Automatic modes

There are several automatic modes that ensure high quality dishes.

"Warming" program. A fairly simple option that allows you to keep a ready-made dish warm while waiting for lunch or dinner. Some housewives use this mode to defrost or melt butter. In most multicooker models, heating turns on automatically after cooking.

The stewing mode at a given temperature in a multicooker is very similar to conventional cooking in an oven at low temperatures. Well suited for cooking porridges, jellied meats, broths, in a word, those dishes that require simmering. The finished product is aromatic and uniform in structure. The timer can be set from half an hour to twelve hours.

The baking or baking option is convenient for those who like to prepare biscuits and sweet pastries. Non-trivial options for using “baking” include using this program for frying vegetables or meat products.

Baking mode in a multicooker

The mode configured for cooking porridge may differ in name and temperature settings. This program is also suitable for pilaf, crumbly porridges, and porridges with milk. Cooking time varies from forty minutes to an hour.

Some models for pilaf have a special mode, in which the food is browned on the bottom and the rice turns out crumbly. In this mode you can bake potatoes or fry dumplings.

The “Krupa” or “Buckwheat” programs are intended for preparing crumbly, but not browned porridges. In this case, the liquid is thoroughly evaporated. It should be remembered that the multicooker will begin counting the cooking time after it has heated the internal contents of the bowl to operating temperature. Depending on the volume of the bowl and the power of the device, this will take an additional 10–20 minutes.

Preset program options

Double boiler. This program allows you to cook food using steam. The dishes are specific in taste, but more healthy than those prepared in the traditional way. To use this mode, you will need an additional plastic container on which to place the food. Water is poured into the bottom of the bowl, then a plastic stand with food is inserted. The mode works when the lid is closed.

Almost all multicookers have a frying mode. Some models combine frying with a baking program. The program allows you to fry meat, eggs and other foods. Manufacturers usually recommend using the lid-open mode to constantly monitor the process - just like in a frying pan.

The Pasta program allows you to prepare dough dishes such as dumplings, pasta, dumplings. Resourceful housewives note the similarity of this mode with modes like “Porridge” and use them if “Pasta” is not in the multicooker’s arsenal. Using this functionality is not possible with delayed start.

Options for dishes that can be prepared in a slow cooker

Another of the automatic modes – “express” – is used for quickly preparing simple dishes in a multicooker. The device quickly evaporates the liquid from the stored products and intensively fries at the end of the cycle. When using this program, classic navy pasta, fried potatoes and similar dishes are perfectly prepared.

Smoking program - not available in all multicookers, allows you to smoke meat, fish, sausages. To smoke, you need to place a small container with cherry or other wood chips in a special bowl and place the products on the grates. Two smoking options are available: hot and cold. Hot occurs at a temperature of about 125 degrees, cold - at 30. For cold, only products specially prepared by marinating are used. The process occurs more intensively than when using traditional technologies. When using this mode, you should take care of ventilation in the room, since either during the process or when opening the multicooker after cooking, the smell of smoking will enter the kitchen.

Pressure cooker - this option allows you to cook dishes by creating excess pressure in the multicooker pan. The disadvantage of such a program is the inability to add ingredients during the cooking process without an emergency release of pressure. This mode is convenient for preparing jellied meat or other dishes that require a long cooking time.

The delayed start function is not a pure cooking mode, but it has a great impact on convenience. The program allows you to postpone cooking for up to a day. However, the function is not available for baking and frying.

Sterilization and pasteurization. These programs can be distinguished as separate, although in some models they are presented under other names. Pasteurization involves heating to 70 degrees to preserve the freshness of products and get rid of unwanted microflora, which are killed during heat treatment. Sterilization is intended for processing dishes - children's or intended for canning. The process occurs at a temperature of about 100 degrees. In fact, this mode duplicates the “steamer”, since sterilization occurs under the influence of hot steam.

The “Dessert” mode is not present in all models; it is intended for preparing sweets such as candies and caramel.

Operating principle of the pressure cooker mode