If you do not have the strength, time or desire to stand at the stove, buying a good slow cooker will be a real salvation. Household appliance manufacturers offer multifunctional units that can cook almost any dish with minimal human participation. It's simple: laid the products, put the right program - and you can relax while the miracle pot does its job. But an unsuccessful purchase will be useless: if the chosen equipment turns out to be of the wrong volume or fails to cope with half the dishes from your usual menu - stand in her closet forever.
Content:
The best multicooker manufacturers - which company to choose
The most reliable kitchen appliances are produced by well-known corporations that pay due attention to the quality of their products. They offer units in a wide price range: from luxury to budget.
The recognition of customers and the top lines of the ratings in recent years are occupied by the following brands:
- Redmond
- Panasonic
- Philips
- Moulinex
- Bork
Any multicooker from these manufacturers will be a good purchase, and you will find a description of the best models in Multicooker Rating. For those who are not looking for easy ways, we will help you to understand the wide range of wonder pots and find your ideal assistant.
The principle of operation and the device multivarok
Essentially, the multicooker is an electric pan. In a hermetically sealed housing, a removable bowl is hidden, where your food is cooked. Depending on the type of device, the capacitance is heated either by an electromagnetic field created by an induction coil or by more common heating elements (a high pressure is additionally injected in a pressure cooker). The arrangement of tubular heating elements can be lower, upper or provide warming from three sides at once, as in 3D models.
According to the principle of action, the miracle pan combines the capabilities of an electric stove and a double boiler, but unlike the latter, condensed moisture is diverted to a special receiver here. Non-stick coating of the bowl allows you to cook food with minimal use of fat, so that the dishes are really healthy and less calorie. The entire cooking process is fully or partially automated and is controlled by an integrated microprocessor, which monitors the maintenance of the required temperature and pressure for the selected mode.
The standard set of multicooker programs has an average of 12 of the most common “recipes”: from the preparation of cereals and pasta to soups and steam dishes. Depending on the capabilities of a particular model, the kit may include removable grids, further expanding its functionality, but the principle of operation of the technology itself remains unchanged. Only the duration, direction and temperature of the heating changes.
Varieties of Multicookers
According to the principle of heating the inner bowl and its contents, the multicooker can be divided into 3 groups:
Classic
Here the internal capacity is heated with the help of electric heating elements, as in a bread maker. Most often, they are located under the bowl for intensive glowing of the bottom in the frying mode and in the unit lid - for more uniform heating. Some models are equipped with a 3D function, that is, have additional tubular heaters in the walls of the case. The degree of incandescence of heating elements is controlled by temperature sensors, which enable or disable them depending on the selected mode.
Pros:
- You can control the cooking process and add ingredients by opening the lid;
- Compact size and relatively low weight;
- A sufficient set of programs for cooking a variety of dishes;
- There is no steam and odors seeping out;
- More economical power consumption than the electric stove;
- Ready meals are aromatic and tasty, like in a Russian stove;
- The principle of work is simple and clear even to schoolchildren and the elderly;
- Reasonable prices for TENovye models.
Minuses:
- The long process of cooking many dishes;
- The ability to cook in only one bowl;
- Even the presence of the upper heater does not guarantee baking brown crust;
- Shallow steamer steamer.
The classic multicooker cooks slowly, but it has a wide functionality and a variety of programs (especially if it has electronic control). This is a real wagon that is suitable for cooking almost any food.
Pressure cookers
A pressure cooker is a special case of a traditional multicooker - it differs only in the design of an airtight lid, but this makes it unique. In addition to electric heaters, the high pressure that is created inside the unit due to a special valve helps it to cook food faster.
Pros:
- Really fast cooking;
- Ability to use as a simple multicooker, if you keep the bleed valve open;
- Economical power consumption;
- High speed of cooking preserves color and flavor in food;
- Perfectly copes with cooking of badly boiled soft cereals and legumes.
Minuses:
- Heavier and larger than conventional multicooker;
- During operation of the unit, the lid cannot be opened;
- A modest choice, not suitable for baking or frying;
- The valve periodically releases jets of burning steam.
The pressure cooker is superior to the classic models in cooking speed, but it is designed only for cooking and stewing.
Induction
In such units, the heating element is the bowl itself, made of ferromagnetic steel, sensitive to magnetic effects. An induction coil is installed in the housing, which creates an EM field around the metal tank, thereby heating it to the desired temperature. Many such devices are additionally equipped with a pressure boosting function.
The main advantage of this type of multicooker is the high speed of cooking: compared with the heating elements, the operating time is reduced by 30%. In addition, induction technology is more economical, because it does not consume energy to heat the body, and affects only the bowl with products.
Pros:
- Uniform heating of dishes over the entire surface of the pan;
- Good cooking speed and the preservation of most of the vitamins in the products;
- Minimum power consumption;
- Large selection of features and programs;
- Advanced management features.
Minuses:
- High price;
- It is impossible to achieve a ruddy crust on the dishes.
All considered types of multivarcs can differ from each other in the type of control. The mechanical block with levers and knobs for selecting programs is simpler and more reliable, but it seriously limits the number of modes available to the wonder pan. Electronic control is carried out with remote buttons or even with a touch screen. It is more modern, effective and functional, but it is more difficult to get comfortable with it.
Selection options
Internal bowl volume
The useful volume of any pan is always less than the nominal, because you will not impose products with a slide. In the case of multivarks, an amendment must be made within 0.5–1 l. Then simply focus on the needs and appetites of their households. Manufacturers offer customers equipment with bowls of different sizes: from 2-3 to 12 liters. The average family of 3-4 people usually have enough of a 4-liter unit, but if you cook in large pots, then you need to choose a slow cooker longer.
Heater Location
In low-cost models TEN is located only at the bottom under the bowl. It is enough for cooking porridges and soups, but baking or roasting in such a slow cooker cannot be done. Therefore, it is better to choose devices with an additional heating element in the lid, and ideally with a 3D function or induction coil for uniform heating.
Functional
The most popular multicookers, as a rule, have 8-12 basic and up to a dozen additional programs. The more expensive and sophisticated the unit, the greater the number of modes it provides (as long as the record is kept at 30). The Multipov option seriously expands the possibilities of kitchen appliances: with it, the basic settings of the auto programs can be changed independently, creating new custom modes.
When choosing a multicooker, each buyer should be guided by his needs, so as not to overpay for steep, but unnecessary options. However, there is a basic set of features that are welcome in any such technique:
- delayed start;
- timer;
- heating.
Power consumption
Modern multicookers go with a capacity from 500 to 1500 W, and the higher this figure, the faster the dish will be cooked. However, the load on the network depends on the same characteristic, therefore it is undesirable to use excessively “voracious” equipment in homes with old wiring. If there is no problem with the electrician, you can choose any model with a capacity of 800-1000 W and more.
Other parameters
In addition to the main characteristics of multicookers, affecting the efficiency of their work, there are a number of parameters related to the usability of kitchen appliances:
- Dimensions and weight - are important for owners of small kitchens and those who carry a slow cooker with them to the country or to rest.
- The body material determines the appearance, weight of the multicooker and its durability. Cheap models are made of plastic - lightweight, easy to clean, but not strong enough. The metal case is stronger and looks more presentable, but it makes the unit heavy and increases its cost.
- The presence of an external moisture collector is a seemingly indispensable element, but not all manufacturers consider it necessary to install it on their cars. As a result, when the lid is opened, the condensed steam just drains onto the table and back into the bowl. If this is unacceptable for you or you plan to do baking in your multicooker, be sure to check if there is a condensate collection tank in its configuration.
- Covering internal capacity. Most often, the bowls have non-stick Teflon coating or are initially made of ceramics. The first ones are easy to scratch, if you do not use silicone spatulas and spoons when cooking, the second ones dislike washing in dishwashers. In induction tubes, ferritic steel containers are susceptible to corrosion. However, with the imperfection of the internal pans allows you to accept the abundance in the sale of interchangeable bowls.
What multicooker choose
1. Naturally born cooks and housewives who like to cook often and in a variety of ways will be equipped with electronically controlled, 3D-heated (for baking) and advanced features. Well, if there will be a Multipov program and the ability to write user settings to the machine’s memory.
2. For those who have small children or family members who need a special diet, a small slow cooker for 2-3 liters is enough. At the same time, it is important that Milk porridge, Yoghurt and steaming mode (with a grid in the set) be included in the list of programs. The ideal purchase will be an induction model that retains the maximum of nutrients in dishes, but this is already a question of financial possibilities.
3. It will be possible to feed a large family with minimal time expenditure with the help of a multicooker with a capacity of at least 6 liters. To speed up the cooking process, it is better to immediately look for a model with a 3D warm-up or pressure cooker. The delayed start and heating functions will be useful - with them the breakfast will be ready by the deadline, and households returning at different times will have time to eat hot.
4. A family of 2 people and bachelors enough small multicooker with a bowl of 1.5-2 liters. The number and list of functions are selected individually. Young people it makes sense to choose a model with a touch control, but as a gift for elderly parents who are not friends with modern technology, it is better to take the unit easier - with mechanics or a push-button control on the cover.
How much are multicookers
1. A compact multicooker with a bowl capacity of up to 2 liters and a minimum of functions will cost 1500–3000 rubles. If you want a more varied menu, get ready to part with 4-6 thousand.
2. The 6-liter “family” unit will pull in the amount of 3,000–8,000 rubles, advanced high-capacity models from well-known manufacturers cost more (10–15,000).
3. A good slow cooker with a large selection of dietary and children's meals can be bought for 4000-10000 rubles. But the induction model will cost from 15-20 to 60 thousand, depending on the manufacturer.
4. Lovers of homemade baking device with the function Breadmaker or 3D-heating will cost no less than 4000 rubles.
5. The average in size and functionality of the pressure cooker, which will suit most families, are sold for 3-7 thousand rubles. The units stuffed with electronics will pull 9–16 thousand rubles.
6. Elderly relatives can find a convenient and easy-to-use equipment at a price of from 1500 to 5000 rubles.
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