If you want to follow a diet, you need to choose a double boiler

Today, it is quite easy to purchase various household appliances for use in the kitchen in order to facilitate the daily work of the housewife in preparing food for the whole family. It is only necessary to determine in advance for what specific needs such equipment is bought, for example, in order to provide all households with healthy food, it is necessary to choose a double boiler for the home.

What parameters of these unusual devices you need to know in order to choose the best option, how to cook food for a couple, the specifics of preparing the products, how long the cooking process takes - you will find answers to all these questions by carefully reading our article.

What is this device

Household electrical appliances for the kitchen, using hot steam for cooking food, called steamers. With such intensive processing, the products do not lose their beneficial properties, vitamins and trace elements that were laid down by nature are completely preserved, and the natural color is also preserved.

A double boiler, if it is really good and all the details are fitted correctly and honestly, then the user will not have problems with its operation. All models are designed in two or three tiers, so you can cook several different dishes at the same time, for example, meat, fish and vegetables. At the same time, the smells do not mix, because each product is prepared in a separate, well-insulated container.

How is the double boiler

In the main body, which is made of durable plastic or stainless steel, there is a water tank and a heating element. When you turn on the product, steam is formed quite quickly, penetrating through the perforations into all containers installed on top, the decomposed products as a result of such processing reach the state of readiness - this is the main principle of operation of these devices.

We can say that the food is prepared in its own juice, without the addition of seasonings and even salt, which is strictly prohibited - you can add salt to your taste after processing. To collect juice and condensate formed during the interaction of hot steam and cold walls of plastic baskets, there are pallets that separate each basket from an adjacent container.

Some models have a liquid level sensor, which, through sound or LEDs, notifies the user that water needs to be added. To do this, the model has a special retractable tray, where liquid is poured without stopping the cooking process. The control panel is located on the base of the product.

Advantages of the technique:

• small power, but enough for cooking for the whole family;
• any model can be used to prepare dinner for one person;
• the double boiler is uniquely compact during storage - baskets are nested in each other, therefore the size is halved in height;
• plastic during operation practically does not heat up, which is absolutely not dangerous for children who are interested in everything new;
• such a product consumes less electricity than an ordinary electric kettle.

Cons - a peculiar taste of food and no fried crust.

Types of products

There are two main varieties of double boiler:

1. Pots with a special insert made of perforated aluminum or steel wire, this design only works if it is installed on some source of thermal energy, for example, in a city it is a gas or electric stove.
2. Electrical household appliances, which are freestanding or desktop-based, as well as built-in.

As for the built-in double boiler, this is a separate category of professional equipment for restaurants and cafes specializing in oriental cuisine. Some models have a separate connection to the water supply system, independently regulate the filling of the water tank, they have a built-in steam generator and a very powerful heating element.

Important parameters that influence your choice

Sometimes choosing a double boiler is not as easy as it seems to many users, because every housewife wants to buy a convenient, practical and small-sized product for the house. Therefore, before you go to the shopping center, you should know in advance what the future assistant looks like, find out its main technical characteristics.

Power

This is one of the main criteria - the speed of preparation of various products and dishes depends on it. In modern models for home use, it ranges from 0.6 to 2.0 kW. Specialists advise buying medium-sized steamers, because they sometimes cook faster than more powerful counterparts, but are much cheaper - this is due to the fact that there are a number of parameters that affect the performance of such products.

Type of control

All household appliances have two types of control: mechanical and electronic.

The first option involves the use of a rotary timer switch, which must be rotated a certain number of divisions to set the cooking time. The advantage is that to turn on the device it is enough to make a simple movement.

In the second version, the user must select the mode using the keys, referring to the information that appears on the display. Electronics allows you to set the time of preparation for the product so that everything is ready for your arrival from work. No doubt - all these additions are very convenient, but if they do not have priority for you, then it is better to buy a product with mechanical control, because it is more reliable in everyday life, and the cost is noticeably different.

Number of tiers

Basically, all models have 2 or 3 tiers, but there are unique double boiler with one basket, only its volume is not less than 4 liters. For a family with an average income, such an acquisition will be cost-effective, because the kit includes a container for making cereals and an egg stand, which means you can cook dinner for the whole family.

Another nuance that manufacturers are silent about: the fewer the tiers, the lower the total volume, which means that everything will be prepared much faster, one filling of water is enough, without subsequent topping up. The principle of preparation is based on steaming, so a double boiler with a volume of 6 liters will cook products much faster than a similar product designed for 10 liters.

Each model has a container for cooking cereals, but it can be used to prepare first courses, which greatly expands the range of dishes. For example, you purchased a double boiler with two plastic baskets with a total volume of 6 liters, load the meat in the first container, because the food is cooked here faster, put vegetables in the second, and put a container for cereals with a volume of 1 liter on top, but fill it ingredients for making soup. As a result, we get a full dinner for three people.

Basket volume

The standard volume of food baskets is 3.0-3.5 liters, and a similar parameter for a cereal cooking bowl is 1.0-2.0 liters, so you can prepare a full-fledged dinner for the whole family or for a large company. For example, if you have a three-tier unit where you can cook meat, fish, vegetables and eggs, and as a side dish there will be loose rice - 2 liters is enough for the whole company.

Additional functions

Modern electronically controlled steamers with a touch screen can have quite nice and unexpected bonuses:

1. Delayed start. You don’t have time to prepare a full breakfast, so from the evening put everything you need in the baskets, dial the time for turning on the unit and enjoy hot and satisfying food in the morning.Similarly, you can prepare dinner for the whole family, which will be ready for everyone to come home from work.
2. The ability to maintain the temperature of just cooked dishes for 14 hours, which saves time for heating them.
3. Modern steam cookers report the need for preventive descaling using an indicator or display similar information on the display.
4. The user only needs to fill in the water, decompose the products and turn on the double boiler, and the appliance will cook everything and notify you with a sound signal, inviting you to the table. Some models independently choose the cooking time, based on the total weight and category of products laid.
5. The fast cooking mode is based on accelerated steam production, but at the same time the energy consumption is doubled.
6. The water level sensor will notify you in a timely manner that you need to add fluid, but such devices are not available on all models. The budget device simply turns off so that the heater does not burn out.

To add water without stopping the product, a retractable compartment is used through which the tank is filled.

Steam boiler rating 2019

This is rather an ordinary review, because we do not determine the place, but acquaint readers with the main technical parameters. This is the so-called top ten best double boiler from manufacturers from different countries.

Tefal VC 1006 Ultra Compact

• Material:
• cases - stainless steel
• food baskets - clear plastic
• Power consumption: 0.9 kW
• Management: mechanical
• Volume:
• baskets - 3x3 l
• water tank - 1.5 l
• Additional devices:
• bowl for rice - 1 l
• recesses for installing eggs
• water level indicator
• adding water while working
• Dimensions: 274x230x365 mm
• Weight: 1.9 kg
• Warranty: 24 months
• Development / Manufacturer: France / China

Experts assure that this model is more compact than all those presented on the Russian market.

Happy baby fusion

• Type: Steamer Blender
• Two twin cases: shockproof and transparent plastic
• Power Consumption: 300 W
• Management: by means of the rotary switch
• Dimensions: 220x221x170 mm
• Weight: 1.5 kg
• Warranty / Manufacturer: 1 year / China

This model is useful in preparing various steamed dishes for babies: two in one, what else does a young mother need.

Philips AVENT SCF870

• Material:
• case - strong plastic
• food basket - clear plastic
• Power Consumption: 400 W
• Management: rotary switch
• 20 minutes timer with auto shut off
• Dimensions: 165x165x308 mm
• Weight: 2.0 kg
• Warranty / Manufacturer: 2 years / Turkey

ENDEVER Vita 160/161

• Material:
• case - strong plastic
• food baskets - clear plastic
• Power consumption: 0.8 kW
• Management: mechanical
• Volume:
• baskets - 2x2.0 l
• water tank - 1.3 l
• Additional devices:
• 1 hour timer
• power indicator
• auto power off system
• Dimensions: 230x215x265 mm
• Warranty / Manufacturer: 24 months / China

Philips AVENT SCF875

• Type: Steamer Blender
• Material: Plastic
• Power Consumption: 400 W
• Management: mechanical
• Blender Volume:
• liquids - 0.45 l
• loose - 0.75 l
• Water Capacity: 0.2 L
• Dimensions: 200x150x310 mm
• Weight: 2.0 kg
• Warranty / Manufacturer: 2 years / Turkey

Braun FS 3000

• Material:
• case - strong plastic
• food baskets - opaque plastic
• Power Consumption: 850 W
• Management: mechanical type
• Volume of baskets: 2x3.1 L
• Additional devices:
• bowl for rice - 2 l
• separate condensate trays
• container for coloring products
• auto shut off in the absence of water
• Dimensions: 331x195x310 mm
• Weight: 2.74 kg
• Warranty: 12 months
• Development / Manufacturer: Germany / China

Beaba Babycook Original

• Material:
• cases - strong plastic
• steam basket - transparent plastic
• Power Consumption: 350 W
• Management: mechanical
• Volume: 0.8 L
• Additional devices:
• blender bowl
• double boiler mesh
• mixing paddle
• Dimensions: 230x190x130 mm
• Weight: 1.6 kg
• Warranty / Manufacturer: 12 months / France

This model was specially developed for the preparation of baby food: quickly, conveniently, without much hassle.

Polaris PFS 0213

• Material:
• case - shockproof plastic based material
• food baskets - clear plastic
• Power Consumption: 650 W
• Management: rotary switch
• Volume:
• baskets - 2.5 and 3.0 l
• water tank - 0.75 L
• Additional devices:
• 60 minute timer
• sound signal
• rubberized legs
• Dimensions: 240x240x540 mm
• Weight: 1.2 kg
• Warranty: 1 year
• Development / Manufacturer: Russia / China

SUPRA FSS-201

• Material:
• case - shockproof plastic
• food baskets - transparent food grade plastic
• Power consumption: 0.75 kW
• Management: mechanical
• Volume:
• baskets - 2x3.5 l
• water tank - 0.75 L
• Power Cord Length: 1.5m
• Dimensions: 245x185x250 mm
• Weight: 0.786 kg
• Warranty: 2 years
• Development / Manufacturer: Japan / Hong Kong, PRC

Lightweight and very convenient design, probably this is the cheapest model of a double boiler in the Russian market.

Stadler Form Steamer One SFS.900

• Material:
• case - plastic
• pallets / food baskets - stainless steel / plastic
• Power consumption: 2.0 kW
• Management: electronic
• Volume:
• baskets - 3.67 L
• water tank - 1.2 l
• Automatic cooking: 7 recipes
• Additional devices:
• bowl for rice - 1 l
• LED display
• water level indicator
• adding water during cooking
• Dimensions: 210x325x445 mm
• Weight: 3.78 kg
• Warranty / Manufacturer: 24 months / China

findings

Devices such as a modern double boiler are a rather convenient design where different products are cooked at the same time, especially since you can cook them in your own juice. At the same time, meat and fish acquire a completely different taste and juiciness, which cannot be achieved in a pan, plus there is no need to add oil or fat.