Electrical appliances are an integral part of our modern life. We use some every day, others from time to time, but they are all good helpers in the kitchen. One of these units is the roster. This is an electric appliance equipped with oven functions.
What is a roster?
A roaster is the same as an oven, but with more compact parameters. Suitable for small kitchens where it is not possible to place an oven.
Roasters are distinguished by the volume of the device, power and functionality, which completely depends on the selected model. One unit only allows you to warm up food, using another model you can cook a full-fledged hot dish.
The roaster is a multifunctional household appliance that can replace several kitchen appliances at once. It can be used as a toaster, air grill, oven or microwave. A variety of functions allows you to bake meat or fish, bake pies, toast bread for toast, defrost and heat food.
The principle of operation of the device
The appliance resembles a microwave. It is rectangular in shape with a transparent door with a handle. Internally, its equipment resembles a toaster. Here, the products are placed on a special lattice located in the center. According to its technical characteristics, the roaster is close to the oven. Inside the unit there are several heating elements, but there are no microwaves that are in the microwave oven.
The device can have from 1 to 4 quartz heating elements. The most common models of roasters have two heating elements: top and bottom. When the device is turned on in the electric network, the heating elements begin to heat up and act on the dish with their heat. When only the upper heater is working, the air grill mode is turned on, and when the lower heater is functioning, food is heated. When two heaters are turned on at once, flour products are baked, products baked.
All modern models of roasters have a thermostat, which allows you to maintain the desired temperature regime inside the oven. There is a timer on which the cooking time is set. The cooking temperature can vary from 60 to 290 ° C.
Controlling this unit is not difficult. It is only necessary to set the necessary parameters on the switches. During the working process, the oven is illuminated and the dish is visible in the palm of your hand, which allows you to further control the entire cooking process.
There are units with a rotisserie for grilling, as well as appliances equipped with special fans, which allows the roaster to function as a convection oven.
Power and volume of household appliances
The roaster is an household appliance that is not only an interesting gadget for the kitchen, but also an indispensable assistant. A decisive role in the operation of the device is played by its power and volume. These specifications are related. For the operation of a small volume roaster, less power is required and, conversely, devices with high power have the corresponding capacity.
The smallest roasters are designed for 5-6 liters. They make sandwiches, toasts and heat food in small quantities. Such a kitchen unit has a capacity of 650 to 900 watts. Designed for single people who do not bother about cooking.
If a roster is needed for a full-fledged family, then its volume should be appropriate. The volume of the most powerful unit is 50 liters, and its power is 2000 watts. He cooks almost everything from baking meat and fish, pastries toasting and simple heating of food. It has many different features.
Coating the internal walls of the device
Mini-ovens are distinguished by an internal wall covering, which is made of enamel, bioceramics and stainless steel. These materials are easy to care for, and the coating of the walls does not affect the taste and quality of the dishes. Here, consumers, when choosing a device, rely on their personal preferences.
The most important element that you really should pay attention to is the heater. It should be modern and consist of quartz, which improves and significantly speeds up the work process.
Unit Functions
Roasters for hot sandwiches, like other models, have a mechanical control panel with 2-3 switches. The most popular kitchen units are powered by two heating elements. It is possible to start the autonomous operation of the heating elements. When the lower heater is operating, the gentle heating mode is activated, and when the upper heater is functioning, the grill works. The simultaneous operation of two heating elements at once turns the roaster into an electric oven.
The temperature switch allows you to select the desired parameter for cooking, and the thermostat maintains the temperature regime throughout the working process. Food is heated at a temperature of 60 ° C. To prepare a full-fledged dish, you need to set the temperature within 200-250 ° C. The highest temperature parameter is 280 ° C.
Most modern roasters are equipped with a timer. Low power appliances have a 15-minute cycle. On multifunction devices, the maximum timer setting time is 120 minutes. After the food has gone through the whole cycle, a signal is given, notifying of the end of the process.
There are roasters with a convection function, in which products are blown with hot air. The defrosting function is not so common. This process is completely similar to defrosting food in a microwave oven.
Some appliances have a Booster mode designed for quick cooking and warming up food. When this option is selected, the mini-furnace consumes more power than when performing other functions.
Roster
The configuration of the roster models is not the same and depends on the number of functions. So, almost all models have a removable metal grill. Complete with the device can be baking sheets, both of a classical type, and for preparation of lasagna and pizza. Usually attached to the roaster is a support plate on which it is convenient to bake chicken. There is a skewer equipped with a tray for draining fat and other liquids, as well as a special tray for crumbs, which is useful in making toast.
Types of roasters
All roasters, depending on their purpose, are divided into vertical and horizontal. The first is considered more convenient and has more features. With it, you can cook kebabs, shawarma or grilled chicken.
More units are divided by purpose and functionality. There are devices that can replace the electric oven, and there is also a roaster for roasting coffee. In our time, a waffle roaster is popular, with which you can make not only waffles, but also original sandwiches. Rarely enough, there are open models where toasts are prepared on one side and food is heated on the other. Units for baking pies, with a grill mode, as well as for cooking steam dishes are sold. There are special roasters for hot sandwiches and heating food. They are considered the simplest and have a minimum number of functions.
Popular models
At the moment, the range of roasters is striking in its diversity. Vitek stands out among budget brands. Here comes products of decent quality at a very reasonable price. These are classic universal ovens (VT-1270) with different volumes from 7 to 17 liters. Some models (VT-1272 and VT-1276) are equipped with a grill and have a skewer.
Affordable prices have First and Scarlett mini ovens. The first offers Austrian-made roasters with volumes ranging from 6.6 to 16 liters. The highest power of the models is 1100 watts, there is an hour timer and grill. Scarlett devices are not inferior to their competitors and offer their customers a whole line of roasters (models SC-090, SC-092, SC-099) differing from each other in volume, power and equipment.
The roster is in special demand;). There are models for baking pies (Smilers 3630), with a capacity of 1400 W, roaster-waffle maker (Smilers 3631), operating from 750 W, there is a Smile roaster for cooking cutlets, sausages in pastry, hot sandwiches.
Among the expensive ovens, the DeLonghi brand stands out. It has everything you need: excellent quality, modern design and the presence of additional features. The models are powered by two quartz heaters, have a thermostat and a timer. The smallest volume of the roaster has a volume of 8.5 liters, the most capacious is 28 liters. Models are equipped with a non-stick coating.
When choosing a mini-oven, you should pay attention to the number of families and the purpose of the device. Who needs just a warm-up is not worth overpaying for additional functions. For avid cooks, expensive multifunctional models are suitable.
Coffee roaster
Coffee roasting units can be industrial, universal or household. They are similar to each other according to the principle of their work. The roaster for coffee roasting consists of a heating element, a drum for coffee beans and a waste tray. There is a timer on them, as well as a hole for sampling coffee. The press unit helps to control the work process, program it. Models differ in performance and design.
The brands of popular coffee roasters include:
- Freshroast . There are devices with a fixed drum, as well as devices with a rotating bulb. The smallest model roasts about 60 grams of coffee. There is medium-level roasting.
- Hottop . Roasters of this brand are equipped with software, and some of them have a remote control mechanism. Workflow is monitored in stages. Fry in one cycle from 250 to 500 grams.
- Gene . It produces silent and high-quality units capable of processing up to 250 grams of grains per working process. Allows you to achieve varying degrees of frying.
The cost of such devices is quite high, the price reaches 130 thousand rubles, so they can rarely be found in the home appliance store. Such equipment is ordered on the Internet, bought at auctions or directly from companies.
Differences between roaster and toaster
Some buyers do not understand the difference between a toaster and a roaster. A toaster is a device for frying bread slices. Also, the unit allows you to defrost bread if it has been frozen, and to warm a delicious bun.
If the device looks like a small furnace and is equipped with a door with a handle, then this is already a roaster. It includes not only the functions of a toaster, but also helps to prepare hot sandwiches, toast sausages. With it, you can bake flour products, roast coffee beans and bake meat, fish and vegetables.
Sandwich roaster has a more advanced functionality in contrast to the toaster. It can replace an electric oven, grill, waffle iron, sandwich maker, and sometimes a microwave.
Roster Care Rules
The roaster oven must be cleaned of grease and contaminants after each use, otherwise the waste from the working process will accumulate, which can cause smoke and an unpleasant odor. Before cleaning the device, it must be disconnected from the outlet and allowed to cool slightly. Remove the wire rack and pan, rinse them in warm water with a detergent.
The outside of the unit is wiped with a damp cloth and detergent as it gets dirty. The inner surface of the walls is treated in the same way.
Do not clean the roaster and its parts with abrasive materials, metal brushes and other aggressive chemicals; this may damage the coating.
The device should be stored and used only in a dry room with positive temperatures of at least +5 ° C and a relative humidity of airspace of about 80%.
Cost
The price of devices varies in a rather large price range. The simplest models with low capacity can be purchased at a price of one thousand rubles. More powerful devices of well-known companies cost from 6 thousand rubles.
Consumer Reviews
They note that an electrical appliance is a great option for a small kitchen - roaster, reviews. It was appreciated by people whose room sizes did not allow the installation of a full-fledged oven. From their words, the device cooks quickly and tasty. Hot toast roasters simply save lovers of such food in the morning.
These consumers note that the appliance completely replaces the oven. Has a timer, compact. Able to work in three modes. It has a beautiful modern design. Allows you to achieve a delicious crisp. Evenly heats the bread. If you have the appropriate nozzles, you get very tasty waffles, sausages in the dough, pies and cutlets. There is a capacity adjustment and LED indication of the workflow.
Among the disadvantages, which are mainly noted in simple and cheap models, there are: a short cord, a flimsy design (for IRIT models), low power and a timer for 15 minutes.
There are people who did not like the device at all. They note that sandwiches are baked here for a long time. Bread is poorly roasted. These individuals have not been able to fully exploit it.