I just received the Crock-Pot today and so far it's a very nice product. I had some issues initially setting it up (which I'll explain below), but after those initial kinks were worked out it set up in less than 5 minutes and works flawlessly so far. I'm cooking my first meal in it right now. One additional thing I'd like to point out before I start getting into the pros and cons of the product is the issue of the low, high, and warm settings. I've noticed that some users complain that neither the crock pot nor the WeMo app let you see the actual temperature, instead you only have the option of low, high, or warm. In my experience, the vast majority of crock pots on the market only give you these three options. In fact, I've never personally seen any crock pot from any brand that lets you use actual numerical temperature settings. That's not to say they don't exist, but I bet you'd be hard pressed to find one. So I really feel that it shouldn't count against this product seeing as that seems to be an industry standard.
When I initially unboxed the crock pot I downloaded the app (iOS) as instructed and followed the other setup instructions. I noticed that when I plugged in the crock pot it would flash green (indicating it's starting up) and then just flash amber right away (indicating there was a problem). According to the instructions, it was supposed to alternate flashing amber and green to indicating it's ready for setup. I tried several times to unplug it, plug it back in, and reset my wifi on my phone to try to get it work. It didn't. I finally was able to hunt down a troubleshooting page that showed me how to reset the crock pot to factory settings. Apparently mine wasn't at factory settings, because that did the trick and allowed me to complete the setup process flawlessly. I did notice a quality control sticker on the bottom of the unit when I unboxed it. Maybe they connected it to test the wifi at the factory and just never reset it?
For those of you needing to reset your unit, for whatever reason, please go to the link I've put at the bottom of my review. I'm telling you here in the hopes that it might save someone from having to search through Google like I did for it. It's not as easy to find as you might imagine.
Anyway, on to the pros and cons...
Pros:
-Quick setup process with clear instructions to walk you through the process
-Sturdy construction you'd expect from a brand name like Crock-Pot. I know some have complained that the outer shell is plastic, but I find it to be a durable plastic, not the cheap kind that would break or crack easily.
-Speaking of the outer shell, the base is durable and sturdy. It's not easily knocked around.
-The WeMo app is free. I know some people would expect it to be free, but I give kudos to the manufacturer for not nickel and dimming the consumer by making us purchase the app too.
-You can easily control the crock pot without the app just by plugging it in and pressing the button on the front panel (no wifi connection required). I read one reviewer complain that this was not an option. I'm not sure why he said that seeing as the button is clearly on the front panel right above the wifi light. Maybe he just didn't see it. You can even start the crock pot manually with the button and then change the temperature or turn it off from the app later on.
-The app is very intuitive and it's easy to see the status of your meal at a glance.
-The temperature is consistent throughout the unit making for even cooking.
-The crock pot does have to be connected to wifi, but the app does not. I turned off wifi on my cell phone and was still able to easily change the temperature and set timers from the app which the crock pot promptly responded to.
-The retractable power cord makes for nice cabinet storage.
Cons:
-My initial frustrations with the blinking amber light were annoying, and I think it would have caused some less tech-savvy people to return the unit in frustration. I this may have just been a one-off situation for my unit though seeing as I didn't see many complaints of the same problem online (hence why I had such a hard time Googling it).
-I wish it had a locking lid. It's not a deal breaker, but the other crock pots I've owned have had them and I didn't realize how much I missed it until it was gone. I store my crock pot in a top shelf cabinet and it's nice to have the lid locked so it can't slid while I'm taking it down.
-The various blinking light combinations telling you the status of the wifi can be a bit confusing. I initially found myself constantly going back and referencing the quick start guide to find out what the color meant. There are only two colors (amber and green) but they blink in various combinations that mean different things. Once you memorize the combinations it's no big deal, but keep the quick start handy for the first few times you use the crock pot. I think an LCD telling you status would be nicer, even if it raised the price of the unit by $5-10. In my opinion, if you can afford a $130 crock pot you can afford a $140 crock pot with a nice display.
Additional notes:
It took me a decent amount of time Googling to find a quality troubleshooting page to help me figure out the initial setup problem I had. I finally found this website from Belkin that helped a lot. It looks like you can even use this page to troubleshoot your connection issues for other WeMo products also, although I haven't personally had a need to try that. Here's the link: www.belkin.com/us/support-article?articleNum=7960
I've noticed that, after the initial setup, when I plug the crock pot in it will blink green for about a minute indicating it's starting up. It will then flash amber for about 1-2 minutes. The instruction manual says that flashing amber indicates a connection problem. But I've noticed that after about 1-2 minutes it moves to solid green, indicating everything is okay. It will then work perfectly fine from then on. So if you plug it in and this happens, just wait a minute or two to see if it fixes itself before you start troubleshooting. Keep in mind though that this is AFTER the initial setup is completed. If it flashes amber during the initial setup, you have a problem.
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Color: Black
Color: Grey
Slow Cooker Capacity: Under 4 Quarts
Slow Cooker Capacity: 4 Quarts
Capacity: Up to 3.9 cups
Capacity: 4-4.9 cups
Product Grade: Commercial Grade
Power: Up to 1499 W
Power: 1500 to 1599 W
Heat Source: Gas
Heat Source: Electric
Material: Aluminum
Material: Cast Iron
Fryer Material: Aluminum
Fryer Material: Stainless Steel
Slow Cooker Type: Manual
Slow Cooker Type: Programmable
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From the manufacturer
Adjust Dinner From Anywhere
WeMo App
Sometimes getting home for dinner on time just isn't do-able. Now you can connect and cook with the flexibility to have dinner ready whenever you are. Using the Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker with WeMo-enabled technology, you can easily increase or decrease cooking time, turn the temperature up or down, switch the slow cooker to keep-warm mode or turn it completely off, all using the free WeMo app on your smart device!
Remote Access to All Cooking Functions
Simply sync your Smart Slow Cooker to the WeMo app and you will have all-day access at your fingertips.
Benefits of the Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker Enabled by WeMo
- Roomy 6-quart capacity accommodates large families or dinner parties
- WeMo-enabled technology allows you to remotely adjust cooking functions from your smart device.
- Enjoy meals on your schedule.
- Dishwasher-safe stoneware and glass lid.
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SchedulePrepare your ingredients, then program your cook settings. Simply choose your temperature and cook time, and you're done! |
MonitorWant to know how dinner is coming along? Check the status of your meal to find out how much time is left, check the temp, or even turn it off. |
ModifyRunning late? Simply adjust the cooking time or temp to fit your schedule. Then enjoy your slow-cooked meal when you're ready. |
NotifyLet everyone at home know dinner is served, even if you're not there! Get notifications when cooking is complete or the unit turns off. |
Simple Convenience
Works with Android and Apple Devices
To begin using the Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker, simply plug it into an outlet in your kitchen and download the free WeMo app from the Google Play Store, the Apple App store. The WeMo app keeps you connected to your Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker anywhere you are--over Wi-Fi, 3G, or 4G networks. It is compatible with Apple (iOS 7 and higher) and Android (4.0 and higher) devices and your existing Wi-Fi router.
What's Needed to Get Started?
- Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker enabled by WeMo
- Apple Smart device with iOS 7 or higher OR Android smart device using 4.0 or higher
- Wi-Fi router and internet connection
Use With or Without the App
The Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker can also be used without the app. Simply add your ingredients and select the desired temperature setting using the power button on the base.
Easy to Clean
Once cooled, the slow cooker cleans up easily. Wipe down the heating base's exterior with a damp cloth and place the removable stoneware and glass lid in the dishwasher.
Roomy 6-Quart Capacity
Great for families or parties of seven or more. The oval shape fits roasts and large cuts of meat, and the glass lid helps trap in heat and moisture.
Handy Cord Storage
An integrated cord wrap helps ensure compact storage when not in use.
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Worst purchase I've made in a long time. I love new technology but this simply doesn't work properly. Get used to seeing the light not green. If you like waking up to a crockpot of food that's stopped cooking during the night then this will work for you. Had already reset it up and that took too long to research. That's the reason I had to set it to cook all night, because it got late. I'm cutting my losses for the two pounds of meat and returning this horrible product.
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