How to choose the crock-pot?

The crock-pot — is really universal kitchen unit. It allows to fry, cook, extinguish, bake food and even to steam. Thus everything that is required from you — it is simple to load into it products and to expose the necessary program. InfoHow.net will tell how to choose the crock-pot.

Before choosing the crock-pot, let's deal with its device. The crock-pot works from electricity, therefore its basis — the case with a heating element. On the case capacity for cooking (in other words, a pan) with an antiprigarny covering is established. Each crock-pot is equipped with the built-in microprocessor for management of preparation process. Also in it there is a steam valve for removal of excess steam and system of tight closing of a cover. In fact, the crock-pot unites functions of other similar devices — double boilers, pressure cookers, risovarka, etc.

To what characteristics it is worth paying attention if you decided to choose the crock-pot? Let's begin, perhaps, with power. The more device power, the quicker is cooked food in the crock-pot. The majority of modern crock-pots have one of three working capacities: 490, 670 or 140 Watts. Often there is a temptation to choose the crock-pot with the greatest power but if you need to prepare on a small family, it is not necessary to pursue this indicator. Optimum option — 670 W.

Bowl volume for cooking, by the way, depends on a number of people in a family. It can fluctuate from 2,5 to 6 liters (the most widespread volume — 3,5-4,5 liters). The pan of 4,5 liters allows to feed about 10 people. Except volume, it is necessary to pay attention to an antiprigarny covering of a bowl. It is available in all crock-pots, but in some this usual antiprigarny covering, and in some — five-layer with a marble dusting.

Usually crock-pots have six standard programs of cooking, but at desire it is possible to choose the crock-pot and with a large number of programs — about 10. The control of the crock-pot and a choice of the necessary program is carried out by means of the touch display. You put products, choose the program and densely close a cover. For preparation bean and porridges the majority of crock-pots have the mode of preliminary soaking.

Convenient function in the crock-pot — is the start delay timer. Thanks to it can put in the crock-pot products in the morning, leaving for work, started exposing time programs, and the device will start cooking food in such time that the hot dinner was ready to your arrival from work. The maximum time of a delay of start of the program makes 13 hours.

It is good if the crock-pot chosen by you is equipped with the mode of automatic heating. If you had to leave somewhere and you could not regale at once on the dish prepared in the crock-pot, after the end of preparation the device will automatically pass into the mode of heating of food. In this mode it can function till 12 o'clock (and some models — even to 24), keeping food of the warm.

It is very important to choose the crock-pot with a maximum level of safety. All good crock-pots have the tight valve protecting you from a burn the ferry. At the majority of models there is a system of soft release of steam: after the end of preparation pressure in the crock-pot decreases, and the collected steam comes gradually.

Safety of the device is influenced even by such, apparently, trifle as an electric cord. It can be disconnected or not. It is more convenient to store the crock-pot with the disconnected cord, but it is less safe because water can get to a cord junction with the device and cause short circuit.

Well and a convenience question too it is impossible to avoid. Crock-pots happen to handles and without, devices of the first type are more convenient in use. At a choice from a number of devices with approximately identical ratio "the price - qualities-functions" are sense to choose the crock-pot with pleasant "bonuses": a shovel and the holder for it, a measured spoon and a volumetric glass and so forth.

As you can see, to choose the crock-pot not so already difficult. This multipurpose assistant will help you to save a lot of time and forces, but thus you should not refuse tasty and healthy food.