Becoming a good cook is now very easy ifyou have a smart multicooker in your kitchen. After all, not everyone has the time and desire to cook. In the morning, most people are late for work, and in the evening they throw themselves exhausted on the sofa, so they eat mostly semi-finished products and take-out food. And this can lead to problems with all internal organs, obesity, diabetes and depression. Now it is enough to pour water in advance, add cereals and other ingredients as desired, turn on the multicooker - and in the morning enjoy hot oatmeal, and in the evening the whole family can pounce on the most delicious oriental pilaf. This is just a godsend for forgetful and absent-minded people who constantly have something burning or boiling over from the pan.
What is a multivarka
A multicooker is an electric cooker that hasmany cooking modes, including frying, boiling, stewing, steaming, baking. In recent years, it has become very popular among housewives due to its compact size. Compared to an oven or a regular stove, this device looks miniature and can also replace a bread maker, rice cooker, steamer, and some models - a grill, deep fryer and fondue pot. When working, the multicooker does not consume excess electricity, which is usually used to heat not only the dishes, but also the surrounding air. It does not aggravate the unbearable heat in the kitchen in the summer or at the height of the heating season. The multicooker can be easily transported by train or car to the country house and save on buying an electric oven. In the fall, you can take it with you to the apartment and not worry about dacha thieves and hooligans. This device is especially necessary for students who are too lazy to cook on their own, as well as elderly people who may forget to turn off the stove or accidentally knock over a large saucepan. Usually, a multicooker is understood as a model with a built-in microprocessor and pre-installed programs. However, it is very rare to find multicookers with manual control in the assortment of online stores selling kitchen appliances.
Important characteristics of the multivariate
Bowl Volume Remember that the useful volume of the bowlusually 300-400 ml less than indicated. For a family of 4, an average 4-5 l bowl is suitable. If there are more people in the family, it is advisable to buy another multicooker, since a device with an 8-10 l bowl is approximately 2-3 times more expensive, takes longer to heat up and cooks more slowly. Bowl coating Regular non-stick coating is used in cheap models of multicookers or those that do not have a high-temperature frying function. With careful handling and using a special spatula or spoon for serving, it can last up to 1-2 years. Ceramic coating does not contain polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and does not emit harmful compounds when heated, so you can cook with peace of mind even at a maximum temperature of 240 degrees. Ceramic bowls are easier to clean from food, more resistant to scratches. Power Powerful multicookers cook faster. The recommended power consumption for full operation is at least 500 W. This parameter is especially important when choosing a device with a frying function: the more, the better. Modes For cooking, the multicooker has at least 5 universal operating modes:
- cooking,
- frying,
- boiling for a couple - for this in the set there must be a sieve-cup, into which it is possible to load vegetables and fish,
- extinguishing,
- bakery products,
- pasteurization - heating up to 60-80 ° С.
For multicookers with manual control modesshould be installed independently each time you cook, strictly according to the instructions. Heating element Usually, the heating element in a multicooker is located at the bottom of the body under the bowl. It can be induction: its advantages include higher cooking speed and energy savings. However, such models are an order of magnitude more expensive, and are very poorly represented in regular online stores. Three-dimensional heating (3D) due to an additional heating element in the lid allows you to get a golden crust on baked goods. It is desirable that the kit includes a removable hinged lid that can be washed under the tap. Design Most often, models have a solid plastic case: it heats up less and is easier to clean from food residues. Metal inserts on the sides increase its strength and give it a more expensive look. All-metal multicookers are very rare and are usually overpriced. Accessories The multicooker usually comes with several accessories that make cooking easier:
- measuring cup,
- spoon or spatula,
- a bowl for steaming, etc.
Depending on the functionality of the appliance, the box may contain grills for frying, a basket for deep frying and even fondue forks.
Multivars with manual control
Multicookers with mechanical control are veryeasy to use and more reliable due to the lack of complex microcircuits. You only need to set the cooking time and temperature. This is the beauty of the device, often incomprehensible to the average buyer: you can cook exactly according to recipes, observing all the subtleties, or, on the contrary, create according to inspiration, masterfully changing the temperature. JML Go Chef 8-in-1 Cooker This model from the English manufacturer JML immediately attracts attention with its unusual and incredibly stylish design. The front panel contains only the most necessary: 2 large convenient temperature and time regulators with easy-to-read numbers, network and heating indicator lights. In the JML Go Chef 8-in-1 Cooker multicooker, without the timer on, you can cook like on a regular stove.
As a gift for grandma: the incredibly easy-to-use JML Go Chef 8-in-1 Cooker multicooker / Photo: online store www.shoppinglive.ru/multivarki Manual modes
- Cooking at high temperatures up to 240 ° C
- Slow cooking at a temperature of 110-140 ° C
- Frying / frying
- Preparation of sauces
- Extinguishing
- Frying
- Warm up
- Defrosting
- Fondue
Bowl volume and coating Spacious bowl with a volume of5 liters covered with a ceramic non-stick coating. Removable transparent lid The main difference of this model is the removable glass lid, which can be easily washed after cooking. At the same time, it provides a seal thanks to the rubber gasket. It is convenient that you can watch the preparation of a complex dish and at the right time open the lid and add additional ingredients. Auto power off After finishing work, the multicooker turns off, notifying with a sound signal that dinner is ready. In a ceramic bowl, the prepared dish can remain hot for another 1-2 hours. Expert opinion The JML Go Chef 8-in-1 Cooker multicooker really deserves special attention. In fact, it is a saucepan-frying pan-baking dish with a built-in stove. But with much more possibilities. It is especially loved in the UK and other European countries. However, so far this is a very rare model in Russia: it is available for sale only in one online store -
Multivars with electronic control
Modern multicookers with built-inmicroprocessor and electronic control offer from 4-5 to several dozen preset programs that allow you to prepare specific dishes and products:
- milk porridge,
- yogurt,
- stew,
- casserole,
- a fish,
- vegetables,
- cabbage rolls,
- pilaf,
- soup,
- meat,
- a hen,
- a fish,
- cereals,
- jelly,
- pasta and others.
Almost all of them are universal, detailedinformation can be found in the instructions on the website of the online store or manufacturer. Many housewives select the necessary programs empirically or based on reviews on the Internet. Delayed start This function allows you to delay the start of the selected cooking program - for a period of 2 to 24 hours. Each multicooker has its own maximum delayed start time, but on average, an 8-12 hour timer is enough for everyday cooking. Warming function A useful feature that is built into almost all models: the food is slightly warmed up for several hours. However, with some dishes you should be careful and turn off the heating immediately after cooking, so as not to overcook them and save electricity. Additional functions The dough mode helps yeast dough rise before subsequent cooking. "Multicook" will come in handy if you are cooking a complex dish for which you need to manually adjust the temperature and time. The built-in digital clock is a convenient and pleasant bonus to the other functions. Philips HD3036 Multicooker Philips HD3036 provides a large selection of automatic programs and modes compared to basic models. From 16 programs and modes, you can accurately select the right ones, without racking your brains over whether it is possible to cook dumplings on the "Cabbage rolls" program. However, the main "feature" of the device is the presence of 3D heating. It is thanks to it that you can get a golden crust on pies and evenly bake any products from all sides. Another pleasant surprise for those who love culinary experiments is as many as 22 temperature modes. Automatic programs and modes
- Rice
- Pilaf
- Buckwheat
- Porridge
- Brew
- Stew
- Fry
- Yogurt
- Warm up
- Bake
- Steaming
- Cereals,
- Porridge,
- Jelly,
- Soup,
- Vegetables,
- Meat,
- A hen,
- Bakery products
Multicooker menu:
- Stew,
- Pilaf,
- A fish,
- Cabbage rolls,
- Vegetables,
- Casserole
Philips HD2178:2-in-1 – a multicooker for a large family / Photo: manufacturer's website Expert opinion Philips HD2178 is definitely a truly family multicooker. In addition to the increased 6-liter bowl, it has child protection that will not allow them to interfere with the cooking process. A separate menu for the multicooker and pressure cooker deserves special praise: products under pressure cook faster, so regular programs are not suitable for this. It is especially convenient to cook meat or beans in it. The stylish design is another plus to the amazing functionality of the device. Video review of the Philips HD2178 Moulinex MK105632 multicooker-pressure cooker The Moulinex MK105632 multicooker has a small 3-liter bowl and fairly compact dimensions. Each of the programs has its own button on the front panel, so you do not have to scroll through the menu manually. The display with large numbers and LED backlighting is convenient for visually impaired people. Automatic programs
- Rice
- Pilaf
- Buckwheat
- Heating
- Extinguishing
- Milk porridge
- Steamer / Soup
- Baking / Frying
Moulinex MK105632 – multicooker with compactdimensions / Photo: manufacturer's website Expert opinion If you have a small family of 2-3 people, then the Moulinex MK105632 multicooker will more than cover all your needs. 8 automatic programs are a great start for those who have never used such a device.
Comparison table of models of automatic multivariate
Function / Model Philips HD3036 Philips HD2178Moulinex MK105632 Pressure cooker No Yes No Number of automatic programs 12 6 + 8 8 Power, W 980 1000 500 Bowl coating Non-stick Non-stick 4-layer ceramic Bowl volume, l 4 6 3 Maximum delayed start time, h 24 15 15 Additional functions Manual cooking time adjustment 22 temperature settings 3D heating Child protection function 2 menus: for pressure cooker and multicooker Removable inner lid Demonstration of cooking stages Safety valve Manual cooking time adjustment Number of people in the family 3-4 5-6 2-3
conclusions
A multicooker can meet all your needsin cooking different types of food and even become the only and favorite appliance in the kitchen. To do this, you should understand which cooking style is closer to you: creative with a minimum of restrictions or relaxed with ready-made automatic programs. In the first case, choose models with the ability to manually control or create your own programs. In the second - any multicooker with electronic control. The abundance of built-in programs can confuse a person who has never used a multicooker, so try simpler models first. The presence of additional functions in a multicooker increases its price, but this is not always justified. Choose only the vital ones to find a balance between price and functionality. The most reliable multicookers are considered to be well-known brands Tefal, Philips, Moulinex. Many years of experience, reputation and the presence of a factory warranty are the main arguments in their favor. Unusual
