Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

ALLOWS MORE FREEDOM TO COMBINE FUNCTIONS OR ELIMINATE PANS, FREE YOUR HANDS TO DO SIMULTANEOUS WORK I was looking for a different appliance in a local store an saw this new multi-cooker on display. To be quite honest, the unique look is what caused me to ask questions and I thought it was a very attractive appliance. I had been considering a crock pot or multi-cooker anyway so it really engaged me and I went through a series of demos. I was hooked and took the only one they had besides the floor model because it was so new at that time. I have been running it through a number of tests and researching the specs a little. I have a few impressions on use and have included some of my findings below. I hope it helps. SOME NOTES ON USES: --- REMEMBER THIS IS 4qt WHEN CONSIDERING ROASTS - The non-stick pot is rated at 4qts and is about 8 1/2 inches across once you get down inside. The mouth is wider where the lid sits. For some uses, this machine is more than large enough. For others, it might be on the small side. However, I was buying according to my needs so there is no reason to fault the machine. Oblong machines that do large roasts for big family dinners are available. If you are doing a large solid roast, there isn't much room to place vegetables around the sides. If you cube the roast and mix it all in with the vegetables, then the broth can get high enough to ensure everything cooks properly. It's not an oven roast anyway. (Oven is my preferred roast though) --- NOT A PRESSURE COOKER - The lid is well vented so you can't expect a tight seal. I do not suggest rigging it to seal tighter against it's designed use by manufacturer. --- HANDLES RICE WELL - I have a very high end rice cooker but the venting mechanism is more complicated for special rice styles. I prefer this machine when using recipes that require cooking the rice with other ingredients because it gums up my rice machine. Same with some wild rice. There is a specific setting for brown rice. This machine will also do larger pots or act as a second when I have company. --- LEAVES YOUR HANDS FREE LONGER ON THINGS LIKE RISOTTO (with attachment) - If you get the stir tower, you can do things like risotto and have a little more hands free as the tower stirs the rice for you. You still need to check it a few minutes here and there to add broth. This was a big deal to me, not to have to sit there and stir. Staying near, I was able to split my attention much more easily over other foods. --- ONE POT PREPARATION WITH BRAISING/SEARING - I don't know if this is a big deal to some people, but it's nice to not have several pans out while you make something that requires searing first, then slow cooking. It helps on the cleanup. I will be honest though, in some cases I prefer the wide low mouth of a good frying pan while I set the cooker to it's eventual setting and dump the items in once it's all set. Personal preference on this one. --- YOGURT - It's nice to have the option of making a homemade yogurt that I know what's in it. It's as natural as the ingredients you choose. That was a bit of a novelty for me. I am not an expert yogurt maker though I may become one some day. You can also do low temp creamy scrambled eggs. NOTES ON TEMPERATURES AND FUNCTIONS: --- EASY TO USE ONCE YOU READ INSTRUCTIONS: The settings and use of this machine is fairly intuitive and easy though you should read the instructions first of course. Experts with multi-cookers might find they can work it with little instruction right out of the box. --- SOME FUNCTIONS REQUIRE MULTI ADJUSTMENTS AS YOU COOK, OTHERS DON'T - There are a few functions that you can add ingredients and walk away after start (such as rice). However, others still require you to be present and change to the appropriate setting once ready. That is mostly intuitive, but I thought it worth mentioning. For instance if you are braising, you have to change the setting once you are ready for slow cooking etc... --- CHANGE TIME ON THE FLY - As you cook, you can adjust the time if you realize a change is in order. However, that is generally a matter of dialing in the new time you need rather than adding a minute or hour. --- MANUAL OR SET TEMPARATURES, FAHRENHEIT OR CELSIUS - There are a number of auto temp settings or you can set your own temperature manually. You can set your machine to read Fahrenheit or Celsius. I will give specific temps below in Fahrenheit. --- AUTO SETTING TEMPS - Slow Cook Low 190' -- Slow Cook High 212' -- Simmer 205' -- oil/steam 212' -- saute 350' -- sear 450' -- Warm 165' --- There are also specific recipe settings for temperature but the manufacturer does not supply all the information. Yogurt for instance rises to 185' and then cools down to 110' to cure for the correct number of hours. --- MANUAL TEMP SETTINGS - You can manually set your temperature between the ranges 165' - 450' -- note that the auto settings will go lower for certain periods and uses, but adjust for the recipe so you can't maintain a lower temp when doing specialty low temp cooking below 165' FINAL THOUGHTS: I have been really happy with this machine so far and it has a terrific feel of quality and beauty. Though for some uses I would go with a larger machine, a large oblong would not really work for the uses an additional stir tower attachment provides. In the end, those are some of the most useful options that I like about it to begin with.