Steamers - top rated

On sale there is a huge number of a wide variety of kitchen appliances. Not to get lost in this ocean of offers is quite difficult. Steamers - devices for cooking steam dishes - is no exception to the rule. Sometimes choosing the right option is a difficult task even for the most sophisticated housewife. What is the difference between double boiler? The rating of the best will allow you to correctly prioritize and make a choice.

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What is a double boiler for?

More and more people are thinking about making dishes not only tasty, but also healthy. Steamed food is just that. The fact is that with this cooking technology, nutrients are stored in food. During normal cooking or frying, most of the nutrients are destroyed.

In addition, this technique is an indispensable tool in many kitchen matters. With its help you can:

• Sterilize cans for home canning.
• Defrost foods.
• Quickly heat food without using a stove or microwave.

As you can see, a double boiler is not only useful, but also a multifunctional device.

Important! Individual models have not one, but several bowls. This allows you to cook not one but several dishes, and in large enough portions.

At the same time, it is very simple to take care of a double boiler. In any case, it can be washed much easier and faster than cleaning the pan after frying. If you are imbued with all the advantages of this miracle device, run for a purchase! However, no, it's too early to run. Let's talk first about how to choose the right double boiler for home. Consider the most common varieties.

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Gas

This is the simplest kind of device. Such an apparatus does not have an electric filling. It is enough to pour water and put the device on the burner of the gas stove. It is only necessary to take into account the number of bowls and their capacity, based on the number of family members.

Advantages of the gas device:

• Simplicity.
• Long working resource. No wonder. There is simply nothing to break.
• Profitability.

There are also disadvantages, to be sure:

• The need for control during the cooking process.
• Lack of convenience.

Of course, compared to a modern electrical appliance, a gas appliance has very limited functionality. Therefore, the answer to the question of which double boiler is better to buy will concern only electric models.

Important! As soon as you start browsing catalogs with such equipment, the question of choosing a more suitable device will arise by itself, because you will be offered a double boiler, a slow cooker, and a pressure cooker, and air grill. Most often, attention is paid to 2 varieties, the differences of which we described in detail in the article“Which is better - a double boiler or a slow cooker?”.

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Which management to choose?

There are 2 control options - electronic and mechanical:

• The mechanics are extremely simple. In order to set the cooking time and start the process, you need to turn the special lever. Such devices are the most inexpensive.
• More modern and expensive models are equipped with an electronic control panel. Using electronic control, you can set the exact mode, set the exact time to start cooking.

Which of these options to choose depends on your financial capabilities and the desired functionality.

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Pallet

It is designed to collect juice from products and condensate. If the pallet is the only one, then the design is solid, and the juice from the upper bowl, along with odors, passes through the lower container. To avoid this, it is advisable to purchase the appliance on several pallets in order to isolate the dishes.

Make sure that the pallet has sides of sufficient height (a good indicator is 20-30 mm). This is important, because when pouring liquid through the sides of the pan, the double boiler may deteriorate. If their height is sufficient, then in the process of cooking you can do other things, without constantly monitoring the cooking process.

Important! It is also necessary that the pallet be equipped with handles. This minimizes the risk of burns.

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Steam basket:

• The first thing you need to pay attention to is the number of these baskets. In different models, they can be from 1 to 3. Naturally, the larger the family, the greater the number of containers you need.
• As for the capacity of the bowls, it ranges from 1.0-3.5 liters.
• An important point is the shape of the baskets. Some models of steamers resemble a cone in shape (they have different sizes of containers). Buyers consider these modifications frankly unsuccessful, since the cooking time for different products is different. At the same time, the design does not allow changing capacities. Therefore, the models with the same bowl sizes are considered the most successful.
• It is convenient if the bowls are equipped with handles. The risk of burns is minimal.

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Keep warm

This mysterious phrase means nothing more than the conservation or maintenance of heat. After cooking is finished, the unit does not turn off, but keeps food warm. Very useful trifle.

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Delayed start

If a double boiler is equipped with this function, then it becomes that “magic pot” that cooks food, regardless of whether the owners are at home or not. The delay time is 1-12 hours. This is a great “bonus” for busy people. Came from work, and a freshly prepared dinner on the table.

Important! According to customer reviews, this feature is important and necessary.

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Quick steam

Cooking in a double boiler is a fairly quick process. And the “fast steam” function allows you to accelerate it even more. The principle is as follows. When “fast steam” is activated, the appliance begins to heat up even before food enters the container. Thus, from the first minute they find themselves in a hot “steam room”.

Important! This function is useful if, for example, guests suddenly come, and there is catastrophically no time to prepare a treat.

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Additional functionality

If you are wondering which double boiler is best to buy, pay attention, in addition to the listed factors, to additional functionality:

• Special hole for adding water during cooking.
• Water level sensor.
• Overheat protection.

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Optimum power

This is perhaps the most important parameter, because in a low-power device, cooking can stretch for a long time. In this case, it would be a mistake to choose just the most powerful unit. It is necessary to correlate the power with the number of baskets and their volume. For example:

• For a device with one small basket, more than enough power of 0.5 kW is more than enough.
• If the double boiler has 3 bowls of 3 liters, it is quite logical to choose a more powerful device. But, even in this situation, 0.9 kW is more than enough.

Important! Double boiler repair? We’ve gone on vacation or haven’t bought such equipment yet, and want to understand if you like the food to your taste? Find out in our separate article how to cook your favorite steamed dishes without a double boiler.

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Rating of the best models

Here are 7 of the most popular models that have won the appreciation of customers.

Braun, FS20

Powerful (0.85 kW) device with two baskets and mechanical control.

Benefits:

• High quality plastic.
• Ease of care.
• Each bowl has its own tray.
• There is a device for cooking cereals for a couple.

Disadvantages:

• Relatively high cost.
• Missing water level sensor.

Tefal, VC1014

The device is mechanically controlled in 3 capacities and with a power of 0.9 kW.

Benefits:

• Three bowls.
• Beautiful design.
• The possibility of heating food.

Disadvantages:

• There is no water topping function.
• The instruction is not compiled in sufficient detail.

Scarlett, SC343

Model with mechanical control for 2 baskets. Power is 0.85 kW.

Benefits:

• Reliability.
• Compactness.
• Ease of care.
• Low cost.

Minuses:

• Plastic deforms when heated.
• There is no hole for topping up water.

Philips, HD9120

Device for 3 baskets with mechanical control. Power is 0.9 kW.

Benefits:

• 3 bowls.
• Relative cheapness.
• The device is equipped with a device for cooking cereals.
• The presence of containers for spices.
• There is a function of adding water.

Minuses:

• Loud noise at work.
• Short cord.

Supra, FSS-310

Powerful double boiler (0.8 kW) with electronic control. The number of containers is 3.

Benefits:

• Low cost.
• The presence of a timer.
• Delayed start function.
• Overheat protection.
• Simple care.

Minuses:

• There is no water level indicator.
• The display does not light up.
• Not very convenient cord.

Philips, HD9189

Double boiler with a record power of 2 kW. There are 3 tanks. Management - electronic.

Benefits:

• 3 containers.
• Possibility of topping up water.
• Delayed start function.
• Spice jar.
• Wonderful design.

The drawback is one, but significant enough: there is no capacity for cooking cereals.

Tefal, VS 4003

Double boiler for 3 containers. Power 1.8 kW, control from an electronic display.

Benefits:

• Ease of care.
• Good insulation of dishes (no mixing of smells).
• Excellent quality plastic.

Minuses:

• High price.
• There is no capacity for making cereals.
• There is no hole for topping up water.

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Stock footage

So, you know how to choose the right double boiler for home. A wonderful assistant will appear in your kitchen to help you prepare a meal that is delicious in taste and usefulness!