Most housewives, trying to preserve free space in the kitchen, so as not to overload it with household appliances and at the same time avoid unnecessary expenses, decide what is better to buy - a multicooker or a double boiler? Which of these devices is more practical, convenient and which is the most appropriate to buy? However, before solving this issue, it is necessary to study in detail what, in fact, is the main difference between a multicooker and a double boiler.
For most people, the main criterion in choosing household appliances for the kitchen is the usefulness of food prepared using a particular device.
Cooking method
A steamer is highly specialized kitchen equipment designed for steaming a wide variety of foods; in contrast, a multicooker is a universal household appliance that can simultaneously replace several cooking appliances, including such as a pressure cooker and a bread maker.
A steamer is highly specialized kitchen equipment designed for steaming a wide variety of foods.
Despite the fact that both units are designed for preparing a wide variety of dishes, it is impossible to make pilaf or roast in a double boiler, unlike a multicooker. With the help of the latter, you can easily prepare even dishes according to complex recipes. Such capabilities are due to the fact that it provides automatic programs. What’s interesting is that each cooked product will have its own taste, despite the fact that they are all cooked in the same container.
Using a multicooker, you can easily prepare even complex recipes.
In addition, there is a multicooker with a steamer function, with which you can steam food. However, according to experts, it is better to use a double boiler for a dietary diet, because only it allows you to preserve the vitamins and other beneficial substances of foods to the maximum extent. This miracle of technology is supported by its technical characteristics, which make it possible to completely eliminate the use of fats from cooking.
Using a steamer, you can cook several different dishes at the same time, because this unit is equipped with several special containers for different products. For example, you can simultaneously cook a meat dish, a seafood dish, stew vegetables and boil eggs. Unlike it, you can cook any dishes in a slow cooker, but only one at a time; this difference is fundamental.
Using a steamer, you can cook several different dishes at the same time, because this unit is equipped with several special containers for different products.
Reviews
Anna, Kirov
At first I had a Moulinex multicooker, but a couple of years ago I decided to replace it with a Redmond one. It took me a long time to choose, as there are many models. We bought it with a pressure cooker mode, with a convenient remote control. It bakes great, and I also like to cook soups in it. I threw in all the products, set the routine and that’s it, no hassle.
Irina, Tyumen
We were given a steamer as a wedding gift, I cooked fish several times, cauliflower and that’s it. Did not like. And it was lying in a box in my top closet. But I appreciated the device after the birth of my daughter. This is where it’s convenient for mom! I put it on cooking and went to do my own thing, no need to watch, turn over, or interfere. Now I cook many dishes. The vegetables turn out delicious, any steamed fish is delicious. We don’t cook meat in pieces; we bought an oven for that. But my husband likes steamed cutlets, and now he only eats them from the steamer. I use a dishwasher to wash the trays, since holes in the bottom are difficult to clean by hand.
Functionality
Before making a choice in favor of one or another household appliance, it is necessary to consider its functionality in more detail.
A steamer is a device designed for steaming food. The design of the unit is equipped with a water tank located on the base. As a result of boiling water, steam enters containers pre-filled with ingredients through special holes.
Steamer functions:
- Warming and defrosting food;
- Cooking food from a wide variety of products (the unit includes several different containers: a bowl for rice cereal, an egg stand, etc.);
- Preparation of set meals (several dishes can be prepared at the same time);
- Sterilization of baby dishes, bottles and nipples;
- Ability to heat food for children;
- The presence of an additional blender function in some models allows you to grind ready-made food.
A steamer is a device designed for steaming food.
A multicooker refers to kitchen equipment that combines an oven, a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, and some models have a steamer function. This unit includes a heating element powered by electricity, a steam design, a processor that allows the system to operate automatically, and cooking pots.
Multicooker functions:
- Boil;
- Bake;
- Fry;
- Put out;
- Steam;
- Warm up;
- Delayed cooking;
- Grilling.
A multicooker refers to kitchen equipment that combines an oven, a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, and in some models, a steamer function.
Cooking time
To determine which is better - a multicooker or a double boiler, it is necessary to take into account such a criterion as cooking time. Of course, when it comes to speed, the rating is topped by a steamer, because most models of this device work much faster. In addition, thanks to the special coating, the food in it does not burn, which means there is no need to spend additional time washing the containers; they are easy to clean.
In terms of speed, the rating is topped by a steamer, because most models of this device work much faster.
But don’t discount the multicooker: some models of this device include a program that allows for steaming, which significantly speeds up the process. However, the presence of a Teflon-coated cooking bowl in the device complicates the task, because after use it will have to be washed with special means.
What to choose
If one of your family members is seriously ill, and you do not have extra time to prepare meals for them separately, then it is better to purchase a steamer for the whole family. In addition, all the products in it turn out juicy, aromatic and healthy!
And if you purchase a device with several baskets, you can prepare several dishes at once in one session: for example, a side dish, vegetables or fish.
You may also be interested in information about how to choose the right multicooker, and what features are available to choose from.
But if over time you constantly have difficulties, and you do not have the opportunity to spend a lot of time on cooking, then in this case a multicooker will be an excellent helper for you! Moreover, you can use the delayed start option, add ingredients according to the recipe in advance, and dinner will be ready when you arrive.
But the device has only one bowl, and at the same time you can only cook stew and steam something, for example, a side dish. That is, a multicooker does not have such a variety of options as with a double boiler.
And one more burning question: how many people do you need to cook for? If your family has more than three people, then you can purchase a universal multicooker. But if more, then its capabilities will no longer be enough; variety will be required, which only a device with steam operation allows.
Although the capabilities of a multicooker are much wider, to prepare a varied menu you will have to add products several times, and this simply takes time. And if you are a housewife and you have enough of it, then a universal device will be better. Moreover, while the dish is being prepared, you can go to the store or do other homework. But what are the best bread machines according to reviews and how to choose the right one is indicated here.
But if you are caring for a young child, and he needs specially prepared food, then you only need a double boiler, it would be nice with a blender.
True, if you have a special device for steaming in a multicooker, and a separate blender, then you can completely get by with these devices and cook not only for the baby, but for the whole family.
But the choice, as always, remains with the consumer.
But what is better than a multicooker or a pressure cooker and what features of using this or that equipment exist are indicated here.
Amount of prepared food
The main difference between kitchen cooking appliances is the amount of food they can cook at once. In this case, the double boiler is in the lead, because the multicooker has only one bowl, designed for a volume of 2.5-4.5 liters, and its competitor is equipped with 1-3 baskets, allowing you to cook up to 3 dishes at a time.
The steamer is equipped with 1-3 baskets, allowing you to cook up to 3 dishes at a time.
What is the difference between multicookers and steamers?
Cooking method. This is the main difference between these units. A multicooker can bake, fry, grill, steam, cook, while a double boiler cooks dishes only with the help of steam. Functionality. The steamer can cook, defrost and reheat. A multicooker can replace a frying pan, a double boiler, an oven, a saucepan, a deep fryer, and a stove. Amount of food prepared. Included with a double boiler there may be several containers of different volumes, with a multicooker - only one bowl with a volume of 2.5-4.5 liters. This means that you can cook several dishes at the same time in a double boiler, and one in a multicooker. Cooking speed. In a multicooker, the cooking process often takes a lot of time, unlike a double boiler. But there are models of multicookers with a steaming function, which “steam” dishes in the same time as a double boiler. The usefulness of dishes. For many housewives, the usefulness of food is important. And the steamer has no rivals in this regard: all products are cooked by steam, preserving all the nutrients and vitamins. Price. Multicookers are more expensive; a simple model with average performance costs almost 3 times more than a double boiler with the same parameters. But there are steam cookers, the cost of which will leave all multicookers behind. The cost of devices depends on the cooking speed, number of functions, bowl volume and other criteria.
The benefits of cooked foods
For most people, the main criterion in choosing household appliances for the kitchen is the usefulness of food prepared using a particular device. Therefore, before choosing suitable equipment, buyers pay attention to this criterion. From the point of view of nutritionists, the steamer has no competitors. Everyone knows that steaming food allows you to preserve as much as possible all its beneficial qualities. However, you don’t always want to stick to a healthy diet; in this case, a multicooker-steamer, i.e., a device with a steam cooking function, will help out.
Steaming food allows you to preserve as much as possible all its beneficial qualities.
Pros and cons of double boilers and multicookers
Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of this kitchen utensil.
Double boiler
The main advantages of this device are the following parameters:
- Ease of use and the ability to perform multiple tasks. The presence of several baskets allows you to simultaneously prepare different dishes;
- Preservation of useful qualities of products. When heating and cooking dishes, the loss of vitamins is minimal;
- Defrosting speed;
- No difficulties in preparation. Just put all the ingredients in the baskets and turn on the device;
- Products do not burn, which allows you to avoid special care of the device.
Foods that take a long time to cook should be placed in the lower basket, and instant food items should be placed in the upper basket.
When heating and cooking dishes, the loss of vitamins is minimal.
Disadvantages of this equipment:
- Taste qualities. Steamed food may seem bland. The absence of crust on food creates the feeling of raw food;
- Time to cook. Cooking takes longer than cooking on the stove, this primarily applies to meat dishes.
Multicooker
The main advantages of this kitchen appliance are the following parameters:
- The cooking process frees the housewife almost completely. There is no need to wait for the water to boil, control the process, systematically stir and turn over the ingredients. Simply place the food in the bowl, select and set the desired mode, and the device will do the rest;
- Availability of automatic heating function. The device independently maintains the required temperature of the finished dish until the bowl is removed, thereby keeping the food warm until it is consumed;
- Delayed start mode. The presence of such a function allows you to add ingredients in advance and receive a finished dish after a specified time;
- Programs for baking bread, steaming and making yoghurt. Allows you to replace several types of household appliances with one device;
- Ease of use. Easy to use even for an inexperienced cook;
- Compactness. The small size of the device allows you to use it even while traveling.
The cooking process frees the housewife almost completely.
The disadvantages of the equipment are:
- Inability to cook several dishes at the same time;
- If there is no additional bowl included, it becomes necessary to wash it before use;
- Small bowl volume. If the characteristics of the device indicate 5 liters, then the useful volume will not exceed 4 liters, which will significantly complicate cooking for a large family;
- In some models, automatic heating does not turn off;
- The Teflon or ceramic coating of the bowl requires especially careful handling. If even the smallest scratch occurs, food will stick to the dishes and the food will burn.
Multicooker or double boiler - which is better to buy?
So, modern advertising advises having in our kitchen:
- Steamer.
- Multicooker.
Double boiler. How to choose the right steamer?
In a double boiler, food 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.
Interesting on the topic : How to save on food? 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 the expenses of the family budget.
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 appliance.
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 foods, 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 buy a saucepan in which a colander is already installed and cook boiled food.
Multicooker - what is it? How to choose a multicooker?
What is a multicooker? A 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 drawback - 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. Check 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 often. 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.
Operation and care
One of the aspects that allows you to determine how a double boiler differs from a multicooker is the possibility of using them and caring for the equipment. Both units are easy to use and easy to operate. On most models, program names are located on the display.
The “Delayed Start” function allows you to specify the start time for cooking. Both devices have a defrost program, auto shut-off to protect against overheating, and temperature maintenance to reheat ready-made food.
The “Delayed Start” function allows you to specify the start time for cooking.
The issue of caring for household appliances is no less important, because the financial and time costs depend on what kind of care it requires. As for the care of the equipment, it depends on the model, configuration and many other components, but in any case, the steamer has an advantage: thanks to the collapsible design, all its removable parts can be washed in the dishwasher.
Thanks to the collapsible design, all removable parts of the steamer can be washed in the dishwasher.
It is quite difficult to compare such different kitchen products as a multicooker and a steamer, since they are designed for different purposes. Supporters of a healthy lifestyle should opt for a double boiler, the functions of which allow you to preserve all the beneficial properties after heat treatment. Gourmets are more suited to an easy-to-use multi-cooker that will do everything itself; just fill the bowl with ingredients and enter the required cooking mode on the display.
Advantages and disadvantages of multicookers
A classic multicooker is a kitchen appliance used for cooking without the active participation of the user.
The functionality of the device can include a couple of dozen already configured cooking modes for a wide variety of dishes, plus an even larger number of manual mode programs.
At the same time, to prepare the same dish, it may be necessary to change operating modes, which is also provided for by the design of the device.
Thanks to the timer included with each device, the multicooker is able to independently start the cooking process and stop it at the right time.
In addition, most multicookers have a heating function, which will prevent the dish from cooling down by the time you eat.
In addition, recently a new product has appeared on the multicooker market: a 2-in-1 multicooker-steamer, which, according to manufacturers, combines the best qualities of both devices.
However, even with this, most multicooker models are not without their classic disadvantages, namely:
- Ability to cook only one dish at a time
- Many models are not spacious enough, which is not very convenient for large families or gatherings with guests
- Lack of option to turn off auto-heating in many models
- Sensitivity of the multicooker container coating
- Not suitable for housewives who want to achieve mastery in cooking
However, most of these disadvantages for many users are offset by a large number of advantages, including:
- Complete cooking autonomy
- Delayed start function (very convenient for preparing breakfast or dinner)
- Multifunctionality
- Compactness (allows some models to become full-fledged field kitchens)
- Easy to use
- Automatic heating of a cooling dish
