Crockpot CSC061X Slow Cooker - Review

The Crockpot CSC061X is a popular 6 litre digital slow cooker that offers a simple, convenient way to prepare delicious home-cooked meals. With its oval ceramic vessel and black plastic housing, it has a classic slow cooker design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. This Crockpot model provides the basic features you need to cook food using the low and slow method, allowing flavours to develop and meat to become tender. It has a simple dial control with low, high and warm settings, so you don't have to program in detailed cooking times and temperatures. The digital display counts up the time elapsed, so you can keep an eye on how long your dish has been cooking. This Crockpot is an affordable and easy-to-use appliance that makes it simple to prepare hearty stews, chillies, roasts and more with minimal effort. It's a great option for anyone looking for a no-fuss way to cook delicious homemade meals.

Design & Appearance

The Crockpot CSC061X has an oval shape that is wider than it is tall, measuring 29 x 35 x 27 cm. It has a 6 liter capacity and weighs 4.39 kg. The exterior has a matte black plastic finish that won't show fingerprints or smudges. The lid and handles are also black plastic.

There is a digital control panel on the front with an LED display, featuring buttons to adjust time and temperature settings. The lid has a transparent tempered glass section so you can view the contents while cooking without releasing heat. Inside, the cooking vessel is removable and has a non-stick coating.

Overall, the Crockpot has a modern, sleek appearance that would complement most kitchen decors. The black finish gives it a subtle but stylish look. The shape and size are compact enough to conveniently store when not in use.

Features & Settings

The Crockpot CSC061X has a 6L capacity, which is suitable for cooking meals for 4-6 people. It has 3 power levels - low, high and warm - that allow you to cook at different temperatures depending on the recipe.

The digital timer can be set from 30 minutes up to 20 hours, giving you a lot of flexibility. You can set it and leave it to cook while you're out. It will automatically switch to the warm setting when the cooking time is up.

The keep warm function ensures your food stays at the perfect serving temperature until you are ready to eat. This is really useful for when you aren't sure exactly when you'll be home or ready to serve. It keeps food warm without continuing to cook it.

The appliance has an integrated digital display that clearly shows the cooking time remaining and power level selected. The settings are easy to adjust using the + and - buttons.

Ease of Use

The Crockpot CSC061X is very easy and intuitive to use thanks to its simple interface and controls. Setting up the slow cooker is effortless - just place the stoneware insert inside the heating base, add your ingredients, put the lid on, plug it in, and use the digital control panel to set the cooking time and temperature.

The control panel has a timer that counts up or down, making it easy to track cooking progress. There are also buttons to switch between high, low, and warm settings. The settings automatically switch to warm after the timer ends, so food doesn't overcook. An indicator light lets you know when the cooker is powered on.

Cleaning up after use is straightforward since the stoneware insert and lid are dishwasher safe. The exterior simply needs to be wiped down. Overall, the user-friendly design and straightforward controls of the CSC061X make it very simple to operate. Slow cooking novices will have no trouble using this appliance right out of the box.

Cooking Performance

The Crockpot CSC061X delivers excellent cooking performance for a slow cooker in this price range. It heats food consistently thanks to the wrap-around heating element that gently surrounds the stoneware crock. This allows food to cook through evenly without any hot or cold spots.

Cooking times are typical for a 6L slow cooker. On low heat, stews and roasts take 8-10 hours to become tender and flavorful. Using the high setting cuts that time down to 4-6 hours. The low temperature goes up to around 190°F while high reaches close to 300°F. This provides a suitable range for slow cooking recipes both tough meats as well as more delicate seafood or dairy-based dishes.

I've found food comes out moist and cooked through without any scorching around the sides or undercooking in the middle. Soups and stews have great viscosity thanks to the gradual simmering. Roasts shred apart easily after a full day of cooking. It's reliable for getting recipes fully cooked with the expected textures.

Food Capacity

The Crockpot CSC061X 6L Slow Cooker has a generous 6 litre capacity, making it suitable for cooking for larger groups and families. It can hold enough food for around 6-8 portions, depending on the density of the ingredients. For reference, the internal cooking pot has dimensions of 27 x 24 x 16 cm, giving you a good amount of space to work with.

When cooking stews, curries, chillis, soups and similar wet dishes, the Crockpot can easily accommodate ingredients for 8 people. For drier dishes like pot roasts or whole chickens, 6-8 portions is more realistic. It's a great size cooker for meal prepping or batch cooking larger recipes. You can cook a whole chicken, joint of meat or a lasagna or shepherd's pie to feed a crowd.

The 6 litre capacity is also handy for preparing food for gatherings and parties where you're cooking for big groups. It takes the stress out of trying to prepare large batches of food using regular pots and pans. Overall the size makes the CSC061X an extremely versatile slow cooker for most households and purposes.

Safety Features

The Crockpot CSC061X has some useful safety features to prevent accidents and overcooking.

• Auto Shutoff: This slow cooker has an automatic shutoff function that turns the cooker off after a set cooking time, usually 8 or 10 hours depending on the model. This prevents the food from overcooking if you forget to turn it off.

• Overheating Protection: There are mechanisms built in to prevent the crockpot from overheating. If the internal temperature gets too high, it will automatically switch to a "keep warm" setting rather than continuing to cook at a high heat. This prevents burning or scorching the food.

• The exterior of the crockpot also remains cool to the touch while cooking. It does not get hot like the surface of a stovetop or oven. This makes it safer to have around children and less risk of accidental burns.

• The lid fits tightly and locks in place with plastic clips. This prevents spills or splattering if the device gets bumped.

Overall the safety features give peace of mind when using this slow cooker. It has multiple backups to prevent common cooking risks like overheating, overcooking, and spills.

Noise Level

The Crockpot Slow Cooker operates at a relatively quiet noise level while cooking. The appliance itself does not have any mechanical parts like fans or motors that generate a lot of noise. There is some minor noise from the heating element cycling on and off, and from simmering liquids, but overall noise is minimal.

Most users report that the Crockpot cooks very quietly. It can bubble or simmer gently during cooking, but this is a low volume sound. You may hear light popping or crackling noises as ingredients heat up and react within the slow cooker, but noise remains at a low and unobtrusive level. The cooker operates quietly enough to have conversations and watch TV while it's running without the noise being distracting or overpowering.

Some buyers were pleased at how quietly this Crockpot model performs for a slow cooker. If you are looking for an appliance that won't make a lot of noise in your kitchen, the Crockpot Slow Cooker CSC061X is a great option and operates at low, manageable sound levels while cooking.

Accessories

The Crock-Pot CSC061X comes with some handy accessories to make using this slow cooker even easier. In the box, you'll find a serving spoon and recipe book.

The serving spoon has a deep bowl that makes it easy to scoop up chunks of meat or large pieces of vegetables. It's heat resistant up to 400°F, so you can use it to stir and serve piping hot stews, chilies, or curries straight from the crock. The handle has a hole in the end for hanging storage.

The included recipe book provides inspiration for making the most of your slow cooker. It contains 30 delicious recipes ranging from hearty soups and stews to tender roasts, flavorful chicken dishes, and even desserts. The recipes specify cook times and settings for 3.5, 5, and 6 quart slow cookers. So you can easily adapt them for the CSC061X's 6-quart capacity. With tasty recipes and handy tips, this book is a great resource for new and experienced slow cooker users alike.

Pros & Cons

The Crockpot CSC061X 6.5L Digital Slow Cooker has a number of pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Large 6.5L capacity is good for cooking for groups or meal prepping
• Digital timer and settings for high, low, and warm are convenient
• Automatically switches to warm when done cooking
• Removable stoneware pot and glass lid are dishwasher safe
• Compact oval shape saves counter space
• Affordable price point

Cons

• Lid doesn't have rubber seal so some heat and moisture can escape
• Stoneware insert can stain over time
• Only basic features, no advanced programming
• Exterior may show fingerprints and scratches
• Shape limits taller or larger roasts
• Some users report electronics failing after 1-2 years

Overall, the Crockpot CSC061X is a solid budget-friendly programmable slow cooker good for everyday use. The digital controls and decent 6.5L capacity make it handy for basic slow cooking needs. However, the lack of sealing lid and basic feature set means performance and convenience are just average. For a similar price, other models offer more features and better construction quality. But if you just need a no-frills oval slow cooker, the Crockpot CSC061X gets the job done.