what is a multiple cooker

A multicooker (also written “multi cooker”) is an electric kitchen appliance for automated cooking using a timer. A typical multicooker is able to boil, simmer, bake, fry, deep fry, grill roast, stew, steam and brown food.

Searing

Many braise and stew recipes call for browning meats and aromatics before adding the liquid, since browning develops a layer of flavor that can transform whatever youre cooking from good to great. This makes the searing mode in a multi-cooker very important, but it has its limitations.

In my experience, a multi-cooker doesnt sear nearly as well as a Dutch oven or stainless steel pot set over a stovetop burner. Multi-cooker inserts tend to be tall and narrow, with a small footprint for the bottom of the pot, and the heating element gets only so hot. This can be a problematic combination, making the multi-cooker prone to overcrowding and thus steaming your food when you want to be searing and browning it.

You can make it work by searing ingredients in very small batches, and by waiting longer for trapped moisture to cook off and true searing to begin, but its certainly not the strong point of any multi-cooker Ive ever used. Its fine for making a stew or braise from start to finish all in the same multi-cooker pot, but Id never use a multi-cooker to sear foods that dont otherwise require being in the multi-cooker.

Steaming

This is one of those modes that work well, but arent all that useful unless youre short on pots and stovetop space. In steaming mode, you simply add some water to the multi-cooker insert; add a steaming rack of some sort (included or not, depending on the multi-cooker model); and then turn the machine on. Set to steaming mode, it will crank the heating element to full blast, working to get the water boiling as quickly and relentlessly as possible, in order to produce enough steam to cook whatever it is youre cooking. The lid can go on to contain the steam, but it wont lock—locking would fully trap the steam, leading to pressure-cooking.

Theres no reason not to use this setting, except that you can just as easily steam foods in a wok or pot set over a stovetop burner. Unlike the pressure-cooking mode, which offers dramatic performance differences compared with traditional stovetop methods, the steaming mode on a multi-cooker is just like any other steaming setup.

Crock-Pot® Express Easy Release Multi-Cooker CPE210

FAQ

What is the purpose of a multi-cooker?

What is the difference between a multicooker and a crockpot?

Is a multi-cooker the same as an air fryer?

What is a multi-cooker & how does it work?

One countertop appliance that does it all is the multi-cooker. From slow cooking and steaming to yogurt making and pressure cooking, this versatile cooker can free up space in your kitchen and time in your day. View our ratings and reviews and browse our buying guide to find the best multi-cookers.

Are all multi-cookers the same?

But not all multi-cookers are alike. CR’s tests found that some of these multitasking countertop appliances are essentially fancy versions of slow cookers. But others, including the Instant Pot, combine the speed of an electric pressure cooker with a number of other functions, including steaming and making rice.

Is a multi-cooker a pressure cooker?

For the most part, multi-cookers are electric pressure cookers with additional functionalities, such as slow cooking and browning. For this roundup, we also included a multi-cooking countertop oven. To find the best multi-cooker for you and the foods you cook most often, see the section below that covers what to look for.

Is a multi-cooker a good idea?

The multi-cooker certainly lives up to its name and has come a long way since the first Instant Pot revolutionized the market in 2010, making it more approachable. Today’s multi-cookers can tackle even more functionalities that in the past required several gadgets.