Description
- Manual Warm/Low/High Temperature settings to cook and keep food warm until serving
- Locking lid design and oversized handles for easy transport and prevents messy spills when bringing dishes for potlucks and other gatherings
- PFOA/PTFE Free Oven-Safe Stoneware Pan lets you go from slow cooker to oven and then directly to the dining table
- 9-inch x 13-inch removable rectangular stoneware is perfectly shaped and sized for casseroles, lasagnas, desserts and other potluck dishes
- Prep meals in advance or bring on the go, the Elite Gourmet 3.5Qt. Casserole Slow Cooker makes entertaining a breeze
- Dishwasher safe tempered glass lid and stoneware pot with cool touch handles and knobs makes clean-up quick and easy
poplin –
It should really be 4 ½ stars. But since I can’t give it half a star here on Amazon, 5 stars it is, because this slow cooker has proven itself to be a true workhorse.
It did not make a great first impression. After I placed the ingredients in the stoneware, I set it on high. It took a long time getting hot. Once it got hot enough, there came from it a funny plastic smell.
The handles on the heating unit (slow cooker base) bend slightly upwards when I lift the entire unit. The handle on the glass lid feels flimsy, but worse than that is the latching mechanism that is supposed to secure the lid tight. Not only are the latches flimsy, but they also can’t latch at all.
(The latching mechanism on my 10 qt Hamilton Beach is sturdy and secures the lid tight. The handles attached to the heating unit are also sturdy as is the handle on the glass lid.)
I just took the metal parts off. They got so annoying, flipping this way and that! They easily came off anyway as evidence to how flimsy the latching mechanism is.
The rectangular stoneware takes a little time getting used to. The large notches where I would normally place my hands to lift it often makes me feel like something there is missing. So I sometimes end up grabbing the handles on the heating unit by mistake instead.
Other than these flaws, this little casserole slow cooker has proven itself a workhorse. That funny smell is gone after that initial use. My hands still feel like something is missing in the stoneware whenever I pick it up, but it’s not annoying anymore.
It’s summer, and I don’t want to turn on the oven or stand in front of a hot stove. Pictures include our favorite family lasagna recipe adapted for this casserole slow cooker and The Magical Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken. Not pictured but equally successful were Make It Fast, Cook It Slow Apricot Chicken and America’s Test Kitchen Chicken Adobo. (Yes, lots of chicken. Roasts and ribs are slow cooked in my 10 qt.) Next, we’ll try a baked ziti.
FYI, I do not place the stoneware under the broiler to brown chicken. I place the chicken in a baking pan to broil for only a couple of minutes. As for the sauce, I reduce it in a saucepan and thicken it with a couple tablespoons of butter. Reducing the liquid doesn’t require me to stir, stir, stir over a hot stove though. The whole process of making the dish presentable (as pictured) is well under fifteen minutes.
I’ve also successfully “baked” King Arthur Baking Company’s Whole-Grain Banana Bread using just plain, whole milk yogurt and a scant ⅔ cup of brown sugar. The texture was soft and moist. It browned perfectly on the sides. No wet, gooey bottom! And best of all, the Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips were evenly distributed throughout. No chocolate chips settled on the bottom since the batter was spread evenly over the buttered stoneware. I may never bake banana bread in the oven again. The whole prep and bake time make quick work of overly ripe bananas no one in my household would want to eat.
We will try “baking” King Arthur’s Quick and Easy Fudge Brownies next.
Reneem1954 –
I purchased this to match our red kitchen theme and this was seemingly a good fit. We like to host and serve foods and we were happy to try this. Sadly it just didn’t work for us. We had several issues with ours. 1. The metal fasteners on the glass lid rusted on ours with the first few times of using this product. I kept trying to clean the rust away but it would just come back at the next use. This was unacceptable for a food grade product. 2. The ceramic dish had several small holes in the finish from manufacturing that got food stains in them and we were unable to clean. It looked bad. 3. It gets really hot. Keep things away from it on the counter and don’t plan to transport while hot.
We attempted to fix the rusty fasteners on the glass but in removing them the glass around the holes shattered so we had to throw out. Glad others are having a good experience with this product. We just happened to have bad luck with it and had to go back to the crockpot brand.
Jeniqué Williams –
I love love this appliance, but after the second use, I noticed a craze, crack line down the length of my insert. I am a little afraid to use it again and have it split in two. Not really sure it is through and through but would like to get another insert. Can anyone help me.
poplin –
I love using it for my monthly Church Potlucks. The cord storage and the clasps to hold the lid closed are the best additions!!!
Patti55 –
This is one of those hidden secret gems. Access to food is easier that the typical pot style cooker, cleanup is faster and transporting pot is safer with the included locking cover. Great addition to any kitchen.
Amazon Customer –
I purchased this cooker to replace my old cooker, of the same brand and model, which was over 20+ years old. I love the capacity, shape, ease of use and new color. I’ve have used it only once but I’m pleased with cooking time, how well it worked and even temperature level.
Notarobot –
The media could not be loaded.
Excelente
Lee Willeford –
I enjoy the color of this product and the size. It is easy to have people serve themselves as the product is not overly deep. I like the size and it is not ugly on the serving table. Love this.
Funcional –
I use for chicken thighs, stews, cabbage rolls just about everything.
Good quality –
I like this one cause it is great for casseroles