Customer Reviews

Hamilton Beach 33690BV 7 Qt Slow Cooker

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First let me say that this crock pot is a huge improvement from my previous 3 quart model. I now have a family of seven and was looking for a slow cooker that was much bigger. My older crock pot cooked very slowly and a roast and potatoes would take an entire day to cook.

I have only used this cooker on the low setting. The liquid is actually rapidly bubbling on this setting. Meals that are supposed to take 8 to 10 hours to cook are done in 5 hours. I would be leary to start something on low and leave it for the whole day planning on a meal after work. I think it would be done before that.

I do like the idea that if I don't have the time to put something on in the morning, I can still do it in the early afternoon and have the meal ready by dinner time. I also like this portability of this slow cooker. It has a strap to fasten down the lid as well as a carrying bag. This makes it ideal to take on picnics, to family reunions, etc.

I got this one from a store, and when I went home I found out on the internet that this model was on recall. I called the Canadian number provided on the web-site, and the lady who answered told me the model is not on the Canadian recall list. So I asked if it were different from the US model, and she said it is just not on our list. I was still skeptical, so I went to the Canadian web-site, and sure enough the model number was on there too. So I called customer support again to figure out what is happening. The new representative refused to help me untill I open the box and give her the number at the bottom of the pot. I tried to tell her that I didn't want to open the box but she wouldn't listen. I decided to return it to the store and not buy any thing made by this company again.

After about three (3) uses, the handles on both sides of the crockpot cracked and became unusable. I droped a seven-bone roast in the middle of the floor and burned myself in the process. The only good thing about the "worst crockpot ever made" would have to be the durability of the "pot" itself. That's the only thing that hasn't broken on this ...waste of money!!!

I've had this crockpot for about a month, and have used it a half-dozen times. Here's my experience...

What I do like: The keep-warm/low/high heat settings work properly, and the heating element cooks uniformly. The crock can be removed from the unit for easy serving and cleaning. The food is well-cooked and tender. The oval shape is very nice to work with, although it takes up a lot of room on the shelf (my kitchen is quite small).

What I don't like: It is not a particularly attractive design. The construction appears to be pretty flimsy and I'm not confident that this item would stand the test of time, because it seems like it wouldn't take much to break it. The glass lid is very light and doesn't fit securely, resulting in more cooking odors than I care to smell for 8 hours at a time and a significant loss of moisture when cooking. I cooked the exact same recipe two days in a row (one batch to take to a sick friend) and because the lid sits haphazardly one of the batches came out verrry reduced.

I'm glad I saved the packing material because this morning I'm planning to box it up for return, hoping to find a more substantial and satisfactory unit.

I've used this slow cooker to make a variety of dishes and it has worked just fine. It is easy to clean and has three convenient heat settings. Its a good buy for the price and have no complaints about the product thus far.

the size is what is great about this crock pot. i bought one several years ago, but it was damaged when borrowed. so this is the replacement. the cover and lid strap are also nice to have when taking food to a potluck or party.

What can I say - Already had this particular Slow Cooker, it works great, used it all the time till the handles broke. Searched high and low for the exact design... Thought I found it on Amazon... ordered the item shown - only to get one with a different design on the outside. Still works just wanted the one that was shown as the picture.