A slow cooker with or without pressure, which is better? What to choose: a multicooker or a pressure cooker? What is the difference between a double boiler and a multicooker and what to choose?

The list of modern household appliances for the kitchen has expanded significantly. New names have appeared, such as double boiler and multicooker. Dozens of new devices are advertised every day. Are all these new items really needed in our kitchen? Should you believe and buy them?

Multicooker or double boiler - which is better to buy?

1. Steamer. How to choose the right steamer?

IN steamer The dish is cooked by steaming at a temperature of no more than 100 degrees. Products are not subjected to severe heat treatment, which helps preserve a large number of useful vitamins and microelements, compared to baking, frying and boiling products.

However, when steaming food, it also retains harmful substances and additives that are destroyed by other types of heat treatments. Therefore, those products that you buy in markets or retail chains should not be cooked in a double boiler. The most suitable for steaming will be products from your own farm, when you are sure of their environmental purity. And it is best to cook food from stores so that all harmful substances pass into the water.

When choosing a steamer in a store, you need to pay special attention to the following characteristics: menu type, height of the condensate tray, ease of removing the tray, presence of a water indicator and other characteristics.

The steamer menu can consist of several mechanical buttons along with a timer, or a more functional display displaying cooking programs. Steamers with simple push-button controls are the easiest to use, so if, for example, you are buying a device for older people, it is better to choose this simplest type of menu. For steamers with an electronic menu, you can set the cooking delay for up to 12 hours, and also use the heating mode. For these functions you will have to pay an additional 2-3 thousand rubles, so plan.

When choosing a steamer, pay attention to the depth of the condensate tray. Its height should not be less than 2 cm, otherwise there is a high probability that condensation will leak out during cooking. Also look for handles on the pan so that you can protect yourself from burns when draining hot condensate.

It is convenient when the steamer has a water level indicator. This function will save you from having to frequently remove food baskets to check the presence of water in the device.

Power in steamers is a relative concept. High power does not guarantee that the product will be cooked faster in such a steamer, so you should not pay too much attention to this parameter when choosing a steamer.

A hole for filling water is also not always necessary - only if you are going to cook for a long time and in large quantities. However, you will still have to turn off the device, since if there is a large amount of water, you will need to drain the accumulated condensate.

If your family prefers to eat steamed food, then it is better to choose a model with three steam baskets. Just remember that the more baskets you use at the same time, the longer the food will take to cook. And if your family consists of 2-3 people, in this case two steamer containers will be enough for you.

Therefore, if you have a summer house or a household plot where you grow your own vegetables, it makes sense for you to purchase a double boiler. And if you eat vegetables from stores, in this case it is best to purchase a saucepan in which a colander is already installed and cook boiled food.

2. Multicooker - what is it? How to choose a multicooker?

What is a multicooker? Multicooker is a household appliance for preparing food (porridge, soups, baked goods, jellied meat, etc.), which allows you to prepare food using special programs (cook, steam, stew, bake, reheat food).

In a multicooker you can cook a variety of products and dishes using programs. The cooking start time can be programmed, for example, in the morning, when you get up and have breakfast. However, a multicooker also has its downside - harmful substances do not escape during cooking and remain in the food.

What should you pay attention to when choosing a multicooker? The multicooker must have at least 8 programs that allow you to cook a variety of foods. A large number of programs (20 or more) are also hardly needed, since they duplicate each other and significantly increase the cost of the device.

If you often use the “baking” program, pay attention to devices with a power of 700 W or more and the presence of a container to collect condensate. Otherwise, your baked goods will take too long to bake and will be too moist from condensation dripping on top.

If it is important for you that food is cooked quickly in a multicooker, choose models with a pressure cooker function. Make sure that this model has a function that normalizes internal pressure, which increases the safety of the device.

The more people you have in your family, the larger the bowl size should be, and vice versa. Subtract about half a liter from the indicated volume - this will be the actual size of the bowl, since you probably will not fill it to the very brim.

Pay attention to menu conveniences, especially the cook time buttons, which you'll use frequently. The menu should be simple and convenient, the buttons should be easy to press.

The cooking bowl should be thick and heavy enough to heat quickly and evenly, with multiple layers of non-stick coating.

Which is better: a slow cooker or a double boiler?— owner reviews

If, due to your culinary preferences or health characteristics, you prefer to cook with steam, then a double boiler is more necessary. And if you like a variety of foods - fried, baked, boiled, then it is more profitable to buy a multicooker. Moreover, some multicookers can steam cook, and you can immediately “kill two birds with one stone” by purchasing such a model.

By the way, you can learn how to choose a multicooker from this video:

Prices for steamers and multicookers start at approximately the same amount - 2,500 rubles, and the most expensive models of multicookers can cost 20,000 rubles. The range of models is huge, for every taste and budget.

Household chores take up a lot of time. The lion's share of these chores is cooking. A bachelor buys instant food at the nearest supermarket, a working woman, after a hard day, starts working “second shift”, a mother on maternity leave, instead of resting, goes to the stove during the child’s midday nap. Situations familiar to many. Thanks to technological progress, the problem of an acute lack of time for cooking can be solved by purchasing one effective gadget equipped with a timer and various cooking programs, such as a steamer or multicooker. But which is better? Some persistently advertise the first gadget, others - the second. Let's try to understand the features of each and understand what will be a more successful purchase. Or maybe the best option is a 2 in 1 multicooker with a steamer?

An electric steamer is a product with two or three food trays and a water container. When water boils, the steam it turns into warms the food. Thanks to the two- or three-tier design, you can cook several dishes at the same time, placing ingredients that require more time to cook on the bottom.

Fat from the food flows into the tray located below, so the food in the steamer turns out fat-free, and due to the fact that it is not boiled in water or other liquid, the maximum amount of nutrients is retained in the ingredients. This is the best way to prepare food for those who are recommended to follow a diet.

The duration of cooking is determined by the power of the steamer (in modern products it varies between 600-2000 W). Basic programs are usually displayed on the control panel, but if desired, you can set your own time settings and, in more expensive models, heating power.

Steamer dishes

In addition to cooking, steamers are used:

for sterilizing baby dishes and pacifiers;
for sterilization of jars for preparations;
for heating and defrosting food;
for heating food.

Even the simplest models have such a function as delayed start. If the water in the appliance runs out during cooking, it can be added directly to the tray without interrupting the operation of the appliance.

Note: Since oils and sauces are not used when cooking in a steamer, the trays are very easy to clean - just rinse in warm water or wipe with a damp sponge without detergent.

Modern models provide for compact storage when the trays of the lower tiers are inserted into the upper ones. This is especially convenient in small kitchens or kitchens where it is difficult to find free space.

The disadvantages of this technique include the fact that not every dish will be tasty if cooked in a double boiler. Vegetables, cereals, whole fish or pieces of meat are good here, but not minced. If you need to prepare a juicy dish, use either a rice bowl to prevent the liquid from leaking out. But comparing a dish cooked in foil in a double boiler and in a regular oven, you cannot find any difference.

When loading food into the steamer, consider the cooking time

When choosing a model even with transparent walls (like Tefal, Moulinex, Polaris steamers), it is not always possible to control the degree of cooking, since the steam causes the walls to fog up and visibility deteriorates. Sometimes the programmed modes are not suitable and you have to adjust them manually.

In addition, you need to get used to longer cooking times. But in most cases, it is enough to simply calculate the time correctly, since the main part of the process is carried out independently, without the help of the user.

Features of the multicooker

A multicooker is a relatively new kitchen equipment, the principle of operation of which is extremely simple: ingredients are placed in the non-stick bowl of the product, a certain cooking mode is set - and then the dish is prepared independently.

In a multicooker, food can also be steamed, but due to the tightness of the bowl (in a steamer, the containers are perforated - with holes), the vegetable is cooked in its own juice, and it turns out more tender. With this preparation, vitamins are preserved, since the multicooker lid is hermetically sealed - this prevents evaporation.

The difference between a multicooker and a double boiler is, in particular, that even in the simplest model you can select the following modes:

bakery;
cooking;
stewing;
frying;

Standard set of multicooker functions

A multicooker with a double boiler function is considered an alternative to a conventional double boiler, but is not a full replacement for it. Many models are equipped with delayed start and reheat functions - this is convenient if the dish must be ready by the exact time you get home. Modern multicookers have up to 20 programmed cooking modes, but if they are not suitable, you can set the temperature and cooking time yourself.

Each multicooker is accompanied by a book of recipes - the dishes turn out appetizing and tasty if you strictly adhere to the recommended proportions: unlike cooking on the stove, when using a multicooker it is important to take into account the juiciness, hardness and other characteristics of the products.

Useful: The recipe for the same dish - pilaf, roast, ratatouille - for cooking on the stove and in the slow cooker is different. If the recipes in the book are not enough, you can find videos on the Internet with new ideas.

Dishes in a slow cooker turn out tender and juicy

Some multicookers also combine the functions of a bread maker and a yogurt maker - purchasing such a device saves space in the kitchen, and you don’t have to give up preparing homemade, healthy and appetizing dishes.

What is the difference between a double boiler and a multicooker and what should you choose?

At first glance, it is not immediately clear what the difference between the products is. But it exists, and it is significant. Both small household appliances have gained wide popularity because they save time and result in nutritious, healthy food. However, these devices are not the same, and if you have to choose one, you need to understand what the basic differences are.

A multicooker is more functional - as we said earlier, you can not only steam, but also stew, bake, fry - in fact, it is an alternative to any cookware that is used on the stove or in the oven. In the absence of these household appliances (for example, during repairs or when traveling to the country), purchasing a multi-cooker-steamer from the Redmond brand or another reliable manufacturer will perfectly solve the problem of feeding the family a varied and appetizing diet. But you will have to cook often, since the volume of the bowl is limited, and for a large family one serving may simply not be enough (most bowls have a volume of 2.5 to 6 liters).

Read more about how a double boiler differs significantly from a multicooker:

In a multicooker you can cook only one dish, but in a double boiler you can cook 2-3 at the same time.
In a slow cooker, food can turn out quite greasy if you pour a lot of oil; in a double boiler, food is cooked without it at all.
The multicooker bowl is made of a delicate non-stick coating, so it can only be washed with a soft sponge, and when cooking, use only silicone or wooden spatulas; In the steamer the bowls are made of plastic, so the problem disappears.
Meat and vegetables in a slow cooker in the “stewing” or “frying” mode come out with an appetizing crust; in a double boiler they will be without it and taste bland (after cooking, soy sauce can be used instead of salt, but it colors light-colored foods in dark tones).

As you can see, each product has advantages and disadvantages. A multicooker is an excellent “camping” option, as well as a household assistant for a small family. Reviews about this product are very enthusiastic, since it really saves time and effort. You can cook a variety of dishes in it, so not only specialists, but even the most inexperienced housewives can cope with this task with the help of an accessible cookbook.

A double boiler is a choice for a large family because there are more bowls for cooking - you can cook either one dish in a larger volume, or several dishes at the same time, placing meat, eggs or fish on the lower tiers, and cereals and vegetables on the upper ones. This device is indispensable if one of the family members needs a diet, since the ingredients prepared here retain more benefits than when boiled.

For example, if one of your loved ones has chronic gastrointestinal diseases or other health problems, there is a nursing mother or a young child in the family. Of course, if necessary, you can use a double boiler in a multicooker, but this will only be one dish and in a relatively small volume.

And if the choice is between a multicooker and an electric double boiler, which is better to choose then? There is no universal answer: each housewife determines for herself which functions of the appliances are a priority to meet the needs of a particular family. These devices have enough differences that it will be easy to make a choice in each specific family. But both of these products definitely deserve attention, and when they appear in the house, they become in demand and even favorite kitchen helpers.

When a new and high-quality item appears on the market, it arouses genuine interest among many. Such devices include a multicooker. It has appeared on the shelves of our stores relatively recently, but has already managed to attract the attention of housewives due to its many advantages.

Why is a multicooker so necessary?

A multicooker is a compact and multifunctional electrical appliance that allows you to cook food in many ways. Products for cooking are placed in a special container with a non-stick coating, shaped like a pan. Next, the required cooking program is selected, and after that the device begins to operate. The time, mode and temperature of cooking are regulated by the built-in processor. Setting up all cooking parameters is automated.
Cook soups and porridges, fry potatoes and bake pies, steam or stew - all this is possible with the help of a multicooker. In general, the multicooker has many modes that will allow you to become an excellent cook.
If you cook a large number of dishes per day, you can be sure that the multicooker will not absorb odors. The bowl and its lid are easy to clean, so you don’t have to worry about the condition of the device.

Types of multicookers

There are several types of this device, the name of which is determined by its purpose and functionality.

This division into groups of programs is quite arbitrary; it shows that a multicooker is truly a multifunctional device that can cook a lot of dishes.

Many multicookers have a “chef” (or “auto-cook”) function that allows you to cook food according to your own settings, which can be saved in some devices. And after saving the parameters, you won’t need to set the time and temperature again next time.

Controlling cooking in a multicooker

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Hello, dear readers! We continue to disassemble electronics that are useful in everyday life, and today it’s the turn of the multicooker-pressure cooker. With this technique you can prepare delicious and healthy food without any hassle. However, those who are already faced with the search for a suitable model are probably puzzled by the question of what is better: a multicooker or a multicooker-pressure cooker. The answer only at first glance seems simple: the more additional functions, the better. However, is it always justified to overpay for “extra” functionality? In addition, a multicooker also allows you to cook quickly (to reduce the cooking time for meat soup, just pre-fry the meat for 15 minutes). To understand this issue, first let’s find out how a multicooker differs from a pressure cooker.

Multicooker and pressure cooker functionality

If we consider a multicooker and a pressure cooker separately, their main difference lies in the cooking conditions. The multicooker cooks at lower temperatures, thereby increasing the cooking time. In a pressure cooker, due to the increased pressure, cooking occurs at temperatures above 100 ºC, which significantly reduces the cooking time.

Another important difference follows from these conditions. The multicooker works on the principle of a Russian oven, preserving most of the vitamins through gentle heat treatment. In a pressure cooker, the fast cooking cycle allows you to maintain the vibrant color of your food. Thus, in the first case, benefits come to the fore, and in the second, aesthetics.

In terms of functionality, the multicooker is unrivaled, since its set of programs allows you to prepare desserts, pastries, yogurt, steamed vegetables and meat, and much more. A pressure cooker can only cook soups and porridges.

In terms of control, the multicooker, which has an electronic remote control with a display, also takes precedence. Moreover, you can look into it at any stage to check readiness or, for example, add salt. A pressure cooker does not leave room for improvisation or error. If the valve is closed during cooking, it is not possible to open the lid.

From a design point of view, compact multicookers fit more harmoniously into a modern kitchen, while pressure cookers look bulky and out of place.

And last but not least, a schoolchild can learn to use a slow cooker, but cooking in a pressure cooker is not safe.

So, if you take a multicooker and a pressure cooker separately, then the difference between them is quite clear. But caring home appliance engineers went further and managed to combine two completely different cooking methods in one unit. This technique is called a multicooker-pressure cooker.

In essence, modern multi-pressure cookers are a super multi-cooker, which has the additional function of a pressure cooker. Of course, such an expansion of functionality certainly affected the cost of the equipment.

In the resulting household hybrid, it becomes possible to open the lid during the cooking process, but such introduction into the process will require additional time to build up pressure. The multicooker-pressure cooker has become safer due to special valves and a less heated body, but you still cannot let a child near it.

The multi-pressure cooker can easily be converted into a regular multi-cooker if you leave the valve open. Working in pressure cooker mode saves energy by retaining heat.

Skeptics demand specifics, assuring that the difference in the speed of cooking is not significant. And, indeed, in some modes, a multicooker-pressure cooker allows you to save only 10 - 15 minutes. How much is your time worth? Whether it is worth overpaying for hybrid technology is up to you to decide. In terms of functionality and ease of operation, a conventional multicooker still has no equal. If the issue of time spent in the kitchen and waiting for lunch or dinner is not urgent, then it is better to purchase a familiar, safe multicooker.

Since the presence of a pressure cooker function implies cooking under high steam pressure, you should pay attention to the quality of the lid and rubber gasket. The next point is the removable bowl. The best option would be a ceramic bowl, which will last longer and never allow anything to burn.

Everyone has already heard about multicookers and can imagine what programs they would like to have, and for which dishes it is better to use the oven. However, there are two important functions, the presence of which greatly simplifies the cooking process. These include “chef” or “multi-cook” (allows you to adjust the temperature and cooking time) and memorize a recipe (allows you to memorize a self-adjusted mode).

If you want to make yogurt using a pressure cooker, then give preference to premium models, since cheap models may not cope with this task.

Everyone decides for themselves the issue of power, bowl volume and number of programs, depending on the needs and intensity of use. If you don’t know how to choose a multicooker-pressure cooker, then just try to trust the opinion of buyers and purchase one of the most popular models.

If you have definitely decided that you need a multicooker-pressure cooker, the rating of the best models will help you choose:

Moulinex CE502832 is a device with 37 programs and a “multi-cook” function. A power of 1000 W will be more than enough. Ceramic coating of the bowl, modern design, ease of operation, delayed start and temperature maintenance functions make this model the best option. Buyers note the high speed of preparation and excellent taste of the dishes. Considering the high cost of the unit, when purchasing, you need to be sure of the need for such functionality, since the model is designed for those who like to cook and experiment frequently.
Philips HD2173 - includes all the necessary functions and is similar in design to the previous version (the control panel is also front-facing). Buyers complain about the unreliable Teflon coating of the bowl (porridge may stick to the bottom) and the lid that absorbs odors.
Brand 5061 is an affordable and popular model. If we compare it with previous options, the only thing in which it is inferior in functionality is only 14 automatic programs. The ceramic bowl and lower price are an important advantage. All buyers were satisfied with the purchase.
Mystery MCM 5018 is an inexpensive and simple model with 8 programs. Judging by the reviews, it is a pleasure to cook in it. However, from a device costing less than 3 thousand rubles. don't expect much. The walls of the bowl are quite thin, there is no separate recipe book and there is no steaming rack included (although such a function is provided). This model can be recommended to those who are looking for a pressure cooker without the bells and whistles, since as a multicooker it is not very functional.
Redmond RMC P350 (2 magazine, 3 magazine, 4 magazine, 5 magazine) is an easy-to-use and stylish model. Comes with everything you need. There are 14 automatic programs available, without the “multi-cook” function. It has the option to pre-disable auto-heating when it is not needed. If the power goes out for a short time while you are away, the pressure cooker will remember the program step and complete cooking and return power. The bowl has a Teflon non-stick coating.

In the “multi-pressure cooker” category, the best models are not limited to those presented. But these five are considered tried and tested, and besides, these models have an optimal bowl volume of 5 liters.

I hope my article helped to understand the question of what is better: a multicooker or a multicooker-pressure cooker, or at least gave guidelines. The world of household appliances is still full of secrets, so become regular subscribers and stay tuned for updates. Thank you for your attention and see you soon on the blog. Sincerely, Rostislav Kuzmin.

Modern multicookers and pressure cookers greatly simplify the process of preparing your favorite dishes. To understand the wide variety of functions and choose the equipment that suits your needs, you need to take into account the advantages and disadvantages of each type of device.

A multicooker is a device with the ability to select different temperature modes for preparing a large number of different dishes. Using a multicooker, you can cook the same dishes as on a regular stove, but with less time spent monitoring the process. Despite such a noticeable simplification of cooking, you will first have to spend time understanding the many programs and learning how to operate the device. Food in a multicooker is cooked at a variety of temperatures. The heating element can operate at a low temperature, as during stewing, and at a higher temperature during frying and baking.

Advantages of using a multicooker:

Possibility of automatic preparation of dishes without human participation in process control.
Automatic heating of ready meals and maintaining temperature.
Setting a timer and delayed start - to prepare food at a specified time.
Using a minimum amount of seasonings and oil for lower calorie dishes.
Uniform heating of food while preserving a large amount of vitamins and nutrients.
The outer surface of the multicooker heats up slightly and its use is generally safe even for inexperienced cooks.

Having such wide capabilities, the multicooker also has a number of disadvantages:

The price is quite high, especially for models with a large number of functions.
Low cooking speed for some dishes in the cooking and stewing modes.
Scattering of additional functionality. If you need a specific cooking program, you can buy a separate special device for this. For example, take a regular multicooker for cooking, and additionally purchase a good bread maker for baking bread, without spending money on buying an expensive multicooker with an additional function.

A pressure cooker is a device for cooking food in a sealed container under high pressure, allowing food to be cooked at high temperatures in a minimum period of time.

ATTENTION! A pressure cooker is a dangerous appliance because it maintains hot steam under high pressure. This equipment should be kept away from use by children.

First of all, these two devices differ in the way they influence food: in a multicooker, the cooking process is carried out due to different temperature conditions, and a pressure cooker cooks dishes at high temperature and under constant pressure.

Pros and cons of pressure cookers

By maintaining a high temperature, this device allows you to cook food much faster. On average, it speeds up the process by 2–4 times, and some types of products (beans, legumes) – up to 8 times. Moreover, any products after such heat treatment retain their natural color and juiciness. Cooking is carried out without adding oil, allowing you to create low-calorie healthy dishes.

The main advantages of pressure cookers are the following details:

a pressure cooker allows you to shorten the cooking process due to high pressure and temperature;
during short-term processing in a pressure cooker, the color of the products remains natural due to the absence of oxygen;
The device is very convenient for quickly preparing rich soups and cereals;
Electrical energy consumption is significantly less than that of other kitchen appliances.

At the same time, they are inferior to multicookers in some functional properties:

a pressure cooker can only cook and stew; unlike a multicooker, it does not have baking or frying functions;
there is no possibility to set a timer;
during the cooking process, the multicooker can be opened to check the readiness of the products, but the pressure cooker cannot be opened, because high pressure is maintained inside it;
Typically, such equipment is much larger in size than a multicooker, and it requires more free space.

What is better - a slow cooker or a pressure cooker?

When choosing between kitchen appliances, the specific need for the functionality of the appliance is decisive. A multicooker will allow you to prepare a wide variety of dishes; with its help, you can experiment with the most unusual recipes or use automatic standard programs. But a pressure cooker cooks food much faster and retains more naturalness in it; such a device is suitable for simplifying the preparation of everyday healthy dishes.