‎SWAN ‎SF17020N Slow Cooker - Review

The Swan SF17020N is a 3.5L slow cooker that offers basic functionality for making stews, casseroles, curries and more. This stainless steel oval cooker has a simple manual dial with low, high and auto temperature settings. While it lacks some of the advanced features of more expensive models, the Swan SF17020N provides an affordable option for anyone looking to try out a slow cooker for the first time or add a second cooker to their kitchen.

With its ample 3.5 litre capacity, the SF17020N can make meals for 3-4 people. Its oval shape allows you to cook smaller or larger cuts of meat. The stainless steel body makes for easy clean-up, while the tempered glass lid lets you peek inside without releasing heat. This cooker also comes with a dishwasher safe ceramic pot. Overall, the Swan SF17020N delivers basic slow cooking functionality and convenience at a budget-friendly price point.

Design and Appearance

The Swan Slow Cooker SF17020N has a sleek and modern stainless steel design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It has an oval shape which is quite versatile for cooking larger or smaller cuts of meat and vegetables. The stainless steel housing not only looks nice but makes the slow cooker durable and easy to clean.

The control panel on the front has an easy-to-read digital display with a timer, temperature settings, and programmable cooking functions. The display lets you precisely control cooking and track time remaining. Having the controls up front is convenient compared to some slow cookers where the settings are on the back or side.

Overall the Swan SF17020N has an attractive and user-friendly design perfect for any home kitchen. The stainless steel construction gives it a high-end look while the oval shape and digital display provide functionality. The simple yet elegant design allows it to blend in seamlessly with most kitchen decors. It's much more subtle than many slow cookers that have loud and flashy exterior designs.

While the Swan slow cooker has an understated look, the Crock-Pot CSC080 has a more retro and playful aesthetic. It comes in a variety of fun colors like red, white and black. The colors pop against the black base for a very eye-catching look. While the Swan aims for subtlety, the Crock-Pot wants to stand out.

The Crock-Pot also has a more traditional oval shape with handles on the sides. This gives it a classic slow cooker silhouette that hearkens back to earlier models. It lacks the digital display of the Swan, instead having a simple knob to set cook times. This retro design hides the modern cooking technology inside for a bit of ironic contrast.

Those who prefer their appliances to fade into the background will likely favor the Swan's modest stainless steel look. But the Crock-Pot's throwback aesthetics and playful colors make it perfect for anyone who wants their slow cooker to be a statement piece. It celebrates the appliance rather than camouflaging it.

Both slow cookers feature an oval shape for versatility and stainless steel interiors for durability and easy cleaning. The differences come down to outer design. The Swan aims for contemporary elegance while the Crock-Pot goes for nostalgic flair. It's a choice between a sleek modern look or a retro style that boldly announces itself.

In the end, aesthetics are subjective. But both the modest Swan and flashy Crock-Pot designs have appeal. The choice comes down to personal taste and the look one wants to achieve in their kitchen. Both are well-built appliances with great features. The outer design simply reflects different sensibilities.

Capacity

The Swan 3.5 Liter Slow Cooker is designed for cooking for 1-4 people, making it a great size for individuals, couples, and small families. With its 3.5 liter capacity pot, it can hold a good amount of food, allowing you to prepare main dishes, sides, appetizers, and even desserts. The inner ceramic pot itself measures 20cm x 15cm x 15cm, giving you a good amount of surface area to cook larger cuts of meat or poultry.

While not an extra large capacity, the 3.5 liters is very versatile for everyday use. You can cook a whole chicken, a pork shoulder roast, chili, soups, stews, oatmeal, and more. It's also a nice size to experiment with recipes and cook multiple dishes at once by using stacking inserts. For most households, the 3.5 liter Swan Slow Cooker hits the sweet spot of not too big and not too small.

If you need a larger capacity slow cooker, consider the Morphy Richards 461021 model. With a capacity of 6 liters, it can cook for up to 6 people. The oval shape gives you more flexibility to cook larger roasts and whole chickens. It has a digital timer and temperature settings for ultimate control. The Morphy Richards 461021 is great for larger families who need to cook bigger batches of food. While the 3.5 liter Swan is good for everyday use, the 6 liter Morphy Richards allows you to prepare larger quantities for gatherings, meal prepping, and leftovers.

Settings and Programs

The Swan SF17020N slow cooker has several useful settings and programs that provide flexibility and convenience when cooking. It has low, high, and auto temperature settings to accommodate different recipes and cooking needs.

The low setting keeps food simmering gently for slower cooking and tenderizing tougher cuts of meat. It's ideal for stews, curries, soups, and chili. The high setting brings food up to a boil more quickly and can reduce cooking times. It's great for recipes that need a blast of heat.

The auto setting is a smart program that automatically switches from high to low at strategic points during the cooking process to optimize doneness and texture. It's a handy option when you're not sure which temperature setting to use.

In addition, the Swan has a 24 hour programmable timer so you can prep ingredients in advance, set the cooker, and have a hot meal ready at whatever time is convenient for your schedule. The keep warm function automatically switches to low heat once the cooking time is complete to keep food at an ideal serving temperature until you're ready to eat.

Ease of Use

The Swan SF17020N slow cooker has several features that make it easy and convenient to use. The control panel is simple and user-friendly, with a programmable timer, temperature settings, and clear display. This allows you to easily select your desired cooking time and temperature.

The lid, inner pot, and included accessories like the steaming tray are all dishwasher safe. This is a big plus in terms of cleanup after cooking. You don't have to handwash the components, just remove any food debris and pop them in the dishwasher. The non-stick inner pot also makes cleanup a breeze if handwashing.

Overall, the Swan slow cooker was designed with ease of use in mind. The intuitive controls, dishwasher safe parts, and general user-friendly design make using this appliance straightforward for any level of cook. You don't have to fuss over complicated controls or spend a lot of effort scrubbing after dinner.

Heating Performance

The Swan SF17020N slow cooker evenly heats food throughout the cooking process thanks to its oval shape and wrap-around heating element. The oval design allows for more even heat circulation compared to round cookers.

The heating element wraps around the sides and bottom of the inner pot, transferring heat gently and steadily to cook food to perfection. Reviewers mention how the Swan creates tender, flavorful dishes without any burnt spots.

Once the cooking time is up, the slow cooker automatically switches to a keep warm setting. This prevents overcooking and allows you to keep meals warm and ready to serve for hours. The keep warm function cycles on and off as needed, avoiding overheating.

Safety Features

The Swan SF17020N slow cooker has several key safety features that give peace of mind while using this appliance.

• Auto Shut Off: This slow cooker has an auto shut off function that will turn off the cooker after 12 hours of continuous operation. This prevents overcooking and gives added protection if you forget to turn it off.

• Cool Touch Body: The exterior of the slow cooker remains cool to the touch while cooking. This prevents burns from accidental contact with the body while in use. The lid and handles also remain cool.

• Tempered Glass Lid: The lid is made from tempered glass which is more durable and safer than standard glass. It resists cracking or shattering.

• Non-Slip Feet: The base has non-slip feet to prevent sliding on counter tops. This provides stability during use.

• Integrated Cord Storage: The power cord can wrap around the base for tidy storage when not in use. This prevents tripping hazards.

• Dishwasher Safe: The ceramic cooking pot and tempered glass lid are dishwasher safe for easy clean up.

Accessories

The Swan SF17020N slow cooker comes with some handy accessories to help you get the most out of this appliance.

It includes a steaming tray that fits inside the ceramic pot. This allows you to steam vegetables, fish, or other ingredients while slow cooking a dish in the base. The steaming tray separates the ingredients, so flavors don't mix but everything cooks simultaneously.

A serving spoon is also provided for easily scooping out portions of your finished slow cooker meals. The spoon has a deep bowl and is heat resistant.

For inspiration, Swan includes a recipe booklet featuring over 20 delicious dishes you can make in the slow cooker. The recipes cover breakfasts, soups, mains, desserts and more. They range from classic favorites like pot roast to more adventurous dishes like Thai green curry. The booklet takes the guesswork out of slow cooking.

With the accessories like the steaming tray, serving spoon, and recipe booklet, the Swan SF17020N provides everything you need to start creating fantastic slow cooked meals right away. The accessories expand the possibilities of this versatile appliance.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Stylish design - The Swan Slow Cooker has an attractive stainless steel exterior that will look great on any countertop. The oval shape and polished finish give it a modern look.

• 24 hour programmable timer - You can set the cooking time up to 24 hours in advance. This allows you to start cooking while you're away or while you sleep. Very convenient.

• Keep warm function - After cooking is finished, the slow cooker automatically switches to a keep warm setting so your food stays ready to eat for hours.

• Safety features - There's an auto shut-off that turns the cooker off after 12 hours for safety. The exterior also stays cool to the touch while cooking.

Cons

• Small capacity - With a 3.5 liter capacity, this slow cooker is best for 1-3 people. Not ideal for large families or big batches.

• No stovetop safe pot - The included ceramic pot can only be used in the slow cooker, not on the stovetop. This limits what you can make compared to stovetop safe models.

Conclusion

Overall, the Swan SF17020N is a decent entry-level slow cooker that gets the job done for basic meals. It lacks some of the more advanced features and customizability of higher-end models, but makes up for it with its simplicity and affordable price point.

The oval ceramic pot has a modest 1.5 liter capacity, which is suitable for 1-3 people. It's compact and lightweight enough for easy transport to potlucks or weekend trips. The three heat settings provide a good amount of flexibility for simmering, cooking, and keeping food warm.

Operation is straightforward with the manual knob controls. The tempered glass lid allows monitoring cooking progress without lifting the lid and releasing heat. Safety features like the cool touch body and lid handles are appreciated.

While it doesn't have a digital timer or fancy presets, the Swan SF17020N nails the basics for an inexpensive slow cooker. It's a great option for college students, singles, or couples looking for a no-frills model for weeknight meals. I would recommend it to anyone seeking an affordable slow cooker that gets the job done.