How to choose a steamer

By purchasing a steamer, the housewife is provided with a guarantee of high-quality preparation of healthy dishes. However, before purchasing, you need to know some nuances of the mechanism’s performance that will affect this process.

How to choose a steamer for your home: basic criteria

You should not neglect to consider the technical characteristics of the unit, because the quality of the manufactured products will depend on them.

Device power

Perhaps this aspect is one of the most important. Naturally, the lower it is, the more time it will take to cook.. The indicator itself varies from 500 W to 2000 W. But this does not mean that you should chase power with great performance. This issue must be approached wisely. For example, if the volume of the bowl that is inside the steamer is 1 liter, then 600 W will be quite enough for it. If there are several containers, and they are 2-3 liters each, then it is advisable to play it safe and purchase a device with higher characteristics.

ATTENTION!

Powerful equipment requires high-quality modern electrical wiring. If the wire is not reliable, then there is a high probability of periodic short circuits.

Number and shape of containers

There are different models: with one container and with two or three.The second option is great for a large company or family. The shape of the bowls is also important. Because the ease of operation and storage of the device depends on this. It would be practical to choose containers with different diameters, since they are inserted into each other, which brings comfort. However, cooking difficulties may arise if the lower bowl is ready to be removed, but the upper one is not. Therefore, this issue should be treated with special attention.

ON A NOTE!

Using a steamer with bowls that fit into each other is more difficult.

Steamer control type

Management is usually differentiated into two types:

• Mechanical. Quite easy to use. You just need to turn the mechanism to set the time, and the steamer starts working. Plus, such a unit has a low cost.

• Electronic. It differs from the first in a huge range of possibilities. The device is full of many functions - from a timer to the ability to select an operating mode. Such devices have a display that displays all the necessary information about the preparation of your dish. However, you will have to take a little longer to understand the principle of operation, although in this case, this is a pleasant thing. Added to the list of advantages is the durability of the device. It is worth remembering that the electronic device is in the middle and high price class.

Additional functions

It is worth paying attention to such characteristics, because the level of convenience in cooking will depend on them.

• Opportunity maintaining the temperature inside the device. Allows you to keep warm for several hours.
• If the water runs out in the unit, then there is automatic shutdown. This is necessary to protect against overheating. Ensures safety in use.
• Delayed launch. If you need to prepare food in the morning, you don’t have to worry about getting up early. You just need to turn it on and select the right time, and the steamer will cook the food within a certain time frame.
• Thanks to sound alarm inYou will be notified about the start and end of equipment operation.
• If you need quick cooking, you can turn on the "quick steam«.

Price policy

Undoubtedly, the cost of the unit is influenced by both the material from which it and its containers are made, as well as the number of shapes, power and type of control. In general, all of the above characteristics somehow shape the pricing of devices.

The most budget option would be a mechanical device made of plastic with one bowl with a volume of one liter. And an electronic metal steamer with two or three molds with a large volume will be expensive. So it's up to you. It’s up to you to decide which type of machine to buy based on its characteristics. The price of some steamers starts from a thousand rubles and goes up to over six thousand.

The best steam oven manufacturers

Of course, there are time-tested and high-quality manufacturing companies that have been trusted by many buyers for several years. These include companies such as:

• Tefal;
• Kenwood;
• Saturn;
• Atlanta;
• Unit;
• Brown;

It is worth understanding that each manufacturer has both its advantages and disadvantages.

Tips on how to choose the right steamer

The main thing is to understand for what purpose you are purchasing a steamer. And based on them, it is already possible to draw conclusions: what characteristics should be paid attention to and what to be guided by.