‎ICOOK ‎USC 65 OP001BK Slow Cooker - Review

ICOOK is a well-known brand in the UK that manufactures small kitchen appliances designed for the modern home cook. Founded in 2010, the company aims to provide high-quality yet affordable products to make cooking easier and more enjoyable.

One of their latest offerings is the ICOOK USC 65 OP001BK slow cooker. This versatile appliance allows you to prepare delicious one-pot meals with minimal effort. Simply add your ingredients to the removable ceramic pot, select your cook time and temperature, and let the slow cooker do the work for you.

With its sleek design and range of features, this slow cooker promises to be a useful addition to any kitchen. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the design, settings, performance, accessories, pros and cons of the ICOOK USC 65 OP001BK to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.

Overview

The ICOOK USC 65 OP001BK is a large 6.5 quart slow cooker with an oval ceramic dish. It retails for around £45 and has several features that make it convenient for everyday use.

The slow cooker has a black exterior with a stainless steel lid and handles. It is fairly compact in size but still offers a generous 6.5 quart capacity. The oval ceramic cooking pot provides more flexibility for larger cuts of meat or poultry compared to round pots.

Some key features include:

• 6.5 quart oval ceramic pot
• 3 temperature settings - low, high, keep warm
• Programmable timer up to 24 hours
• Tempered glass lid with cool touch handles
• Dishwasher safe ceramic pot and lid
• Auto shut-off for safety
• Non-slip rubber feet on base

With its generous capacity, programmable timer, and range of heat settings, this budget-friendly slow cooker is suitable for cooking a variety of dishes for families and couples. The oval design offers versatility while still being compact enough for small kitchens.

Design

The ICOOK USC 65 OP001BK slow cooker has an attractive and sleek design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It has a 6.5 liter capacity with oval shape that is ideal for cooking larger cuts of meat or feeding a crowd.

The exterior is made of durable black aluminum with a glass lid, giving it a modern look. The aluminum helps distribute heat evenly while the glass lid allows you to monitor cooking progress without lifting the lid and losing heat.

At 28 x 36 x 22 cm, it has a compact footprint that doesn't take up too much counter space. The black color and oval shape give it a contemporary style to complement any kitchen decor.

The handle and control knob are made of black plastic that stays cool to the touch while cooking. Overall, the design focuses on form and function, with a size and shape optimized for slow cooking performance. Aesthetically, the matte black and glass combine for an elegant cooker suitable for any kitchen.

Settings & Functions

The ICOOK Slow Cooker has several useful settings and functions to help you prepare meals easily.

Temperature

This slow cooker has 3 temperature settings - Low, Medium and High. The Low setting is ideal for longer cooking times of 8-10 hours for dishes like stews, curries and chillis. Medium is good for 4-6 hour cooking times for recipes like pot roasts. The High setting should be used for quick cooking recipes that need 2-4 hours like dips and fondues. The temperature ranges allow flexibility to cook a variety of recipes.

Timer

A programmable timer can be set up to 24 hours, so you can have meals ready when you want them. The auto keep warm function kicks in once the timer goes off, so food stays at a safe serving temperature if you aren't there exactly when time is up. The timer removes the guesswork of cooking times.

Modes

This slow cooker has 2 cooking modes - Slow Cook for long simmering times to tenderize meats and meld flavors, and Sauté to brown meats or sauté aromatics right in the ceramic vessel before switching to slow cook mode. The dual modes allow more versatility.

Performance

The ICOOK Slow Cooker performs very well for its price point. The non-stick aluminium cooking pot distributes heat evenly, ensuring food cooks thoroughly without burning.

The low, high, and warm settings offer flexibility for cooking times. Low cooks food slower for 8-10 hours, while high cooks faster in 4-6 hours. The warm setting keeps food ready to eat without overcooking.

In testing, the cooker heated up quickly and maintained an even temperature over long cook times. Meats came out tender and vegetables maintained their texture. The cooker didn't develop any hot spots that led to scorching.

Overall, the performance is impressive considering the budget price and size. The cooker delivers delicious slow cooked meals without any frustrations over uneven cooking. It's a great option for making stews, roasts, beans and more.

Ease of Use

The ICOOK Slow Cooker has an easy-to-use control panel with a simple dial and buttons. The dial allows you to select from 3 preset cooking temperatures - low, medium, and high. There are also buttons for the timer, which can be set up to 24 hours, perfect for timing your meals.

The LED display clearly shows the cooking time remaining so you can easily monitor progress. It's bright and easy to read.

Cleaning up is straightforward with the removable oval ceramic pot that is dishwasher safe. The exterior housing can just be wiped down. The lid locks securely in place and the cool touch handles make it easy to move the pot around.

Overall, the simple interface, presets, timer, and dishwasher safe pot make this an easy-to-use slow cooker for hassle-free cooking. The controls are intuitive and the display provides the key information you need when cooking.

Accessories

The ICOOK USC 65 OP001BK slow cooker comes with a few handy accessories to make using this appliance even easier.

Lid - The lid fits snugly onto the ceramic cooking pot to trap in heat and moisture. It has a clear tempered glass section so you can peek in on your dish without lifting the lid and letting heat escape.

Ceramic cooking pot - The removable 4.5 liter ceramic cooking pot is oven and dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. It's designed for even heating and to retain moisture.

Steam tray - A handy steam tray is included that sits above the ingredients in the cooking pot. This allows you to steam vegetables, seafood, dumplings and more while slow cooking a dish below.

Serving spoon - A long heat-resistant serving spoon is provided for easily scooping food out of the cooking pot.

Having the right accessories included allows you to make the most out of this slow cooker right out of the box. The cooking pot, lid, steam tray and serving spoon give you everything you need to start preparing delicious one-pot meals.

Pros

• Large 6.5L capacity is ideal for cooking for families and meal prepping
• Aluminium pot distributes heat evenly for thorough cooking
• 24-hour timer allows you to set cooking times up to a full day in advance
• Keep warm function automatically switches to keep food ready when cooking is done
• 3 temperature settings (high, low, keep warm) provide flexibility
• Tempered glass lid lets you monitor cooking without lifting the lid
• Oval shape fits larger cuts of meat and poultry
• Dishwasher safe pot and lid for easy cleanup
• Affordable price point compared to other slow cookers

Cons

• Small capacity - The 6.5L capacity may be too small for larger households or meal prepping multiple dishes at once. It can only fit about 4 servings.

• No digital display or timer - There are no digital settings or display, only a manual knob. This makes it harder to precisely set cook times and temperatures. There is no timer function.

• Lid design - The lid locks onto the base but doesn't have hinges, so it must be fully removed each time you open it. This can release a lot of heat and steam.

• No sauté function - Many other slow cookers have a sauté or browning function to sear meat or veggies before slow cooking. This model lacks that feature.

• Single power mode - It only cooks on high, there is no low power mode for longer slow cooking. The manual knob is simply an on/off switch.

Conclusion

The ICOOK USC 65 OP001BK slow cooker is an excellent option for anyone looking for an affordable and versatile slow cooker. It has a generous 6.5 liter capacity, making it suitable for cooking for groups and meal prepping. The ceramic insert is removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

The adjustable temperature settings allow you to cook everything from stews and curries to porridge and dips. The 24-hour programmable timer is convenient for setting and forgetting your meals. Performance is solid and it cooks food evenly without burning.

The compact oval design doesn't take up much counter space. The tempered glass lid makes it easy to monitor cooking progress. Overall, the ICOOK delivers good quality and performance at an affordable price point. It's simple to operate with useful features, making it a great choice for anyone wanting an uncomplicated slow cooker for everyday use.

In summary, the ICOOK USC 65 OP001BK is highly recommended for its versatility, ease of use, and value for money. It reliably cooks a wide variety of dishes with minimal effort required. For home cooks seeking an affordable workhorse slow cooker, the ICOOK is a superb option worth considering.