Everyone knows the feeling when the soul asks for a holiday, you want to go out into the nature and relax, sitting by the fire. That kebab makes a complete picture of the rest. But what if the weather outside the window, and to the nearest "nature" a few kilometers? Now you can have a picnic without leaving your apartment. To do this, you need a good company, good mood and an electric skewer. How to choose this device, what to look for when buying? Manufacturers offer many models and configurations.
What is an electric skewer
How to choose a device for cooking barbecue, if it is known that it can be vertical or horizontal? Vertical devices consist of a cylindrical body, a heating element in the center and skewers. Also below is a special container where fat flows during cooking.
Ten in the center of the device heats the meat on one side and, reflecting off the walls of the device, heats it on the other. At this time, the skewer rotates around its axis. Thus, the meat is fried on all sides. Fat flows into special bowls, which can then be easily removed and washed. This technique is very compact and suitable for a small kitchen.
Horizontal kebab is different in that it is possible to cook more kebabs. It is arranged according to the principle of grill. Such electric skewers are more often used in restaurants or cafes, since they are quite bulky. Heating elements are located below or above. Both options are powered by 220 volts.
What to look for when planning a purchase
The best option for home conditions is a vertical electric skewer. There are several criteria by which the best electric skewer is determined. How to choose a device to enjoy its work as long as possible? The following criteria should be considered:
- instrument material;
- location of the heating element;
- model power;
- amount of skewers.
Material
Its price directly depends on the material of the barbecue. More expensive models are made of stainless steel. Cheaper are the options that are made of aluminum. This, of course, is less durable material, but it is lighter. Therefore, if you plan to transport the electric skewer, it is worth looking in the direction of aluminum models. On average, the heater is heated to 550 degrees, respectively, the material should be heat resistant, so it is better if it is a steel structure. Corrosion-proof material is not oxidized and will serve you faithfully for a long period.
Heating element
In vertical electric skewers, the heating element is located in the middle, which contributes to the optimal roasting of meat. In horizontal they are above and below.
Power
The power of electric skewers varies from 700 to 2500 watts. The best option is from 1000 watts. 700 volt models are very economical, but they should be chosen if the speed of cooking is not important to you. The higher the power, the more expensive the device. If you plan to cook rarely and for a small family, do not overpay for power. After all, there is no hurry when you are on vacation, even if improvised. However, you risk taking all your free time cooking. While your guests will rest for a long time, you will wait for the preparation of the next portion.
The number of skewers
If there are five skewers in the barbecue and you have invited seven guests, an unpleasant situation may arise. You will be to blame for it, not the electric skewer. How to choose the optimal download volume? Count the number of people who will be on a picnic. If you purchase a small but very powerful kebab, you can cook meat in small portions. However, this is not very convenient, so you need to buy a model for at least 6-7 skewers.
Instrument Care
The device must be collapsible, otherwise difficulties may arise during the washing of the structure. If there is a non-stick coating, it is worth considering that it must be handled gently and protected from scratches.
Principle of operation
After the meat is strung on skewers, it is necessary to insert them into the special grooves of the device and plug them into the network. The barbecue in the electric skewer will rotate around its axis and rotate around the heating element. The pieces should not be too large so that they do not cling to the walls of the device, but can rotate freely. It works from a network of 220 volts.
The best electric skewers
The leaders of barbecue sales in Russia are Aromat, Kavkaz, Saturn, Smilie.
The Kavkaz electric skewer has 5 or 6 skewers, depending on the model. In addition, there is a model size XXL, which is designed for 8 skewers. The price of an electric barbecue is about 2000-3000 rubles. In this device, the meat is cooked in 20 minutes. In order for the barbecue not to slide down and not have to be corrected each time with hands, special clamps are provided. Skewers and the case of most models of this company have comfortable plastic handles. Special supports for draining fat are provided.
Judging by customer reviews, this device has no drawbacks. The best option for a city apartment. Domestic manufacturer will delight you with the build quality. You can cook up to a kilogram of meat at a time, despite its compact size. The kit includes a book with original recipes.
Electric skewer "Aromat" - tabletop design for 5 skewers. Spare grease bowls and skewers can be purchased separately. The material of construction is aluminum, steel, the body is made of combined materials. The power of the device is 1000 watts. Some models have a non-stick coating. The weight of the device is 2-3 kg. Cooking time 17 minutes, it is very fast for a device such as an electric skewer. The price is about 2000 rubles.
Saturn is a Czech electric skewer. Its main difference is the presence of additional functions. In addition to barbecue, it is possible to cook grilled chicken or meat for shawarma. The barbecue is equipped with a glass door, thanks to which you can easily control the cooking process. Designed for 5-7 skewers. Automatic shutdown protects the structure from overheating. Case material - steel. Power 1000-1400 watts. Some models have an internal backlight and a timer. It is possible to cook about 2.5 kg at a time. In the Saturn ST-FP 8561 model, skewers rotate in a circle (without rotating around its axis). The kit includes a skewer with a fork and a fish tank. Price - 3000-4000 rubles.
"Smile" is an electric barbecue grill with a contact heating element and mechanical control. Non-stick coating. Power - 1600-2100 watts. Roomy and easy to operate. This design is inconvenient to wash - it is a rather heavy electric skewer. Price - 2000-3000 rubles.
Disadvantages of electric skewers
No matter what the producers say, no matter what the reasons, the barbecue in the electric barbecue loses to the dish cooked at the stake. Burned fat in the device is difficult to wash. A powerful device winds a large amount of electricity. And you can’t feed a large company with the amount of meat cooked. For this reason, many after purchasing the barbecue use it a couple of times and throw it into the far corner.
The main disadvantage of cooking barbecue at home is the lack of the smell of a fire. To remedy the situation, you can use a little trick and add a little liquid smoke to the marinade or wrap the meat with slices of smoked lard.
It’s rare to go to nature, and it’s quite possible to make your family happy with tasty and aromatic barbecue at home. Thanks to this device, meat is obtained no worse than on an open fire. And the cooking process is much faster and easier. No need to chop wood, make a fire and wait for it to burn out, leaving the necessary coals. In many models, in addition to barbecue, you can also cook grilled chicken, bake vegetables or fish. In any weather of every season, on your table will be a mouth-watering dish. It is enough to purchase an electric skewer.
So, barbecue facilities are not too different from each other, however, choosing a device, you need to pay attention to the above parameters so as not to waste money. Also take into account the complete set of the product and user reviews, then you definitely will not be mistaken. Think about the need for additional features. It’s better not to save on power.