West Bend 84716 Versatility 6-Quart Oval Slo-Cooker
by West Bend
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Our Price: $54.99
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: West BendBrand: West Bend
Model: 84716
Product features:
- 6-quart pot slow-cooks on heating base and goes on stovetop or in oven
- Oval shape accommodates chicken, ham, roast; roasting rack included
- Aluminum pot, with nonstick interior, stainless-steel handles, glass lid
- Heating base has keep-warm setting for serving, medium and high for cooking
- Pot, lid, rack dishwasher-safe
- West Bend 88503 3-Qt. Fondue Pot
- West Bend 85246 6-Quart Oval Crockery Cooker, Stainless Steel/White
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of West Bend 84716 Versatility 6-Quart Oval Slo-Cooker
Customer Review: The Swiss Army Knife of Slow Cookers!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't understand the problems of the negative reviewers, I had none of that, and I'm usually ready to be disappointed by the flaws of a new appliance. My mom is elderly, and wanted a crock-pot after seeing all those TV commercials on pre-packaged crock-pot meals. Problem was real crockery is heavy; 10-15 pounds on it's own, and difficult to wash. I picked this because it seemed to have a lot going for it. I found out it had even more when the item arrived. Pictures on the box show it can be used in the oven as a small roaster, placed on the stove to brown or cook, placed in the refrigerator or freezer for storage, and even the heating platform is designed to cook other items on the surface! The glass lid is great to check on the goods without releasing the heat.
My first meal consisted of a roast/stew that contained fresh carrots, potatoes, and a marinated seared chunk of beef roast that was cut in a three inch square, eight inch long piece. I put the roast rack in even though I was slow cooking to keep it off the bottom. I used the pan with some margarine over medium high heat on the stove prior to adding the veggies to sear the meat on all sides. I seasoned it and added some beef bouillon, and cooked on high for 4 hours. I managed to speed up the slow cooking process a bit by starting it on the stove, effectively bring the temperature to near boiling before slow cooking. This simple five-minute step, probably takes about two hours off the slow cooking time by my estimate. If you will be away at work, leave out this speed-up step. Allow the cooker to bring it up to temperature slowly, on low or medium heat.
The roast came out great, after eating a large portion of the meat for my Atkins diet, I left the remainder in, and stirred in some gravy mix, peas, and wax beans for a stew my parents both loved. I was surprised the potatoes did not get overly soft since I'd left them in the whole time. I'd assume that's a by-product of the slow cooking process. The pan was non-stick, so it cleaned up remarkably easy, and I put it away with the other pots and pans. The heating platform stays on the counter and has decent function for warming, although it takes a bit long to cook anything on it directly. I'd much rather use the stove.
On weekends, I like to make small oven pot roasts to support my low carb diet. I tried the Versatility unit out for this, and it worked well. The rack is good for about 2-4 pound roasts; I tried one with just seasonings and parsley (no veggies). I covered the top with aluminum foil, added a half-cup of water, and cooked at 350 degrees for two and a half hours. It came out great, and cleaned up a lot faster than past productions. With the minimal clean up of this pan; I'm inspired to do this on weeknights as well.
Next, my mom tried one of those Banquet, "Crock Pot Classics" in the slow cooker, and used the low setting. She used the chicken and veggies flavor, it came out great after nine full cooking hours. I tried one more thing, this to see if it would correct a problem I have with our regular oven. I like baked ham, and at its most flavorful is when it's cooked just red to a flaky texture. I use brown sugar and pineapple to do this, breaking down all the fat. It requires a long cooking process (3-5 hours typically), and in the oven, you must be careful not to let it dry out, or it will burn black. I sliced up a cheap, (two dollars for 3 pounds) ham in half inch pieces. I put them in the pot, added a cup of brown sugar and a 16-ounce can of crushed pineapple, and then cooked on high for four hours. It came out excellent; I should never have the problem of burning the ham again!
One more thing, Amazon has a good deal on this unit, it sells for ten to twenty bucks more at stores, and other online retailers. While that still doesn't make it less than other crock style pots, consider why most people don't use them; after all, they've been around for years. You have to cut, season the veggies, meats, and prepare for the crock, which is more work than just the cooking. This system does not cut back on that prep time, but it does allow other uses, like oven roasting, browning, warming, stovetop start-ups, easy cleaning and storage. Both the pot and the heater have their own independent uses, and multiply the likelihood you'll get full value from this appliance.
Description of West Bend 84716 Versatility 6-Quart Oval Slo-Cooker
Cooking post goes from heating/serving base to stovetop, oven, refrigerator, freezer or dishwasher. 6 quart oval shape holds a whole chicken, ham or roast. Keep warm setting for serving. Low, medium, and high settings for roasting or slow cooking. Durable cooking pot has premium nonstick interior and stainless steel handles. Glass cover for easy viewing. Lift out roasting rack. Dishwasher safe cooking pot, cover, and rack. Heat resistant base. 210W/120V AC only. UL listed.Versatile and convenient, this 6-quart pot can be used on the stovetop for cooking soup or stew, go into the oven for roasting a chicken or baking a casserole, and placed on its 210-watt heating base for slow-cooking a pot roast or keeping food warm while serving. For serving, the heating base's temperature control has a keep-warm setting. Medium and high settings permit cooking on the base. The oval aluminum pot, colored black like its heating base for contemporary style, has a nonstick interior and measures 12 inches long by 8-1/2 inches wide, ample for a chicken, ham, or roast beef. A lift-out rack is included for keeping food off the bottom so it can be thoroughly browned during roasting. The pot's glass lid permits cooking to be monitored without releasing heat, and the lid's knob stays cool on the stovetop. For easy cleanup, the pot, lid, and rack are dishwasher-safe. --Fred Brack
Slow Cookers
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