Post by nurnobisorker14 on Oct 30, 2024 10:51:25 GMT
Fast and easy cooking, tasty and healthy food - this is what the multicooker has won over a huge number of people. Some housewives can no longer imagine their kitchen without it. Despite its apparent simplicity, the multicooker is far from a simple device, you need to get used to it and learn all the features. In this review, we will figure out how to choose a multicooker for your home, and help you find the right model for you.
A multicooker is a compact device that can replace a large number of other kitchen appliances. There are several undeniable advantages of this device, thanks to which it has become popular and in demand in almost every kitchen.
Versatility. In a multicooker you can: boil, fry, stew, steam, make pastries and desserts.
Cooking speed . Different models cook at different speeds. But on average, the time spent in the kitchen decreases when using a multicooker.
Minimal involvement in cooking . You only need to prepare the products (wash, cut) and put them in the bowl. No need to constantly check, stir, monitor the process bulk email campaigns and wait for it to end to turn it off. The multicooker will do it all itself.
Ease of use . It is very easy to prepare complex multi-component dishes, such as jellied meat or pilaf. Even people with no experience at all will be able to cook perfectly in it.
No need to clean the entire kitchen . There are much fewer dirty dishes used, usually it is enough to wash only the multicooker bowl.
Healthy and wholesome food. It is not necessary to use oil for cooking. You can cook at low temperatures, preserving the useful properties of the products.
Special taste of dishes . When simmering, food acquires unique taste qualities, reminiscent of baking in an oven.
Combines several necessary types of kitchen appliances . There is usually not enough space in the kitchen and freeing the room from unnecessary appliances becomes very important. A multicooker can replace: a steamer, a deep fryer, a yogurt maker and even a stove or oven. The amount of dishes used will also be significantly reduced.
How a multicooker works
To an uninformed buyer, a multicooker may seem similar to a saucepan on an electric stove. But in fact, the difference between it and a saucepan is huge, because we, as users, evaluate not by appearance, but by convenience and quality of the prepared food. Let's take a closer look at all the features of multicookers.
Thermally insulated housing
Thanks to the thermos effect, the multicooker consumes less electricity when cooking and heating. The dish will retain heat for a long time even when the device is turned off.
The body material can be:
metal;
plastic.
Typically, modern manufacturers combine these materials to create devices that are both durable and lightweight.
Try paying in installments
First payment only after 30 days
Find out the limit
Sealed lid
The ease of washing the multicooker depends on the type of lid, it can be:
removable;
non-removable;
non-removable with removable attachment.
The lid is equipped with a silicone sealing ring, which ensures its hermetic pressing to the body. Thanks to this, a more or less uniform distribution of heat inside the multicooker is achieved, even if the heating elements are located only at its bottom. It also prevents the flow of oxygen during cooking, which directly affects the quality of the dishes.
The lid has a valve for releasing steam during cooking. In modern multicookers, it is automatic, excess steam is released when a certain internal pressure is reached.
Heating element
Located at the bottom of the device, sometimes supplemented by elements in the walls and lid. Provides heating and temperature maintenance. The quality of the resulting food depends on the type of heating. By heating type, multicookers are divided into:
multicookers with a heating element - the heating element is located at the bottom, there is a temperature sensor in the middle, sometimes multicooker-bread makers also have a side heating element;
induction multicookers, in their wall there is an induction radiator, and the bowl is heated using electromagnetic waves;
3D heating is much advertised, but it is not very effective, even if there are heating elements in the lid and on the sides, they are most likely low-power and do not carry much sense.
Sensors
Temperature and pressure sensors (in the case of pressure cookers) ensure that the proper environment for cooking is maintained inside.
Control Panel
All work with the multicooker is done using the control panel, which usually consists of buttons, a display and a microprocessor.
Small, old or cheap models may not have a display, but usually have at least a small one that shows the cooking time. Displays can be anything: color and monochrome, LCD and LED. Choose them based on personal preferences.
Models from the lower price segment are sometimes controlled by regular buttons, more expensive multicookers are already equipped with a joystick (wheel) or have touch control. It is better not to take cheap models with touch control, it may not work correctly from greasy or wet touches.
Microprocessor control together with the above-mentioned sensors allows maintaining the required temperature according to the specified parameters.
Accessories
May come with:
silicone spatula;
recipe book;
steam cooking grid;
additional bowl;
spoon and ladle;
measuring cup;
deep frying basket;
silicone mittens or tongs for the pot;
yogurt jars.
In any case, all necessary accessories can be purchased later.
Types of multicookers
Classic multicooker-steamer
A common multicooker familiar to everyone, its heating element is usually only at the bottom, but some models have additional heating in the walls and lid. Built-in control and full automation of operation are mandatory. It is used for regular cooking and steaming.
Many manufacturers of multicookers with multi-zone heating distinguish them as a separate type, calling them 3D, or completely meaningless 4D, 5D, etc. As already indicated above, this is more of a marketing ploy than real advantages of a specific device.
A multicooker is a compact device that can replace a large number of other kitchen appliances. There are several undeniable advantages of this device, thanks to which it has become popular and in demand in almost every kitchen.
Versatility. In a multicooker you can: boil, fry, stew, steam, make pastries and desserts.
Cooking speed . Different models cook at different speeds. But on average, the time spent in the kitchen decreases when using a multicooker.
Minimal involvement in cooking . You only need to prepare the products (wash, cut) and put them in the bowl. No need to constantly check, stir, monitor the process bulk email campaigns and wait for it to end to turn it off. The multicooker will do it all itself.
Ease of use . It is very easy to prepare complex multi-component dishes, such as jellied meat or pilaf. Even people with no experience at all will be able to cook perfectly in it.
No need to clean the entire kitchen . There are much fewer dirty dishes used, usually it is enough to wash only the multicooker bowl.
Healthy and wholesome food. It is not necessary to use oil for cooking. You can cook at low temperatures, preserving the useful properties of the products.
Special taste of dishes . When simmering, food acquires unique taste qualities, reminiscent of baking in an oven.
Combines several necessary types of kitchen appliances . There is usually not enough space in the kitchen and freeing the room from unnecessary appliances becomes very important. A multicooker can replace: a steamer, a deep fryer, a yogurt maker and even a stove or oven. The amount of dishes used will also be significantly reduced.
How a multicooker works
To an uninformed buyer, a multicooker may seem similar to a saucepan on an electric stove. But in fact, the difference between it and a saucepan is huge, because we, as users, evaluate not by appearance, but by convenience and quality of the prepared food. Let's take a closer look at all the features of multicookers.
Thermally insulated housing
Thanks to the thermos effect, the multicooker consumes less electricity when cooking and heating. The dish will retain heat for a long time even when the device is turned off.
The body material can be:
metal;
plastic.
Typically, modern manufacturers combine these materials to create devices that are both durable and lightweight.
Try paying in installments
First payment only after 30 days
Find out the limit
Sealed lid
The ease of washing the multicooker depends on the type of lid, it can be:
removable;
non-removable;
non-removable with removable attachment.
The lid is equipped with a silicone sealing ring, which ensures its hermetic pressing to the body. Thanks to this, a more or less uniform distribution of heat inside the multicooker is achieved, even if the heating elements are located only at its bottom. It also prevents the flow of oxygen during cooking, which directly affects the quality of the dishes.
The lid has a valve for releasing steam during cooking. In modern multicookers, it is automatic, excess steam is released when a certain internal pressure is reached.
Heating element
Located at the bottom of the device, sometimes supplemented by elements in the walls and lid. Provides heating and temperature maintenance. The quality of the resulting food depends on the type of heating. By heating type, multicookers are divided into:
multicookers with a heating element - the heating element is located at the bottom, there is a temperature sensor in the middle, sometimes multicooker-bread makers also have a side heating element;
induction multicookers, in their wall there is an induction radiator, and the bowl is heated using electromagnetic waves;
3D heating is much advertised, but it is not very effective, even if there are heating elements in the lid and on the sides, they are most likely low-power and do not carry much sense.
Sensors
Temperature and pressure sensors (in the case of pressure cookers) ensure that the proper environment for cooking is maintained inside.
Control Panel
All work with the multicooker is done using the control panel, which usually consists of buttons, a display and a microprocessor.
Small, old or cheap models may not have a display, but usually have at least a small one that shows the cooking time. Displays can be anything: color and monochrome, LCD and LED. Choose them based on personal preferences.
Models from the lower price segment are sometimes controlled by regular buttons, more expensive multicookers are already equipped with a joystick (wheel) or have touch control. It is better not to take cheap models with touch control, it may not work correctly from greasy or wet touches.
Microprocessor control together with the above-mentioned sensors allows maintaining the required temperature according to the specified parameters.
Accessories
May come with:
silicone spatula;
recipe book;
steam cooking grid;
additional bowl;
spoon and ladle;
measuring cup;
deep frying basket;
silicone mittens or tongs for the pot;
yogurt jars.
In any case, all necessary accessories can be purchased later.
Types of multicookers
Classic multicooker-steamer
A common multicooker familiar to everyone, its heating element is usually only at the bottom, but some models have additional heating in the walls and lid. Built-in control and full automation of operation are mandatory. It is used for regular cooking and steaming.
Many manufacturers of multicookers with multi-zone heating distinguish them as a separate type, calling them 3D, or completely meaningless 4D, 5D, etc. As already indicated above, this is more of a marketing ploy than real advantages of a specific device.