Features of using and caring for the Redmond multicooker. How to use a multicooker

Content

The life and work of housewives is greatly simplified with the advent of new technology and devices. Thanks to innovative inventions, people can spend less and less time in the kitchen; most of the work is done for them by various household appliances. The multicooker is one of these devices that has successfully taken up residence in the kitchen and provides its owners with a lot of opportunities for preparing food and saving time.

Although some housewives, having heard a lot of different information about multicookers, are still afraid to purchase such equipment for their kitchen. However, mastering it is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. If you want to learn how to cook in a slow cooker, you should put in a little effort, find out more information, and everything will work out perfectly.

Read the instructions

The very first assistant in getting to know the multicooker will, of course, be the instruction manual. How to use it correctly, how to care for it, basic programs for preparing simple dishes - all this can be found out by reading the document that comes with the device. And for users who want to get the maximum benefit and pleasure from using a multicooker, there are entire books, collections of articles, forums and magazines. By mastering a new device step by step, every housewife will be able to fully enjoy the cooking process and please herself and her loved ones with unusual and tasty dishes.

How to cook?

The simplest and most common dishes - porridge, soups and meat - are easy to prepare in a multicooker even for a novice user of this kitchen appliance. In order to cook porridge, you just need to pour the cereal into the multicooker bowl and fill it with water. The further program will do everything on its own. And if you set a timer on the multicooker, you can get fresh, hot, aromatic porridge at a certain time, for example, for breakfast.

Soup

Soup is a more complex dish, and it can be prepared in different ways: some people prefer to simply put all the necessary ingredients in a bowl, add water and press the desired program, although there are housewives who use their own technology for preparing first courses. It consists in the fact that all stages take place gradually: first the meat is cooked, then the program is changed and the vegetables are stewed, after which you need to add water and finish cooking the soup as usual.

Of course, the taste of such a soup is unusual and not similar to the first course prepared using the usual method. However, without a doubt, it will be a delicious soup that will please both the cook and everyone who tries it. In the future, by changing the ingredients or their quantity, each housewife will be able to get the most delicious dish that all family members will love.

Stewing and frying

If you just need to stew vegetables or meat, the multicooker also has a certain mode for this, to start which you just need to put all the ingredients, add spices and sauce, and then start working. Depending on the wishes of the hostess, the dish can be finally prepared, the ingredients will be stewed until soft. Or it may not be cooked completely, then the ingredients will be elastic and slightly hard and will not fall apart.

Frying in a slow cooker is as easy as in a regular frying pan. In this case, you need to use vegetable oil and load all the necessary products into the bowl. Cooking time also depends on the tastes and preferences of the housewife - the meat can be well fried until completely soft, or it can be dry and well fried. If you want to achieve a crispy crust on the meat, then you need to select a high temperature setting, but do not forget to stir it.

Any recipes can be changed or improved at the request of the housewife. On the forums of multicooker owners, a great variety of different dishes are presented, with step-by-step instructions and photos of finished masterpieces, after reading which you will certainly want to cook something similar. The capabilities of a multicooker go significantly beyond the instructions for its use; you just have to want to learn how to work with this miracle of technology. And in the future, working with a multicooker and experimenting with different recipes, each housewife will be able to post photos of her dishes and enthusiastic reviews of household members who have tried them.

Baking in a slow cooker

Cooking baked goods in a slow cooker is a special process that allows you to make incredibly tasty and unusual dishes. Pies and pies, muffins and buns - with the help of such a machine you can prepare any baked goods in the kitchen, and their taste will delight all household members. Different variations of dough or fillings, for example, raisins, nuts or dried apricots, allow you to diversify the finished delicacy and choose for yourself what all family members will like most.

In addition to sweet pastries, the multicooker also allows you to prepare bread, after tasting which neither the housewife nor those who try it will want to buy bread in the store anymore. But to make it really tasty, you need to know how to cook it correctly. To do this you need to find a good dough recipe. It’s better to look for it on the Internet, where under each description there will definitely be many reviews from those who have already made bread.

Before putting the dough into the multicooker bowl, you need to grease it with oil. Then the crust of the bread will be softer, and it will be easy to get the finished baked goods after cooking. For baking pies, muffins and bread, the kitchen machine has special functions that you can use. Preparing the bread takes about an hour and a half, after which you can enjoy the aromatic and tasty product.

Rules for using a multicooker

Despite the complexity of the mechanism and the versatility of the multicooker, it does not require special care or compliance with certain rules for its use. The bowl in which all dishes are prepared can be easily removed from the device and simply washed. Since the material from which it is made has a non-stick coating, almost nothing ever sticks to it. Therefore, you won’t have to thoroughly wash it with brushes and special devices, putting in a lot of effort and wasting time.

A good way to clean the inner surface of a multicooker is self-cleaning, for which you need to pour water into the bowl and turn on the steamer mode. And if you add a little lemon juice to the water, it will help remove odors that may have accumulated over a long period of use. After 20-30 minutes, you can pour out the water and enjoy a clean surface.

The outer surface of the multicooker can be easily cleaned with a damp sponge or cloth. To wash it, it is not advisable to use strong cleaning agents, especially powders, so as not to damage the appearance of the coating.

After purchasing a multicooker or after long-term storage without use, the device must be prepared for further use. To do this, water is poured into the bowl and the device is heated. Then you need to pour out the water and wipe the bowl with a soft cloth. After this, the multicooker can be used to prepare any dishes.

Thus, a multicooker is not such a scary and complex piece of kitchen furniture as you might think when you first look at it. A housewife who wants to learn how to cook properly and tasty will be able to put a little effort into this and use the kitchen appliance to its maximum potential. And then cooking will become a simple and interesting process.

After purchasing a multicooker, many questions arise. Every owner is interested in how to use this technique. The device has several modes that allow you to make baked goods, yoghurts, prepare first courses and porridges. The device performs various functions including heating and keeping food warm. Some models are equipped with a multi-cook option, which raises the traditional question of what it is and how to put it into action. Let's look at the main functions of multicookers and cooking modes.

Using a multicooker is not as difficult as it might seem immediately after purchasing the device. A miniature imitation stove will allow you to cook traditional and unusual dishes without the need for constant stirring, decreasing and increasing the temperature. The equipment independently controls time and creates conditions for heat treatment of products. Automatic programs do everything for the person.

You can control the device using the “Start”, “Timer”, “Programs”, “Menu” buttons. Under these buttons there are sensors that trigger the selected mode and method of cooking. There is also a screen on the device that allows you to control the specified process.

Using the “Menu” key you can switch modes and programs. As a rule, the device is designed to perform 6 options. At the same time, the programs themselves are divided into 2 categories:

1. Fully automatic.
2. Semi-automatic

The second option involves stewing, steaming and baking. The conditions that set the cooking temperature cannot be adjusted.

Advice. The user can always customize the duration of cooking, stewing or baking.

The first category will allow you to prepare milk porridge, buckwheat, fluffy rice or pilaf. You can get any dish with just one keystroke. The main thing is to take into account the recommendations for preparing dishes and use the glass and spoon that are usually included in the kit.

Variety of modes and programs

Each multicooker model is configured with a certain number of built-in programs and modes. The number of options can range from 5 to 20. Some versions are equipped with even more functions. In addition to the main modes, the equipment often includes additional programs. As for the basic settings, they usually include versions:

• stewing;
• cooking;
• baking/frying;
• yogurt;
• pilaf;
• rice/buckwheat.

Using the “Extinguishing” mode allows you to bring the food placed in the container to the boiling stage. Then the technique is adjusted to long-term simmering of food at a lower temperature level. This option allows you to prepare jellied meat, delicious meat, vegetables, and baked milk.

“Baking/Frying” is a great opportunity to prepare a dish by heating the device to a preset temperature level. At the same time, it is maintained for the required period.

“Cooking” is another multicooker mode. It allows you to heat the bowl to the boiling stage, after which it remains for a specified amount of time. This option helps you prepare soup, broth, millet or semolina porridge.

Advice. Some models of multicookers are equipped with a mode aimed specifically at cooking pasta.

“Yoghurt” is a convenient function in a multicooker, suitable for creating yogurt, kefir and other healthy fermented milk products. The operation of the program is based on long-term and weak exposure to temperature on the stored products.

Most appliances have another option called “Keep Temperature.” This program starts automatically when the food is finished cooking. This ensures that the finished dish is kept hot for several hours.

Multicook: features and options options

Some models of modern multicookers are equipped with the Multicook program. This is a built-in option in such household appliances. It is often called simply manual mode.

The unique feature of this feature is that it makes the device multi-functional. Multicook allows you to take advantage of the following features:

• bread machines;
• grill;
• pressure cookers;
• steamers.

The user himself controls these functions, varying the cooking time, temperature, the use of several options simultaneously and the sequence of their activation.

It is better to purchase a multi-cooker with the “Multi-cook” function, this will expand your cooking capabilities

Using the “Multi-cook” program on a multi-cooker allows you to independently, manually build the process of preparing food. The program resembles the traditional use of an electric or gas stove. However, the advantage of the device is that there is no need to monitor the cooking time.

Thanks to this function, the multicooker will allow you to prepare a first dish or heat something up. You can stew meat, steam food, deep-fry potatoes, bake something.

As you can see, a multicooker is a truly convenient and practical device. It’s very easy to use if you immediately understand the variety of programs and modes.

How to use a multicooker - video

How to use a multicooker - photo

Many people, when purchasing this miracle of technology for the first time, pose a logical question: how to use a multicooker? Previously, we looked at the operating principle of a multicooker, so today we will analyze the necessary information component on how to use a multicooker correctly, what features and differences do expensive and cheap models have, and we will teach you how to determine the necessary cooking mode.

How to start a multicooker for the first time?

If you purchased a new Panasonic multicooker, do not rush to cook in it. Like any new appliance, it has a factory smell that you don't want to fill your entire kitchen with. Therefore, take out the cauldron and wash it well. Wipe with a dry cloth, paying very close attention to the walls and bottom. There shouldn't be a drop of water!

Now insert the cauldron into the Panasonic multicooker and connect it to the network using the power cable. Pour in some water and press the “keep warm/keep warm” function. In most cases, this button is combined with the “stop/cancel” button. You just need to click on it once. Close the lid. Please note: some multicookers Panasonic, Redmond, Polaris, Moulinex have two functions “warm up” and “warm up”. These are completely different temperature programs! Wait about 15 minutes. Open the multicooker lid and check if the water is warm. This way, you will check the operation of the heating element and determine the heating speed, which will probably come in handy more than once.

Please note: if you bought a multicooker in winter, never turn it on from the cold, let it warm up to room temperature in a dry place.

How to choose the right program?

Before turning on the Panasonic multicooker and proceeding to select a program, check that the power cord is properly inserted into the outlet and into the multicooker. Most programs were already pre-installed. Budget Panasonic multicookers may have only 6-8 programs, while more expensive ones have 20 or more programs in their arsenal.

If you have a budget Panasonic with few installed features, don't worry about not having a specific program. You can safely replace it with another one. For example, frying, buckwheat, pilaf and rice are interchangeable programs. It is enough to have only one of them, and you can cook all 4 dishes without any problems.

Please note: Cooking timer will vary. When cooking for the first time, we advise you to time how long it takes to cook the rice in the “frying” mode. Do not be afraid to periodically open the lid and observe the readiness of the dish in such cases.

You can do the same with stewing and making soup. In this case, the programs are almost identical in the Moulinex, Panasonic, Redmond and Polaris multicookers.

How to turn on the desired program in a Panasonic multicooker?

To select the desired program, use the “Menu” button. In most cases, this button is responsible for switching operating modes of the Panasonic multicooker, although the principle is identical for other models. Press this button until the light comes on in the desired cooking mode. Now press the “Start” button and wait for the dish to cook.

How to download products?

Despite the fact that the Panasonic multicooker has a special non-stick coating, it almost always needs to be greased. This will help maintain the coating. The products themselves are loaded into the bowl when it is not installed in the device, up to the maximum division. The Moulinex and Polaris technique can be either a 3 or 5 liter pan. As for Panasonic and Redmond, it is now rare to see 3-liter options, so we will skip this case.

The maximum division in a five-liter saucepan is equal to 5 liters of water in it. But we strongly advise against cooking in such conditions. Do not put more than half a bowl into the Panasonic multicooker. Then food will not splash onto the top lid, which is very difficult to clean and will not come out through the valve. This rule should definitely be followed when loading food if you do not want to constantly clean the lid from dried food.

How do you know how much water to pour in different programs?

Each program requires a certain amount of water to prepare the dish. It's best to study the recipe book that comes with the kit. It will help you figure out not only how to turn on the Panasonic multicooker, but also tell you what and how to cook. If there is no recipe book included, this can only be determined experimentally, usually by pouring water onto your finger higher than the level of the food. You can also look for analogues on the Internet or cook in the same way as in a saucepan. The only difference can be in the cooking time.

How to regulate the temperature?

For the first time, do you want to cook something not according to the program, but on your own? Do you feel like you’ve already figured out how to use the Panasonic multicooker? We advise you to focus on the approximate temperature of each mode. Budget options and mid-range Redmond multicooker models do not have a preset temperature control option. Owners of expensive models are luckier. They have a temperature button that allows you to set the desired temperature.

Video instructions for using a multicooker

If you perceive information better visually and auditorily, then we suggest you read the instructions on how to use a multicooker in video format.

Here we discuss the operating principle of the Redmond multicooker and explain in detail how to work with it.

In conclusion, I would like to say that these are general tips that must be followed when working with a multicooker. Never leave a slow cooker on for too long. By doing this you can damage the damage-resistant bottom of the bowl. If you plan to always cook in a slow cooker, we recommend purchasing a second bowl at the store so that you can cook 2 dishes.

Let the multicooker serve you for many years!

In contact with

Before you make a purchase of household appliances, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the features of its operation, so that during the first use no unforeseen situations or questions arise. In this article we will look at the principles of proper use of such a device as a multicooker.

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.

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.

How to use the Timer option

The “Timer” option allows you to make cooking in a multicooker more versatile. Using it, it’s easy to independently program the cooking modes of your favorite dishes. The function is enabled as follows:

• First, preliminary preparation of the necessary ingredients is carried out.
• Then press the “Menu” button.
• Select the desired program (for example, “soup” mode).
• After this, the “timer” button is pressed. The first press displays the numbers “00:00” on the display.
• Press the “timer” button again, access to setting the time “hour: minutes” opens. One step 1 hour: 10 minutes.
• After setting the time, press the “start” button.

How to use a multicooker 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.

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.

If you still don’t know how to use a multicooker, you’ve missed a lot! We decided that for starters, we’ll still tell you what kind of beast this is, and you can decide for yourself whether you should regret that you’ve never used it. Because the opinions of housewives differ radically and, in principle, both are right.

What are the advantages of a multicooker?

You are probably now waiting for us to start talking about the fact that a multicooker is such a miracle of technology that cooks on its own! Like a magic pot from a fairy tale. He clapped his hands and said the cherished phrase: “Cook the pot!” and he took it and cooked it.

Funny? And, by the way, there is nothing funny. This is exactly what most men who are very far from the kitchen think. Surely, you have more than once heard reasoning in the style of: “Yes, my wife does almost nothing around the house! She does her laundry with a washing machine, cooks with her multicooker, and cleans with her vacuum cleaner.”

I just want to hit these theorists with something heavy, honestly! But, by and large, they are not to blame. This is all the machinations of cunning advertisers.

But in fact, before the lid of the “magic pot” slams shut, you need to perform exactly the same manipulations with the products as for putting them in a regular pan:

• Wash
• Clean
• Rinse again
• cut
• Fry
• Place in the slow cooker
• Salt and pepper

And then the “magic” begins. Therefore, as you yourself understand, the advantages of a multicooker are not at all that it cooks on its own and it will be faster. The advantages are completely different.

For example, that...

• The food it produces is healthier due to the fact that cooking takes place at low temperatures. That is, the product is not boiled, but simply simmered, while retaining maximum taste and vitamins.
• The dish will not boil away, it will not run away. And this is a plus, you will agree. Again, there is no need to wash the stove.
• You can prepare a dish and leave it on the warm setting for many hours. This is better than wrapping a saucepan in five blankets, keeping it warm until the right time. This is especially convenient when you go for a walk with children. I set it to cook, came back, and the finished dish was already waiting for you, piping hot.

And that's probably where the positives end. Frankly, of these three advantages, only the first is truly attractive. Indeed, the destruction of vitamins in it is less than at a boiling temperature of 100 °C. The multicooker cooks at temperatures up to 60 degrees in most of its modes.

And plus, you can use much less oil thanks to the non-stick coating. And also, cooking takes place without access to oxygen, which oxidizes fat. And fat oxidation is not a healthy thing at all. During the frying process in a regular, hot and open frying pan, fats are converted into aldehydes and lipid peroxide. And they contribute to the development of cancer cells and the development of cardiovascular diseases...

Therefore, if you are a fan of healthy food, you can purchase such a thing. Moreover, those who care about their health always eat a lot of cereal dishes. And porridge is the strong point of multicookers! They look simply amazing in them. But this is discussed below in a separate block.

Are there any downsides?

Well, what about it? There are not so few of them, frankly speaking. But, in fairness, as for the cooking process itself, these disadvantages are noticeable only to those who deftly manage cooking on a regular stove. But for children or very young housewives, using a multicooker is the way to go.

But let’s return to our sheep, that is, the minuses:

• The biggest disadvantage is that a dish cooked in a slow cooker cannot be left in it, cooled and put in the refrigerator. It must be poured from the bowl. And this is still a pleasure. It’s not very easy to remove food, especially if it’s hot.
• Again, the multicooker consumes electricity, and quite a bit. If you already had an electric stove, then you have absolutely nothing to lose. And if you used gas, then what's the point? Gas will be cheaper.
• It is very inconvenient to wash it. The bowl is quite fragile, and if you damage or drop it, you will cost a pretty penny; it needs to be replaced urgently. In addition to the bowl, you need to wash the silicone ring, lid, and valve. And that’s all – I don’t really understand it. Of course, there are models with a removable lid, but still, it’s more hassle than washing smooth, metal pans.
• She looks, to put it mildly, uncomfortable in the kitchen. Some kind of mini-vacuum cleaner, not a saucepan. Even food does not look as appetizing in it as in ordinary dishes. And our visual perception is everything, as they say...
• If the process has already started, then it is no longer possible to influence the result. And by opening the lid to try, you only lengthen the cooking process, which means you add an extra watt or two of electricity consumption.
• Food cooks much faster on the stove than in a slow cooker! Twice - exactly. This is because the temperature there is low.
• Baking in a slow cooker does not have a golden brown crust, no matter how hard you try.
• The taste of the dishes is quite specific. And not everyone will like food from a slow cooker.
• Inability to prepare large amounts of food. That is, for a large family, this device is absolutely useless.
• Also, the downside is that it needs to be allocated a separate place in the kitchen. For ease of cooking, the multicooker should have a stationary place, since taking it out and hiding it is not very convenient. This is not your little blender.

These are the things, dear housewives. Let's put it this way: if you have an antediluvian electric stove that takes a long time to heat up, takes a long time to cool down and “eats” electricity, then it makes sense for you to buy a multicooker. If things are different for you, then we would not advise you to get excited. Moreover, you haven’t read the next block yet...

For a snack: counterfactuals “minus” versus facts “plus”

• If you want to cook healthy food at low temperatures, then nothing prevents you from using a regular oven and utensils with a tight-fitting lid.
• If you don't want to consume the aldehydes produced during frying, then it costs nothing to choose the right fats and close the lid on a regular stove. Google about the right fats, because this is a topic for a separate article and it is inappropriate here.
• If you want your food piping hot, there is nothing stopping you from heating it up in 3 minutes in the microwave. Again, this will take much less electricity. Either three minutes of warming up, or an hour, two, three, five. Is it worth it?
• If you want to prevent it from running away, just follow the process! No, well, if you do have multiple sclerosis, then a multicooker is an indispensable item in your kitchen, there’s no arguing with that.
• If you want to use less fat, then buy regular ceramic or Teflon dishes, they don’t need a lot of them either.

How to use it anyway?

Must be used according to instructions. In general, all multicookers are designed almost identically and there are no special differences.

How to turn on the multicooker? To do this, there is a “start” mode, “heating” and several programs with certain, preset temperature conditions for certain dishes: pilaf, soup, buckwheat porridge, frying, baking, etc.

There are absolutely no secrets here. The only thing is to strictly adhere to the dosages of water indicated in the recipes that come as an appendix to the instructions, and which are different for all models of multicookers.

But this, of course, is not a panacea. All the same, there may be a lot of water or a little. Everything is learned through experience, there is no other way.

What volume should I choose?

If you have a large family, then take a larger bowl. And do not forget that the actual volume will be one and a half liters less than indicated. If the multicooker is 6-liter, then barely 4.5 liters of soup will come out; if it is 3-liter, then 2.

In addition, do not forget about additional functions. Let's say a deep fryer in a six-liter bowl is a stupid and unprofitable thing. Too much oil will be lost, and not enough food will fit.

And, a three-liter steamer will hold exactly 2-3 manti. And they will take a long time to prepare. So, before purchasing, it is advisable to determine for yourself which dishes will be cooked in it in the greatest variety.

Let's talk about bowl coverings

There are three types of bowls:

• Teflon
• Ceramic
• Steel

There is nothing special to say about Teflon; everyone already knows the properties of this coating. You need little oil, it doesn’t burn, it’s healthy... But, besides this, don’t forget that if even one scratch appears (and it will appear soon, don’t even doubt it), then all the benefit instantly turns into great harm. And you need to change such a bowl as quickly as possible.

Ceramic bowls are good in all respects. They are durable, environmentally friendly, and food does not burn in them. But, if while washing it accidentally slips out of your hands, then write letters. And buying a new one is expensive. These are the most expensive bowls.

Steel bowls are ideal for soups and other liquid dishes. The stove won't work in them, it will burn. But such a cup is eternal.

In general, the most ideal option is to have two bowls. Let's say one is stainless steel for soups, and the second is ceramic for baking and stewing.

What to look for when purchasing

• Try to choose a model with a removable lid
• Choose a model with a removable bowl. Although this is a rarity now, you still come across models in which you cannot remove the bowl. Of course they are cheap. But - disposable in the end. Because the bowls there are Teflon.
• The bowl must have handles. Without handles it is completely inconvenient. You need to buy special pliers for removal. And small things tend to get lost at the most inopportune moment.
• Pay attention to whether there is a delay start function. It's comfortable.
• Do not buy a multicooker that does not have the function of turning off the automatic heating mode. A very inconvenient function in practice. It turns off, but continues to drain energy and dry out food. And housewives usually simply forget that she is still working. Therefore, it makes much more sense to manage it yourself. It needs to be warmed up - I set it up. No, I turned it off.
• There should be a reservoir on the lid to collect condensate. Otherwise, the condensation that flows down when the lid is opened often spoils the finished baked goods.

Where to put the multicooker?

The multicooker should be placed in a stationary place, at the level of the desktop, so that your hands feel comfortable when cooking.

It cannot be placed directly under wall cabinets, as it emits hot steam, which will damage the furniture over time.

Briefly and skeptically about multicooker modes

Cooking is more convenient and profitable on the stove, however. At least you don't need to pour it there. But storing 5 liters without overfilling is unrealistic.

Stewing – this is where a slow cooker is good, it doesn’t burn. But, do not forget that the coating of the bowl loses its non-stick properties after 3-4 months, and the bowl will need to be changed.

Frying is completely uncomfortable. The width of the area is too small.

Baking is also very, very controversial, despite the fact that the crust never comes out.

Now you know exactly how to use a multicooker! We hope you find this information useful.