How to choose an inexpensive, but high-quality multicooker?

Main advantages and disadvantages

In addition to the fact that this device makes food useful, there are several more main advantages of the multicooker:

• constant monitoring of cooking is not required, just set the desired mode and you can begin to do their own thing;
• the top cover of the product is light and can be opened at any time during cooking;
• no smell from cooking;
• consumes a small amount of electricity;
• It has compact dimensions, therefore it will not interfere even on the kitchen table;
• inexpensive relative to the stove;
• there are many recipes that allow you to cook delicious dishes even to a person who can’t cook at all (one of the main reasons for choosing multicookers for home);
• products do not lose their beneficial properties (most vitamins and minerals are stored after cooking, which is beneficial for even baby food).

As for the disadvantages, the main ones are:

• most models have few functions and, moreover, recipes on the Internet may not be suitable for some of the multicookers (for example, due to a lack of power);
• cooking time is much longer than when using a conventional stove;
• the cover of the bowl, in which all the ingredients are laid out, is very easily scratched, as a result of which the dish may burn up or lose its taste (although if you choose a slow cooker with a ceramic bowl, this minus will move to the side);
• you can cook only one dish at a time, which, as you know, will take a lot of time (at the same time, you can cook up to four at the same time on a stove);
• cheap models have few functions that are not in great demand, while for interesting functions (for example, creating yogurt), you need to pay almost 2 times more, and this is already a lot of money.

We draw your attention to the fact that these advantages and disadvantages relate specifically to multicookers. You can also meet visually identical rice cookers on the market, which have their own pros and cons.

Criterias of choice

To choose the right multicooker of 2018 for the home, you must rely on the following criteria:

• number of modes;
• design features;
• power;
• volume and cover of the bowl;
• type of management;
• Manufacturers
• additional features.

So, we will consider all points in order.

Number of modes

It’s not at all difficult to choose a good multicooker according to the mode; the main thing is not to overpay money for extra functions.

Among the main cooking modes, there are:

• steaming;
• soup;
• porridge;
• frying;
• buckwheat (may also be called “Krupa” or “Rice”);
• quenching;
• bakery products.

This is a standard set that can be found in almost any model. In addition, there are more interesting modes, such as:

• compote;
• yogurt maker;
• dumplings;
• stew
• deep fat
• pasteurization;
• dough;
• bread machine.

Among the options listed, crock-pots with the “Yogurt” mode are often chosen, which makes it easy to create a delicious home-made fermented milk product.

We recommend that you choose those modes that you really want to use. For example, there is no point in overpaying the extra 500-1000 for “Raga” if you don’t like this dish.

Design Features

Here's what you need to pay attention to when choosing a device:

• The legs should have rubberized linings so that the crock-pot reliably stands on the table and does not stick to the edge if accidentally grazed. In addition, the linings prevent scratching the countertops.
• The cable length must be sufficient to connect to an outlet. You can often find Chinese products with a short cable, which can only be connected if outlet height located at the countertop level. Otherwise, you will have to additionally buy an extension cord.
• It is better to choose a crock-pot, so that an easy-to-remove stand for spoons comes with it, with which you will interfere with the soup (or porridge). The absence of the stand will cause some inconvenience associated with storing spoons in a separate drawer of the kitchen table.
• A metal case is more durable than a plastic one, moreover, it is easier to launder and does not fade with time.
• There must be a moisture collector, in which all condensate will drain from cooking. If the moisture collector is not provided by the design, all condensate will settle on the top lid and drain into the bowl, worsening the taste of your culinary masterpiece.
• Heating elements can be located only from below, or from all sides (the so-called 3D heating). It is better to choose a multicook with 3D heating, but keep in mind that such a model will cost more.

Power

As a rule, the power of multicookers for the home varies from 200 W to 2 kW, which directly depends on the volume of the bowl. For a small family circle (for 3 people), it is best to choose equipment with a power of 700 watts. For fast cooking, a power of about 1500 watts is suitable.

You should immediately draw your attention to the fact that the power indicated in the technical specifications shows the maximum possible indicator that can be achieved at the peak of cooking when the bowl is fully loaded with food. Another very important nuance that you should consider when choosing is that the greater the power of the device, the faster frying / stewing / baking will be.

Bowl volume and cover

The minimum volume is 1 liter (according to our research), and the maximum is 10 liters. The first option is extremely rare and practically not in demand, because you won’t even cook soup in a liter bowl. As for the 10-liter capacity, it is also rarely seen on store shelves. The best option is a 4.5-liter crock-pot, which we recommend choosing for a family of 4 people. In this case, you can cook the first and second for all family members.

You should not buy a capacity of 2 liters with the thought that you live alone and you do not need more. Do not forget that guests may come who need to be fed, which is unlikely to work out when you use a small bowl with a maximum capacity of two.

To choose the cover for the multicooker bowl, read the information about each option:

1. Teflon - easily scratched, therefore, requires careful handling. In addition, when heated to a high temperature, the material can spoil the taste of food due to the evaporation of harmful substances.The only plus of the Teflon coating is that it is easy to clean.
2. Ceramic - practically does not scratch and does not spoil the taste of food, but at the same time it has increased fragility, which, again, requires careful handling. This option is more preferable and is in high demand among buyers.
3. Five-layer non-stick, with marble spraying - durable, retains maximum vitamins and also easy to clean. The main disadvantage is the very high cost.

A ceramic bowl is better than teflon, so we recommend choosing a slow cooker with a ceramic surface. The main thing is to carefully treat the sink of the tank, so as not to accidentally break it.

Type of control

There are 2 types of control: mechanical and electronic. In the first case, buttons and various rotary switches are installed on the front panel. This option is cheaper and at the same time reliable. If you want to choose an inexpensive, but good multicooker for your home in 2018, a model with a mechanical panel will cost an order of magnitude cheaper.

Electronic control is represented by a touch screen, which, in fact, is not a worthy indicator of quality. All electronics, and even more so, the sensor more often fail and, in addition, are several times more expensive, so it’s better to choose a push-button multicooker option without overpaying.

Manufacturers

To choose a good multicooker for your home, give preference to the following manufacturers who are leaders in the world ranking (review from best to worst):

1. Redmond is the leader among all existing brands. Good quality and versatility justifies the high price, for which this company is best multicooker manufacturer.
2. Panasonic
3. Moulinex.
4. Philips
5. Vitek.
6. Polaris

The best domestic manufacturer of multicookers is the company "Dobrynya", which produces inexpensive, but rather reliable products. To find out which model of a particular company is the best, taking into account your financial capabilities, view reviews of all the options you liked on the thematic forums. Many of the owners of a particular model often leave their review of the selected brand. There are also many Internet services where you can compare multicookers that are similar in price, quality and parameters, based on which to choose the best option.

Additional features

In order to choose a good slow cooker for the home and not overpay the extra money for a low-functional model, you also need to know about additional parameters that will come in handy when cooking. In modern models of 2018, the following functions must be present:

• Maintaining heat in the bowl. A very useful function necessary to keep the temperature until the right time after cooking. It is especially important if you are waiting for guests or often delay after work.
• Delayed start. An equally important function, with which you can provide yourself a fresh dinner or breakfast, without your own participation. All you need is to put food in the container and set the desired cooking time.
• Detachable cord. You yourself know that the cord from any household appliances interferes with its transportation and even storage (you must always shove it somewhere). Choose a slow cooker with a removable cord, which will facilitate the process of moving the device and storage in a cramped space.
• Multiple cook. A function that allows you to manually set the cooking time and heating temperature during the cooking process. A very convenient feature, especially when cooking french fries, baked milk or, for example, pies.

Expert Advice

Also, for your attention, we provide those expert advice on choosing a multicooker that can help you stay on the best model and at the same time inexpensively pay for the purchase.

1. Pay attention to the warranty period indicated in the technical passport. The larger this value, the better the product.Even when choosing a budget multicooker, the warranty should be at least a year.
2. If a display is installed on the front panel, check that it has a backlight and that all functions are Russified.
3. If the control is mechanical, check the buttons so that they are pressed without much effort. This point is especially relevant when choosing a device from Chinese manufacturers at a low price.
4. Some manufacturers try to cheat, indicating in the product passport not the useful volume of the multicooker, but the total, which does not correspond to the real one. To independently determine the capacity of the bowl, subtract 400 ml from the total volume.
5. Be sure to check if the bowl is sold separately. In case of damage to the tank, not every one can be found later, after which you have to completely throw out the entire kit. In this regard, stainless coating is better than ceramic.
6. If you have already opted for a multicooker on a particular model, make sure that the bowl is odorless in plastic, and the case does not appear to have large gaps or sloppy joints. These shortcomings will indicate that the company is not high quality and it is better not to choose this option.

To summarize, I would like to note that the best option for the home is a 4.5-liter model with six main functions, a ceramic bowl and a power of 800-900 watts. Of the additional accessories, there should be a moisture collector, a removable cord and a delayed start function. The cost of such a product will not exceed 5000.

5 best models of 2018

Well, the last thing I would like to talk about is which crock-pots are considered the best. For you, we have provided a rating of models that are optimal in price and quality:

REDMOND SkyKitchen FM41S. From the characteristics, I would like to single out a power of 700 W, a 5-liter ceramic bowl, a metal case, a large number of programs and electronic control. Additional features: multi-cook function, delayed start, heat maintenance and the ability to control via Bluetooth. The cost for 2018 is 5,000, which is the best indicator for price and quality.

Vitesse VS-3003. A simple but reliable multicooker, which we recommend to those who are looking for a model up to 5000. The Vitesse VS-3003 has all the necessary modes, enough power (900 W), a 5 liter bowl and a metal case that is easy to maintain. Electronic control, there is a delayed start and the function of maintaining heat.

Polaris PMC 0554D. By its main characteristics, this model is almost identical to the previous participant in the rating, however Polaris already has a multi-product. Reviews about this model are good and the price is reasonable (about 4000 in 2018). If you want to choose a good multicooker for your home without extra features, pay attention to this option. Please note that the case material is plastic.

UNIT USP-1150D. Power 0.7 kW, ceramic capacity of 7 liters, digital control, 12 programs and all the necessary functions (the only thing is there is no multi-product). An excellent option that we recommend choosing for a large family with a budget of 3000.

REDMOND RMC-M4511. Well, one more model from the well-known company Redmond closes our rating of the best inexpensive multicookers. The RMC-M4511 is an 860-watt unit with a 5 liter ceramic bowl. All functions, like their analogues, have a multi-product. Cost within 4 thousand. A good option for home, in short.

We hope that now you know how to choose a multicooker for home in 2018 by capacity, parameters, volume and brand. Remember that if you buy a model with “cheap and cheerful” thoughts, it is unlikely that it will justify your money. This type of kitchen equipment is bought for many years, so you should not save on it!

It will be interesting to read:

• Top multicook manufacturers
• Low voltage - what to do
• How to choose a yogurt maker for price and quality