
There are detailed instructions for tasters. There are strict written protocols for selecting the items to be tested, for running the tests themselves, and for evaluating them. The lengths they go to in order to be sure that their tests are accurate, comprehensive, and conducted on a level playing field are enough to make the rest of us look relaxed. And if you think the test cooks here at America’s Test Kitchen are obsessive in their quest for the best-and you’re quite right, they are-you should spend some time with this team. It’s all in a day’s work for our Tastings and Testings team. It offers the advantages of a light, unbreakable metal crock with stay-cool plastic handles, as well as a brown-and-sear function that lets you skip using a separate skillet before slow-cooking in recipes that call for it. The Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central ($148.71) is also a solid choice. Its thick stoneware crock, insulated housing, built-in thermal sensor, and crystal-clear controls put a well-thought-out design at your service-and at a moderate price. The KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker With Solid Glass Lid ($99.99), our former winner, handled every recipe with perfect results, albeit a bit slowly. We also dismantled a set of the cookers to understand the placement and type of heating elements they contained. We used temperature probes to map heating patterns, and a panel of testers evaluated how easy the cookers were to use and clean. We tested these eight slow cookers, preparing a variety of recipes using both low and high temperature settings and varied cooking times. With these criteria in mind, we rounded up eight models priced from $39.99 to $148.71. We also wanted a generous 6- to 7-quart capacity. So were oval-shaped crocks, as these can accommodate large roasts and offer more versatility than round crocks. Previous experience taught us that glass lids were a must, as they allow you to see progress without losing heat.

#All clad slow cooker sc01 manual#
And what if operating your machine is so confusing that you have to pore over the manual each time you use it?įor the ideal machine that would deliver a properly cooked meal and be absolutely simple and intuitive to use, we went shopping. Then there can be issues with hot spots, which make food cook unevenly.

A cooker might run hotter than expected, drying out the food or turning it mushy, or slower than you want, so dinner isn’t ready when you are. A slow cooker promises to be a little fantasy grandmother who sits in the kitchen all day cooking for you, but use the wrong cooker and that dream could fizzle.
