Only steamed, you can quickly cook dishes that are both healthy and tasty. You do not need oil or a large amount of water, which takes away valuable products from cooking products that are not destroyed by heat treatment. One good double boiler is enough.
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The best manufacturers of steamers - which company to choose
Small household appliances, we usually choose on the advice of a sales assistant, or simply focusing on familiar names.
The second option is preferable, but if you have not yet found “your” company, we recommend limiting your search to the list of the most reliable manufacturers according to other buyers:
- Tefal;
- Moulinex;
- Braun;
- Kenwood;
- Polaris.
Among the budget models, the Vitek and Delta steamers are also noteworthy.
The equipment of these brands is in good demand. It is functional in quality and pleases with a variety of design.
In the assortment of well-known companies you can find steamers for any wallet - to see this, just look at our rating of the best models. But if you need a device that will meet all your requirements, today's article will help to understand the nuances.
The principle of operation and the device double boiler
A modern steamer is no longer just a saucepan with a grid, but a complete electrical appliance with a good set of functions that fully controls the process of cooking. Nevertheless, its design is not difficult to name.
The main elements here are:
1. Housing with mesh containers for products (1 to 3 pcs.) And a lid;
2. Water tank;
3. A heating element;
4. The control unit - in electronic models, it is complemented by an external display;
5. Pallet for collecting juice and condensation (sometimes can be absent).
To prepare a double boiler for work, it is necessary to install a water collector and food trays on the body and cover them with a lid. After that, it remains only to pour water into the boiler and select a cooking program.
The integrated heating element will instantly start to heat the liquid in the tank, and the hot steam will rise through special openings to the products. Such a heat treatment will allow you to quickly cook vegetables, meat or cereals - without using fat and retaining the maximum amount of useful substances.
Types of steamers
Standard Models
The best option for a family of 3-4 people is a classic full-size steamer. It comes with 2-3 bowls in which you can place a fairly large amount of products and cook several dishes at the same time.
There are also so-called mini-steamers, where only one basket is chosen by those who live alone or go on holiday with small children.
Pros:
- Spaciousness;
- Simultaneous preparation of several dishes at once to save time and energy;
- Good functionality with the ability to set the desired power or time;
- A complete set of protection - from boiling over, overheating, accidental inclusion;
- Convenient storage, despite the dimensions of the device - baskets, as a rule, come in different sizes and fold into each other like dolls;
- A rich selection of models in stores and price variety.
Minuses:
- In the majority of double boilers there is no compartment for water replenishment - it is necessary to remove all baskets, risking to burn yourself with steam;
- Budget models are leaky and allow steam to flow through the slots.
Recessed Steamers
This technique is suitable for those who often and a lot of steaming.Externally, and in size, these steamers resemble built-in ovens and are installed in the same way in a special niche of a pedestal or kitchen cabinet.
They differ from their next of kin and the way of steam supply. Here, the products are laid out not in perforated baskets, but in ordinary trays. Water is poured into a separate removable tank, and steam is supplied to the chamber through holes in its walls.
Pros:
- Large internal volume;
- The ability to cook several different dishes at the same time without mixing the juice;
- Ease of care;
- Fully automated cooking process.
Minuses:
- Very large size;
- High price.
Blender steamer
Today, manufacturers add the option of cooking for a couple in different kitchen appliances: ovens, multicookers. But the most interesting and popular among such hybrids were blenders steamers.
Basically, they are used for making baby food, because here in one bowl the products are simultaneously boiled and ground to a state of mashed potatoes. But in the combined devices it is possible to cook with the same success some dishes of the “adult” cuisine.
Pros:
- Compact size;
- Easy operation and care;
- A full cycle of cooking mashed potatoes and cream soups in the same bowl;
- Conveniently implemented water addition system;
- Functionality - many steamers blenders can also be used to defrost food, warm and sterilize baby bottles;
- You can often find the option to maintain the temperature of the finished dish;
- Even the simplest models have an auto-off feature.
Minuses:
- Small volumes - as a rule, bowls in “children's” steamers go with a capacity of up to 1 l.
Steamer selection options
Power
This indicator determines how quickly the steamer will go into operation. Then everything will depend on the characteristics of the products in the basket.
Experts recommend taking devices with a capacity of 800-1000 W - this is enough so that after 20 minutes lunch is ready. You can take a more powerful model, but even a two-fold increase in the characteristics of the heating element will give you a time gain of just 5 minutes, but you will spend much more electricity.
Also, power should be correlated with the capacity of the water tank, but this is physics in its purest form. The greater the volume of liquid that needs to be heated and evaporated in a short period of time, the more energy the device will cost.
Control type
Modern steamers are produced with two main types of control: mechanical and electronic.
Mechanical models are suitable for older people and people who, in principle, do not like to bother with technology. To control it, simple rotary knobs are used, allowing you to set the temperature and cooking time on a scale. This is a fairly reliable way, besides, the mechanics are inexpensive. But one cannot count on the abundance of additional options.
Electronic control is more functional and provides access to a variety of possibilities of a double boiler. It can be:
1. Timer;
2. Delay start;
3. Maintaining the set temperature;
4. Defrosting;
5. Steam boost;
6. Automatic cooking programs for individual dishes;
7. Control of residual water volume;
8. Children's castle.
Having a display in electronic models makes it even easier to work with. Here you can see how much time is left until the end of cooking, which mode is selected, information about the amount of water in the boiler, etc.
Equipment
Each type of steamer is equipped with a set of various bowls, cups, nets and pallets. From their number and size depends on what and in what quantities you can cook in your appliance.
There must be at least one steam basket with a perforated bottom, everything else depends on the specific model and your gastronomic preferences.
1. Additional baskets - can be the same volume (from 0.8-1 to 4.5 liters) or differ from each other in size.In the first case, you get interchangeable cooking containers, in the second - a more compact storage system.
2. Cups for cooking cereals - containers with a solid bottom or a very fine mesh are great for bulk products and finely chopped vegetables. As a rule, their volume does not exceed 1-1.5 liters.
3. Glasses - used to make portions, omelets and various desserts.
4. Additional pallets - shallow inserts are designed for cooking meat and fish in their own juice, but also as containers for cereals, they are quite suitable. Ideally, each such “plate” will have a side spout for draining the liquid.
For multi-tiered steam boilers, a deep common pallet is obligatory. Without it, all the flowing juice will fall into the boiler, which then does not wash. Ideally, the sides of such a collector should be at least 2–2.5 cm high.
Also, additional pallets for each basket will be useful - thanks to them, the juice from different dishes will not mix. The rest of the accessories are optional, but it will be more convenient to use the steamer.
These useful details include:
1. Measuring spoons;
2. Grid for boiling eggs;
3. Portion cup holder.
Bowl material
There are only two options: heat-resistant plastic or stainless steel. Metal walls are safer, more hygienic and more durable, but through transparent plastic it is easier to follow the process of cooking products.
Glass can also be used for small blenders, it is an ideal material for cooking healthy and completely safe dishes. But if you break such a bowl, it is unlikely to replace it.
Which steamer to choose
1. Most families who appreciate the variety in the menu will have enough of a regular steamer with 2-3 roomy baskets and additional bowls for cereals and cooking large-parted pieces of meat and fish. It is advisable to buy a model with electronic control, but if you want to save money, you can do without mechanics. Look for devices with a capacity of about 1 kW and always with a deep tray for collecting juice.
2. Those who have completely switched to healthy food will need a more functional and roomy recessed steamer with a minimum power of 1800-2000 watts. Of course, such equipment can be taken only on condition that there is enough space in the kitchen to install another dimensional appliance.
3. Young mummies and those who are forced to eat diets alone, will come to the rescue by a steam cooker-blender with a capacity of 400-600 W. Only it is better to look for a model with a bowl capacity of at least 1 l. The function of keeping food warm and an additional basket for cooking cereals will also not be redundant.
How much does a double boiler
1. Standard steamers with mechanical control can be purchased at prices ranging from 1,000 to 6,500 rubles. Electronic models are noticeably more expensive - in the range of 1.3-15 thousand.
2. Embedded technology is not affordable for everyone - the cost of such devices is 28-265 thousand rubles.
3. Steamer blender will cost you in the amount of from 4 to 12 thousand.
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