Hamilton Beach Simple but easy Crock Pot

I had a crock pot that had a non-stick coating. The coating scratched, I had earned a gift and this was listed in the brochure. I waited for my new crock pot. The Hamilton Beach 33550 Crock Pot came in the mail in about a week. It looks very nice.

The Product
The crock pot is nice looking. The base is chrome. The crock is a dark stoneware. The lid is clear. There are 3 settings. 1. Keep warm 2. Low and 3. High. The keep warm setting is only to be used after the food has thoroughly cooked or been reheated using the cook temperatures first.

It came with a Lid Latch which looks like a thick white rubber band. The Lid Latch is to help secure the cover when moving it. The Lid Latch is placed over the handles, then cross the latch over the lid knob for a better fit.

It is a five quart crock pot. The base handles, control knob and cover knob are cool to the touch. The base gets very warm.

The cord is just over three feet long. Perfect for me to be able to plug it in and the base can be on the stove. I like that better than cooking on the counter. There is not a good way to wrap the cord, although you can wrap the cord around the three feet on the bottom of the base. The longest part of the oval shaped base is 12" and the widest part is 10". It does take up quite a bit of space, but I have a pantry it fits into.

Use
We fix our roasts the night before by browning the meat and adding ingredients. We refrigerate over night. Then we put the crock on in the morning.

I use the low setting and everything is done by dinner. It has a polarized plug so those in older homes may need an adapter.

Clean up
I love this part! The base is wiped with a damp cloth. The stoneware is dishwasher safe, but I usually just hand wash it. It has a nice glaze and cleans like glass would. It is easy, even with stuck on food. A little scrapping is all it takes. And unlike my non-stick previous crock, I don't have to worry about scratching it!

Warnings
The manual included the warnings. Most were basic like not touching hot surfaces, unpluging before washing, etc. It does warn not to place in a heated oven, placing on a hot stove, avoid sudden temperature changes, etc.

The manual states the crock is rough and can damage a countertop. Do not use abrasive cleansers or metal scouring pads

The crock is microwave safe and oven proof but should not be heated when empty. The cover should not be used in the microwave, conventional oven, or on the stove top.

Overall
I am very pleased, especially since it was a reward and I did not have to pay for it! It is larger than my previous crock, very easy to clean and looks modern. I recommend this to those who need/want a decent basic crock pot.

The manual has plenty of tips for new and seasoned crock pot users including recipes, foods that should not be cooked for extended periods of time. Most meat and vegetable combinations require at least 7 hours on low.




Thanks for reading!
Cathy