Multicookers, are they as good as advertised?

the_amazing_raisin

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some real life experiences of using a multicooker, specifically the ones that function as an automatic pressure cooker

To give some background, I'd normally batch cook a few meals during the week and reheat them in the microwave when needed.

I quite enjoy cooking meals from base ingredients but I don't like how much time it takes so I'm looking for ways to reduce that

I was looking at several multicookers, mostly because they can be programmed to cook for a set amount of time and just left on autopilot, rather than standing over a pot keeping an eye on it. I also like the idea that the mess is contained to a single pot

However I'm a bit wary about kitchen gadgets, they never seem to be quite as good as advertised. So I'm wondering how any multicooker owners have found their

Specifically I have a few questions

• Do you find they make like easier when cooking? I know that I'll still need to do all the prep work, but once they're cooking are they fairly hands off?

Do you need to stop them to stir the food? This would seem like a disadvantage to me

• Are they good at containing the splashes and splatters of cooking? Is there a lot of clean up afterwards?

How are they for energy consumption? It seems with smart meters coming we're looking at expensive peak energy tariffs in the evening, so anything that uses less energy than the oven or cooker would be good

• I suppose the most important question, do they produce decent food?

Tails142

I feel like everything out of my slow cooker tastes the same. Probably overcooking and killing the spices but it's a problem I'm encountering. It is handy though.

Air fryer is a god send, so if the mukticooker you're looking at has one I'd say it will be its most used mode.

We are cooking for six so I went with separates to get a bigger air fryer, can just about fit a chicken in to roast (1.5kg)

To answer your three q's, they are certainly easy to do a stew type one pot in, easy to clean generally, and the food is great, melt in mouth slow cooked meats, super crispy air fried chips etc.

Would recommend, conventional oven rarely used in my house now.

I'm on the fence about energy efficiency, they tend not to be too well insulated but in the case of air frying there is no preheating and they cook quicker so it probably balances out. I haven't noticed any huge expense or rise in bills anyway.

scottygee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058212430/multicookers-are-they-as-good-as-advertised

Def easier for me since I live alone. I just leave it on before going to work. I usually cook it at a super low setting just so I don't burn the bottom but potatoes have been my worst enemy.

In terms of the splashes, I've never had a problem cleaning it usually goes off quickly with soap and running water.

Def produces decent food. Well that's just my opinion

the_amazing_raisin

Thanks for the responses, I'd say the oven is probably the main competition to getting a multicooker. Unfortunately I can't chuck the oven in the dishwasher, so cleaning it out is definitely more hard work

We already have a slow cooker but I find it slightly annoying to use. I have dusted it off recently and made some good meals, but I feel like something more automated would be better. The control panel on it is starting to come loose, so maybe I'll need to trade up sooner rather than later

We have a Ninja air fryer as well, and it's pretty good, although I don't think it's as world changing as the advertising would have you believe. I'm on the fence as to whether I'd get a multicooker with an air fryer, it does add a fair bit of expense but could be very versatile as well

Kintarō Hattori

I love my Instant Pot (pressure cooker). It's extremely easy to use, cuts down the amount of time spent cooking and of course there's just one pot to clean. It's a fantastic device, so much so my neighbours bought one after seeing mine and my sister bought one as well.

I've only used the slow cooker to cook a joint of beef BUT after trying it for the first time a few weeks ago, I'll never cook a joint of meat in the oven again. It was melt in the mouth fantastic. The slow cooker for me, gets used the least but my sister on the other hand swears by it and wouldn't be without one.

I also got an air fryer as I felt it would be more efficient at doing things like chips, goujons, sausages etc. I find it a great little device. It cooks things quicker than the oven and is easy to clean.