Crock-Pot SCVP600-SS 6-Quart Smart-Pot Programmable Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Crock-Pot SCVP600-SS 6-Quart Smart-Pot Programmable Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel
Customer Review: Doesn't seem to run "hot" for me
Summary: 4 Stars
I found myself in need of a new slow cooker after the one I'd had/used for over a decade met its' untimely demise (a boil-over that was completely my fault, resulting from overfilling). I was in the process of some extreme researching (including the $300 Williams-Sonoma exclusive All-Clad with the cast aluminum insert) when I stumbled across this one at our local Costco and picked it up on a whim (it IS Costco afterall, if I found it to be of inferior quality I was confident I'd have recourse with them as I know they stand behind what they sell).
First impression: it's good looking. The brushed stainless steel and black look nice in my kitchen. And, let's face it, since last one was over 10 years old (and looks weren't much of a factor in the slow cooker market then), anything was an improvement over the painted chile peppers that encircled the old one. This one is actually sleek.
Then came a 'true' test: cooking in it! I used it for the first time last night, to make a chicken dish that *often* burned a bit around the edges in my old pot. It uses boneless/skinless chicken breasts and bread stuffing, so I tend to think it's actually a bit prone to overcooking/burning. On more than one occasion in the old pot the chicken came out a bit dry and the stuffing burned to the edge of the pot. I'd just sort of come to expect it with this recipe. However, using the exact same recipe, heat level (high), and time (3 hours) as always - it came out PERFECTLY from this new crock pot last night! The chicken was still moist, none of the stuffing burned in the slightest, and none of it even dried/stuck to the edges so clean-up was a breeze.
So, I guess if this one runs "hot" then my old one was blistering, thus the relative difference makes this one perfect for me! ;)
The only 'downside' I can see is its' lack of *REAL* programmability. It has 4 heat/time options 4 hours on High, 6 hours on High, 8 hours on Low, and 10 hours on Low. After those preselected times/heats run it will automatically switch itself over to the Warm setting. As I said, my chicken recipe calls for 3 hours on High which is not an 'option' on this pot. It's not a big deal to me since my 'old' pot had none of those options (just a manual dial). I set it for 4 hours on High and made sure I was around to switch it to Warm manually (easy to do) when those 3 hours were up (which is exactly what I'd have had to do with my 'old' pot). They do make a model with more specific programmability, should this be required.
I'm happy enough to 'make do' with this one, as our Costco package was also a great deal. Less than here, it also came with: a lid strap, a serving spoon, and a matching Little Dipper pot.
Customer Review: This is a great helper in my kitchen!
Summary: 5 Stars
I attempted to buy this item after seeing it at Costco in the past, but stopped myself on at least two occasions. The reason is that I once purchased a crock pot in college, can't even remember which model, and it performed horribly. I burned a few dishes in that one and threw it out -- what a waste of money!
This time, I had a $10 off coupon for the this particular crock pot (sold at Costco in Stainless Steel as a set that comes with the Little Dipper) which brought the price down from [...].
I've used it about once a week since purchasing it. My first couple of attempts turned out ok but then I started to "get it."
1. Beef Stew -- ok. My mistake for not adding enough liquid. My only liquid was red wine and the dish came out a bit dry.
2. Chili - ok. I didn't add enough ground meat and too much kidney bean. The spice and flavoring came out ok.
3. Beef Stew - awesome! My husband started out by cubing the chuck roast (3 lbs of it) and sauteeing that with some onions and spices. That went into the pot with cubed potatoes and carrots and some red wine a equal parts water. About 4 hours later, I thought it was a bit dry so I came up with a slurry for moisture (and added flavor): 1 can of tomato paste, 1 cup of red wine, a few dashes of worcestershire sauce, 2 T of chicken consomme powder (bouillion). I mixed this in a pan and heated it up and then poured the mixture over the beef stew in the crock pot. I let the stew cook for another 2 hours. It came out perfect.
I've read about some overheating problems and boiling over. I don't see that happening with this unit unless I put too little food/fluid in it. I would personally always try to fill it at least 1/3 and, even better, 1/2 way. The instructions indicate that it should not be more than 2/3 full. If you are having any overheating problems, go ahead and return the item and get another one to try. You may have received a defective one. I am reading reviews that are either hit or miss here.
Customer Review: When good products go bad!
Summary: 1 Stars
I own 5 crock pots and I love them all, except for this one! Rival has been making crock pots since like the Dawn of Time (or at least the Dawn of Crock Pots) so you'd think they'd know what they are doing by now but somebody really dropped the ball on this one.
First of all, it has 3 legs and a big heavy control panel on the front so it is very unstable. All my other crock pots, you can slide/push them on a smooth counter top and I've never had one tip over on me. This one can't even be nudged without tipping over. In fact the slightest bump is enought to send it toppling over. The first time I used it was on Christmas Day and it tipped over twice!
The second thing I hate about this crock pot is it burns! Crock pots are supposed to cook low and slow so they can cook for hours without being stirred and fussed with. This crock pot burns soup! If I don't take off the lid and stir it every hour or so it burns the whole bottom of the pan black! Gee, doesn't this defeat the purpose of letting it cook dinner while your away at work, that is unless you like slightly burned food and having to soak the crock over night to get the burned residue off the bottom.
The third thing I hate about this crock pot is it's "smarts". My old crock pot you just turn on and plug in, and if you lose power the pot will automatically turn back on when the power comes back on. The smart pot loses all it programming and has to be reprogramed if power is lost. Sounds like a good idea except when your house is being remodeled and the workman keep blowing a fuse every 10 minutes and you have to keep restarting your dinner. A cabbage soup that should have been done by 4 pm didn't even really get going until about 3pm because I had to reprogram the crock pot about 40 times that day.
I wish I had taken this crock pot back and gotten something else. I'll tell ya one thing, as soon as my remodel is over this baby is going to the Goodwill.
Customer Review: Listen to all the reports AVOID- IT JUST BOILS EVERYTHING ON LOW
Summary: 1 Stars
Listen to all the reports AVOID- IT JUST BOILS EVERYTHING ON LOW
The was a replacement for the Same unit.... Please listen to all of the other reviews, They have done the work for you.
Had some hesitation with this unit, it's sat around unopened for about a month. Should have listened to my gut instincts and All the reviews.
This was a replacement for one that broke. The handle disintegrated and the store replaced it with same.
One reviewer said it best " DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY' and another "Boils, Burns, & Sticks" I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea.
I started a Pot Roast last night and knew with in minutes.... This was a bad idea. The smell, others have eluded to is nauseating !!!!
Of course one understands a first time use... But the chemical smell says only one thing...... This is the wrong unit to buy!!
After getting by the smell and adding all of the great ingredients, setting it on low... WITHIN one hour the dam thing was boiling....
Trust me when I tell ya......THIS IS A PIECE OF JUNK....... and I'm being kind.
Buy the way, I had two Crock Pots going at the same time. The other is a Rival, 5 qt round unit i've had for years. Two units cooking the same ingredients, started simutainisly.
This morning the Rival is looking good,smells great and tastes Fantastic..
The Crock Pot is totally over cooked or should I say "just boiled".
In all fairness. My old unit made some fantastic Italian Roast Pork. Off the chart, by any standard... But it did cook too fast. I just adjusted my times.
This JUST BOILS EVERYTHING AND WHO NEEDS THAT.... ALL WE WANT IS A SLOW COOKER That's why we are here, we love good food.
and this unit ain't going to give that.
Hope I was helpful
Customer Review: Lead in these ceramic crockpots!
Summary: 1 Stars
We purchased a ceramic crock pot slow cooker a few months back to use about 1x per week. After using it several times, I discovered to my horror that the ceramic inserts - the darker color glazes all contain lead to some degree. Despite the manufacturers claim that their slow cookers abide by the FDA standards set in place, I did not feel safe using this product. Although the amount of lead in the slow cooker may abide by FDA standards, this is not zero, I believe that the FDA allows 7ppm to leach into the food over a 24 hour period to be considered "safe". There is currently no known safe level for lead ingestion. Since I am cooking for my family, including a 2 year old, I decided to stop using this appliance. Since lead doesn't leave your system, and accumulates over time, I think not! After contacting the company, and asking if their slow cooker had any amounts of lead, and if so how much, I was told that yes it did contain lead and cadmium, but they wouldn't reveal how much. I was told that they do abide by FDA regulations which do allow trace amounts of lead. That is supposed to make customers feel safe using their product?
After doing a bit more research online, I have come to find out that the white slow cookers are the way to go. Hamilton Beach was tested and found to have zero levels of lead leaching into the food after heating it for 2 days.
Bottom line is do your research before buying these appliances. Stay away from the dark color inserts, stick to white, and hamilton beach appears to be the safest from the research I've done.
Happy Slow Cooking!