What is a pressure cooker? Which pressure cooker is better to buy for your home?

A pressure cooker is a multi-section pan in which you can steam food. Due to the absence of direct contact with water and oil, the products are not only as healthy as possible, but also tasty. How to choose a pressure cooker and what types they come in is described in detail in this material.

What can you cook in a pressure cooker?

First of all, you need to understand the basic functions of the device, that is, understand what a pressure cooker is. We can say that this is a special multi-tiered pan in which manti is cooked, as the name suggests.

It consists of several sections with a flat base, in which many holes are made for free access of steam. There are usually 3 such sections, but sometimes there are up to 6.

In this case, the lower part is represented by an ordinary low saucepan in which water boils vigorously. It evaporates, the streams rise upward and come into contact with the cooking products. The temperature reaches 100°C, due to which the steaming process takes place.

The fundamental difference from conventional cooking is that the ingredients are not immersed in water. Therefore, they do not lose nutrients and remain juicy and tasty. This is how manti differ from dumplings - the former are steamed, the latter are boiled.

You can also say that a pressure cooker is a small oven, since food is cooked without contact with water or oil. They turn out to be more useful and practically do not contain harmful substances. You can steam a variety of foods:

• cutlets;
• fish;
• chicken breast;
• vegetables;
• some cereals (buckwheat, rice and others).

At the same time, a manto cooker (also called a mantyshnitsa) does not completely replace a saucepan or oven. For example, bread is cooked exclusively in the oven, and pasta is cooked only in rapidly boiling water.

Types of pressure cookers

Today, manufacturers produce many different models. Therefore, the question arises about which pressure cooker is better to buy. Making a choice is not so difficult; to do this, you need to pay attention to several criteria, the main one being the material from which the containers are made. It can be aluminum and stainless steel.

Aluminum

A mantle or mantyshnitsa made of aluminum is the most affordable, since the material is inexpensive. Such containers have thin walls, so they are short-lived. The fact is that they are easy to scratch and damage the surface. Another problem is that the bottom quickly smokes and becomes covered with soot, which is especially often observed when using a gas stove.

Based on how this type of manty fish looks, you can be sure that it is quite attractive. And if you cook it less often and handle the container carefully, it will last for several years. In addition, aluminum has an important advantage - it does not release any harmful substances into the water or air, it is a completely safe material.

Therefore, it is quite possible to purchase an aluminum mantyshnitsa. It is recommended to choose models in which the lower container has a cast bottom made of a more durable material.Then it will last much longer. In addition, thanks to the thick bottom, the heat is distributed evenly, and the food is cooked at approximately the same speed.

Stainless steel

It is also useful to know what a stainless steel mantyshka is. This is a more durable material that lasts for many years and still retains its shine. However, when using a gas stove, soot will still appear, so you need to wash the surfaces after each cooking.

The bottom of these pans is thick, so the water heats up evenly. The lid can also be made of stainless steel or heat-resistant glass. The latter option is better in that it allows you to see how the food is prepared.

Some models have a temperature sensor on the lid, which increases the cost slightly. We can say about such a manti cooker that it is a convenient device that allows you to prepare delicious manti without overcooking it.

How to replace a pressure cooker

While dumplings can always be prepared, making manti without a manty maker is difficult. Nevertheless, it’s worth figuring out what you can use to replace the pressure cooker. These can be different appliances and utensils that can actually be found in almost any home:

• microwave;
• multicooker;
• oven.

Another option is to replace the pressure cooker with a frying pan or a regular saucepan. But then you need to have a special container with holes (at least 1 tier). Water is poured into the pan, and the section is placed on top. Then bring to a boil and cook over high steam.

Thus, there are several options for replacing the mantyshnitsa. But if the food is not steamed, but, for example, in the oven, this is not a completely complete alternative. It is better to purchase a classic stainless steel container.It distributes heat well and allows you to quickly prepare tasty and healthy food.