What is a multi-oven and is it possible to cook delicious food without oil in it?

Household appliances turn routine household work into a very simple process. A multi-oven can be another helper in the kitchen. This device went on sale recently (in 2014), so not everyone is familiar with its characteristics and functions.

Multi-oven: main characteristics

A multi-oven is a kitchen appliance designed for cooking. The operating principle is as follows: the products are placed in a bowl with hot air, the flows of which circulate freely inside the container.

The device consists of:

• Cases. It is made of durable heat-resistant plastic or stainless steel, some models use a combination of these materials. Most multi-ovens have a vertically oriented body.
• Compartment for products. It is located at the bottom of the case. The compartment is equipped with a handle that does not heat up when the device is in use.
• Control unit. Buttons for controlling the device can be touch or mechanical. Some models have a display that displays the characteristics of the selected mode - temperature, cooking method, remaining time until the end of the process.
• Heating elements. Depending on the model, electric heating elements or halogen elements are used.
• Convector. This is a device that circulates air heated to the desired temperature.
• Grill. A rotating platform is necessary for uniform heating of products.
• Accessories. This could be a basket for deep-frying, grills for frying steaks, containers for collecting fat, etc.

The characteristics of the multi-oven depend on the model. You should pay attention to power, since this indicator is decisive. Most often, the power is 1.4–1.5 kW. In addition, you need to pay attention to the equipment, since the range of accessories differs in different models.

Multi-oven functions

The multi-oven has a variety of useful functions. Using this device you can:

• fry steaks or poultry (and an appetizing crust forms on the food);
• prepare a variety of casseroles;
• make vegetable fries;
• bake bread, buns, pies;
• ferment yogurt.

Some models have a boiling function. In fact, a multi-oven can replace an oven, bread maker, convection oven, microwave and multi-cooker. But such universal models are expensive. Simpler versions of multi-ovens may not have a number of functions.

How to cook in a multi-oven?

You can cook different dishes in a multi-oven with hot air function. The main thing is to carefully study the instructions to understand the functions of the selected model.

The food turns out tender and soft on the inside, with a thin crispy crust on the outside. At the same time, many dishes are prepared without using large amounts of fat and oil. Therefore, food from a multi-oven is not only tasty, but also healthy.

A special grill is used for frying steaks, preparing kebabs, and frying fish. Prepared products are laid out on it, then the recommended regime is set.

Cooking French fries in the Multi Oven is hassle-free, and the recipe uses very little oil. In this case, the slices turn out golden brown, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

To prepare muffins and other baked goods, the dough is placed in molds (metal or silicone) and placed in the multi-oven basket.

The average cooking time for most dishes is only 20–30 minutes. No additional stirring or turning is required throughout cooking. Just turn on the device and wait for the timer signal.

What can you cook in a multi-oven?

The range of dishes that can be cooked in a multi-oven depends on the model. Even in the simplest device you can bake meat, fish, vegetables, and prepare pastries. Many people like this device for its ability to cook fried potatoes with virtually no oil, which significantly reduces the calorie content of the dish.

In multi-ovens with advanced functions you can prepare yogurt and other fermented milk products. For this, heated milk and special starter cultures are used. You can add fresh berries, jam, chocolate or other additives to the finished yogurt.

In some models, food can be boiled. This is convenient if you need to quickly prepare vegetables for salads.

Multi-oven recipes

Each multi-oven model comes with a recipe book. With its help you can learn how to use the device. And after gaining some experience, you can use your own recipes to prepare dishes.

As an example, here is a recipe for making French fries.

Preparing the food will take about 10 minutes, and the oven will cook for another 20 minutes. That is, it will be possible to serve potatoes to the table in half an hour.

To prepare the dish you need:

1. Peel the potatoes, rinse them and cut them into cubes. You can use ready-made frozen semi-finished product.
2. If you use fresh root vegetables, then for half a kilogram of potatoes you need 1.5–2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. When preparing a semi-finished product, 0.5 spoon is enough.
3. The potatoes need to be salted and seasoned with spices to taste.
4. Place the prepared potato wedges in a bowl with oil.
5. Turn on the device to warm up to 200 degrees. When the signal sounds that the device has warmed up, place the bowl inside. Then set the temperature to 180 degrees for 15 minutes. No need to stir.
6. When the signal sounds, turn off the appliance, remove the bowl and transfer the potatoes to a dish. Serve with any sauce.

What is the difference between a multi-oven and an air fryer?

The design of the multi-oven is similar to another popular device - the convection oven. However, they cannot be called analogues.

A multi-oven differs from an air fryer in that the products in this device are blown more evenly with hot air. As a result, dishes are cooked in a multi-oven much faster than in an air fryer. And minimal heat treatment allows you to preserve the nutrients in food as much as possible. In addition, a multi-oven is more functional; you can cook a wider variety of dishes in it.

Multi-cooker or multi-oven?

Another device with which a multi-oven is often compared is a multi-cooker. But these devices have different operating principles:

• The multi-oven is a convection device; cooking is carried out by blowing hot air.
• In most multicooker models, heating is carried out only from the bottom of the bowl.But since the device has a tight lid and thermos walls, the products are heated evenly.

You can cook a wider variety of dishes in a slow cooker. So, you can cook soup or porridge in it. A multi-oven cannot cook such dishes. This appliance is more suitable for frying, baking and baking.

When cooking in a multi-oven, a crust forms on all sides of the food, but this is impossible in a multi-cooker.

How to choose a multi-oven?

To choose a suitable multi-oven model, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:

• Power. The more powerful the appliance, the faster the food will cook. But the energy consumption will be higher.
• Control option. It's a matter of taste. Some people prefer touch buttons, others prefer mechanics.
• Display. The presence of a display is an optional but convenient option. Models with a display are more expensive.
• Bowl volume. You should choose based on the number of eaters and what dishes you plan to prepare. For example, to bake a whole chicken, you need a 4-5 liter bowl.
• Functional. This parameter determines what dishes can be cooked in the appliance. But remember, the more options, the higher the price.

It is also worth paying attention to the availability of accessories included in the kit.

So, a multi-oven is a modern kitchen appliance with which you can quickly and easily prepare a variety of dishes. It is very easy to use and functional. But multi-ovens are not cheap; they are more expensive than convection ovens and most models of multi-cookers.