What is a ham maker

Store-bought ham is appetizing and tasty. This is where its advantages end, because emulsifiers and stabilizers are the minimum additives that are included in the composition of an expensive product. Manufacturers claim that they use only harmless chemicals. Doctors doubt this. Those who try to eat only healthy foods have the opportunity not to follow the confrontation between doctors and industrialists, but to prepare aromatic delicacies on their own, using a simple device.

What is a ham maker

To prepare an appetizing ham, you will need any meat or poultry, some spices, a saucepan or slow cooker and a device capable of pressing the processed products without losing their juice. The ham maker is precisely this device.

What does it look like

She's easy to recognize. It resembles a large elongated tin can, the lid of which is pressed by springs. The body of a classic ham maker can be round or square. It has holes and grooves for fixing springs that hold the lid and pull it towards the bottom of the container.

Sealed ham makers, which do not have portion control, are only available in round shapes. The spring for such models is built into the top cover. From it the pressure is transferred to the internal one.

Purpose of the device

The job of the ham maker is to compress the food during cooking and prevent it from drying out. Juices are preserved due to the high level of impermeability of the housing or with the help of auxiliary means (foil, sleeve or baking bag). The pressure is provided by springs that tighten the lid. Regardless of the type of heat treatment, the ham maker guarantees cooking meat, poultry or fish in its own juices. It is thanks to this that dishes acquire their characteristic taste, aroma and appearance.

Equipment

Basic equipment includes:

• round or square mold;
• 2 covers;
• springs, the number of which is usually 3 or 4.

Sometimes manufacturers additionally equip the ham maker with foil, baking bags, a thermometer or a collection of culinary recipes. This bonus is undoubtedly pleasant. But it affects the final cost. Therefore, it makes sense to take a closer look to see if the additional equipment is covering up a low-grade craft.

What kind of quality ham is she?

Dishes from top manufacturers are exemplary. Redmond, Smile, Endever, Beloboka offer a large assortment of high-quality classic or sealed ham makers made of stainless steel. Polish Biowin focuses on the ease of use of single-spring impermeable molds. The Chinese Tescoma stands in solidarity with the Poles, but at the same time also proves that a plastic ham maker is not inferior to a steel one in durability and practicality.

The right of choice always remains with the cook, since he purchases dishes in accordance with his needs and capabilities. Ham makers from little-known brands are pleasingly lower in cost and may not be inferior in quality to molds from venerable manufacturers. But you should refuse to purchase if:

• the walls of the container are too thin - such steel is prone to rust;
• The bottom of the ham maker is non-removable - it won’t be possible to wash it well;
• plastic stinks - it is not a food option; when heated, it also releases toxins;
• the springs are thin - they are unreliable, you will soon have to look for new ones;
• The edges are poorly processed - it is easy to cut yourself on them during use.

If there are no such problems, you can safely purchase the utensils you like and cook original, tasty dishes in them.