The introduction of the slow cookers introduced a new era for cooking. With a slow cooker, you can start preparing a meal in the morning, allow it to slow cook throughout the day, and have it ready for serving later in the evening.
Slow cookers can be used by single women and men or even large families. The amount of servings contained in a slow cooker depends on its size and the quantity of food you put into it. Slow cookers have a reputation for producing mouth-watering and flavor-rich food.
When it comes to slow cookers, no brand can match Cuisinart. Cuisinart is a leading manufacturer of slow cookers among other kitchen appliances. Cuisinart was established in 1973 by Carl Sonthemier. Since then the brand has been designing and manufacturing reliable, revolutionary, and reasonably priced kitchen appliances aimed at helping its clients prepare healthy, delicious dishes.
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Introducing The Cuisinart Multi-Cooker
This article will focus on one of the top models of slow cookers from this internationally recognized brand – The Cuisinart 3in1 CookCentral 6-Quart Multi-Cooker also known as the Cuisinart MSC-600.
The slow cooker is ideally suited to those with some experience using the traditional slow cooker and those who are ready to learn new cooking techniques or those looking to upgrade. It is not suited to those who looking to purchase their first slow cooker.
The Cuisinart 3in1 CookCentral 6-Quart Multi-Cooker is all you need for single-pot meals. It can steam, slow cook, sauté, and brown all in a single pot for an authentic single pot cooking. The machine offers an impressive collection of features that are discussed below.
Features
The Cuisinart MSC-600 has a glass lid that allows for easy checking of the status of the meal without having to interrupt the cooking process. It also has a non-stick cooking pot and a steaming rack that elevates food for better steaming.
The Cuisinart MSC-600 has 3 programmable cooking controls that let you slow cook your meals, brown your meats, or sauté your vegetables. It also has a blue LCD display panel with press buttons for easy programming and use. Read on for a more detailed look into these features.
Cooking Controls
One of the most impressive features of the slow cooker is the cooking controls. This 6-quart cooker comes with a control panel situated at the front, center part of the unit. It has 2 blue LCD displays that show the cooking time and current temperature.
Next to the displays are + and – buttons that you can push to select the temperature and time settings required for your food. Below the LCD are 3 cooking mode buttons namely – STEAM, SAUTE/BROWN, and SLOW COOK. It also has a START/STOP button below the cooking mode buttons. You can search on their official crock pot manual for easy use.
Steam Mode
Steaming food is a very healthy and highly recommended way of preparing food since it traps in the nutrients and it does not require the use of either butter or oil. Steam Mode in the MSC-600 allows you to place either your meat or vegetables onto the steaming rack with no more than 2 quarts of liquid. Once you have done that all that you have to do is cover the lid and allow for the steaming process to start..
Sauté/Brown Mode
The Sauté/Brown Mode on the Cuisinart 3in1 CookCentral 6-Quart Multi-Cooker allows you to prepare various foods a though you are using a skillet or sauté pan. This mode is preset to 350 Fahrenheit but you can set the temperature as high as 400 Fahrenheit or as low as 150 Fahrenheit. This mode is also what you should use when reheating food.
Slow Cook Mode
Slow Cook Mode works best for foods that require simmering for long periods such as dried beans, soups, stocks, and stews. It is also the best option when cooking cheaper cuts of meat that are tough to eat. Look for more details by viewing this demo.
Slow cook mode lets you choose the temperature and time at which you would like to prepare food.
- LOW is the most common temperature setting and this reaches up to 200 Fahrenheit.
- SIMMER setting reaches up to 185 Fahrenheit
- HIGH setting reaches up to 212 Fahrenheit. The HIGH setting is what you need to cook your meals as fast as possible.
It is worth noting that you can set the Cuisinart MSC-600 to cook for a maximum of 24 hours on each of the 3 settings explained above. It is even possible to use the machine without setting a time and it will cook your food at the temperature you set until you turn it off.
The Cuisinart MSC-600 automatically switches to WARM once the maximum time allowed for your chosen function lapses and it will shut off after continuously running for 24 hours.
Here are other features:
Design
The MSC-600 is made of brushed stainless steel construction that allows you to brown or sauté directly in the unit. The stainless steel construction means that the device is both strong and durable.
Quality Construction
Cuisinart is a brand with a reputation for its high-quality construction and the MSC-600 is no exception. The machine has a non-stick aluminum pot that allows for the even distribution of heat for perfect cooking. In addition, the cooker is BPA-free making it great for health.
Large Removable Aluminum Non-Stick Pot
The MSC-600 has an innovative glass lid that gives you a clear view of the food as it cooks. Opening the lid while the food is cooking allows heat to escape thus lowering the temperature, which can ruin your dish. Each time you lift the lid, you will need to add an extra 15 to 20 minutes of cooking each time. It is also advisable to lift the lid away from you to avoid getting steam burned.
Stay Cool Handles
The stay cool handles on the aluminum pot and the glass lid mean that you never have to worry about searching for cloths when transporting the machine or when taking the lead off.
Warranty
Cuisinart provides a limited 3-year warranty on products from the original date of purchase. It is recommended that you visit the company’s official website and register your machine to document the purchase date. If you lose your receipt or forget to register your machine, Cuisinart uses the manufacture date to determine the date of purchase to help you if problems arise.
Strengths
Auto Switch Off & Warm
The Cuisinart MSC-600 automatically goes into warm mode once the time you have set lapses. This warm mode keeps food warm for up to 8 hours before shutting down automatically.
3-in-1 Cooking
The 3-in-1 cooking options available on the MSC-600 make it stand out from the rest. It is a feature not common in its competitors since none can slow cook, steam, and sauté/brown all in the same pot.
Large Capacity
The 6-quart pot is large enough to hold food for over 5 people. This means that you will never have to worry about cooking multiple dishes if you have a large family.
Dishwasher Friendly
The aluminum pot is dishwasher friendly meaning that you can toss it in your dishwasher after using without worrying about damaging it.
Easy Transportation
The stay cool handles allow for easy transportation of the Cuisinart MSC-600 even when it is hot making it such a convenient feature to have.
Glass Lid
The glass lid allows you to view the progress of your meal without having to open it. The lid also has a stay cool handle to ensure that you don’t hurt yourself.
Stainless Steel Housing
The MSC-600 features stainless steel housing meaning that it is a quality product built to last. If you choose this device you can be sure that it will serve you for a long time.
Weaknesses
No Delay Timer
The Cuisinart MSC-600 does not have a delay timer meaning that you cannot delay cooking times to a preset time later, which is a common feature in other slow cookers.
Not Really Programmable
The MSC-600 is technically not programmable like all other slow cookers that claim to be for various reasons. First, the machine has no delay timer meaning that you cannot set it to start cooking at a later time. Second, you cannot start a cooking program on high for a while and then switch it later to low.
Final Thoughts
The Cuisinart 3in1 CookCentral 6-Quart Multi-Cooker also known as the Cuisinart MSC-600 is quite a capable and versatile machine that is very easy to maintain and use.
With in-built timer and heat control options and the aluminum pot, this slow cooker helps you enjoy the best results in your cooking. You can also get all the details on the full article written on their website.
The amazing features, great price, and backing of a strong brand all make this device highly recommended. If you have already started preparing slow cooked meals and are looking to take it a notch higher, you should consider investing in this device.
It will be the best investment you ever make for your home. Want more? Then head over to our main page for brand overviews and cookbooks.