It is no secret that the usual steamed products become several times more useful, as they retain their natural properties and do not contain carcinogens formed when frying in oil. The easiest way to follow a healthy menu is to use a steamer, but not all of them are as convenient as you would like. Manufacturers are constantly improving devices, and the famous Tefal brand is no exception. During the production of the Steam'n'Light VC300830 model, the main disadvantages of the good old multi-tiered devices were taken into account, in general, the steamer turned out to be interesting. British company Morphy Richards has taken a step further by showing a completely new approach to steam cooking with the IntelliSteam 470006 steam cooking system. Which option was more effective?
Work principles
Both devices have three sections for steaming food, but they are located differently. Steam'n'Light VC300830 is a classic vertical steamer in which bowls of food are stacked on top of each other and processed with steam passing from bottom to top through all tiers. In the Morphy Richards steam system, the product compartments are arranged horizontally, each independent of the others and with its own controls. In fact, these are 3 independent steamers in one device.
The advantages of independent compartments are clear. Firstly, it becomes possible to cook three different dishes at the same time, setting the appropriate temperature and time mode for each of them. Secondly, this function would be meaningless in a double boiler with adjacent bowls, because food juices and smells would simply mix. In IntelliSteam 470006, this problem will not arise - isolated from each other steamers preserve the individual qualities of any product, be it aromatic fish, juicy vegetables or baked goods.
The upright Steam'n'Light VC300830 does not have such characteristics. The smells and juices of food from underneath bowls will inevitably mix in the same steam process.
Intelligent function
Other possibilities of steam cookers follow from the principles of operation. An intelligent feature of Morphy Richards is that the device can synchronize the cooking time of dishes in all three compartments, so that you do not need to monitor each of them separately. Of course, with a horizontal arrangement, it is much easier to remove and add bowls, since there is no contact with hot steam from adjacent compartments, but it is most convenient to lay all the products at once and save time for other things. IntelliSteam 470006 will automatically adjust the temperature and time so that food in three compartments is ready at the same time.
Due to the fact that the Steam'n'Light VC300830 is a vertical steamer, the cooking program for all three bowls is set the same, so there is nothing to synchronize there. If you need to cook foods with different cooking times, you will have to carefully separate the bowls so as not to burn yourself with the steam, remove or add in the process.
Volumes and storage
Volumes are very important for those who do not like to calculate portions and want to cook for several days in advance. Both the Steam'n'Light VC300830 and IntelliSteam 470006 are great for this. The first one holds as much as 10 liters, 3/3/4 liters in each bowl, respectively, this is enough to feed the whole family with one dish. The Morphy Richards 6.8 liter unit can also prepare a large meal or three different smaller meals.Handling such a large amount of food requires a lot of water, which is why both units are equipped with special holes for refilling water during cooking.
Storing vertical steamers often becomes a headache for their owners, because the multi-tiered pyramid of bowls does not fit into any kitchen cabinet in height. Tefal has solved this problem with an ergonomic design: the cooking bowls and trays fold into each other, resulting in a compact design that fits on a shelf. The Morphy Richards steam system won't have any storage problems. Due to the horizontal design, the device is small in height, it can easily find a place for it even in a small kitchen.
Cooking modes
Kitchen gadgets are equipped with preset cooking programs for certain types of food. This is a very useful option, since you do not need to look for the cooking time and temperature in the instructions, you just need to select the appropriate mode.
IntelliSteam 470006 has eight such modes, the corresponding products are indicated on the control panel with intuitive icons. With Morphy Richards programs you can cook meat and chicken, fish, cereals, leafy vegetables, root vegetables or boil eggs. A separate mode works for the preparation of sauces and for heating ready-made meals. Also, according to your own recipes, the time and temperature can be adjusted, so there is room for culinary experiments.
The Steam'n'Light VC300830 steamer also has six ready-made programs for meat, fish, two types of vegetables, cereals and an interesting setting for steaming. There is also a function for preparing frozen vegetables - they do not need to be defrosted separately, the device simply adds 10 minutes to the desired program.
The benefits of steam cooking
Dishes that can be prepared using modern steamers have long ceased to be associated only with dietary nutrition. With the help of steam cooking recipes, you can diversify any menu with complex and interesting dishes, or, on the contrary, prepare simple food quickly and with minimal effort. The main thing that all steamed products have in common is their bright taste and benefits. By using a small amount of water, food preserves the natural taste, aroma and shape of the food to a greater extent. Rice or vegetables from a good steamer will not turn into a shapeless porridge. Also, food does not contain excess fat and cholesterol, since it is not fried in hot oil. Finally, one of the main reasons to get a steamer is vitamins and minerals that are best preserved in steamed foods. Of course, you can steam cook with an ordinary stove or multicooker, but it will be so difficult and inconvenient that a steamer will become the best assistant in the kitchen.
Completion and care
Morphy Richards IntelliSteam 470006 steam system housing and compartments are made of stainless steel. It is a durable and durable material that does not absorb odors and does not stain with pigments from colored products, and is also easy to clean. Optional accessories - steam tray, rice container and sauce tray - are made of BPA plastic specially designed for high temperatures. It is safe and does not emit harmful fumes. Compartment covers are made of impact-resistant transparent glass to visually assess the readiness of the products.
All removable parts of the Steam'n'Light VC300830 are made of transparent plastic, which is not specified. However, watching the cooking process is also convenient. Also included with the device is a convenient steamed cupcake mold and a traditional rice bowl.
In terms of maintenance, both devices do not require much hassle. All removable parts, i.e. trays, bowls, lids, additional trays and sauces, can be washed both by hand and in the dishwasher.
conclusions
Both manufacturers are trying to keep up with the times. The IntelliSteam 470006 steaming system from Morphy Richards combines the best qualities - ergonomic design, convenient cooking modes, intelligence.Tefal also did everything possible to improve the traditional model of a vertical steamer - they added ready-made programs, tried to make the storage form more compact. But still, one of the main qualities of food is always its unique properties - taste and aroma. These properties can be preserved only in independent compartments located horizontally, where juices and food odors do not mix, and each product is cooked individually.
