Russell Hobbs 23200 Slow Cooker - Review

Russell Hobbs is a well-known British home appliance brand that dates back to the 1950s. Originally a manufacturer of electric kettles and coffee makers, Russell Hobbs has expanded over the years to produce a wide range of small kitchen appliances including toasters, food processors, stand mixers, and slow cookers.

The company is known for making affordable and reliable products for the home. Many of their appliances feature modern and stylish designs to complement today's kitchens. Russell Hobbs aims to make cooking and food preparation easier for home cooks through well-designed appliances with helpful features.

Their slow cookers continue Russell Hobbs' tradition of quality and value. These countertop appliances are useful for preparing hearty stews, tender roasts, chili, and other dishes that benefit from long, low cooking. Let's take a closer look at one of their newer models - the Russell Hobbs 23200 Slow Cooker.

Overview

The Russell Hobbs 23200 Slow Cooker has a 3.5 litre capacity and a compact oval shape measuring H27.5, W28.5, D16.5cm. It's a good size for families and couples, though larger slow cookers are available. The 23200 Slow Cooker has a power output of 200W and includes 3 temperature settings - low, high and auto. The low setting is ideal for longer cook times between 6-8 hours, while the high setting is better for faster cooking between 4-6 hours. The auto setting automatically switches from high to low to prevent overcooking.

Design

The Russell Hobbs 23200 slow cooker has an attractive oval shape with a glossy black plastic exterior housing and see-through glass lid. The 6.5L capacity is a good size for families, though the shape may limit larger roasts.

The control panel is located on the front with two dials - one for temperature setting and one for timer. The temperature dial has Low, High and Warm options which is fairly standard. The timer can be set up to 20 hours, providing flexibility for longer cooking times.

The lid has a steam vent and fits securely. The black housing won't show fingerprints. The oval ceramic crock pot is removable and goes in the dishwasher making cleaning easy. The cord wraps under the base for tidy storage.

Overall the design is simple but modern with the black and glass finish. The interface is straightforward and the shape makes it easy to view contents during cooking. Materials seem durable.

Cooking Performance

The Russell Hobbs 23200 Slow Cooker performs very well when it comes to preparing meals. The inner pot heats consistently, ensuring food cooks evenly without any hot or cold spots.

Cook times are as expected for a 3.5L slow cooker. On the low setting, stews and tougher cuts of meat become tender and flavorful after 7-8 hours. On high, recipes cook in around 4 hours. The digital timer makes it easy to keep track of cook times.

This slow cooker is extremely easy to use. Just add ingredients to the removable inner pot, set the timer, select high or low heat, and let it cook unattended. The lid locks in place for safe transport to potlucks or parties. The keep warm function automatically switches to low heat once the timer is done, so food stays ready to eat for hours.

Overall, the cooking performance of the Russell Hobbs 23200 Slow Cooker is excellent. It heats evenly, cooks recipes as expected, and couldn't be simpler to operate. This is a great option for anyone looking for an affordable and reliable slow cooker.

Features

The Russell Hobbs 23200 Slow Cooker has some great features that make it convenient and easy to use.

• Programmable Timer: This slow cooker has a digital timer that allows you to program cooking times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours. This makes it easy to start cooking in the morning and have your meal ready right when you want it.

• Keep Warm Setting: Once the cooking time is complete, the slow cooker automatically switches to a keep warm setting. This keeps your food at an ideal serving temperature for up to 8 hours without overcooking.

• Dishwasher Safe: The removable crock pot and glass lid are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. No need to handwash the insert after cooking up a delicious meal.

• Accessories Included: The slow cooker comes with a serving spoon and measuring cup. The cup helps you easily add the right amount of ingredients, while the spoon simplifies serving up portions of your cooked meal.

Cleaning

Keeping the Russell Hobbs Slow Cooker 23200 clean is relatively straightforward. The ceramic insert can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher. It's advised to fill the insert with warm soapy water and let it soak for a bit before scrubbing, as that makes it easier to remove any stuck-on food.

The lid and exterior housing are both wipeable surfaces that can be cleaned with a soft damp cloth and mild detergent. You'll want to avoid abrasive scouring pads or harsh chemicals on the exterior as they may scratch or damage the finish over time.

One area that requires a bit more attention is cleaning around the heating element and base. Food and liquid can seep into crevices in this area, so it's important to thoroughly wipe it down after each use. Some users recommend unplugging the unit and letting any remaining moisture evaporate before wiping the base to prevent electrical issues. Pay particular attention to any nooks where food debris could accumulate.

Overall, while not the easiest slow cooker to clean, the Russell Hobbs 23200 doesn't pose any significant cleaning challenges with routine care and maintenance. Taking a few minutes after cooking to promptly hand wash the insert and wipe down the lid and housing ensures the appliance stays in tidy working order.

Value

The Russell Hobbs 23200 offers excellent value for money when compared to other slow cookers on the market. At around £30, it is very competitively priced against brands like Crockpot, Morphy Richards, and Tefal, most of which retail for £40-60 for a similar 3.5L capacity slow cooker.

Considering the features and performance of the Russell Hobbs 23200, it punches well above its weight in terms of value. The digital timer and keep warm functions add a lot of extra functionality that isn't always present in cheaper models. It also cooks food evenly and consistently thanks to its oval shape and wraparound heating element.

For those looking for an affordable but fully-featured slow cooker for making stews, curries, chillis, and more, the Russell Hobbs 23200 represents fantastic value for money. The quality and reliability is impressive for the price point. It lacks some of the bells and whistles of the very high-end slow cookers, but does everything the average user would require.

Overall, if you are on a budget but don't want to compromise on features and cooking performance, the Russell Hobbs 23200 should definitely be on your shortlist. It offers great bang for your buck.

Pros

• Large 6L capacity - This slow cooker has a generous 6 litre capacity, making it suitable for cooking larger portions for the whole family or batch cooking meals to freeze. The oval shape also means you can fit larger cuts of meat or whole chickens.

• Programmable timer - You can preset cooking 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. The auto keep warm function prevents overcooking once the cooking time is up.

• Three heat settings - Having low, high and auto heat settings provides flexibility for gently simmering stews and sauces on low or speeding up cooking on high heat. The auto setting automatically adjusts temperature for perfect results.

• Dishwasher safe lid and bowl - The removable ceramic bowl and glass lid can conveniently be cleaned in the dishwasher, avoiding tedious scrubbing after cooking. The stainless steel housing simply needs wiping over.

• Affordable price - This Russell Hobbs slow cooker provides excellent value for money. The combination of useful features and generous capacity make it a budget-friendly option compared to other models.

Cons

• The lid doesn't seal properly which can lead to heat and moisture escaping. Some customers have complained that dishes end up drying out because of this.

• The timer only goes up to 8 hours, which is limiting for slow cooking recipes that take longer. You'll have to keep an eye on it and reset the timer manually.

• There are reports that the ceramic insert can crack or chip over time. It seems to be less durable than models with a metal insert.

• The temperature dial lacks clear markings for low, medium and high settings. It can be tricky to tell what temperature you've set it to.

Conclusion

Overall, the Russell Hobbs 23200 Slow Cooker is a solid mid-range option for anyone looking for an affordable and versatile slow cooker. Its 3.5L capacity makes it a good size for families and couples, while the digital timer and temperature controls allow you to easily adapt cooking times and temperatures as needed.

The oval ceramic pot distributes heat evenly and fits well in the base, while the tempered glass lid lets you monitor cooking progress. The clip-on lid straps are also useful for portability. In terms of performance, it cooks food well on both high and low settings. The keep warm function ensures your meal remains at an optimal serving temperature if you're delayed getting home.

Some downsides are the exterior gets quite hot during use and only the ceramic pot is dishwasher safe. Also, the digital display isn't backlit, so it can be hard to read unless well-lit. Overall though, for the reasonable price point, it's a great option for anyone seeking an uncomplicated, versatile slow cooker that consistently delivers tasty results. I would recommend the Russell Hobbs 23200 as a budget-friendly choice suitable for most households.