Comparison Esperanza Quasar vs Saturn ST-CO9155

Cooking programs provided in the device. The most common cooking programs are: fries, chips, chicken, meat, shrimps, fish, pizza, vegetables.

— Fries. The fryer offers a specialized automatic cooking program designed specifically for preparing dishes like crispy potatoes, mushrooms, or meat in batter. While these dishes can be cooked in any deep fryer, this program simplifies the process. With this program, users no longer need to manually monitor the cooking time and temperature. They simply load the ingredients, select the appropriate mode, start the cooking process, and wait for it to complete. In multi-ovens and air fryers, this type of cooking can be achieved with minimal amounts of oil or even without oil at all, providing healthier cooking options.

— Chips. The fryer offers a dedicated cooking program specifically designed for making potato chips, which are thin and crispy slices of potato. While chips can be cooked in any deep fryer, if the device does not have a built-in cooking program, users will need to manually configure the cooking parameters and closely monitor the process. Alternatively, the option to cook chips may also be available in multi-ovens and convection ovens (...see "Type"), expanding the cooking possibilities beyond traditional deep fryers.

— Chicken. A cooking program specifically designed for cooking chicken meat is commonly available in multi-ovens and air fryers. This program typically involves baking the chicken. However, deep fryers are less commonly equipped with this specific program. In deep fryers, the emphasis is usually on frying chicken with batter or without it.

— Meat. Program for cooking meat (veal, pork, etc.). It is used mainly in multi-ovens and air fryers, which means roasting meat.

— Shrimps. A cooking program specifically designed for cooking shrimps is commonly available in deep fryers, which typically allow frying shrimp in tempura batter. Air fryers and multi-ovens, on the other hand, may offer different cooking options for shrimps, such as boiling, particularly in the case of multi-ovens.

— Fish. Programme for cooking fish. In deep fryers (see "Type") fish is most often cooked in batter, in small pieces; it is possible to bake the whole fish, if the volume of the working space allows it in multi-ovens and air fryers.

— Pizza. A programme optimized for pizza making. The "Pizza" program, commonly found in multi-ovens, ensures that Italian dishes, as well as casseroles and pies, are cooked evenly on all sides. This program is designed to create a crispy crust on the top while maintaining a juicy filling inside.

— Vegetables. The "Vegetables" program, commonly available in multi-ovens, is characterized by its moderate temperature setting. It allows for slow and gentle heating of vegetables, similar to stewing. This program is ideal for preparing various vegetable-based dishes such as side dishes, stews, complex dishes and soup dressings.

— Auto-cooking. In addition to those described above, the design may also provide for other types of auto-cooking programs — for example, for mushrooms, barbecue, baking bread, etc.

The cooking temperature provided by the device. Most models are adjustable, so this item indicates the operating temperature range.

Deep frying is carried out at temperatures from 130 to 190 °С200 °С. But high operating temperatures (over 200°) are less common.

— 2 separate compartments. Features two independent chambers, each operating independently in terms of temperature, time, and mode. This design is especially convenient when you need to cook different dishes at the same time— like roasting vegetables in one compartment and frying chicken in the other, without mixing smells or having to settle for a single mode. Compared to single compartment models, the dual module offers greater flexibility and saves time, as you don't have to wait for the first cycle to finish. Practically, it is useful for a family dinner where everyone wants their own dish, or for quick snacks where some ingredients cook faster than others. Available in vertical and horizontal formats. The former is notable for its compact size, while the latter often allows for combining the chambers into one larger space but also takes up considerable space on the kitchen counter.

— Temperature maintenance. This function keeps the cooked dish warm so it doesn't cool down. Handy in situations where there's a long interval between cooking and serving, and you prefer to consume food warm.

— Removable bowl. The ability to remove the fryer’s bowl significantly eases maintenance and cleaning: for example, it's more convenient to drain oil from a separate bowl than to tilt the entire devic...e, and washing is noticeably simpler.

— Viewing window. A transparent window in the device's lid allows observing the cooking process without opening the lid. This feature is particularly important for deep fryers: opening the lid may cause splashes of hot oil to fly out, so it's safer to watch the process through the window. However, ovens may also feature a window (see "Type").

— Odor filter. A filter that cleans the air coming out of the device and prevents strong smells from forming while cooking. It's important to note that such filters usually have a limited lifespan and need to be cleaned or replaced after a certain period.

— Heating indicator. An indicator that signals when the device has heated to the working temperature. Note that in many models, this indicator works during the heating process, alerting you that the appliance is on and might have already heated to high temperatures.

— Non-stick coating. A special coating that prevents food from burning and sticking to the walls of the bowl, making the bowl easier to clean. Be aware that many types of non-stick coatings are quite delicate, requiring careful handling and not allowing cleaning with metal items or abrasive agents; on the other hand, such cleaning is usually unnecessary.

— Fondue preparation. Fondue is a dish consumed in a specific manner: small pieces of bread, vegetables, mushrooms, etc., are dipped into melted cheese using long forks. The ability to cook such a dish is exclusively found in fryers (see "Type"): for this, the lid is removed, and the heater operates in a "slow simmer" mode, maintaining the desired cheese consistency. There are also other types of fondue, namely meat fondue (with broth and thin slices of meat) and chocolate fondue (with chocolate and pieces of fruit); it's advisable to specify the possibility of preparing these separately.

— Delayed start timer. A system that allows delaying the start of cooking for a certain time. With a delayed start timer, you can load food in advance and set the start time at your discretion—like half an hour before returning from work to have a freshly cooked, hot dish ready when you get home.

— Self-cleaning. The device's support for a self-cleaning mode. This cleaning method is significantly easier than washing a heavy bowl with dried-on dirt in the kitchen sink: usually, it is enough to pour a little water with detergent into the bowl and turn on the appropriate mode, then pour out the water and wipe the bowl. Note that mechanically controlled grills may lack a separate button to activate the self-cleaning mode—instead, the necessary parameters (temperature and time) are specified in the instructions.

— Child lock. This refers to the ability to lock the control panel so that a curious little child cannot turn on the device or change the set operating settings. However, removing the lock is not a problem for an adult.

— Rotary switch. Control carried out by mechanical elements directly connected to the corresponding components of the device. The traditional, most popular option provides two rotary knobs: a thermostat and an off timer with a clock mechanism (see “Functions”). The main advantages of this type of control are simplicity and low cost. At the same time, the capabilities of the “mechanics”, although modest, are quite sufficient to control all key functions. Among the clear disadvantages compared to electronic control, it is worth noting less accuracy.

- Push-button. Push-button control is based on electronic circuits. Such systems are more accurate than mechanical ones; more capabilities and modes are provided. On the other hand, such control is more complex and more expensive than mechanical control.

- Touch. A type of electronic control with touch switches. Compared to push-button models, it provides a high level of comfort in operation, and looks more modern and aesthetically pleasing. Touch control is found mainly in top models of juicers.

— Rotary switch with sensor. Another type of electronic control, where the main control is a rotary switch, which is complemented by touch buttons. The switch itself simplifies the selection of modes, temperature, timer time, and the sens...ors are secondary. However, the control panel itself looks stylish and is not inferior in design to models with touch controls only.