Restaurant Recipe Reviews

The earliest model of an electric slow cooker was designed in the early seventies. Since then, manufacturers have spent a lot of time and energy making improvements to its basic design. Today we have the very stylish programmable slow cooker. Programmable slow cookers are much more expensive to buy, but there is a choice for all budgets. The price you pay for your slow cooker depends on how many programmable gadgets you want on the actual item. The cheaper models will usually just come with the most basic on and off switch and a light to show that is working.

A well-designed programmable cooker should have a clear display LED control panel on the outer unit. It should also have several cooking settings. Other features to look for include an automatic cut off mechanism, tight fitting lid to keep the steam in when cooking, sturdy and heat resistant handles, and dishwasher safe.

Slow cookers cook through generating heat from the bottom of a metallic or a crock-pot when the base unit is switched on. The bottom of the unit is a fitted electric upright coil, which get hot when the cooking starts. The food is cooked at a low temperature and you don’t need to attend to it any further. The best thing about slow cookers is that the food cooks in its own and added juices, and there is no fear of burning.

The food braises in its own juices, plus any liquid stock added at the start of the process. A programmable slow cooker is marvelous for cooking cheaper cuts of meat like pot roasts, turning them into tender morsels that melt in your mouth. The shape of the slow cooker is important. A broad shape is ideal. It can hold a pot roast or a big chicken without being too full.

Best Programmable Slow Cookers:

All-Clad 99005 7 Quart Slow Cooker costs $275. Use the compatible insert made from copper for sealing cheaper cuts of meat prior to adding to the slow cooker to cook. The insert is not very big and any browning has to be done in small amounts.

All-Clad 6.5-quart Slow Cooker comes with a non metallic insert and costs $200. It has all the basic features of reliable programmable slow cooker. It has the cooking insert, a glass lid, digital timer, and can be programmed 26 hours in advance to switch on and cook. It has some good reviews when tested for steam cooking. It also has an easy readable digital display which many reviewers loved.

The Cuisinart PSC-400 is a 4-quart slow cooker. It costs $75 and has had some really good reviews. The PSC-400 slow cooker consists of a stainless-steel exterior, a ceramic crock and a clear glass lid. It has a programmable 24-hour timer with digital LCD display and four temperature settings. Once the cooking is done, it has an auto button for a warm when timed cooking ends. Its insert and lid is dishwasher-safe, and has a long warranty of three years. The Cuisinart PSC-400 has a very stylish touch pad control panel on the front making it easy to program. It comes complete with a cooling tray, a retractable cord and a spiral bound recipe book.

Finding the best programmable slow cooker for your home can be a real chore. If you’re unsure of what to buy, you really can’t do better than a Cuisinart slow cooker.