Who is this for?

Family batch cooks

You want to steam rice cakes alongside other dishes, with separate tiers and enough usable space for your containers. If steaming takes longer, you also need a practical way to monitor the water.

Small-kitchen cooks

You need several tiers during a family meal but want bowls that take up less cupboard space afterwards. Check the cooking footprint as well as the stored size.

Routine-meal cooks

You make rice cakes occasionally and want straightforward timer controls and parts that are manageable to clean. Check the exact model’s cleaning instructions before choosing.

What matters when choosing?

For rice cakes served with a family meal, check the space your food container needs before weighing up storage and water controls.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Usable steaming space Check the internal basket diameter and height against your plate, mould or liner, leaving room for steam to circulate. Separate tiers help if other dishes will cook alongside the rice cakes. If I am making rice cakes for everyone alongside other food, I need the container to fit without crowding the baskets. Around 40% of consumers put usable tier space first.
Compact storage Check how the bowls stack for storage, then confirm that the cooking baskets still fit your rice-cake container. When cupboard space is tight, I need the steamer to pack away without losing the tiers I use for a meal. Around 30% of consumers make compact storage their main concern.
Water and timer controls Look for a timer, a visible water level and a refill arrangement suited to longer steaming. Check the listed shut-off or boil-dry features and follow the appliance instructions. If my rice cakes need sustained steam, I want to keep track of the water without disrupting the meal. For around 30% of consumers, water and timer controls come first.

What should you avoid?

  • Choosing by total capacity alone

    A litre figure describes overall capacity, not whether a wide rice-cake plate or mould fits inside a basket with space for steam to circulate.

    Measure your widest and tallest container, then compare both measurements with the exact steamer’s internal basket dimensions and grid arrangement.

  • Relying on automatic shut-off instead of safe placement

    Automatic shut-off and boil-dry protection do not remove the risks from hot steam or water near electrical connections.

    Follow the model’s instructions, keep its cable and socket dry, allow space around steam outlets and avoid leaving it unattended for long periods. Electrical Safety First advises checking that a steamer has a UK three-pin plug and fuse.

  • Overfilling tiers or ignoring different cooking times

    An overloaded basket can restrict steam circulation. Rice cakes and accompanying foods may also need different amounts of time.

    Leave steam paths clear, plan when each dish goes into the steamer and check that the centre of the rice cakes is hot before serving. Tefal’s appliance guidance warns against overloading steam bowls.

  • Leaving cooked rice-based leftovers in the steamer

    Torbay Council warns that cooked rice should not be left to cool in a steamer, rice cooker or pan because rice can carry Bacillus cereus spores.

    If your rice cakes contain cooked rice, serve them promptly or cool leftovers quickly and refrigerate them once cooled.

Brands to consider for electric steamers

Tefal

The Tefal Ultracompact VC204865 is a three-bowl option for cooks who need multiple tiers but have limited storage space.

  • Tefal lists stackable storage, a 60-minute timer, automatic shut-off and water refill during steaming for this model.
  • Confirm that your rice-cake plate or mould fits inside its bowls; compact storage does not establish the usable cooking diameter.

Russell Hobbs

The Russell Hobbs 14453 is a three-tier option worth checking for smaller family batches and routine meals.

  • A 7-litre capacity, an included rice bowl, a 60-minute timer, automatic shut-off and dishwasher-safe parts are listed.
  • This model is positioned towards smaller households or couples. For larger batches, check whether its individual baskets fit your containers and planned portions.

VonShef

The VonShef 9L 800W three-tier steamer is an option for cooks planning several dishes and wanting to monitor water during steaming.

  • One-, two- or three-tier use, a water gauge, an external refill inlet, a 60-minute timer and boil-dry protection are listed.
  • Check the individual tier dimensions against your rice-cake container; the stated 9-litre capacity does not establish its fit.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

Can I put rice cakes directly in an electric steamer basket?

Check what your recipe calls for before using a perforated basket directly. If it needs a plate, mould, paper or cloth, make sure that it fits the exact basket without blocking steam circulation; Tefal’s appliance guidance also cautions against overloading bowls.

What steamer size works for rice cakes and a family meal?

Three tiers are useful if you plan to steam rice cakes and other dishes at the same time, but basket fit matters more than the total litre figure. Measure your intended plate or mould and check the internal diameter and height of the exact model before buying.

Do I need a timer and a water-refill feature?

They are useful to check if your rice cakes need sustained steaming, particularly when other dishes are cooking too. Tefal lists a timer and refill system for the VC204865, while the VonShef 9L model is listed with a timer, water gauge and external inlet; neither set of features replaces following the instructions and supervising the appliance.

How should I clean an electric steamer?

Let the appliance cool and unplug it before cleaning, then follow the exact model’s instructions for its removable parts and electrical base. Check which parts are dishwasher-safe rather than assuming every bowl or accessory is; Tefal’s maintenance guidance also advises descaling its appliance.

What should I do with leftover rice-based food?

If the dish contains cooked rice, do not leave it to cool in the steamer. Torbay Council advises cooling cooked rice promptly and not leaving it in a steamer, rice cooker or pan; refrigerate leftovers once cooled and reheat them only once until steaming hot throughout.