Healthy steamed food: TOP 5 double boilers

The Redmond company has made a name for itself in the production of various kitchen appliances. Therefore, it is not surprising that the steamer with the RST-1103 model index has been deservedly popular with consumers for several years in a row.

The steamer is characterized by simplicity both in execution and in management. It is equipped with three roomy baskets with a capacity of 3.2 liters each, so that three different steamed dishes can be cooked simultaneously in the device. For example, cutlets are on the lower tier, vegetables are in the middle, and potatoes are at the top.

The volume of the water tank is 1.25 liters. When fully loaded, there is enough water in it for a full cycle of operation of the device, the maximum time of which is limited by the ability to set a mechanical timer for 1 hour. During the cooking process, the water can be topped up without stopping the power supply. An elongated viewing window with a notch of the maximum water level serves as an indicator of the amount of liquid.

The small length of the power cord requires placing the steamer near the outlet, which can sometimes be difficult, especially with a lack of free space in a small kitchen. But if there is a place for the device, then Redmond RST-1103 will take it with honor and dignity, helping to cook delicious and healthy steamed food for the whole family at once.

The Tefal VC 1401 steamer knows how to attract attention to its person — it makes you pay attention to yourself thanks to the spectacular black colour of the case. And even if dirt and fingerprints quickly become visible on the black colour, it still looks much more advantageous in comparison with kitchen appliances painted in classic light tones.

In the centre of the front panel of the steamer body there is one large rotary switch that acts as a mechanical timer (lasting up to 60 minutes).. To the right of the "twister" there are pictograms-tips, near which the approximate cooking time of various categories of products is marked. So, opposite the image of a fish, a time interval of 10-15 minutes is indicated, for a picture with a chicken — 15-35 minutes, and near the drawing of vegetables — 12-45 minutes.

The volume of each bowl of the steamer is 3 liters.In addition to the two main baskets, the model is equipped with a small bowl for cooking rice. That's just many users blame its too modest size — the amount of rice porridge in the bowl is barely enough for one full serving for an adult.

The water tank holds about 1 liter of liquid and this volume is enough for about an hour of continuous operation of the steamer. I am glad that the water in the cooking process can be topped up by controlling its level according to an informative indicator. In addition, even people who are far from close communication with technology can master the simple operation of a steamer, thanks to which Tefal VC 1401 can be recommended to all adherents of a healthy diet.

The model has replaced the legendary steamer Braun MultiQuick FS 20 , which is famous for its high reliability and ease of management. There were no drastic changes in the functionality of the heir, but the appearance of the updated device has slightly changed.

The equipment of the steamer includes two baskets with a volume of 3.1 liters, as well as a bowl for cooking rice and an additional black bowl for coloring products (for example, beets). Unlike most analogue models, all the capacities of the steamer are opaque, which, however, is not so critical. After all, in the process of steaming food, the walls of containers anyway fog up, blocking the visibility of the contents.

Each compartment of the steamer has its own anti-drip tray, so that odours from different baskets do not mix with each other. The advantage of this solution is the ability to cook different foods in the device at the same time, for example, fish and vegetables, without fear of changing the taste qualities of each dish.

The power of the device is 850 watts, which is enough to generate steam after 45 seconds. after turning on the steamer. The start command is given to the model by turning the mechanical timer and selecting the required time interval for cooking (from 0 to 60 minutes). At the end of the specified time, the device beeps, notifying the household about the readiness of a steamed dish, in which the lion's share of minerals and nutrients is preserved.

Useful to know. In the steamer, you can not only cook, but also defrost food. Moreover, if some products dry out during defrosting in the microwave, then after the steamer they retain their humidity.

The brainchild of the Swiss company Stadler Form is notable not only for its attractive appearance, but also for its rich functionality — in this regard, the model is one of the most advanced on the market.

The steamer is enclosed in a classic "wrapper" — transparent prefabricated baskets are inserted into one another, creating a three-tiered structure. If necessary, the partitions between the trays are removed, which opens up the possibility of cooking large-scale food in the device (for example, whole chicken or turkey). The total capacity of the steamer when combining all tiers is 11 liters.

The steamer trays are double-sided, i.e. in the usual position, the food in them is steamed, and in the inverted form, the cooking of products is carried out in its own juice. The juices released by the products are delayed by a special side in the design of the tray. The system of adding water during cooking is designed in an equally practical way — the channel for filling water encircles the entire lower part of the device body, allowing you to fill the tank with liquid from any side. However, this should be done with caution, since water often spills past through the narrow side of the gutter.

The operation of the device is controlled by an electronic panel consisting of a small display, a rotary knob for setting a timer and three buttons. All these elements are surrounded by a pleasant blue backlight. The "brain" of the steamer also has 7 programs for automatic preparation of various products (preset timer values) and a mode for maintaining the temperature of the finished dish.

The high power of the steamer (2000 W) contributes not only to intensive steam generation, but also to a quick start of the device — the food in it begins to cook almost immediately after switching on (all bowls are filled with steam in less than 1 min., and the temperature in the furthest basket reaches 100 °C during this time). With such indicators, the Stadler Form SFS.900 Steamer One automatically falls into the premium segment of steamers, being the best option for purchase in any home where the principles of healthy nutrition are valued and supported.

The skate of the Philips model is advanced functionality. Along with a stylish design and a touch control panel, it elevates the model to the top of the pedestal of steamers.

The equipment of the device includes three transparent containers with a volume of 2.6, 2.8 and 3.2 liters, as well as a removable bowl for rice and liquid dishes with a capacity of 2.5 liters.Each container can cook food independently of others — the proprietary function of the Meal Programme allows you to set the optimal cooking time for a specific container. In order for them not to get confused in places, the container bodies are numbered sequentially.

The steamer is ready to take even a whole chicken into its interior, for which it is only necessary to remove the bottom in each of the bowls. This opens access to the entire useful volume of the kitchen appliance (8.6 liters) at once. And to make the taste of chicken and other dishes more saturated will help a special mesh for seasonings, which is installed directly above the steam supply spout.

The brain of the steamer stores 4 modes of self-preparation of various categories of dishes. You can also set the cooking time in the traditional way, i.e. manually. If the cooking process suddenly runs out of water, the device will immediately notify you about it with the help of light and sound indication. The liquid is topped up into the tank through a special spout on the side of a strong metal case.

Complaints from the owners of the model relate only to the small capacity of the drip tray. In case of overflow, juices and fats from food can overflow over the edge and get into the water tank. Also, many people may not like the high cost of a steamer. But we should not forget about the quality of its execution and the high level of functionality — these characteristics fully justify the price tag on the Philips HD 9190.