Total volume
The volume of all steam baskets is indicated. The larger it is, the more food/dishes can be cooked at the same time. Meanwhile, do not forget that this parameter also affects the dimensions and price of the device. Therefore, it is worth specifically looking for a capacious steamer if you cannot do without it.
For a family of 3 – 4 people, the volume of about 6 – 7 L is considered optimal. At the same time, we note that most steamers are equipped with several baskets, and it is not necessary to use them all at once when cooking. Therefore, for the same family of 3 – 4 people, a
larger volume model may be suitable, for 10 – 11 L: for everyday cooking, you can use part of the baskets, and the reserve by volume can come in handy if you have to cook in large quantities (for example, for the holiday).
Capacity
The number of separate baskets in the steamer or the number of places for eggs in the egg cooker (see "Type").
In the first case,
2 —
3 baskets are most often provided, depending on the volume of the device. A larger amount is unjustified from the point of view of cooking efficiency — in "multi-storey" structures, the products in the upper baskets would not be able to cook normally, they would not reach enough heat. There are steamers for
4 baskets, however they are rare and usually have a 2x2 layout — 2 stacks of 2 tiers. The other extreme — one basket — is typical for the most compact devices with small volumes, up to 3 – 4 L.
In the case of egg cookers, everything is simple — you should choose based on how many eggs you need to cook in the device at a time. The most popular option is 6 – 7 eggs, this is quite enough, for example, to prepare breakfast for an average family. The minimum number of places for eggs is 3, these are devices for one or maximum two people. And in the most capacious egg cookers of these data, the indicator can
exceed 12.
Power
The maximum power consumed by the steamer during the cooking process; in many modes, the actual power consumption may be lower, but you should focus on the maximum power. The
more powerful the device, the more intense heating it provides, the faster the water in it will heat up to the desired temperature and the more powerful the release of steam, which is useful for large volumes of cooking. On the other hand, high power usually affects the cost, and power consumption increases accordingly.
