How to use a multicooker

A multicooker is a universal assistant, a real breadwinner for the whole family. You shouldn’t join the ranks of housewives who have this device gathering dust in the closet or only using it to prepare 1-2 dishes. Take a closer look at your multicooker - it can probably do more than cook porridge and steam vegetables.

How to properly start the device

In order for the device to start working for the owner (who can do other things at this time), it must be turned on and the necessary products must be placed inside. This process is universal for all devices, regardless of manufacturer and model.

Multicookers consist of:

• Housings with a fixed hinged lid and control panel;
• power cord;
• Deep container for preparing first courses and side dishes in large quantities;
• Removable flat bowl with holes for steaming products;
• Additional accessories to make cooking easier (measuring containers, a ladle, a ladle made from materials that are safe for the multicooker bowl).

Important! The recipe book is another pleasant bonus that the manufacturer often completes with the device.

The first thing the housewife has to do is decide on the dish and the method of heat treatment. For cutlets or steamed vegetables, you will need not a deep container, but a special bowl. All other culinary delights are prepared in the main spacious pot. It is suitable for porridges and soups, as well as for baking.

After this you need:

• Place the device on a flat surface;
• Place the ingredients in the bowl according to the recipe;
• Plug the power cord first into the hole on the multicooker, then into the outlet;
• Turn on the device using the button on the instrument panel;
• Select the desired cooking mode and set the time.

After these manipulations, close the lid tightly.

Important: If you need to stir the contents or add ingredients, the lid must be opened carefully, as there is a risk of getting burned by the steam.

What functions and programs does the multicooker have?

It’s not for nothing that the device has the root “multi” in its name; it is capable of boiling, stewing, baking and baking a wide variety of dishes from the everyday and holiday menu.

The cooking (stewing) mode is universal. It is found in all models of any manufacturer of household appliances. It allows you to cook:

• Soup,
• stew,
• Potato tubers,
• Vegetables for garnish.

Cereals are a traditional dish on our tables, not only for breakfast. You can please yourself and your family with crumbly buckwheat, milk rice or dietary oatmeal without wasting time and the painful process of stirring. Most multicookers have a separate mode for cereal dishes.

Baking is an essential addition to any meal. In the bowl of the device you can prepare bread, cake, biscuits for a cake. Important: if your model does not provide a baking function, it can be replaced by a porridge cooking mode.

Steaming is an easy way to eat healthy and nutritiously. In a special container the following are obtained equally well:

• Meat and fish cutlets, meatballs or fillets;
• Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, green beans;
• Pumpkin, carrots and other vegetables for serving on their own or for later chopping in a blender.

Cottage cheese, vegetable and meat casseroles in a slow cooker turn out 5+ even for inexperienced housewives. Some models have settings specifically for pilaf and rice side dishes. Lovers of fresh and natural products also prepare homemade yogurt using this device.

Features of working with devices from different manufacturers

The main useful functions of multicookers: porridge, soup, baking, steaming are found in all models. Almost all appliances provide the ability to not only cook, but also heat food. Additional useful features worth highlighting:

• Delayed start;
• Automatic cooking programs for various products (chicken, vegetables, meat, fish) and dishes (jellied meat, stew, casserole, baked goods);
• Pressure cooker mode.

It is worth overpaying for bonus programs if you plan to often prepare a variety of dishes from a rich selection of products. For the everyday menu (first and side dishes), a device with simple and understandable functions is sufficient.

Polaris is a manufacturer of household appliances and appliances at an affordable price. Multicookers of this brand cope with stewing, preparing porridges and soups. Control is carried out using buttons: start, program selection and timer. The device turns on after briefly holding the “Start” button.

Advanced modifications offer:

• Pizza mode;
• Ability to ferment milk for yoghurt;
• Convenient removal of the bowl using a special handle;
• Safety lock;
• Heating 3D.

But even laconic models allow you to cook a first dish, a side dish and a sweet dish in one mode.

Phillips is a brand for those who prefer equipment with full, improved functionality. Such multicookers are not limited to three or four modes, but allow you to select a separate algorithm for different dishes. The device is convenient to use and easy to care for, it has:

• Sturdy carrying handle
• Easy to clean steam release valve,
• The bowl can be washed in the dishwasher,
• Touchpad with touch-sensitive keys.

Among the range of Phillips multicookers, there are devices with pressure cooker functions.

The Scarlett brand produces appliances with a spacious 4-liter bowl, which is convenient for cooking for a large family. Six ready-made programs are designed for simple and satisfying dishes; their recipes can be found in the book that comes with the device.

Some of the affordable but trouble-free brands of multicookers include:

• Vitek,
• Moulinex,
• Martha,
• Supra.

Important: Regardless of which model you use, before first use, be sure to thoroughly rinse the main and additional containers and all included cooking items. Before starting long-term use, simply boil water in a large bowl with a steaming tab placed over it.

How to cook different dishes correctly

How to fry in a slow cooker? Sometimes it’s enough just to load the necessary ingredients into a container and select an algorithm. But for truly delicious dishes you will have to perform a number of simple manipulations.

Nuances of cooking porridge

If you have a slow cooker, how to cook porridge in it? This is perhaps the easiest slow cooker dish to make. You should measure the correct ratio of cereal and liquid (milk or water), place the ingredients in a deep bowl and press the “Porridge” button.

This is one of the automatic programs that does not require setting the time. After the beep indicates the end of the process, carefully open the lid and set the table. You can add any fruit, nuts, jam, honey or butter to the finished dish. Bon appetit!

How to cook soups

Depending on what kind of soup you plan to prepare, calculate the cooking time yourself. First courses consist of many ingredients that are cooked at different intervals. Therefore, leaving the multicooker alone will not work.

1. If you are overcooking, cook it first and then place it on a separate plate to free up the bowl.
2. Now it’s time to prepare meat or fish broth.
3. When the broth is ready, you can add other ingredients to it and, closing the lid, bring it to readiness.

Dietary vegetable soups are easier to cook. All ingredients are placed in a bowl, filled with water, seasoned with spices and cooked for the set time. If there is a thick soup on the menu, do not be lazy to stir it from time to time, especially if you are using the device or recipe for the first time.

Features of frying

If the model does not provide a special frying mode, it can be replaced with the “Baking” function. Meat, fish or vegetables will have a light golden brown crust.

Important: At this stage you should add a drop of oil to get the desired result.

If the housewife plans to please her loved ones with a tasty and satisfying lunch, then first put any meat cut into cubes (according to your taste) into a container. Sauté until tender, then add carrots and onions. After this, add the chopped potatoes and cook the roast until the end, covered.

How to adjust device temperature

The temperature regime when turning on automatic programs (porridge, pilaf, stew, etc.) is set automatically by the device. That is why advanced models have an expanded menu. The highest temperature is frying. When stewing, approximately 100 C° is maintained; for porridge, this figure is lower.

Important: For milk porridges, a separate key must be provided on the display, otherwise the dish will run away and burn.

How to cook in a slow cooker? If you want to control the cooking process by adjusting the temperature yourself, choose a device with special functions. They have different names:

• Masterchef at Redmond;
• Chef Pro at Marta;
• Multi-cook from Polaris.

Instructions and step-by-step photos on how to cook in a multicooker are usually supplied in a special booklet for the device. Adjustments can be made during cooking or in advance, but as a result, the capabilities of the device expand. He becomes able to prepare punches, jams, and cottage cheese dishes of varying complexity.

It can be used for sterilization and pasteurization, baking in foil; preparing crackers and products with a crispy crust; making yoghurts; baking meringues; smokingThe ability to independently regulate the temperature of a multicooker significantly expands a housewife’s horizons in preparing nourishing, tasty and time-efficient food for every day and for special occasions.