Morphy Richards 460012 Slow Cooker - Review

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker is a budget-friendly model that still packs in plenty of features for hassle-free cooking. This oval 6.5 litre slow cooker has a simple manual design with high, low and warm settings, allowing you to cook stews, casseroles, curries and more with minimal effort.

The Morphy Richards 460012 is an ideal option for newcomers to slow cooking, thanks to its user-friendly controls and generous capacity. It can cater to couples and families, with enough room to make 4-6 portions. This versatile cooker lets you prepare dishes in advance and come home to a hot meal ready to serve.

With a toughened glass lid and dishwasher safe ceramic pot, the Morphy Richards 460012 offers practical, fuss-free use. Keep reading to see how it performs across key criteria including cooking, build quality, ease of use and value for money.

Design and Appearance

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker has a 6.5 litre oval ceramic bowl with a stainless steel exterior. It measures 39 x 31 x 24 cm, so it has a good capacity without taking up too much space on the counter or in storage.

The oval shape is ideal for cooking roasts or whole chickens, allowing them to fit better in the cooker. The ceramic bowl has a clean white color while the exterior has a brushed stainless steel finish that will match most kitchen decor.

The lid and handles are black plastic with chrome accents, giving it a nice contrast against the stainless steel. The lid has clear glass in the center so you can monitor the cooking process without lifting the lid and losing heat.

Overall, the Morphy Richards slow cooker has an attractive and streamlined design. The oval shape and generous 6.5L capacity make it a versatile appliance, while the mix of materials like ceramic, stainless steel and chrome give it a modern look. The compact size also makes storage simple.

If you're looking for an alternative slow cooker with a similar design aesthetic, consider the Crock-Pot CSC05201. This 5.7L oval slow cooker also features a white ceramic bowl and black plastic lid with stainless steel trim. The digital control panel allows you to program cook times and select heat settings with ease. Like the Morphy Richards, the Crock-Pot has an attractive oval shape and generous capacity perfect for larger cuts of meat or meal prepping. The fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish ensures it will keep its good looks over time. While both models offer versatile cooking and modern styling, the Crock-Pot gives you more precise cook time programming if that's a priority for you.

When it comes to slow cookers, having the right size, shape and features for your needs is important. The Morphy Richards 460012 offers a streamlined oval design that can handle larger recipes, making it a great choice for families or meal preppers. If you like the look but want added functionality, the Crock-Pot CSC05201 provides similar aesthetics with the addition of digital programming and temperature control for extra convenience and precision when cooking.

Settings and Programs

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker comes with 3 cooking programs to choose from - Low, High, and Auto.

The Low setting cooks at a temperature of 82°C and is ideal for longer cooking times of 8-10 hours for cheaper cuts of meat. This gentle heat tenderizes tougher meats and develops rich flavors over time.

The High setting reaches a hotter temperature of 93°C, best for cooking beans, soups, and stews in 4-6 hours. It's great for cooking joints of meat and poultry in a shorter timeframe.

The Auto program is very convenient, allowing you to just put in your ingredients and let the cooker figure out the optimal time and temperature. It senses the quantity of food and adjusts accordingly to ensure it's cooked through without drying out.

There are no pre-set timers, but the LED display counts up to show how long has elapsed. You can manually set a timer on a separate device if needed.

Overall, the programs cover the key functions but lack more advanced pre-sets or customizability. The Auto mode compensates for this with its intelligent cooking algorithm.

When looking for a versatile slow cooker that can accommodate different recipes and cooking needs, the Morphy Richards 461021 is a great option to consider. With a generous 6 liter capacity, it can cook meals for the whole family or prepare large batches for meal prepping. It offers Low, High, and Auto temperature settings to suit different ingredients. The Auto mode is particularly useful, automatically adjusting time and temperature based on what's being cooked. A 24 hour timer allows you to prep ingredients in advance and have the cooker start when you want. The intuitive control panel makes it easy to select your desired cooking program. The tempered glass lid allows you to monitor food without needing to open the cooker and disrupt the cooking process. An integrated spoon rest on the lid is also handy for when you need to check on or stir the contents. The non-stick, removable cooking pot and dishwasher-safe lid make cleanup a breeze. With sturdy handles and an elegant brushed stainless steel finish, it will look great in any modern kitchen. For versatile slow cooking with minimal effort, the Morphy Richards 461021 is worth considering.

Ease of Use

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker offers a simple yet effective user experience. The control panel consists of a single knob to toggle between the three cooking settings - low, medium, and high. There is no digital display or timer, just simple manual controls. This makes it straightforward to operate even for beginners.

The knob clicks firmly into each setting and is easy to grip and turn. The markings are clear and legible. It doesn't offer programmable cooking, but the basic low/medium/high settings are all you really need for most recipes. It heats up and cooks food as expected on each setting.

The oval ceramic pot lifts in and out of the base effortlessly, allowing you to stir and check on food as needed. The glass lid fits snugly. The handles stay cool to the touch on the outside even after hours of cooking.

Overall, it provides a no-frills but highly user-friendly experience. The minimalist manual design means there's practically no learning curve. You don't have to decipher any digital menus or program settings. Just choose low, medium or high, and let the cooker do the work.

Cooking Performance

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker delivers excellent cooking performance with even heating and consistent results. The oval 6.5L ceramic pot heats evenly across the base and up the sides thanks to Morphy's Intellicook technology. This regulates the temperature precisely to avoid hot or cold spots.

You can cook on low, medium or high settings, with a wide temperature range from 65°C on low up to 190°C on high. This flexibility allows you to cook everything from stews and curries that need long, gentle simmering, to quickly browning meat on high at the start of a dish. It will hold a precise low temperature for up to 20 hours when needed for tough cuts of meat.

In testing, it performed very well across a range of recipes. Meats came out tender and juicy, with vegetables cooked to perfection without being overdone. Soups and stews had excellent flavor development without boiling or scorching. Even delicate dishes like poached salmon held together nicely thanks to the even, consistent heat. You can comfortably cook dried beans, rice, or tougher root vegetables that need prolonged simmering.

Extra Features

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker comes with some useful extra features that add convenience and flexibility.

One handy feature is the programmable timer, which allows you to delay the start of cooking by up to 8 hours. This means you can add ingredients in the morning, set the timer, and come home to a hot, home-cooked meal. No need to worry about overcooking or food safety.

The appliance also has an automatic keep warm function that kicks in once the cooking time is up. This keeps your food at a safe serving temperature for up to 8 hours without any risk of overcooking or burning. Very handy if you aren't able to serve the meal immediately.

Some other extras include a hinged lid for easy cleaning and filling, cool touch body and handles for safety, and dishwasher safe stoneware and lid for easy cleanup.

While it doesn't have some of the more advanced features like a sauté function or wifi connectivity, the Morphy Richards 460012 includes the core useful functions you'd expect in a solid mid-range slow cooker. The programmable timer and keep warm mode add flexibility and convenience.

Accessories

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker comes with some handy accessories to make using it easier. It includes a glass lid that allows you to monitor the cooking progress without having to lift the lid and release heat. The lid has a steam vent on top to let excess steam escape.

For serving, it comes with a plastic serving spoon that is heat resistant and won't melt when used on hot food. The spoon has a long handle to keep your hands away from the heat. It also includes a recipe booklet with 30 delicious slow cooker recipes to try.

Some key accessories it does not include are a timer, temperature probe, or locking clips for the lid. The lid sits on top with no latch mechanism. Overall, it comes with the basic accessories needed for slow cooking like the lid and serving spoon. Additional accessories would enhance convenience but aren't essential.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker is relatively easy to clean and maintain. The oval ceramic pot lifts out of the metal housing for washing by hand or in the dishwasher. The exterior housing can be wiped down with a damp cloth.

One downside is that the lid does not detach from the pot, so you have to clean the entire lid and pot together rather than separating them. This can make it a bit tricky to thoroughly clean any food that gets trapped where the lid meets the pot.

The oval shape means there are some nooks and crannies that require extra attention when cleaning. A bottle brush can help scrub any stuck-on food bits from the curved corners. Take care not to use anything too abrasive on the non-stick surface inside the ceramic pot, as it could damage the coating over time.

Overall, while not the easiest to clean cooker on the market, a little extra attention when washing makes the Morphy Richards 460012 reasonably simple to keep clean. The lack of a detachable lid is probably the biggest drawback, but otherwise it just requires standard care and maintenance like most other slow cookers.

Price and Value

The Morphy Richards 460012 Slow Cooker has an MSRP of £39.99, which puts it in the budget to mid-range pricing for comparable slow cookers. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of some higher-end models, it provides very solid performance and features at this price point.

Compared to other entry-level slow cookers such as the Crock-Pot Manual Slow Cooker at around £25 or the Russell Hobbs Chalkboard 3.5L Slow Cooker at £28, the Morphy Richards offers more cooking flexibility with its digital timer, temperature and program settings. This makes it easier to achieve your desired results without constant monitoring.

In the mid-range, the Morphy Richards competes with cookers like the Sage by Heston Blumenthal the Fast Slow Pro at £150 and the Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker at £180. While those models may have some more advanced features, the Morphy Richards delivers excellent slow cooking ability at a fraction of the cost.

Overall, the Morphy Richards 460012 provides great bang for your buck. For under £40 you get a capable and versatile slow cooker suitable for most households, without paying extra for unnecessary bells and whistles. The price makes it accessible, while the performance makes it a worthwhile investment.

Pros and Cons

The Morphy Richards 460012 slow cooker has several advantages and a few drawbacks to consider:

Pros

• Generous 6.5 litre oval ceramic pot with non-stick coating and stainless steel body for durability
• Wide range of heat settings from low to high for maximum flexibility
• 24-hour digital timer with auto shut-off for safety and convenience
• Clear glass lid to monitor cooking progress
• Dishwasher safe removable pot and lid for easy cleanup
• Compact footprint to save counter space
• Affordable price point compared to similar models

Cons

• Timer only goes up to 24 hours, less than some models offering 48+ hours
• Lid does not have clips to securely attach to base
• No handles or locks on lid, so removing can be tricky
• Fewer features than higher-end programmable slow cookers
• Short power cord may require extension cord for some