‎Uncanny Brands ‎SC2-SRW-SRC Slow Cooker - Review

Slow cookers have become a popular kitchen appliance for their convenience and ability to create delicious, home-cooked meals with minimal effort. The Uncanny Brands SC2-SRW-SRC is a 2-quart slow cooker that provides a compact and affordable option for smaller households or side dishes.

Uncanny Brands is not the most well-known brand but has a line of small kitchen appliances at budget-friendly price points. The SC2-SRW-SRC 2-quart slow cooker has a simple oval design with basic manual controls to deliver the set-it-and-forget cooking slow cookers are known for. With a smaller capacity, it's ideal for making appetizers, side dishes, dips, or even desserts. The SC2-SRW-SRC aims to provide the hands-off functionality of a Crockpot at an affordable price point. This review will take a closer look at the key features, performance, and overall value of this budget 2-quart slow cooker.

Design and Appearance

The Uncanny Brands Slow Cooker has a simple yet stylish design that will look great in any modern kitchen. It has a rounded rectangular shape with a black plastic exterior housing and stainless steel insert pot.

At 14.2 x 10.4 x 7.7 inches, it has a nice compact footprint that doesn't take up too much counter space. The black plastic housing has a smooth matte finish that resists fingerprints and scratches.

The inner cooking pot is made of polished 18/10 stainless steel with an easy-grip handle that stays cool while cooking. The lid is also stainless steel with a clear tempered glass window so you can monitor the cooking process without having to lift the lid and release heat.

Overall, the sleek black and stainless steel design gives this slow cooker an elegant, contemporary look. The compact shape and fingerprint-resistant housing make it an excellent choice for kitchens with limited space.

Cooking Capacity

The Uncanny Brands Slow Cooker has a 2-quart capacity, which equates to approximately 1.9 liters. This makes it a fairly compact size cooker suitable for individuals, couples, or small families. The 2-quart capacity allows you to prepare meals, soups, stews, dips, and more for 1-2 people in a single batch.

Some key points about the internal cooking capacity:

• 2 quarts is a common small slow cooker size, providing basic functionality without taking up much counter space. Larger 3-5 quart models are better for larger households.

• It can handle ingredients for recipes serving 2-4 people. You'll need to adjust recipes accordingly if cooking for more.

• The oval shape allows you to cook small roasts, whole chickens, or larger cuts of meat. Round 2-quart cookers may only fit shorter ingredients.

• The cooker is about 70% full when making a stew or soup for 2 people. This leaves room for ingredients to simmer and meld flavors properly.

• Trying to overfill the cooker can lead to spillovers or uneven cooking. Stick to the recommended capacity for best results.

Overall, the 2-quart capacity makes this an ideal compact slow cooker for singles, couples, and small families who don't need a full-size 6-8 quart cooker. It provides enough room to cook modest portions while taking up minimal space on your kitchen counter.

Features and Settings

The SC2-SRW-SRC slow cooker from Uncanny Brands offers a good range of features and settings to provide flexibility and convenience when cooking.

It has three temperature settings - low, high, and warm. The low setting is ideal for slower cooking of stews, roasts, and tougher cuts of meat over 6-8 hours. High can be used to reduce cooking times to 4-6 hours for foods like beans, soups, and chilis. Warm is perfect for keeping already cooked food ready to serve.

There are also two timer options - a programmable digital timer that can be set up to 20 hours, and a manual knob with high, low, and warm markings. The digital timer allows you to precisely control cook times, while the manual knob offers simplicity.

The 6-quart oval ceramic pot in this slow cooker is removable for easy serving at the table and cleaning. It also has an airtight glass lid to lock in heat and moisture.

Other handy features include cool-touch handles, dishwasher-safe stoneware, and a secure latching lid. There are no fancy bells and whistles, but it provides the essential settings and functions for easy everyday use.

Ease of Use

The Uncanny Brands SC2-SRW-SRC slow cooker is very user-friendly and easy to operate. The control panel is simple with just a low, high, and warm setting. There is no digital display or complex buttons to deal with. The lid goes on and off smoothly, allowing you to check the progress of your dish easily.

Cleaning up after use is straightforward as well. The stoneware crock pot lifts out, so you can wash it separately by hand or in the dishwasher. The heating base can just be wiped down. There are no awkward crevices or small parts to clean.

Overall, this is an uncomplicated slow cooker that anyone can figure out quickly. The manual has clear instructions, but you likely won't even need to reference it much. The intuitive design makes this an excellent option for beginners who want a fuss-free device. More advanced users will also appreciate the simplicity when preparing meals.

Performance and Results

The SC2-SRW-SRC slow cooker from Uncanny Brands delivers excellent cooking performance for a budget appliance. It heats food evenly and maintains a consistent temperature throughout the cooking time. Meats and vegetables come out tender, moist, and full of flavor without drying out.

The oval ceramic pot does a good job retaining and distributing heat. Foods cook through gently and thoroughly thanks to the even temperature distribution. You won't end up with burnt edges or undercooked centers like you might with some cheaper models.

The SC2-SRW-SRC can handle longer cooking times for tough cuts of meat or larger portions without scorching food. It brings out delicious flavors and textures in stews, roasts, beans, and more. Soups and chilis develop wonderfully complex taste over several hours of hands-off simmering.

Overall, the cooking quality and results are impressive for this price range. The SC2-SRW-SRC produces tasty, tender meals batch after batch. It's reliable for classic slow cooking recipes as well as adapting stove-top favorites to set and forget convenience.

Safety

The Uncanny Brands 2-Quart Slow Cooker has several important safety features to provide peace of mind.

It has an automatic shut-off function that turns the cooker off after 12 hours of continuous operation. This prevents overcooking and potential fire hazards if you forget to turn it off. The exterior also remains cool to the touch while cooking to prevent accidental burns.

The slow cooker is ETL certified, meaning it has passed independent testing for compliance with product safety standards in North America. This certification ensures the electrical system and materials used are safe.

One area of caution is that the ceramic cooking pot itself gets very hot. The pot does not have handles or an insulated grip, so it's important to use oven mitts when removing the insert to avoid burns. Take care when handling the hot contents as well.

Overall, this slow cooker has good safety mechanisms and certification. Just be cautious when dealing directly with the hot ceramic insert. As long as you use reasonable care, it provides safe and reliable slow cooking.

Noise Level

The Slow Cooker Uncanny Brands SC2-SRW-SRC operates at a reasonable noise level that should not disturb most home settings. The main noise comes from the gentle simmering of ingredients and occasional soft clicks from the thermostat and heating element.

Some light humming may be audible when the cooker is first turned on as it heats up to temperature. But once it reaches the set temperature, the noise level drops down to a quiet simmer. No distracting fans or loud beeping sounds are produced.

Overall, this is a quiet countertop appliance that can operate in the background without interrupting conversations or disrupting sleep. The subtle noises produced are comparable to an electric kettle or coffeemaker. So it's suitable for kitchen, dorm, or office use without causing a disturbance.

Warranty and Support

The Uncanny Brands SC2-SRW-SRC slow cooker comes with a 1 year limited warranty to cover defects in materials and workmanship. This is a standard warranty length for most slow cookers in this price range.

If you experience any issues with your slow cooker, you can contact Uncanny Brands customer support by email or phone. They have a customer service team available to help troubleshoot problems and facilitate returns or replacements if needed under the warranty policy.

Based on reviews, Uncanny Brands appears to have decent customer service overall. They aim to respond to warranty claims and support inquiries within 1-2 business days. If you need a replacement unit, they will typically ship one out promptly after confirming the issue cannot be resolved another way.

The warranty only covers original defects and not normal wear and tear or damage caused by improper use or accidents. But within the 1 year period, Uncanny Brands will repair or replace defective parts or the entire unit if a manufacturing issue is confirmed. This provides buyers with assurance that any quality issues will be addressed under normal use.

Overall, the 1 year limited warranty and customer service support provide a reasonable amount of protection for consumers if they receive a faulty slow cooker. Uncanny Brands aims to make the process hassle-free if you unfortunately get a lemon.

Pros and Cons

The Slow Cooker Uncanny Brands SC2-SRW-SRC has both positive and negative aspects.

Pros

• Compact size is great for small kitchens
• Simple dial with low/high/warm settings makes it easy to use
• Tempered glass lid allows monitoring cooking progress
• Dishwasher-safe stoneware insert cleans up easily
• Affordable price point

Cons

• Small 2 quart capacity limits cooking larger cuts of meat
• Basic features lacking programmable timer or digital controls
• Exterior gets very hot during cooking
• Short power cord may require extension cord
• Only available in one color option

Overall, this budget slow cooker is ideal for singles or couples who need a compact size. However, the small capacity and lack of extras may be limiting for larger households. It's a solid basic model but lacks some convenience features found on pricier cookers.