There are three cooking modes for this Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker. You can set the desired temperature or the needed time for cooking. The slow cooker will stop cooking and automatically shift to keep warm until you are ready to enjoy it. Isn’t it fantastic?!
The best thing about this Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker is the temperature probe. It allows you to know the internal temperature of meat. Thus, you can prepare the meat at your desired doneness. No under- or over- cooking would happen.
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Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker: 3 Cooking Modes
This Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget 33967 Programmable Slow Cooker offers 3 choices for easy cooking, they are 1) Probe Mode, 2) Program Mode and 3) Manual Mode.
1) Probe Mode
The Probe Mode is especially suitable for large cuts of meat such as steaks and chicken. It can track the internal temperature and help you get the desired doneness but not under- or over- cooked.
To use this mode, insert the temperature probe after you place the food inside the slow cooker. Then, set the desired internal food temperature. As food cooks, the probe will read the actual food temperature accurately and it will be displayed on the control panel. When the desired temperature is reached, the slow cooker will auto-shift to Warm and keep your dish at a proper temperature.
For the Probe Mode, you can refer to the below chart and estimate how long the food needs to cook and reach the desired temperature:
2) Program Mode
The Program Mode is very convenient if you will be unavailable to monitor your food. What you need to do is just put all the ingredients inside the slow cooker properly. Then, enter the length of time you need to cook the food and select HIGH or LOW Heat setting.
During cooking, the remaining time will be shown on the illuminated display on the control panel. Once the cooking is done, it will shift to WARM setting automatically, so you don’t have to stay in the kitchen and wait for it to finish.
3) Manual Mode
You can also slow cook food manually by this Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker. Just simply select the heat settings, either HIGH or LOW. And turn OFF or choose the WARM setting when cooking is finished.
► In short, under…
1) Probe Mode
Set the desired internal temperature of meat. When the temperature is reached, it will shift to keep warm automatically.
2) Program Mode
Set the cooking time. When the time is up, it will auto-shift to keep warm.
3) Manual Mode
Select High or Low without setting a time.
Apart from main dishes, it’s also perfect for making desserts like bread pudding and caramel apples.
Specs of Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker
This Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker has a 6 quart capacity that is enough for 6 pounds chicken or 4 pounds roast. It is oval-shaped with dimensions 16 x 10.4 x 16.1 inches and it weighs 15.23 pounds.
This slow cooker comes with a tempered-glass lid so you can monitor the cooking process without lifting the lid. This is important for a slow cooker because opening the lid during cooking will release heat and hence affect the result.
And there is a probe hole on the lid. If you are not inserting the probe under probe mode, leave the hole open and don’t plug it up with anything, even paper towels. The steam will escape via this vent hole and the power has been adjusted to compensate for any heat loss. What’s more, the lid handle is designed to hold a serving spoon, and a big spoon is attached if you order this slow cooker, which is very convenient for serving.
Other than that, there is a power interrupt protection which keeps the cooker functioning during a short power outage. With this protection, you don’t need to worry about any impact on cooking performance if it’s accidentally unplugged.
Moreover, it is accompanied by a user manual and recipes, plus 1 year warranty.
Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker: Travel Friendly
Sometimes you may prepare dishes for parties or family gatherings, this Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker is exactly suitable for tailgating and travelling.
The gasket lid can be locked and sealed tightly in place with secure, sturdy wire clips on each handle. This totally solves the concern of spilling. It keeps your car from getting messy when you are transporting the slow cooker between locations.
Apart from that, the full-grip side handles allow you to carry the heavy meals much easier and safer. As mentioned in the above, the serving spoon clips on the lid are also conducive to bring the cooker outside home.
► You may want to have a look at this: Presto Nomad Traveling Slow Cooker review
Easy Cleanup
After cooking a yummy dish, nobody wants to suffer from the cleaning job. There is no fuss about cleaning this Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker.
The stoneware is removable. Just put the stoneware and the lid into the dishwasher and let the machine do all the work for you.
For the base, never immerse it in any liquid. What you need to do is just unplug and give some time for it to cool down, then wipe it with a damp cloth.
Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker: User Reviews
This Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker is rated 4.6 stars / 5 stars on Amazon by over 2,500 reviews at the time of writing.
Quite a lot of comments praised the durability of this slow cooker as they have used it for years but it still works well like the beginning. This made it very good value for money.
The thermometer probe is another outstanding point that satisfies many users. They said that the probe was handy for measuring the food temperature which avoided overcooking.
Furthermore, some users were pleased by its travel-friendly features. The slow cooker was spill proof thanks to the rubber seal and locking lid, and the full-grip side handles made it easy to carry, plus the convenient serving spoon design.
Other positive feedback mentioned that the size was great for almost every food item and it’s easy to clean.
However, some buyers claimed that the exterior was hot during cooking. Do remember to wrap with a towel. Also, one user said the insert was quite heavy which brought a little trouble to the cleaning work or transportation.
Should You Buy Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker?
I would say YES, especially if you usually cook large cuts of meat. The Probe Mode is really amazing, it helps you to measure the internal temperature of steaks or other meat. No overcooking will be occured even if you have a busy day. The probe will do the monitor work for you, and you can enjoy a juicy, tender dish easily.
For other dishes like soups and stews, just use the Program Mode or Manual Mode. It’s totally versatile. And it is leak proof, easy to carry and clean, and durable.
This Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker is not expensive as it has many great features and is durable. Do try it for steaks, roasts, whole chickens, ham and many delicious foods!
Thank you for reading. I hope you find this review helpful. Happy Cooking!