Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker - Review

Crock-Pot is one of the most well-known and trusted brands when it comes to slow cookers. They've been producing quality kitchen appliances for over 50 years. The Crock-Pot 7 Quart slow cooker is a great option for families, couples, or anyone looking for an easy way to cook delicious meals with minimal effort.

This moderately sized 7 quart cooker has ample capacity to make meals for up to 7 people, without taking up too much counter space. It's a oval shape, with black plastic housing and a transparent lid to view contents while cooking. The ceramic interior pot can be removed for easy cleaning and serving. Overall it provides versatility and convenience for everyday home cooking needs.

Design

The Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any countertop. It has a black stainless steel exterior with a clear glass lid, giving it an elegant look.

The body of the slow cooker has a tapered oval shape and measures approximately 16.5 x 11.4 x 12.2 inches. It has a black plastic handle on the top and two side handles for convenient lifting and carrying. The digital control panel is located on the front with an easy-to-read LCD display.

The lid is made of sturdy glass so you can monitor the cooking process without having to lift it. It has a plastic rim and handle for safe and secure handling. The lid fits snugly to lock in heat, moisture, and flavor.

At 7 quarts capacity, this is a generously sized slow cooker perfect for cooking for a family. It has an insert pot made of non-stick, dishwasher safe stoneware. The exterior and housing are all fingerprint resistant stainless steel for easy cleaning.

Overall, the sleek contemporary design and generous 7 quart capacity make this an excellent appliance for any modern kitchen. The sturdy construction and elegant styling will make this slow cooker both functional and attractive on the countertop.

Features

The Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker has several useful features that make it a versatile appliance for any kitchen.

One of the key features is the programmable digital timer. This allows you to set cooking times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours. The timer automatically switches to the warm setting once the cooking time is complete, so you don't have to worry about overcooking your food if you're away from home. You can also program a delayed start, so you can load up the slow cooker in the morning but have it start later in the day.

The Crockpot has three power settings - low, high and warm. The low setting is great for slower cooking recipes like stews, while the high setting works well for faster cooking foods like chicken breasts. Having the option to choose a power level gives you flexibility depending on what you're making.

This slow cooker also has a lid locking system. The lid locks securely into place while cooking, preventing spills if the appliance gets bumped. Once cooking is finished, the lid unlocks so it's easy to serve right from the ceramic vessel. This is a useful safety feature, especially if you have kids in the house.

Ease of Use

The Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker has simple and intuitive controls that make it very easy to use. It has a digital control panel with a timer, temperature settings, and cooking function buttons. The buttons have indicators that light up, making them easy to read. There are only 3 main buttons - Low, High, and Warm - so you don't have to fiddle around with lots of settings.

The timer allows you to program cooking times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours. You can set it and walk away without having to return and turn it off. The cooker will automatically switch to warm when the timer is done. It's very convenient not having to monitor it constantly.

The display panel is straightforward with a digital clock showing the cook time remaining. It's angled upward so you can view it easily. The cooker has cool touch handles and a glass lid, so checking food is safe and easy. Cleanup is simple since the stoneware crock lifts out and is dishwasher safe. The heating base can just be wiped clean easily.

Overall, the user-friendly design and intuitive controls of the Crockpot make it very easy and convenient to use. The simple buttons and timer allow you to just set it and forget it while cooking. And easy cleanup is definitely a plus.

Performance

The Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker delivers excellent performance for home cooks. Its heating element provides consistent, even heat distribution throughout the stoneware insert to ensure food cooks evenly. Users report this slow cooker heats up quickly and maintains the chosen temperature well.

With its large 7 quart capacity, this slow cooker can easily accommodate roasts, whole chickens, large batches of soups and stews. It has the power to cook food in a reasonable timeframe too. On the low setting, tough cuts of meat become fall-off-the-bone tender after 8-10 hours. Using the high setting reduces cook times to around 5 hours for recipes like pot roasts or shredded chicken. The keep warm function automatically kicks in when cooking is done, so food stays at a safe serving temperature until you're ready to eat.

Overall, the Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker offers reliable performance. Its efficient heating system and sizable capacity make it a workhorse appliance for preparing hearty one-pot meals.

Recipe Suitability

The Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker is well-suited for cooking a variety of recipes that benefit from slow cooking. Its 7 quart capacity makes it a great size for families, as you can cook meals for 4-6 people.

This slow cooker works very well for recipes like:

• Stews and chilis
• Soups and broths
• Roasts
• Beans
• Ribs
• Pulled pork/chicken
• Oatmeal and grains
• Desserts like cobblers

The large 7 quart capacity allows you to cook a good amount of food. You can easily make chili to feed a crowd, cook a whole chicken, or prepare a pot roast or pork shoulder. It's a great size for prepping meals in bulk or cooking for gatherings and parties.

The oval shape also accommodates larger roasts and whole chickens nicely. You don't have to worry about food not fitting or awkwardly cramming it in. There's ample room for most recipes you would make in a slow cooker.

Overall, this Crockpot model can handle the typical recipes people make in slow cookers. The 7 quart size makes it versatile for family meals, parties, potlucks, and any situation where you need to cook large batches.

Safety

When it comes to slow cookers, safety is a top concern, especially since these appliances are often left unattended for hours at a time. The Crock-Pot 7 Quart Slow Cooker has some excellent safety features to provide peace of mind.

First, it has an automatic shut-off function to prevent overheating. If the internal temperature gets too high, it will automatically switch to a warm setting. This helps avoid scorched food and potential fires.

The exterior of the cooker also remains cool to the touch while in use. The sides do not get hot, only the lid and base heat up. This is an important safety feature to prevent burns, especially around children.

The lid locks into place while cooking to prevent spills. It fits tightly and cannot be easily opened, keeping the contents securely inside. This also helps retain heat and moisture.

Overall, the Crock-Pot 7 Quart Slow Cooker has good safety mechanisms to prevent overheating and burns. The automatic shut-off gives assurance that the appliance will not pose a fire hazard if left unattended for long periods. The cool exterior also minimizes risks of accidental burns.

Noise Level

The Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker operates at a quiet noise level, making it suitable for overnight cooking or having conversations near the kitchen while it's on. The motor hum is quieter than many comparably-sized slow cookers from other brands. Even on high heat settings, the Crockpot 7 Quart maintains a gentle, unobtrusive hum rather than a loud drone or whirring noise.

Users report being pleasantly surprised at how quietly this Crockpot model operates. The motor and internal fan produce very little noise pollution, even during lengthy cooking sessions. You can carry on phone calls or watch TV without the Crockpot drowning out background noise. If you need to cook overnight, the 7 Quart runs quietly enough that it won't disturb sleep. Light sleepers in nearby rooms likely won't be awakened by normal operation sounds.

Compared to previous generations of Crockpots, the 7 Quart has a noticeably less noisy motor. Crockpot seems to have focused on creating a quieter user experience with their latest models. Noise levels are lower than with brands like Hamilton Beach and Proctor Silex as well. Unless you place your ear directly next to it, the 7 Quart Crockpot lives up to its reputation as one of the quieter slow cookers in its class.

Accessories

The Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker comes with some handy accessories to help you get the most out of this appliance.

It includes a recipe booklet with over 30 delicious slow cooker recipes to try. The recipes cover breakfasts, appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts, so you'll find ideas for meals throughout the day. Having recipes specifically designed for a slow cooker takes the guesswork out of adapting traditional recipes.

A serving spoon is also included for convenient serving right from the crock. The spoon has a long handle to keep your hands away from the heat.

The cord can be wrapped around the bottom of the base for easy storage. This keeps things neat when storing the slow cooker in a cupboard or taking it to a potluck. No more dealing with a messy cord getting in the way.

Having these accessories included is a nice bonus that enhances the functionality and experience of using this Crockpot slow cooker. The recipe booklet, serving spoon, and cord storage add value on top of the actual slow cooker itself.

Pros and Cons

The Crockpot 7 Quart Slow Cooker has numerous positives as well as a few potential downsides to consider.

Pros

• Generous 7 quart capacity is great for larger households and batch cooking
• Programmable timer allows you to customize cook times up to 20 hours
• Automatically switches to warm setting once timer ends
• Oval shape fits larger cuts of meat or poultry
• Dishwasher safe stoneware insert cleans up easily
• Tempered glass lid allows monitoring without lifting lid
• Brushed stainless steel exterior is stylish and durable
• Cool touch handles stay cool while cooking
• Can prepare full meals with entrees, sides, and desserts
• More energy efficient than using the oven
• Minimal prep work required compared to conventional cooking
• Very affordable price point for a 7 quart model

Cons

• Heavy once filled, may be awkward to move
• Lid does not have rubber seal, some heat and moisture can escape
• Insert may stain over time
• Only high, low, and warm settings - no precise temperature control
• Exterior can show fingerprints
• Large footprint takes up significant counter space
• Manual does not include many recipes