Total volume
The volume of all steam baskets is indicated. The larger it is, the more food/dishes can be cooked at the same time. Meanwhile, do not forget that this parameter also affects the dimensions and price of the device. Therefore, it is worth specifically looking for a capacious steamer if you cannot do without it.
For a family of 3 – 4 people, the volume of about 6 – 7 L is considered optimal. At the same time, we note that most steamers are equipped with several baskets, and it is not necessary to use them all at once when cooking. Therefore, for the same family of 3 – 4 people, a
larger volume model may be suitable, for 10 – 11 L: for everyday cooking, you can use part of the baskets, and the reserve by volume can come in handy if you have to cook in large quantities (for example, for the holiday).
Power
The maximum power consumed by the steamer during the cooking process; in many modes, the actual power consumption may be lower, but you should focus on the maximum power. The
more powerful the device, the more intense heating it provides, the faster the water in it will heat up to the desired temperature and the more powerful the release of steam, which is useful for large volumes of cooking. On the other hand, high power usually affects the cost, and power consumption increases accordingly.
Control
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Rotary switches. This type usually refers to electromechanical control — rotary knobs directly affect the corresponding elements of the steamer, without additional control schemes. This option is very simple and inexpensive, but the control options are quite modest and usually limited to the most basic functions. Therefore, it is mainly used in entry-level models.
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Pushbutton switches. Control of the electronic type, carried out through specialized schemes. The cost of this option is higher than rotary switches, however, the possibilities are incomparably wider. In particular, the steamer can be equipped with automatic cooking programs and an extended set of timers (at the same time, the accuracy of setting the time will be very high), as well as various additional settings.
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Sensory. Control, in many respects similar to the push-button (see above) — in particular, the set of features is also very extensive. However, it is based on sensors. The key difference is that the sensor does not need to be pressed unlike a button — it is activated by touch, which is very convenient. In addition, touch panels have a futuristic appearance and a smooth surface that makes cleaning much easier. On the other hand, such equipment significantly affects the price of a steamer.
Display
The presence in the design of the steamer of its own
display. Usually, this is the simplest digital indicator, sometimes with additional icons. However, even the simplest options greatly simplify and facilitate control, because they can display a wide variety of information: data on the current programme, time (total operating time, time until a timer starts), temperature, error messages, etc.
