West Bend 84716 Versatility 6-Quart Oval Slo-Cooker

by West Bend

Product Features

• 6-quart pot slow-cooks on heating base and goes on stovetop or in oven
• Oval shape accommodates chicken, ham, roast; roasting rack included
• Aluminum pot, with nonstick interior, stainless-steel handles, glass lid
• Heating base has keep-warm setting for serving, medium and high for cooking
• Pot, lid, rack dishwasher-safe

Product Details

Product Manual [209kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 16.1 x 10.2 x 8.4 inches ; 7.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 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: B000065UF2
• Item model number: 84716
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (152 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,028 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #64 in Kitchen & Dining > Small Appliances > Slow Cookers

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Versatile and convenient, this 6-quart pot can be used on the stovetop for cooking soup or stew, go into the oven for roasting a chicken or baking a casserole, and placed on its 210-watt heating base for slow-cooking a pot roast or keeping food warm while serving. For serving, the heating base's temperature control has a keep-warm setting. Medium and high settings permit cooking on the base. The oval aluminum pot, colored black like its heating base for contemporary style, has a nonstick interior and measures 12 inches long by 8-1/2 inches wide, ample for a chicken, ham, or roast beef. A lift-out rack is included for keeping food off the bottom so it can be thoroughly browned during roasting. The pot's glass lid permits cooking to be monitored without releasing heat, and the lid's knob stays cool on the stovetop. For easy cleanup, the pot, lid, and rack are dishwasher-safe. --Fred Brack

Product Description

Cooking post goes from heating/serving base to stovetop, oven, refrigerator, freezer or dishwasher. 6 quart oval shape holds a whole chicken, ham or roast. Keep warm setting for serving. Low, medium, and high settings for roasting or slow cooking. Durable cooking pot has premium nonstick interior and stainless steel handles. Glass cover for easy viewing. Lift out roasting rack. Dishwasher safe cooking pot, cover, and rack. Heat resistant base. 210W/120V AC only. UL listed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

260 of 261 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Slo-Cooker I've ever owned., June 5, 2003

By 

Richard S. (Long Island, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Bend 84716 Versatility 6-Quart Oval Slo-Cooker (Kitchen)

What I love about this product:

- Cooking times are accurate. If a recipe specifies 8 hours to cook a pot roast, that's how long it will take. I've never owned a slo-cooker that came close to this degree of accuracy, and I've owned many over the years!

- Ridiculously easy to clean (non-stick).

- The removeable cooking pot is very light-weight, and can be used in the oven, on the stove, or in the refrigerator, hence the term "versatility".

- 6 quart capacity and oval design accomodates most recipes and cuts of meat...it is ideal for me.

- I've cooked 15-20 meals of all types with this cooker and have NEVER had a problem with the results.

Why I could not give this product 5 stars:

- It does not have an on/off indicator (light), nor does it have an "off" setting - once you plug it in, it goes into a "warm" mode, even though the heat switch is turned all the way to the left.

- Speaking of switches, the one on this model appears (to me) to be a bit flimsy with no positive feedback as to whether it is on high or low or somewhere in between. No big deal, and for all I know it might last through a nuclear war, but if it ever breaks, the appliance will probably be rendered useless.

All in all, based on ease of cleaning, light-weight design, and of course consistency of results, this is the best slo-cooker I've ever owned and would, despite its price, strongly recommend this appliance to any and all interested in purchasing a slo-cooker.

234 of 241 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really nice!, November 4, 2003

By 

J. Hawthorne (Matawan, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: West Bend 84716 Versatility 6-Quart Oval Slo-Cooker (Kitchen)

This is a much better product than a Rival crock pot. For one thing, it will do so much more ("Versatility" is a good name for it). You can, for example, brown your pot roast in it on your stove before setting the pot on its heating base to slow cook. Hence, fewer pans to clean up. I consider the variety of settings a plus. More choices means more control. Also, the "keep warm" settings come in really handy. I haven't used the heating base as a griddle but it's nice to know I have that option. The only thing I don't like about it is the chord length- it's a bit on the short side. Other than that I love it! Everything comes out tasty. It's easy and convenient to use. It's easy and convenient to clean. It's even light weight!

Oh, well, in all fairness I guess I should mention some things the Rival is equiped to do that the West Bend is not: 1) the Rival pot can break if you drop it or subject it to sudden significant temperature change. 2) The Rival handles on the heating base can crack and eventually crumble into small pieces. (Mine did.) 3) Since it weighs so much, the Rival can probably get you into pretty good shape if you lift it enough times. (I use hand weights myself.) I mention these things just in case someone is looking to pay money for this sort of thing. (Well, you never know!) However, in my opinion these are not desireable features in a slow cooker so it's just as well the West Bend doesn't have them. : )

I hope this information helps you make a good decision!

79 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this thing!, July 28, 2004

By 

Korillian "AMS" (Coral Springs, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Bend 84716 Versatility 6-Quart Oval Slo-Cooker (Kitchen)

I bought this slow cooker for two reasons. First, it was nonstick, which is a BIG plus in my house. Second, I liked the idea that it wasn't a heavy crock.

Well, I have been so happy with my decision! I have used this slow cooker more times over the last month and a half than I ever used the three or four crockpots that went before it.

Yes, as someone pointed out, it does seem flimsy when you first look at it. The key word here is 'seem'. You're so used to a crockpot being a big, heavy crock that this thinner nonstick version seems less substantial in comparison. But it's not. I have no fear of it bending or giving. It's as tough as a crock, if not tougher, but loads lighter and therefore easier to handle.

And, yes, as someone also pointed out, the cover can slip, but only when you're putting it on -- it's not like it spontaneously decides to slip off while cooking. The reason the cover needs precision when it's put on is, I think, due to the fact that there isn't a sunken ring around the edge of the pot as there is with a crock. But, if you're worried about this being an issue due to the other reviews, let me just say: don't be. It's only happened to me once and that's because my head was turned away when I tried to put the cover back on.

Now that I've dealt with the supposedly negative aspects of this slow cooker (none of which bothered me in the least), let me tell you all the good things.

Number one -- clean up is a breeze. I just made ribs in the pot and I was able to basically rinse the pot out and it was clean. (Well, I used soap but you know what I mean.)

Number two -- you can brown meat in this on top of the stove. You know all those newer cookbooks that call for browning meat, and all those people who complain because they don't like having to dirty another pot? Non-issue with the Westbend Slow Cooker. And, just as an aside, it's absolutely true that stew meat tastes better in the pot when browned first. It also keeps its consistency. But even for chili, all you have to do is throw the meat in the slow cooker pot, put it on top of the stove, brown it and then put the pot onto the slow cooker base, add the rest of your stuff and you're good to go. Wonderful!

Number three -- there is a wide range of heat settings. From warm to high and everything in between. It makes it easy to find the right temp for everything.

Number four - the oblong shape makes it easy to fit anything you want, from ribs to a chicken.

In summary - buy this slow cooker! You won't be disappointed.