Types of crock-pots: by type of control, by available functions, features of induction crock-pots

Slow cookers appeared in our life only 20 years ago and became an integral part of the life of many Russian housewives. They allow not only to reduce a huge amount of time for cooking, but also provide an opportunity to eat fresh and healthy food. There are a great many of these "miracle pots" on the market today, so it is important to know what they are in order to choose the one that suits your family!

Types of multicookers by type of control 

Type of management - this is with the help of which you will manage your "assistant". It should be decided which method is acceptable for you. Today 3 types of multicooker control are known:

• Mechanical - It is considered the simplest and most reliable. Temperature and cooking time are controlled with a minimum of buttons and levers.

REFERENCE: This device does not have a variety of screens, indicators and sensors, which is why they are easy to use and suitable for use by the elderly.

Significant disadvantage such multicookers - a limited number of functions and the absence of such a useful function as “Delayed Start”. Actually, this affects its price - the goods will belong to the budget category.

• Electronic - has a high degree of functionality. The mode, temperature and cooking time are adjusted using the buttons and displayed on the screen. An important advantage of units of this type is the protection of the control panel from dirt and technical damage. The screen and buttons are covered with a high-strength shell.
• Sensory - has a stylish look. The only difference between this multicooker from the electronic one is the absence of any kind of buttons. The control panel is presented as a touch-sensitive sensor.

Conventional slow cookers

In ordinary multi-cookers, cooking is done using high heat. A device of this kind consists of a case (plastic or stainless steel), an internal heating element (TENA) and removable dishes.

The appliance is equipped with a sealed cover, a steam vent valve and a condensate container. The control is mechanical, electronic or touch, which means that an abundance of various modes is provided to you. In addition, crock-pots vary significantly in the material from which the inner bowl is made.

IMPORTANT! Metal spoons, forks or knives should not be used in these multicookers to mix food. This can damage the non-stick coating of the bowl.

 Pressure cooker

In multicooker pressure cookers, food is affected not only by high temperature, but also by internal pressure. It is the last characteristic that allows you to cook a meal 50-60 minutes faster! On the lid a multicooker there is a valve arranged on the principle of opening only when the pressure inside unit. Due to this property, high pressure is maintained in the chamber, accelerating the cooking process.

Multicooker-pressure cookers have a high cost, but also have a high cooking speed, which means they spend less electricity.

IMPORTANT! Do not open the cooker lid during operation!

 Additional functions of multicookers

Modern multicookers are equipped with 10-15 modes. Thanks to this variety, you can cook food for every taste and color. Consider the main mode functions.

Double boiler

A slow cooker with the option presented is ideal for preparing diet food and baby food.

Benefits of the double boiler function:

1. Easy to handle - you can cook healthy and healthy food without much hassle.
2. Safety - you will never be burned with steam, because the lid of the device is automatically locked when you start work;
3. Availability - can be purchased at any hardware store at an attractive price to you.

Lack of function of a double boiler:

• You can not cook several dishes at the same time, as in an ordinary double boiler.

Milk porridge function

This feature will be useful for lovers of porridge and mothers with children. It allows you to cook porridge in water or milk without much effort. And most importantly, this is the ideal mode for those who often burn it or “run away”. It will not happen! Firstly, due to the non-stick coating of the bowl. Secondly, the content is heated not abruptly and from below, but evenly and gradually.

IMPORTANT! So that your porridge doesn’t burn out and becomes even tastier, grease the container with a small amount of butter before cooking.

Together with the regime "Milk porridge" often include the option "Delayed start." It saves time for making breakfast - just set the timer on the timer after which the slow cooker should start cooking porridge (30-60 minutes).

IMPORTANT! To ensure that the food in the multicooker does not deteriorate overnight, use ultra-pasteurized or boiled milk.

Baking function

If you often cook dishes using dough or love homemade bread, then this function is for you!

Benefits of the baking function:

1. Saving money and space - you do not have to buy a slow cooker and a bread machine separately;
2. Uniform kneading, heating and baking of dough is the key to a quality and tasty product.

Disadvantages of the function of baking:

• Lack of crisp on bread;
• The lack of modes of varying degrees of readiness of a bakery product;

Frying mode

This mode allows you to cook tasty and healthy dishes without adding oil.

REFERENCE: The product is fried under open lid conditions.

Advantages of the frying mode:

• Non-stick coating does not allow food burning, and cleansing the bowl is much faster;
• Lack of greasy spray, smoke and bad smell;
• Useful vitamins and minerals are not destroyed;
• Uniform roasting of products.

Lack of frying mode:

• Food without a golden brown.

REFERENCE: Some modern multicooker models are supplemented with “grill” modes for cooking meat and “deep fat” - for frying products in oil.

Multi Cook function

Multi-cook is a function that allows you to manually set the time and temperature of cooking the way you want it to. The function also includes an option that can remember personal settings. This is very convenient if you are preparing products not listed in the functional list.

Induction multicookers

The difference between a multicooker of this type is that here the heating element is not a separate part of the device, as in the previously mentioned ones, but is represented by the bowl itself. It consists of a special alloy, the temperature of which rises due to the formation of a magnetic field. This contributes to quick and even cooking. Also, an induction multicooker is fireproof and energy efficient.

Conclusion

A slow cooker is a device to facilitate a person's life. And today there are a great many of them on the home appliance market. Just choose the one that is right for you, and enjoy the easy cooking process and the taste of the food received!