How to choose a double boiler?

The double boiler did not immediately take pride of place in the kitchen. For a long time, steamed dishes were considered tasteless and were intended mainly for those to whom the doctor prescribed diet food. However, now the food prepared in such an aggregate is not only healthier, but often tastier than fried, boiled or stewed. How to choose a double boiler so that it really turns out to be a desired and sought-after appliance in the kitchen, rather than gathering dust in the corner? This will be discussed in the article.

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Why is she needed at all?

Does a person who is not a fan of a healthy lifestyle need such a complex device? Why not?

A double boiler is valuable not only because it preserves all the vitamins and minerals that are mercilessly destroyed by any other way of processing products. You can cook almost everything in it:

• meat;
• fish
• vegetables;
• cereals;
• any other products to your taste.

The double boiler has a lot of advantages:

• autonomy - no need to constantly mix and watch, so as not to burn;
• the ability to cook several dishes at the same time;
• the ability to quickly warm up lunch;
• some models have a delay function for cooking, which, you see, is important for a business person;
• frozen foods can be thawed in a double boiler.

Is it really worth looking for the best double boiler for this? - A little deeper we will understand the capabilities of this technique:

1. Such an assembly is simply necessary for those who value time. I loaded the products into the basket - and play with the baby, write a term paper or knit a scarf for your husband. If the double boiler has several baskets, you can immediately cook the whole lunch by going into the kitchen only twice - turn the device on and off.
2. A double boiler superbly heats dishes, and cold meat dishes taste like they have just been cooked. And another important advantage - the dishes do not burn.
3. Among other things, such a device perfectly defrosts products. What is most pleasant - meat and fish do not lose moisture. This double boiler compares favorably with the microwave.
4. Do you like to bake, but you don’t always have enough time to stand yeast dough? A double boiler will help out here too - the dough will rise faster than at room temperature, because the “smart” device will create ideal conditions for this.
5. The delay function allows you to get a hot lunch exactly by the time you get home. To do this, just load the products in the morning and set the timer at the right time. And even more than that. If you can’t come to dinner, and only keep up with dinner, your reliable assistant will have time to warm up what is in her baskets several times, so you will still find a delicious hot dish.

Important! Manufacturers of household appliances today offer many varieties of miracle pots that can quickly cook a wide variety of foods with a minimum of your participation. To understand what you really need, check out the reviews:

• Which is better - a slow cooker or a pressure cooker?
• Which is better - a slow cooker or a double boiler?

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Gas or electric?

Before choosing a double boiler for home, think about which one you need. On sale you can find devices:

• gas;
• electric.

A gas double boiler is cheap, but is it worth it to take?

The gas-fired unit has its advantages:

• simplicity;
• durability;
• low price.

Such a double boiler has practically nothing but baskets and pallets - no electronic devices, additional functions, and so on. Accordingly - it costs very cheaply, and sometimes serves for decades, because there is simply nothing to break into it. Naturally, it does not consume electricity, so there will also be no additional costs during operation.

Important! Until you find the right appliance, you can try steamed dishes to see if you like them in principle. To do this, use our recipes and recommendations, how to steam without a double boiler.

But the gas steamer will not cook dinner at the right time - it just does not know how, like so much else. It is suitable mainly for cooking diet foods.

Important! The gas boiler must not be left unattended!

What does an electric double boiler consist of?

The electrical unit is also not too complicated. He must have:

• base;
• baskets;
• pallet.

Why is all this needed:

• The base is the heart of such a device. It is there that all the electronics necessary for heating water is located. There is also a reservoir, and the control panel also refers to the base.
• Baskets are made of good food-grade plastic that is non-toxic and can withstand high temperatures. At the bottom there are holes, it is through them that steam passes.
• The upper basket should naturally be closed, and the denser the better. She has a lid for this.
• Juice is collected in pallets, which products emit during cooking, as well as condensate, which is inevitable in such cases.

Important! Most often there is one pallet, but some models may have two, or even three - according to the number of baskets. Everyone decides which steam cooker to choose according to the device, based on the expected intensity of operation of the device.

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What to look at?

So what requirements should the best double boiler meet? There are several of them, and the operation of the device and the quality of the prepared food depend on each:

1. type of management;
2. power;
3. number of baskets;
4. number of pallets;
5. water indicator.

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Type of control

On sale you will find units with one of two types of control:

• electromechanical;
• electronic.

What's better? - Let's figure it out:

1. Most of the double boiler that you will find in shop windows and catalogs have electromechanical control - sometimes it is simply called mechanical. On the front panel of such models, a handle is clearly visible, which you just need to turn to set the time.

Important! Electromechanically controlled models are reliable, simple and fairly cheap.

2. An electronic control method is found in expensive models. On this unit, you will see a panel with buttons and a screen that allows you to control the selected modes. The housewife’s task is to correctly determine the time, set the cooking mode and select additional functions, the rest will be done by the “smart” machine itself. It is certainly convenient.

Important! Electronically controlled devices have several very significant drawbacks:

• they are rather capricious and require careful care;
• not all housewives manage to quickly figure out the functions;
• both the unit itself and its repair are expensive.

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Talk about power

The more powerful the steamer is, the faster it will prepare meals. But does everyone need the most powerful device? A lot depends on:

• on the number of baskets;
• on the number of eaters.

On sale you can find double boiler of various power - the minimum is 400 watts, the maximum is 1200 watts.

Important! If a device with one basket is suitable for you, it is enough if it will produce 400-500 watts, more and to nothing. A double boiler with two bowls will need 600-800 watts, with three - 900-1200 watts.

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Baskets

The simplest steaming device has just one basket. This is enough if you are not very fond of such dishes and are not going to cook them several times a day. But those who would like to cook a meal of two or three foods, this option is unlikely to suit. It is better to choose a device with two or three bowls, then it will be possible to cook both a patty and a complex side dish at the same time.

Important! To figure out what is best to cook in order to establish a balanced diet, find out What foods have the most vitamins?.

Shape and size

Manufacturers of household appliances produce “multi-story” double boiler with two types of baskets:

• the same diameter;
• different diameters.

Important! Each species has its own advantages:

1. Different-sized bowls are easy to store - they simply fit into one another.
2. But baskets with the same diameter during cooking can be interchanged. This is necessary if the side dish, which is cooked in the lower bowl, is almost ready, and the patties in the upper basket are not yet available.

Round or oval?

Round baskets are convenient for preparing side dishes, meat in small pieces, cutlets. However, in order to make, for example, chicken or fish, an oval large bowl is more suitable. Based on the fact that most often you like to cook, it will be right to choose a double boiler of the right model.

Materials

The walls of the baskets are usually made of transparent heat-resistant plastic. At the beginning of cooking, this is convenient, since it is possible to observe the process. However, then the cups fog up. Sometimes metal bowls come across, but such models can now be found only in the thrift store, and these are mainly gas double-boilers.

As for the bottom, be sure to look at the purchase:

• what it is made of;
• collapsible or non-collapsible.

Important! The removable bottom is a very convenient thing! It allows you to turn two small bowls into one large. In addition, such baskets are easier to wash.

On sale you will find bowls:

• from stainless steel;
• with non-stick coating.

Important! In fact, in a double boiler, food rarely burns, so the steel bottom is quite suitable, especially since such units are cheaper. But the non-stick bowl is still more reliable. In addition, it makes it possible to cook meat in its own juice.

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Pallet

If you are puzzled by how to choose the best double boiler, you definitely need to know that the taste of dishes, oddly enough, depends largely on the number of pallets. It would seem, what does the trays into which the liquid flows?

In fact, it’s very “to do with it,” because there is condensate and juice that is released during cooking from products that are boiled in all bowls, both lower and upper.

What is it? It turns out that the juice from the upper basket impregnates what is prepared below. Sometimes it’s appropriate, more often it’s not. Therefore, it is better if a multi-story double boiler has several trays.

Depth

Pay attention to the depth of the pan. The more, the better, since the small tray will quickly overflow, you will have to stop the process and pour out the liquid.

Important! The standard depth is one and a half centimeters. Such a pallet holds quite a lot of condensate and juice. But better still, if the depth is at least two centimeters, or even two and a half.

Handles are a very convenient part, especially if the tray is small. The presence of such parts will allow pouring the liquid without burning and without smearing everything around.

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Water indicator and the possibility of topping up

Many modern models have a water level indicator. This allows you to better control the process, because you can see how much liquid has boiled off and whether it is necessary to add it. Of course, without the possibility of topping up, such an indicator is almost useless.

Important! The possibility of topping up is especially important if the double boiler has several tiers.

What you pour before starting cooking may not be enough. There are two types of topping device:

• funnel;
• hollow handles.

The vast majority of double boiler has such a function. An exception is the simplest and cheapest models. In the most expensive built-in models, automatic topping up of water from the water supply system is provided. In this case, excess condensate and juice, without any participation of the hostess, merge into the sewer.

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Additional functions

If you are satisfied with the shape, size, number of baskets and everything else, pay attention to what the double boiler can do - additional functions. So you will be sure that the double boiler you have chosen is the best.

These options include:

• automatic shutdown at full evaporation of water;
• delayed start;
• keeping the food warm;
• fast steam;
• automatic cooking.

What do all these functions give and is it worth paying attention to them to choose a double boiler for the home? - Specify:

1. Automatic shutdown is the key to your safety. If the water evaporates completely - the double boiler simply stops working, the food does not burn, there will be no fire in the house.
2. The delayed start function allows you to cook food for a certain time, and the need to maintain the desired food temperature makes it possible not to turn off the double boiler after dinner is cooked.
3. Fast steam forms in less than a minute. Accordingly - the dish will be ready much earlier than in normal mode. There is evidence that with this cooking method, more vitamins are stored.
4. The automatic cooking function, also known as “recipes”, means that a double boiler can cook several simple dishes, the recipes of which are stored in her memory, without your participation. An ideal function for inexperienced housewives - you just need to note which foods and in what quantity should be prepared. The smart device will find and install the program itself.

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Equipment

There are a lot of configuration options to choose a good double boiler “for you”. For example, many now prefer a double boiler connected to the hob. But you can buy an independent device.

In any case, the following may be attached to the double boiler:

• capacity for garnish;
• stand for eggs;
• lattice for large products;
• container for bulk and liquid products;
• condensate trays;
• stand for molting products;
• device for temperature control.

Important! Manufacturers are constantly improving their models, so it is possible that you will see a model with parts for the purpose, the purpose of which is not entirely clear to you. Ask your consultant what these components are for - maybe you dreamed about this new opportunity.

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Let's talk about brands

Like any complex device, it is better to buy a double boiler from a trusted manufacturer, which guarantees quality and has a network of service centers where you can, if necessary, repair the unit and buy additional bowls or probe for it to control temperatures.

Tefal

A recognized leader in the kitchen equipment market is Tefal. In the catalogs you will find several double boiler from this manufacturer - VC1014, VC4003, VC4008, and VS4003.

Absolutely all products of the company have large baskets and pallets, many functions, non-stick coating. According to the estimates of both clients and experts, these are the best double boiler today.

Philips

Philips also offers customers some very successful, and at the same time, relatively inexpensive models with three baskets, high power. Particularly popular among the products of this company are the HD9120 and HD9140.

Mulinex

The MV1000 Principio and MV1003 Accessimo units from Moulinex are also well established. They are compact, convenient, have two baskets, they have the function of adding water and many others. Very worthy products - and at an affordable price.

Brown

One cannot but recall the Braun company with a kind word. Solid, reliable, powerful devices. Model Braun FS20 is equipped with, among other things, also a dark bowl for “molting” products.The model is inexpensive and high quality.

Scarlett

Cheap and quite high quality double boiler. Customers especially like the Scarlett SC343 and Scarlett SC1143. They have all the necessary functions for quality cooking, and in addition, they are convenient to store.

Important! We devoted a separate article to the review of different models with a description of their characteristics, pluses, minuses according to user reviews. Follow the link to use this information when choosing better double boiler.

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Stock footage

In short, the choice of double boiler in the market is quite large. It is not at all difficult to find the unit according to your own taste and financial capabilities. The only thing to refrain from is the purchase of products from unknown manufacturers, even if they are cheaper. A nice addition can be a recipe book - reputable manufacturers usually give their customers such a gift.