The present invention relates to a food steamer. The food steamer comprises a food preparation chamber (2), a steam generator (3) communicating with the food preparation chamber (2) so that steam is able to flow from the steam generator (3) to the food preparation chamber (2), and a contaminant prevention means (8) configured to prevent the ingress of contaminants from the food preparation chamber (2) into the steam generator (3). The present invention also relates to an apparatus for preventing the ingress of contaminants from a food preparation chamber (2) into a steam generator (3) of a food steamer.