Hamilton Beach 33956 Set 'n Forget 5-Quart Slow Cooker, White

by Hamilton Beach

Product Features

• 5-quart oval-shaped slow cooker for soups, pot roasts, curries, and more
• Flat-panel digital controls; precise temperature probe for large cuts of meat
• Manual or pre-programmed by time or temperature cooking options
• Automatic keep warm; locking glass lid reduces spills when transporting
• Measures approximately 16 by 9 by 16 inches; 1-year warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.2 x 9.8 x 16.2 inches ; 16.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 14 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000R4FTV4
• Item model number: 33956
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,062 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #28 in Kitchen & Dining > Small Appliances > Slow Cookers

Product Description

5 quart Oval slow cooker with flat panel digital controls & temperature probe for large cuts of meat- Never over cook or under cook meat with this precise temperature probe . Slow cooks three ways - manually or pre-programmed by time or temperature with the included meat probe. Includes clip tight glass lid feature to reduce spills when travelling . Automatically shifts to warm to prevent overcooking

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

133 of 136 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rival's rival, March 9, 2008

By 

informednow (cleveland, oh) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hamilton Beach 33956 Set 'n Forget 5-Quart Slow Cooker, White (Kitchen)

I bought this after my larger sized Rival had the handle come off of the lid while cooking. This seems to be a much better made cooker. I love the probe function, which allows you to cook until the meat is done then automatically warm without second guessing. The controls are easy to read and push. I tested the unit and it heated to the proper temperatures for low and high. No overcooking or handles coming off. I predict if Rival continues to sell cheap junk that HB will soon become the number one slow cooker, a worthy rival to Rival.

120 of 125 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars mis-representation of temp probe and warm setting, September 19, 2010

By 

truth_liberator - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hamilton Beach 33956 Set 'n Forget 5-Quart Slow Cooker, White (Kitchen)

Ok, so I should have looked at Amazon and the ratings before this product ever entered our home.

However, that won't stop me from helping others, who read these reviews, from being duped by slow cooker companies' empty rhetoric.

Allow me to quantify a problem with this cooker:

You can set the probe to a low temperature of 140 and that is good. HOWEVER, this cooker's "Warm" setting runs at a temperature of 180 (I tested mine this morning, after ruining a nice cut of slow cooker meat).

Here is the reason why some of us have posted that these cookers are cooking too hot: Meat proteins, which contain moisture, start to shrink at a temperature of 140-150 (see "On Food and Cooking", Harold McGee, page 163, 2004) and causes the meat to start drying out.

You CANNOT set and forget! If the cooker's temperature is 180 on the warm setting, then whatever you put in the cooker will come up to a temperature of 180, at some point in time--REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU SET THE PROBE AT.

This means that you cannot braise tough meats. Why? Because, tough meats require low and slow cooking to avoid drying out the meat while melting the tough connective tissue which make the meat unpleasant to consume. While I have not checked the cooker's temperature on the low setting, braising tough meat should be done around 160-180. I remain confident that if the warm setting is 180, then the low setting can only be hotter.

Now, I can fully understand that companies are covering their rear-ends because of safe cooking practices; however, 180 degrees is excessively safe (even ground beef is beyond well done at 180).

The truth to this is that you cannot use this slow cooker as a set and forget with meats. If you are using it with meats, then timing becomes critical or over-done-ness will ensue. If your meat sits at the warm setting for any serious duration, you will come to learn that your meat is a dry well done, not done well. Furthermore, tough meats will remain a severe challenge because the temperatures are too hot too fast to strike a pleasant eating experience.

Good luck with your slow cooking endeavors!

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So far it's great!, January 4, 2009

By 

mntngal100 (Fredericksburg, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hamilton Beach 33956 Set 'n Forget 5-Quart Slow Cooker, White (Kitchen)

I bought this for myself because I wanted a programmable crock that would automatically turn to warm when finished. But I got much more than I had expected. I've used the probe and it cooked my chicken perfectly. And I love that the lid will seal if I need to transport a meal to a pot luck dinner or something. In the past, I would have to worry about everything spilling out, but not with this because it has such a great seal on it.

I also bought this as a gift for my brother and his large family. We were all amazed at how much we could cook in this. So, it works great for a large family. The directions do recommend that the crock is filled for best results or expect it to cook faster if it is only half filled. That may be why a few people on here had their food cook too fast. I haven't had a problem with that at all. Would recommend this for anyone and I got on sale, so good purchase for the money.