Which bowl is better in a slow cooker - ceramic or teflon?
Crock-pots appeared on the home appliance market relatively recently, but have already managed to rapidly gain popularity among housewives with different amounts of free time. But all the advantages of this device can rightfully be assessed only if the model of technology is correctly selected. And in this regard, the type of coating of the bowl plays an important role. Which bowl is better in a slow cooker - ceramic or teflon? - This is what will be discussed in this article.
to contents ↑General requirements
Before deciding for yourself which bowl for a multicooker is better, you need to understand what properties it should ideally have. It is important to note the following characteristics here:
- durability;
- practicality and ease of operation and maintenance;
- preservation of useful substances of the prepared dish and the absence of harmful effects on human health;
- cost.
to contents ↑Important! In addition to these criteria, of course, there are other requirements by which to choose the best device, especially if you plan to use it not from time to time, but daily. But the type of bowl coating in any situation is one of the most important parameters.
Follow the link to find out all the useful information that you will need.when choosing a multicooker.
Multicooker bowl arrangement
Asking the question, which bowl is better in a slow cooker - ceramic or Teflon, we are talking about a surface non-stick coating. The basis of this important detail of household appliances is, as a rule, metal or plastic. The initial composition affects the mechanical strength and safety of the material, but not the final properties of the product. Nevertheless, it is worth knowing that metal is considered a more acceptable, albeit expensive option.
to contents ↑Important! Among the minus of the metal bowl, it is worth noting its greater weight, but in practice no particular discomfort occurs during cooking or washing the element. Therefore, we hope you make the right choice in favor of the best material, and with that, which bowl is better in a slow cooker - ceramic or teflonI, we will understand further in the text.
Ceramics - Pros and Cons
So, getting to the bottom of the question, which is better - non-stick or ceramic coating, you need to deal with the pros and cons of each option. How does ceramics win and what are its disadvantages?
Pros:
- Ceramics are made on the basis of environmentally friendly clay and water, therefore it is absolutely safe material from the point of view of the absence of harm to health. This must be taken into account as an indisputable advantage, because in a slow cooker you will cook for the whole family, including for children who need ultimate protection.
- Heat resistance of the material is another plus, although relative. The standard heating parameters that ceramics can withstand are 450-480 C. But in fairness, it is worth noting that such a temperature is not used for cooking - up to a maximum of 200 C. Accordingly - how much such a high value is needed is up to you.
- Practically any means are suitable for cleaning. Therefore, we can safely say that on the care side, the choice of which bowl is better in a slow cooker - ceramic or teflon, is obvious.Pottery wins. Although it will have to be washed exclusively by hand - manufacturers put a ban on leaving in the dishwasher.
Minuses:
- The average service life of such a bowl usually does not exceed 3-5 years. But this drawback can be called relative, given the speed with which manufacturers of household appliances today deliver new, more advanced models to the market. Based on this, it is likely that even after 2 years you will want to update the not so functional and practical equipment in accordance with the new conditions and requirements.
- Relatively high price. As with any high-quality product, you will have to pay an order of magnitude more for a ceramic coating than for non-stick Teflon. But if the goal is to purchase the most budgetary equipment, then ceramics are unlikely to suit you.
- Sudden changes in temperature are detrimental to ceramics - it can crack. Therefore, after cooking, you will have to wait about 15 minutes until the material cools down - you can not immediately dip it in cold or even slightly warm water.
to contents ↑Important! All the shortcomings, except for the price, can be called conditional, since during operation they do not cause any inconvenience. And if you ask a question, which bowl is better in a slow cooker - ceramic or teflon according to the safety criterion and the quality class, then the choice must definitely be made in favor of ceramics.
Teflon - Pros and Cons
Teflon is one of the modifications of plastic, the properties of which are very contradictory. Of course, if there is no doubt about the reliability of the brand, then it makes sense to speculate which is better - non-stick or ceramic coating. But given the fact that many modern companies - suppliers of household appliances, often violate production technologies and even quality certificates can not always be trusted, there is nothing to doubt. In order not to mislead you and impose a certain point of view, we turn to the bare facts about Teflon - what are its pros and cons?
Pros:
- Mechanical strength. On the one hand - indeed, Teflon is more durable and resistant. But at the same time, scratches with improper care appear on it with sparkling speed.
- Chemical inertness to alkalis and acids. As the initial properties, such characteristics of a non-stick coating are distinguished. But again, provided a really high class quality material. If you purchased an inexpensive model, and the manufacturer decided to save on plastic for the bowl, after the first or second washing with an ordinary dishwashing detergent, expect the appearance of a characteristic chemical smell of your detergent when heating the dish during cooking.
- Absolute smoothness of the surface and high resistance to carbon deposits. Indeed, if you decide that Teflon is the best option for you, you will appreciate those properties that make it possible to cook food without a burn, even without oil. But if, through negligence, you walk along the surface with some sharp object, all these properties will come to naught.
Ease of maintenance - provided by the ability to wash by any means and even with the help of a dishwasher. But in general, this criterion may not be so important, because if nothing sticks after cooking, then you will spend no more than 2-3 minutes on manual washing. And launching a dishwasher for the sake of one bowl is irrational.
Important! If you are seriously engaged in the choice of a multicooker, then you will encounter another big dilemma. Having addressed all your questions, we have prepared a separate review in which you will find out which is better - slow cooker or pressure cooker.
Minuses:
- The cost of really high-quality and safe plastic will not be much lower than ceramics.
- 260 degrees - this is the temperature threshold after which plastic Teflon begins to emit harmful substances. They are immediately absorbed into the products. But in fact, since such a temperature is not used during cooking, there is nothing to be afraid of.The only condition is that you must be really confident in the reliability of the manufacturer so that the boundary values of the Teflon operating temperature match the declared ones.
- If you carelessly handled the dishes or unknowingly put scratches on the coating with a fork, a knife, the thicket will have to be scrapped. It is unsuitable for further use as a basis for cooking. Even with slight heating, harmful chemical compounds will enter the food.
Which is better - ceramic or teflon? findings
After weighing the pros and cons for each type of coating the multicooker bowl, the conclusions can be drawn as follows:
- Teflon is the best option if you want to buy equipment “for years” and are confident in the quality of the goods offered to you by one or another manufacturer.
- Ceramics is the only true solution to the question of which bowl is best in a slow cooker, if first of all you take care of yourself and your loved ones and value personal safety.
to contents ↑Important! Progress does not stand still, and many manufacturers regularly release new multicooker models. To understand all the variety and choose the best model you will be helped by our special review of multicookers of the most popular models.
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We hope that the information provided is quite enough for you to decide for yourself which is better - ceramic or non-stick coating of the multicooker bowl. Make no mistake! Then you will enjoy delicious and really healthy food, the preparation of which will not be tiring and burdensome for you.