The slow cooker is good for its versatility: it can bake, stew, cook, fry a wide variety of products. Another positive quality - it does not require attention in the cooking process: you just put the ingredients in the bowl and start the program. And that’s all. The device will inform you about the readiness of the dish with a sound signal. Really easy? But which manufacturer to choose - all models of multicookers are good in their own way. To begin with, let's figure out what materials they are made of and what their design is.
The case, as a rule, is plastic, but it can also be with metal elements (the metal used is stainless steel). Plastic models wear out faster, but at the same time they are cheaper and have less weight. Metal, of course, is more expensive, but also more durable. The rating of multicookers nevertheless does not confirm that buyers give preference to certain materials - they buy them with approximately the same frequency.
The bowl in which the dishes are prepared can be made of stainless steel, high-quality
aluminum alloy or ceramics. Steel - reliable, but heavy. Aluminum is lightweight and has either a Teflon coating or marble spraying: if you handle it carefully and do not scratch the surface, the material is easy to clean and will last a long time. Ceramics can also be used in the
microwave, but this is a rather fragile material. The control panel is push-button and touch. Here the choice is yours - the rating of multicookers again did not show that any of them is more popular.
Accessories are also attached to multicookers: a recipe book, a measuring container, a steaming dish and a spatula (spoon). Particular attention should be paid to the spoon: many buyers complain that some spoon manufacturers make low-quality ones and they scratch the surface of the bowl. But the device can always be replaced with another - silicone or wooden. It is good if the multicooker is equipped with a valve for removing steam - this will prevent burns when opening the lid.
What can I cook in a slow cooker? Virtually everything. Modern (e.g. Moulinex, Philips, Panasonic) multicookers have many automatic programs: for cereals, pilaf, soups, meatballs, pies. You can also set the temperature and time yourself - this is 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.
In addition, no one forces you to follow only the recipe book that came with your unit: having understood all of its functions and modes, you can experiment and come up with new dishes yourself. In conclusion, it must be said that almost all multicookers are equipped with a temperature control 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 with this regimen you need to be careful: some dishes can lose a lot of moisture (such as cereals) and will require the addition of water. Now you can make your own multicooker rating by function and make the right choice.