Customer Reviews

West Bend 53655 5-Cup Hot Pot, White

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

 

 

As a college student I have limited access to a kitchen. I have another hotpot that I use to make soup and such, but I decided to purchase this hotpot to have a small one to heat up water for cocoa/tea/etc. I've been sorely disappointed with its performance.

1. It DOESN'T BOIL WATER. Yes, it does heat the water to a high temperature, but the water never actually boils.

2. It's EXTREMELY LOUD. The heating element makes very loud clicking sounds when it engages/dis-engages. (The way this hotpot works is to turn the heating element intermittently on and off until the highest temperature is reached. Once it's hot, the element continues to turn itself on and off-albeit less frequently than when it's in the heating process-to maintain temperature). The sound it made was so loud that it would distract me from whatever else I was doing.

3. This product DOES NOT SHUT ITSELF OFF. If you forget about it and leave it plugged in, eventually the water will evaporate and the element will be left hot. There is a danger of shorting the unit and/or starting a fire. The only way to turn it off is to unplug it.

This loud clicking noise annoyed me so much I only used the product three times. Even if it didn't make sound I wouldn't use it-- this hotpot never boiled water and without a safety-off it's a hazard.

I bought one of these on February 10th. It has a 60-day warranty. On April 8th it started leaking out of the seam above the heating element. I have only used it to heat water for tea, coffee, etc and never let it go dry.

The previous WestBend pots I have had (different models) lasted about a year and then had to be replaced, which meant that I was buying a new one each year (excessive).

But this latest model's new twist of a 60 day lifespan is too much. And to return it you have to mail it to WestBend, pay for the shipping and insurance -- which is half the cost of the item.

I guess it's a great racket, if you can sucker enough people into buying it.

My recommendation -- Don't waste your money!

There are really only a few things a college students needs to make it through four years of school: it's always nice to have a pen, never run out of printer toner, clean socks are nice -- but often a luxury, and you will starve to death without a good hot pot. The West Bend 53015 5-Cup Plastic Hot Pot is my hot pot of choice.

While I seldom use it for my basic three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), it is indispensible when it comes to late-night eating (the fourth and often fifth meals of the day). Perfect for instant soups like Cup O Noodles and Ramen, Quaker Oatmeal, tea, coffee, and countless others, my hotpot has helped me through many an all-nighter.

The West Bend Hot Pot is better than others I've had in the past. It's easy to clean and has somehow remained free from the stale odors that have haunted previous hot pots I've owned or used. I purchased the black one because it's somewhat sleeker looking in my oppinion. I figured the white would get real dirty, real quick.

All-in-all I've had no complaints with my purchase and would strongly recomend the West Bend to anyone in the market for something affordable, stylish, and reliable.

Okay, I got this one because it was cheaper than the other model. It's also black --as one review rightly pointed out, it's pretty sleek. It has the advantage of having an openable lid, so clean up is not a problem. Why three stars? It doesn't freaking boil the water! Because there's no temperature control, you can only get the water as hot as the machine wants, which is pretty hot, but not boiling. So if you want to make coffee or tea, you will have to settle for less-than-boiling. Minor issue? That depends; I think West Bend should have put a temperature control on it at least.

I am totally disappointed with this product: it doesn't bring the water to boil. Its function is just to heat up the water to a certain temperature. There is no signal to tell you that the water is ready for use. So you would have to check on it or to guess. The maual says it takes about 5 minutes to heat up 3 cups of water, mine too more than 9 minutes.

I started buying this item about 5 years ago. I had one defective one about 2 years ago; the other one was fine until it broke or wore out. This month I have bought 1 which stopped working in a matter of a week to 10 days. It was quickly replaced with another (quick turn-around) but it also broke soon after. When they work they are great for heating water, especially for tea. I am not satisfied with this poor performance record!

This hot-pot is absolutely essential for living at college! While you can get your regular meals at D-Hall and at other eating establishments, the hot-pot especially comes in handy for late-night snacks, like Ramen noodles, as well as soup, hot chocolate, or hot apple cider. Now that's good eating! Keeps the stuff pretty darn hot, and it doubles as a pitcher. It also is taller but not as wide as most hot-pots, so it has a smaller "footprint" when you're storing it. All in all, a must-get.

We purchased this hot-pot to replace one which failed after several years of service. It was/is used for almost 2 hours/day to heat water for tea, coffee, whatever. It brings the water to near-boil quickly and holds it hot enuf for tea. I usually start with a little more than enuf water for the first pot to make it heat as quickly as possible then refill it after use.

The old [similar] pot worked every time except the last time and the new one works fine also. We heat nothing but water so cleanup is trivial.

This is my second one. The first is in daily use at my office, and this one is for my home. It heats more quickly than a microwave, and keeps my tea hot without boiling away. I take it when traveling as well, because it is better for tea than the hotel coffee pots. This little pot has been used for heating soup, for heating the water for knoxing my synchronized-swimmer daughter's hair, for any use of hot water in a hurry.

I have had several West Bend Hot Pots over the years. Have tried other brands. They don't come close to the West Bend. It's quick and easy to use and they last a long time.