Multi-kitchen is a relatively new device in the home appliance market. Redmond can be thanked for its invention - it was their design engineers who came up with "cross" several kitchen appliances, "pushing" their functions into one small building. If previously various gadgets occupied half of the space, and you had to allocate the lion's share of the budget for their purchase, now you can save both space and money. It is possible - but is it necessary? Now let's figure it out.
Comparison with other kitchen gadgets
Outwardly, the multi-kitchen is very similar to other gadgets - a slow cooker and an air grill. And no wonder, because these are her closest “relatives”, from whom she took only a little bit. For example, with a slow cooker it is related by the presence of a round heating element and a removable metal bowl. True, in most models the heater can rise up, which allows you to put kettles and pans on it. And from the air grill, the multi-kitchen got a “head”, that is, a cap-nozzle with a fan and an upper heating element. For Redmond models, it is removable, but Delongi prefers to make it stationary.
What is the difference between a multicooker and a multicooker?
The essence of the multicooker is displayed in its name - this is a device in which you can cook cereals, vegetables, meat, pasta. It is also possible to cook dishes that require frying or baking, if the manufacturer has set the appropriate regime, but they will never turn out the same as on the stove or in the oven (for example, fried potatoes will be slightly moist inside). The whole point is the absence of top heating - only the bottom and the walls of the bowl are heated - and also in insufficiently high temperature (most multicookers are designed to work at 40–120 ° C).
As for the multi-kitchen, with its help you can do anything - including baking pizza or nuts, cook crispy chicken wings, fry potato pancakes, and grill fish. In addition, the cooking process should not occur exactly in the bowl - it is allowed to use ordinary kitchen utensils: pans, pots and even metal kettles. And in the multi-kitchen there is always the opportunity to adjust the temperature at which the dish will be cooked, while most multi-cookers can only work according to the pre-installed programs.
A multi-kitchen is a device that combines all the functions of a multi-cooker, as well as a grill, oven and stove. It is usually sold complete with a frying pan. There are also “smart” multi-kitchens that can be controlled from a smartphone from a distance.
Which is better - a crock-pot or a multi-kitchen?
The answer to this question depends on the diet and taste preferences of the family, as well as on the conditions under which the device will be operated.
When and where is a multicooker useful? | Who needs a multi-kitchen and why? |
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A slow cooker is a great addition to other kitchen gadgets: an electric oven or hot grill (for baking), an electric kettle or coffee machine (for making drinks), an electric deep fryer and crepe maker (for frying). For a short time period, you can do just one slow cooker, but this will be associated with some inconvenience. | A multi-kitchen is able to completely replace a stove - if you raise a heating element, you can put any heat-resistant dishes on it (pot, pan, saucepan, teapot and even a turku). The main condition is that the diameter of the bottom should not exceed the diameter of the heating element. If the kit has an air-grill lid, you can also cook a variety of pastries in the multi-kitchen, grill sausages, meat and vegetables. In this, she differs from her competitor - multicookers. |
This device is worth buying for those who: | Such a gadget will be useful: |
· Often cooks soups, borscht and broths; | · In a country house where there is no place for a large amount of equipment or where the owners come only from time to time; |
· Likes stewed vegetables and meat; | · In a working change house or in a student dormitory; |
· Prefers to steam; | · In a city apartment during repair; |
· Makes home-made fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt, yogurt); | · In a studio apartment or other housing with a small kitchen. |
· Has the ability to use other devices for boiling water, frying, baking. |
There is another nuance - the price. You can buy a crock-pot of a little-known brand for only 2000–2500 rubles, while the cheapest multi-kitchen will cost 7500–9000.
If a person is short of money and is not going to regularly cook pancakes, bake pizza or make coffee in a Turk, a multicooker with the Multi-cook mode (allows you to set the desired temperature and time) and the Roast function (makes it possible to cook with the lid open) is quite suitable. . In the presence of the "Baking" mode, you can bake rolls, biscuit, cake, make a casserole. The only problem will be the pale top of the dough products, but it can be browned by turning the cake “upside down” for 3-5 minutes.
Air grill and multi-kitchen - what to choose?
To make the right decision, you need to compare the capabilities of both devices and identify your needs.
When does it make sense to buy an air grill? | Under what conditions is it worth choosing a multi-kitchen? |
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Despite the word “grill”, which is present in the name and is associated with baked meat, this gadget is suitable for cooking first courses, cereals, and pastries. In fact, this is an imitation of a furnace - everything that is inside the aerogrill is blown with hot air. | The multi-kitchen, depending on the price tag and modification, can be equipped with an air-grill cover. In this case, it copes with all the functions of a free-standing air grill, but has one significant drawback - due to the fact that the bowl is made of metal, its transparency is zero. This means that it will be difficult for the hostess or owner to control the cooking process without opening the lid. |
Meat, fish, vegetables, mushrooms, dough - everything that is cooked without adding water - can be laid directly in a glass bowl. If you need to boil or stew foods, you will need a ceramic pot or a pan made of heat-resistant glass. An important point is that cooking the broth in the air grill takes too much time, so the meat for the soup is pre-fried in a pan until half cooked, and the water is boiled in a kettle. You can also pour vegetables and cereals with prepared hot broth. | However, there are pluses in multi-kitchens - for example, to cook a soup broth or to fry meat for a roast, you do not need a stove. Since all multi-kitchens (with rare exceptions) are equipped with a 3D heating function, there is no need to cook porridge in a pot using an air grill - it will turn out stewed even if it was cooked in a bowl under an ordinary lid. |
To buy an air grill is for those who: | We can conclude that multi-kitchen is suitable for those who: |
· Likes cereals - here they turn out friable and well cooked; | · Wants to cook a variety of dishes without cluttering the kitchen with a variety of appliances; |
· Prefers pastries and meat with a delicious crispy crust; | · I’m ready to pay more in order to get additional opportunities (the price for air grills starts from 2500–3000 rubles, but it’s impossible to find multi-kitchen with an air grill lid in the budget segment - its minimum cost is 12000–13000 rubles). |
· Has other devices in the kitchen - for example, a thermal pot or a kettle for boiling water and a stove for cooking broths and compotes; | · Does not need an air grill with a large bowl (the volume of the bowl in the multi-kitchen is only 5 l, and a free-standing air grill can have 12 or 18 l) |
· Is fond of home canning - in aerogrill with a large bowl it is convenient to sterilize jars (both empty and already filled with food). |
Recipes for multi-kitchen
Each multi-kitchen is equipped with a recipe book that is designed taking into account the features of this model. However, most of them are suitable for ordinary multicookers, and for air grills.
Borscht
The traditional dish of Russian cuisine scares away many housewives with the complexity and duration of cooking. Using multi-kitchen, you can do it in 1.5 hours, and most of the time the soup will be cooked without requiring your attention.
Calorie content - 112 kcal / 100 g.
Ingredients:
- 400 g of beef;
- 500 g of potatoes;
- 250 g of cabbage;
- 200 g of beets;
- 100 g carrots;
- 1 medium onion;
- 80 g of tomato paste;
- 2-3 cloves of garlic;
- 2 l of water;
- salt, spices, herbs - to taste.
Cooking:
- Prepare food - rinse meat, wash and peel vegetables.
- Chop the cabbage. Cut beets and carrots into strips, onions in half rings, potatoes in cubes. Divide the meat into portions.
- Put everything in the bowl of the multi-kitchen, add water. Add tomato paste and spices, salt.
- Set the program “Soup”. Set the cooking time (1.5 hours) and press the "Start" button.
- When the multi-kitchen turns off, add finely chopped garlic and herbs to the borsch.
Stuffed cabbage in sour cream sauce
According to this recipe, cabbage rolls always turn out delicious, fragrant and very tender. Heat treatment takes 60 minutes. 100 g of the finished dish contains 173 calories.
Ingredients:
- 400 g of homemade minced meat from lean pork or beef;
- 300 g 15% replaced;
- 200 g of white cabbage;
- one onion;
- 100 g of rice;
- egg;
- 30 g butter;
- 20 g of white wheat flour;
- 300 ml of water;
- a few cloves of garlic;
- salt and spices to taste.
Cooking:
- Divide the cabbage into leaves and immerse them in boiling water for 5-10 minutes (depending on how hard they are). Then beat off or cut hard veins.
- Cook the minced meat - mince the meat with onions and garlic.
- Make the filling - mix the minced meat with rice, egg, salt and spices.
- Prepare the sauce - sour cream, flour and water, stir to a homogeneous consistency in a separate bowl.
- Form cabbage rolls, laying on each sheet a little filling.
- Lubricate the bowl of the multi-kitchen with un melted butter and put the cabbage rolls in it, then pour them with sauce.
- Cook in the "Extinguishing" mode for at least 1 hour.
Lula Kebab
An alternative to cutlets is a juicy kebab with a golden brown crust. It cooks fast - in just 20 minutes. But the energy value of this dish is rather big - 261 calories per 100 g.
Ingredients:
- 280 g pork neck;
- small onion;
- 1-2 cloves of garlic;
- a pinch of finely chopped parsley and as many chopped dill;
- dessert spoon of olive oil;
- dessert spoon of wine vinegar (3%);
- salt, spices.
Cooking:
- Roll the meat through a meat grinder or grind in a blender along with onion and garlic.
- Add all remaining ingredients to the minced meat and mix thoroughly, then refrigerate for half an hour.
- Form kebabs - divide the minced meat into 4 parts, roll each of them into a tight ball, put on a skewer and distribute along it, giving an oblong shape. It is important that there are no voids filled with air inside the meat, otherwise the kebabs will fall apart.
- Place the grill in the bowl from the multi-kitchen, put the skewers with meat on it, place the air-grill lid on top.
- Turn on the appliance for 20 minutes and cook kebab lula at a temperature of 180 ° C.
Fried potatoes
Soft, juicy stew with steamed potatoes is a tasty and healthy food for lunch or dinner. Both dishes are cooked simultaneously in one dish. From the moment you turn on the multi-kitchen until serving, exactly 1 hour will pass. Calorie content - 140 kcal / 100 g.
Ingredients:
- 320 g of beef without bones, veins and films;
- 300 g of potatoes;
- 100 g carrots;
- large onion;
- 30 g of fresh ginger root;
- a tablespoon of vegetable oil;
- 200 ml of water;
- salt, spices, aromatic herbs.
Cooking:
- Wash and peel the vegetables. Cut the potatoes lengthwise into 2 or 4 parts (depending on how large it is). Chop the carrots and onions in large strips.
- Cut beef into slices one and a half centimeters.
- Put vegetables (except potatoes) and meat in a multi-kitchen bowl, add the remaining ingredients, mix so that the oil and salt are evenly distributed.
- Install a container-double boiler on the bowl. Put potatoes in it.
- Cook for 1 hour on the "Stew" program.
Pancakes
Why not feast on dessert with delicate delicate pancakes cooked in milk? They will be ready in 20 minutes after the start of work, but those who follow the figure should pay attention to their energy value - 227 kcal per 100 g.
Ingredients:
- 100 g of wheat flour;
- one large chicken egg or two small ones;
- a tablespoon of sugar;
- a glass of milk;
- 80 ml of vegetable oil;
- a pinch of salt;
- 1-2 drops of vanilla extract (optional).
Cooking:
- In a bowl, mix milk with egg, salt and sugar. Add the sifted flour in small portions, while constantly stirring with a hand whisk or mixer. Then pour in 50 ml of oil. The finished dough by consistency should resemble liquid sour cream.
- Leave the dough on the table for 30 minutes to form gluten.
- Raise the heater to the upper position and set the pan. Preheat it on the program "Frying" and grease with oil.
- Pour a little dough into the pan and spread it evenly. Fry the pancake for 2-3 minutes, then turn to the other side and bring to readiness. Put on a plate.
- Repeat the procedures described in paragraph 4 until the dough is over.
So, if you already have a stove and an oven with a grill or a slow cooker and an electric grill, there is no point in wasting money on a multi-kitchen. It is advisable to purchase this gadget for people who want to organize good nutrition in the country or in a village house, office building. The multi-kitchen will also serve the good service in small studio apartments, where only 2-3 m are allocated for the kitchen space2 area.