Multicooker with steamer function - for healthy food enthusiasts

A multicooker with a steamer function is an excellent choice for those who support a healthy diet. This kitchen appliance will eliminate the need to stand at the stove for a long time and will become an indispensable assistant in preparing wholesome and healthy food. The uniqueness of the multicooker-steamer is its versatility. In addition to steaming dishes, this convenient pan can boil, fry, stew, bake, and make yogurt. You just need to use the recipe book, add the necessary ingredients, turn on the start, and then wait for the finished dish.

Features of the multicooker-steamer

Many of us have encountered the need to steam diet food. For this purpose, it was necessary to build unimaginable structures from several pans. Today, purchasing special kitchen appliances will eliminate the need for complex manipulations with pots. Steaming food in a multicooker-steamer is easier, simpler and more convenient.

Unlike a double boiler, which resembles a multi-tiered pyramid of a water container and several reservoirs for food, a multicooker is an electric pan that performs different functions: boiling, stewing, frying, steaming, baking, grilling and many others. Both devices prepare uniquely healthy food, do not require constant human presence, and are easy to use and maintain.

Main advantages:

• ideal for novice and experienced cooks, as the cooking process is quite simple: place the food in a container, close the lid, select a mode and press the start button;
• uniform heating of food during cooking;
• the device is an excellent alternative to a conventional saucepan, frying pan, oven, bread maker, microwave, gas or electric stove;
• in addition to steaming, the unit successfully performs many other actions;
• in terms of the amount of preserved vitamins it is not inferior to dishes from a steamer;
• capable of cooking in its own juice, without adding oil or fat; during steaming, the water boils away very slowly;
• The set includes a measuring cup, spatula, spoon;
• the presence of a convenient removable bowl with a non-stick coating;
• dishes that are cooked in a saucepan, if the mode is correctly selected and the recipe is followed, will not stick to the walls of the bowl;
• the delayed start function will allow you to prepare food at a certain time of the day;
• lightness, ease of care;
• economical consumption of electricity.

Flaws:

• small bowl size for steaming dishes;
• food takes longer to cook in a slow cooker than in a double boiler;
• will not be able to provide a set lunch, since he prepares only one dish at a time;
• costs more than a double boiler.

First use

When choosing a multicooker model, it is useful to download in advance the instructions for using this device from the desired website on the Internet. By reading the instructions, you will be able to understand how simple or difficult the operation of the device will be, and also determine whether the device will be able to realize your existing culinary preferences. In addition, you need to pay attention to the presence of a Russified menu. Russian-speaking controls will greatly facilitate the operation of the device. It will not be difficult to use devices whose instructions include a description of the buttons labeled in English.

If the purchase is made and a new appliance has appeared in the kitchen, do not rush to use the multicooker right away. Each model, be it a cheap Polaris or an expensive Redmond, has a persistent factory smell inside that needs to be gotten rid of.

• First, you should open the device, take out the non-stick bowl and wash it well with a cleaning agent, and then wipe it dry inside and out.
• Then you need to return the bowl to its place and plug in the device. Before turning on, you should check the integrity of the cord. The multicooker can only be plugged into a power outlet if it is grounded.
• After this, you need to pour some water into the bowl and turn on the “heating” (or “temperature maintenance”) mode for 15 minutes.
• At the end of the time, you should check how hot the liquid in the bowl is. Thus, the operation of the heating element is tested and the rate of water heating is determined.

Since most models have pre-programmed cooking modes in the menu as standard, using the device for the first time will not cause any particular difficulties. An example of their use can be illustrated by a story about how to use the Polaris PMS 0508d multicooker.

"Polaris" PMS 0508d

The rules for turning on the multicooker are described in detail in the instructions. The action algorithm is easiest to demonstrate by turning on the “Buckwheat” mode. It allows you to prepare porridge from cereals, as well as side dishes.

• The cereal is first washed and steamed with boiling water for 10-15 minutes.
• Then the boiling water is drained, the steamed cereal is placed in the multicooker bowl and filled with water.
• The amount of water is calculated using the following formula: per glass of cereal, one liter of water. It is important to ensure that the water level in the pan is below the maximum mark on the scale located on the inner wall of the bowl.
• After this, the “menu” button is turned on, which will open access to the cooking modes, and the desired program is selected (Polaris PMS 0508d has the “Buckwheat” option).
• Then the “start” button is pressed, the power button starts the cooking process, eight minutes before the end of the time, the multicooker will start beeping.
• An audible signal indicates that the device has entered heating mode.

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Attention! You won’t be able to manually adjust the porridge cooking time, and you won’t be able to delay the start either. All budget models have similar inconveniences. If you use a Redmond multicooker, you can independently control the cooking process and make your own adjustments.

The baking and stewing program works according to the same algorithm: first the “menu” button is pressed, then the cooking mode is set, and then the program is launched by pressing the “start” button. The “Stew” program involves cooking food with a small amount of oil. The cooking duration is two hours, when you open this function, you have access to set the required time (range from two to eight hours), one step is thirty minutes, the heating temperature is 90 degrees.

The Polaris PMS 0508d multicooker has a combined program that can be selected if you need to prepare soup, bake or cook milk porridge. The maximum time for the combined program is one hour; milk porridge cooks less, so when preparing this dish you will have to forcefully stop the program by pressing the “Cancel” button.

When baking, it is useful to first grease the walls of the bowl with margarine or butter, and only then immerse the dough in it. The program is launched according to an already known algorithm; the cooking time is controlled manually by pressing the “Cancel” button. After the cooking time is up, you need to wait about three minutes, and only then remove the baked goods from the bowl. This technique allows you to easily remove the contents of the pan.

Principle of operation

If you like steamed dishes, you will definitely need a multicooker with a steamer function. Each device has a container with small holes. The principle of operation is simple: fill the bowl with the required amount of water, place the container with the laid out products, and then turn on the “steaming” mode.

The duration of cooking depends entirely on the amount of water poured. Two multi-cups of liquid is enough to cook meals for half an hour. As the cooking time increases, the amount of water required increases. For example, 30-60 minutes of cooking requires at least five multi-cups of liquid.

The period for which the steaming function is set is from one minute to one hour. If the dish is not cooked during this period of time, add a new portion of water to the removable pan, simultaneously setting the time. If the liquid has completely evaporated, the multicooker stops cooking and automatically switches to heating mode. To start, it is recommended to refill the container and turn on the required program.

Products must be placed so that they do not touch each other. Thus, the steam envelops them unhindered, ensuring high-quality cooking. Vegetables can be added uncut, although after chopping large enough specimens, the cooking time is significantly reduced. Spices should be added to foods, not to water, and salt should be added to prepared foods. The uniqueness of a multicooker with a double boiler function is that there is no need to pre-defrost food. For example, if you put frozen vegetables or fish in a container, you don’t have to worry about the efficiency of cooking.

How to use it correctly

Do not wash the multicooker bowl and the parts that come with it with coarse brushes and metal meshes. They can easily damage the non-stick coating. Manufacturers recommend using warm soapy water and a soft cloth. If food has managed to burn to the walls of the pan, then the bowl should be soaked in warm water and then washed with a soft sponge.

To clean the device, do not use powders or products that contain strong acids. It is not allowed to immerse the multicooker body in water; you cannot heat second dishes in it.

How to load products correctly

Models of multicookers differ from each other and in the volume of the bowl. The Polaris PMS 0508d has a bowl volume of five liters, inside the pan there is a division equal to five. The volume is indicated so that a person can navigate when loading ingredients. It is not recommended to fill the bowl more than half the volume. During cooking, boiling occurs, as a result of which the bowl is completely filled, which causes the lid to get dirty, and the contents of the pan overflow and flood the space between the walls of the body and the bowl. Washing the lid and inside of the multicooker is extremely problematic.

How to know how much water to pour

Each program requires a different amount of water to cover the loaded ingredients. You can understand how much liquid should be poured in different programs using the recipe book included with the instructions for the device. If the model’s configuration does not include a recipe book, you will have to independently determine how much water to pour to cook the dish. To prepare porridge, you can use the following formula: for a glass of cereal, a liter of water or milk. When preparing pilaf, it is better to use a different reference point. Here the amount of water is usually measured by the phalanges of the fingers. The thickness of the layer of water over the rice should be exactly one phalanx of your index finger.

How to use the steam function

Modern models are distinguished by expanded equipment and the presence of additional options. Experts, when talking about how to use the steamer function, advise you to carefully read the instructions and understand what points you need to pay attention to when working with the described option. The algorithm for steaming food is as follows:

• The multicooker, which has a steamer function, comes with an additional bowl that looks like a colander. Products are immersed in it.
• Water is poured into the bottom of the bowl and a colander is inserted into the bowl. It fits tightly on the sides, but its bottom does not touch the bottom of the pan.
• Water is poured so that the top level does not touch the bottom of the colander.

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Attention! If you pour in a lot of water, the food will cook and will not have the characteristic crunch that can be achieved during steaming. A large amount of water will take a long time to boil, the cooking time will increase, it may not be enough, the timer will go off, the appliance will turn off, and the food will remain raw. A small amount of water will boil away prematurely, and there is a risk of damage to the bottom of the pan. The optimal amount of water is two measuring cups, which are necessarily included in the set of a multicooker with a pressure cooker function.

The steamer mode is turned on as follows: first the “menu” button, then the “steamer” button. This mode allows you to steam food in 20 minutes. If you need to increase or decrease the time, then after pressing the “steamer” button, press the “timer” button and set the desired mode.

The “start” button allows you to launch the selected program. After the program mode is completed, you should very carefully open the multicooker lid: there is steam inside the pan that can burn your hands and face. If you want to use this option often, then it is better to purchase a multicooker with a double boiler function. There is an additional valve on the lid of the device that allows steam to escape from the pan when the lid is closed.

Attention! The time in the described mode is counted from the moment the water boils.

A multicooker is a useful device; it is needed in the kitchen if you want to minimize the time you spend at the stove. The use of the described device minimizes the housewife’s efforts; all she needs is to load the products into the bowl and set the desired program. In order for the multicooker to work for a long time, you should properly care for it.

The device must be installed so that water does not fall on it; it is advisable to find a place for it where it will not be exposed to direct sunlight. While the multicooker is operating, do not touch it with wet hands. The distance between the furniture and the device must be at least 15 centimeters. After each use, the body should be wiped with a soft cloth, and the bowl should be washed without using metal brushes or abrasive powders. Operating a multicooker is intuitive, but in order not to damage the device, you will always have to keep the instructions at hand. To make it easier to work with, look for models with a Russian-language menu.

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What foods can be cooked with steam?

The multicooker is ideal for cooking vegetables, meat, fish, dumplings, cereals, pies, buns, and gingerbreads. A book with a huge list of recipes will help you prepare delicious and maximally healthy food. To enhance and diversify the taste of culinary creations, use all kinds of spices and sauces. A multi-cooker-steamer is a unique device that is conducive to all kinds of experiments. Whatever you decide to steam in this miracle pan, the dish will certainly be healthy, tasty and interesting.

The difference between a steamer and a multicooker with a steamer function

Which device to choose depends on the individual preferences of all family members. For those who love healthy steamed dishes, a steamer is a good choice. However, it is worth considering that monotonous food prepared in this device may soon become boring. A slow cooker offers more options for making your meals more varied and nutritious.

A double boiler and a multicooker resemble peculiar pans that operate on mains power. Although both devices save the housewife’s time, they are designed differently and, accordingly, have some differences:

Tips and tricks for cooking in a slow cooker

The operating principle of the device is based on 3D heating technology. After pressing the “Start” button, the bowl of food is gradually heated by electromagnetic waves. The desired temperature level is maintained throughout the entire cooking process. To make the dish as healthy and tasty as possible, it is important to follow the rules for selecting and preparing ingredients.

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Choose the “right” meat

Suitable for cooking in a slow cooker:

• chicken – thighs, legs, breast, wings;
• pork – neck, cheeks, knuckle, shoulder blades, trotters;
• lamb – drumstick, neck, shoulder, shoulder blades;
• beef - brisket, cheeks, drumstick, tail.

It is advisable to buy meat with a minimum amount of fat. This will not affect the taste, and the food will be healthier. During the cooking process, the meat will release aroma and juice and completely saturate the rest of the ingredients with it.

Prepare the ingredients for the dish in advance

1. Before using the slow cooker in the morning, cut up the ingredients you need to cook the night before, put them in a container and put them in the refrigerator.
2. Place only warm ingredients in the bowl. Before cooking, remove food from the refrigerator and leave to warm at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Thaw meat from the freezer completely.
3. To obtain a crispy golden crust, lightly fry the meat before adding it to the slow cooker. If you don't have time to pre-treat, simply remove the skin.
4. Fry vegetables (onions, garlic, carrots, ginger) in advance to remove excess moisture from the food and give the dish a rich flavor.

Prefer dried herbs

During long cooking, fresh herbs soften greatly, lose their beneficial qualities and become brown, so add them at the very end of cooking. Along with the main products, it is allowed to immediately add dry herbs and spices. During the cooking process, their beneficial properties are gradually and fully revealed: the dish turns out spicy and aromatic.

Reduce liquid volume when adapting recipe

The multicooker lid closes tightly, so the water does not evaporate during cooking. In addition to the sauce, the food produces a lot of juice, which can cause liquid to splash out of the pan and contaminate the space between the walls of the body and the bowl. Subsequently, cleaning such places is extremely problematic. To eliminate the problem, initially pour a little water: fill the bowl 2/3-1/2, and the sauce should only cover the food.

Do not leave the dish to cool in the slow cooker

The bowl retains heat for a long time, which promotes the accumulation and active proliferation of bacteria and rapid spoilage of food. If there are leftovers in the slow cooker after dinner, put them in a container. Wait for the food to cool completely at room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator.

Top 5 best multicooker manufacturers

1. The most famous manufacturer of these products is the company. Models of multicookers have a stylish design, a lot of basic and additional programs. The devices are convenient and easy to use, and have a wide price range.
2. Polaris multicookers are considered no less popular. Cooking food in such an appliance is a lot of fun. Consumers highly appreciated the functionality, compactness, reasonable prices and attractive design of multicookers.
3. Household appliances from the Japanese brand Panasonic are known all over the world. Multi-cookers from this company are distinguished by their reliability, robust housing, durability and strict design.
4. The range of Moulinex multicookers is extensive and varied. The distinctive characteristics of the product are functionality and stylish appearance. The company offers both small and fairly massive units.
5. Today, SUPRA multicookers mean reasonable prices, reliability and versatility. A special advantage is the convenient four-liter bowl.

The usefulness of dishes steamed in a slow cooker is undeniable. The products retain their original color, smell, shape, taste, beneficial vitamins and microelements. Regular consumption of such food will have a positive effect on health. Steaming does not require stirring, turning food, or using oil or fat. A multicooker with a steamer function is an ideal choice for those who support a healthy diet. Steamed food is not only healthy, but also delicious.