‎Elite Gourmet ‎MST1234BX Slow Cooker - Review

The Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX is a mid-range slow cooker from a brand known for its affordable kitchen appliances. Elite Gourmet specializes in slow cookers, air fryers, blenders, and other small appliances that provide quality and functionality without the premium price tag.

The MST-1234BX model is a programmable slow cooker with a 6 quart oval ceramic pot that can prepare meals for up to 7 people. It features a tempered glass lid and digital control panel, allowing you to precisely cook food on high or low settings up to 24 hours. With its oval shape and large capacity, this Elite Gourmet slow cooker is ideal for making stews, roasts, chili, and other one-pot dishes to feed the whole family.

Design

The Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX slow cooker has a sleek and modern oval design that will look great on any countertop. It measures 14.5 x 12.25 x 9.5 inches, making it a good size for most families without taking up too much space. At just under 7 pounds, it's lightweight enough to move around easily.

The exterior has a polished stainless steel housing that gives it a nice shine and makes it easy to clean. The black plastic handles on the side stay cool to the touch even during cooking. The clear tempered glass lid allows you to monitor cooking without lifting the lid and releasing heat.

The control panel is located on the front of the cooker and features a programmable digital timer, temperature settings, and three cooking modes. The options are high, low, and warm. You simply turn the knob to select your desired cooking time and temperature. There are no pre-programmed settings, giving you full manual control.

Features

The Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX Slow Cooker has several useful features that make it a versatile appliance for any kitchen.

Capacity

With a 4.5 quart capacity, this slow cooker can make meals for 3-4 people or larger dishes for potlucks and parties. The oval ceramic vessel provides enough room to cook a whole chicken, roast, or other large cuts of meat.

Temperature Ranges

You can choose from 3 temperature settings - low, high, and warm. The low setting maintains a temperature of 190-200°F and is ideal for longer cooking times of 8-10 hours for tougher cuts of meat. The high setting keeps the temperature at 280-300°F for faster cooking of 4-6 hours for vegetables and quicker-cooking recipes. There is also a warm setting that holds food at 165°F after cooking is done.

Safety Features

For added safety and convenience, the Elite Gourmet slow cooker has an automatic shutoff function. If the internal temperature gets too high, it will switch to warm mode to prevent overcooking and burning. There are also cool-touch handles and a tempered glass lid so you can check on food safely during cooking.

Performance

The Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX slow cooker delivers excellent performance for a budget model. Its 300 watts of power heat ingredients evenly and consistently, with minimal hot or cold spots. The low, high, and warm settings provide a good range of temperatures for slow cooking meats, vegetables, beans, soups, and more.

Most recipes cook in the expected timeframe on high or low. For example, chicken breasts take around 3 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Beef stews and pork roasts need 8+ hours on low. The ceramic pot does a great job retaining heat and preventing drastic temperature drops when lifting the lid to check food.

This slow cooker is very easy and intuitive to use. Just add ingredients, select high or low, and let it cook unattended for hours. The digital timer and control panel make it simple to program cook times up to 24 hours. It's nice being able to set it and walk away without worrying about adjusting settings later. The automatically switching to warm when time expires ensures food doesn't overcook.

Cleaning

The Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX slow cooker has several convenient cleaning features that make maintenance easy. The stoneware insert can be removed for quick cleaning and is dishwasher safe. You don't have to worry about food sticking to the surface. The exterior of the slow cooker has a cool-touch finish that prevents burns while cleaning.

Overall, the insert and exterior are very easy to wipe down after use. The smooth ceramic and plastic surfaces don't trap food debris. You can quickly clean up any splatters or spills using a damp cloth. With the dishwasher-safe removable insert, clean-up takes no time at all.

Accessories

The Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX slow cooker comes with a few handy accessories to enhance your cooking experience.

It includes a serving spoon that makes it easy to dish out portions of your meal without worrying about burning your hands on the hot ceramic. The spoon has a long, sturdy handle and a deep bowl that can scoop up generous servings.

The cooker also comes with a tempered glass lid that locks in heat and moisture. The glass allows you to peek at your food while it's cooking without lifting the lid and losing steam.

For cooking versatility, there is a cooking rack included that can be inserted to elevate foods off the bottom. This allows you to stack ingredients or separate items like meat from vegetables.

Finally, a recipe book is included with 30 delicious slow cooker recipes to help get you started. From soups and stews to roasts and desserts, there are a variety of recipes to suit any taste or occasion. With the accessories and recipe inspiration, you'll be able to make the most of your new slow cooker.

Pros

After researching the Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX slow cooker, here are 3 of its top pros:

Large capacity - This 6.5 quart slow cooker can fit a 6 pound roast or a whole chicken, making it great for cooking for a family or making large batches for meal prepping. The oval shape allows you to fit larger cuts of meat.

Programmable timer - You can program cook times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours. This allows you to start cooking in the morning and have the meal ready when you get home from work. Very convenient.

Cool-touch exterior - The outside of the slow cooker remains cool while cooking. This makes it safer, especially if you have kids in the house. No worries about accidental burns from touching the cooker when it's on.

Cons

While the Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX slow cooker has many great features, there are a few drawbacks worth considering:

• Small capacity - With a capacity of just 1.5 quarts, this slow cooker is best suited for making side dishes or appetizers for 1-2 people. It may be too small for families or larger meals.

• No digital display - The slow cooker has a basic knob for setting cook times rather than an LED display panel. This makes it harder to precisely set and track cook times.

• Potential overheating - Some users have reported issues with the slow cooker getting excessively hot on the highest settings. This can lead to burning food or the risk of fire hazards. Proper monitoring of cook times and temperatures is essential.

Verdict

The Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX slow cooker receives a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. This model is best suited for individuals and families looking for an affordable and versatile slow cooker with ample capacity.

The 6-quart ceramic pot provides enough space to cook meals for 4-6 people. The three temperature settings allow you to cook on low, high, or warm. While it doesn't offer fancy bells and whistles, the Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX delivers solid performance for basic slow cooking needs.

The oval shape fits large roasts and whole chickens. The cool-touch handles make it easy to transport the crock to the table for serving. Compared to similar models like the Crockpot 6-Quart Programmable Cook and Carry and the Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget 6-Quart, the Elite Gourmet comes in at a more budget-friendly price while still offering 6 quarts of capacity.

Overall, the Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX is a great choice for an entry-level programmable slow cooker that gets the job done without breaking the bank. It provides good value for money given its affordable price point and decent quality.

Conclusion

The Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX slow cooker is a solid mid-range option for anyone looking for an affordable and versatile multi-cooker. It offers a generous 6-quart capacity, a programmable timer, and adjustable temperature settings to accommodate a wide variety of recipes.

The oval ceramic vessel distributes and retains heat evenly, ensuring your ingredients cook thoroughly without burning. The tempered glass lid allows monitoring cooking progress while trapping in heat and moisture. The cool-touch housing and handles make the unit easy and safe to transport to the table for serving.

While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, the Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX provides excellent bang for your buck. It can slow cook, simmer, bake, roast, stew, steam, and warm, making it a workhorse appliance for any home cook. The dishwasher-safe stoneware and included serving spoon and recipe book further add to its convenience and value.

Overall, this is an ideal crockpot for families, students, and anyone seeking an affordable multi-cooker for basic everyday meals. With proper care and maintenance, it should provide years of reliable service. If you're looking for a simple manual slow cooker without a dizzying array of features, the Elite Gourmet MST-1234BX is a recommended option.