7 Tasty Reasons You Need a Steamer Insert

A few kitchen tools end up forgotten in the back of cabinets. For too long, the steamer has been one of them. No longer! Enter our new Steamer Basket Set, ready to reclaim its spot as your kitchen MVP. The set includes a smaller steamer for our 3-quart saucepan and a larger one for the 8-quart stockpot. Both collapse flat for easy storage, and yes—they’re dishwasher-safe!

This multitasker can steam vegetables, chicken, store-bought dumplings and eggs (yes, really!) or moonlight as a colander for draining pasta or rinsing produce. Faster meal prep? Done. Perfectly tender veggies that even picky eaters will love? Say no more.

As HexClad’s Food Director Laura Rege says, “Our new recipes make steaming something you actually want to do.” She adds, “They’re so versatile, too—you can swap in any vegetable to create a delicious side or main dish.” (To adjust for a new vegetable, you might need to tweak the timing.)

P.S. Don’t be afraid to lift the lid to check for doneness. “Steam builds up quickly once the lid is on, so opening it briefly won’t affect the cooking,” Laura advises. Just check and add a minute or two if needed.

1. Potatoes in Indian-Spiced Tomato Sauce

Yes, cooking potatoes Is easy, but getting them just right? That takes a bit of know-how. Steaming them leads to fork-tender spuds that are perfectly cooked—Goldilocks potatoes, if you will. Here, you’ll toss them in a fragrant, spicy tomato-onion sauce. Topped with cilantro, a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a dollop of cooling yogurt, this side dish is endlessly versatile. Serve it alongside a seared steak, baked salmon or marinated tofu.

2. Steamed Eggs

“I don’t know why, but it’s much easier to peel a steamed egg than a boiled egg,” Laura says. (We’re sold.) With this method, you’ll steam eggs to precisely the doneness you crave. For soft-boiled eggs destined to crown a bowl of ramen, six minutes is your magic number. Craving a jammy yolk to smear on toast? Eight minutes will deliver. Need a medium boil? Go for 10. And if it’s classic hard-boiled eggs you’re after (hello, egg salad sandwiches on homemade sourdough), 12 minutes is the gold standard.

3. Miso-Garlic Shrimp

There’s a superior way to cook shrimp, and we’re not afraid to say it: steaming. Whether you’re prepping for a classic shrimp cocktail or these umami-packed flavor bombs, steaming guarantees perfect tenderness and even cooking every time. For a quick and satisfying dinner, toss these shrimp with creamy pasta, spoon them over brown rice with steamed broccoli (using our foolproof instructions below) or stuff them into soft hoagie rolls for an irresistible sandwich.

4. Creamy Broccoli Crunch Salad

Let us introduce you to the most exciting take on salad we’ve seen in a while. This hearty, flavor-packed creation has a seriously stacked roster of bacon, pecans toasted in bacon fat, smoky gouda, pickled shallots and dried cranberries. And, of course, perfectly crisp-tender broccoli florets that bring it all together. The entire mix is tossed in a creamy, Caesar-inspired dressing that’ll have you wondering why you haven’t been eating like this all along. It’s the kind of salad that makes you actually look forward to vegetables.

5. Mediterranean White Wine Steamed Fish Dinner

If you’ve ever made fish en papillote, you know steaming fish is a foolproof way to get tender, flavorful results. But why mess with the finicky parchment packets when you can achieve the same outcome with a steamer? This Mediterranean-inspired dinner takes all the guesswork out of cooking. Instead of water, start with a splash of white wine in the pot, and then layer in cod, white beans, peppadew peppers, olives and broccolini. The result? A simple yet sophisticated meal that tastes like a coastal retreat in the South of France—all from the comfort of your kitchen.

6. Ginger-Scallion Chicken Breast

If you’ve written off chicken breasts as dry or tough, it’s time to try steaming. Seriously: It’s the best way to achieve tender chicken in just 15 to 20 minutes. This recipe features chicken breasts topped with a hot, zesty ginger-scallion sauce, ideal for serving alongside rice and steamed vegetables. Once you’ve mastered the steaming technique, it’ll become your go-to for plain chicken breasts to add to easy pastas, weeknight quesadillas or grain bowls. Trust us—this method is a game-changer for no-stress dinners.

7. Crunchy Honey Beet Salad

Yes, roasting beets in their skins is great. But let’s be honest, we’re tired of singeing our fingers on the lava-hot peels. Instead, peel the beets before cooking and steam them for a tender, equally delicious alternative. After steaming beet wedges until perfectly tender in your 8-Quart Stock Pot, toss them with spicy candied almonds, a tangy orange vinaigrette and crumbles of salty feta. The result? A stunning, flavorful dish that proves salads can be a showstopper.