If you believe the doctors, the food cooked on steam, has a positive effect on the human body, as when cooking all the useful properties of the products are preserved. The steamer was specially created for people who watch their health. With her help, you can easily cook any dish for a couple.
Steamers are in great demand in the home appliances market. The store shelves are literally filled up with similar devices that have a number of distinctive features that must be taken into account before purchasing. In this article we will tell you how to choose a steamer.
What is a steamer and how it works
The steamer consists of a casing( base) that includes a water tank, a heating element and a control panel. On top of the shell are pallets( containers for collecting the juice of the products being prepared) and steam baskets.
The principle of the steamer is as follows: water is filled with a water tank located in the lower part of the body of the device. Further, the heating element heats the water to a boil, resulting in the formation of steam, which rises up and enters the upper sections of the steamer, in which the products are located. Under the influence of high temperature of steam on products, they are actually brought to the state of readiness.
In order to make it easier for you to understand which steamer to choose, we will consider the features of each part of this device.
What are steamers - varieties
All steamers can be divided into two categories:
- Split
- Electric
Split product
It is a pan with multi-level lattices( tiers).Between the tiers lie the products that will be prepared. Water is poured onto the bottom of this pot, after which the dishes are placed on an electric or gas stove.
Steamer Steamer
Electric Steamer
Compare an electric steamer and a gas cooker, the same as what to compare, for example, a conventional kettle and an electric kettle. Naturally, the electrical appliance is much more convenient to use and does not take much time from you. For some people, it is more convenient to use the products on the floor - here, as they say to each their own.
Electric Steamer
As for electric steamers, they can be:
Portable
A device powered from the network that does not take up much space.
Built-in
This is something like an oven that is built into the kitchen furniture.
Combined
This is when in some household appliances, the functions of a steamer and another appliance are combined. An example of this can be a multivark, which is able to perform the functions of several household appliances. In our article how to choose a multivark, you can get acquainted with the recommendations that will help you buy a quality device.
- See also: Which steamer is better: electric or gas
We select the quantity and volume of steam baskets
Up to four steam baskets can be used in steam cookers. You should choose here based on how many people you will cook in a double boiler. Pay attention to the size of the baskets. It will be very convenient if the baskets will be folded one into one( like a nesting doll).This saves a lot of space. The volume of steam baskets can be about 1.5 to 3 liters.
What are the steam baskets depending on the
material? Also note the material from which the steam baskets are made. Most often it is either heat-resistant plastic or stainless steel. Plastic will be cheaper. However, it is believed that it releases toxic substances. Therefore, stainless steel is a priority.
- See also: Which steamer is better: plastic or metal
Pallets for steam baskets
Pay attention to the pallets in the double boiler. More precisely one is used or for each steam basket its. In case one pallet is used. Then when you cook meals in several steam baskets at once, they will become saturated with the smell of each other. It will not be appropriate for cooking all dishes. In the event that each steam basket has a pallet, this will not happen.
What is the power and what is needed for the water filling hole
The cooking time depends on the cooking time of the dishes. In such devices, this figure can be from 600 to 2000 W.
During the operation of the steamer, it may happen that all the water evaporates, and the products are not yet ready. Then you have to disassemble the device and add water, which is quite inconvenient. In some technique, for these purposes, a special hole is provided for topping up water. However, its availability will also affect the price of the product.
What is the control panel in the
Steam cooker? The control panel in the double boiler can be :
- Touch
- Pushbutton
- Mechanical( control with rotary switches)
Depending on which panel is used, the cost of the steamer also varies. Models with a mechanical control panel are the cheapest, push-button - the "golden mean", sensory - the most expensive.
Electronic control( push-button or touch) allows you to specify more accurate data for cooking a dish. This technique is almost completely automated. All you need is to choose a program for cooking a particular dish.
Video: how to choose a steamer - control purchase
Additional functions and features of
Pay attention to the presence in your favorite steamer, cooking programs. With these programs you can set the exact temperature that will be maintained throughout the cooking process. You can break up the preparation of dishes into stages, etc.
Some appliances are equipped with the function of maintaining the temperature. Its essence lies in the fact that cooked meals will remain warm for some time.
If there is a delayed start function, you can specify the exact time when the device will start working. Those.the steamer will turn on, and begin cooking the dish, at the time that you ask. It is convenient in cases when you have a small lunch break. Then you can set the time you need to start cooking. And when you are coming home for lunch, you will have a freshly cooked dish.
If you have such a function as "fast steam", you can speed up the cooking process as much as possible. Thanks to which the products will retain more useful properties.
Also in the double boiler can be used various additional bowls. Their volume is from 0.7 to 2 liters. Most often this bowl is used for cooking rice. But some appliances have an extra bowl for cooking eggs.