The difference between the multicooker and the double boiler

Multicookers and steamers take a special place in the modern kitchen. They do not just help in the preparation of dishes, but completely change the order of cooking. What is better to buy: a slow cooker or a double boiler? Usually choose one thing depending on the dishes that will be prepared. Let us examine the fundamental differences and situations in which it is worthwhile to give preference to one or another device.

Features of the multicooker

The slow cooker is a universal household appliance for autonomous cooking. In fact, she combined several kitchen appliances in herself, so she can boil, fry, bake, and also steam. Modern multicookers have in their functionality up to 20 automatic cooking modes and up to 30 programs with manual mode.This allows you to cook many complex dishes with little or no interference with the cooking process.

Naturally, if the recipe provides for roasting meat or potatoes before baking it further, then you will need to first select the frying mode and fry the ingredients, and then, adding everything else, put the dish to be baked.

The multicooker is easy to use and does not require special intervention in its work. Built-in timer and recipes, as well as the function of postponing the start of cooking allows it to turn on, cook a dish and turn off. Also, if you forget about cooked food, the built-in automatic heating function will not allow the dish to cool before you arrive.

Setting the timer on the multicooker

Pros and cons of multicooker

The undoubted advantages of this household appliance include the following points.

1. Almost complete exemption from the cooking process. Using MulticookerYou do not wait until the water boils, you do not need to follow the process, regularly stir and rotate the ingredients. They are simply laid in the bowl, the selected mode is turned on, and the equipment does everything by itself.
2. Function automatic heating. The device itself keeps the heat of the dish until it is consumed. Upon arrival in the kitchen you will always be waiting for a warm meal.
3. Delayed start allows you to throw the ingredients in the evening, and waking up in the morning to get a quality and fresh breakfast.
4. Embedded bread making programs, yogurt, steamed dishes. This saves space in the kitchen, allowing you to replace a bunch of appliances with one.
5. Easy to use. Even an inexperienced cooker can easily cook complex dishes using a slow cooker.
6. The compactness of the device allows you to take it with you to the country or on a trip, it will be your mobile mini-kitchen.

The disadvantages of multicookers include:

1. Possibility to cook only one dish at a time. If there is a need to cook soup, potatoes, and then another fry patties - the slow cooker will do it for a very long time.
2. If there is no multicooker extra bowls - her will have to wash before each new use.
3. Small capacity of the bowl. Of the stated in the characteristics of the device 5 liters, the useful volume is about 4 liters, which means cooking for a long time (especially in a large family) is impossible.
4. It seems like a useful feature of automatic heating in many models of multicookers does not turn off.
5. Bowl cover of Teflon or ceramics requires careful handling. A little scratch on the bowl will stick and burn food.
6. Not very suitable for housewives who want to improve their culinary skills.

Features of double boiler

Difference of a double boiler from the multicooker in a highly specialized operating mode. Undoubtedly, it is possible to cook a large number of dishes in it, but they will be steamed and only, unlike the slow cooker, which can do almost all operations with ingredients.

Work with an electric double boiler very simple. Water is placed in the lower bowl, and in the upper bowl (there may be from two or more), the necessary ingredients or raw products are placed. On control panels set the required recipe cooking time. As you cook, you can mix food, pour water, or fill up the spices. The undoubted advantage of the double boiler is the possibility of parallel preparation of several dishes. Also in the double boiler products can not burn.

Now the market offers a wide range of products with a huge range of functions, including:

• adjusting the amount of steam and temperature;
• delayed start of cooking;
• constant heating mode.

Dishes cooked in a double boiler keep the healthy properties of the products, and the lack of oil during the cooking process makes the dishes cooked dietary.

Pros and cons of steamers

Of the main advantages of a double boiler note the following:

1. Multitasking and convenience of cooking. Due to the presence several baskets, you can make different dishes at the same time. Do not forget that in the basket, which is lower, you need to put long-cooking products, and in the top - fast.
2. Cooking and heating of the dish takes place with almost no loss of beneficial trace elements.
3. Quick defrost.
4. Ease of cooking. You just put the ingredients inside, and they are steamed.
5. Products during cooking can not burn, and therefore the usual rinsing of the basket is enough to completely clean the remnants of food.

By cons double boiler include:

1. Seemingly fresh, steamed dishes. Due to the lack of food after cooking the crust, there is a feeling of eating raw food.
2. Food preparing longer compared to dishes made on a regular plate.This is especially noticeable in meat dishes.

What is better to choose

For a start it is worth noting that the multicooker is suitable for people who are waiting a wide variety of used dishes. A wide range of modern multicooker programs allows you to cook a new dish every day of the month. Despite all this, the amount of time and effort will be spent very little. The following are one of best models of multicookers.

Hitachi RZ-DMR18Y

Gorgeous model from the Japanese manufacturer pleases with high quality performance.

Specifications:

• 8-liter bowl;
• 11 automatic modes;
• power 1000 watts;
• Availability functions "Multipovar"Delayed start.

Multicooker Hitachi RZ-DMR18Y

Vitesse VS 590

French home appliances from Vitesse have a great and presentable appearance.

Specifications:

• 5-liter bowl;
• 6 automatic programs;
• power 700 watts;
• availability of the function delayed start and heating.

If you are supported healthy diet, eating only healthy foods, then steamed dishes will make up your entire menu. A slow cooker, like a steamer, can cook for a couple, but is unable to provide the necessary variety of dietary meals. A steam cooker is often bought for families in which there are small children, since it is possible sterilize baby bottles. Choosing a double boiler, pay attention to the following models.

Multicooker Vitesse VS 590

SUPRA FSS-310

Inexpensive, but very high quality steamer from the Japanese manufacturer SUPRA.

Specifications:

• total volume - 15 liters;
• 6 automatic modes;
• power 800 watts;
• availability of the delayed start function and timer control cooking time.

Steamer SUPRA FSS-310

Tefal Steam’n’light VC3008

A special difference between the double boiler and the multicooker is the light indication of the various modes of operation. Depending on the selected program, the device will change the color of the backlight.

Specifications:

• total volume - 10 liters;
• 6 automatic modes;
• power 900 watts;
• presence of function defrosting products and auto power off in the absence of water.

Steamer Tefal Steam’n’light VC3008

Choice steamers or multicookers depend on several crucial factors. If the family is large and with different tastes - choose the first, the opportunity to cook several dishes at the same time in this case will be a decisive factor. If the family is small and you want to have a lot of dishes in your menu, feel free to buy the second one.

The steam cooker is taken mainly because of its practicality and the ability to cook healthy food. The slow cooker is suitable for gourmets who do not have enough time to cook.