Steamers and Boilers
Commercial Steamers & Boilers for Restaurants, Cafés and Catering Kitchens
Cooksmill supplies professional steamers and boilers designed for busy commercial kitchens. Our range includes stainless steel steamers, aluminium steamer plates, steamer baskets and double boilers suitable for restaurants, hotels, cafés, takeaways and catering operations.
Designed for durability, hygiene and consistent cooking results, commercial steamers are ideal for preparing vegetables, seafood, dumplings, rice, puddings and delicate foods at scale.
Steamers and boilers are essential cookware for any kitchen that takes healthy, flavour-preserving cooking seriously. From traditional bamboo steamers used in Asian cuisine to stainless steel tiered steamers and aluminium double boilers, this category covers a range of tools designed to cook food gently using moist heat, without the need for oil and without stripping food of its natural nutrients, colour, or texture.
At Cooksmill, we stock a varied range of steamers and boilers suited to both professional catering kitchens and home cooks, at competitive trade prices with fast UK delivery.
Commercial Uses for Steamers & Boilers
Steamers and boilers are essential pieces of equipment in many professional kitchens, helping chefs prepare food efficiently while maintaining quality, flavour and consistency. From restaurants and hotels to cafés, bakeries and catering companies, commercial steamers provide a reliable solution for high-volume food preparation.
Restaurants
In busy restaurant kitchens, commercial steamers are ideal for preparing a wide variety of dishes quickly and consistently. Multi-tier steamers allow chefs to cook multiple ingredients at the same time, making them perfect for service periods where efficiency is essential.
Common restaurant uses include:
- Preparing vegetables, seafood, dumplings and delicate ingredients
- Batch cooking during busy service periods
- Maintaining food quality while preparing larger quantities
- Cooking ingredients with minimal oil while preserving texture and flavour
Hotels
Hotels rely on professional steaming equipment for breakfast service, buffets and large-scale food preparation. Commercial steamers help kitchen teams produce consistent results when catering for high numbers of guests.
Typical hotel applications include:
- Preparing breakfast items such as vegetables, eggs and steamed foods
- Supporting buffet preparation and service
- Cooking larger quantities efficiently for conferences, events and functions
- Maintaining consistent food quality across multiple services
Cafés & Bakeries
Steamers and boilers are also valuable additions to cafés and bakeries looking to expand their menu with specialist dishes and freshly prepared foods.
Popular uses include:
- Steaming puddings and desserts
- Preparing bao buns and other steamed bakery items
- Creating specialist dishes that require gentle, controlled cooking
- Supporting daily preparation of high-demand menu items
Catering Companies
For catering businesses, reliability and capacity are essential. Commercial steamers are well suited to mobile kitchens, event catering and large-scale food production where consistent cooking results are required.
Catering applications include:
- Mobile kitchen operations
- Weddings, events and corporate catering
- High-volume preparation for large groups
- Efficient cooking where kitchen space and time are limited
Whether you run a restaurant, hotel, café, bakery or catering operation, choosing the right commercial steamer or boiler can improve kitchen efficiency while delivering consistent professional results.
Types of Steamers & Boilers
Our range includes several different formats, each suited to different cooking tasks and kitchen environments.
Bamboo steamers are the traditional choice for dim sum, dumplings, bao buns, and Asian-inspired dishes. Stackable and lightweight, they sit directly over a wok or pan of simmering water and impart a subtle, natural aroma to food during cooking. Our bamboo steamers are a popular choice for both professional and home kitchens.
Stainless steel tiered steamers offer a hygienic, durable alternative to bamboo and are well-suited to busy catering environments. Multi-tier designs allow different foods to be cooked simultaneously, ideal for batch cooking vegetables, fish, rice, or delicate proteins in a single operation. Our stainless steel 3-tier steamers are a reliable everyday option.
Steamer baskets sit inside an existing pan, turning a standard saucepan into a steaming vessel. Compact and practical, they're a versatile addition to any kitchen and work well for vegetables, shellfish, and smaller portions.
Double boilers use indirect heat, a pan of water beneath a second vessel, to cook or melt ingredients gently without the risk of scorching. They're the preferred method for melting chocolate, making custards, hollandaise sauce, and other temperature-sensitive preparations. Our aluminium double boilers are a robust, professional-grade option well-suited to high-volume kitchens.
Why Steam or Double Boil?
Steaming is widely regarded as one of the healthiest cooking methods available. It requires no oil, retains more vitamins and minerals than boiling, and preserves the natural colour and texture of ingredients. It's particularly well-suited to:
- Vegetables and leafy greens
- Fish, shellfish, and delicate proteins
- Dumplings, dim sum, and bao buns
- Rice and grain dishes
- Puddings and desserts
Double boiling is the go-to technique wherever gentle, controlled heat is essential, preventing direct contact with a heat source that could cause curdling, burning, or separation.
Why Choose Stainless Steel Steamers for Commercial Kitchens?
Stainless steel steamers are a trusted choice for restaurants, hotels, cafés and catering operations because they deliver reliable performance in demanding professional environments. Built with heavy-duty construction, commercial stainless steel steamers are designed to withstand the pressures of busy kitchens where equipment is used every day.
The corrosion resistant properties of stainless steel make these steamers ideal for environments where they are regularly exposed to heat, moisture and frequent washing. This helps maintain their appearance, hygiene standards and performance over time, making them a practical investment for professional kitchens.
Benefits of Stainless Steel Steamers for Chefs
- Built for daily commercial use – Designed to handle the demands of busy restaurants, hotels and catering kitchens where reliability is essential.
- Easy to clean and maintain – Stainless steel surfaces are hygienic, simple to wipe down and suitable for professional cleaning routines.
- Durable construction – Strong materials provide long-lasting performance, even with frequent use during busy service periods.
- Consistent cooking results – Steam cooking helps retain flavour, moisture, texture and nutritional quality across a wide range of ingredients.
- Professional kitchen equipment – Designed specifically for chefs who need dependable cookware that performs under pressure.
Whether preparing vegetables, seafood, dumplings, rice, puddings or specialist dishes, stainless steel steamers provide the durability and versatility required in modern commercial kitchens. Designed for chefs, they offer a reliable solution for restaurants, hotels, cafés and catering companies looking for high-quality cookware that delivers consistent results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of steamer is best for a commercial kitchen?
Stainless steel tiered steamers are commonly used in restaurants because they are durable, hygienic and suitable for repeated daily use.
Are steamers suitable for restaurants?
Yes. Commercial steamers are widely used by restaurants, hotels and catering companies for vegetables, seafood, rice and dumplings.
What is the difference between a steamer and a double boiler?
A steamer cooks food using circulating steam, while a double boiler uses indirect heat for delicate tasks such as melting chocolate or preparing sauces.
Why Choose Cooksmill?
Cooksmill has decades of experience supplying professional cookware to the UK hospitality and food service industry. Our steamers and boilers are selected for durability, performance, and practical everyday use, whether you're running a busy restaurant kitchen or cooking at home.
Browse our full range of steamers and boilers below.