To lead a healthy lifestyle is easier when you have a technique responsible for the process of preparing the right food. We understand in the subtleties of the selection of the steamer: the principle of operation, methods of management and other important characteristics.
The fact that the dishes on a pair are much more useful than fried, does not know only the lazy. In order for the transition to proper nutrition to become faster, we recommend to look at small kitchen helpers. We tell how to choose a steamer for the house - a unlucky symbol of a healthy lifestyle.
What you need to know about the double boiler:
Principle of operationManagement type
Main settings
- number of levels and volume
- Form of trays and material
- Drop Design
- Power
Additional functions
Mini-Rating
Practical advice on choosing
Principle of operation
Let you not confuse the diversity of devices presented in the stores, they work the same way on the principle of water bath.
There is a steam generator in an opaque basis, it translates water from the tank located above it, in a gaseous state. Couple passes through the separated bottom of the trays and penetrates the products.
The pair temperature is usually above 103 degrees. But the upper levels it reaches the already chilled. Therefore, it is recommended to have products in this way: meat and fish - on the lowest floor, solid vegetables like potatoes, beets or carrots - on average, and on the top - what is preparing faster than: cereals, broccoli, cauliflower and light vegetables.
The principle of operation allows you to prepare foods quickly and easily: they do not need to periodically turn over. They do not need to touch them at all and check. In addition, it is useful: the oil is not at all used here, and even meat and fish are prepared due to water and its own juices. At the same time, food does not burn - a weighty plus for those who often forget about the pot on the stove.
Management type
Conditionally, all the steamers are divided into two groups by type of management. From him, by the way, the price is largely dependent.
- Mechanical. You can distinguish such a model by a round rotary switch based on. It is usually cheaper than key button, but is considered more reliable. As practice shows, mechanical switches are breaking less often than buttons.
- Electronic. Instead of a switch, at the base, the buttons or the touch panel are located. The price of them is higher, but also functional wider. Usually all the additional features that we will tell on are found precisely in such equipment. True, the management here is slightly harder - without instructions not to understand.
Steamer Braun FS 3000
Main criteria
There are several criteria that affect the choice of kitchen assistant.Number of tiers and volume
From the number of bowl, or different baskets, the possibility of cooking multiple dishes simultaneously. Minimum - one, maximum - five. The choice depends on the habits and family composition:
- Cook on a pair of infrequently, prefer steam meat or fish? Enough and one bowl.
- A small family will be enough two tiers.
- If you are looking forward to the preparation of complex dishes, salads with boiled ingredients, a good choice - models with three bowls and more.
- In a large family with children, a device with four or five baskets is taken.
The aggregates with three and more tray cannot be called compact. They will have to look for a place in the kitchen, but let it be confused by the size. If at some point you need not all bowls, they can simply pull out, for example, a pair of top, and continue to cook with the remaining three.
When choosing a volume, it is also desirable to take into account the number of families. For three or four members, 6 liters are usually enough, a maximum of 7 liters.
Form and material trays
To the question of how to choose the right pairing, it is impossible to answer unequivocally. Even the choice of material and the shape of the trays depends on your preferences.Material
- Transparent plastic baskets are lightweight and at the same time durable. Many talk about their advantage: the process of steaming can be controlled. Do not believe it is a trick of marketers: fast enough steam is settled on the walls, and you can hardly see the contents.
- Plastic baskets are easy to wash, but you need to dry carefully so that there are no divorces and traces of water in the end.
- Metal is harder, but it is easier to wash them. If you like this material, pay attention to the presence of silicone handles from the trays - then it will be much easier to get them.
- Some trays have a non-stick coating, and this is a certain plus.
Shape cup
- Some devices presented in stores consist of different diameter trays. It is great saves a place: you can store them by folding into each other. But there is a big minus: rearrange the bowls in the process of steaming will not work.
- The main advantage of coinciding in the form of trays is the convenience of cooking. For example, if you notice that the dish on the first tier is almost ready, but not yet, you can easily change them in places. And you do not have to wait next to the fish.
- If you want to prepare a whole fish and steer big pieces of meat, look at large oval bowls - they are much more convenient than round or square.
- The collapsible bottom of the tray is also an advantage. Then two baskets can be connected, and one is one big. In such a combined tray, even a large chicken is placed entirely.
There are premium models in which trays are located near two separate branches, often two tiers. This allows you to control the feed of steam in different sections. So, on one branch you can disappear solid vegetables and meat that require time, and on the other - fast food products.
Drop design
This seemingly imperceptible element like a pallet, in fact, can also spoil all the impression.
- In most steamer, one pallet. This means that juice flows here and condensate from all dishes, that is, the lower tiers are impregnated with the smells of the upper. Just consider this moment when you cook.
- Well, if the height of the pallet wall is about 2 cm. Then you do not have to drain the water. Of course, we are talking about multi-tiered structures.
- One cup is sufficient and a pallet with a height of 1.5 cm.
- The presence of a handle in the pallet is also an obvious plus. Often the container is filled with hot liquid to the edges. So pull it without a handle and at the same time do not burn it difficult, you must adapt.
Steamer Tefal VC1451
Power
It does not affect the quality and taste, but the speed of cooking is depends on this indicator. The more power, the higher it is.
- If you are important than the speed, choose more powerful equipment from 1,000 W.
- If it does not matter, the 800 W is suitable.
But note that the number of tiers also affects the power. What they are more, the higher the energy intensiveness should be. Otherwise, the last floors will be prepared for a very long time.
- One-story technique will be enough 600-800 W.
- Three or four tiers with a volume of 8 liters require from 1,000 W.
Additional features
How to choose the right pairing for the house, if the family is big, and you want to almost completely switch to a healthy eating? You will fit the model with an extended complete set.
- Ward eggs. In some baskets there are special recesses for eggs, usually from four to eight.
- Capacity for cooking side dish and croup. This is a special bowl without perforation at the bottom, which is designed for bulk products like rice, buckwheat, movies or boulhurs. It is usually a little less than the main basket. In some models, it comes in a set, but sometimes such a container has to arrive.
- Additional stands. Manufacturers in different ways are completed devices: someone offers a lattice for large products, others - a beet-type vegetable stand that can paint the rest.
- The seasoning compartment is a small container near the pallet. Spices are covered here, but water does not do - this is important, so it is easy to wash off the compartment after use. Couples with flavors seasoning soak food.
In addition, there are significant functionality.
Steamer Russell Hobbs 19270-56
Level Indicator and Pulling Water
This is an external indicator - a transparent window that allows you to control the amount of water. Conveniently when you cook solid vegetables type beet. This is a rather long process, and water simply may end.
Another feature is connected with this - topping the water. Sometimes it is poured into the same container where the indicator is located. This feature is almost in all models, an exception is only the cheapest.
By the way, the need to add water often notifies the beep. And there are such aggregates that are disconnected during a lack of fluid. This is safety - protection of equipment from overheating.
Built-in blender
The functions of the blender offer not all manufacturers. But, if there is a baby in the family, and you wonder how to choose a double boiler for the house, in any device ranking, see for this feature. It allows you to crush the freshly cooked vegetables in mashed potatoes without the use of additional equipment.Maintain a given temperature
This is a mode that supports the temperature set. In some models, automatically turns on after steering, but you can configure manually. By the way, the same program allows and cook yoghurt without appropriate equipment. Pleasant addition.
Steamer Kitfort KT-2035
Pending start
Do not confuse with a timer, which is equipped with most of the equipment. The deferred start allows you to start at a certain time. For example, you can fall asleep the cereal in the tray and set the start of cooking an hour before awakening. And breakfast will be ready.
This is a good feature for those who have no time to monitor the process. True, if you like control, the postponed launch is hardly useful to you.
Automatic preparation
Do not want to experiment with meal, think over your own recipes and combinations? Pay attention to automatic programs. Usually these are general modes for meat, fish, vegetables or porridge. Thus prepare dinner easier simple: throw the contents in the tray and set the mode.True, the universal program cannot be called: the average values are taken here. And, if the steak you have tougher or more, it will have to be processed additionally.
Mini-rating of models
- Braun FS 3000. A small two-tier device with mechanical control and a beep after the end of the work. Complete to it goes a rice rice. Not bad value for money.
- Beaba Babycoock Duo. This is a representative of the price segment above average with mechanical management and a built-in blender.
- Kitfort KT-2035 - Pyhyrailed representative of the Kitfort brand with electronic control. It has its average - 600 W, baskets are made of stainless steel.
- Happy Baby Fusion - high-quality execution of a simple mechanical steamer system-blender. Good choice for family with baby.
- Philips AVENT SCF875. Premium analogue of the previous device. The list of functions is impressive: from defrosting to pouring.
Blender Steamer Beaba Babycook Duo
Conclusion: how to choose a better double boiler
To understand what kind of device it will be suitable, use our advice.
- If you decide to buy as an experiment, and you already have at home the same yogurtnits or even a multicooker, an expensive powerful model to you for anything. Take one, maximum bunk units.
- If the main thing for you is the ability to save time, and at the same time eat healthy, then the technique of the average price segment with a capacity of 600 W with additional functions as a deferred start and timer is suitable.
- A small family with a child also has a multi-tier system. Enough two-three levels. But here are important functions. Well, if there is a deferred start and maintenance of temperature. Capacity for cubic bundles and built-in blender - also weighty arguments for purchase.
- Four, and then five trays will need for dinners in a large family of four or more members. The kitchen helper must be powerful - at least 1,000 W, and multifunctional. If cooking is a routine process, automatic programs here will be very useful.
