Hamilton Beach ‎33196 Slow Cooker - Review

The Hamilton Beach 33196 is a 6-quart programmable slow cooker that offers versatility and convenience for home cooks. This model features a stovetop-safe stoneware crock that allows you to brown meats or sauté vegetables on the stovetop before slow cooking. It has a fully programmable timer so you can have meals ready when you want them. The 33196 has high and low temperature settings, a warm setting, and a temperature probe so you can cook to perfection. With its clip-tight gasket lid and dishwasher-safe stoneware and lid, this Hamilton Beach slow cooker makes cooking and cleanup easy. Its oval design can accommodate roasts and whole chickens. This mid-sized 6-quart slow cooker is ideal for families, couples, potlucks and entertaining.

Design

The Hamilton Beach 33196 electric cooker has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It is oval shaped with a black plastic exterior and stainless steel finish on the rim and control panel.

At 14.5 x 11.5 x 10 inches, it has a compact footprint but still offers a 5 quart cooking capacity which can serve 3-4 people. The interior cooking pot is made from durable polished aluminum with a nonstick coating for easy cleanup.

The lid is glass with a stainless steel rim so you can monitor cooking progress without lifting it. There is a lockable gasket for safely transporting soups and stews. The exterior housing seems well-constructed from good quality materials.

Overall, the aesthetic is simple but stylish and should blend in nicely in most kitchen decors. The size is ideal for smaller households or couples who want a multipurpose cooker that doesn't take up much space.

Features

The Hamilton Beach 33196 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker has several useful features that make it a versatile appliance for the kitchen.

• Programmable Timer: The slow cooker has a programmable timer that allows you to set cooking times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours. This allows you to start cooking in the morning and have the meal ready by dinnertime.

• 6-Quart Capacity: With a 6-quart capacity, this slow cooker can make food for up to 7 people. The stoneware crock is removable for easy serving and cleaning.

• Glass Lid: The lid is made of glass, allowing you to monitor the cooking process without lifting the lid and losing heat. The lid has a rimmed edge for mess-free stirring.

• 3 Temperature Settings: There are settings for high, low, and warm. High cooks at around 300°F for faster cooking, while low cooks at around 200°F for slower simmering. The keep warm setting holds food at 165°F after cooking completes.

• Locking Lid: The lid locks in place for safe transport to potlucks or parties. No spills or mess when moving the cooker.

• Rubber Gasket: The lid has a rubber gasket for a tight seal to lock in heat, moisture, and flavor.

• Brushed Stainless Steel Housing: The exterior has a brushed stainless steel housing that is fingerprint resistant and easy to clean.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach 33196 slow cooker scores high marks when it comes to ease of use and user friendliness. The control panel is simple and intuitive, with a programmable timer, temperature settings, and dedicated keep warm, start, and stop buttons. The timer can be set from 30 minutes up to 20 hours, providing flexibility for recipes of all lengths. There are no complicated buttons or overly technical displays on the interface.

Operation is straightforward - just add ingredients to the stoneware, set the desired cook time and temperature, and let the slow cooker do the work. The unit will automatically switch to warm when the timer is done. The clip-tight gasket lid seals in heat, moisture, and nutrients without the need to lock or clamp it down.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 33196 is designed with simplicity in mind. The basic controls and functions allow anyone to start slow cooking without much fuss or learning curve. Novices and experts alike will find it intuitive and easy to operate.

Cooking Performance

The Hamilton Beach 33196 slow cooker delivers excellent cooking performance for the price. The 3.5 quart capacity is ideal for cooking for 2-3 people, or making sides.

The wrap-around heating element provides very even heat distribution. Food cooks evenly, with no hot spots or cold spots. Meats and vegetables come out cooked through without any raw spots. Soups and stews maintain a consistent simmer.

Cook times are about average for a slow cooker. On low, recipes take 7-9 hours, while high gets food done in 4-6 hours. The programmable timer is useful for starting meals early so they're ready when you get home. Or you can cook overnight on low.

Recipes turn out with great results. Meats become very tender and flavorful after a long cook time. Soups and stews develop rich depth of flavor as the ingredients mingle together. Vegetables retain their texture while becoming fork tender. The Hamilton Beach 33196 reliably delivers delicious slow cooked meals.

Cleanup

The Hamilton Beach 33196 slow cooker has a removable stoneware crock and glass lid that make cleanup a breeze. Both the crock and lid are dishwasher safe, so you can simply load them into the dishwasher after cooking.

The stoneware crock has a durable ceramic nonstick coating that prevents food from sticking and burnt-on messes. Food slides right off the surface, allowing for quick handwashing. The crock is also crack and stain resistant.

The lid fits securely on the base, preventing spills or messes during cooking. Any minor spatters inside the base can be easily wiped out with a damp cloth. There are no electronic controls or buttons to get grimy.

Overall, the simple manual design limits the cleanup required. Just unload the crock, toss it in the dishwasher, wipe out the base if needed, and you're done. The nonstick surface and dishwasher safe components make post-cooking cleanup a breeze.

Portability

The Hamilton Beach 33196 slow cooker is designed with portability in mind. It has sturdy handles on either side that make lifting and carrying the 6-Quart stoneware crockpot easy. The handles feel solid and don't get hot even after hours of cooking.

There are also convenient clasps on the lid that allow you to securely transport the slow cooker to potlucks or family gatherings without worrying about spills or the lid coming loose. The clasps click into place to lock the lid down.

Overall, the portability features allow you to comfortably and safely transport the cooked food anywhere you need. The slow cooker is lightweight enough even when full of ingredients. Between the secure lid, sturdy handles, and compact oval shape, this model is one of the most portable 6-Quart slow cookers available.

Accessories

The Hamilton Beach 33196 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker comes with a few handy accessories to enhance your slow cooking experience.

Extra Pans

In addition to the 6-quart ceramic cooking pot, Hamilton Beach includes a 2-quart cooking pan and a 4-quart cooking pan. These allow you to cook smaller quantities of food more efficiently. The smaller pans heat up faster and distribute heat more evenly for better results when cooking 1-2 servings.

Recipe Booklet

A recipe booklet is included which provides over 30 delicious slow cooker recipes to get you started. The recipes span breakfast, soups, main dishes, sides, and desserts. Helpful tips and guidelines are also provided to help you adapt your own recipes for the slow cooker.

Serving Utensils

To make serving meals easier, Hamilton Beach includes a serving spoon and a plastic lid holder/spoon rest. The serving spoon has a deep bowl designed to easily scoop food out of the cooker. And the lid holder keeps countertops clean by providing a place to set the lid down.

Warranty

The Hamilton Beach 33196 slow cooker comes with a 1 year limited warranty. This covers defects in materials and workmanship for 1 year from the date of original purchase.

What's covered: - Repairing or replacing parts found to be defective. - Costs for shipping the unit to an authorized service center.

What's not covered: - Damage from commercial use, misuse, abuse, accidents, alterations, improper installation, or failure to follow instructions. - Normal wear and tear. - Shipping costs to return the unit to you.

The warranty provides decent protection against early manufacturing flaws. However, it is quite short compared to some other brands offering 2 or 3 year warranties. Make sure to register your product online to take full advantage of the coverage. Overall the Hamilton Beach warranty provides basic protection, but not the longest lasting peace of mind.

Pros and Cons

The Hamilton Beach 33196 Slow Cooker has several notable pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

• Large 6 quart capacity, good for families and big batches
• Programmable timer and temperature settings for flexibility
• Automatically shifts to warm when cooking time is done
• Durable polished stainless steel exterior
• Glass lid allows monitoring cooking
• Dishwasher safe stoneware and lid for easy cleanup
• Portable secure-fit gasket lid for transport
• Affordable price point under £50

Cons:

• Basic manual controls, no digital display
• Lid shape can make stirring difficult
• Heat distribution may not be completely even
• Large footprint takes up substantial counter space
• Heavy once filled, not ideal for frequent moving
• Short 1 year warranty

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 33196 provides a solid set of features and decent performance for the low price, making it a reasonably good option for budget-focused buyers. The large capacity is convenient but comes at the cost of bulkiness and uneven heating. For basic slow cooking needs it gets the job done, but more advanced cooks may want added functionality.