Your neighbor has a multi-kitchen, and you have a multi-cooker – whose gadget will cost every penny?

The multi-kitchen is a relatively new device on the household appliances market. We can thank the Redmond company for its invention - their design engineers came up with the idea of ​​“crossing” several kitchen appliances, “pushing” their functions into one small housing. If previously various gadgets took up half the space, and the lion’s share of the budget had to be allocated for their purchase, now you can save both space and money. It’s possible – but is it necessary? Let's figure it out now.

Comparison with other kitchen gadgets

Externally, the multi-kitchen is very similar to other gadgets - a multi-cooker and a convection oven. And no wonder, because these are her closest “relatives”, from whom she took a little bit of everything. For example, what it has in common with a multicooker is the presence of a round heating element and a removable metal bowl. True, in most models the heating element can rise upward, which allows you to place kettles and pans on it. And from the air fryer, the multikitchen got a “head”, that is, a lid-nozzle with a fan and an upper heating element.For Redmond models it is removable, but the Delonghi company prefers to make it stationary.

What is the difference between a multicooker and a multikitchen?

The essence of a multicooker is reflected in its name - it is a device in which you can cook cereals, vegetables, meat, and pasta. You can also cook dishes that require frying or baking if the manufacturer has provided the appropriate mode, but they will never turn out the same as on the stove or in the oven (for example, fried potatoes will be a little moist inside). It's all about the lack of top heating - only the bottom and walls of the bowl are heated - as well as the insufficiently high temperature (most multicookers are designed to operate at 40–120 °C).

As for the multi-kitchen, you can use it to do anything - including bake pizza or nut cookies, prepare crispy chicken wings, fry potato pancakes, and grill fish. In addition, the cooking process should not take place in a bowl - it is allowed to use ordinary kitchen utensils: frying pans, pots and even metal kettles. And in a multi-kitchen you can always adjust the temperature at which a dish will be cooked, while most multi-cookers can only work according to preset programs.

A multi-kitchen is a device that combines all the functions of a multi-cooker, as well as a grill, oven and stove. As a rule, it is sold complete with a frying pan. There are also “smart” multi-kitchens that can be controlled from a smartphone from a distance.

What is better - a multi-cooker or a multi-kitchen?

The answer to this question depends on the diet and taste preferences of the family, as well as on the conditions under which the device will be used.

There is one more nuance - the price. You can buy a multicooker from a little-known brand for only 2000–2500 rubles, while the cheapest multikitchen will cost 7500–9000.

If a person is short on money and does not plan to regularly cook pancakes, bake pizza or brew coffee in a Turkish oven, a multi-cooker with a “Multi-cook” mode (allows you to set the desired temperature and time) and a “Frying” function (allows you to cook with the lid open) is quite suitable for him. . If you have the “Baking” mode, you can bake buns, sponge cakes, cupcakes, or make a casserole. The only problem will be a pale top of the pastry, but it can be browned by turning the cake upside down for 3-5 minutes.

Air fryer and multi-kitchen - what to choose?

To make the right decision, you need to compare the capabilities of both devices and identify your needs.

Multi-cuisine recipes

Each multi-kitchen comes with a book with recipes that are designed taking into account the features of this model.However, most of them are suitable for both conventional multicookers and air fryers.

Borsch

A traditional dish of Russian cuisine scares off many housewives due to the complexity and length of preparation. Using a multi-kitchen, you can do it in 1.5 hours, and most of the time the borscht will cook without requiring your attention.

Calorie content — 112 kcal/100 g.

Ingredients:

• 400 g beef;
• 500 g potatoes;
• 250 g cabbage;
• 200 g beets;
• 100 g carrots;
• 1 medium sized onion;
• 80 g tomato paste;
• 2–3 cloves of garlic;
• 2 liters of water;
• salt, spices, herbs - to taste.

Preparation:

1. Prepare food - rinse meat, wash and peel vegetables.
2. Shred the cabbage. Cut beets and carrots into strips, onions into half rings, potatoes into cubes. Divide the meat into portions.
3. Place everything in a multi-kitchen bowl and fill with water. Add tomato paste and spices, salt.
4. Set the “Soup” program. Set the cooking time (1.5 hours) and press the “Start” button.
5. When the multikitchen turns off, add finely chopped garlic and herbs to the borscht.

Stuffed cabbage rolls in sour cream sauce

According to this recipe, cabbage rolls always turn out tasty, aromatic and very tender. Heat treatment takes 60 minutes. 100 g of the finished dish contains 173 calories.

Ingredients:

• 400 g homemade minced lean pork or beef;
• 300 g 15% change;
• 200 g white cabbage;
• one onion;
• 100 g rice;
• egg;
• 30 g butter;
• 20 g white wheat flour;
• 300 ml water;
• several cloves of garlic;
• salt and spices - to taste.

Preparation:

1. Separate the cabbage into leaves and immerse them in boiling water for 5-10 minutes (depending on how hard they are). Then beat off or cut off the hard veins.
2. Prepare the minced meat - mince the meat along with onions and garlic.
3. Make the filling - mix the minced meat with rice, egg, salt and spices.
4. Prepare the sauce - stir sour cream, flour and water until smooth in a separate bowl.
5. Form cabbage rolls, placing a little filling on each sheet.
6. Grease the multi-kitchen bowl with unmelted butter and place the cabbage rolls there, then pour the sauce over them.
7. Cook in the “Stew” mode for at least 1 hour.

Lula kebab

An alternative to cutlets is a juicy kebab with a golden brown crust. Prepares quickly - in just 20 minutes. But the energy value of this dish is quite high - 261 calories per 100 g.

Ingredients:

• 280 g pork neck;
• small onion;
• 1–2 cloves of garlic;
• a pinch of finely chopped parsley and the same amount of chopped dill;
• dessert spoon of olive oil;
• dessert spoon of wine vinegar (3%);
• salt, spices.

Preparation:

1. Scroll the meat through a meat grinder or grind in a blender along with the onion and garlic.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients to the minced meat and mix thoroughly, then put in the refrigerator for half an hour.
3. Form kebabs - divide the minced meat into 4 parts, roll each of them into a tight ball, put it on a skewer and distribute it over it, giving it an oblong shape. It is important that there are no voids filled with air inside the minced meat, otherwise the kebabs will fall apart.
4. Place a wire rack in the multi-kitchen bowl, place skewers with meat on it, and place the air fryer lid on top.
5. Turn on the device for 20 minutes and cook lula kebab at a temperature of 180 °C.

Roast with potatoes

Soft, juicy stew with steamed potatoes is a tasty and healthy meal for lunch or dinner. Both dishes are cooked at the same time in one container.From the moment the multikitchen is turned on until it is served, exactly 1 hour will pass. Calorie content - 140 kcal/100 g.

Ingredients:

• 320 g beef without bones, veins and films;
• 300 g potatoes;
• 100 g carrots;
• large onion;
• 30 g fresh ginger root;
• a tablespoon of vegetable oil;
• 200 ml water;
• salt, spices, aromatic herbs.

Preparation:

1. Wash the vegetables and remove the peel. Cut the potatoes lengthwise into 2 or 4 pieces (depending on how large they are). Chop the carrots and onions into large strips.
2. Cut the beef into one and a half centimeter pieces.
3. Place vegetables (except potatoes) and meat in a multi-kitchen bowl, add the rest of the ingredients, stir so that the oil and salt are distributed evenly.
4. Place a steamer container on the bowl. Place potatoes in it.
5. Cook for 1 hour on the “Stew” program.

Pancakes

Why not enjoy thin lacy pancakes cooked with milk for dessert? They will be ready within 20 minutes after starting work, but those who are watching their figure should pay attention to their energy value - 227 kcal per 100 g.

Ingredients:

• 100 g wheat flour;
• one large chicken egg or two small ones;
• a tablespoon of sugar;
• a glass of milk;
• 80 ml vegetable oil;
• a pinch of salt;
• 1-2 drops vanilla extract (optional)

Preparation:

1. In a bowl, mix milk with egg, salt and sugar. Add sifted flour in small portions, while constantly stirring with a hand whisk or mixer. Then pour in 50 ml of oil. The finished dough should have a consistency similar to liquid sour cream.
2. Leave the dough on the counter for 30 minutes to form gluten.
3. Raise the heating element to the upper position and install the frying pan.Heat it on the “Frying” program and grease it with oil.
4. Pour some batter into the pan and spread it into an even layer. Fry the pancake for 2-3 minutes, then turn it over to the other side and cook until done. Place on a plate.
5. Repeat the manipulations described in point No. 4 until the dough runs out.

So, if you already have a stove and an oven with a grill, or a multicooker and an electric grill, there is no point in spending money on a multikitchen. It would be advisable to purchase this gadget for people who want to organize nutritious meals at their dacha or in a village house or service shed. A multi-kitchen will also serve well in small studio apartments, where only 2-3 m are allocated for kitchen space² area.