1142380 |
|---|---|
| Material | Silicone |
| Size | Fits pots 7 in and wider |
| Folded size | Rolls up; size not stated |
| Center post or handle | Two folding handles |
| Feet | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Warranty | OXO satisfaction guarantee |
Why we recommend it
It suits a pressure cooker owner who wants a soft basket that lifts out by its handles. OXO’s guarantee, as the listing states it, covers repair, replacement or refund if you are not satisfied.
Skip it if you want the most flat space for fish or dumplings. That is exactly where America’s Test Kitchen marked it down.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Pressure cooker use named by the maker
- Easy to clean, per America’s Test Kitchen
- Rolls up for storage
- Satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Rated Not Recommended by America’s Test Kitchen
- Sloped sides limit flat space
- Handles can pop up inside the pot, per that review
4. Norpro Large Vegetable Steamer – Opens to 11 Inches for Big Pots
When the pot is wide, a small petal basket leaves food sliding off the edge. Norpro’s large steamer starts at 7 inches and opens to 11 inches, so it suits a Dutch oven or a wide stock pot better than most baskets here. It folds down completely for storage.
The center post has a silicone coating and comes off, which Norpro says allows for extra food and easy scooping, so you can clear the middle for a piece of fish or a few ears of corn. There are also two side loops for lifting, which helps when the post is off. The base has three silicone-coated prongs that Norpro says protect cookware from scratches.
Care is the catch. Norpro recommends washing by hand, where most baskets here go in the dishwasher. We searched for an independent review of this model and found none, so this pick rests on Norpro’s listing.
Why we like it
- Expands from 7 to 11 inches
- Detachable silicone-coated center post
- Two side loops for lifting
- Silicone-coated base protects cookware, per Norpro
Key specifications
| Model | 177 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel; silicone-coated post and base |
| Size | 7 to 11 in |
| Folded size | About 7 in across, 3 in tall |
| Center post or handle | Detachable post; two side loops |
| Feet | Silicone-coated, three prongs |
| Dishwasher safe | Hand wash recommended |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone cooking for a crowd in a large pot, or anyone who wants the post out of the way for whole fish. The wide range also makes it a fair single basket for a kitchen with several pot sizes.
Skip it if you want a dishwasher-friendly basket, or if your only pot is a small saucepan. The 7-inch starting width won’t fit anything narrower.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Widest range of the metal baskets here
- Post comes off for large food
- Side loops for lifting
- Protective base, per Norpro
Cons
- Hand washing recommended
- We found no independent review
- Too wide for pots under 7 inches
5. Oster Sangerfield Expandable Steamer Insert – A Removable Post and a Second Job
Oster’s insert sits in the middle of the range: it collapses to 7 inches and opens to 10.5 inches, a useful span for saucepans and medium pots. The listing also gives its size as 1.1 quarts. Like the Norpro, it has a removable center post, so you can clear the middle for larger food.
It also doubles as a strainer for fruit, vegetables and salads, according to the listing. That is a small convenience in a kitchen short on space, because one tool can rinse tomatillos and then steam vegetables for the same meal.
This pick rests on the listing. Neither America’s Test Kitchen nor Food Network covers it in the reviews we read, and the listing does not describe the feet or give a warranty. Treat it as a plain basket from a known kitchen brand rather than a proven winner. We also don’t repeat the listing’s claim about nutrients, because it gives no source.
Why we like it
- Collapses to 7 inches, opens to 10.5 inches
- Removable center post
- Doubles as a strainer, per the listing
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 130003.01 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Size | 7 to 10.5 in; 1.1 qt, per the listing |
| Folded size | 7 in across |
| Center post or handle | Removable center post |
| Feet | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who wants a stainless basket that goes in the dishwasher, in a mid-size range, with a post that lifts out. The Norpro reaches further, but needs hand washing.
Skip it if you want an independent recommendation behind your purchase. The Cuisinart has one, and this does not.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Removable post
- Doubles as a strainer
- Useful size range
Cons
- Not covered in the reviews we read
- Feet and warranty not stated
- Won’t fit pots narrower than 7 inches
6. Martha Stewart Richburn Telescopic Folding Steamer – A Handle That Extends
America’s Test Kitchen lists a telescoping handle as a nice feature to have, and its winner has one. This Richburn insert brings that idea to a basket you can buy now: the listing describes a telescopic folding steamer whose nylon handle extends for a safe grip.
The rest is simple. The body is stainless steel with a mirror finish, the feet are BPA-free silicone that help stop slipping and scratching on nonstick cookware, and it is dishwasher safe. One detail doesn’t quite match: the title says 10.6 inches and the box contents say 10 inches, so measure your pot with a little room to spare.
The listing gives no heat limit for the nylon handle, so keep it away from the flame. As with the Oster, this pick rests on the listing and the maker’s details rather than on an independent review.
Why we like it
- Extendable handle gives a longer grip
- Silicone feet help prevent slipping and scratches
- Stainless steel body
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 129119.01 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel; nylon handle; silicone feet |
| Size | 10 to 10.6 in, per the listing |
| Folded size | Not stated |
| Center post or handle | Telescopic nylon handle |
| Feet | BPA-free silicone |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone steaming in a deep pot, where a short post sits below the rim and is hard to reach. It is also a fair choice when nonstick cookware is what you own.
Skip it if you want to remove the handle altogether for a whole fish. The listing does not say it comes off.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Handle extends for lifting
- Soft feet for nonstick pans
- Stainless body
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Not covered in the reviews we read
- Stated sizes differ slightly
- No heat limit given for the nylon handle
7. Amazon Basics Extendable Steamer Basket – A Plain Basket for Smaller Pots
Most baskets here need a pot of 7 inches or wider. This one collapses to 5.6 inches and opens to 9.25 inches, so it is the pick when your main pot is a small saucepan. The listing says the petals expand and collapse automatically.
The basket is stainless steel with heat-safe silicone feet, which the listing says protect cookware from scratches. It is dishwasher safe. That is about all the listing tells you: it does not describe a center post or a warranty, so check the photos if a lifting handle matters to you.
This is a store brand, and we rest this pick on the listing alone. The listing dates only from late 2025, so it has a short record. That is the reason this basket sits below brands with a longer one.
Why we like it
- Collapses to 5.6 inches for small pots
- Opens to 9.25 inches
- Silicone feet
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | KL31M01D-23A |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel; silicone feet |
| Size | 5.6 to 9.25 in |
| Folded size | 5.6 in across |
| Center post or handle | Not stated |
| Feet | Silicone |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a small kitchen or a single cook, where a small saucepan does most of the work. It covers the smallest pots of any basket on this list.
Skip it if you cook in a wide pot. At 9.25 inches it leaves a gap in anything larger.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fits the smallest pots here
- Silicone feet
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Not covered in the reviews we read
- Center post not described
- Too small for wide pots
8. Farberware Silicone Steamer Basket – Rolls Up, With Interlocking Handles
Farberware’s basket follows the same idea as the OXO: a flexible silicone body with high walls, handles that interlock for lifting, and a shape that rolls up tightly for a drawer. The listing gives it as 8.86 by 6.5 by 3.94 inches and rates the silicone to 450°F.
Farberware says it fits most standard pots, pans and pressure cookers, and that the high walls keep food above the water. It is dishwasher safe. The large, flat base is the feature to look at, because flat space is exactly what America’s Test Kitchen found lacking in OXO’s version. It did not review this basket, so we can’t say whether Farberware does better.
This pick rests on the listing. Keep the water level low and check it before you start, since the listing does not describe feet.
Why we like it
- Rolls up for drawers
- Silicone rated to 450°F by the maker
- Interlocking handles for lifting
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 5335938 |
|---|---|
| Material | Silicone |
| Size | 8.86 x 6.5 x 3.94 in |
| Folded size | Rolls up; size not stated |
| Center post or handle | Two interlocking handles |
| Feet | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who likes the soft, roll-up style and wants a second choice to the OXO. Interlock the handles before you lift, and check that your lid still seats.
Skip it if you want a basket with an independent review behind it. Choose the Cuisinart instead.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stated heat limit of 450°F
- Rolls up small
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Not covered in the reviews we read
- Warranty not stated
- Fixed shape, unlike a petal basket
How to choose a vegetable steamer basket
Match the basket to your pot
Measure the inside of the pot you use most. A petal basket needs a pot at least as wide as its closed size, and it works best when the pot is close to its open size. In a pot much wider than that, food slips off the edge. Most baskets here start at 7 inches. The Amazon Basics starts at 5.6 inches, and the Norpro stretches to 11.
Look at the flat space
Capacity is really about flat space, because steam reaches food best in a single layer. America’s Test Kitchen suggests a usable surface of at least 60 square inches. Listings rarely give that figure, so use the open diameter as a rough guide, and remember that sloped silicone sides and a center post both take space away.
Check leg height
The same review looks for legs at least 1 inch tall, so the food stays above the simmering water, and a center handle at least 3 inches tall. Short legs mean less water in the pot, so you top it up more often. Top up with hot water, and never let the pot boil dry.
Decide how you will lift it
You have three choices: a center post, side handles, or a fork through a hook. A telescoping handle clears the lid and still gives you a good grip. Side handles suit a pressure cooker. Any way you do it, the steam is hot, so use an oven mitt, and tilt the lid away from you as you open it.
Think about your cookware and your sink
Silicone feet are kinder to nonstick pans. Metal petals have plenty of seams, so a basket you can put in the dishwasher saves effort, though Norpro recommends hand washing its model. Silicone baskets clean easily, as America’s Test Kitchen found with the OXO.
How we picked these eight steamer baskets
We started with folding, expanding and roll-up baskets in stock on Amazon from identifiable makers, and checked that each lead offer was new. Then we read each listing and the two reviews that helped most: America’s Test Kitchen’s collapsible steamer basket review and Food Network’s vegetable steamer roundup. Three picks appear in those reviews: the Cuisinart, the plastic Joseph Joseph and the OXO silicone. We ran a search for an independent review of the Norpro and found none. The Oster, Martha Stewart, Amazon Basics and Farberware baskets rest on the listing and maker details, and we say so in each section.
We left out several baskets on purpose. America’s Test Kitchen’s winner, an OXO stainless steamer, did not turn up as an in-stock Amazon listing. That review rated the stainless Joseph Joseph Bloom Not Recommended, so we dropped that model. We skipped the many unknown brands selling near-identical petal baskets, because a basket touches your food and we wanted a maker we could identify. We checked the CPSC recall database by brand and found no recall of a steamer basket from any maker here. We have not used these products ourselves.
Steamer basket questions, answered
How much water goes under a steamer basket?
Enough to steam without touching the food. Keep the water below the bottom of the basket, and check it during longer cooks. The height of the basket’s legs sets the limit, so baskets with short legs need less water and more checks.
Can a collapsible steamer basket go in a pressure cooker?
Some can. OXO names pressure cookers for its silicone steamer, and Farberware lists them for its basket. Joseph Joseph says not to use the Bloom in one. The other listings here do not say, so check your cooker’s manual and make sure the lid closes.
Is a stainless or silicone basket better?
Stainless petals fit a wider range of pots and give more flat space when open. Silicone is softer, easy to clean, and rolls up. If you steam fish or dumplings, choose stainless. If you steam cut vegetables in a pressure cooker, silicone is a fair choice.
Can I steam tamales in a vegetable steamer basket?
A few, yes, standing them up in a tall pot. For a full batch you will want a proper pot, and our best tamale steamer guide covers those.
Will a steamer basket scratch a nonstick pot?
Bare metal feet can. The baskets here with silicone feet are the safer choice, and Martha Stewart and Amazon Basics both mention scratches on their listings. Norpro says the same of its silicone-coated base.
Our final pick for the steamer drawer
Buy the Cuisinart if you want one basket for most jobs, and the Joseph Joseph if you cook small in nonstick pots. If you need a pot to go with it, our best saucepan and best stock pot guides are a good next stop, and best pressure cooker covers the faster route.
Related guide: Best food steamer.
Related guide: Best vegetable steamer pot.
Related guide: Steamer basket alternative.
A steamer basket is also a gentle way to warm food, which helps when you reheat leftovers. And if you would rather leave the pots alone tonight, see the menu or call to order.