The Caraway Steamers Are The Perfect Cookware Accessory—And We Tested Them

I cook at home quite a bit, and as a vegetarian, I steam a lot of quick fresh veggies for sides, salads, or sauces using a cheap folding metal basket steamer I picked up a while ago. It fits in both my Caraway Sauce Pan and Dutch Oven thanks to the adjustable sides. When the brand reached out to offer up a set to review, I knew I needed to put it to the test next to ol’ reliable.

The duo arrived in a large box, with each steamer wrapped individually in it’s own separate box and bag. Upon taking them out I was immediately impressed with how sturdy they are, how they are made with the same non-toxic and non-stick coating as other Caraway items, and that they fit perfectly into the respective pots. Once I hand-washed both, it was time to put them to the test to compare them to the steamer basket I have used for years.

For this test, I steamed frozen broccoli and fresh carrots in the Dutch Oven and its steamer. Since this pot is larger, it took a few minutes for the 2 cups of water in the pot to start steaming, and in the end, the vegetables were ready about 15 minutes later. During the process, I noticed a few differences between the Caraway Steamer Duo and the basket I’ve been using.

First of all, the Caraway Steamer Duo has fewer, but larger holes than the basket. Secondly, they are also heavier and more stable. Next, the two handles on the sides make it easy to pull the steamer out to plate food, or as I did, to check how much water is left. I didn’t necessarily need to monitor the water level—the Caraway Steamer Duo sit higher in the pot than the steamer basket by about 0.5 inches, allowing for a larger amount of water to boil underneath.

I tested the firmness on the vegetables a few times with a fork, and a generous amount of steam greeted me when I took the soaked lid off, letting water droplets roll off the lid each time. I did have to use my sleeve to take the lid off and to remove the steamer from the Dutch Oven, because the handles get hot while in use. Once my vegetables were steamed, I scooped them out with a bamboo spoon so the steamer wouldn’t get scratched.

In the end, I was impressed with the steamer I used in the Dutch Oven, and am excited to use it again and to try the option that fits inside the Sauce Pan. There are so many things you can do with steamers besides just cooking vegetables— things like rice, shrimp, and more turn out deliciously when using steam. Once I cleaned and dried them, I stored them both in their respective pots easily, with only a small amount of extra space needed.

One thing to note is that I did try to place the Sauce Pan Steamer in a non-Caraway pot that I have, but it did not fit. With that being said, I recommend the Steamer Duo to anyone who has the Caraway Cookware Set. Together it is a bit pricey and it is recommended that they are washed by hand as opposed to in the dishwasher, but, if you only have Dutch Oven and/or Sauce Pan, the good news is that you can purchase the right-sized steamer individually.

The new steamers are very clearly made to only fit those two pots. They cost quite a bit more than the basket I have used forever but are easier to clean, sleeker, and stronger.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Amanda McDonald is an editor at The Spruce Eats and has over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food — from what new products are at the grocery store to chef-approved hacks that keep tricky leftovers fresh for days.