Where is it better to cook healthy food - in a slow cooker or a double boiler?

Most housewives, trying to preserve free space in the kitchen, so as not to overload it with household appliances and at the same time avoid unnecessary expenses, decide what is better to buy - a multicooker or a double boiler? Which of these devices is more practical, convenient and which is the most appropriate to buy? However, before solving this issue, it is necessary to study in detail what, in fact, is the main difference between a multicooker and a double boiler.

For most people, the main criterion in choosing household appliances for the kitchen is the usefulness of food prepared using a particular device.

Cooking method

A steamer is highly specialized kitchen equipment designed for steaming a wide variety of foods; in contrast, a multicooker is a universal household appliance that can simultaneously replace several cooking appliances, including such as a pressure cooker and a bread maker.

A steamer is highly specialized kitchen equipment designed for steaming a wide variety of foods.

Despite the fact that both units are designed for preparing a wide variety of dishes, it is impossible to make pilaf or roast in a double boiler, unlike a multicooker. With the help of the latter, you can easily prepare even dishes according to complex recipes. Such capabilities are due to the fact that it provides automatic programs. What’s interesting is that each cooked product will have its own taste, despite the fact that they are all cooked in the same container.

Using a multicooker, you can easily prepare even complex recipes.

In addition, there is a multicooker with a steamer function, with which you can steam food. However, according to experts, it is better to use a double boiler for a dietary diet, because only it allows you to preserve the vitamins and other beneficial substances of foods to the maximum extent. This miracle of technology is supported by its technical characteristics, which make it possible to completely eliminate the use of fats from cooking.

Using a steamer, you can cook several different dishes at the same time, because this unit is equipped with several special containers for different products. For example, you can simultaneously cook a meat dish, a seafood dish, stew vegetables and boil eggs. Unlike it, you can cook any dishes in a slow cooker, but only one at a time; this difference is fundamental.

Using a steamer, you can cook several different dishes at the same time, because this unit is equipped with several special containers for different products.

Features of the steamer

Modern steamers usually use a display to control them. There are models with touch and mechanical buttons. The device allows you to cook several dishes at the same time. The lower bowl is for water. Products are loaded into the upper container.

It is not necessary to use oil during the cooking process. Thanks to this, not only the beneficial properties of the products are preserved, but the food also turns out to be more dietary. Foods cooked in a steamer contain less fat, so you don't have to worry about your figure.

Functionality

Before making a choice in favor of one or another household appliance, it is necessary to consider its functionality in more detail.

A steamer is a device designed for steaming food. The design of the unit is equipped with a water tank located on the base. As a result of boiling water, steam enters containers pre-filled with ingredients through special holes.

Steamer functions:

• Warming and defrosting food;
• Cooking food from a wide variety of products (the unit includes several different containers: a bowl for rice cereal, an egg stand, etc.);
• Preparation of set meals (several dishes can be prepared at the same time);
• Sterilization of baby dishes, bottles and nipples;
• Ability to heat food for children;
• The presence of an additional blender function in some models allows you to grind ready-made food.

A steamer is a device designed for steaming food.
A multicooker refers to kitchen equipment that combines an oven, a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, and some models have a steamer function. This unit includes a heating element powered by electricity, a steam design, a processor that allows the system to operate automatically, and cooking pots.

Multicooker functions:

1. Boil;
2. Bake;
3. Fry;
4. Put out;
5. Steam;
6. Warm up;
7. Delayed cooking;
8. Grilling.

A multicooker refers to kitchen equipment that combines an oven, a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, and in some models, a steamer function.

Preferred purchase options

Speaking about the differences between a double boiler and a multicooker, it is worth noting their positive properties. Regardless of the types of household appliances, each of them requires the use of soft water, which prevents the appearance of limescale.

Why is it useful to buy a steamer:

• absolute benefits of prepared foods;
• dietary nutrition;
• saving time and money.

Options and prices

Important characteristics of the multicooker:

• ease of use, high comfort;
• variety of dishes.

Options and prices

Almost all varieties of the types of household appliances under consideration can be built-in or stand alone. Models of the first type are compact and relatively expensive. Desktop options are more voluminous and their price is much lower. Therefore, if there is enough space in the kitchen to install them, you can purchase appropriate samples.

When choosing between two options for household appliances, it is important to weigh your financial capabilities, determine the need for a given range of functions, evaluate the convenience of the model and draw appropriate conclusions.

Cooking time

To determine which is better - a multicooker or a double boiler, it is necessary to take into account such a criterion as cooking time. Of course, when it comes to speed, the rating is topped by a steamer, because most models of this device work much faster. In addition, thanks to the special coating, the food in it does not burn, which means there is no need to spend additional time washing the containers; they are easy to clean.

In terms of speed, the rating is topped by a steamer, because most models of this device work much faster.

But don’t discount the multicooker: some models of this device include a program that allows for steaming, which significantly speeds up the process. However, the presence of a Teflon-coated cooking bowl in the device complicates the task, because after use it will have to be washed with special means.

Which is better - a slow cooker or a double boiler?

These two useful household assistants even have similar names. What to choose? Let's figure out what the difference is between a double boiler and a multicooker , compare what their pros and cons are, and what they are used for.

I had a Redmond steamer and for a long time I thought that it was the best steamer of all. I wrote a review about the steamer on the site. But a year later it broke and I completely accidentally bought a multicooker. And partly it replaced my steamer, partly it didn’t, but it added something new to our menu.

First of all, you need to understand why you want to buy this equipment.

Double boiler

The main and distinctive feature
of a double boiler is the benefits of cooked food.
If your goal is health and weight loss, then a multicooker will not replace it. Of course, most multicookers are equipped with a bowl for steaming food, but it is quite small; you cannot cook dinner for the whole family. And the holes are usually a bit large. However, there are still some advantages to steaming in a slow cooker - the fat from the food being cooked flows down and some people cook potatoes in it right there, for example. However, looking at what evaporates from the chicken and meat into the steamer pan, I wouldn’t eat this fat... So the steamer mode in a multicooker, in my opinion, is purely symbolic. But you can’t cook soup in a double boiler , and the bowl for cooking porridge is not that big. That is, you can cook a small portion of pasta or rice in it, but it is not a 5-6 liter volume, like a multicooker, of course.

It’s also worth considering that very healthy food cooked in a double boiler is not to everyone’s taste. Fans of French fries and thick fried crust on cutlets are unlikely to be satisfied. Although my model of steamer had a special device for spices, it imbued the dish with a delicious aroma. Personally, I like chicken and fish cooked in a steamer more than those cooked in a frying pan.

The multicooker has a “grill and fry” mode, so it’s easy to achieve an excellent golden brown crust. Although such food will no longer be so healthy, since you will have to pour oil into the bottom of the multicooker. The steamer usually has three compartments and can cook two or three dishes at the same time. There is only one in the slow cooker.

Multicooker
What can be cooked in a double boiler and multicooker.
Porridge . I purchased both a steam oven with a timer and a multicooker mainly so that I could add cereal in the evening, and the porridge would be ready when the children woke up. Both units cope with cooking porridge. Although it still turns out worse in a slow cooker. Firstly, it is not of uniform density - where it is liquid, where it is thick. Secondly, sometimes you get a slightly toasted crust on the bottom. A kind of fried porridge.

Bakery. You can bake a cupcake or charlotte in a slow cooker. Not allowed in a steamer. Chicken. I tried to make a whole chicken - it worked in both units. In a double boiler it is evenly cooked, in a slow cooker the crust is fried, but only on the bottom. It’s delicious both there and there.

Fish . It seemed more convenient in a double boiler - you can arrange the pieces in any way you like, make it for a large group. In a slow cooker you have to limit yourself to the size of the day, and its area is not that large.

Meat. For some reason, my meat cooks in a double boiler for at least an hour and 20 minutes, even if it is cut into small pieces. Tasty here and there. It’s certainly healthier in a double boiler, in a slow cooker with a crust.

Stew or pilaf and similar dishes. The favorite here is the slow cooker. I throw in meat or chicken, after a certain time I add cereal or potatoes, add water and forget. In a double boiler, this can only be done for literally one or two small portions in the porridge compartment. If you do it in a large container, then the meaning is lost, all the fat flows down.

Eggs. The steamer has egg trays or special recesses so you can cook. I have never heard of boiling eggs in a slow cooker.

Omelette, scrambled eggs. The omelet turns out here and there. You can hardly make scrambled eggs in a double boiler, but in a slow cooker it turns out delicious, but the yolk becomes thick.

Jam. Can be done in a slow cooker.

Vegetables . It's much more convenient in a double boiler.

Steamer
Ease of use: The steamer has a tray, from which the fat must be drained after each cooking. And if something juicy is cooked for a long time, the fat may leak out. Draining is not very convenient - usually you need to remove all the containers, pull out the pan and be very careful not to spill it. By the way, I had to choose a model for a very long time and look for a steamer with a deep tray. A steamer with a shallow tray will cause unpleasant moments. With a multicooker, everything is simpler - after all, food is prepared in one thicket. On the one hand, it’s easy to remove, but on the other, everything harmful remains in your dish. Because of this, I never decided to cook soup in a slow cooker, because I just can’t figure out where the foam goes from it.

Multicooker bowl
The steamer can be washed well in the dishwasher.
It’s not so fun to do it by hand - after all, its bottom is full of small holes, you need to try and rub it with a brush. The multicooker bowl is simply removed and washed like a saucepan. True, its coating must be treated very carefully; it is easily scratched even by plastic. However, all the parts for washing the steamer are plastic, but the multicooker also has a lid (mine, for example, is removable and not very convenient) and a valve. Many steamers have a water control function and the ability to top up through a special hole. And if the water runs out, a good steamer will simply turn off. And if the water runs out or the fat/oil evaporates in the multicooker, the dish may burn. Although I have not had such cases.

Just take it out of the freezer.
conclusions about which is better, a multicooker or a double boiler , based on what they are going to cook and in what quantities. But in my opinion, if you want to lose weight, eat healthy (which is especially important for nursing mothers) and prepare healthy food for children, take a double boiler. If you want to cook soups and cook dishes with a fried crust, a multicooker is suitable. And with the task of saving time so that the housewife can throw in groceries, press a button and go for a walk - both devices do an excellent job! (Some photos are taken from the manufacturer's website and are not used for commercial purposes)

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Amount of prepared food

The main difference between kitchen cooking appliances is the amount of food they can cook at once. In this case, the double boiler is in the lead, because the multicooker has only one bowl, designed for a volume of 2.5-4.5 liters, and its competitor is equipped with 1-3 baskets, allowing you to cook up to 3 dishes at a time.

The steamer is equipped with 1-3 baskets, allowing you to cook up to 3 dishes at a time.

The benefits of cooked foods

For most people, the main criterion in choosing household appliances for the kitchen is the usefulness of food prepared using a particular device. Therefore, before choosing suitable equipment, buyers pay attention to this criterion. From the point of view of nutritionists, the steamer has no competitors. Everyone knows that steaming food allows you to preserve as much as possible all its beneficial qualities. However, you don’t always want to stick to a healthy diet; in this case, a multicooker-steamer, i.e., a device with a steam cooking function, will help out.

Steaming food allows you to preserve as much as possible all its beneficial qualities.

Pros and cons of double boilers and multicookers

Let's take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of this kitchen utensil.

Double boiler

The main advantages of this device are the following parameters:

1. Ease of use and the ability to perform multiple tasks. The presence of several baskets allows you to simultaneously prepare different dishes;
2. Preservation of useful qualities of products. When heating and cooking dishes, the loss of vitamins is minimal;
3. Defrosting speed;
4. No difficulties in preparation. Just put all the ingredients in the baskets and turn on the device;
5. Products do not burn, which allows you to avoid special care of the device.

Foods that take a long time to cook should be placed in the lower basket, and instant food items should be placed in the upper basket.

When heating and cooking dishes, the loss of vitamins is minimal.

Disadvantages of this equipment:

1. Taste qualities. Steamed food may seem bland. The absence of crust on food creates the feeling of raw food;
2. Time to cook. Cooking takes longer than cooking on the stove, this primarily applies to meat dishes.

Multicooker

The main advantages of this kitchen appliance are the following parameters:

1. The cooking process frees the housewife almost completely. There is no need to wait for the water to boil, control the process, systematically stir and turn over the ingredients. Simply place the food in the bowl, select and set the desired mode, and the device will do the rest;
2. Availability of automatic heating function. The device independently maintains the required temperature of the finished dish until the bowl is removed, thereby keeping the food warm until it is consumed;
3. Delayed start mode. The presence of such a function allows you to add ingredients in advance and receive a finished dish after a specified time;
4. Programs for baking bread, steaming and making yoghurt. Allows you to replace several types of household appliances with one device;
5. Ease of use. Easy to use even for an inexperienced cook;
6. Compactness. The small size of the device allows you to use it even while traveling.

The cooking process frees the housewife almost completely.
The disadvantages of the equipment are:

1. Inability to cook several dishes at the same time;
2. If there is no additional bowl included, it becomes necessary to wash it before use;
3. Small bowl volume. If the characteristics of the device indicate 5 liters, then the useful volume will not exceed 4 liters, which will significantly complicate cooking for a large family;
4. In some models, automatic heating does not turn off;
5. The Teflon or ceramic coating of the bowl requires especially careful handling. If even the smallest scratch occurs, food will stick to the dishes and the food will burn.

The principle of operation of a multicooker

Externally, the multicooker resembles an ordinary saucepan or cauldron, equipped with a heating element and an electronic control unit. The operating principle of such a device is extremely simple: the microprocessor regulates the heating temperature of the inner bowl, focusing on a given program, and also reading information about the heating level of the heating element. The simplest models may have one heating element; more expensive multicookers may have 2-4 heating elements, which provides the following advantages:

• the speed of cooking increases;
• heat inside the bowl spreads evenly, improving the quality of the finished dish;
• allows you to increase the serving size and add a large number of products.

Multicookers with induction heating differ from standard ones in that they do not have a heating element. An induction emitter is used here, directly transmitting electromagnetic waves to a metal bowl, as a result of which the container is heated. It heats up evenly over the entire surface, which increases the speed of cooking food.

How does a multicooker work?

Advantages

1. Ability to use various processes: stewing, baking, frying, boiling.
2. All processes occur automatically. There is no need to stir food or control boiling.
3. Automatic heating or maintaining a set temperature eliminates the need for long waits for food to be heated.
4. Allows even a novice cook to prepare complex dishes.

Flaws

1. Only one dish is prepared at a time. Preparing a full meal will take too long.
2. Small bowl volume.
3. The coating of the bowl requires extremely careful handling.

Operation and care

One of the aspects that allows you to determine how a double boiler differs from a multicooker is the possibility of using them and caring for the equipment. Both units are easy to use and easy to operate. On most models, program names are located on the display.

The “Delayed Start” function allows you to specify the start time for cooking. Both devices have a defrost program, auto shut-off to protect against overheating, and temperature maintenance to reheat ready-made food.

The “Delayed Start” function allows you to specify the start time for cooking.

The issue of caring for household appliances is no less important, because the financial and time costs depend on what kind of care it requires. As for the care of the equipment, it depends on the model, configuration and many other components, but in any case, the steamer has an advantage: thanks to the collapsible design, all its removable parts can be washed in the dishwasher.

Thanks to the collapsible design, all removable parts of the steamer can be washed in the dishwasher.

It is quite difficult to compare such different kitchen products as a multicooker and a steamer, since they are designed for different purposes. Supporters of a healthy lifestyle should opt for a double boiler, the functions of which allow you to preserve all the beneficial properties after heat treatment. Gourmets are more suited to an easy-to-use multi-cooker that will do everything itself; just fill the bowl with ingredients and enter the required cooking mode on the display.