When the temperature outside is pushing 90°F, the last thing anyone wants is to stand over a hot stove or heat up the kitchen with a 400-degree oven. That's exactly where a food steamer becomes your best friend — it cooks entire meals using nothing but steam, keeping your kitchen cool and your food healthy.
Unlike frying or roasting, steaming doesn't require oil, doesn't produce smoke, and preserves up to 90% more nutrients than boiling. And with a multi-tier electric steamer, you can cook an entire meal — protein, vegetables, and carbs — all at the same time.
We've rounded up 12 summer recipes that prove your food steamer is the most underrated appliance in your kitchen. Whether you're meal-prepping for the week or throwing together a quick weeknight dinner, these recipes keep things light, fresh, and far away from any open flame.
Before we dive into the recipes, let's talk about why steaming is especially perfect for hot-weather cooking:
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Zero ambient heat: An electric steamer generates steam inside a closed chamber — your kitchen stays at room temperature
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No oil smoke: Say goodbye to greasy stovetop splatter and that lingering fried-food smell
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One-pot cooking: Stack tiers to cook multiple dishes simultaneously — less cleanup, less effort
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Nutrient retention: Steaming preserves water-soluble vitamins (B and C) significantly better than boiling or microwaving
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Natural flavors: Steam cooks gently, keeping proteins tender and vegetables vibrant without masking their natural taste
The simplest side dish that tastes like summer on a plate.
Ingredients:
2 cups broccoli florets,
1 cup snap peas,
1 cup baby carrots,
1 zucchini (sliced),
½ cup Greek yogurt,
1 tbsp lemon juice,
2 tbsp fresh dill, salt, and pepper
Instructions:
- Place harder vegetables (carrots, broccoli) on the bottom tier
- Place softer vegetables (snap peas, zucchini) on the top tier
- Steam for 8–10 minutes until tender-crisp
- Mix yogurt, lemon juice, dill, salt, and pepper for the dip
- Serve vegetables warm with the herbed yogurt
A whole white fish steamed with ginger and scallions — light, aromatic, and impossibly tender.
Ingredients:
1 whole sea bass or branzino (1.5 lbs),
3 slices fresh ginger, 2 scallions (white parts),
2 tbsp soy sauce,
1 tbsp Shaoxing wine,
1 tsp sesame oil,
1 tbsp hot vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Place the cleaned fish on a heatproof plate that fits in your steamer basket
- Scatter ginger slices and scallion whites over the fish
- Mix soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and a pinch of sugar; pour over the fish
- Steam for 12–15 minutes until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily
- Remove, top with fresh scallion greens and julienned ginger
- Heat vegetable oil until shimmering and pour over the scallions — listen for that sizzle
- Finish with a drizzle of sesame oil
Steaming Tip: With its 14.8QT capacity, the BUYDEEM G67 Two-Tier Electric Food Steamer can accommodate a whole fish on the included ceramic plate. Its two-tier design allows you to steam different foods at the same time, improving cooking efficiency. You can also pair it with accessories like stewing pots and traditional steam pots to enjoy more versatile everyday cooking.
Store-bought or homemade dumplings steamed to perfection — no soggy bottoms.
Ingredients:
Frozen dumplings (potstickers or gyoza),
3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar,
1 tsp chili oil,
1 tsp sesame seeds
Instructions:
- Line the steamer basket with perforated parchment paper or cabbage leaves
- Arrange dumplings 1 inch apart (they expand!)
- Steam frozen dumplings for 10–12 minutes; fresh dumplings for 8–10 minutes
- Mix the dipping sauce while they steam
- Serve immediately with sauce
Steaming Tip: With its 5.3QT capacity, the BUYDEEM G52 Electric Food Steamer is ideal for preparing everyday meals for small families. Steam vegetables, seafood, dumplings, and more with ease.
👉 Shop the G52 Food Steamer
Pillowy soft bao buns ready for your favorite fillings — perfect for a DIY bao party.
Ingredients:
Store-bought frozen bao buns (or homemade dough), your choice of fillings (BBQ pork, crispy chicken, pickled vegetables)
Instructions:
- Line each tier of your steamer with perforated parchment paper
- Place bao buns 2 inches apart — they will double in size
- Steam for 8–10 minutes until puffy and soft to the touch
- Open and fill with your favorite ingredients
Steaming tip: The BUYDEEM G67 Electric Food Steamer's 7.4QT capacity with two tiers lets you steam more bao buns at once — ideal for entertaining.
A Chinese comfort food classic — silky, savory, and surprisingly easy.
Ingredients:
3 large eggs,
1.5 cups warm water or chicken broth,
1 tsp sesame oil,
1 tbsp soy sauce, scallions for garnish
Instructions:
- Beat eggs gently — avoid creating bubbles (the secret to a smooth texture)
- Slowly whisk in warm water or broth and strain through a fine sieve
- Pour into a heatproof bowl and cover with foil
- Steam for 12–15 minutes
- Finish with sesame oil, soy sauce, and scallions
Steaming Tip: The BUYDEEM G553 All-in-One Electric Food Steamer goes beyond everyday steaming with slow cook and yogurt functions. Its preset function allows you to schedule cooking ahead, while accessories like stew pots expand your cooking possibilities.
👉 Shop the G553 Food Steamer
Buttery, garlicky shrimp ready in 10 minutes flat.
Ingredients:
1 lb large shrimp (peeled and deveined),
3 cloves garlic (minced), 3 tbsp melted butter,
1 tbsp lemon juice, pinch of red pepper flakes, fresh parsley
Instructions:
- Toss shrimp with garlic, butter, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes
- Arrange in a single layer in the steamer tray
- Steam for 6–8 minutes until pink and curled
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with crusty bread
Meal-prep friendly, protein-packed, and never dry — the steamer advantage.
Ingredients:
2 boneless chicken breasts,
1 tbsp soy sauce,
1 tbsp rice vinegar,
1 tsp sesame oil,
1 tsp honey, sesame seeds and scallions for garnish
Instructions:
- Place chicken breasts in the steamer basket
- Steam for 18–20 minutes
- Mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey for the sauce
- Slice chicken, drizzle with sauce, and garnish
Sweet, juicy corn without boiling away the flavor.
Ingredients:
4 ears of corn, butter, salt, optional: chili-lime seasoning
Instructions:
- Husk corn and place directly in the steamer basket
- Steam for 12–15 minutes until kernels are tender
- Serve with butter and your favorite seasonings
A 5-ingredient vegan dish that's big on flavor.
Ingredients:
1 block firm tofu,
2 tbsp soy sauce,
1 tbsp chili oil,
1 tsp sesame oil, scallions and cilantro
Instructions:
- Slice tofu into ½-inch slabs and place on a plate
- Steam for 8 minutes until heated through
- Drizzle with soy sauce, chili oil, and sesame oil
- Top with scallions and cilantro
Naturally sweet, fiber-rich, and the perfect canvas for toppings.
Ingredients:
2 medium sweet potatoes, toppings of choice: butter and cinnamon, or black beans and avocado
Instructions:
- Pierce sweet potatoes with a fork
- Place in steamer tray and steam for 20–25 minutes until fork-tender
- Split open and add your favorite toppings
Steaming Tip: The BUYDEEM G32 Mini Electric Food Steamer’s compact 1.6QT capacity is ideal for students, singles, and small families. Steam everyday favorites like vegetables, seafood, and eggs, or prepare fresh homemade baby food with ease. Its space-saving design makes healthy cooking more convenient.
Restaurant-quality mussels at home with zero stovetop mess.
Ingredients:
2 lbs fresh mussels (cleaned and debearded),
½ cup dry white wine,
2 cloves garlic (minced),
2 tbsp butter, fresh parsley
Instructions:
- Place mussels in the steamer basket
- Add wine and garlic to a small bowl and place on the steam tray
- Steam for 8–10 minutes until shells open wide
- Discard any that don't open
- Toss with butter and parsley, serve with crusty bread
Yes, you can make dessert in a steamer — and it's incredible.
Ingredients:
4 oz dark chocolate,
¼ cup butter,
2 eggs, 2 tbsp sugar,
2 tbsp flour, pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Melt chocolate and butter together; let cool slightly
- Whisk in eggs, sugar, flour, and salt until smooth
- Divide batter into 2 greased ramekins
- Place ramekins in steamer and steam for 12–14 minutes
- The center should be slightly jiggly — that's the molten lava!
- Let rest 2 minutes, then invert onto plates
If you're cooking through these recipes, you'll want a steamer that can handle multi-tier cooking, fits whole fish, and cleans up easily. Here's our quick recommendation:
| Need |
Recommended Steamer |
Capacity |
| 1–2 people, quick meals |
BUYDEEM G32 Mini
|
1.6QT |
| Families, everyday cooking |
BUYDEEM G52, G553, G563
|
5.3QT/10.6QT |
| Entertaining, batch cooking |
BUYDEEM G67/ G67 Two-Tier
|
7.4QT/ 14.8QT |
👉Shop Food Steamers: Browse the full BUYDEEM steamer collection
Can you cook a full meal in a food steamer?
Yes. A multi-tier electric food steamer lets you cook protein, vegetables, and carbs simultaneously in separate tiers, producing a complete meal in 15–30 minutes with zero stovetop heat.
What foods can you cook in an electric steamer?
You can steam fish, chicken, dumplings, bao buns, vegetables, eggs, tofu, seafood, grains, and even desserts like steamed pudding and lava cake. An electric steamer handles anything that benefits from gentle, moist-heat cooking.
Is steaming healthier than boiling or frying?
Steaming retains significantly more nutrients than boiling (up to 90% more water-soluble vitamins) and requires no cooking oil, making it lower in calories and fat than frying.
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