Elite Gourmet ‎MST-900D# Slow Cooker - Review

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D is a 6.5-quart programmable slow cooker from Elite Gourmet, a company known for its affordable range of small kitchen appliances. This versatile slow cooker allows you to prepare meals by setting the cooking time and temperature to match different recipes and ingredients. With its large capacity, intuitive controls, and useful features like a locking lid, the MST-900D aims to deliver delicious slow-cooked food with minimal effort required.

Design and Appearance

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It has a oval shape with a stainless steel exterior and black accents on the handles and control panel. The stainless steel finish gives it a nice shine and polished look.

At 6 quarts capacity, it has a medium footprint - not too bulky but big enough to cook for a family. The shape allows it to fit well on countertops without taking up too much space. It measures approximately 12.5 x 11.5 x 9 inches.

The lid and handles are made of black plastic that feel solid and durable. The handles have an ergonomic curve for easy lifting and carrying. Overall, the design is simple yet elegant and will fit right in with most kitchen decor styles.

Capacity

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D slow cooker is available in two size options - 3.5 quart and 5 quart capacity.

The smaller 3.5 quart size is great for cooking for 1-2 people or making side dishes and appetizers. It has enough room for ingredients to cook properly without being too bulky on your countertop. The 3.5 quart ceramic pot can hold approximately 4 pounds of food.

For larger families or meal prepping, the 5 quart size is a better choice. It provides ample room to cook a roast, whole chicken, or stew for 4-6 servings. With the 5 quart ceramic pot able to hold around 6 pounds of ingredients, you'll have plenty of leftovers. The larger size does take up more space on your counter, so keep that in mind.

Having the choice between two capacities makes the Elite Gourmet versatile for different household needs. Opt for the 3.5 quart for smaller dishes or go big with the 5 quart for larger roasts and meals. Both sizes will cook your ingredients slowly and evenly.

Temperature Settings

One of the standout features of the Elite Gourmet MST-900D slow cooker is the wide range of temperature settings available. This model has a fully adjustable temperature dial that allows you to precisely control the cooking temperature from a low of 170°F (77°C) up to 280°F (138°C).

Having such a broad temperature range gives you exceptional flexibility and control when using this slow cooker. The lower temperatures are perfect for delicate dishes like custards, cheese fondues, and keeping dips warm. The mid-range settings from 190°F to 230°F (88°C to 110°C) are ideal for most traditional slow cooking of meats, beans, soups, and stews. For recipes that need a higher simmering temperature like chili or boiling pasta, you can turn up the heat. And the maximum 280°F setting lets you sauté ingredients right in the ceramic crock before switching to slow cooking.

No matter what recipe you're making, the variable temperature dial ensures you can fine-tune the Elite Gourmet to the exact temperature needed. This level of precision is not found on basic manual slow cookers and enhances your ability to achieve your desired results.

Programmable Timer

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D slow cooker features a fully programmable timer with 24-hour delay start functionality. This allows you to prep ingredients in advance, then set the cooker to start cooking at a later specified time.

The digital control panel makes it easy to program the exact cook time, up to 24 hours. You can set it to cook for 2 hours, 6 hours, 10 hours, or any length of time desired. This is perfect for planning meals in advance or timing it so food is ready when you want to eat.

The delay start function lets you postpone the cooking up to 24 hours. Add your ingredients to the slow cooker, set the cook time, then program the delay to start 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, or whenever works for your schedule. The cooker will automatically begin cooking at the delayed start time to finish right when you need it.

The programmable settings provide flexibility and convenience when using the slow cooker. You don't need to be home at the start of cooking to get a meal ready for later in the day. The MST-900D allows full control over the timing.

Additional Features

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D slow cooker has several handy additional features beyond the basic slow cooking function.

One useful feature is the keep warm mode. Once the cooking time is complete, the slow cooker automatically switches to the keep warm setting. This prevents food from overcooking and allows flexibility in serving times. The keep warm function can keep food ready to eat for up to 4 hours.

This model also includes a 24-hour programmable timer. You can prepare ingredients in the morning, then set the slow cooker to start cooking later in the day. This allows you to perfectly time meals to be ready when you get home.

For convenience, the Elite Gourmet has an auto shut-off safety feature. If the cooker is left on after the cooking time completes, it will automatically switch off after 4 hours on warm or 10 hours on cook settings. This prevents overcooking accidents if you forget to turn it off.

The slow cooker also includes a tempered glass lid. This allows you to monitor the cooking process without lifting the lid and releasing heat. The lid also has cool touch handles and vents for steam release.

Ease of Use

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D slow cooker has highly intuitive and easy to use controls. The digital control panel allows you to precisely set the temperature, with options ranging from warm all the way up to high heat for faster cooking. There are also four programmable timer settings - 30 minutes, 4 hours, 6 hours, and 8 hours - that allow you to walk away while your meal cooks unattended.

The large LED display clearly shows the current temperature and timer setting, making it easy to monitor at a glance. All of the buttons have clear icons that indicate their function, so you don't have to guess what each one does. Whether you are a beginner or experienced user, you'll find the interface straightforward to operate.

One particularly convenient feature is that the lid locks in place while cooking. This prevents spills or accidents if the slow cooker gets bumped. Overall, the thoughtful design makes this an exceptionally user-friendly appliance.

Cooking Performance

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D slow cooker excels at cooking food evenly and thoroughly. Its oval ceramic cooking pot does an excellent job of distributing heat, allowing ingredients to cook through without any hot or cold spots. Meats come out very tender after a long cook time, while vegetables retain their shape and texture.

The sizeable 6-quart capacity is ideal for cooking larger roasts, whole chickens, or big batches of chili or stew. It can easily feed a crowd of 6-8 people. The three temperature settings (low, high, warm) provide flexibility depending on what you're cooking and how much time you have. Most recipes can be adapted to either low or high.

On the low setting, the Elite Gourmet slow cooker generates a gentle simmer that is perfect for less tender cuts of meat that benefit from a long braise. It brings out incredible flavor and succulence over 6-8 hours of hands-off cooking. The high setting gets ingredients up to temperature faster while still thoroughly cooking food. It's great for chili, soups, or dishes with a shorter cook time of 4-6 hours.

Overall, the Elite Gourmet MST-900D delivers excellent slow cooked meals. It's reliable, simple to use, and produces delicious results across a wide range of recipes. The cooking performance matches or exceeds other slow cookers in this price range.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D is very easy to clean and maintain thanks to its non-stick cooking pot insert and tempered glass lid. Both the pot insert and glass lid are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze.

The non-stick coating prevents food from sticking and burning onto the pot, so there's minimal mess to deal with after cooking. A quick wipe down with a soft cloth or sponge is all that's needed on the interior. The exterior stainless steel housing can also be wiped clean as needed.

One of the best aspects is that there are no electronic controls or buttons on the unit itself, so there's no need to worry about getting those wet during cleaning. With most of the parts being removable and dishwasher safe, keeping the slow cooker in tip-top condition is hassle-free.

Price and Value

The Elite Gourmet MST-900D slow cooker offers excellent value for money given its features and performance. At around £40 at the time of writing, it sits at the lower end of the market for programmable slow cookers yet doesn't compromise on quality.

The attractive stainless steel exterior and glass lid give it a premium look and feel that belies its budget price tag. It also has a generous 5.5 litre capacity - enough to cook for larger families or batch cook multiple meals.

The broad range of cooking temperatures, timer functions, and keep warm setting provide versatility for all kinds of recipes. Users mention it performs very well for stews, curries, chillis, and even cakes.

For those new to slow cooking, the Elite Gourmet MST-900D is an ideal entry-level model. It takes the guesswork out of preparing tasty one-pot meals. More advanced users will also appreciate the customization options and reliability.

Overall, it's excellent value for a programmable slow cooker that simplifies meal prep and allows hands-off cooking for under £50. The quality and features compete with models double the price or more. For most households, the Elite Gourmet MST-900D delivers fantastic bang for buck.