The multicooker is good for its versatility: it can bake, stew, boil, fry a wide variety of foods. Another positive quality is that it does not require attention during the cooking process: you simply put the ingredients into the bowl and start the program. And that's it. The device will notify you of the readiness of the dish with a sound signal. Really, just? But which manufacturer to choose - all multicooker models are good in their own way. First, let's figure out what materials they are made of and what their design is.
The case is usually plastic, but it can also be with metal elements (the metal used is stainless steel). Models made of plastic wear out faster, but they are cheaper and lighter. Metal, of course, is more expensive, but also more durable. The rating of multicookers, however, does not confirm that buyers prefer certain materials - they buy them with approximately the same frequency.
The cooking bowl can be made of stainless steel, high quality aluminum alloy or ceramic. Steel - reliable, but heavy. Aluminum is lightweight and has either Tefloncoating, or marble spraying: if handled carefully and do not scratch the surface, the material is easy to clean and will last a long time. Ceramic can also be used in the microwave, but it is a rather brittle material. The control panel is push-button and touch. Here the choice is yours - again, the rating of multicookers did not show that any of them is more popular.
The multicookers also come with accessories: a recipe book, a measuring container, a steaming dish and a spatula (spoon). Special attention should be paid to the spoon: many buyers complain that some manufacturers of spoons make poor quality ones, and they scratch the surface of the bowl. But the device can always be replaced with another one - silicone or wooden. It's good if the multicooker is equipped with a valve to remove steam - this will prevent burns when opening the lid.
What can be cooked in a slow cooker? Almost everything. Modern (for example, Moulinex, Philips, Panasonic) multicookers have many automatic programs: for cereals, pilaf, soups, meatballs, pies. You can also set the temperature and time yourself - it's very convenient. The rating of multicookers clearly speaks in favor of devices with the express cooking function: of course, they cannot replace a pressure cooker, but its simplest functions perform quite well.
Besides, no one is forcing you to follow only the recipe book attached to your unit: having understood all its functions and modes, you can experiment and invent new dishes yourself. FinallyI must say that almost all multicookers are equipped with a temperature maintenance system for 12 or 24 hours. This is a very useful feature that allows you to keep food ready to eat for a long time. But you need to be careful with this mode: some dishes can lose a lot of moisture (for example, cereals) and will require the addition of water. Now you can make your own ranking of multicookers by function and make the right choice.
