If you decide to buy a double boiler, then before going to the store, decide on what requirements the device should meet so that it is most convenient for you to use it.
The steamer is a universal device with which you can cook almost any food: vegetables, fish, meat, as well as cereals and desserts. Among other things, you can sterilize baby milk bottles, reheat cooked meals or refresh stale bread in a double boiler. The steamer can also be used for preserving and defrosting food.
The principle of operation of a double boiler is quite simple: water in a special container is heated to the boiling point and evaporates, steam enters the food compartments, evenly warming them up. Steamed food retains the same weight and volume and does not lose vitamins and nutrients (as, for example, when frying or boiling). Thus, food stores up to 70% of vitamins and minerals necessary for the normal functioning of the body.
Before deciding on a particular steamer, you must determine how often you will use it. There are, for example, built-in steamers that require frequent use. Although, of course, the most common and practical type of steamers are desktop ones - they do not take up much space, they are conveniently stored in a kitchen cabinet.
When choosing a model, first of all, you need to pay attention to the volume of cooking containers and power. So, if you have a large family or are going to steam large portions of food, you should choose a steamer with a large number of containers of sufficient volume. The power of the steamer must be at least 1 kW.
The containers used in steamers come in a variety of shapes. The most convenient for storage are those that are embedded in each other - they take up less space in the kitchen. But when you put them in a double boiler, you won't be able to arrange them randomly.
We advise you to choose those models of steamers that are equipped with several sufficiently deep trays to collect condensate. If there is only one tray, then when cooking products on several levels at the same time, condensation from the upper ones will flow down to the lower ones, thereby changing the taste of the food.
The function of automatic shutdown of the steamer must be provided in case of insufficient amount of water. Convenient if the steamer has a hole for adding water while cooking.
In terms of the control method, steamers are mechanical and electronic. You should choose according to your preferences. In a mechanical one, everything is quite simple: the handle (toggle switch) is set to a mark indicating a certain period of time, after which the steamer will turn off by itself. With electronic control, there are more opportunities; for example, one of the advantages is the ability to program the device to turn on at a certain time, then the dish in the steamer will be prepared just for your arrival.
