Morphy Richards 460016 Slow Cooker - Review

The Morphy Richards 460016 Slow Cooker is a mid-range 3.5 litre oval slow cooker that provides simple one-pot cooking. Morphy Richards is a reputable brand known for producing quality kitchen appliances at affordable prices.

This slow cooker has a compact and lightweight oval design that can fit neatly on a countertop without taking up too much space. The stainless steel body gives it a sleek look that will fit into any modern kitchen. With a 3.5 litre capacity, it is an ideal size for cooking meals for up to 4 people or preparing food for gatherings and parties.

The Morphy Richards 460016 allows you to cook stews, casseroles, curries, chillis, soups and even desserts at low temperatures over longer periods of time. This brings out the flavours of the ingredients and results in food that is moist and tender. The oval shape means it can accommodate larger cuts of meat and whole chickens. Overall, it provides a convenient 'set and forget' way to cook dishes that would otherwise require monitoring on the hob or in the oven.

Design and Appearance

The Morphy Richards Slow Cooker 460016 has a compact and modern design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It has a rounded oblong shape with a black plastic housing and stainless steel trim, giving it an elegant two-tone look.

The slow cooker measures 28 x 28 x 22 cm, so it has a relatively small footprint but is still a decent size with a 4.5 liter capacity. The black plastic lid has stainless steel accents as well, matching nicely with the base. There are no other color options available for this model.

Overall, the Morphy Richards 460016 has contemporary styling with its black and stainless steel finish. The oval shape and moderate dimensions make it easy to store away or keep out on your counter.

Capacity

The Morphy Richards Slow Cooker has a generous 6 liter capacity, which is enough to cook a meal for a large family. It can hold a whole chicken or joint of meat up to 2kg in size, as well as plenty of vegetables, potatoes and gravy.

The oval shape of the ceramic pot allows you to fit in larger or oddly shaped cuts of meat that may not fit in a round slow cooker. It's advertised as being suitable for cooking for up to 6 people, but some reviewers have mentioned being able to cook enough for 8-10 people without any issues.

With the generous 6 liter capacity, you can cook substantial stews, curries, chillies, soups and more. It's great for batch cooking or meal prepping several portions at once. You'll have plenty left over for freezing or eating throughout the week. It's also handy when cooking for gatherings or parties.

Controls and Settings

The Morphy Richards 460016 Slow Cooker has simple mechanical controls that are easy to use. It has two settings - Low and High.

The controls consist of a manual knob that clicks between the Low and High settings. Simply turn the knob to select your desired cooking temperature. There are no pre-programmed digital settings or timers on this model.

The Low setting maintains a temperature of around 190°F and the High setting around 300°F. Low is good for longer cooking times to allow flavors to develop, while High provides faster cooking.

The knob moves smoothly between settings and stays securely in place once selected. The markings are clear and easy to read. Overall, the controls are very straightforward to operate. There are no complex functions, just set it and forget it.

The simple Low/High options provide flexibility for most recipes. However, there are no precise time or temperature controls. The mechanical knob requires manually turning off when done. Some cooks may prefer more technologically advanced slow cookers with digital controls and timers for added convenience. But the easy knob makes this an uncomplicated, user-friendly slow cooker for basic set-and-forget cooking.

Cooking Performance

The Morphy Richards Slow Cooker 460016 provides excellent cooking performance for its size and price range. The oval ceramic pot distributes heat evenly, ensuring food cooks thoroughly without any hot or cold spots. Meats come out moist and fork-tender after 8 hours on low. Vegetables retain their color and texture perfectly. Soups and stews develop rich depth of flavor as they simmer away hands-free.

The 4.5 liter capacity is suitable for cooking meals for 3-4 people. It's not so large that smaller amounts of food cook unevenly. The cooker heats up quickly and maintains an even temperature over long cook times. You can trust it will properly cook recipes for the duration specified without scorching or drying out. Whether you're adapting traditional recipes or following those developed specifically for slow cookers, this model delivers delicious results.

Ease of Cleaning

The Morphy Richards 460016 slow cooker has removable parts that make cleaning easy. The ceramic pot and tempered glass lid are both dishwasher safe. This is convenient as the ceramic insert can be tricky to handwash, especially after cooking meals with a lot of oil or sauce. Simply remove the ceramic pot after cooking and place it directly in the dishwasher.

The exterior housing is made of fingerprint-resistant stainless steel that wipes clean easily with a damp cloth. There are no cracks or crevices for food debris to get trapped. The control panel is also smooth and easy to wipe down after use.

Overall, the ease of cleaning is a major plus for this slow cooker. Being able to throw the pot in the dishwasher saves time and hassle compared to handwashing. And the fingerprint-resistant exterior means quick cleanups after use.

Accessories

The Morphy Richards Slow Cooker 460016 comes with some handy accessories to make using it even easier. It includes a stainless steel serving spoon that is heat resistant and ideal for dishing up meals straight from the slow cooker. The spoon has a long handle to keep your hands away from the heat.

The slow cooker also comes with a recipe booklet featuring 30 delicious slow cooker recipes to try. Recipes include favorites like beef stew, chicken cacciatore, vegetarian chili, and more. Having recipes designed specifically for the slow cooker takes the guesswork out of cooking times and settings. The booklet gives you plenty of ideas to start cooking right away.

Overall, the included accessories add convenience to using this Morphy Richards slow cooker. The serving spoon makes it easy to dish out portions safely. And the recipe book gives you guidance to make the most of your slow cooker and achieve delicious results. These extras add nice value on top of the slow cooker itself.

Price

The Morphy Richards Slow Cooker 460016 has an MSRP of £54.99, which puts it in the mid-range for slow cookers. However, it frequently goes on sale for £39.99 or less, making it an excellent value for the features and performance it delivers.

At full price, the 460016 is still reasonably priced compared to similar 6.5L oval slow cookers from other major brands like Crockpot and Russell Hobbs. The attractive stainless steel exterior and digital controls help justify the slight price premium over basic manual slow cookers.

Considering it can cook meals for up to six people, the 460016 delivers excellent versatility and capacity for the money. For families or those who frequently cook for groups, it's a worthwhile investment that can handle larger quantities.

The ability to program cook times up to 24 hours, choose specific temperatures, and automatically switch to warm, makes the 460016 much more convenient and flexible than cheaper models lacking these features. It eliminates guesswork and provides peace of mind that food will be ready as planned.

When purchased on sale for £39.99 or less, the Morphy Richards 460016 becomes an absolute bargain and tremendous value for a mid-sized programmable slow cooker. It's a great option for budget-conscious shoppers unwilling to sacrifice quality and performance.

Pros

The Morphy Richards Slow Cooker 460016 has several notable benefits:

• Large capacity: This slow cooker has a generous 6.5 liter capacity, making it suitable for cooking meals for a large family or gathering. You can fit a whole chicken or large roast in the oval ceramic pot.

• Programmable timer: The digital control panel allows you to program cook times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours. This makes it easy to start dinner in the morning and have it ready when you get home.

• Auto keep-warm function: Once the programmed cook time is complete, the cooker automatically switches to a keep-warm setting for up to 8 hours. This prevents food from overcooking.

• Dishwasher-safe pot: The removable ceramic pot and lid can be cleaned in the dishwasher, making cleanup quick and convenient after cooking.

Cons

• The slow cooker only has a 3.5 liter capacity, which is on the smaller side. This limits how much food it can cook at one time, making it unsuitable for larger households or meal prepping big batches.

• There have been some complaints that the lid does not seal tightly, allowing steam to escape. This can lead to food drying out or taking longer to cook. Proper sealing is important for slow cooking.

• A common complaint is that the timer only goes up to 8 hours. For many recipes, a longer cooking time is needed to fully tenderize meats and meld flavors. Having to restart the cooker mid-cycle interrupts the slow cooking process.

• The outer housing is made of plastic rather than metal. While this makes the unit lightweight, some customers report the plastic feels flimsy and prone to scratches. Metal housings are more durable.