Tips on choosing a multicooker

The main positive quality of the multicooker is its versatility. Modern devices are able to cook first courses, steam, fry and bake, cook dairy products, bake pies, muffins and bread. The volume of the multicooker can be small (designed for one person) and large - up to 10 liters (for a large family, more than 5 people). How to choose a multicooker among the abundance of options?

Types of devices

If we consider the types of multicookers, then there are only two: the multi-cooker-pressure cooker and the standard multi-cooker.

Multicooker pressure cooker

This unit operates under high pressure due to a tight-fitting valve located on the lid. As a result, an increased pressure and a special microclimate are created inside the device, and the temperature of the steam can reach values ​​above 100 ° C. Cooking time is reduced by 2 times in comparison with the conventional device.

Standard Multivarka

During the work of such type of the device the increased pressure is not used. But, nevertheless, heating of food in it occurs evenly, the food retains its taste, in the process of cooking, you can open the lid to control readiness.

Multivark selection criteria

Before you choose a multicooker for your home, you should be familiar with the basic information about the unit.

The location of the heating elements

Standard devices for home use are arranged in such a way that the heating element is located under the bottom of the pot. This fact may adversely affect the preparation of pastries in low-power devices: the upper part of the dough may not be baked.

TEN - a heating element in the crock-pot

Not so long ago appeared units with 3D heating. In them, the heaters are located, except for the bottom, on the sides and even embedded in the cover. Due to this, uniform heating of the container occurs, and baking is obtained with a crispy crust.

Bowl volume

The next thing to look for when choosing a slow cooker is the volume of the bowl, which determines the amount of food cooked at a time.

1. For a small family or one person, you can use a slow cooker with a 2.5-3 liter bowl.
2. If there are 4 people in a family, then it is advisable to choose a slow cooker with a bowl volume of 3.5-5 liters. Devices with this volume are especially popular with customers.
3. If you have a huge family and often have guests, then a big choice, with a bowl of 6-10 liters, will be the slow cooker.

Cover material of bowls and their types

Removable bowls have an internal covering of 3 types.

1. Teflon - easy to scratch, so you need to use special plastic or wooden accessories. The coating material at a high heating temperature is characterized by the release of harmful substances.The only advantage of this coating is that it has non-stick properties and is easy to clean.
2. Ceramic - does not emit anything, does not spoil the taste of food. The coating, although scratch-resistant, is quite fragile. Therefore, it is necessary to handle the bowl carefully. As a rule, devices with ceramic pans are in great demand.
3. Marble spraying - is five-layer and non-stick. Differs in the durability and easily washes. But the prices of such units remain high.

Multicooker Bowls

Body material

Considering what multicookers are, it is worth noting that the material for the device body can be plastic or metal.

1. Plastic the case is used in the budget options of the units having low cost. The advantage of such cases is that they are not visible scratches and they do not increase the weight of the device itself.
2. Metal The body (stainless steel) is stronger than plastic, it is easily scratched, it increases the weight and cost of the device.

Machine power

The choice of multicooker should begin with a performance indicator. The higher the performance, the faster the cooking process. Consequently:

• the unit having power from 450 W is suitable for cooking porridges and stewing;
• the device, with a capacity of 600-800 W (it can be a multi-cooker 4 liters or more) is universal in application;
• the device, whose performance is 900-1500 W, is able to make wonderful pastries and fry food well.

The power indicated by the manufacturers does not mean that the unit will constantly work on such indicators. It is designed so that the maximum power is used only for initial heating. Then the device enters the mode of maintaining the required temperature, that is, it works cyclically.

Control type

There are models on the market that have two types of control, and the consumer decides which one to choose based on their financial capabilities.

1. Mechanical. The control takes place using the rotary knobs or buttons. Such control is more reliable than electronic control, and is installed on low-cost models.
   
2. Electronic. It differs from the mechanical best functionality. Buttons are used for control, there is an LCD display.
   

Electrical cord

The power cord can be removable and non-removable. Convenience removable cord is that it can be disconnected during transportation or hidden, so that children do not turn on the device in your absence. Non-removable the cord is safer, since moisture cannot get into the place where the cord is connected to the unit, and consequently, the risk of electric shock decreases.

Rules for selecting the device

If you have not yet decided which multicooker to buy, use the advice of an expert in choosing a multicooker.

Functionality

To choose the best option for the kitchen device, you should definitely read the instructions for the device you like, cooking programs can be used during its operation. Must be present on a mandatory basis, at least, such programs: “Buckwheat”, can still be called as “Rice” or “Krupa”; “Milk porridge” or simply “Porridge”; "Soup"; “Steaming” or “Steamer”; “Baking” or “Pie”; "Yogurt"; “Quenching”; “Frying”. Different manufacturers of the program may differ in name, but perform the same tasks that were listed above.

Greater competition forces manufacturers to look for ways to interest the consumer.To do this, the device adds a lot of new features and additions, without changing the technical characteristics. Such innovations significantly raise the cost of the unit. In turn, the consumer is lost in the flow of this information, and he hardly understands how to choose the slow cooker. Think carefully about which company you want to buy a slow cooker, and whether you will need 30 cooking programs that you will not use. Or a few programs for cooking porridge.

Usually during operation of the device, only 8 main options are used, which were mentioned above.

On the market there were models with induction type of heating. Although the principle of induction heating has been known for a long time, and enterprises are already producing appliances for the kitchen, using this technology (hobs), in this case it is considered an innovation. Thanks to him, there is a uniform and rapid heating of the entire area of ​​the bowl. Induction heating is convenient and is considered safe. But the price of such devices is quite high.

Useful fixtures

If the unit has moisture collector for draining condensate, its presence can be considered a big plus.It is a small plastic container located on the back of the device. When the device is working, excess moisture that accumulates on the inside of the lid flows into the moisture collector. This can be important during baking, as condensation will not drip into the center of the cake and the appearance of the product will not deteriorate. Also, the removal of excess moisture contributes to a good baking dough. If you think about what kind of multicooker to buy for baking, then, on the advice of experts, its power should not be less than 700 watts.

A high-quality multicooker should have a control panel in Russian, good screen backlighting. Some models are able to make voice prompts. Voice assistant will tell you what to do in different situations.

Almost all modern devices have delayed start timer. It allows you to postpone the start of cooking for a certain period and start the implementation of the program, for example, when you and your family members come home. Food will be freshly prepared and hot thanks to the preheat function. The inside of the lid should be removed for washing, to avoid the accumulation of odors from dishes that were prepared earlier.

Important is memory functionwhich saves settings in case of a sudden power outage. This can be convenient, for example, in the country, if there are frequent interruptions in the supply of electricity. When resuming submission, the device will turn on and continue with the program.

When choosing a device, it is recommended to pay attention to which legs it will stand (rubber feet will not allow the device to slide), and how long the power cord is to avoid using an extension cord.

Cooking bowl device

The bowl of the unit, if possible, should be as thick as possible and heavy in weight. The thicker the walls of the bowl, the better the heat is distributed. Many manufacturing companies make multi-layer coating internal pans The more layers of non-stick coating, the thicker the bowl, thereby increasing its service life.

It should be noted that cup volumespecified in the instructions, implies its full volume to the brim. But when using to fill the pan completely impossible, but only up to a certain label. Therefore, the volume used is reduced by 0.5 liters. For example, if you are the owner of a 5 liter unit, then you can cook only 4.5 liters of food.And if the slow cooker has a volume of 3 liters, then the amount of cooked food may be insufficient.

Ask before choosing a slow cooker whether you can buy a spare bowl for it. Not all manufacturers allow the purchase of accessories.

Multi-coated bowl

Warranty

Before you buy, ask how long warranty in this model. The longer the term, the better. Find out if there are nearby service centers for this type and type of unit. Buying blind is not the best way to choose a good slow cooker. The slow cooker can be ordered in the online store, but since you cannot see it in reality, it is recommended to look for reviews on this model, watch video reviews, and communicate on special forums with experts. But still, it is better to buy a slow cooker in a specialty store.

The top five multicooker 2016

The best multicookers of 2016, given the customer reviews, are 5 models.

1. Rolsen RMC-5500. This model of kitchen assistant is ahead of the popularity of even the sales leader - the manufacturer REDMOND (Redmond).Such popularity is not accidental, because buyers saw how much a multicooker (around 4000 rubles) costs with such parameters: power 850 W, bowl for 5 liters, 17 useful functions.
   

   Multicooker Rolsen RMC-5500

2. REDMOND MasterFry FM4502. This model confidently takes the second place in the rating. In this kitchen unit a large number of necessary functions are combined, among which I would like to mention a yogurt maker, deep-fat frying, frying and the possibility of pasteurization. In addition, the device with a capacity of 850 W has a 5 liter bowl at a price of about 6,500 rubles (for 2016). If you like this model, and you want to choose a multicooker according to the parameters specified above, then the purchased unit will become a real find for your kitchen.
   

   Multicooker REDMOND MasterFry FM4502

3. Hitachi RZ-DMR18Y. This model takes the third place and costs about 5,000 rubles. About it we can say that this is a high-quality device with 11 functions on board (ranging from the double boiler and ending with the function of frying). According to reviews, the device is very convenient in operation, and also has a pan volume of 4.8 liters and a capacity of 630 watts. If the question is, which firm to choose a slow cooker, so that it would be multifunctional and of good quality, then this model fits perfectly.
   

   Multicooker Hitachi RZ-DMR18Y

4. Maxwell MW-3810. The characteristics of this model answer the question of what kind of multicooker to buy, so that it is inexpensive, reliable and has a set of all the necessary functions. This unit cost from 3,500 to 4,000 rubles has a power of 900 W, a volume of 5 liters and 8 basic programs. In addition to the original design and removable top cover, this model has a body made of metal. The device can be safely advised for use at home and in the country.
   

   Multicooker Maxwell MW-3810

5. Philips HD4737 / 03 completes review of 2016 multicooker models. The selected version of the unit can not be called random. The reason - a large number of commendable reviews. The advantages of the device: a thick-walled internal pan with handles, a 3D heating function, the ability to remove the lid, 19 functions and a capacity of 980 watts. The price of the device is above average - about 10,000 rubles.
   

   Multi-cooker Philips HD4737 / 03

As a result, we can say that it is not worthwhile to focus on the high price and the number of programs, as an indicator of the quality of the units. Conventional models of devices from the middle price range cope with the same tasks quite successfully, and in some cases - better.