The Best Slow Cookers For Your Budget
If money was no object, you could buy the best appliances for your kitchen. Unfortunately, most people have to work within a budget. The following article looks at two of the best slow cookers on the market today: one for a consumer with money to spend; the other a good product at a good price.
The Cuisinart PSC-650
Cuisinart is at the forefront of kitchen appliance manufacture and design. Lift a box containing a product made by this company then lift one of a similar sort by a competitor: the Cuisinart is heavier. They use sturdier materials. This could account, in part, for the little bit higher price of their programmable 6.5-quart slow cooker: about $89.95 at Amazon HERE (note that you do get Free Shipping on this).
This model is also getting decent reviews at Amazon – at the time of this writing, 61% of reviewers gave it a 5-star rating, with another 12% giving it 4-stars.
Apart from its heft, what does this Cuisinart slow cooker have going for it? For one thing, the oval shape is highly convenient. Round slow cookers are fine for little roasts but not for anything large or of an awkward shape like a roasting chicken. With the oval insert and its capacious size, chefs can get going with a reasonable-sized Christmas or Thanksgiving bird early in the morning and program settings to have it ready by lunch time or supper.
While it’s not recommended to leave foods on a “keep warm” setting for very long, this is a useful option when you’re just waiting for a few more guests to arrive to dinner. Cooks can also set their slow cooker to “simmer.”
The retractable cord is also helpful since a heap of tangled cords on your counter is messy, distracting, and potentially dangerous. The Cuisinart Programmable Slow Cooker frame is made from stainless steel: a rust-free, clean material. There are handles on the housing and on the pot and you can wash your ceramic insert in the dishwasher safely. Chefs report that their Cuisinart model cooks evenly.
Please Note: There is ANOTHER Cuisinart model – the Cuisinart MSC-600 3-In-1 Cook Central 6-Quart Multi-Cooker: Slow Cooker, Brown/Saute, Steamer that gets higher reviews – and more reviews, with over 1,500 Amazon shoppers giving it a pretty solid 4.5 stars (75% giving it 5 stars, and 9% giving it 4 stars – 10% giving it 1 star). But, because the MSC-600 3-in-1 cooker comes in at $117.16 + Free Shipping, it’s a little more expensive – and this article is primarily concentrating on the more budget models. Nonetheless, if you’d like to see it for yourself and do a little of your own comparison, CLICK HERE to go to the MSC-600 3-in-1 page.
The Hamilton Beach Set n’ Forget Slow Cooker
A big selling point for consumers with this Hamilton Beach model (apart from its low price of around $50 (here at Amazon, includes Free Shipping!) is the lockable lid. Users take hot food to a picnic or a pot-luck feeling confident the lid won’t slide off and leave chili sloshing around the trunk of their car. There have been reports, however, of some leakage. When the cost is so slim customers have to be prepared for a few disappointments, so pack this slow cooker where it won’t move around and spread a towel underneath.
The Hamilton Beach slow cooker holds up to 6 quarts of food which is enough for a small chicken or a roast. Once more this is an oval model and while the Cuisinart housing is rectangular (an odd but appealing contrast with the insert), Hamilton Beach went with oval housing. Some people find this easier to handle although I would say the corners on Cuisinart’s model give you the edge if you want to wedge it into a corner so it won’t tip over en route to a party.
Now, one thing to consider with the Hamilton Beach option is what many folks are doing – and that is to purchase the Bellemain Thermal Slow Cooker Carrying Bag (L)For the Hamilton Beach 33967A Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Slow Cooker – I’ve got a screenshot from the product at Amazon to show you – at the time of my writing this, it’s 50% off its regular price of $19.95 – so it’s only $10.
The Carrying Bag has over 484 customer reviews, 83% of which are 5-star reviews, and 11% 4-star – so overall that is a stellar rating. If you buy this Bellemain Thermal Slow Cooker Carrying Bag alongside your new Hamilton Beach 33967A model cooker, you’ll get the free shipping, too! Click the image to go to the product page, or Click Here.
Summary
If you want a device that lasts years and has that convenient shape, the Cuisinart PSC-650 may be the better investment.
Nonetheless, young families with less money to spend will be satisfied with the Hamilton Beach option – especially since at Amazon it’s a sweet deal at only $49.99 + Free Shipping!