Technique for cooking healthy food. Kitchen appliances with a focus on healthy eating

At BORK, we share a thoughtful approach to home cooking. Representatives of the company offered to take any of their equipment and evaluate how useful it is for a person who monitors WHAT and HOW to cook. I liked the idea, I agreed. And now a real testing ground has unfolded in my kitchen. The company sent a whole list of home appliances to choose from. At first I behaved modestly, but then I broke up: "Let's do this, this, and this! AT total delivered 10 different devices.

My kitchen has been transformed. All the "household goods" of the brand are made in a single luxurious metal design and begin to delight immediately after unpacking. A superficial study of the instructions showed the presence of all sorts of subtle cooking settings. Even tea can be brewed with a dozen different ways depending on its type and desired strength. Timers and smart modes are installed on all appliances: if you choose the right one, options with "undercooking" or "overcooking" are excluded. The path from the counter to the plate, your products are as carefully as possible.

Let's now move from words to deeds and prepare a delicious healthy dinner! I decided to make fishcakes and asparagus for my wife, beef on the bone for myself, and ice cream for dessert...

So many brand new boxes that the eyes run wide. Where to start, everything is so delicious:

3.

First, I decided to assemble and connect all the devices, and only then test each device in sequence:

4.

In terms of assembly, the juice press turned out to be the most intricate. There are three containers that must be correctly inserted into each other, and it’s not easy to figure it out right off the bat:

5.

25.

The meat grinder works just like a MacBook fan while processing photos. That is very quiet. You can twist the meat even in the middle of the night:

26.

Healthy eating is not just a popular movement, but almost a necessity in today's environmental conditions. To compensate for snacking on the run, it is worth preparing healthy and healthy food at home.

Growing vegetables and herbs at home, keeping them fresh, cooking without losing nutrients and vitamins - all this will be helped by special tools that are worth having in every kitchen.

Steamer Lotus Plus™, grey, Joseph Joseph

Steam cooking is one of the pillars on which a healthy diet stands. A stylish steamer made of high quality polypropylene is a new reincarnation of the metal insert in pots familiar from childhood, but lighter and more modern. It also has adjustable sides, allowing it to fit a variety of pot sizes. Can be used as a colander or fruit and candy bowl.

Price: 1 150 rub.

Greens storage container Eco Salad

Keep greens and salads fresh for a long time with a stylish container designed specifically for storing them. Greens can be washed directly in the lid of the container, then pour water into a special container with a stopper and put it in the refrigerator. In this container, greens and salads will retain their freshness and nutrients for up to three weeks.

Price: 2 190 rub.

Greenhouse SOCKER

Greens can not only be stored for a long time, but also grown in own apartment. This will help the greenhouse from IKEA, which provides good conditions for seed development and plant growth. steel frame and polystyrene panels provide the optimum temperature, which can be adjusted with the roof panels.

Price: 1 299 rub.

Bodum seed sprouting jar

Continuing the theme of growing food at home, it is worth talking about the Bodum Grow Green glass jar, specially designed for germinating grain. Sprouts have a lot of useful substances and vitamins, they are used in many recipes and are one of the main elements of light salads. Wheat, soybeans, buckwheat, lentils and other grains will sprout within 3-5 days.

Price: 2 499 rub.

Salad making kit

Another indispensable thing in the kitchen is a multifunctional set of useful items from Hoff, which includes graters and knives for cutting food. different sizes and forms, a holder for knives, a container with a pusher for drying herbs and berries, a colander basket and a capacious bowl. All parts are made of high quality food grade plastic.

Price: 1 790 rub.

Herb Zipper Knife

Those who love spices and herbs will love it. useful tool HerbZipper, which serves to quickly separate the leaves from the stems of various herbs. It is easy and convenient to process thyme, rosemary and other herbs with it: just place the stem in one of the holes right size and stretch the stem through it - the leaves are separated from the stem.

Price: 500 rub.

Stripper LooseLeaf Kale and Greens

Another object similar in function, but with a wider range of actions. This handy kitchen tool easily removes tough central ribs from lettuce, cabbage, turnips, beets and more. healthy vegetables. Eight holes of different diameters make it easy to peel large cabbage leaves, as well as thin sprigs of rosemary or oregano. Ideal for green smoothies and table settings and reduces food waste.

Everyone knows that the kitchen needs a stove and a refrigerator. What about small household appliances? There are so many varieties that it can be confusing. And without some devices, we do very well at all - are they really needed?

All small kitchen appliances can be divided into the following categories:

• for cooking food
• for grinding and mixing
• for making drinks
• other equipment

In this article and in its continuation, we will analyze what functions small cooking appliances perform, and you will read about the rest of the appliances in the Kvartblog in the very near future. Stay tuned!

Microwave

What is he doing? It is difficult to imagine modern cuisine without microwave oven. In it, you can heat and defrost food, cook semi-finished products and simple meals, and with advanced functionality, bake complex dishes and grill.

And is it necessary? The microwave makes life much easier: it is more convenient to heat food than in a pan or in a saucepan, and defrosting is much faster. If there is no space for a microwave, you can buy an oven that has a microwave function.

Roaster (mini oven, electric oven)

What is he doing? This appliance is a compact substitute for an oven, microwave and toaster. The capabilities of each mini-oven depend on its size and functionality: some cope only with heating and quick baking, while others are almost as good as full-fledged ovens.

And is it necessary? If you have big kitchen and you already have an oven, and a microwave, and a toaster (or you don’t need it), then the roaster is useless for you. Otherwise, this is a great option to save both space and money.

Multicooker and steamer

What is he doing? The classic multicooker combines the functions of a pressure cooker, rice cooker, porridge cooker, steamer and bread maker. Not to mention the fact that with the help of a slow cooker you can cook stew, soup or compote without even turning on the stove. Some models have advanced functionality: they can fry, deep-fry and make homemade yoghurts. If all of the above you only need to cook steamed dishes, then choose a conventional double boiler - it will cost less.

And is it necessary? A slow cooker or double boiler is a huge time and effort saver. Since the device itself monitors all processes, you do not need to be able to cook and you do not have to worry that something will burn or boil away. These devices are compact, but you still have to find a place for them, and multicookers with good functionality are not cheap (but still cheaper than an average oven), so it's up to you to entrust cooking to a multicooker or stand by the stove yourself.

Who is especially useful for a multicooker:

• lovers of healthy food;
• those who are on a diet;
• young parents;
• those who have little free time;
• those who do not like or do not know how to cook.

air grill

What is he doing? The convection grill performs the functions of a mini-oven, microwave and part of the functions of a multicooker: in addition to grilling, it can fry, stew, steam, cook, smoke, bake, reheat, dry, and so on. The full list of functions depends on the specific model. The convection oven looks like a glass bowl with a lid, and cooking takes place according to the same principle as in a convection oven - due to hot air.

And is it necessary? If you need the above methods of cooking, then you will not get by with an oven or a mini-oven. Usually the choice is between a slow cooker and an air grill, but this is a separate big topic. If you have an air grill at home, you can abandon the oven, that is, save space in kitchen set and win money.

electric grill

What is he doing? This device, according to the principle of operation, is more similar to a grill pan than to a classic grill on a grate. The embossed bottom and lid of the appliance press and heat food from both sides, ensuring fast, even cooking and attractive stripes. In addition to meat and vegetables, you can use the electric grill to make toast and hot sandwiches.

And is it necessary? An electric grill allows you to quickly and easily prepare a delicious breakfast or second meal, but is replaced by using an oven or grill pan.

barbecue

What is he doing? A real barbecue at home without a barbecue is real. Skewers usually have a vertical shape: skewers are placed around a central source of heat and constantly rotate so that the kebab is baked evenly.

And is it necessary? Have no idea how to wait until good weather to go to barbecue? Do you want to surprise your guests? In this case, you need a barbecue. But it is definitely not included in the list of mandatory kitchen appliances.

Toaster

What is he doing? Allows you to get a few mouth-watering slices of toasted bread for breakfast in a minute. A nice bonus - the degree of roasting is easily regulated, and the shutdown occurs automatically, that is, the bread will not burn.

And is it necessary? If toast is regularly on your menu, the appliance will be very useful. Bread will turn out nicer than from a frying pan, and faster than from the oven. Only a mini-oven (roaster) can compete with a toaster.

Sandwich and waffle maker

What is he doing? Often the same device with interchangeable inserts can handle the preparation of hot sandwiches, sandwiches and waffles, but separate devices are also sold. In terms of mechanics, a sandwich maker or waffle maker is similar to an electric grill and can even replace it with an insert with ribs.

And is it necessary? If you have an electric grill, it will do the job of a sandwich maker quite well, although it is larger in size. But if you also like to cook waffles, puffs or curly pancakes, look for a model with interchangeable inserts for these tasks.

bread maker

What is he doing? Fresh homebaked bread fresh from the oven - if this is a pleasure that you value, the bread machine will help you: you just need to load the recipe ingredients into it, and it will do the rest, including kneading the dough.

And is it necessary? It all depends on your love for bread. Most multicookers also have a bread machine function, not to mention the oven, but the dough will have to be kneaded by hand. Maybe look for a good bakery close to home?

fryer

What is he doing? Convenient fixture for cooking french fries, donuts and various dishes in crispy breadcrumbs. It consists of a container into which oil is poured, and a mesh basket for lowering products. Some fryers can also be used for fondue.

And is it necessary? Unless, of course, you eat only deep fat (which is unlikely), you can cook it in a simple deep frying pan / saucepan or slow cooker. Yes, it is faster and easier to cook in a special fryer, but you can do without it.

crepe maker

What is he doing? A small round tile with a non-stick surface and uniform heating: pour the dough on it and distribute it or even dip it into the dough (it’s called a submersible pancake maker) and - voila! - ready the thinnest pancakes to breakfast.

And is it necessary? Pancakes are thinner and cook faster, so on the eve of Shrovetide or for big family device will be useful. But if you don’t want to look for a place under the crepe maker, a frying pan and skill can easily replace it.

egg cooker

What is he doing? Boils eggs. Only does it with steam, so the protein is more tender. Special settings will help you get the egg of the right consistency: hard-boiled, “pouched” or soft-boiled. Silicone egg cookers are specially designed to easily cook poached eggs.

And is it necessary? Many housewives believe that this device is completely unnecessary in the kitchen, because it is not so difficult to boil eggs in a saucepan using a timer to get the desired result.

yogurt maker

What is he doing? Allows you to cook homemade yogurt, fermented baked milk, kefir and even cottage cheese from milk and sourdough.

And is it necessary? If dairy is an important part of your diet and you want to control the raw ingredients, a yogurt maker will take root in your kitchen.

Freezer

What is he doing? Allows you to prepare delicate ice cream without ice crystals at home.

And is it necessary? If you love this delicacy and want to experiment with flavors, this appliance will be a nice addition to your kitchen appliances. But, of course, it is not mandatory at all.

There are many kitchen appliances available today. modern kitchen- just a container of various appliances that facilitate cooking, storing it, making the kitchen air cleaner, "responsible" for the cleanliness of dishes, etc. However, there is a special category among kitchen appliances - appliances for cooking not only tasty, but also healthy food. Our story will go about them.

In this review, "Culinary Eden" will present to your attention models from well-known and well-established manufacturers household appliances. Their devices often cost a little more than equipment from other, less well-known manufacturers. However, the likelihood of encountering low-quality goods when buying models famous brands still less than when buying cheaper equipment. However, we will not argue that all "unknown" brands are bad. The choice is always yours.

Steamers

Let's start with the steamers familiar to many. Someone actively uses a double boiler, someone has it gathering dust in the closet, and someone is just going to buy it (read what you need to know in the "Kitchen Appliances" section). But everyone understands that steamed food is healthy and tasty (although the latter, of course, is a subjective factor). To make it easier to cook for a couple, a man came up with a special device - a double boiler. Now in stores you can see a lot of double boilers. In this case, we are talking about “ordinary”, free-standing double boilers, although some manufacturers also offer built-in models.

Braun FS 20 is the only steamer that the famous German manufacturer represents in Russia. Braun's "colleagues" in the "household appliances shop" have a wider range of such devices. But that doesn't mean the Braun FS 20 isn't worth considering.

The power of the heating element of the Braun FS 20 steamer is 850 W. The design includes a specially designed Braun steam generator. Thanks to this, food begins to heat up within a couple of seconds after turning on the device.

The Braun FS 20 is supplied with two plastic (opaque) food containers. That is, steamer allows you to cook two dishes at the same time. The capacity of each container is 3.1 liters. There are two water trays to collect condensate to prevent mixing of different flavors. In addition, the manufacturer put an additional black container in the box with the Braun FS 20 - for “marked” products (carrots, beets, etc.), which can stain white plastic. There is also a container for cooking rice.

The control of the Braun FS 20 steamer is simple and clear - electromechanical. There is a timer on the front panel, setting it for a certain time, you can not worry about the fact that the dish is “overcooked”. In addition to it, the control panel also has icons for various products indicating the time of their preparation. True, many users argue that the products need to be cooked more than it is written - you will have to adapt. Such a simple and understandable device from Braun. Only the most necessary functions. In stores Braun FS 20 can be found for 2.5 thousand rubles.

Jacket potatoes with cottage cheese, carrots and dill (recipe for steamer FS 20 from the special Braun cookbook)

Ingredients (for 4 servings):
800 g of young potatoes of medium size;
600 g of sputum;
½ medium bunch of dill;
500 g of cottage cheese;
salt pepper.

Cooking:
Wash the potatoes without peeling them and place them in the lower steam container. Chop half of the dill there. Wash, peel and cut the carrots into strips and place them in the black insert (container for coloring products). Crumble the remaining dill there. Place the black insert in the upper steam container. Steam for 40 minutes. Beat cottage cheese with a mixer until creamy, mix with spices. When ready, peel the potatoes and serve with cottage cheese and carrots.

Philips HD9140 is more expensive, but not much - about 3 thousand rubles. This steamer is “three-story”, it has three transparent plastic containers (3.5 / 2.6 / 2.5 l) for heating, and they are designed collapsible, so that you can steam, for example, a whole and rather large chicken . The package also includes a rice bowl (1.2 l) and an egg holder.

Power Philips HD9140 - 900 watts. She has a special external device for topping up water during operation - convenient. There is also an indication of the water level in the tank. The control system is electronic, there is a display. There are even programs for auto-cooking. You just need to press the button with the image of the corresponding product - the display will show the preset time for its preparation (changes are available). After that, you can start the cooking process. After the cooking time has elapsed, the appliance will beep and ... automatically switch to the Keep-warm mode. The steamer is able to keep the dish warm for up to 20 minutes, then, if the heating mode is not extended by the user, it will automatically turn off.

The highlight of the Philips HD9140 is the Flavor Booster device. It allows you to fill the prepared dishes with the aroma of your favorite seasonings and spices. Just put the seasonings in the container designed for them and at the end of cooking you get a fragrant result. We also note the light indication of the need to clean the steamer from scale, provided by the design of Philips HD9140.

Multicookers

An electric multicooker is a device that combines the ability to cook, stew, bake and steam. Outwardly, the multicooker looks like a bread machine or a pan, if you like. However, let's take a closer look at the multicooker using a specific model as an example.

The SUPRA brand has long been known in our country for a wide range of video and audio equipment. But the company represents in Russia and a large assortment household appliances, including kitchen appliances. There is also a multicooker among this equipment - SUPRA MCS-4511.

SUPRA MCS-4511 costs about 3 thousand rubles (in online stores, in "regular" stores it can be a little more expensive). The power of the multicooker is 650 watts. The design of the model provides a five-liter removable inner bowl with non-stick coating. Multicooker SUPRA MCS-4511 has electronic system controls and LCD display. There are 8 programs for auto-cooking various dishes. Among them, there are three modes for rice: “normal” (for cooking various, including a large number rice, lasting up to 50 minutes), "quick" (for medium or small amount of rice, 30-40 minutes), "brown" (for cooking brown rice, including with vegetables). There are also modes for baking a pie, cooking soup, porridge, for steaming dishes, as well as a heating (warming up) mode. There is also a "Keep warm" function (up to 24 hours).

Note that the “Normal”, “Quick”, “Soup”, “Porridge” modes in the SUPRA MCS-4511 multicooker can be used not only for rice, but also for other products, including their stewing.

Fish with vegetables (multi-cooker recipe)

Ingredients:
1 kg of river fish;
2 large onions;
1 medium carrot;
1 medium beet;
1.5 tsp salt;
1 tsp Sahara;
0.5 measuring cup (usually included in the package)
multicookers) sunflower oil;
black ground;
2-3 bay leaves;
any seasoning for fish.

Cooking
Clean the fish, gut and cut into small pieces. Onions, carrots, beets cut into rings. At the bottom of the multicooker bowl, put half of the grated vegetables, fish, seasoning, pepper on top. Next, lay out the remaining vegetables. Put salt and sugar in a measuring cup, add a little water, pour the solution into the multicooker bowl. Pour on top sunflower oil. Then turn on the desired cooking mode (in SUPRA MCS-4511 you can use "Regular", "Soup", "Porridge", there are multicookers with the "Stew" mode). After two hours the fish is ready.

In addition to SUPRA, multicookers are produced by some other manufacturers of household appliances. For example, Panasonic has a couple of models. In terms of functionality, they are similar to the SUPRA MCS-4511, but less spacious and more expensive. In this case, it is not entirely clear - why pay more? Unless you are a fan of Panasonic technology. But that's a completely different story.

slow cooker

There are also such devices - slow cookers. What are they needed for? From the name it is clear - to cook food slowly (unlike pressure cookers). Why slow cook? Firstly, in a dish slowly cooked at a low temperature, much more useful substances and vitamins are stored. Secondly, the products with this method of preparation are very tender. This is especially true for meat. In a slow cooker, you can, for example, cook tasty meat that is for cooking in the usual way unsuitable (it will turn out tough). Thirdly, in a slow cooker you can cook without oil - it is important for those who strive for a healthy diet, for a healthy lifestyle in general.

But this is not all the advantages of a slow cooker. She, oddly enough, in addition to everything else, can also save the time of the hostess. So, for example, porridge can be cooked in a slow cooker in the evening, and in the morning, without wasting time on cooking, have breakfast. Before leaving for work, you can spend a few minutes and put the products you need to prepare a dish in a slow cooker - dinner will be ready by the evening. Moreover, if it is ready by 5 pm, and you have dinner at 7, the slow cooker will keep the dish hot (in modern models There is a keep warm function.

In stores, you can find slow cookers from various manufacturers. For example, Kenwood CP707. This model costs about 3 thousand rubles. Its power is 350 watts. The capacity of the ceramic pan for food is 4.5 liters. The lid of the pan is made of transparent impact-resistant glass. The saucepan in any slow cooker is usually removable. It (including the Kenwood CP707) can be washed in dishwasher. The maximum cooking time for this model is 10 hours. The body of the slow cooker is made of stainless steel. The handles don't get hot. The Kenwood CP707 slow cooker control system is electronic, there is a display.

Slow cooker Morphy Richards 48730 ( English brand, production - Southeast Asia) is slightly cheaper - about 2.5 thousand rubles. Power - 350 watts. She also has a metal case. The volume of the ceramic pot (removable, can be washed in the "dishwasher") - 6.5 liters. The lid, like the previous model, is transparent, made of high-strength glass. Management - electronic, there is a display with backlight. There are several cooking modes (low-intensity, medium, high-intensity), food can be cooked (essentially stewed) at temperatures from 76°C to 140°C. The maximum cooking time is 12 hours. There is a keep warm function. The slow cooker (the manufacturer on the official website calls it a “samovarka”) Morphy Richards 48730 has cool handles. For complete set The only thing missing is rubber feet. However, why is it not enough? They are.

Roast Goose with Potatoes and Quince (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Ingredients:
1.5 kg of potatoes;
1 quince;
goose meat on the bone;
100 g raisins;
2 tbsp. spoons of tomato paste;
250 ml of water;
salt, pepper, spices to taste

Cooking:
Cut the quince, potatoes and goose into medium-sized pieces. Put everything in a slow cooker, add raisins, water with tomato paste diluted in it, salt, pepper, spices. Mix everything. On high-intensity mode, the cooking process will take about 4 hours. When using the “Heating” mode (if any) or on the lowest power mode, about 10 hours. You can turn on the multicooker in the morning and go to work. In the evening, a warm dinner will be waiting for you.

In addition to the designated kitchen appliances, there are other appliances that contribute to a healthy diet. This is, for example, a rice cooker. But its acquisition makes sense only if you are a real fan of rice (like, for example, Chinese cuisine). Otherwise, a double boiler or slow cooker will handle the cooking of rice. It is impossible not to remember the yogurt maker, because yogurt is a very useful product. And made at home, without preservatives, only from natural ingredients - it can be said to be doubly useful. Well-known manufacturers of yogurt makers include Tefal and Moulinex (both are part of the international SEB group, which also includes other manufacturers of kitchen appliances). About worthy juicers - another device from the cohort of "healthy" - "Culinary Eden" not so long ago spoke in a separate article. In general, a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet as its integral element is not such a difficult matter. Especially if you stock up on the appropriate equipment. Be healthy!

The kitchen plays a vital role in a healthy lifestyle. Technique for healthy eating is its key attribute. Our list includes 8 items that are essential for all fans of proper nutrition.

Healthy Eating Techniques You Can't Do Without

1. Juicer

The juicer is at the top of this list. One of better ways to make sure your body is getting micronutrients, start making juices from fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition to the obvious health benefits, there is another bonus - the unsurpassed taste of freshly squeezed juice!

When the juicer is in a conspicuous place, it encourages you to make juice more often. If it is hidden somewhere in an inconvenient place, this can serve as an excuse for not juicing daily. This cannot be allowed.

2. Blender

Having a blender in the kitchen can dramatically transform your health. Whenever possible, choose a powerful model. These mix and grind almost everything! With a blender, you can quickly and easily prepare healthy foods that will help you heal from the inside: smoothies, nut butters, pesto, hummus, homemade ice cream, soups, sauces, condiments and drinks.

Other handy kitchen utensils

3. Glass storage jars

Dried fruits, nuts and seeds are best purchased in bulk. This helps save time and money. But the bags they come in are so big that it doesn't make sense to hide them in the kitchen cabinet.

These foods are best stored in large glass containers (preferably dark glass to help protect valuable nutrients from bright sunlight). Choose jars that go well with your kitchen design so you can keep them in plain sight or in your kitchen cabinet. If you have them on hand, you can easily prepare quick, beautiful and healthy meals.

4. Centrifuge for drying lettuce leaves

This is a large bowl with a lid and handle that rotates clockwise and dries the herbs in seconds.

With the advent of harsh chemicals and pesticides being sprayed on fresh produce today, it's important to thoroughly wash your vegetables. But who likes to eat wet greens? This is where a centrifuge for drying lettuce leaves comes in handy, impeccable in its simplicity and efficiency.

5. Spiralizer for vegetables

It means a machine capable of giving vegetables the most bizarre shape! It's the perfect way to make delicious raw pasta or funny salads. Use whatever vegetables you have on hand, but carrots, zucchini, and cucumbers are especially good.

There are a few various types shredders for vegetables, from which you can choose the one that will suit your needs and budget.

6. Water filter

Drinking plenty of water is the surest way to good health and well-being.

The water filter is the most the right decision to always have clean drinking water and not worry about what chemicals it contains or what harm it does plastic bottles environment. How easier access to drinking water- all the better! There are many different types of water filters, from the simple pitcher filter to the sophisticated models that connect to the main water sources used in the home.

7. Sharp knives

Most of the time spent in the kitchen is spent cutting, chopping and butchering food. Sharp knives are essential for this job, as dull ones are not only frustrating and inefficient, but extremely dangerous.

Knives good quality can serve you for a lifetime. Choose with a wooden, not plastic, handle, solidly made, with a steel blade.

8. Compost bin

After squeezing the juice, a lot of cake remains. In order not to transfer the product, put a compost bin in the kitchen. Thanks to this, you can reuse the pulp and skin of vegetables as compost for the garden.

Compost - organic plant life