‎Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK Slow Cooker - Review

The Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK is a 6.5L stainless steel slow cooker that provides a convenient and easy way to prepare home-cooked meals. Crock-Pot is a leading brand in slow cookers, with over 45 years of experience designing quality kitchen appliances. The SCV655B-IUK model offers a generous 6.5L capacity, making it suitable for cooking family-sized portions or preparing meals in bulk. The oblong shape allows for larger roasts and whole chickens. With a simple dial control and dishwasher safe components, this Crock-Pot aims to deliver tasty slow-cooked food with minimal effort. This review will examine the key features and performance of the SCV655B-IUK to determine if it lives up to its promise as an easy-to-use slow cooker that produces delicious results. The pros and cons of the product will be weighed to establish if it provides good value for money.

Design

The Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK has a classic, simple, and attractive design that will look great on any countertop. It has a rounded oblong shape with gently curved sides and a black exterior housing. The cooker measures 28 x 35 x 23 cm, making it a good mid-sized model - not too bulky but still offering 6.5 liters capacity.

The housing is made of fingerprint-resistant stainless steel for easy cleaning. There is a clear tempered glass lid that allows you to monitor cooking without lifting it. The lid has a plastic rim and handle for safe and comfortable opening. Inside, the cooking pot is non-stick and removable for easy serving and cleaning. Overall the cooker has a sleek and modern look that fits with most kitchen decors.

The design focuses on simplicity and functionality. There are no complex controls or extraneous features - just a low/high temperature setting and manual timer. This makes it very easy to use even for beginners. The oblong shape offers more flexibility in ingredients and portion sizes. You can cook small or large batches with equal success. The stainless steel exterior is smooth and wipes clean easily. Fingerprints and smudges don't show up readily on the dark surface.

The glass lid allows you to keep an eye on food as it cooks without letting heat or moisture escape. You can check the progress at a glance. The non-stick inner pot releases food easily for serving and cleans up fast by hand or in the dishwasher. Overall the Crock-Pot has a fuss-free design that focuses on the essentials. It will look great on any kitchen counter and deliver reliable slow cooking performance day after day.

If you prefer a slow cooker with more styling, check out the SWAN SF17020N. This model has a striking red exterior housing that makes a bold statement. The inner pot is black speckled ceramic rather than stainless steel. There are also more cooking functions than the basic Crock-Pot. You get low, high, and warm settings plus a 24-hour programmable timer. The SWAN SF17020N has a 6 liter capacity so it works well for families. If you want more flair and functionality in your slow cooker, this model offers an attractive alternative to the Crock-Pot.

Features

The Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK slow cooker has a 6.5 liter capacity, making it a great option for families and larger gatherings. It has a simple dial with three settings - low, high, and warm. The low setting cooks food more slowly over a longer period, while the high setting provides faster cooking. The warm setting is perfect for keeping food ready to eat for hours after cooking.

This Crock-Pot model has a tempered glass lid that allows you to monitor cooking progress without lifting the lid and releasing heat. The lid and ceramic vessel are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. The exterior plastic housing features an attractive black speckled finish.

For safety, the Crock-Pot has an integrated power cord that wraps around the base when not in use. It also comes with a locking gasket lid to prevent spills during transport to parties or potlucks. The non-stick interior makes cooking and cleaning simpler.

Overall, the features of the SCV655B-IUK make it versatile for all kinds of recipes and gatherings while maintaining helpful safety and convenience elements. If you're looking for a slightly different slow cooker option, consider the Uncanny Brands SC2-SRW-MAN1. This 3.5 quart slow cooker has a round ceramic vessel and glass lid. The housing comes in various color options like red, white, black, and more. It has low, high, and warm settings controlled by a dial on the front. One handy feature is the attached cord wrap on the bottom to store the power cord neatly when not in use.

While the Uncanny Brands model is smaller in capacity than the 6.5 quart Crock-Pot, it still works great for individuals, couples, and smaller families. The round shape may allow for better heat circulation compared to oval slow cookers. And the variety of fun housing colors let you choose the look that best matches your kitchen decor. So if you're seeking a compact slow cooker with some extra color options, the SC2-SRW-MAN1 is worth considering alongside the Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK.

In the end, both the Crock-Pot and Uncanny Brands slow cookers are quality products with useful features. The larger Crock-Pot may suit bigger households and groups, while the smaller Uncanny Brands model offers flexible sizing and colors. Evaluate your own needs and preferences to decide which slow cooker best aligns with the capacity, settings, shape, size, and look you desire.

Ease of Use

The Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK slow cooker has simple and intuitive controls that make it easy to use. It has a basic digital display with a timer that counts down the cooking time, so you can keep track of how long is left. There are just three buttons - a power button, timer button to set the cooking time, and temperature button to adjust between high and low heat settings.

The buttons have clear icons that are easy to understand at a glance. They produce an audible beep when pressed, so you know the setting has been changed. The digital display is bright and clear to read from across the kitchen.

Cleaning up after use is straightforward since the stoneware crock pot insert and glass lid are dishwasher safe. The heating base can be wiped clean with a damp cloth if any food spatters on it. There are no complicated parts or settings to deal with. Overall, the simple and fuss-free design lends itself well to ease of use.

Performance

The Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK delivers excellent performance for a slow cooker in this price range. It provides consistent heating across the stoneware insert, ensuring food is cooked evenly no matter where it's placed. The low, high, and warm settings provide a good range of temperatures for simmering stews, braising meats, or keeping dips warm.

Meats come out incredibly tender after a long cook time, with chicken and pork practically falling off the bone. Vegetables also become very soft but don't overcook or turn to mush. Soups and stews develop deep, complex flavors as the ingredients meld together over several hours. The locking lid does a great job retaining moisture so food doesn't dry out.

Overall, the cooking results from the Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK are impressive for the price. It slow cooks food properly without any scorching or hot spots. The insert releases food easily for serving. Performance is reliable and consistent batch after batch.

Accessories

The Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK slow cooker comes with some useful accessories to help you get cooking.

Lid

The lid fits securely on top of the stoneware crockery insert to lock in heat and moisture. It has a plastic handle that stays cool while cooking so it's easy to remove. The lid helps food cook evenly and prevents splattering.

Serving Spoon

A plastic serving spoon is included for scooping out portions of your cooked food. The spoon is heat resistant and won't melt when used on hot food straight from the slow cooker. It has a long handle to keep your hands away from the heat.

Recipe Book

Crock-Pot provides a recipe booklet with 30 delicious ideas to make in your slow cooker. It includes recipes for soups, stews, curries, desserts and more. The booklet gives you guidance on cook times, ingredients and instructions tailored specifically for the Crock-Pot. It's a handy resource for inspiration and guidance when using your new slow cooker.

Pros

• Large 6.5L capacity - This slow cooker has a generous 6.5L capacity, making it suitable for cooking larger portions for families or meal prepping. You can easily fit a whole chicken or large roast joint.

• Programmable timer - The programmable timer allows you to select cook times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours. This is really useful for setting and forgetting, knowing your food will be ready at the desired time.

• Keep warm function - There is a keep warm function that automatically switches to keep your food warm once the cooking time is up. This gives flexibility if you aren't able to serve the food immediately. The keep warm function operates for up to 6 hours.

Cons

While the Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK has many great features, there are a few potential downsides to consider:

• Small capacity - With a 6.5L capacity, this slow cooker may be too small for larger households or meal prepping. It only fits about 4-6 servings.

• No digital display - There are no digital controls or timer display. You have to rely on manual knobs and guessing cook times. A digital display would offer more precision.

• Lid shape - The lid has an unusual oblong shape that may make storage difficult. It does not neatly fit within the base like many round cooker lids. The shape also leaves big gaps when lifted.

Overall the cons are minor and the Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK remains a solid choice for many consumers. But the capacity, lack of digital display, and odd lid shape may be dealbreakers for some.

Value

The Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK offers exceptional value for money given its price point and performance. At around £40, it's very competitively priced compared to similar 6.5L slow cookers on the market. While not the cheapest option available, the Crock-Pot does justify its slightly higher cost with extra features and quality construction.

The oval ceramic pot has a 6.5 litre capacity, making it a great size for families, batch cooking, and entertaining. It can accommodate larger joints of meat and poultry as well as stews, casseroles, soups, and more. Despite the generous capacity, the Crock-Pot has a surprisingly compact footprint that doesn't take up too much counter space.

One area where Crock-Pot excels is the warranty. This model comes with a 2 year warranty which provides peace of mind should any defects arise. Many competitors only offer a 1 year warranty. Crock-Pot clearly stands behind the durability and longevity of their products.

Overall, for the capabilities and cooking performance, the Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK provides fantastic value at its price point. The combination of quality, features, brand reputation and an extensive warranty make this an excellent value-for-money purchase for any home cook.

Conclusion

The Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK slow cooker is an excellent option for anyone looking for an easy-to-use and versatile slow cooker. Its 6.5L capacity makes it suitable for cooking for the whole family, while the three temperature settings allow you to cook a variety of dishes.

The oval ceramic pot and tempered glass lid make it easy to monitor cooking and clean up afterwards. The digital timer and warm setting are very convenient features that add flexibility. The brushed stainless steel exterior gives it an attractive look that would complement any kitchen décor.

Overall, the Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK combines simplicity and functionality. It performs very well at slow cooking meats, vegetables, soups, and more. The ability to program cook times up to 20 hours in advance is a handy function. With a reasonable price point, this Crock-Pot delivers excellent value for money.

If you're seeking an uncomplicated, dependable slow cooker that consistently delivers tasty results, the Crock-Pot SCV655B-IUK is a great choice worth considering. It earns a solid recommendation for quality and performance.