Multicooker benefits and harms of cooking

The benefits of a multicooker

What is the use of a multicooker? What advantages does the device have? A multicooker is one of the most multifunctional appliances that is in demand. What attracts buyers to it?

Benefit:

Quick and easy to use - the appliance prepares meals independently. There is no need to add or stir food during cooking.
Easy to control - on the device itself, and in the instructions for using the multicooker, the cooking modes are described in detail. Just press a button and the dish begins to cook at the desired rhythm.
Functionality - the multicooker will cook almost any dish. Soup, porridge, pies, casseroles. She can bake apples and make yogurt.
Safe use - the device is hermetically sealed, which reduces the risk of burns and other damage.
Saves space - the device becomes a replacement for an oven, pressure cooker, bread maker, convection oven and electric frying pan. The device is portable and small in size.

The multicooker has a delayed start function, which allows cooked dishes to remain warm for a long time. The multicooker does not require special care. The inner cup, which can be removed, is subject to regular washing. Less often it is necessary to wipe and ventilate the lid, bottom, moisture collector and steam valve.

Multicooker harm

What are the health risks of a multicooker? Food from a modern electrical appliance has the juiciness, aroma and taste of the oven, but is there any harm from such preparation? What are the disadvantages of a multicooker?

The multicooker requires careful handling of the Teflon coating of the bowl. The material is easily damaged, and therefore it is recommended to purchase devices made of silicone (scoop, spatula) so as not to accidentally damage the surface. When a Teflon bowl is used for more than five years and damage occurs on it, the risk of harmful substances escaping from the material increases.

The device can cook one recipe in one cycle, which can cause inconvenience. To prepare the next dish, you need to remove everything from the bowl or buy an additional container.

You will like the article: “ What is the harm from a microwave oven to human health? ".

To eliminate the shortcomings, manufacturers are improving their devices: minimizing the chemical composition of the bowl; stabilize the Teflon coating and reduce the maximum heating temperature inside the multicooker.

Is it possible to use a multicooker - what are the benefits and harms?

All information about the dangers of multicookers was obtained as a result of extensive research by scientists from various countries. If such a fact becomes known, then measures are immediately taken to eliminate the problem. Manufacturers are often subject to large fines if they do not comply. In this regard, they try to make cooking not only as comfortable as possible, but also safe for humans.

Technology continues to improve, making it really possible to cook food quickly and healthily. Particular attention is paid to both the process itself and the materials from which multicookers are made. (See also: Microwave oven: harm or benefit, expert opinion)

To reduce the harm of a multicooker to human health, a number of steps have been taken:

the maximum temperature inside the food chamber has been reduced;
harmful chemical additives are eliminated;
the stability of the Teflon polymer composition increases.

Moreover, work in this direction is not finished, so with each new model the condition of the Teflon coating improves. New models of multicookers can perfectly accurately maintain not only the temperature, but also the pressure inside. Large companies care about their reputation, so they don't need lawsuits from consumers or environmental organizations.

See also -

Rating of the best manufacturers of multicookers in 2021 by quality

Is Teflon harmful?

What is Teflon?
Teflon is a plastic substance that has rather rare physical and chemical properties. The compound is often used in everyday life as a coating for non-stick items, including bowls in a multicooker. What properties does Teflon coating have? Can it harm human health?

It is known that at high temperatures Teflon is capable of releasing carcinogenic substances. The temperature in the multicooker reaches 400 o C due to its sealed properties.

When heated, the coating releases a toxic substance (perfluorinated carboxylic acid), which leads to the development of malignant tumors.

Currently, multicooker manufacturers are working to reduce the harmful properties of Teflon. But if you buy inexpensive models, the bowl coating of which consists of budget ceramics, plastic and stainless steel, the health hazard increases.

Why is a multicooker harmful to health?

What possible harm are we talking about?

The inner container where food is placed has a special Teflon coating. There is no need to explain what it is for - to cook without burning. This material has been actively advertised and used for a long time. The problem is that when heated too much, it releases harmful substances that can potentially lead to cancer. If on a regular stove the frying pan heats up to +100...+150°C, then inside the multicooker the temperature can reach +400°C due to the tightness.

At such high temperatures, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), which is part of Teflon, begins to be released.

Several negative factors complete the picture:

until the early 2000s. the exact composition of the Teflon coating remained unknown;
in laboratory conditions, increased risks of cancer were identified in animals;
accounting states that most residents of developed countries have traces of PFOA in their blood;
large factories have been fined more than once because elevated concentrations of PFOA were found in water in their area.

If we summarize all of the above, then there really is a reason to think about the benefits of cooking. If a person’s concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid is exceeded, then there is a risk of developing cancer. Especially if this continues for more than 4-5 years.

See also -

Functions and principle of operation of a multicooker

Food from a slow cooker - benefit or harm?

Is there any harm from a multicooker to human health? It is known that food from a modern electrical appliance is healthier than food cooked on a gas stove. Children under three years of age are not recommended to cook in a slow cooker.

It is advisable for adults to cook only quick meals in the device, so as not to cause the Teflon cup to overheat. You can cook in a slow cooker during pregnancy; thanks to the variety of dishes and the preservation of beneficial properties, the device will be a good helper in the kitchen.

Is cooking in a slow cooker healthy or harmful?

Any housewife is interested in whether a multicooker is harmful to the human body. This device has gained incredible popularity; it is found in almost every kitchen.

Food cooked in a slow cooker is very juicy and aromatic, its taste is difficult to overestimate. Moreover, to prepare a dish you do not need to spend a lot of time or effort; the whole process consists only of correctly cutting the ingredients and mixing them in the dish.

It is worth mentioning that devices cook food in different ways. The cooking process uses steam and multi-frame equipment, as a result, food is steamed in sealed equipment.

In a multicooker, food is cooked either under the influence of steam, or can be fried or boiled. The device can be used for baking.

Both the pressure cooker and the multicooker have the ability to heat food, defrost it and delay the start. The steamer has a function that is missing in multicookers - the ability to cook food in such a way that vitamins and microelements are completely preserved.

A steamer can be used to sterilize baby bottles and pacifiers. Multicookers do not have this function.

Whether there is any harm or benefit from the device to the human body, this needs to be understood in more detail before purchasing this household appliance.

In a double boiler, the number of dishes prepared depends on the functionality of the device.

Induction multicookers are designed to cook one dish. They have one container. A pressure cooker has functions similar to those of a multicooker, but food is cooked under high pressure and the steam remains inside the device.

What harm can we talk about?

If you find out whether food cooked in this equipment is healthy, you need to know that during the cooking process it retains almost all of its useful functions.

Many research centers around the world are conducting hundreds of studies and trying to figure out how harmful it is to eat food prepared using this household device.

These experiments have proven that this equipment is not absolutely safe. The thing is that the container located inside the unit has a Teflon coating. This coating can release harmful toxins when exposed to high temperatures.

An ordinary frying pan with a Teflon coating can heat up to a maximum of two hundred degrees, but in a multicooker the temperature reaches four hundred degrees. As a result, it is not difficult to conclude that food prepared in this equipment can have a harmful effect on human health.

Many experts say that it is not recommended to cook food for children or sick people using this kitchen appliance or that it should not be cooked often.

It is important to take into account other negative factors that arise when using the equipment:

experiments conducted on laboratory animals showed that the risk of developing cancer when using a multicooker increases significantly;
It was found that when using food prepared in a slow cooker, the presence of PFOA was detected in the blood of people;
Many factories received fines due to the fact that increased concentrations of PFOA were detected in the environment, in water.

People who like to cook food using this equipment should regularly have their blood tested, and if it is found that there is too much perfluorooctanoic acid in it, then they should definitely stop eating food prepared using a multicooker.

How to reduce the risks of using the device?

Answering the question as to whether a multicooker is harmful to health, it is not difficult to conclude that it does cause some harm to human health, despite the fact that the food cooked in it is quite healthy.

All information presented above was obtained as a result of scientific research. Therefore, fines have been repeatedly applied to equipment manufacturers; they are trying to improve the quality of their products.

More modern models are not as harmful as those that were produced ten years ago.

Today, a slow cooker is no longer as harmful to health as it used to be. This is due to the fact that manufacturers began to take into account the recommendations of scientists and made the following innovations:

The temperatures inside the chamber itself where food is prepared were reduced as much as possible.
They exclude harmful chemical additives in the manufacture of their products.
The polymer composition of Teflon becomes more stable.

It is also important that research in this area does not stop. All modern models are of much higher quality than previous ones; the condition of the Teflon coating on the surface of the device’s chamber is significantly improved.

Without a doubt, today a multicooker is an indispensable kitchen appliance in the home and its harm to health has been significantly reduced.

To protect the health of yourself and your loved ones, you should choose only high-quality equipment from manufacturers who can confirm the compliance of their products with established international standards.

What do you need to know when using the device?

If you look at this technique from the technological side, it has become much more advanced. Electromagnetic radiation emanating from the device is released in much smaller quantities, and induction heating affects only the surface layer.

Regarding the Teflon coating, the process of decomposition of its components is significantly slowed down. Experts say that the first decay begins no earlier than five years after the start of using the technology.

Many housewives unanimously complain that the coating of the bowl very quickly becomes unusable, literally after two years. This is due to the fact that the layer of polymer coating is very thin and such a thin coating is needed so that as little harmful substances are released as possible.

The Teflon coating is demanding and requires more careful maintenance. The bowl should not be washed with hard brushes or aggressive detergents. You should always remember this and make sure that the dishes are cleaned in the correct way. Then its service life will increase significantly.

We can conclude that a multicooker has almost the same benefits and harms and can be used for cooking, but you should not use it too often, and carefully clean the bowl after use.

How to cook in a slow cooker?

To ensure that eating food is healthy, you must always follow the recipes recommended for a specific multicooker model. Almost every manufacturer includes a manual for use and a book of recipes for preparing various dishes with their equipment. It is recommended to use these instructions, then the prepared food will be as healthy as possible and very tasty.

It is recommended to choose dishes that do not require too long a cooking time. It is necessary to select recipes that do not require heating the equipment to the maximum temperature.

For children, it is recommended to prepare food in the usual way, without using a multicooker. The same applies to older people and those who are predisposed to developing cancer in their bodies.

The device is allowed to be used, but we must not forget that it can cause certain harm to human health.

All modern technologies are aimed at simplifying a person’s life, but at the same time, they can have a certain negative impact on his health. For this reason, we must not forget that the old “old-fashioned” methods of cooking in a stove or conventional oven are much safer than using all modern types of kitchen appliances.

If you follow these recommendations, you can maintain your health.

How to reduce harm from operation

Is it possible to reduce the harmful effects that a multicooker brings in operation?
How to care for Teflon coating? There are rules that, if followed, reduce the danger of the device. How to use a multicooker correctly? Rules of use:

When handling the device, use only special cutlery that will not damage the coating when stirring or removing food.
Replace the Teflon inner bowl every five years.
When washing, use only soft sponges. Hard particles damage the Teflon surface of the bowl.
If the coating is damaged, it is not recommended to use the bowl.

It is recommended to buy multicookers no older than 2000. From that moment on, manufacturers began to pay attention to the safety of the bowl material. It is not advisable to purchase electrical appliances by hand and without documents.

Harmful effects of a multicooker when cooking

There are certain opinions on water damage during cooking in multicookers, but in general the debate revolves around two main elements:

Teflon coating
Plastic shell

For reference!
Teflon is a kind of polymer, i.e. a type of plastic that has special physical properties. It is the special properties and structure that make it possible to use it as a cooking coating on many kitchen appliances and household appliances.

Is Teflon coating harmful - or not?

In fact, Teflon is a modern and very promising material. It not only simplifies the cooking process, but also makes it more energy-intensive.

As a rule, the Teflon coating itself does not cause any particular harm, but according to some, problems can begin if this very coating is damaged. And it can be damaged either during operation or by not properly caring for a device with such a coating.

Firstly, it cannot be scratched or torn off. When buying a multicooker, you will almost always come across a special spoon, which is designed for stirring food in the multicooker bowl. Manufacturers put this spoon in for a reason. It has properties that will prevent damage to the Teflon coating.

Secondly, we recommend that you treat the multicooker bowl very carefully when washing it. Do not scrub its surface with hard brushes or brushes. Especially if the Teflon coating is of high quality, you just need to soak the bowl in water for a couple of minutes, and all food debris will come away from its top layer.

In general, proper care, as well as operation of machinery and equipment according to the recommendations in the instructions, will not only allow it to last long enough, but will also protect you from possible potential dangers and problems.

How to choose the right multicooker

A multicooker is a widely used device these days. How to choose a kitchen appliance? What features might be useful?

Properties:

Power – high power ensures fast cooking.
The capacity of the bowl is an important indicator; it ranges from two to ten liters. The required volume is calculated based on the number of people in the family or the frequent arrival of guests; one and a half liters per person.
Multifunctionality - choose a multicooker that does not have too many programs. Why pay for something you won't need? Necessary functions: cooking popular cereals, baking, steaming, soup and multi-cook mode.
The presence of handles on the cup is an important criterion when choosing a multicooker. Some devices do not have holders, and instead they are offered with special tongs or potholders, which makes them inconvenient to use.
Lock - if there are children in the house, the “lock on when the cup is empty” function will be useful.

There are induction multicookers that consume half as much electricity. The cost of such devices differs significantly (three to five times more expensive). Some multicookers have a three-dimensional heating function added, so the food is heated from all sides at the same time.

Is a multicooker harmful to health?

The inner bowl in which the products are placed is coated with special Teflon. It serves to protect the dish from overheating and burning. As is known, at high temperatures this material releases harmful acid. Its excessive content in the body can cause many dangerous diseases, for example, promotes the development of cancer cells.

REFERENCE! Teflon has rare physical and chemical properties and is one of the most popular materials for non-stick coatings. During the service life of kitchen utensils, it does not have time to disintegrate and is usually erased during use.

Modern scientists have solved the problem of the safety of Teflon coating in a multicooker with the following measures:

using a thin layer;
maintaining optimal temperatures;
elimination of other harmful additives from production.

The safety of using a multicooker lies not only in the quality of the non-stick coating, but also in protecting humans from electromagnetic waves.

Any electrical equipment emits radiation. If we assume that even minimal electromagnetic vibrations are noticeable to the body, then a person should completely abandon any usual means - a computer, telephone, microwave - because they all emit waves. But manufacturers take all these factors into account and therefore came up with a special metal case that allows radiation not to pass into the environment. It is worth noting that these waves do not harm the products themselves, since the radiation does not reach the bowl itself and remains only inside the working mechanism.

IMPORTANT! If the seal of the housing is broken, the electrical device cannot be used, since it will no longer retain electromagnetic waves. Such radiation has an adverse effect on people nearby and can also negatively affect the quality of cooked food.

Each new multicooker model improves safety indicators, which helps protect human health and the environment. Manufacturers use less harmful materials, while trying to take care of preserving all the beneficial vitamins in food and increasing the taste of prepared dishes.

to the entry “Benefits and harms of multicookers for human health”

Diets.Guru:
01/11/2019 at 01:15
Is it possible to consider that because of this microwave oven is harmful to health? No. On a regular stove, you can cook food just as poorly and become infected with salmonella or other pathogenic bacteria. The benefits and harms of a microwave in this case are determined not by the method of processing the products, but by the correctness of the culinary process.
Answer
Pohudet.Guru:
01/20/2019 at 01:00
Is it possible to consider that because of this microwave oven is harmful to health? No. On a regular stove, you can cook food just as poorly and become infected with salmonella or other pathogenic bacteria. The benefits and harms of a microwave in this case are determined not by the method of processing the products, but by the correctness of the culinary process.
Answer